Olympics: Your Country's 2022 Roster? (Assuming NHL participation)

[jcs0218]

russia went from a glaring weakness on defence to a glaring weakness at center. They have malkin, then a bunch of 4th line quality centres. Wonder if they try converting one of there many great wingers to a center? Kucherov maybe?

They probably end up putting 43 year old Pavel Datsyuk on their 2nd line.

 

[bossram]

Yes, no Erik Karlsson. We already have full of offensive dmans, need some mixed players.

OEL probably shouldn't be on the team at this point either.

 

[waitin425]

Reilly? Which one do you have on the 2nd pair of Team Canada? The only one I can think of is Morgan Reilly????

Marner on line 1, Reilly in top 4, Tavarres as 3C... any chance you're a Leaf Fan?

Habs fan actually

 

[waitin425]

Price and Binnington are almost certainly locks. Price because he's consistently solid (and the only good veteran Canadien goalie left) and Binnington because his clutch playoff performance is absolutely going to win him a spot in a short tournament like this.

More of a general question, but what does Blackwood have to do to eclipse Hart?

Raw number wise they seem pretty even. Blackwood has arguably had better numbers accounting for team quality, but that doesn't mean much in a tournament like this. Seems like the biggest difference is Hart has posted solid numbers in big situations (NHL playoffs, WJC, WC) whereas Blackwood's biggest stage (WJC) he struggled mightily.

I really like Hart's compusure. He screams big game player. Totally eye test thing.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

took a stab at the 25-man USA roster as of today.....

Jack Eichel
Auston Matthews
Dylan Larkin
Kyle Connor
Alex DeBrincat
Johnny Gaudreau
Blake Wheeler
Jack Hughes
Patrick Kane
Brock Boeser
Brady Tkachuk
Matt Tkachuk
Anders Lee
Jake Guentzel

John Carlson
Quinn Hughes
Seth Jones
Charlie McAvoy
Zach Werenski
Jaccob Slavin
Torrey Krug
Adam Fox

Connor Hellebuyck
John Gibson
Ben Bishop

 

[HabsCode]

russia went from a glaring weakness on defence to a glaring weakness at center. They have malkin, then a bunch of 4th line quality centres. Wonder if they try converting one of there many great wingers to a center? Kucherov maybe?

Kuznetsov ?

 

[TopCheese]

Kuznetsov ?

He’s suspended from international tournaments

 

[rocketdan9]

Here's a stab at Team USA:

Forwards (x14):

Kyle Connor - Jack Eichel - Patrick Kane
Jake Guentzel - Auston Matthews - Matthew Tkachuk
Johnny Gaudreau - Dylan Larkin - Blake Wheeler
J.T. Miller - Brock Nelson - Max Pacioretty
Brock Boeser
Extra: Chris Kreider

Defense (x8):

Jaccob Slavin - John Carlson
Ryan Suter - Charlie McAvoy
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Torey Krug
Extra: Brett Pesce

Goalies (x3):

Connor Hellebuyck
Ben Bishop
John Gibson
​

Notes:

• Definitely capable of bringing home gold but the top teams are all very good and everyone is still chasing Team Canada.
• The deepest pool and best 'paper' Team USA since the '90s teams.
• USAH would characteristically try to jam some undeserving and unnecessary role players on the team (paging Trevor Lewis and Jack Johnson) but I ignored that for now.
• I didn't bother projecting the progression of our youngest players since it's so variable. There are a few really young guys (i.e. Quinn Hughes) who deserve consideration now and would be on this team if they keep it up.
• Other players I considered:
  • Forward: T.J. Oshie, Brady Tkachuk, Alex DeBrincat, Kevin Hayes, Cam Atkinson
  • Defense: Quinn Hughes, Jacob Trouba, Brandon Carlo, Ryan McDonagh
  • Goalie: None
• Some impressive young and/or newly emerged players to monitor if they can build on their notable current play:
  • Forward: Brady Tkachuk, Bryan Rust
  • Defense: Quinn Hughes, Neal Pionk, Adam Fox, John Marino
  • Goalie: None
• Player pool depth is at a point where they can/should start considering player enthusiasm for USAH (with limits, so more for toss-up decisions and/or lower-end roster selections):
  • A guy like Trocheck (among others like Yandle, etc.) is good enough to be under consideration for a 4th/5th center role but he can't be bothered to play for Team USA despite continual invites.
  • Whereas a guy like Brock Nelson continually shows up for USAH (and is also currently playing better) and should get extra consideration for it. The same goes for a guy like Kreider.
• None of the "old guard" should be under consideration beyond Ryan Suter as he's still a top player. The rest of those guys (Parise, Quick, Stastny, Brown, etc.) did a lot for USAH but their time at this level should be over.

