Projecting Team North America's lines at the World Cup

Team North America, comprised of the best American and Canadian hockey players age 23 and under as of Oct. 1, is set to turn heads at the World Cup of Hockey.

The squad, put together by Peter Chiarelli and Stan Bowman, will fly. Head coach Todd McLellan may have the fastest team in the tournament.

Here's what we project North America's lines to look like:

Forwards

It's a center-heavy group, led by Connor McDavid, and while a number of middlemen will have to move to the wing, there's skill up and down the lines. This is going to be a fast, fun set of forwards to watch.

LW	C	RW
Brandon Saad	Connor McDavid	Jack Eichel
Johnny Gaudreau	Sean Monahan	Mark Scheifele
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	Nathan MacKinnon	Jonathan Drouin
Auston Matthews	Sean Couturier	Dylan Larkin
J.T. Miller

Picking a left-winger for the top line was a tough decision. Brandon Saad's a finisher, he can hang with McDavid and Jack Eichel, but so can Johnny Gaudreau. In the end, splitting up Gaudreau and Sean Monahan doesn't make sense - they make magic together. And, speaking of magic, McDavid and Eichel. That'll be something.

Auston Matthews' addition to North America was a bit curious, especially since the team lacks right-wingers and right-handed shooters. A natural center, he can't play the position on this club, so he's slotted on what is essentially a checking line, anchored by all-world defensive center Sean Couturier. Perhaps a checking role is good for Matthews, considering the hype around his playing in Toronto for the first time, and the pressure that will come along with doing that.

Mark Scheifele is the perfect complement to the Calgary duo, and don't sleep on that third line. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin are offensive wizards.

Defense

There's skill and shutdown potential on North America's blue line.

Aaron Ekblad highlights the group, while Morgan Rielly will be comfortable playing at the Air Canada Centre.

LD	RD
Shayne Gostisbehere	Aaron Ekblad
Ryan Murray	Seth Jones
Morgan Rielly	Colton Parayko
	Jacob Trouba

Shayne Gostisbehere burst onto the scene last season, and he's earned top-pairing minutes.

Rielly could play with Seth Jones, but it makes the most sense to keep the Columbus Blue Jackets pairing together. While Rielly spent most of last season on the right side, playing with Jake Gardiner, he moves back to the left side on this team.

Goalies

John Gibson's the undisputed No. 1 in Anaheim, and an All-Star, but Matt Murray is a Stanley Cup winner. He gets the nod.

G
Matt Murray
John Gibson
Connor Hellebuyck

Power Play

This is where Gaudreau gets promoted to the top line. And in order to get MacKinnon on the second unit, he's going to man the point. He's got the shot to do it.

Unit	LW	C	RW	LD	RD
1	Gaudreau	McDavid	Eichel	Gostisbehere	Ekblad
2	Saad	Monahan	Scheifele	Rielly	MacKinnon

Penalty Kill

Couturier, of course, will be relied upon heavily by McLennan shorthanded. This is where Nugent-Hopkins, on the third line at five-on-five, can contribute. And if McLennan decides Trouba fills out the bottom pairing, he'll be a mainstay at four-on-five.

Unit	C	F	LD	RD
1	Couturier	Nugent-Hopkins	Murray	Jones
2	Monahan	Saad	Rielly	Parayko/Trouba

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