Potential Canada and USA lineups for 2024 World Cup; Who's better?
Gary Bettman and the NHL recently announced that the World Cup of Hockey will be returning for the first time since a very successful tournament back in September of 2016.
The two heavy favourites heading into the tournament will most-likely be the United States and the reigning champion Team Canada. The NHL Network released what will be the potential forward groups for each team.
Which team has the better lines? Check out the video below:
Both teams are absolutely stacked and it's hard to say who would be the better forward group. It would be a very exciting game to watch either way!
The NHL Network is also well-known for its �'controversial'' takes, and these lineups will for sure get some backlash.
The defense pairings for each team are pretty even as well, with USA including Bruins star defender Charlie McAvoy.
One area that is a clear winner above the other is USA's goaltending with Thatcher Demko, Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger, while they have Canada projected to go with an older trio of Darcy Kuemper, Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Binnington.
Obviously, by then a lot can change and some young players good be proven stars by then, especially up and comers like Shane Wright, Matthew Beniers, Owen Powers or even Connor Bedard who's not even draft eligible until 2023.
One interesting note is that Canada includes the dominant first line from the 2016 tournament featuring Sidney Crosby with two Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. At the last World Cup all three were still in their primes, but by 2024, Marchand will be the youngest of the three 36 years old, while Crosby will be 37 and Bergeron 39. Tough to say they'll all make the team by then.
