Media days (the World Cup of Hockey’s was on Thursday) attract a mix of traditional news-gatherers and modern-day information dispensers – sure signs that the circus is in town.
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This team is one that only exists within this tournament. “I mean, the Olympics has been going on for so long, and there’s that heritage for that tournament”. The puzzle pieces should be interchangeable for coach Mike Babcock with just about every player capable of taking on a role or position as needed.
If things are clicking right, Sweden stands an excellent chance of winning this tournament.
World cup hockey will feature compelling games if the pre-tournament games are any indication.
No position in the World Cup of Hockey anywhere near as competitive as goalie. Jake Muzzin adds defensive stability while Brent Burns injects an air of enthusiasm and offensive pep.
Bobrovsky, the 2013 Vezina Trophy victor, knows he has to excel to keep a grip on the job.
Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators appears to be the front-runner to start Sunday against Team North America based on exhibition action, but Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins isn’t a bad second option.
The World Cup is an eight-team format with Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland and Czech Republic represented. Imagine Auston Matthews paired with fellow No. 1 overall picks Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and MacKinnon or Eichel teamed with the shifty Gaudreau. Just like playing for the Panthers, Ekblad comes onto the worldwide stage being the best defensemen on his team. Matt Murray, the Penguins’ Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, and Anaheim’s John Gibson could be busy. Lundqvist has a history of thriving under pressure and reported to camp in the best shape he’s been in three years, trimming down to 185 pounds. Let’s check in with what the Tampa Bay Lightning’s representatives have done thus far.
The groups are somewhat easy to predict in terms of who will move onto the semifinals.
Up front, the Swedes are led by the still-productive Sedin twins as well as Nicklas Backstrom and Loui Eriksson, and emerging talents such as Filip Forsberg and Gabriel Landeskog.
Last season, US alternate captain and Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane became the first U.S. -born player to lead the league in scoring (106 points) and was named the MVP. “People expect so much out of them on a daily basis that they forget that they’re still players and they’re still humans”.
Beyond Kane, Jets winger Blake Wheeler, Montreal captain Max Pacioretty, Wild star Zach Parise, and Leafs winger James van Riemsdyk, there’s just not the same level of high-end skill on teams such as Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and North America. Russian Federation will get a few extra hours rest for this capper of an early back-to-back in the tournament. While 18-year-old Patrik Laine is a monster in the marking, he’s being asked to carry the Finns on the top line and first power-play unit. Thirteen players on the 23-man roster are aged 25 and younger. “Maybe a little more than that”. Kopitar has always done well on weaker Slovenia teams, averaging around a PPG at each global tournament with his best performance coming in 2006 when he had 13 assists and 14 points in only 5 games.
If not statistically productive at the 2014 Olympics, Crosby still made a dent in Sochi. “They got a couple of lucky goals, but other than that I thought we played well”.
Stack those stars on top of Ovechkin, Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk, the now former Red Wing legend, and there’s plenty to fear here for World Cup opponents.
Sergei Bobrovsky is Russia’s starting goaltender to begin the World Cup of Hockey. “We know that on paper, we’re not Canada, but we want to be a hard team to play against”.
Anze Kopitar is easily the most obvious answer here. “The only guy I didn’t know was (Edmonton’s) Leon Draisaitl because he’s young”.
Jaroslav Halak is a solid option in goal.
Petr Mrazek, the likely No. 1 netminder who was one of the NHL’s best for the first half of last season, could be the difference.
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Very well. With the deepest and most experienced roster on show, and with guys like Stamkos and Tavares desperate for worldwide success after previous disappointments, this will be a driven and unstoppable Canadian team. Team Canada will dress six of the eight best defencemen (again, their spelling) on any given night.
