Better 1-2 punch for 2022 Olympics

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Had an interesting conversation with some buddies about which country will have a better centre ice 1-2 punch for the 2022 Olympics assuming the NHL decides to go. We focused on young players for the US and Canada. Eichel and Matthews were no brainers for the US and obviously McDavid we penciled in for Canada. The other two centres we were talking about were Monahan and Scheifele with the Winnipeg centre winning out for that two slot. So the question is who would you rather have on your team? McDavid/Scheifele or Matthews/Eichel?

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[GoJetsGo55]

McDavid/Scheifele easily.

Wait this wouldn't be until 2022. It'll be close.

 

[VoynovsParoleOfficer]

Matthews/Eichel and Mcdavid/Scheiff would be neck and neck IMO... almost impossible to argue against canada's guys rn but by then it could be a much diff story

 

[oconnor9sean]

I'd probably take Matthews/Eichel

 

[ToastedFlower*]

Had an interesting conversation with some buddies about which country will have a better centre ice 1-2 punch for the 2022 Olympics assuming the NHL decides to go. We focused on young players for the US and Canada. Eichel and Matthews were no brainers for the US and obviously McDavid we penciled in for Canada. The other two centres we were talking about were Monahan and Scheifele with the Winnipeg centre winning out for that two slot. So the question is who would you rather have on your team? McDavid/Scheifele or Matthews/Eichel?

Much of the outcome will be who's playing on the backend and in net. It's to early to tell who the goalies will be. Werenski seems like a lock to make it though as well.

 

[Autism]

Matthews/Eichel

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

It's actually a pretty tough question I think. McDavid would skate circles around everyone on that big ice though.

 

[Sansbacon]

Man, that's a really tough one.

Good question, OP! This should be a poll.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

USA all the way!

 

[A91]

Tough choice

McDavid > Mathews = Eichel > Schief

I just can't bet against McDavid, or Canada for that matter. Gimme Connor and Mark.

 

[613Leafer]

I think Canada's #2 C would likely be close to Matthews/Eichel calibre. The ~2017-2020 drafts all could produce a stud centre for Canada. Historically we've produced multiple top line/pairing players in most drafts.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I think Canada's #2 C would likely be close to Matthews/Eichel calibre. The ~2017-2020 drafts all could produce a stud centre for Canada. Historically we've produced multiple top line/pairing players in most drafts.

I doubt it. Eichel and Matthews aren't run-of-the-mill first line talents. Players like the don't come around often.

 

[NyQuil]

It's pretty close I think.

Crosby might still be pretty good in 5 years too.

 

[Roksta]

plz Crosby at 34 still gonna keep up with the kids

 

[BlueBaron]

As cute as this thread is ask yourself this. How many of the key players have less than 5 years in the league? The answer is a lot of them. So It kind of stands to reason that in 5 years there could be a lot of other new faces so speculation is a bit dubious. Now assuming no new players in the conversation? I call it a wash but Crosby is the wild card. At 34 he could still be better C than all of them but McDavid.

 

[Rich Nixon]

What are Olympics?

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Do people actually think there is no prodigy in Canada better then Mark Scheifele between drafts 2018-2021?

There's one kid with potential coming, and if he turns out, he'll be number two and tip the scales.

Heck Svechnikov could very well be better then both Eichel and Matthews from the 18 draft, there are players that will be superior then those 2 , only McDavid I feel is not going to get pushed out.

 

[jj cale]

I doubt it. Eichel and Matthews aren't run-of-the-mill first line talents. Players like the don't come around often.

Hard to count out Canada being able to spit one out though, if any country can do it it's them.

 

[JackSlater]

Probably the American pair. Difficult to say though, and I'm certainly not convinced that Scheifele will be the second best Canadian centre in 2022. One negative about the NHL likely pulling out of the 2018 Olympics from a Canadian perspective is that the talent gap will be much smaller in 2022. In 2018 the gap is still quite significant, but it probably won't matter at all.

 

[Xokkeu]

The Americans. McDavid is the best player but Matthews and Eichel aren't too far behind and are better than any second Canadian

 

[MastuhNinks]

Just purely on top 2 centers USA will have the advantage but Canada will have like 8 elite centers throughout their lineup.

 

[xxxx]

McDavid-Crosby.

 

[Xokkeu]

McDavid-Crosby.

Seems ambitious. Crosby will be 35

 

[KarmaPolice]

McDavid and whomever is #2 for Canada. I just think McDavid is a tier above everyone, while whomever happens to be #2 for CAN will probably be at or near the level of Eichel and Matthews. That's not taking anything away from those two fantastic players, but obviously Canada has a pretty deep pool of players to choose from, and their #2 center, whomever that happens to be, is likely it be pretty darn good.
McDavid puts it over the edge for me in favor for that pair, but the US pair is fantastic, and I would be very confident in those two if I were cheering for them. It is fairly close, because I do think highly of Matthews and Eichel.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Barkov/Aho