World Cup of Hockey Preview: Team North America
As we continue rolling through our previews of Group B, we continue with Team North America.
- Group A previews: Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe and Team USA.
Group B:
Team Finland
Team North America
Team Russia
Team Sweden
Team North America is the only roster that does not have a single current Blackhawks player, but Chicago fans will undoubtedly still cheer for Brandon Saad. This team has the last four Number One overall picks: Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Aaron Ekblad (2014), Connor McDavid (2015) and Auston Matthews (2016). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011) is a fifth top overall selection on this roster; the missing piece to six straight Number One picks is Nail Yakupov (2012).
ROSTER
Forwards:
Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets
Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
Defensemen:
Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers
Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets
Goaltenders:
John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins
All games played at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. All times below are EST.
Round-Robin Schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 18 – Team North America @ Team Finland, 8 PM, ESPN2
Monday, Sept. 19 – Team Russia @ Team North America, 8 PM, ESPN2
Wednesday, Sept. 21 – Team North America @ Team Sweden, 3 PM, ESPN
The top two teams from the round robin advance to the semifinals, which will be single elimination on Sept. 24-25. The final round is a best of three series with games being played between Sept. 27 and Oct. 1.
This is the team my money will be on. Side note, Frederik Anderson apparently was injured and left an Olympic qualifier against Slovenia.
https://mobile.twitter.com/aj_ranger/status/771726196904235008
really like this team as well but don’t think they can beat Team Canada in a best of 3
Brandon Saad is good at hockey! That is all
Well now , i feel like this tourney is turning into a real love in – hug fest,.,.,The boys who could not make their Country team, Canada ,U.S.A ,Mexico,.,.just for the Trump lovers down south ,.,.get loaded up on the Funk Train Team,.,.,Bettmans Boys,.,.,.., ,kinder ,gentler ,hockey buds . This has Bettmans stamp of bullshit approval ,all over it . Remember when this tourney meant something??/????? ME NEITHER !!!,.,.,
Stop the insanity,.,.,nuff said . Now all you fellas with that shit eating ,hockey,s just around the corner,grin on your face just wipe it off,.,.Cause if Price or Kane or You know who gets hurt ,.,.will it really be worth it ??/??/?/?/? NO.
Feeling the love ,.,HawkHead .
Question about waiting moderation-
Tab-what brings that on? Sometimes it makes no sense?
…OK, I’ll admit it / this proves it = I’m just a (hockey/Blackhawks fan) curmudgeon. I believe this (World Cup of Hockey) is all just a grand money-grab BULLSHIT.
Consider (possible) injuries, fatigue, etc.
As far as any spectacle, representing one’s country – who (the f#ck) cares, really? October 12 the season begins.
(…thanks for listening.)