Pretty good stuff

for my lines, I would just tweak a few lines

Forwards (x14):

J.T. Miller - Jack Eichel - Patrick Kane
Kyle Connor - Auston Matthews - Max Pacioretty
Johnny Gaudreau - Dylan Larkin - Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel- Brock Nelson -Blake Wheeler
Brock Boeser
Extra: Chris Kreider, Charlie Coyle

Defense (x8):

Jaccob Slavin - John Carlson
Ryan Suter - Charlie McAvoy
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Torey Krug
Extra: Brett Pesce

Goalies (x3):

Connor Hellebuyck
Ben Bishop
John Gibson​

 

[rocketdan9]

Poland.

Lyszczarczyk - Szczechura - Chmielewski
Dziubiński - Komorski - Kapica
Kolusz - Wronka - Zygmunt
Lewandowski - Sawicki - Mroczkowski


Dronia - Bryk
Pociecha - Kruczek
Wajda - Rompkowski

Murray
Raszka

kudos to you. Haven't heard of these players. The last player from Poland I recall is Mariusz Czerkawski

 

[rocketdan9]

It always blows my mind. Whatever the next 7 D are (Dahlin, Klef, Larsson etc) that got cut, they would all be starters for the Czechs.lol

Czechboy, what are the lines for the Czech team?

I assume Krejci, Pastrnak, Zboril will make it?

 

[Czechboy]

Czechboy, what are the lines for the Czech team?

I assume Krejci, Pastrnak, Zboril will make it?

Krejci may be retired from National team. Not sure if he goes. I hope he does as he'd be our 2C behind Hertl.

Our team is as good as it's been in years but won't be a medal contender but could be a pain in the ass as we are decent to good in most areas:

Also, Czechs like to take Euro players over NHL players becuase of politics or something so they won't send an all NHL team despite having a good all NHL team.

Forwards
C - Krejci, Hertl, Faksa, Necas, Zacha, Nosek
W - Pastrnak, Vrana, Chytil, Kubalik, Zadina, Palat, Simon (punches above his weigh in international competition), O. Kase, Voracek

Note: I assume they make one of those C's play Wing

D - Zboril, Hajek, Simek, Kempny, Rutta, Gudas and Hronek

G - Francouz, Mrazek, Rittich, Vanecek/Dostal

But you have to add in that they will bring guys like J. Kovar and D. Jaskin and leave NHLer's behind. They'll also probably bring a Euro goalie who is doing well and, somehow, have him start in the elimination game while benching 2 NHL goalies.

 

[the4thlinegrinder]

American fans- any chance that Yamamoto can play himself onto the US roster or at least into the conversation over the next year?

 

[Chevx]

Krejci may be retired from National team. Not sure if he goes. I hope he does as he'd be our 2C behind Hertl.

Our team is as good as it's been in years but won't be a medal contender but could be a pain in the ass as we are decent to good in most areas:

Also, Czechs like to take Euro players over NHL players becuase of politics or something so they won't send an all NHL team despite having a good all NHL team.

Forwards
C - Krejci, Hertl, Faksa, Necas, Zacha, Nosek
W - Pastrnak, Vrana, Chytil, Kubalik, Zadina, Palat, Simon (punches above his weigh in international competition), O. Kase, Voracek

Note: I assume they make one of those C's play Wing

D - Zboril, Hajek, Simek, Kempny, Rutta, Gudas and Hronek

G - Francouz, Mrazek, Rittich, Vanecek/Dostal

But you have to add in that they will bring guys like J. Kovar and D. Jaskin and leave NHLer's behind. They'll also probably bring a Euro goalie who is doing well and, somehow, have him start in the elimination game while benching 2 NHL goalies.

