Let's follow Team North America this NHL season

Team North America did not win the World Cup of Hockey. Didn't even make it out of the preliminary round, in fact, despite its 2-1 record.

But the kids, all age 23 or under, were the darlings of the event certainly more exciting and entertaining than the champs, Team Canada. Todd McLellan elected not to over-coach his rising stars, allowing them instead to use what they've learned in their brief professional careers along with the talent and creativity that got them to the NHL.

In doing so, Team North America wound up being the sexiest squadin a tournament that, for the most part, lacked the drama of the Olympics.

• Team North America: Where are they now?

With that in mind, we've decided to track the players on Team North America during the 2016-17 NHL season, placing an emphasis on those playing on Canadian-based teams.

Those players include Edmonton's electrifying Connor McDavid, who became the youngest captain in NHL history earlier this month; fellow Oiler Ryan Nugent-Hopkins;Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan of the Calgary Flames; Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs; and Mark Scheifele, Jacob Trouba and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. Monahan, it should be noted, was among the first players named to the team, but missed the tournament with a back injury.

That doesn't mean we'll ignore the players on American-based teams Sean Couturier and Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers; Brandon Saad, Ryan Murray and Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Aaron Ekblad and Vincent Trocheck of the Florida Panthers; Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings; Jonathan Drouin of the Tampa Bay Lightning; Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche; Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins and John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks.

Human highlight reel

This wonderful collection of young men won the hearts of hockey fans as they battled older, more experienced competition at the World Cup. It was thought that goaltending might be a weakness for the kids when the team was put together, but after Matt Murray backstopped the Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season, it became a moot point. Murray then came through in the World Cup.

As expected, McDavid was lights-out spectacular in the event, proving he is indeed ready to take his place among the best players in the NHL. He is a human highlight reel just waiting to happen.

Then there's Gaudreau, who led the team in scoring with two goals and four points in three games. The 23-year-old winner of the 2014 Hobey Baker Award as the best college hockey player in the United States is 5-foot-9 and 157 pounds, but plays smaller if that makes sense. His skill in tight spaces is unmatched. He's also got a new contract just in time for the season a six-year, $40.5-million US deal announced Monday after he held out of training camp.

If Team Canada was efficiently boring in winning the World Cup Team North America showed you can be successful and strut your stuff at the same time. We suspect the players that made up Team North America will provide us with plenty of fascinating storylines this season. It will be a pleasure to watch as they unfold and bring them to you