Not sure if you want to move this to another thread mods, but I wanted to start the conversation about what the World Junior team will look like this year.
Also should note that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be good to go if he's cleared to play by the Oilers.
What are you guys hoping for when it comes to lines or even dark horses that weren't on the invitation camp roster?
RNH on the top line makes this even more interesting.
I hope they utilize Jenner, the guy doesn't lose a draw and is a talented scorer. All in a nice neat package of hard-worker, that will kill penalties and shut down any line.
RNH on the top line makes this even more interesting.
I hope they utilize Jenner, the guy doesn't lose a draw and is a talented scorer. All in a nice neat package of hard-worker, that will kill penalties and shut down any line.
I think they spread out that top line that you have there, but the one you have there is pretty dirty.
I think they will put:
Monahan - Nugent-Hopkins - Strome
-- surprising that I put Monahan up there, but I think he will be able to work well on that line during preliminary games and see where they go from there.
MacKinnon - Huberdeau - Scheifle
-- another one of those situations where you put a lot of stock in surrounding your bright young talent with veterans (if you could call them that at 19&20).
Lessio - Jenner - Sutter
-- a line that you don't want to play against and could easily put up points
Ritchie - Shinkaruk - Wilson
-- Pretty scary there.
Rielly - Reinhart
Pouliot - Hamilton
Harrington - Dumba/Murphy
I like to have a solid shutdown guy with a guy that could play offence. I know in World Juniors its likely going to be Reinhart and Harrington as your top shutdown pairing, but I think it exposes your team in other areas if all of your eggs are in one basket, so to speak.
I think they spread out that top line that you have there, but the one you have there is pretty dirty.
I think they will put:
Monahan - Nugent-Hopkins - Strome
-- surprising that I put Monahan up there, but I think he will be able to work well on that line during preliminary games and see where they go from there.
MacKinnon - Huberdeau - Scheifle
-- another one of those situations where you put a lot of stock in surrounding your bright young talent with veterans (if you could call them that at 19&20).
Lessio - Jenner - Sutter
-- a line that you don't want to play against and could easily put up points
Ritchie - Shinkaruk - Wilson
-- Pretty scary there.
Rielly - Reinhart
Pouliot - Hamilton
Harrington - Dumba/Murphy
I like to have a solid shutdown guy with a guy that could play offence. I know in World Juniors its likely going to be Reinhart and Harrington as your top shutdown pairing, but I think it exposes your team in other areas if all of your eggs are in one basket, so to speak.
Injured or not, doubt Lessio would be on Jenners wing. Teammate, but i have never seen them play together.
Pouliott has no place on this team - he was awful in victoria at the Subway series.
Dumba, although not having the greatest of seasons, is a must - especially in games that need that CHANGE, whether it be a hit, a goal, a risky pinch, or just a little swagger - he brings that.
Hudon - Jenner -McNeil would be an amazing line for us, and an instant fan favourite IMO. They get the job done in all regards, Hudon amazes me at what he gets done in a very Giroux like manner, could move up the lineup.
I do not believe Camara, Graovac or Lipon are there based on the merit of their own skill, instead as teamates products; which can be helpful, but also IMO a potential downfall against higher skilled opponents than they are regularly used to - does their game have another gear?
D is easier for me to sort out:
Hamilton Rielly
Reinhart Ouellet
Dumba Harrington
Pelech
especially with the shutdown, PP and PK ability of this group. I would not shocked to see excessive amounts of Hamilton & Rielly during PP sessions, and Reinhart Harrington during PK. these are roles they already play regularly and can handle gigantic minutes. Pelech IMO is under-rated and is very similar to Harrington which gives us a nice safety plug in the result of an injury - could probably exchange Ouellet with Murphy, but I am no stoked to have him on the team, just fails to take the temperature of the game IMO. Dumba is the risk taker we need, and he brings more to the table aside from out-of-position play.
I think that a Drouin-MacKinnon-Huberdeau second line is perfect. MacK and Huberdeau were awesome in the Subway Series, add the chemistry with Drouin and MacKinnon from the Mooseheads and that's a dangerous line. Then have your top line with Strome-RNH and I suppose Schiefele? Idk. Anyway you work this, this team is deep.
LOL they fixed it now. I saw that earlier though and it said "Morgan Rielly", I was thinking "Wtf, that's not him! Since when does Rielly have a Western Canada accent?"
I love seeing Rielly constantly mentioned on the top pairing; it's a shame it had to come at the expense of Murray.
Him and Hamilton (of course selected with Leafs pick) make it interesting.
As a Moose/Leaf fan, this is a good year to watch. Mack should be a lock and Drouin should make it. Just like in the Super Series (except second line):