Absolutely agree with the expectations and the possibility of taking the players from Europe into account. I would consider some defensemen (actually bunch of them - Jeřábek, Mozík, Šustr) as well as Hynek Zohorna or Lukáš Radil next to Kovář and Jaškin. We have some decent young wingers from the NHL so Jaškin would have to be in favour of our coach, but Kovář is my choice for 2nd/3rd C if Krejčí does not make the team.

I'm gonna contribute with the solely NHL line up of my choice. As of now, I see it as following (not taking the injuries into account):

Forwards (14+1):

Ondřej Palát - David Krejčí - David Pastrňák
Jakub Vrána - Tomáš Hertl - Jakub Voráček
Dominik Kubalík - Radek Faksa - Martin Nečas
Filip Chytil - Tomáš Nosek - Ondřej Kaše
Martin Kaut - Filip Zadina
Extra: Michael Frolík/Dominik Simon

Defense (7):

Michal Kempný - Filip Hronek
Jakub Zbořil - Jan Rutta
Radim Šimek - Radko Gudas
Libor Hájek

Goalies (3):

Petr Mrázek
Pavel Francouz
Vítek Vaněček​

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Canada as of Today....

MacKinnon - McDavid - Marner - elite scary speed plus elite skill....All three can score like maniacs...only concern is someone to do the dirty work but they may not need it...could bring Stone up here to work the corners
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron - Nothing needs to be said about this trio
Stamkos - Tavares - Barzal - Stamkos will be a deadly finisher
ROR - Point - Stone - Perfect shut down line
Huberdeau and Schiefele are your extras

Pietrangelo - Makar - veteran keadership with you superstar
Reilly - Weber - Weber is still a dominating force in front of the net. His leadership is needed and he has a bomb from the point
Theodore - Doughty - speedy offensive minded D pair
Morrisey

Price
Hart
Binnington

I don't think they'll pair McDavid and Marner. Both of them pass too much and will put all of the pressure on MacKinnon to score.

Maybe, MacKinnon - McDavid - Scheifele is a good fit?

I would also have ROR at center for faceoffs. He's brilliant in the dot.

In the end, it's the six defensemen that are going to take up most of the discussion because it can go in all sorts of directions. I expect them to go with a more experienced six, so your version fits the bill. Although, I feel they're going to include Parayko in the top 6.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Absolutely agree with the expectations and the possibility of taking the players from Europe into account. I would consider some defensemen (actually bunch of them - Jeřábek, Mozík, Šustr) as well as Hynek Zohorna or Lukáš Radil next to Kovář and Jaškin. We have some decent young wingers from the NHL so Jaškin would have to be in favour of our coach, but Kovář is my choice for 2nd/3rd C if Krejčí does not make the team.

I'm gonna contribute with the solely NHL line up of my choice. As of now, I see it as following (not taking the injuries into account):

Forwards (14+1):

Ondřej Palát - David Krejčí - David Pastrňák
Jakub Vrána - Tomáš Hertl - Jakub Voráček
Dominik Kubalík - Radek Faksa - Martin Nečas
Filip Chytil - Tomáš Nosek - Ondřej Kaše
Martin Kaut - Filip Zadina
Extra: Michael Frolík/Dominik Simon

Defense (7):

Michal Kempný - Filip Hronek
Jakub Zbořil - Jan Rutta
Radim Šimek - Radko Gudas
Libor Hájek

Goalies (3):

Petr Mrázek
Pavel Francouz
Vítek Vaněček​

That looks like a pretty good roster. I like the way you put the forward lines together. I have been doing some lines for Czech Republic myself, but I think that top 9 is almost the best you can do.

First line is great and I hope that Krejci plays in this tournament. He is getting old yet he's deadly in playoffs and I am sure he would be an excellent 1st line center. Palat can play with Stamkos and Point so I am sure he would do well with the Boston guys. Pastrnak is obviously the biggest star.

