How Close in Talent Will Team USA be to Team Canada at Next International Meeting With NHLERS?

[Peiskos]

There was a bigger disparity in 2010 and the US won
the RR game and lost in OT in the GM game.
The Olympics are one off games so the US is
certainly capable of winning a one off against
Canada.

Legit chance by 2022 Eichel/Matthews are more
impactful than Crosby/Bergeron.

But that's irrelevant, why compare the US's new wave of talent to Canada's old wave? you'd need to compare Eichel/Matthews to McDavid/MacKinnon not Crosby/Bergeron.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I'd give Canada the edge, but I think it would be close. With the right coaching USA could win, as I have them better defensively and in goal, but Canada's center depth is probably too much.

Forwards
Canada >>> USA

Defense
USA > Canada

Goaltending
USA > Canada

 

[Voight]

It'll be close, but Canada's top-end talent is slightly better and their depth is also slightly better. Canada still has Crosby and McDavid. USA doesn't. Canada has an elite player in every spot. USA might have 2-3 spots on the team where they use a very good player instead of an elite player.

Don't forget MackInnon as well.

Now if they put him on McD's right wing...... the speed......

 

[StreetHawk]

But all mens teams have some vets on it, being 33 isn't considered old, of course you'll have the vets such as Tavares 33, Stamkos 33, Pietrangelo 33, Seguin 31, Stone, 31, Huberdeau 30, Marchand 35 etc who will still be excellent players to contribute they'll be mixed in with the players below who will all be even better than they are now. Canada will have more than enough young elite talent by then who will be in their early to mid 20's aka their primes.

2024 :

Lafreniere - 22
MacKinnon - 28
McDavid - 26
Marner - 26
Barzal - 26
Point - 27
Konecny - 26
Horvat - 28
DeBrusk - 27
Reinhart - 28
Domi - 28
Mantha - 29
Girard - 25
Monahan - 29
Rielly - 29
Chabot - 26
Parayko - 30
Makar - 25
Hamilton - 30

Of course players also come up out of nowhere, plenty of names you can pick off the 2018 and 2020 World Junior gold winning teams, such as Barrett Hayton, Nolan Foote, Raphael Lavoie, Joe Veleno, Bowen Byram, etc who knows how good they'll be by 2024.

Comes down to when the next tournament is. In 2024, the 2008 draft class of top Dmen will be 34 by September, 2024. To put that in perspective that would be like icing the 2003 draft class of Weber, Burns, Seabrook, Suter in a tournament in September 2019. Weber would have been there for Canada. Seabrook would not. Canada would have choices at RHD with Weber, DD, AP, Parayko, Hamilton, Dumba, Burns. Probably only go with 1 of the older guard.

Would still have guys in their 30's on the roster. Depends how they age and how well the current "college aged players" develop over the next few years to see who deserves to be on the roster.

Future Canadian Defence needs to be replenished as Weber, Keith, Burns are aging out and can't be banking on both DD/AP to be going as well when they are into their mid 30's.

that's the area where Canada needs more top end talent is on Defence post 2008 draft class.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

But that's irrelevant, why compare the US's new wave of talent to Canada's old wave? you'd need to compare Eichel/Matthews to McDavid/MacKinnon not Crosby/Bergeron.

Its in response to Newfy claiming neither Eichel or Matthews couldn't crack he Canada Center corp.
You have to be an asshat at this point to think
Eichel or Matthews aren't capable of displacing
at minimum Bergeron. Crosby doesn't ever fully
recover he could be also.

 

[Mikenusca]

I’d take Matthews/Eichel over Bergeron especially if it’s on Olympic size ice, toss up if on NHL size rink

 

[Peiskos]

Its in response to Newfy claiming neither Eichel or Matthews couldn't crack he Canada Center corp.
You have to be an asshat at this point to think
Eichel or Matthews aren't capable of displacing
at minimum Bergeron. Crosby doesn't ever fully
recover he could be also.

Keep in mind many superstar Canadian centres themselves don’t even make Canada’s top 4 centre slots and they end up playing the wing.

Bergeron for example usually plays on the wing for Canada not centre. I’m never a fan of these hypothetical “if he were this nationality” debates.

 

[Curufinwe]

2030 is too far away to predict.

 

[gotyournose]

Offence goes to Canada

Defence slight edge to USA

Goaltending to USA

If you were to create a team USA, who would you have on defense?

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Offence goes to Canada

Defence slight edge to USA

Goaltending to USA

If you were to create a team USA, who would you have on defense?

