World Cup of Hockey is here.

RenoChazz · Sep 7, 2016

The preliminary games kick off tomorrow, these are like preseason games. Look like each team gets a couple of practice games, with the round robin games that count, to start on the 17th. Haven't seen any odds for preliminaries in Vegas yet, they probably wouldn't bother, but Pinnacle has lines up for them already.

Canada plays USA (practice game) on Friday 7pm eastern, it'll be on ESPN U. Odds on USA are +1 -150 at Pinnacle.

Game I'm looking forward to tomorrow is Team Europe vs Team North America. Team Europe is the best players from Europe except Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic. Captain for team Europe is Anze Kopitar, which has some pretty talented NHLers on the their Roster.

Team North America is a mix of Canada and USA NHLers that are 23 and under, which is a a lot of talented young players. We'll get to see that hypothetical match up of Men against boys that we're always talking about. Line on that game is, North America -1 +107. This kids are actually favored by a goal? This game will be on ESPN 2 8pm eastern.

dillydog · Sep 7, 2016

Should be good stuff Reno...

JohnnyMac · Sep 7, 2016

I like the young kids to win it.

Defying · Sep 7, 2016

good stuff..

I was hoping to go up there for this, but the summer didn't go my way

ML Dog · Sep 7, 2016

Thanks for the Thread Reno.

World Cup of Hockey rosters

https://www.nhl.com/news/world-cup-of-hockey-rosters/c-280810684

Ricboff · Sep 7, 2016

hoping to be at a game

gotta gel quickly, short tournaments need dee and goaltending . Team N America has these 3 on a line during practice......

...........;

Drouin- McDavid- Scheifele..............

McDavid;

“Who knows, maybe these are the lines that gel right away and we’ll have the most success with these lines,” said McDavid, who had never played on a line with either player before. “It’s all about chemistry. I’m hoping that these are them for a long time. It felt really good.

“You obviously saw what Drouin could do in the playoffs,” McDavid said of Drouin. “He’s unbelievable and has so much skill.
“If we can figure out how to play with each other, it can be very dangerous.”

article on Team N America's defense.......overly optimistic....

[h=1]Team North America brushes off concerns about young defence, which isn’t as green as it might look[/h]

MONTREAL — Don’t forget about Drew Doughty.
That was the name that Aaron Ekblad brought up when he was asked if age and experience would be an issue for Team North America’s defence. It was an appropriate example. Six years ago, age and experience did not matter when Doughty was named to Canada’s Olympic team.
At the time, the Los Angeles Kings defenceman was only 20 years old. He had not yet won a Norris Trophy. He hadn’t even played two seasons.
But as then-U.S. head coach Ron Wilson told the National Post in January 2010, naming Doughty to the Canadian roster was a no-brainer because, “He’s going to be one of the best defencemen in the league. I mean, he’s up there right now.”

There could end up being a few Drew Doughtys on Team North America. Columbus’ Seth Jones and Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba might have been considered for the U.S. roster had World Cup organizers created this under-24 team, while Florida’s Ekblad would have been a candidate for Canada’s team after winning the Calder Trophy in 2015.

Like Doughty in 2010, Ekblad is 20 years old and has played two seasons in the league. He has not yet won a Norris Trophy, but that could be coming.
As such, all the hand wringing about how Team North America’s defence is the one big weak spot because none of the players have reached the 300-game mark might be a bit misleading. The players are obviously young and inexperienced. But when you consider the trajectory they are on, this could be a dangerous group.