Second line a lot of offensive potential. Hertl is magic and Vrana has proven to be a goal scoring threat on NHL level. Voracek brings veteranship and he can feed his linemates. With third line I like their potential of two way play. Kubalik can score, Necas can hustle and Faksa can cover for them. They would bring nice energy.

Fourth line is the only one I would change. I don't know if you forgot Zacha but he would be excellent defensive center for that line. Kase has injury problems all the time, which have harmed his development. Zadina has more potential and he has surpassed Kase. Also, I would consider putting Zadina on the 3rd line and moving Necas down to make a good defence line of Chytil-Zacha-Necas. Zadina on the 3rd would make that line more of a scoring threat, but Faksa can still cover for his wingers.

Obviously the weakness of Czech team is the defence. At the moment it is uncertain how Kempny recovers from his injury. That would be a big loss for them. Also, even if he makes it I see a problem with the lack of puckmovers. Hronek is great but it's quite thin after that. Zboril has been a nice surprise this season and should make the team. I would consider taking a puck mover from Europe. I am not that familiar with Czechs playing in Europe, but that lineup needs more offensive defencemen. Maybe drop Simek for someone?

Goaltending situation is fair. They are not perfect goaltenders, which is why the defence has to work in order for the goalkeeper to succeed.

I am doubtful that Czech Republic will be competing for a medal. They are going to be annoying against the best countries and everyone needs to keep their guard up. There are a lot of scoring wingers on the lineup who are dangerous. I see Czechs beating at least one of the better teams.

 

[Czechboy]

Absolutely agree with the expectations and the possibility of taking the players from Europe into account. I would consider some defensemen (actually bunch of them - Jeřábek, Mozík, Šustr) as well as Hynek Zohorna or Lukáš Radil next to Kovář and Jaškin. We have some decent young wingers from the NHL so Jaškin would have to be in favour of our coach, but Kovář is my choice for 2nd/3rd C if Krejčí does not make the team.

I'm gonna contribute with the solely NHL line up of my choice. As of now, I see it as following (not taking the injuries into account):

Forwards (14+1):

Ondřej Palát - David Krejčí - David Pastrňák
Jakub Vrána - Tomáš Hertl - Jakub Voráček
Dominik Kubalík - Radek Faksa - Martin Nečas
Filip Chytil - Tomáš Nosek - Ondřej Kaše
Martin Kaut - Filip Zadina
Extra: Michael Frolík/Dominik Simon

Defense (7):

Michal Kempný - Filip Hronek
Jakub Zbořil - Jan Rutta
Radim Šimek - Radko Gudas
Libor Hájek

Goalies (3):

Petr Mrázek
Pavel Francouz
Vítek Vaněček​

Great lineup! I'd love to see this team play.

The only Czech in the NHL that annoys me is Zacha but I think he'd be a real good 3C option and read an article from Pesan saying something similar. He plays big minutes and is a very good PK guy. He is also very big! So a bottom 6 around him, Nosek and Faksa would be a solid bottom 6 down the middle.

The only guy I'd really want from Europe on D next year would be Dominik Masin. Filip Kral seems to be establishing himself at a much quicker pace than I expected as well.

Calgary seems to have ruined 2 of my favs in Big Save Dave (0-2 and plays about every 2 weeks) and Frolik.haha

It is a shame thought that we will never see a team like this.

 

[Czechboy]

That looks like a pretty good roster. I like the way you put the forward lines together. I have been doing some lines for Czech Republic myself, but I think that top 9 is almost the best you can do.

First line is great and I hope that Krejci plays in this tournament. He is getting old yet he's deadly in playoffs and I am sure he would be an excellent 1st line center. Palat can play with Stamkos and Point so I am sure he would do well with the Boston guys. Pastrnak is obviously the biggest star.

Second line a lot of offensive potential. Hertl is magic and Vrana has proven to be a goal scoring threat on NHL level. Voracek brings veteranship and he can feed his linemates. With third line I like their potential of two way play. Kubalik can score, Necas can hustle and Faksa can cover for them. They would bring nice energy.

