Does Finland have the best 23-under forward line by any country?

[Eye of Ra]

of course not.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

1. MacKinnon-McDavid-Barzal
2. Laine-Barkov-Rantanen
3. Eichel-Matthews-Boeser
4. Nylander-Petterson-Forsberg
5. Kase-Faksa-Pastrnak
6. Meier-Hischier-Fiala
7. Kaprizov-Kamenev-Buchnevich

Canada edges Finland who edges USA. 4th place is not even close to those three. I think 4th and 5th is close. 6th and 7th are not close. Russia's main problem is no center. Kaprizov and Buch can compete with the wingers 4-6, they are better than some of them, but there's not an NHL center here.

why do the finns edge the US?

barkov and matthews are near equals, eichel is better then laine right now, and so is boeser over rantanen especially when you figure in teams, usage and support.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

why do the finns edge the US?

barkov and matthews are near equals, eichel is better then laine right now, and so is boeser over rantanen especially when you figure in teams, usage and support.

I'd take Rantanen over Boeser pretty easily. Eichel, Laine, Barkov, Matthews for the other four. I think its very close between those four.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

I'd take Rantanen over Boeser pretty easily. Eichel, Laine, Barkov, Matthews for the other four. I think its very close between those four.

rantenen is having a fine season but he has a mvp caliber player next to him and brock well...and he isnt far from rants production wise. the USA line is faster and full of 3 players who can drive a line, the fins seems better all around and a bit meaner but all in all the USA line is a better line imo but i digress.

 

[Intangir]

I understand that. And due to their overall surplus of talent, they are always the favorites to win any tournament with professional players. That said, we're not talking about "overall team" here - we're discussing a single top line of U23 players that seem to have the same star power, skills and chemistry as that Finland trio. And that includes playing their actual positions to maximize the chemistry. Lines 2-4, Canada slaughters pretty much anyone, based on talent alone. I'm trying to isolate one scenario.

McDavid-MacKinnon combo is legit, considering MacKinnon played a lot of time on the wing in COL and he loves to shoot the puck. Who would be the other U23 W on that line, who would seem to fit perfectly? Then there might be a real case here. I would even buy someone like Travis Konecny, who would seem to fit perfectly with this duo... or Mitch Marner.

But that Finland line has everything, including incredible size and strength. They literally have no weakness.

Aside from the obvious Mcdavid/MacKinnon combination, you'd have to take Mitch Marner for the left wing if you consider only wingers.

That would give us:

Marner-Mcdavid-MacKinnon

In terms of pure talent and offensive ability, that line is superior IMO to the finnish line and basically every other country's lines. That said, that line lacks physicality and defensive acumen compared to the finnish trio and is thus ''less complete'', so although I still think it is superior overall, it is also less versatile.

Anyways, it's great to see Finland finally start churning out quality prospects and players after a few ''down'' years in the early 2000's, and here's to hoping we see a greater diversity of countries pumping out talent at the NHL level in the future.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Considering only wingers takes MacKinnon out of there too.

 

[Community]

I understand that. And due to their overall surplus of talent, they are always the favorites to win any tournament with professional players. That said, we're not talking about "overall team" here - we're discussing a single top line of U23 players that seem to have the same star power, skills and chemistry as that Finland trio. And that includes playing their actual positions to maximize the chemistry. Lines 2-4, Canada slaughters pretty much anyone, based on talent alone. I'm trying to isolate one scenario.

McDavid-MacKinnon combo is legit, considering MacKinnon played a lot of time on the wing in COL and he loves to shoot the puck. Who would be the other U23 W on that line, who would seem to fit perfectly? Then there might be a real case here. I would even buy someone like Travis Konecny, who would seem to fit perfectly with this duo... or Mitch Marner.

But that Finland line has everything, including incredible size and strength. They literally have no weakness.

Except it is fairly easy for the majority of centers to switch to wing. That is why team Canada can take a bunch of centers and put them on the wing and still succeed. If they were better taking 4 each of LW/C/RW they would, but the best players typically play center when they are in juniors (and other similar leagues across the world).