“We’re all good defencemen,” said Ekblad, who led the Florida Panthers’ defence with 15 goals and 36 points. “We all play in the NHL. There’s some guys with decent experience — playoff experience — who have all played in big games at one point or another. That type of experience is obviously not 1,000 games, but we’ll learn quickly as we go along.
“All of us defencemen were thrown in the fire, as you could say, with our club teams, and all of us were able to step in and make an impact, so I guess that shows something.”
Indeed, this group is not as green as it might look. Ekblad was part of the Canadian team that went undefeated at the 2015 world championship, while Toronto’s Morgan Rielly and Columbus’ Ryan Murray won gold at this year’s tournament. Trouba finished in the top-10 in the NHL with 177 blocked shots this season, St. Louis’ Colton Parayko ranked second among defencemen with a plus-28 rating and Philadelphia’s Shayne Gostisbehere was a Calder Trophy finalist who also ranked sixth with 17 goals.
Most played in a top-pairing role and logged 20-plus minutes against the other teams’ top forward lines. So this assignment is nothing new. If anything, it’s another chance to prove their worth on the world stage.
“We’re not going to play against anyone in this tournament that we haven’t played against before,” said Rielly, 22, who finished in the top-30 in ice time among defencemen this season. “We’re not worried about it, so I don’t think you guys should be either.”
If there is a concern, it is that the defence lacks a veteran presence that can help settle a pairing. When Doughty played for Canada in 2010, he was paired with Scott Niedermayer, who was in his final year in the league. Ekblad has spent his two seasons in Florida being paired with most of this season playing with 36-year-old Brian Campbell.

ML Dog · Sep 7, 2016

<header class="article-header">World Cup of Hockey stuff
</header><figure class="article-figure">by Robb Harskamp 9:10 AM MT
</figure>

The World Cup of Hockey is back and I have stocked up on some of the baddest BC Weed that exists so less gooooooooo.

This time around I plan to drink less during my coverage of this so I expect we will not see a repeat of my incoherent columns about the Tourney in Russia, a few months back. I am focused this time plus ESPN Brass says I'm down to my Last Chance like a cat in it's 9th Life so you should expect better from me this time.

Starting right now, with this very column!!

There are a couple of twists to the rosters of teams. You have your traditional national teams, but also a couple of wrinkles in Team North America -- aka the Young Guns -- and Team Europe, which is a pan-continent team made up of players not from countries with national teams. Confused? Good! (you can now relate to how I feel 93% of my waking hours).

Click on the rosters below and it will all fall into place, in addition to seeing how the lineups will align and what numbers the players are wearing.

GROUP A

Claude Giroux playfully punched Sidney Crosby on the shoulder between drills Tuesday, producing a smile from the Team Canada captain. Was it just four years ago these two guys dropped the gloves in a playoff game? Go around Team Canada's dressing room and you'll find a long list of personal rivalries that have been put on hold for the World Cup of Hockey. Or you might say, the hatred has been temporarily shelved for a month.

ROSTER

Many teams have been scrambling to fill in their rosters as players, many of whom had been working out in preparation for the tournament, have suddenly dropped out. The Czechs, already the weakest of the eight teams, have lost key personnel in David Krejci, Radko Gudas and Tomas Hertl.

ROSTER

Anze Kopitar is the captain. Zdeno Chara is on defense. But who else will this team ice and who will start in net?

ROSTER

Over the course of a handful of practices and two pre-tournament games, head coach John Tortorella and his staff will have to decide between a goaltender in Jonathan Quick, who has won two Stanley Cups and was once named playoff MVP, a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist in Ben Bishop and the technically superb Cory Schneider.

ROSTER

GROUP B

The Finns always manage to surprise at these events, so it's a good idea to not sleep on Team Finland. Especially with that goaltending.

ROSTER

Picking captain for a squad made up entirely of young players is no easy task for Team North America.

ROSTER

The Swedes have enough veteran leadership for all eight teams, a smooth offense, a rock-solid defense and one of the best goalies in the world. Shouldn't they be considered favorites?

ROSTER

The Russians have arguably the best offense in the tournament, but the defense isn't exactly top-notch. Could goaltending be the difference for this high-octane team?

ROSTER

Here is an article I wrote when I was SOOPERHIGH, last night.

I don't even remember writing it but I must have cuz its here on my PC and feels like my writing style so unless Ricky or Julian broke into my Trailer and typed this on my PC just to mess with me....I must have written it....