Fourth line is the only one I would change. I don't know if you forgot Zacha but he would be excellent defensive center for that line. Kase has injury problems all the time, which have harmed his development. Zadina has more potential and he has surpassed Kase. Also, I would consider putting Zadina on the 3rd line and moving Necas down to make a good defence line of Chytil-Zacha-Necas. Zadina on the 3rd would make that line more of a scoring threat, but Faksa can still cover for his wingers.

Obviously the weakness of Czech team is the defence. At the moment it is uncertain how Kempny recovers from his injury. That would be a big loss for them. Also, even if he makes it I see a problem with the lack of puckmovers. Hronek is great but it's quite thin after that. Zboril has been a nice surprise this season and should make the team. I would consider taking a puck mover from Europe. I am not that familiar with Czechs playing in Europe, but that lineup needs more offensive defencemen. Maybe drop Simek for someone?

Goaltending situation is fair. They are not perfect goaltenders, which is why the defence has to work in order for the goalkeeper to succeed.

I am doubtful that Czech Republic will be competing for a medal. They are going to be annoying against the best countries and everyone needs to keep their guard up. There are a lot of scoring wingers on the lineup who are dangerous. I see Czechs beating at least one of the better teams.

I agree with all your points as well.

Simek is off to a slow start but he is excellent. Need Kempny to be healthy but it will be midseason so that might help. Do we have a puckmover in Europe? Guys like Masin, Sustr, Jerabek are all good but not puck movers. Given all the medal winners will be mostly NHL players I'd prefer, always, that we send NHL players who are used to them.

I definitely think it won't be like the Juniors where we expect to lose games 7-0. I think all our games would be close and competitive. Agree that I don't expect us to medal but that team really doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. Obviously nothing like a Makar/Hedman or a McDavid/Mack or a Price/Vasilievsky but it's a damn good team IMO and Pasta is in the Top 10 conversation.

 

[Czechboy]

Forwards (14+1):

Ondřej Palát - David Krejčí - David Pastrňák
Jakub Vrána - Tomáš Hertl - Jakub Voráček
Dominik Kubalík - Radek Faksa - Martin Nečas
Filip Chytil - Tomáš Nosek - Ondřej Kaše
Martin Kaut - Filip Zadina
Extra: Michael Frolík/Dominik Simon

Defense (7):

Michal Kempný - Filip Hronek
Jakub Zbořil - Jan Rutta
Radim Šimek - Radko Gudas
Libor Hájek

Goalies (3):

Petr Mrázek
Pavel Francouz
Vítek Vaněček

I forgot to add... if you look at this team, it's also a very strong backbone for the 2026 Olympics. I know that's far away but Pastrnak, Vrana, Hertl, Kubalik, Faksa, Necas, Chytil, Kaut, Zadina, Hronek, Zboril, Hajek and Vanecek should all be near their primes still. Toss in a Dostal/Vladar/Korenar/Skarek and a Svozil/Has/Jiricek/Kral and a Jenik/Lauko/Teply/Mysak and it's quite a good team in 2026. I get lots of things can change but the pipeline really isn't that bad! Most of our best players are all young like Pasta and Hronek and we do have some good prospects in every position.

Also, agree that a Zohorna will crack that lineup! Hopefully it is the NHL one and he is a regular for the Pens!

 

[Czechboy]

American fans- any chance that Yamamoto can play himself onto the US roster or at least into the conversation over the next year?

I'm an Oil fan and he's been amazing this year. A legit Top 6 presence (we only have 4 of those). He's great with great players and I think he'd be a strong addition by then. Last year he played half the season at near a .ppg pace and he seems to be on a similar pace this year. Of course, the US are deep at forward and that is not an easy roster to crack at all!

 

[Rabid Ranger]

American fans- any chance that Yamamoto can play himself onto the US roster or at least into the conversation over the next year?

I could see him being part of an evaluation camp invite but i don't think he has a chance at the final roster.

 

[Chevx]

That looks like a pretty good roster. I like the way you put the forward lines together. I have been doing some lines for Czech Republic myself, but I think that top 9 is almost the best you can do.

First line is great and I hope that Krejci plays in this tournament. He is getting old yet he's deadly in playoffs and I am sure he would be an excellent 1st line center. Palat can play with Stamkos and Point so I am sure he would do well with the Boston guys. Pastrnak is obviously the biggest star.

