For the first time since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the NHL’s best players (well, some of them) are competing in an international tournament. Teams representing the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland will compete in a round robin tournament over the next week, while the rest of the players in the league get a well-earned break.
Action begins tonight in Montreal with Canada vs. Sweden, and this post can be an open thread for that game. We will also have previews and recaps for each game featuring Team USA and Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.
Schedule
Wednesday, February 12 (Bell Centre, Montreal): Canada vs. Sweden
8 p.m. EST on TNT
Thursday, February 13 (Bell Centre, Montreal): United States vs. Finland
8 p.m. EST on ESPN
Saturday, February 15 (Bell Centre, Montreal): Finland vs. Sweden
1 p.m. EST on ABC
United States vs. Canada
8 p.m. EST on ABC
Monday, February 17 (TD Garden, Boston): Canada vs. Finland
1 p.m. EST on TNT
Sweden vs. United States
8 p.m. EST on TNT
Thursday, February 20 (TD Garden, Boston): Championship Game
8 p.m. EST on ESPN
The championship game participants will be the top two teams in the round-robin standings, determined by a 3-2-1-0 point scale.
Now let’s take a look at the projected lines:
Team USA
The Americans are dressing what appears to be their best lineup ever. That’s not hyperbole! The strength starts in net, where defending Vezina winner and Hart Trophy leader Connor Hellebuyck will be the starting goaltender. Behind him are Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman. Not too shabby!
The defense took a blow with the late withdrawl of Norris winner Quinn Hughes. Despite that, it’s still a stacked blue line with Zach Werenski on the first pair with Charlie McAvoy, and a second pair of Jaccob Slavin and Adam Fox. Jake Sanderson – son of CBJ legend Geoff – was Hughes’ replacement on the roster but may not get to play ahead of either Noah Hanifin or Brock Faber.
The forward corps has plenty of Cup winners and top 5 draft picks, led by Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, and the Tkachuk brothers. When a guy like Dylan Larkin is on the fourth line, that’s a good sign.
In addition, Guy Gaudreau helped out at practice on Tuesday. USA by a million.
Canada
As good as the US forwards are, Canada still has the edge there, led by generational talents Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby.
The blue line doesn’t have the depth of the US, but it features the best defenseman in the league in Cale Makar, and seasoned international play veteran Drew Doughty, who recently returned from injury and replaced Alex Pietrangelo on the roster.
Goalie is a clear weakness, but Adin Hill and Jordan Binnington each have won a Stanley Cup, so are still capable of getting hot in a short tournament.
Sweden
Here we have a former Blue Jacket in Gus Nyquist, while another ex-Jacket, William Karlsson, had to withdraw due to injury. Look to William Nylander and Lucas Raymond to lead in scoring, but a big storyline is whether Elias Pettersson can snap out of his funk. Might there be some bad blood when he plays former teammate J.T. Miller?
Victor Hedman leads the way on defense, and Erik Karlsson might be able to thrive in an event like this where he’s surrounded by more supporting talent than he is in Pittsburgh.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom is injured, and Linus Ullmark is just coming off of one, but Filip Gustavsson is a solid starter.
Finland
Aw, poor Suomi. They were already at a disadvantage with the smallest selection of NHLers to choose from. In addition to that, they’ve been slammed with injuries to three of their defensemen, including their best one: Miro Heiskanen.
Could they pull off an upset anyway? Absolutely! They’re particularly strong down the middle with the likes of Sasha Barkov, Sebastian Aho, and Roope Hintz. Mikko Rantanent and former Jacket Patrik Laine are born goal scorers who can get red-hot.
They’re stacked in net, with Juuse Saros as the most proven, but Kevin Lankinen having the better season so far.
Are you excited for this competition? Who is your pick to win it all?
I think the extra juice of USA vs. Canada and Sweden vs. Finland will elevate this over the usual All Star Game. I am picking USA to win it, and I can’t wait to see that collection of talent in action.