I don't know how well all these guys would play with only one puck, but it sure looks good on paper.
Odd that there are so many quality right-handed wingers. How come neither of my two crummy local US teams have any?
I've left the Tkachuks and Cam Fowler out because I'm not sure who they'd like to play for. But obviously both of the boys would have a place on this team!
Solid group if Hughes develops. I'd swap Kreider for Pacioretty, move Kreider to 4LW over Dvorak, and Debrincat for Labanc though (from the players you have here)
Edit: and 100% agree with @PGHBOB69 -- gotta have Guentzel
You gotta invite Guentzel, If Rust is invited. Leave off Rust and invite Guentzel.
Quoting: villenash
Solid group if Hughes develops. I'd swap Kreider for Pacioretty, move Kreider to 4LW over Dvorak, and Debrincat for Labanc though (from the players you have here)
Edit: and 100% agree with @PGHBOB69 -- gotta have Guentzel
To be honest, it didn't occur to me that Guentzel was American.
Solid group if Hughes develops. I'd swap Kreider for Pacioretty, move Kreider to 4LW over Dvorak, and Debrincat for Labanc though (from the players you have here)
Edit: and 100% agree with @PGHBOB69 -- gotta have Guentzel
Gaudreau should be here too, and I agree Guentzel also makes the team
EDIT: Fowler plays for the USA too but he wouldn't make the team this time around. I think he played in 2014 though
I'm not a Gaudreau fan, especially when I have those alternatives.
While I have you on the phone, Calgary seems to me to be one of the teams that has the hardest choices for the expansion draft. Who's on your personal protected list?
I'm not a Gaudreau fan, especially when I have those alternatives.
While I have you on the phone, Calgary seems to me to be one of the teams that has the hardest choices for the expansion draft. Who's on your personal protected list?
Assuming Lucic waives his NMC (seems likely, he won't get picked regardless) I have Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Backlund, Dube, Mangiapane up front, Hanifin, Andersson, and honestly a toss up between Gio and Tanev but probably Tanev on D (Gio will be 38 with 1yr left at 6.75mil, if Seattle takes him to be their first captain or something it would suck because I'd prefer him to be a lifelong Flame, but it would certainly ease our ability to resign Dube and Valimaki), and Markstrom is the obvious protection candidate in net. This leaves Bennett, Simon, and Kylington as the 3 most appetizing targets for Seattle. Depending on how Bennett does this year we'd probably try to trade a mid-round pick to Seattle to entice them to take Kylington instead.
Assuming Lucic waives his NMC (seems likely, he won't get picked regardless) I have Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Backlund, Dube, Mangiapane up front, Hanifin, Andersson, and honestly a toss up between Gio and Tanev but probably Tanev on D (Gio will be 38 with 1yr left at 6.75mil, if Seattle takes him to be their first captain or something it would suck because I'd prefer him to be a lifelong Flame, but it would certainly ease our ability to resign Dube and Valimaki), and Markstrom is the obvious protection candidate in net. This leaves Bennett, Simon, and Kylington as the 3 most appetizing targets for Seattle. Depending on how Bennett does this year we'd probably try to trade a mid-round pick to Seattle to entice them to take Kylington instead.
Thanks! I'll file that away. That agrees with what @Ledge_And_Dairy suggested to me a month ago.
I'm not a Gaudreau fan, especially when I have those alternatives.
You may not be a Gaudreau fan to it would be a major mistake to cut him from team USA. He is probably the 4th best forward if added to the list of players above.
Also there is zero reason Hellebuyck isn't your starting goalie
You may not be a Gaudreau fan to it would be a major mistake to cut him from team USA. He is probably the 4th best forward if added to the list of players above.
Also there is zero reason Hellebuyck isn't your starting goalie
Johnny reminds me of a Toronto Phil Kessel. Heck of a player, but not good enough to lead a team to a cup. that doesn't mean hes not an elite forward, he definitely is, but expectations of him being a "franchise" guy after his 99 point season were probably too high
Johnny reminds me of a Toronto Phil Kessel. Heck of a player, but not good enough to lead a team to a cup. that doesn't mean hes not an elite forward, he definitely is, but expectations of him being a "franchise" guy after his 99 point season were probably too high
Kessel is the perfect example for him. The difference in Calgary though is they have Tkachuk as well
yeah Calgary actually has a competent supporting cast. Torontos 1C during the kessel era was bozak and #1D was phaneuf lol
We are likely going to see something similar to when Kessel was traded to Pittsburgh this year with Hall in Buffalo. Hall no longer is expected to be the #1 player on the team. It's fairly similar with Gaudreau, if he ends up leaving Calgary to a team where he is no longer expected to be the #1 player but is more of a supporting role he will get a lot more recognition as a top end talent in the league
Kinda think Brock Nelson and Anders Lee get a camp invite. Don't know that they make the team, that would depend on how well they played with others, but atleast a invite.