World Cup of Hockey Impact Players and Teams Roundtable
World Cup of Hockey: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
World Cup of Hockey action is underway with exhibition games, the writers here at Puck Prose weigh in on their odds on the favorite team to win the tournament, and the player that they think will be the biggest impact player in the tournament.
I don’t imagine there is one hockey fan out there that is clamoring for the NHL to get out of the World Cup of Hockey. Younger players get more playing time; hockey fans get to watch more hockey. Pre-season games are very vanilla as star players get lower minutes and don’t dress as prospects and fringe players try to make the team; the World Cup is an international tournament gives both players and fans the chance to see real hockey played for a reason.
Pre-season games are very vanilla as star players get lower minutes and don’t dress. Prospects and fringe players try to make the team. The World Cup is an international tournament gives both players and fans the chance to see real hockey played for a reason.
It will be interesting to see if the World Cup of Hockey was instituted again as an international tournament because the NHL is looking to get out of the Olympics. With players still wanting to represent their countries – this could be a match made in heaven.
What team is going to prevail in the World Cup of Hockey? Who are the impact players going to be? We turn to our resident experts, the writers here at Puck Prose to get their opinion in our World Cup of Hockey Roundtable.
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Bryan Nelson, Contributor
I would like to see Europe have success in the tournament for the purpose of Europe’s hockey scene growing. But I don’t expect the team to go far. Team North America is the most interesting because of the young talent it has. Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Nathan Mackinnon, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Geesh I get excited just thinking about it.
It’s a team with the youngest talent in the NHL. Team North America is the future of the entire National Hockey League. These guys know each other because they’ve played against one another in juniors, or they were drafted alongside one another. And while some may think that a younger squad may lack the experience needed to win such a tournament, the energy, and skill that these guys bring is unparalleled.
World Cup of Hockey Impact Player
Connor McDavid
Center, Team North America
I’ve been a big fan of Connor McDavid. And I think he’ll have the biggest impact for North America. If he can step up as a leader, and show off his playmaking prowess, then North America’s scorers will have no problem putting the puck in the back of the net.Next: Doug Praskach - Contributor
Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Doug Praskach, Contributor
It appears that there is one team above the rest than a group of three or four who are a step below. It’s hard to believe that Team Canada will not win this tournament. Goaltending is huge in a short series like this and they will have to choose between the past two Vezina winners in Carey Price or Braden Holtby. That takes some really tough coaching to decide who you want in net.
The Canadians are so deep with talent and scoring ability that it will be a huge surprise if they don’t top the tournament. Add to that the fact that they are the hosting country in Canada’s most important sport and it’s inconceivable that they lose this tourney. And yet…anything can happen when you get to the playoffs and it’s one game and you’re out. A lucky bounce or deflection and you could be playing for third.
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With that in mind, let’s look at who could challenge. Finland and Sweden are both teams that have done well in recent international tournaments and have more chemistry playing together than even the Canadians. The USA squad should have a relatively easy path to the playoffs as they look to be in the easier Group A with possibly the two worst teams in the Czech Republic and Team Europe.
If you want a dark horse candidate though, Team North America with the under-23 squad could be a big spoiler. The team has a combination of youthful confidence, speed and less pressure from expectations that could translate into a spot on the podium. They have lines of Jonathan Drouin, Connor McDavid, and Mark Scheifele, then Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel and Brandon Saad, a third of Auston Mathews, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nathan MacKinnon, and a fourth of Dylan Larkin, Sean Couturier and Vincent Trocheck. Wow.
With Aaron Ekblad, Shayne Gostisbehere, Seth Jones and Ryan Murray on defense and Matt Murray in net, this team could show that like the Penguins in the Stanley Cup, speed kills and they could be the surprise of the World Cup. The young players are also much more used to this kind of tournament. They started off with a 4-0 win against Team Europe and could be the team to watch.
World Cup of Hockey Impact Player
I have two players that could really impact the tournament.
Steven Stamkos
C, Team Canada
Steven Stamkos might want this a little more than other vets. He missed both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, one to youth and the second to injury. He would love to be on the winning team for his country.
Matt Murray
G, Team North America
A hot goaltender can really impact a tournament like this and if Murray can make the stops and release his speedy forwards to push up the ice, he could be the difference maker in the entire World Cup.
Sep 9, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Team Canada forward Ryan Getzlaf (15) plays the puck in the third period against Team USA during a World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament game at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Megan Cox – Contributor
My bias may be showing through on this, but during the World Cup of Hockey, I’ll be looking to Team Canada in terms of overall success. While I don’t think that we should expect anything less than top-notch hockey from Team North America and Team USA, the players of Team Canada will most certainly have the added pressure that comes with representing their home and native land (I think it helps that Canada is hosting as well).