Second line a lot of offensive potential. Hertl is magic and Vrana has proven to be a goal scoring threat on NHL level. Voracek brings veteranship and he can feed his linemates. With third line I like their potential of two way play. Kubalik can score, Necas can hustle and Faksa can cover for them. They would bring nice energy.

Fourth line is the only one I would change. I don't know if you forgot Zacha but he would be excellent defensive center for that line. Kase has injury problems all the time, which have harmed his development. Zadina has more potential and he has surpassed Kase. Also, I would consider putting Zadina on the 3rd line and moving Necas down to make a good defence line of Chytil-Zacha-Necas. Zadina on the 3rd would make that line more of a scoring threat, but Faksa can still cover for his wingers.

Obviously the weakness of Czech team is the defence. At the moment it is uncertain how Kempny recovers from his injury. That would be a big loss for them. Also, even if he makes it I see a problem with the lack of puckmovers. Hronek is great but it's quite thin after that. Zboril has been a nice surprise this season and should make the team. I would consider taking a puck mover from Europe. I am not that familiar with Czechs playing in Europe, but that lineup needs more offensive defencemen. Maybe drop Simek for someone?

Goaltending situation is fair. They are not perfect goaltenders, which is why the defence has to work in order for the goalkeeper to succeed.

I am doubtful that Czech Republic will be competing for a medal. They are going to be annoying against the best countries and everyone needs to keep their guard up. There are a lot of scoring wingers on the lineup who are dangerous. I see Czechs beating at least one of the better teams.

Yes, I guess we can all pretty much agree that advancing to the semifinals would be considered as a success, which is actually sad, but let's face the truth. I think we would overplay the weaker opponents offensively as the clashes against the better teams would need a compact performance with extremely effective PP and PK.

Czechboy quite commented the Zacha situation - he is basically not in a favour of the hockey fans, but as was pointed out, he would be great defensively and is accustomed to the high tempo. I also considered putting Kubalík to the second line at first, but I can see Voráček/Vrána and Nečas/Kubalík synergies as a better option. You are right with Zadina as well, but if a threw him to the third line, I would pair him with Nečas instead of Kubalík. And eventually, I would prefer Frolík and Kaše on the bench and Kaut as an extra forward in this scenario.

 

[Chevx]

I forgot to add... if you look at this team, it's also a very strong backbone for the 2026 Olympics. I know that's far away but Pastrnak, Vrana, Hertl, Kubalik, Faksa, Necas, Chytil, Kaut, Zadina, Hronek, Zboril, Hajek and Vanecek should all be near their primes still. Toss in a Dostal/Vladar/Korenar/Skarek and a Svozil/Has/Jiricek/Kral and a Jenik/Lauko/Teply/Mysak and it's quite a good team in 2026. I get lots of things can change but the pipeline really isn't that bad! Most of our best players are all young like Pasta and Hronek and we do have some good prospects in every position.

Also, agree that a Zohorna will crack that lineup! Hopefully it is the NHL one and he is a regular for the Pens!

I very much agree with all you have mentioned, I just hope we are not heavily starry-eyed you know...

Just some points to add to your previous reply. Regardless Zacha's future performance, I would still prefer Faksa and Nosek as the defensive/checking centres. For me it's more of a choice between Zacha and Faksa than Zacha and Nosek. But it is my point of view of not very objective nature, hehe.

I totally forgot Mašín, so yes, he would possibly be paired with Gudas. And I have also forgotten to mention Galvas, I think he has a great career in front of him. Jeřábek, Šustr or Mozík are other possibilities for 2022 as for 2026 we would probable have to depend on Zbořil and Hronek with hope that Svozil/Král/Haš would make it to the NHL (Rutta, Kempný and Gudas will all be 36).

As I replied earlier, the collective, gritty and penalties-lacking playstyle with the effective special teams would decide about the success of our team. The PP lines would actually be quite dangerous (something like Pastrňák-Kempný-Krejčí-Palát-Kubalík and Hronek-Voráček-Vrána-Hertl-Nečas seems pretty good and balanced).

