World Cup rosters being announced

[Kin]

I was at all of Team Canada's games at the last WC of hockey. I can't speak for the other teams, but intensity was NOT an issue at the Canadian games. Everyone in attendance were more than a little excited about the calibre of hockey, fans and players alike.

As disappointed as I am that we disagree about something, Canada tends not to be the problem in these tournaments regardless.

 

[Redleaf]

I was at all of Team Canada's games at the last WC of hockey. I can't speak for the other teams, but intensity was NOT an issue at the Canadian games. Everyone in attendance were more than a little excited about the calibre of hockey, fans and players alike.

As disappointed as I am that we disagree about something, Canada tends not to be the problem in these tournaments regardless.

True dat. So who exactly isn't living up to expectations at this tournament over the years, besides the Russians that is?

 

[hockeyfan1]

The teams that interest me more are Team NA and Team Europe.  Why?  Because the concept is a little unique and hasn't been done before in a WCH Tournament.  The stakes are here,  unlike an NHL All-Star Game.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still be cheering for Team Canada, it's just that this tournament has gotten slightly more interesting considering the changes made to it from the last time.  Going to be good to watch!

 

[ZBBM]

If Matthews gets hurt in this fruitsalad I'm gonna act out real bad.

 

[Zee]

If Matthews gets hurt in this fruitsalad I'm gonna act out real bad.

I'm with you. He better be 100℅ healthy for game 1 with the Leafs

 

[Kin]

True dat. So who exactly isn't living up to expectations at this tournament over the years, besides the Russians that is?

Like I said, I think everyone in the tournament is wiggedy-wiggedy-wiggedy wack.

 

[Redleaf]

If Matthews gets hurt in this fruitsalad I'm gonna act out real bad.

I'm with you. He better be 100℅ healthy for game 1 with the Leafs

Ok. Now for the glass half full...maybe this tournament gives him a major shot in the arm and be just what the kid needs for preparation for life in Toronto. A great tournament for Matthews playing best on best could really boost his confidence heading into his first NHL season.

 

[Kin]

If Matthews gets hurt in this fruitsalad I'm gonna act out real bad.

Although you realize that if he does get hurt now, it's like 75% your fault.

 

[herman]

Sounds like Auston Matthews rotating in at right wing on @TeamNA_WCH's 4th line with JT Miller, Sean Couturier and Vincent Trocheck
? Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) September 5, 2016

https://www.nhl.com/news/team-north-america-has-ability-to-beat-anybody/c-281559546?tid=278386054

Team North America coach Todd McLellan had enviable options for his line combinations. McDavid centered Jonathan Drouin and Mark Scheifele. Jack Eichel lined up with Johnny Gaudreau and Brandon Saad, and Matthews practiced with Nugent-Hopkins and MacKinnon.

[...]

J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck alternated rushes on a line with Dylan Larkin and Sean Couturier.

Defense pairs saw Ekblad practice with Morgan Rielly, Parayko with Shayne Gostisbehere, and Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba alternating turns with Ryan Murray.

McLellan offers some insight into his process:

McLellan chose a unique word to describe McDavid as a player in explaining what he looked for in determining his potential linemates.

"I call him a transporter," McLellan said. "When the puck's on his tape and he gets some speed going, he's a very effective player, so we need a distributor, somebody that can get him the puck in certain situations, and then be ready to get it back. He needs a shooter with him and he needs a distributor, puck-sense guy. And that's how we try and set our lines up in Edmonton with him, and he certainly will be a focal point with this team, I'm well aware of that, but there's a lot of other good players too that we have to build lines around."

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Rielly was paired with Ekblad during the first practice session. It'd be awesome to see him with a partner like that. Also, MacKinnon name-dropped Morgan when discussing potential captains for the team:

Michael Traikos @Michael_Traikos  20 hours ago
MacKinnon on who might be captain: "There?s a lot of guys?Ekblad and Rielly. Obviously there?s McDavid ? that?s an obvious choice for sure."

 

[herman]

Rielly was paired with Ekblad during the first practice session. It'd be awesome to see him with a partner like that.

Also interested to see how much he improves merely playing his strong side.

 

[herman]

Mark Scheifele, who trains with Connor McDavid in the summer, said McDavid is an even faster skater this season.
? Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) September 5, 2016

Replies are joking that Scheifele just got slower; I think Tesla might want to endorse McDavid's new ludicrous mode.

Dylan Larkin and Auston Matthews taking turns on a line with MacKinnon and Nugent-Hopkins.
? Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) September 6, 2016

Pretty please Larkin - Matthews - Eichel?

