[GDT] Team North America vs Team Europe (4PM MST)

[jg13]

Game takes place at the Bell Centre at 4PM (MST), Aired on Sportsnet

Team North American lines from last practice

Gaudreau - McDavid - Eichel
Drouin - RNH - MacKinnon
Matthews - Scheifele - Saad
Larkin - Couturier - Trochek

Rielly - Ekblad
Gostisbehere - Jones
Murray - Parayko

Gibson

Healthy Scratches: JT Miller, Jacob Trouba

Team Europe Lines from last practice

Bodker - Kopitar - Zuccarello
Tatar - Nielsen - Hossa
Gaborik - Draisaitl - Niederreiter
Rieder - Bellemare - Hansen

Josi - Streit
Sekera - Chara
Ehrhoff - Sbisa

Halak

Healthy Scratches: Seidenberg, Vanek

[Samonadreau]

Nm

[TheScorpion]

That Europe defence is really bad.

Ehrhoff - Sbisa? Wow.

[EldrickOnIce]

I still may go to this game today.
Undecided

[polak]

Yeah there's not enough defensemen outside of the major European powers to field a competitive team.

[spuzzum]

Gaudreau - McDavid - Eichel

While this line is already amazing and oozing with talent, imagine this same line in 4 years from now.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

Gaudreau - McDavid - Eichel

While this line is already amazing and oozing with talent, imagine this same line in 4 years from now.

Well for one, johnny would be too old to play on the 23 and under team.

[Bunk]

Gaudreau always makes his way onto the top line.

Should be fun to watch.

[StrykerSteve]

Daughter's birthday today, so I'll be out. But I'm recording this one. Go North America!

[Insufficient Funds]

Ok I know "why" Matthews is on this team, but he shouldn't be. He has 0 NHL games played and they're many more deserving players IMO that have been left off this team (Huberdeau, Galchenyuck, etc).

Not to say I'm not watching or anything because of course I will. It just grinds my gears a bit.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Insufficient Funds

Ok I know "why" Matthews is on this team, but he shouldn't be. He has 0 NHL games played and they're many more deserving players IMO that have been left off this team (Huberdeau, Galchenyuck, etc).

Not to say I'm not watching or anything because of course I will. It just grinds my gears a bit.

Why? I'm sure the coaching staff and management of team NA are fully capable of utilizing the data they have on Matthews non NHL experience and figuring out whether they think he's worthy of the roster. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure when using non NHL data and sightings to make your decisions, it's always a little riskier that you may be making a mistake............but really, why does he have to have NHL experience........especially considering it's a "young guns" team to start.

[Insufficient Funds]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Why? I'm sure the coaching staff and management of team NA are fully capable of utilizing the data they have on Matthews non NHL experience and figuring out whether they think he's worthy of the roster. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure when using non NHL data and sightings to make your decisions, it's always a little riskier that you may be making a mistake............but really, why does he have to have NHL experience........especially considering it's a "young guns" team to start.

As you said, not using NHL data is just projections. This is an NHL tournament and this team is specifically there to showcase the budding stars of the NHL. Matthews is not this yet. He technically hasn't even made an NHL roster yet (not anywhere in doubt I realize). If this tournament was in NY I don't think he's on this team.

Again, I just think that there are more deserving players is all.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Insufficient Funds

As you said, not using NHL data is just projections. This is an NHL tournament and this team is specifically there to showcase the budding stars of the NHL. Matthews is not this yet. He technically hasn't even made an NHL roster yet (not anywhere in doubt I realize). If this tournament was in NY I don't think he's on this team.

Again, I just think that there are more deserving players is all.

While I agree he has yet to prove he's an NHL star or even player, he does have an NHL contract. If your angle on this team is to showcase budding stars of the NHL, then not sure how you could not have him on the team. Outside of McDavid, he's likely the biggest "name" on the roster (maybe JG is also bigger). Given his reputation / marketability, if that's the purpose of this team, I'd say he's among the most deserving on roster..............although I don't think that's why he was chosen, I think he was picked because the coaching staff legitimately feels like he's a top 12 forward for that team.

[fire_starter]

Originally Posted by red sky

Well for one, johnny would be too old to play on the 23 and under team.

It's possible. The kid looks like he's barely out of junior high.

[heep223]

That lineup would look a lot better if Monahan was in RNH's spot

[Insufficient Funds]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

While I agree he has yet to prove he's an NHL star or even player, he does have an NHL contract. If your angle on this team is to showcase budding stars of the NHL, then not sure how you could not have him on the team. Outside of McDavid, he's likely the biggest "name" on the roster (maybe JG is also bigger). Given his reputation / marketability, if that's the purpose of this team, I'd say he's among the most deserving on roster..............although I don't think that's why he was chosen, I think he was picked because the coaching staff legitimately feels like he's a top 12 forward for that team.

And why is it that you feel he is the second biggest "name" on the team?(I think JG, Ekblad and Mckinnon are all bigger "names"). I'll tell you why, it's because he's Toronto's 1st overall pick and every Canadian media outlet is based in that city. They've been cramming his name down everyone's troats since the day of the draft lottery.

They may feel he's part of their top 12. Remember though, these are the are the same people that put their own second golden boy RNH on the team and are currently in charge of the Oilers. The OILERS. So I don't put much credence in their decision making abilities. Hence why I disagree with the Matthews selection.

It's not agreegous or anything, like putting Virtanen on the team. I think you know what I'm saying.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by heep223

That lineup would look a lot better if Monahan was in RNH's spot

And Dougie on the D core. I still dont know how/why he isnt there.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by RyZ

And Dougie on the D core. I still dont know how/why he isnt there.

Peter Chiarelli was still salty from the 2015 Draft.

[calumniate]

Matthews had a couple of 'what the' moments last game. I think he's deserving of being on the team. Guess we'll find out

[Flash Walken]

I think Matthews looked good.

I'm not going try to downplay McDavid's skill and speed as it is undeniable but there is something about his game, maybe it's just a byproduct of the speed but he looks borderline out of control a large majority of the time. Like how Donovan used to go into the corners and had a 38% chance to wind up with his skates up near the dasher boards.

Matthews on the other hand still has good speed but he looks much heavier on his skates, much stockier looking. I have never really watched him before so seeing him next to established players was interesting.