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On the world scale, Team Canada has excelled in most of its incarnations, whether it be at the junior or professional level. And given a less than stellar showing in the 2016 World Juniors (in which Team Canada did not pass the quarter-final round), I think both the country and the team will be chomping at the bit to have something to cheer about.
That being said, I think that Team North America is where we should be looking to in terms of individual player successes. Fan favourites such as Dylan Larkin and Nathan MacKinnon are coming off excellent seasons personally with their respective teams, and with Matt Murray impressing us all during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I think it’s safe to say that he’s looking for a repeat performance in terms of goaltending greatness.
I think that Team North America will overall be the most exciting team to watch – with the combination of exciting young players and playing at an international level, I think we can expect to see a lot of spectacular saves and a lot of great goals.
Sep 9, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; A view of the Team USA and Team Canada logos on the boards prior to the World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament game at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Aly Dhanani – Contributor
Well, I have to say Canada. They have the most talent of any team in the tournament, and no doubt a chip on their shoulder from Friday night’s exhibition game loss against the United States. Once their forward corps gets going, watch out. Jamie Benn was a bigger loss than some people think, as Benn was the only power forward in the lineup, but Canada still has, like twenty other superstars who can raise their game and make up for it.
My only concern is the bottom defense pairings. Can Jay Bouwmeester and Jake Muzzin keep up with the elite pace of the World Cup? That said, Canada has three all-world goaltenders in Carey Price, Braden Holtby & Corey Crawford.
Honorable Mentions: North America, US, Finland
Impact player is a difficult question, as every team is full of top-tier players who are all capable of making a big impact. For this question, I’m going to give you one goalie and one player as my answer. Jonathan Quick was amazing in net on Friday and if he keeps playing like the way he is now, I think USA is just as big of a contender as Canada. Matt Murray is also very crucial to North America’s success.
Generally, goalies are the difference makers in international tournaments. So, choosing a player who would make the biggest impact is hard. But I see a good candidate for tournament MVP in Erik Karlsson. The Swedes have no dynamic forwards on their roster who can carry the puck from blue line to blue line. The Sedin twins and Henrik Zetterberg used to, but they are aging and will get most of their points on power plays, not off the rush. But in Karlsson, Sweden has that crucial component on defense who can join the rush, carry the puck up the ice, and act as a 4th forward.
Sep 8, 2016; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Logo of the World Cup of Hockey 2016 (Coupe du Monde de Hockey 2016) is seen on the scoreboard during the World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament game at Videotron Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Ritchie – Site Expert
While odds would suggest that Canada is the runaway favorite in this tournament, the team I’m hoping will have the most success is the newly formed 23-and-under Team North America squad.
When NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league’s intention to introduce a qualifying tournament for smaller countries in 2020, he sent the message that North America and Europe are nothing more than one-time fillers. With many in the hockey world already devising their own future plans with experimental teams, how do you tell Team North America they’re not allowed back after a top three finish?
If history tells us anything, it’s that qualifying nations have a tendency to get pummeled on the international stage – isn’t that something we’re trying to avoid?
World Cup of Hockey Impact Player
Johnny Gaudreau
Left Wing, Team North America
Given his current situation with the Flames, I’m looking for Johnny Gaudreau to make Calgary look foolish over their contract squabble. Reports on Friday suggested that Gaudreau is seeking $8 million/year, putting the two sides $1.5 million dollars apart. If the rumors are accurate, what better way for Johhny Hockey to prove he is entering that elite class of superstars in the NHL.
Dark horse selection:
Vladimir Tarasenko
Right Wing, Team Russia
In a league where defensive systems have stifled creativity, Tarasenko is able to use his speed/acceleration to create extra space for either himself or teammates to create scoring opportunities. If anyone can challenge Alexander Ovechkin for the title of best Russian player, it’s Vladimir Tarasenko.
Sep 5, 2016; Ottawa, ON, Canada; A view of a puck during a practice for the World Cup of Hockey at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Suraj Sukumar – Contributor
As a Canadian, the patriotic side of me wants to see Canada do well in this tournament. They have been very successful on the international stage, and it would be great to see that dominance continue. However, from a more impartial perspective, it would be nice for the North American team to do well. There is plenty of youthful talent in the NHL, and this will be the best exposure they get since the World Junior Championships.
In the end, I do think Canada will be the best team. They have the personnel to go far, and the talent to take on any team in the World Cup. With Carey Price in net, and Sidney Crosby rocking the ‘C’, it would be very difficult to bet against the Canadians this year.
World Cup of Hockey Impact Player
Anze Kopitar
Center, Team Europe
Earlier this week, Kopitar was deemed the captain of Team Europe, and rightfully so. He will have every opportunity to prove his worth, leading an extreme dark horse candidate throughout the World Cup.
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