Speculation: Players/Flames Players for Under 23 NA WC Team

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Depending on the cut off date, probably a good chunk of 2011 as well.

Entry draft cut off is September 15th in the draft year (as I'm sure you know). They could choose calendar year, but given the timing of the tournament, it would seem logical for the NHL's policy to remain consistent for eligibility - at least for the purposes of consistent speculation until the actual cut off is announced.

[d_phaneuf]

Per ESPN, Youngstars-eligible players will need to be 23 or younger by Sept. 1, 2016 — meaning the cutoff birth date is Sept. 1, 1993. What’s more, 23-and-under players can only play for the Youngstars, not the Canadian or U.S. senior national teams.

And that could make for some interesting roster decisions.

a list of eligible players that’ve participated in NHL games this year.

Forwards: Nathan MacKinnon, Sean Monahan, Alex Galchenyuk, Jonathan Drouin, Bo Horvat, Sam Reinhart, Anthony Duclair, Reid Boucher, Tom Wilson, Josh Anderson, Scott Laughton, Chris Tierney, Liam O’Brien, Kerby Rychel, Curtis Lazar.

Defense: Aaron Ekblad, Jacob Trouba, Seth Jones, Morgan Rielly, Damon Severson, Ryan Murray, Cody Ceci, Derrick Pouliot, Griffin Reinhart, Matt Dumba, Darnell Nurse.

there were no goalies on the list

and Gaudreau is too old for the young stars

[Enoch Root]

So taking a quick look at some of the more obvious choices, based on that cut-off date, here is what I would frame my team with at this point:

MacKinnon-MacDavid-Drouin
Domi-Galchenyuk-Eichel
Bennett-Monahan-Reinhart
Duclair-Horvat-Lazar

Trouba-Jones
Murray-Reilly
Ekblad-Reinhart
Nurse

I wanted to separate MacDavid and Eichel, but switching Eichel and Drouin would be fine too. Switching Domi and Duclair might also make sense (or switching Domi and Bennett). I put Bennett, Monahan and Reinhart together as a 200 ft line. And the 4th line as an energy/defense unit. I didn't look very deeply at the defense. This team gets annihilated by the big clubs. Especially when you consider the goaltending.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Per ESPN, Youngstars-eligible players will need to be 23 or younger by Sept. 1, 2016 — meaning the cutoff birth date is Sept. 1, 1993.

Those two statements are contradictory. If it's 23 or younger, the cutoff should be Sept. 1, 1992. If it's under 23, the cutoff would be 1993.

NHL.com says, "Those players age 23 and under will be available for selection exclusively by Team North American Youngstars." So, 23 year-olds should be able to play.

[JiriHrdina]

Hate everything about this. Feels more like a gimmick all star game than a proper tourney

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Trouba-Jones
Murray-Reilly
Ekblad-Reinhart
Nurse

Seth Jones? He's American.

[Ashasx]

North America.

[Stay Golden]

Prediction the American NHL Bettman, Daly and American NHLPA Fehr that came up with this idea will make sure that the under 23 team will be wearing some form of Red White and Blue jerseys.
It will have an American look to it for sure.
Personally I have to agree with the media's take on this format an under 23 team competing against it's own nations is ridiculous.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

North America.

Ah, right, I'm confused already.

This feels like the Ryder Cup and I dislike the Ryder Cup. I like when players actually play for their country.

[Stay Golden]

The NHL and NHLPA are morons.
So if a player is 23 and under and deserves to play for his country wear his countries flag. He can not play for them instead he has to play for this pseudo NHL under 23 team.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by getbak

Those two statements are contradictory. If it's 23 or younger, the cutoff should be Sept. 1, 1992. If it's under 23, the cutoff would be 1993.

NHL.com says, "Those players age 23 and under will be available for selection exclusively by Team North American Youngstars." So, 23 year-olds should be able to play.

I hope you're right because the team I posted above would get slaughtered. One more year would add:

RNH, Huberdeau, Strome, Scheifele, Couturier, Miller, Jenner, Saad and Gaudreau to the mix on forward, as well as

Hamilton, Murphy, Oleksiak, and Beaulieu on defense, just to name a few.

Also, Gibson in net.

Much different team, and much harder to pick. Politics would be huge, I am guessing.

[Stay Golden]

This team 23 and under it will get slaughtered there won't be as much depth as the NHL/NHLPA brain trust assume there will be.
This is going to blow up in their smug faces.

[Enoch Root]

Of the eligible players, the top scorers this season are:

48 Gaudreau
62 Strome
63 Saad
75 Galchenyuk
78 Monahan
89 Nugent Hopkins
116 MacKinnon
131 Hamilton
134 Scheifele
147 Huberdeau

Conversely, 6 of the top 12, and 12 of the top 28 on the current scoring race would be eligible for TC. There are at least 7 D available in the top 100 for TC - and that doesn't include Doughty, Keith or Pietragelo to name a few.