Theoretical question : Team Canada vs NHL top team

[DadBod]

I don't think Team Canada would do as bad as most think in this thread. The boy vs. men argument holds a lot of value but it's not like this years squad is small or weak. What's the average height/weight of this team? 6'2" - 6'3"? 205lbs - 220lbs? I'd be willing to bet this years team would rank as one of the biggest in the NHL.

I have no doubt they couldn't hold their own against the weaker teams in the NHL, and I'm sure they could beat a lot of AHL teams.

Just because they're under 20 years old, doesn't mean their speed, size, and skill is automatically sub par compared to players over 20 years old.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

The Oilers would fold in a 10 game series.

Only if there was a top 2 pick on the line.

To answer the OP... no chance against an NHL team. No chance against a AHL team. Little chance even against an ECHL team.

 

[McMozesmadness]

I had this exact conversation with my brother. I told him Canada would likely lose to an ECHL team.

 

[Bradys Boys]

Like to see them against Boston. Would get battered and bruised.

 

[Tutu to]

I had this exact conversation with my brother. I told him Canada would likely lose to an ECHL team.

no way. there are like 6-7 guys on this roster who could be in the NHL next year.

 

[WaltWhitman]

Do you think Team USA could beat a top 10 NHL team?

Because Canada isn't that much better than the other top teams in this tourney.

They beat us by a goalie interference goal and two ENGs.

 

[Snippit]

Do you think Team USA could beat a top 10 NHL team?

Because Canada isn't that much better than the other top teams in this tourney.

They beat us by a goalie interference goal and two ENGs.

You mean a goal that was reviewed and deemed correct by IIHF officials?

 

[WaltWhitman]

You mean a goal that was reviewed and deemed correct by IIHF officials?

Hey if you wanna hang your hat on that goal making Canada so much better, go for it.

I thought they couldn't review goalie interference, anyway?

 

[Crosbyfan]

No chance against an NHL level team
No chance against an AHL level team
Not much chance against the Oilers

 

[End on a Hinote]

Meh, Team Canada vs. Oilers?

 

[ATBLeafsTyler]

Do you think Team USA could beat a top 10 NHL team?

Because Canada isn't that much better than the other top teams in this tourney.

They beat us by a goalie interference goal and two ENGs.

LOL. Are you talking about Lazar's goal? Not a chance that was goalie interference.

And I don't think people are giving these guys the credit they deserve. Most could play in the AHL at this point and 5-10 could be NHL players next year. I think They could challenge pretty well against AHL teams and maybe even the Oilers+ a few others.

The key for an NHL or AHL team would be to keep the pace down, because you know the young guys would push it.

 

[banme*]

LOL. Are you talking about Lazar's goal? Not a chance that was goalie interference.

And I don't think people are giving these guys the credit they deserve. Most could play in the AHL at this point and 5-10 could be NHL players next year. I think They could challenge pretty well against AHL teams and maybe even the Oilers+ a few others.

The key for an NHL or AHL team would be to keep the pace down, because you know the young guys would push it.

right?

 

[KevinBXA]

Well it depends on the rules, oh wait no it doesn't. NHL every time

 

[capebretoncanadien]

They would get torn up.

 

[capebretoncanadien]

Do you think Team USA could beat a top 10 NHL team?

Because Canada isn't that much better than the other top teams in this tourney.

They beat us by a goalie interference goal and two ENGs.

Did you watch the game yesterday at all?

Canada was dominating for huge stretches of that game.

Only an outstanding performance from the USA goalie kept it close.

 

[Sojourn]

Thanks for your anwsers, but so far noboby seems to know what 'odds' mean. The question is not if NHL team would win. The question is, what odd would you give to such a game.

Team Canada a 20-1 underdog ? 50-1 ? 100-1 ? 1000-1 ? All the discussion is around that question, not around ''omg they would be destroyed".

What has been said should tell you everything you need to know. The only chance they win the game is if the NHL team gets bored and leaves the ice. A hundred games, a thousand, a million... if the NHL team shows up and actually plays, they win.

 

[Richiebottles]

15-0.

 

[stayinalive]

Literally no chance. If they get Horvat, MacKinnon, Drouin and Ekblad the maybe could keep it somehow competitive against the Oilers or could sneak away a win versus an AHL team.

 

[King Mapes]

The question should be, can they beat Edmonton.

The answer is yes

 

[McOvechking]

The vast majority of these players, in just 1-2 years, will be playing in the NHL. They would certainly beat an ECHL team, and probably could beat many AHL teams. They would be slaughtered by every NHL team though.

 

[Bob Cole]

They would compete vs an echl team. No chance in hell vs nhl or ahl. These are just kids

 

[ATBLeafsTyler]

They would compete vs an echl team. No chance in hell vs nhl or ahl. These are just kids

They still have speed and size though. This is most definitely undervaluing them. Domi, Reinhart, Duclair, McDavid will almost certainly be in the NHL next year and Nic Petan, Jake Virtanen, Darnell Nurse and Josh Morrissey could be in the NHL, maybe a couple others.

All players could likely play at an AHL level. Saying they would only compete against an ECHL team is undervaluing in my opinion.

 

[Jesus Christ Horburn]

Literally no chance. If they get Horvat, MacKinnon, Drouin and Ekblad the maybe could keep it somehow competitive against the Oilers or could sneak away a win versus an AHL team.

This raises a good point.

How would a team of MacKinnon's, Drouin's and Ekblad's do against an NHL team? Obvious they'd still lose, but probably not by that much since those guys are already in the NHL and are doing pretty well.

 

[AmericanDream]

hypothetical question: team Canada vs North Korea...discuss!

 

[Sojourn]

They still have speed and size though. This is most definitely undervaluing them. Domi, Reinhart, Duclair, McDavid will almost certainly be in the NHL next year and Nic Petan, Jake Virtanen, Darnell Nurse and Josh Morrissey could be in the NHL, maybe a couple others.

All players could likely play at an AHL level. Saying they would only compete against an ECHL team is undervaluing in my opinion.

Size isn't the same as strength, and even at the AHL level you'd expect a learning curve. Being able to play in the AHL isn't the same as being able to succeed in the AHL, let alone excel. Then you factor in professional systems, professional goaltenders, and the gap gets bigger.

The 2005 WJC team is a good example. Consider how that roster would do against NHL teams now, with them all adults. There is some serious talent on that team, and even now it's very questionable, because of the depth, the blue line, and the goaltending. Now consider that in 2005 they still had a lot of growing and developing to do, back in 2005.

These guys are still at an age where two or three years is a massive difference for them physically. There are always exceptions, and some people just mature more quickly, but on average even a well conditioned 18-19 year old is going to have real issues against a well conditioned 22 year old.