I actually meant Hynek Zohorna from KHL, not Radim Zohorna from Pittsburgh, hehe.

Probably forgot something, but as I see it, we still have (and possibly will have) a team that can compete when all the best players are put together. The main and obvious difference is that our poll is not that broad as in the case of the Scandinavian team, not mentioning Russia, USA and Canada.

 

[Czechboy]

I very much agree with all you have mentioned, I just hope we are not heavily starry-eyed you know...

Just some points to add to your previous reply. Regardless Zacha's future performance, I would still prefer Faksa and Nosek as the defensive/checking centres. For me it's more of a choice between Zacha and Faksa than Zacha and Nosek. But it is my point of view of not very objective nature, hehe.

I totally forgot Mašín, so yes, he would possibly be paired with Gudas. And I have also forgotten to mention Galvas, I think he has a great career in front of him. Jeřábek, Šustr or Mozík are other possibilities for 2022 as for 2026 we would probable have to depend on Zbořil and Hronek with hope that Svozil/Král/Haš would make it to the NHL (Rutta, Kempný and Gudas will all be 36).

As I replied earlier, the collective, gritty and penalties-lacking playstyle with the effective special teams would decide about the success of our team. The PP lines would actually be quite dangerous (something like Pastrňák-Kempný-Krejčí-Palát-Kubalík and Hronek-Voráček-Vrána-Hertl-Nečas seems pretty good and balanced).

I actually meant Hynek Zohorna from KHL, not Radim Zohorna from Pittsburgh, hehe.

Probably forgot something, but as I see it, we still have (and possibly will have) a team that can compete when all the best players are put together. The main and obvious difference is that our poll is not that broad as in the case of the Scandinavian team, not mentioning Russia, USA and Canada.

Agreed, Galvas seems to be trending towards NHL. Blackhawks might have a deep Czech colony soon! Kampf, Kubalik, Kurtil, Teply and Galvas.

Those PP lines are good.. our PK good be quite good too as we have some hard working skaters.... Palat, Zacha, Nosek, Faksa, Gudas, Hronek are all nice pieces for a good PK.

Don't forget Hajek.. he's pretty close to getting another crack at the NHL I think.

We went a long time without any pure snipers but now guys like Vrana, Kubalik and Pastrnak are established as goal scorers. That is a nice change. I expect Zadina on that list soon too.

Definitely right that we can be competitive but the Big 5 are much deeper. Swedes with their D, Russia with their Goalies, Canada/US with their everything and Finns have some awesome young talent and Heiskenan (we need one of those).

Of our D, I could see Hronek maybe making 1 or 2 of the Big 5 squads (Russia and Finland). Pastrnak, I think, would make all of the big 5 squads. Hertl might crack a few rosters. Hard to say.

I am thrilled that we have 4 NHL goalies this season. Vladar/Dostal/Skarek/Korenar - one of those guys might break through soon.

I'm also positive I missed a few things.lol

 

[t0nedeff]

I don't think they'll pair McDavid and Marner. Both of them pass too much and will put all of the pressure on MacKinnon to score.

Maybe, MacKinnon - McDavid - Scheifele is a good fit?

I would also have ROR at center for faceoffs. He's brilliant in the dot.

In the end, it's the six defensemen that are going to take up most of the discussion because it can go in all sorts of directions. I expect them to go with a more experienced six, so your version fits the bill. Although, I feel they're going to include Parayko in the top 6.

Lol Mcdavid last 3 seasons goal totals 41, 41, and 34 in 64 games......I'm sure the pressure to score will be on Mackinnon.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Lol Mcdavid last 3 seasons goal totals 41, 41, and 34 in 64 games......I'm sure the pressure to score will be on Mackinnon.

Yes, I am aware of that and probably worded it wrong.

My point is it's more about optimizing your first line and getting the most out of McDavid.

He's at his best creating separation, using his vision, and passing that puck making it important to have two high-quality shooters finishing those chances. Even if he decides to take it straight to the net for a shot, just having the threat of two shooters makes it easier on him due to the open space it creates.

Team Canada will have a long list of quality forwards to choose from. They can create the perfect line for him and I don't feel like that means tagging another playmaker such as Marner on his wing.