I think Canada is still better honestly. Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Crosby, and point/RoR/Schiefle/Tavares make up a better center spine and Stamkos/Huberdeau/Marner/Reinhart/Marchand/the remaining centers match up well at wing. On defense Canada still has Makar, Letang, theadore, Reilley, Toews, Dobson etc.
The only real edge I see for USA is the goaltenders, but I think Canada edges USA out.
In 1996 USA Hockey completely rebuilt their development program using Canada's Developmental Program as the model. I'm not sure if that is what you are looking for but it's definitely part of the reason.
Canada probably has the advantage in the very short term with Crosby, Marchand, Bergeron, but the USA U23 team is significantly better imo
Not sure that's true or that it will matter. McDavid, MacKinnon and Makar will be dominant for years to come - guys like Crosby, Marchand and Bergeron haven't been driving the bus for a while now. And when they're gone, they'll be easily replaced with younger players like Bedard, Power, Lafreniere, Thomas, etc.
I mean, would Mat Barzal even make Team Canada today? He'd be the 3rd best center on the roster above. I don't think Canada has anything to worry about. Team USA has been nearly as good for a couple of decades now, I don't see that changing any time soon.
Not sure that's true or that it will matter. McDavid, MacKinnon and Makar will be dominant for years to come - guys like Crosby, Marchand and Bergeron haven't been driving the bus for a while now. And when they're gone, they'll be easily replaced with younger players like Bedard, Power, Lafreniere, Thomas, etc.
I mean, would Mat Barzal even make Team Canada today? He'd be the 3rd best center on the roster above. I don't think Canada has anything to worry about. Team USA has been nearly as good for a couple of decades now, I don't see that changing any time soon.
Canada will always be more top heavy because of the trio you mentioned + Bedard, but with a younger treshold I'd definitely take team USA. They just have a deeper pool of young talent IMO. It's also worrying that Canada's best hope in goaltending is Carter Hart (although Wolf & Cossa are looking legit).
Canada will always be more top heavy because of the trio you mentioned + Bedard, but with a younger treshold I'd definitely take team USA. They just have a deeper pool of young talent IMO. It's also worrying that Canada's best hope in goaltending is Carter Hart (although Wolf & Cossa are looking legit).
I don't agree on the depth of talent pool comment, as Canada's is clearly larger. And the U23 thing is meaningless too, as there's no age cutoffs in real life. I mean, is a 32 year old Brady Tkachuk going to be better than a 35 year old McDavid? Or a 32 year old Hughes better than 33 year old Makar? Not a chance.
I don't agree on the depth of talent pool comment, as Canada's is clearly larger. And the U23 thing is meaningless too, as there's no age cutoffs in real life. I mean, is a 32 year old Brady Tkachuk going to be better than a 35 year old McDavid? Or a 32 year old Hughes better than 33 year old Makar? Not a chance.
You could do U25 as well, and my opinion would be the same. I can't wait to see what the future holds for those two countries.
You could do U25 as well, and my opinion would be the same. I can't wait to see what the future holds for those two countries.
I just don't see the relevance of looking at U25 vs U26 vs U27. McDavid, MacKinnon and Makar will still be top-10 players in the league 10 years from now, when guys like Brady Tkachuk are fading.
I just don't see the relevance of looking at U25 vs U26 vs U27. McDavid, MacKinnon and Makar will still be top-10 players in the league 10 years from now, when guys like Brady Tkachuk are fading.
That's just the wording, what I meant is that there seems to be a bigger influx of high-end American talents than Canadian in recent drafts, 2020 being the exception and 2022 still in the air.