Team North America will make its World Cup debut against Team Finland on Sunday night.
At Friday's practice in Toronto, bench boss Todd McLellan shuffled a couple of notable players around. In part because Nathan MacKinnon was excused from the skate to attend a funeral. MacKinnon is expected to be back in time for Sunday night's battle with the pesky Finns.
McLellan is also searching for better cohesion and chemistry, MacKinnon's absence notwithstanding. McLellan has said numerous times during the exhibition schedule of games that scoring is not the only aspect that he is demanding of his young guns. He wants his team to be better in all areas of the NHL-compliant rinks. In fact, media reports from Friday's skate told the tale of McLellan stopping his practice abruptly to tear into his team at the dry erase board. McLellan wasn't happy with the lack of crispness and he demanded a better effort.
Auston Matthews was the thirteenth forward two weeks ago when team North America training camp first assembled. My, how times have changed. On Sunday, the 2016 first overall pick at the NHL Draft will lineup next to Connor McDavid on the number one unit.
McLellan remarked Friday how he likes the way that Matthews and McDavid hold onto pucks.
Matthews averaged 15.5 minutes TOI, scored a goal and added and assist in his three exhibition games played. Surprisingly, McDavid was held pointless in his three tune-up games. McDavid averaged 18,5 minutes TOi per game, however, was held off the score sheet in three games played.The 2015 first overall pick in the NHL Draft has landed only six shots on enemy goalies.
Dylan's Larkin is the most intriguing player on the Team North America roster. He has jumped out of the press box to the top six in one fell swoop. Like the phoenix, Larkin has risen from the flames.
Larkin was a healthy scratch at the beginning of exhibition play. On Friday, he flanked Jack Eichel and Johnny Gaudreau. McLellan moved Eichel back to his natural center position.
Larkin took just four shots , scored two goals and added an assist in the two exhibition games he played in while Eichel contributed two assists in his three games played. Larkin averaged 11.5 minutes TOI per game in the two pre-tourney friendlies he played in. Eichel averaged 16:48 TOI and took only 10 shots in his pre-tourney games. Good things happen when Eichel has the puck on his stick and McLellan is looking for more scoring chances out of Eichel playing at center.
I suspect that MacKinnon will slide back to the line with Nugent-Hopkins and Drouin.
Miller or Trochek will be the thirteenth forward for the Youngbloods vs. The Finns on Sunday night.
Here are the new look trios:
Scheifele - McDavid - Matthews Gaudreau - Eichel - Larkin Miller - RNH - Drouin Trocheck - Couturier - Saad
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Ryan O'Reilly was the last man added to Team Canada's roster and today he is in the starting lineup as an injury replacement for Tyler Seguin.
Thus, a popular forward has been scratched for the opening round game against the Czech Republic on Saturday night.
Team Canada trios at Friday practice:
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron Tavares-Getzlaf-Stamkos Couture-Toews-Perry Duchene-O'Reilly-Thornton
I love this roster move as it reunites former Colorado Avalanche teammates Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene, who have had great chemistry playing together. Joe Thornton also has excellent chemistry with OReilly having played with him at the 2015 IIHF World Championships. This trio gives Babcock a strong skating puck possession line that can score, pass, create chances, win face offs in all three zones and play PP and PK.
After practice in Toronto, head coach Mike Babcock spoke on the O'Reilly for Giroux roster move. Babcock said that he will go with ROR because of the penalty killing prowess of the Buffalo Sabres power center.
O'Reilly skated 19 shifts and 13:06 TOI in Canada's fourth and final exhibition game Wednesday night.
She's Weber sat out Friday's practice, however, Babcock said that the veteran blue liner missed today's practice however will be ready for Saturday night's game.
Carey Price will get the Canada net with Corey Crawford as his backup.
Muzzin joins Giroux and Brayden Holtby as the scratches
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Jukin' Johnny Gaudreau is balling at the World Cup of Hockey.
Johnny B. Goode led Team North America in scoring with three goals and two assist in three exhibition games played.
Gaudreau has seemingly blocked out all of the outside noise and chatter regarding his high profile contract stalemate with the Calgary Flames.
However, Gaudreau told media on Thursday that his unresolved contract situation is not how it seems on the surface. It's actually bummed him out a time or tow this summer.
Gaudreau calls his contract situation or lack thereof “painful".
“Honestly, throughout the whole summer and contract situation it’s been so painful because every day it’s something that’s on my mind.…
The World Cup Of Hockey has been a needed diversion for Gaudreau. The Boston native has immersed himself in the novelty and exuberance of playing alongside old friends from youth hockey and USDP days gone by. Gaudreau isn't alone. Several high profile NHL RFAs are playing at the World Cup of Hockey tourney. In order to do so, they had to purchase special insurance coverage to protect the high profile players in of event of injuries.
“I was looking forward to playing the tournament right away,… Gaudreau said. “I know we had a few discussions about not playing if I didn’t have a contract. You don’t get many chances to play in the World Cup so I was like ‘let’s get some insurance and I really want to play in this tournament.’…
Other notable young stars in the same boat as Gaudreau are Buffalo's Rasmus Ristolainen, Tampa's Nikita Kucherov, Anaheim's Hampus Lindholm, Winnipeg's Jacob Trouba, and Washington's Dmitry Orlov.
"So this tourney has helped me not worry about that. I can just play hockey, have fun, be part of the team and hang out with teammates. It’s been the easiest part of my summer without the contract situation there.…
Gaudreau, an unsigned restricted free agent and his agent are seeing a multi-year contract in the $7.5 to $8 million AAV neighborhood.
Are the Flames willing to go there?
Will Gaudreau and the Flames shake hands on a new deal after the World Cup Of Hockey tournament ?
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