Sweden -- with its chemistry, depth, talent and consistency -- is the team to beat at World Cup

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story

slapshot · Sep 8, 2016

Drop the puck

Greenbacks · Sep 8, 2016

TEAM USA

Forwards:

Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings;
David Backes, Boston Bruins;
Brandon Dubinsky, Columbus Blue Jackets;
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks;
Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks;
T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals;
Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens;
Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils;
Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild;
Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks;
Derek Stepan, New York Rangers;
James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs;
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets

Defensemen:

Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets;
John Carlson, Washington Capitals;
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche;
Jack Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets;
Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers;
Matt Niskanen, Washington Capitals;
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

Goalies:
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning;
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings;
Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

Max Pacioretty is quietly 1 of the better players in the league....I like the team.

razorbackpicks · Sep 8, 2016

Better stand for the national anthem...

Greenbacks · Sep 8, 2016

U.S. World Cup of Hockey team,pre-camp.

Greenbacks · Sep 8, 2016

Team Canada 2016 World Cup of Hockey Preview and roster.

Greenbacks · Sep 8, 2016

The guys preview the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

RenoChazz · Sep 8, 2016

Greenbacks said:
TEAM USA

Forwards:

Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings;
David Backes, Boston Bruins;
Brandon Dubinsky, Columbus Blue Jackets;
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks;
Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks;
T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals;
Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens;
Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils;
Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild;
Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks;
Derek Stepan, New York Rangers;
James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs;
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets

Defensemen:

Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets;
John Carlson, Washington Capitals;
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche;
Jack Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets;
Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers;
Matt Niskanen, Washington Capitals;
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

Goalies:
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning;
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings;
Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

Max Pacioretty is quietly 1 of the better players in the league....I like the team.

Defense and goaltending are tops, I'm worried about the forwards and scoring.

Greenbacks · Sep 8, 2016

RenoChazz said:
Defense and goaltending are tops, I'm worried about the forwards and scoring.

I`m not worried about the forwards.....Not when we have 3 of the top 10 point scorers from last season...Kane 106 pts.....Pavelski 78 pts.....Wheeler 78 pts....Not to mention Pacioretty,Parise and Backes 3 solid offensive players.

We have horrible defensive players.....McDonagh might be the best out of the group.

RenoChazz · Sep 8, 2016

Greenbacks said:
I`m not worried about the forwards.....Not when we have 3 of the top 10 point scorers from last season...Kane 106 pts.....Pavelski 78 pts.....Wheeler 78 pts....Not to mention Pacioretty,Parise and Backes 3 solid offensive players.

We have horrible defensive players.....McDonagh might be the best out of the group.

Suter, Carlson, E Johnson, Dustin B, all solid D's. JMFJ is probably the weakest of the bunch, but I think he's pretty underated. As for the forward we have 1 solid line, maybe 1 and a half. Need to roll three to beat a team like Canada.

he_dblhockeystx · Sep 8, 2016

I've been watching the replays of the 96 World Cup today when USA beat Canada 2 games to 1.. I went to the opening game in philly at that World Cup. First event ever held at the brand new corestates center. I'd love to see USA take this tourney again, it's been 20 years lol.

RenoChazz · Sep 8, 2016

The boys are schooling the men, up 3-0 in the second period. The Europeans are talented, but none of them want to make any blue collar plays when in the zone, they're playing preseason hockey, while the kids are making plays in the rough spots in front of the net.

he_dblhockeystx · Sep 8, 2016

They're avoiding hits like an all star game. I know it's just a scrimmage match and they don't want players getting hurt, but I hope it gets more physical as the tourney moves on.. Gaudreau with a nice goal, North America team is STACKED with young talent

RenoChazz · Sep 9, 2016

USA Vs Canada starting right now on ESPN U.

Who should get the start in net? Quick, Bishop, or Schneider?

World Cup of Hockey is here.

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