Peter Chiarelli on the three biggest challenges for World Cup Youngstars

TORONTO – For Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli, assembling the roster for his World Cup of Hockey North American Youngstars team is going to be like playing a turbulent stock market. There are going to be some safe bets, but there’s mostly going to be wild fluctuation as he prepares to name the team’s first 16 players on or before March 1.

“There’s been a lot of variance among players,” he said.

Take Colton Parayko, the strong rookie defenseman for the St. Louis Blues. His stock has skyrocketed in the first month of the season, and he’s squarely on the team’s radar now.

Chiarelli has a good idea of the team’s locks – Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins among them, although he wouldn’t confirm those names.

But he also has a good idea of three biggest challenges facing his team as it prepares for the World Cup next September in Toronto.

1. Two Different Nations

While Chiarelli doesn’t anticipate a civil war in the locker room between Canadian and American players, he does think it’ll take a bit for them to mesh. But just a short bit.

“We’ll quickly get by that. I think just because of the shortness of the tournament, they’ll just get thrown into it and come together quickly,” he said.

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Some are concerned that the players will feel awkward playing against their nations. The players we’ve spoken to instead say the mindset is the freshmen taking down the seniors in a scrimmage.

2. The Leadership

Obviously with an under-24 team, you expect rookie goofs in this tournament. “Young players make mistakes. I’m not sure how you combat that. Maybe give them a little structure,” said Chiarelli of coach Todd McLellan.

But the real issue with youth is leadership. “On more senior teams, there’s a critical mass of leadership that you can build around,” he said.

On a Youngstars team, most of these players are currently playing second or third fiddle to established veteran stars on their current NHL teams. That said, many were also leaders in junior hockey.

“Maybe you let it evolve,” theorized Chiarelli.

3. Goaltending

Without question, the smallest pool of talent from which Chiarelli will choose players. He estimates that it’s only six or seven players deep.

“Maybe that’s the biggest challenge,” he said.

The general manager admitted that there were discussions with the NHL and the NHLPA to extend the age restriction and allow slightly older goalies a chance to play with the Youngstars. But those petitions were denied.

Chiarelli said he has a top three in mind. One assumes that would include John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets goalie of the future Connor Hellebuyck, Malcolm Subban of the Boston Bruins.

It’s a thin field that Chiarelli said he hopes will have one goalie earning the job.

“We’re going to look at those candidates as late as we can. I’m looking for someone to finish strong towards the end of the season, maybe a playoff push,” he said.

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