Andrew– Morning Trevor… we’re right in the middle of the hockey season, and a very unique and exciting event is set to take place from Feb. 12-20 in Boston and Montreal, with teams of NHL players from Finland, Canada, Sweden and the United States competing in a best on best tournament.
Rosters and schedule have been announced. Which team is the early favorite?
Trevor– My Early favorite? Well it has to be those North of the border in Team Canada. Their forward group is just sublime.
I mean, you’re telling me you get, McDavid, Mackinnon and Crosby down the middle as your 1st, 2nd and 3rd line centers? That’s just unreal and completely unfair.
That said, I feel like they have the shakiest goaltending of all teams.
Am I wrong?
Andrew- No I think youre totally right. If there is a question mark regarding the Canadian team its between the Canadian pipes. The US is strong and deep in nets. Saros for Finland and 3 very good NHLers in nets for Sweden (Markstrom, Ullmark and Gustavsson), round out the other teams options.
Imagine if Russian had a team? In nets theyd be stacked. Shesterkin, Vasilevsky, Bobrovsky, Sorokin, Varlamov… even the young kid Askerov is unbelievable.
Any teams miss on some guys? Which players do you think could have been added who are playing well right now, but didnt make their respective 4 nations roster?
Trevor- While I understand why Russia doesn’t have a team, could you just imagine the entire team overall? What a shame politics and sports collide.
I was quite surprised that guys like Caufield and Debrincat couldn’t find their way onto team USA, but it looks like they went very two-way play heavy. Even that route, not sure how Kreider gets a nod over Tage Thompson.
Scheifele for Canada is another player who has been having a great year but doesn’t make their squad.
Any others you can think of in your own opinion?
Andrew- Tage Thompson is back and had a great game the other day against the Devils. I also think Czechia should have had an entire team! They won the Gold in 1998 with Jagr, Hasek etc., so they are certainly a player in the world best on best tournaments.
Czech could have guys like Pastrnak, Necas, Gudas, and Hertl, and maybe even Jagr plays again hahaha.
What’s your take on the format? Montreal and Boston locations with a basic round robin with the top two teams in finals.
Trevor– It’s too bad it’s only NHL players because I bet Jagr would be one of the best Right Wingers Czechia would have this year!
In regards to format, I do like that here in America the games will be played and viewable on ABC which is standard cable. If you want to grow the game, you gotta show it at a point where almost everyone has access to it.
In regards to locations, I wouldn’t have minded if they played at 4 of the 6 original cities, instead of just two. Keep Chicago out as I’m tired of the hate, but have Detroit and either Toronto or New York host a few games and provide some commentary on the history of those organizations and buildings.
I also think there should be (and maybe there is) some type of cash prize to the team that finishes 1st and 2nd. Or, if you finish last, your country’s team gets kicked out of the next one and we bring in Czechia or Slovakia. Hell, give Norway a shot!!!
Andrew- Survival of the fittest, I love it. So what are your predictions? Im gonna go USA and Canada in the final with the Americans earning the upset win.
McDavid leading scorer but Connor Hellebuyck is MVP, Conn Smythe, or Top Player or Whatever the trophy goes to for this tourneys top individual player.
You?
Trevor– I would love to say USA wins it, but damn that Canadian roster looks way too stacked with skill but also 200ft play.
My guess would be Canada over USA, but Hellebucyk i 100% agree as MVP. But Crosby as the leading scorer.
Cheers!
