North American squad has young veterans to lean on at World Cup of Hockey
MONTREAL — Team North America head coach Todd McLellan has “young experience” on his squad that may end up playing a key role in the World Cup of Hockey.
While teenagers like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews will get most of the attention during the eight-team tournament, there are a handful of players on the roster who are not all that young, at least in terms of NHL experience.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers and Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers have spent the last five seasons in the NHL, piling up more than 300 games apiece. Brandon Saad of the Columbus Blue Jackets has played 286 regular season games in four seasons, but also has 67 playoff games under his belt and won a pair of Stanley Cups while with the Chicago Blackhawks.
“There are times in games and in locker-rooms where we’ll have to settle down a bit,” McLellan said Wednesday. “We may get running around. Not panicking, but a little nervous.