X - McDavid - Mackinnon is better than the Finn line. Yes, the Finn line has one of the top 2-way C's and one of the best scoring wingers, but the overall talent is better in the Canadian line and Mackinnon/McDavid will have no problem meshing.


No weakness isn't as important as bringing the most skill/talent possible (see 2014 Canadian Olympic Team).

1. Team Canada
2. Team USA or Team Finland (There isn't a huge difference between any of those 3, but McDavid makes the difference)

 

[Ainec]

I suppose if you narrow it down to 3 players, all being forwards and in their full-time position

Connor - McDavid - Marner < Laine - Barkov - Rantanen

is there LW/RW players I'm missing for Canada?

hollow victory

 

[maroon 6]

I suppose if you narrow it down to 3 players, all being forwards and in their full-time position

Connor - McDavid - Marner < Laine - Barkov - Rantanen

is there LW/RW players I'm missing for Canada?

hollow victory

Kyle Connor is American

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Kyle Connor? He’s an American.

 

[King1s]

Imo, Finland has the best u23 line. Even with McDavid, Finland is just better than Canada.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

one of the best for sure

 

[Ainec]

Kyle Connor? He’s an American.

Kyle Connor is American

Debrusk - McDavid - Marner

am I missing someone better on LW


edit: back to debrusk

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Tkachuk - McDavid - Marner

am I missing someone better on LW

You’re missing a Canadian.

 

[Ainec]

You’re missing a Canadian.

lol I made 2 edits

Debrusk first, can't be american then to Tkachuk, you caught me

 

[Ainec]

tfw USA >> Canada

 

[maroon 6]

You’re missing a Canadian.

Tkachuk plays for USA but he does have Canadian citizenship through his mom.


Edit: Actually not sure if he’s a citizen but I know his mom is Canadian.

 

[Boxscore]

USA has a crazy top 9 u23

Keller Matthews Boeser
Tkachuck Eichel Yamamoto
Milano Larkin Debrincat

Like that's nuts. And I'm a Canada fan lol Can't wait till the next best on best match up

Replace Yamamoto and Milano with B.Tkachuk and Mittelstadt and we're talking.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

For a U-23 USA top 9 i'd say nah. Yamamoto you'd be basing his spot entirely on potential, and he's not exactly destroying the WHL. Milano is older than some guys in the NHL that are outperforming him.

Really? Yamamoto's been tearing it up lately. Something like 2.5 ppg since the WJC.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

1. MacKinnon-McDavid-Barzal
2. Laine-Barkov-Rantanen
3. Eichel-Matthews-Boeser
4. Nylander-Petterson-Forsberg
5. Kase-Faksa-Pastrnak
6. Meier-Hischier-Fiala
7. Kaprizov-Kamenev-Buchnevich

Canada edges Finland who edges USA. 4th place is not even close to those three. I think 4th and 5th is close. 6th and 7th are not close. Russia's main problem is no center. Kaprizov and Buch can compete with the wingers 4-6, they are better than some of them, but there's not an NHL center here.

Great list. Kinda weird to see the Swiss ahead of the Russians.

 

[Boxscore]

Imo, Finland has the best u23 line. Even with McDavid, Finland is just better than Canada.

I think I agree. Although MacKinnon-McDavid-Can of Pepsi would still scare the crap out of me.

 

[frisco]

Hall-McDavid-Eberle

Imagine that talent all on the same team let alone one line...

My Best-Carey

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I think I agree. Although MacKinnon-McDavid-Can of Pepsi would still scare the crap out of me.

Maybe. I would feel very confident with Laine-Barkov-Rantanen. I don't think they would get hammered in their own zone either.

 

[AmericanDream]

do not post another line of US kids please -

anyone notice what has happened here???

Eichel - Matthews - Boeser - seems like the HF Gods have deemed this line too mighty to ever be put together so they decided to injury all 3 of them for much of the remaining season!!

 

[AmericanDream]

Really? Yamamoto's been tearing it up lately. Something like 2.5 ppg since the WJC.

yeah, not seeing that one, he had a slow start back after the WJC which happens to a lot of players, but the past 6 weeks, this kid has to be in the top 2-3 hottest players in the entire CHL. just wished he showcased this at the WJC.