2025-2026 NHL Offseason

A month from some strong World Cup excitement.
Wore one of my LA Kings shirts to a baseball game last week and got this from a parent:
"Christ, man, you wear USC Football or LA Kings hockey gear to baseball games all of the time. Can't you stay 'in-season?!'"
Pretty simple to answer: "Nope."

After looking at the rosters some I might not be rooting for Team USA at World Cup next month to win. Might root for them as long as they dont play 1 other team.
Sounds crazy...but Team North America?

Who wants to chase these spring chickens around?
McDavid, Gaudreau, Eichel, RNH, Matthews, Larkin, Drouin, Ekblad, Ghost Bear, Murray

Goalies - Murray/Gibson isn't too shabby either.

TEAM NORTH AMERICA

Forwards:

Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers; Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning; Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres; Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames; Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings; Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche; Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs; Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers; J.T. Miller, New York Rangers; Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers; Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets; Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets

Defense:

Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers; Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers; Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets; Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets; Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues; Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs; Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets

Goalies:

John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks; Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets; Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins

Do they usually play the cup in September? Seems like it would coincide with training camps.

Is anyone really even interested in this World Cup? I have zero interest. Bring on training camps and the start of the long season already.

F Me In The Brain said:

lukin2006 said:

Not sure why McDavid was left off Canada's roster ... but team NA looks good for sure. Might have to enjoy this, Olympics participation looks bleak, but until an official no, I hold out hope.

Age, there was a cutoff line on age for the NA team (or if they went to Canada or US teams) and he was below it. Part of what I find so intriguing about it....will see legs and future star-power vs. wisdom and established star-power.

Dr. --- yes, I am very interested. Don't want to see anyone get hurt but I think it is going to be lots of fun.

Ok ... didn't know age was a factor...it'll be interesting for sure.

Dr. Delight said:

Is anyone really even interested in this World Cup? I have zero interest. Bring on training camps and the start of the long season already.

Yes, I am.... or at least will be.

Traditionally the Canada Cup/World Cup of Hockey was played like this... with some pretty outstanding tournaments. 1996 was some of the best hockey I have witnessed in 30+ years of watching. The 1987 Canada team was on paper, possibly the best hockey team ever assembled (Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Hawerchuk, Bourque, Coffey, Gartner, Gilmour, Rochefort, Goulet, etc...) It was/is normally played before the season which I also think is a bonus.

The olympics to me have fallen flat for the most part. The Vancouver one and also the first one when Hasek stole the gold for the Czechs were the only blips on the radar. Most of the time, the olympics have been dull.... and even moreso when in the other hemisphere, especially in a non-hockey country.

This format puts the ball firmly in the NHL's court and cuts the IOC (and IIHF) right out of it, which is a positive IMO. After 2016, these 'young'/all star teams will be replaced by qualifying countries which is good... they are also going to work in a possible European vs North American All-Star series every 4 years starting in 2018 to rotate with the WCoH.

2016 World Cup of Hockey schedule announced

https://www.nhl.com/news/2016-world-cup-of-hockey-schedule-announced/c-778411?tid=278386054

Indifference71 said:

Dr. Delight said:

Is anyone really even interested in this World Cup? I have zero interest. Bring on training camps and the start of the long season already.

Not really. I'm sure I'll watch some of it, but this tourney is clearly nothing but a money grab by the NHL.

That's true, but I do believe the Nhlpa benefits financially and some of that money goes into programs that benefit retired players from previous eras before the players became wealthy, or at least that's how it used to work.

Dr. Delight said:

The Las Vegas Desert Knights?

http://www.tsn.ca/report-lv-desert-knights-trademarked-1.566241

I already don't like this guy. Just name the fuckin team already and quit with the media circus.