Team North America, comprised of the best American and Canadian hockey players age 23 and under as of Oct. 1, is set to turn heads at the World Cup of Hockey.
The squad, put together by Peter Chiarelli and Stan Bowman, will fly. Head coach Todd McLellan may have the fastest team in the tournament.
Here's what we project North America's lines to look like:
Forwards
It's a center-heavy group, led by Connor McDavid, and while a number of middlemen will have to move to the wing, there's skill up and down the lines. This is going to be a fast, fun set of forwards to watch.
LW | C | RW |
---|---|---|
Brandon Saad | Connor McDavid | Jack Eichel |
Johnny Gaudreau | Sean Monahan | Mark Scheifele |
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Nathan MacKinnon | Jonathan Drouin |
Auston Matthews | Sean Couturier | Dylan Larkin |
J.T. Miller |
Picking a left-winger for the top line was a tough decision. Brandon Saad's a finisher, he can hang with McDavid and Jack Eichel, but so can Johnny Gaudreau. In the end, splitting up Gaudreau and Sean Monahan doesn't make sense - they make magic together. And, speaking of magic, McDavid and Eichel. That'll be something.
Auston Matthews' addition to North America was a bit curious, especially since the team lacks right-wingers and right-handed shooters. A natural center, he can't play the position on this club, so he's slotted on what is essentially a checking line, anchored by all-world defensive center Sean Couturier. Perhaps a checking role is good for Matthews, considering the hype around his playing in Toronto for the first time, and the pressure that will come along with doing that.
Mark Scheifele is the perfect complement to the Calgary duo, and don't sleep on that third line. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin are offensive wizards.
Defense
There's skill and shutdown potential on North America's blue line.
Aaron Ekblad highlights the group, while Morgan Rielly will be comfortable playing at the Air Canada Centre.
LD | RD |
---|---|
Shayne Gostisbehere | Aaron Ekblad |
Ryan Murray | Seth Jones |
Morgan Rielly | Colton Parayko |
Jacob Trouba |
Shayne Gostisbehere burst onto the scene last season, and he's earned top-pairing minutes.
Rielly could play with Seth Jones, but it makes the most sense to keep the Columbus Blue Jackets pairing together. While Rielly spent most of last season on the right side, playing with Jake Gardiner, he moves back to the left side on this team.
Goalies
John Gibson's the undisputed No. 1 in Anaheim, and an All-Star, but Matt Murray is a Stanley Cup winner. He gets the nod.
G |
---|
Matt Murray |
John Gibson |
Connor Hellebuyck |
Power Play
This is where Gaudreau gets promoted to the top line. And in order to get MacKinnon on the second unit, he's going to man the point. He's got the shot to do it.
Unit | LW | C | RW | LD | RD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gaudreau | McDavid | Eichel | Gostisbehere | Ekblad |
2 | Saad | Monahan | Scheifele | Rielly | MacKinnon |
Penalty Kill
Couturier, of course, will be relied upon heavily by McLennan shorthanded. This is where Nugent-Hopkins, on the third line at five-on-five, can contribute. And if McLennan decides Trouba fills out the bottom pairing, he'll be a mainstay at four-on-five.
Unit | C | F | LD | RD |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Couturier | Nugent-Hopkins | Murray | Jones |
2 | Monahan | Saad | Rielly | Parayko/Trouba |
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