 

[ZBBM]

If Matthews gets hurt in this fruitsalad I'm gonna act out real bad.

Although you realize that if he does get hurt now, it's like 75% your fault.

Sigh.  Superpowers are a both a blessing and a curse.  (Well, 75% is more like having Goodpowers, but still.)

 

[hockeyfan1]

This WCH Tournament is Steven Stamkos' Olympics:

One of the sport?s finest players has a pretty unique perspective on what the World Cup means.

?It?s huge,? Stamkos said Monday.

?You don?t know when you?re going to get those opportunities again,? said Stamkos. ?With the talent that Canada has, your window?s pretty limited when it comes to these things."

When it came time to make a decision on his status for the 2014 Games, the doctors had an opinion he didn?t want to hear. ?I thought I was ready,? said Stamkos. ?The doc thought no. Tough call.?

He was so devastated that he went on a vacation to the Cayman Islands rather than tracking the tournament closely.

Over in Russia, 12 of his current World Cup teammates went on to form arguably the most dominant Team Canada ever. Stamkos did manage to watch them register the gold-medal victory over Sweden and was later presented with a championship ring by Hockey Canada.

?I didn?t expect anything,? he said of that gesture. ?I was pretty stunned, to say the least. Pretty cool thing to have, obviously, but not quite the same meaning it would have had if you played in the tournament."

?I?m off blood thinners now,? he explained. ?I?m fully in gear ready to go. That wasn?t the case when I played the last game against (the Penguins) ? we were kind of doing some different things. But I?ve been off them now and am fully healthy, excited.

?I?ve had a great summer of training."

There was an enthusiasm about Stamkos after a practice where he skated on a line with John Tavares and Ryan Getzlaf. He also took drills on a power-play unit that included Sidney Crosby, Tavares, Getzlaf and Drew Doughty.

?That?s like a dream come true to be on a power play with those guys,? said Stamkos.

Chris Johnston  @reporterchris
How's this for Team Canada's PP1?
Crosby, Stamkos, Tavares, Getzlaf, Doughty.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/world-cup-of-hockey/steven-stamkos-finally-gets-chance-best-best-hockey/

 

[herman]

ICYMI: Matthews is also slotting in on the 2nd PP unit, and Rielly is practicing with the PK group.

North America power play unit: McDavid, Eichel, Scheifele, Saad and Ekblad.

2nd unit: Gaudreau, Drouin, MacKinnon, Matthews, Ghost/Parayko

Looks like Trocheck and Couturier are top PK forwards, with Rielly and Trouba on defence.

Other PK unit has RNH with Larkin, and Jones and Murray on defence. 
? Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) September 6, 2016

 

[herman]

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-1050/custance-matthews-would-have-easily-made-u-s-national-team-1.562329

Matthews talk starts around 1:50.

 

[Kin]

Team USA has named a Captain(Joe Pavelski), two Alternates(Suter and Kane) and a four man "leadership group".

http://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/694640?referrer_id=701370

I will pay Mike Babcock 20 bucks if he responds with something along the lines of "We think we have a 23 man leadership group".

 

[herman]

Speaking of Babcock:
https://www.nhl.com/news/mike-babcock-has-team-canada-focused-at-world-cup/c-281601970

Some insight on how he works, how he thinks, and what's he's working on with Team Canada.

Babcock blew his whistle and the players jumped into action, moving the puck from their zone, crossing center ice, dumping the puck in the offensive zone and going off for a line change. Over and over again, with Babcock pointing out the times he felt a group would have been called for too many men on the ice. After a few rotations in one direction, Babcock had them go the other way to simulate line changes in the second period.

It was jarring to see a collection of some of the world's greatest hockey players practicing something as second nature as changing lines, but it was a perfect example of the attention to detail Babcock and his coaching staff have brought to this training camp.

No stone will be left unturned this week.

"I thought what we were working on was our line change forecheck," Babcock said when asked why he was practicing line changes. "That's when you give up scoring chances. If you go through the game at the end each night, scoring chances, lots come off line changes. So we were trying not to give up a ton of territory on our line changes."

The first day of practice Monday was devoted to offensive-zone work, including entering the zone, cycling the puck and transitioning back toward the offensive zone. During every drill Babcock was shouting detailed instructions to individual players, where he should be on the ice in a given circumstance, what he should do with the puck.

 

[herman]

Russia has named Ovechkin its Captain, flanked by Malkin and Datsyuk as Alternates.

 

[herman]

In case you cared about the anthem situation, they will be played pre-game. TNA has opted to play both Can and US national anthems. Team EUR has opted to play nothing at all.