from Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated,

Now, as the eight World Cup teams prepare to assemble and open training camp around the world next week, it’s time to shake aside the oddities and face reality: When the NHL-sanctioned event, alive for the first time in 12 years, begins Sept. 17 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, the so-called Young Guns should be considered true contenders. The lack of expectations just makes them more dangerous.

“I believe there’s some true pressure on some teams to win this,” coach Todd McLellan says. “I think we have pressure on us to upset… We’re the biggest wild card out of anybody.”

Talent unquestionably exists in abundance. Team NA, as its black-and-red jerseys will read, boasts more former top-10 selections (14) and No. 1 overall picks (5) than any World Cup club. Center Connor McDavid (1.07) of the Oilers (right, in photo above) and winger Johnny Gaudreau (0.99) of the Calgary Flames ranked fifth and 15th, respectively, in points per game last season. Forward Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets led the league in scoring after Feb. 16. Forwards Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings and Jonathan Drouin of the Tampa Bay Lightning have won the past two Fastest Skater competitions at the NHL All-Star game. Even the most inexperienced member — No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who turns 19 years old the same day that round-robin play starts — was arguably the United States’ best player at this May’s world championships.

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