In 2022:

RD - Jones Carlson Pesce

LD - Werenski McDonagh Slavin

Extra McAvoy

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Keep in mind many superstar Canadian centres themselves don’t even make Canada’s top 4 centre slots and they end up playing the wing.

Bergeron for example usually plays on the wing for Canada not centre. I’m never a fan of these hypothetical “if he were this nationality” debates.

I am from Boston and a B's fan. Seen 90% of Bergeron's NHL games. Well aware of his TC usage.
Eichel is a beast this year. Better than any C other
than McDavid and McKinnon.

 

[Peiskos]

I am from Boston and a B's fan. Seen 90% of Bergeron's NHL games. Well aware of his TC usage.
Eichel is a beast this year. Better than any C other
than McDavid and McKinnon.

I don't disagree, Eichel is having a great season thus far. Eichel-Matthews is definitely the US's best answer to Canada's McDavid-MacKinnon.

 

[Refuse]

It's definitely closer than it's ever been before. Canada still has the edge but if a second Team Canada team was assembled it would be weaker than the American team.

How can it be closer than ever before when USA has already won a best-on-best tournament and did so by defeating Canada in the finals twice in a best of three?

 

[CycloneSweep]

Hall - McDavid - MacKinnon
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron

Vs

Guenztel - Eichel - Kane
Connor - Mathews - Debrincat

Hell Canada can run speed for its top 6 and have some bottom 6 high end players too

Huberdeau - McDavid - Marner
Hall - MacKinnon - Stamkos
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron
Scheifele - ROR - Stone

 

[hockeyisgud]

Eichel/Matthews not good enough to play for Team Canada? They might play wing on Team Canada but those guys can play on any hockey team in the world.

I was comparing position by position. They would make the team but neither of them is a top 4 center for Canada

 

[Bonham]

I like what the US is doing these days however I still don't think they match up. While America is starting to turn out more talent, so is Canada.

There isn't a single country that can touch McDavid/MacKinnon/Crosby/Bergeron/etc. up the middle. The speed and skill there is insane.

I am also reluctant to put the US up there until they start to deliver on the world stage.

They have won one best-on-best tournament ever and Canada has won 3 of the last 4 Olympics with NHL players. They also only have 2 WHC golds in 70 years and 4 WJHC golds in 46 years. I always read the hype of these American teams but in reality they are usually a big disappointment. I understand the past doesn't have much relevance to the team playing today, however until they actual prove they can do it on the ice it all means very little.

 

[Voight]

Hall - McDavid - MacKinnon
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron

Vs

Guenztel - Eichel - Kane
Connor - Mathews - Debrincat

Hell Canada can run speed for its top 6 and have some bottom 6 high end players too

Huberdeau - McDavid - Marner
Hall - MacKinnon - Stamkos
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron
Scheifele - ROR - Stone

Don't forget about Seguin, Tavares, Point, Barzal etc.

If the NHL goes in 2 years, going to be a bloodbath for the 13 forward spots.

Who will be the obligatory random-guy-who-doesnt-really-belong-here pick? I.E. The Brendan Morrow/Chris Kunitz of 2022.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Obviously we can only judge on paper and I think Canada would have the advantage in basically every single position 1v1 except goaltending.

USA is still a little behind. They’d be awfully close to Canada B team though.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Don't forget about Seguin, Tavares, Point, Barzal etc.

If the NHL goes in 2 years, going to be a bloodbath for the 13 forward spots.

Who will be the obligatory random-guy-who-doesnt-really-belong-here pick? I.E. The Brendan Morrow/Chris Kunitz of 2022.

For some reason, I could see Bo Horvat being there due to “intangibles”. Or the ghost of Jonathan Toews willing Canada for victory.

 

[Orfieus]

Does Marner make the team?

 

[Iapyi]

Marner is as close to a gimmee as we've got. Mar

Does Marner make the team?

Marner

 

[780il]

Americans would still get clapped *insert shrug emoji*

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Goaltending is where Canada has really lost its edge with the decline of Price. Fleury is the guy I guess?

Clear Advantage USA there.

 

[MattySnipes]

I'd take Canada on paper no doubt. Both teams will be excellent though, and definitely the games have to be played. No one wins on paper. Hope there is an Olympics with NHLers. C'mon Gary. Get your shit together, Fasel thinks you're a smart guy.

 

[Claypool]

USA is still a little behind. They’d be awfully close to Canada B team though.

A Canada B team wouldn't win a game against the top international teams' A rosters.