It's Monday morning...Officially everyone's least favorite part of the week for sure...and if you are like me your kid is starting high school sports pre-season so you are up crazy early and lazy summer is fading fast. As a kid the ONLY way I could deal with summer ending and school beginning was to think about the fact that hockey was coming soon...and this year it is coming even sooner, because this year instead of preparing for the excitement of an NHL preseason, split squad game in some neutral site/echl arena we are preparing for hockey at the highest level to start one month from tomorrow.
So let's take Monday mornings and make some decisions before we get into the rumors..
Our first Monday decision is a tough one and one that could eventually turn into controversy and second guessing on the NHL's part.
Who is better? Team USA or Team North America?
When the NHL put this format together it was immediately evident that the formation of a team of NHLers under 24 was unique and risky....and would effect Team USA way more than it would affect team Canada. The concept was definitely one made by the marketing side of the NHL's brain as well. Why not get our youngest stars a showcase instead of giving time to a team from Switzerland or Slovakia, right? This is OUR tournament after all.
What may not have been considered as much is does this diminish the USA team and how much? And from a marketing point of view isn't it important in a tournament like this one to have a solid USA team?
Team North America is stacked and in my opinion the second best team in the tournament, after Canada...and unless you are from Mexico I am not sure who their fans are going to be.. If it comes down to a Gold Medal game, is there anyone out there who will pulling for Team North America versus their own country?
Now, getting back to the other concept...
Who is better?
I think this goes beyond the mere fact that the best three centers from America may be on Team North America. It also goes to the way this Team USA has been put together. I am not a fan of two scoring lines and two checking lines. The NHL has become a three line league and Team USA lacked scoring already (especially without Gaudreau, Eichel, Larkin and Matthews) before they decided to pass on natural scorers like Phil Kessel and Bobby Ryan.
I think Team USA will have to get INCREDIBLE goaltending out of Quick to compete based on the teams going.
Team North America on the other hand is stacked all over.
But what do you think?
Our own Jillian Fisher is doing a great and highly entertaining hockey vlog. Check it out...
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