WC: How would Team Canada fare in the NHL?

[Petey21]

I was looking through the roster of Team Canada, and was kind of curious how you think they would fare in the NHL if they were an NHL team? Would they make the playoffs? Even be a cup contender? What would their strengths and weaknesses be compared to other NHL teams? And as a reminder, below is a link to the current roster.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=1616

Click to read more...

 

[Top 6 Spaling]

Weak in net, above average on the blueline, beyond deadly at forward. They'd be the cup favorite, even with their bad goaltending.

Crosby, Giroux, Seguin, Spezza, Duchene, Mackinnon, ROR, and Eberle all in one forward group would just dominate teams.

 

[Braun]

I think goaltending would be an issue but after that I would say they would be a top 5 team for sure.

 

[JayKing]

Dynasty.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Cup pretender imho

That offence is amazing, the defence is well above average, but I can't see them winning anything with current edition of Smith in net...

 

[CherryToke]

dynasty after they trade one of their many star forwards for a star goalie.

 

[ViD]

not sure if serious? This team would be a cup contender every year

 

[Caeldan]

They'd be a President's Trophy dynasty, but exposed by the second round of the playoffs every year.
It's a run and gun team... the defense is mostly 'offense' first or PP specialists, and the goalies are extremely weak. Smith's strength though is the puckhandling to assist the offense.

 

[FDBluth]

This team would clearly be the odds-on favourite. The top nine would decimate any other's. No team would be able to keep up, especially for seven games. Doesn't matter if Smith's in net or not.

 

[Caeldan]

This team would clearly be the odds-on favourite. The top nine would decimate any other's. No team would be able to keep up, especially for seven games. Doesn't matter if Smith's in net or not.

I'd say that this year's Tampa, Chicago, New York and Washington all could likely handle this Team Canada roster in a seven game series.

They have the speed to create a strong forecheck, plus the defense to match TC's offense.

 

[CanadienShark]

I'd say that this year's Tampa, Chicago, New York and Washington all could likely handle this Team Canada roster in a seven game series.

They have the speed to create a strong forecheck, plus the defense to match TC's offense.

Washington and Tampa would get ABSOLUTELY THRASHED. They'd get decimated. Chicago and the Rangers could hold their own. Anaheim could compete but definitely lose. The rest, it's not even up for debate.

 

[stempniaksen]

I think the Rangers could beat them in the playoffs. They'd probably run away with the presidents trophy though, that's alot of firepower.

 

[Captain Bowie]

Iffy in net. Good D but without a true #1 (yet) but very young. But that forward group man...

 

[FDBluth]

I'd say that this year's Tampa, Chicago, New York and Washington all could likely handle this Team Canada roster in a seven game series.

They have the speed to create a strong forecheck, plus the defense to match TC's offense.

Not when it would come in the waves that this Canada team would send it. You've got Crosby playing with two first liners for the first time ever, which would be more than enough for a top defensive pairing to handle. And then on other lines you've still got the likes of Giroux, Duchene, Mackinnon, Spezza, Seguin and O'Reilly. How would any NHL team keep up with that many dangerous offensive players continuing to come over the boards? That's wayyy too much forward depth for any team to handle. And Canada's defense, while lacking a true stud (Ekblad will become one in time), certainly isn't weak. Goaltending is a question mark though, but it would really be an afterthought on this team. It's basically like another Chicago team on steroids, which is already almost too good for nearly any other NHL team.

Give that team 82 games to get their feet under them and it would be extremely difficult for any team to beat them.

 

[Hanji]

They'd decimate the NHL. Nobody has the depth to contain that firepower, nor the offense to match it.

 

[officialmark*]

lol @ people saying they wouldn't be good in the playoffs

They'd be a dynasty.

 

[Canucks LB]

dynasty, nobody could roll 4 lines vs this team, nobody

 

[Patchey*]

Solid contenders each and every year. Their forward corps are super stacked

 

[gela]

They're not a complete team. They're weak on the back end and it goal. Sure their forwards are good enough to propel them into the playoffs and get them tagged as contenders but annual second-round exit sounds about right.

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

Yea, they'd have a legitimate shot at a dynasty every year.

 

[Gormo]

If that meant Mclellan would be their coach, then definitely, but they think they'd dominate regardless.

They may not have the star power, but their defense is extremely good too. No weak 3rd pairing, not even close.

Often a goalie only needs to be competent when he has a good defense in front of him.

 

[ProspectsSTC]

They're not a complete team. They're weak on the back end and it goal. Sure their forwards are good enough to propel them into the playoffs and get them tagged as contenders but annual second-round exit sounds about right.

How are they weak on the back end?

 

[usahockey22flyers]

They win the cup

 

[playasRus]

Not to mention they'd have 82 games to build chemistry and it's not elimination in playoffs like it is at WC.

 

[tntkid]

Team Canada is basically an all star team.

They would be a cup contender in the NHL.