Auditions and debuts.
That was the sub-story of the opening day clash at the IIHF world championships, with the very young American team thrashed by Team Canada 5-1 in St. Petersburg, the first meeting between the two countries at the worlds since 2012.
Canada, with seven spots still open on the its World Cup roster for next September, had a group of forwards auditioning for those vacancies today, including Corey Perry, Taylor Hall, Matt Duchene, Brendan Gallagher, Ryan O’Reilly and Brad Marchand.
Hall, Marchand and Duchene all scored in the drubbing of the U.S., serving early notice, perhaps, that they intend to make their mark at this competition and make it difficult for Doug Armstrong and Mike Babcock to keep them off the World Cup squad.
Meanwhile, Auston Matthews, the presumptive No. 1 pick for this summer’s NHL draft, made his debut for the U.S. at the worlds (he played in some exhibition games last year) after a full season competing in the Swiss league with Zurich.
He didn’t look out of place. At all.
Playing mostly on a line with Jordan Schroeder and Pat Maroon, the 18-year-old centre showed the teams holding the top picks in the draft all the elements that seem likely to see him selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs first overall in June.
His combination of size, speed and skill is undeniable and eye-catching, and all were on display. He won some draws and did some nifty backchecking, as well, showing he’s got a 200-foot game to go with his offensive talent.
On this U.S. team, he’ll have to be a dominant player for his country to pick up a medal, which may be a bit unfair to ask. Coached by John Hynes, the Americans are led by Detroit forward Dylan Larkin and have a roster filled by NHL rookies, minor-leaguers and college players, notably Michigan winger Kyle Conner, recently signed by the Winnipeg Jets.
Matthews had 46 points in 36 games with the Marc Crawford-coached Zurich squad this season, and helped create the only United States goal against Canadian starter Cam Talbot by Maroon. On the play early in the first, Matthews shouldered his way past Duchene and jammed the net, helping create a loose puck that Maroon banged in.
Matthews, as he did in Europe this year, wore No. 34, likely the jersey number he’ll ask the Leafs to wear next fall.
For Canada, none of the 16 players already named to the 2016 World Cup roster are participating in the worlds for a team put together by Calgary GM Brad Treliving and Islanders consultant George McPhee.
O’Reilly, pushing hard for a centre spot on the World Cup team behind the likes of John Tavares, Jonathan Toews, Ryan Getzlaf and Sidney Crosby, centred a line with Boone Jenner and Gallagher. Connor McDavid, who will play on the 23-and-under team at the World Cup, played with Marchand and Duchene, while Hall and Perry were on a unit centred by Rangers pivot Derick Brassard. The other Canadian forward line had Mark Scheifele centring Max Domi and either Mark Stone or Sam Reinhart.
The very young Canadian defence, featuring mostly players taken in the 2012 like Ryan Murray and Morgan Rielly, held up well in the worlds opener.
On Monday, meanwhile, Matthews will go head-to-head with Finland winger Patrik Laine, at this point the only player likely to unseat the American at the top prospect for the NHL draft.