WJC: 2015 — Canada Roster Talk (Part II)

[ottawah]

Disappointed Marner didn't get an invite.

I think part of the issue surrounding Marner and Strome is simply that Canada took a kick at trying a number of young undrafted players and it did not end well.

Mod edit: Cuts as of Dec.14,2014

Defense
Sanheim
Bigras

Forwards
Klimchuk
Elie
Baptiste

Click to read more...

 

[Macman]

I think part of the issue surrounding Marner and Strome is simply that Canada took a kick at trying a number of young undrafted players and it did not end well.

Yeah, no matter how well somebody is playing as a 17-year-old in the CHL, it usually doesn't translate to the worlds. It's a different level. Even guys like Stamkos and Thornton were bit players when they got the chance.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I think part of the issue surrounding Marner and Strome is simply that Canada took a kick at trying a number of young undrafted players and it did not end well.

Ekblad and Reinhart were pretty good last year, especially Ekblad, and McDavid, while he had some difficulties, was 16 and certainly not the problem on the team. I don't know how you could look at the team last year or the year before and think that undrafted players were a problem on either of them.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Horvat (10:24, lowest on canucks) played less than dorsett(12:51) tonight and drouin had 2:55 after the first period, not saying they should or will be loaned but I definitely can see a case being made...

Vancouver is a four line team right now and the bottom two lines are winning a lot of games. Horvat has been picking up some pretty key points in the last stretch and winning key faceoffs.
If the test is does the player help the team win, then I doubt Horvat goes.
And if we have one single forward injured then for sure he will not go.

 

[1Gold Standard]

You would have to think that Gauthier is going to have a tough time NOT making the team.
I can't imagine a QMJL coach going into the tourney without one Quebec League skater.

Sure! Gauthier will do a bang up job giving pre and in game interviews to RDS and French language commercials for Hockey Canada sponsors. It's the only reason to have him when winning a tournament comes well down the list of priorities for the goofs at Hockey Canada.

 

[xxxx]

Sure! Gauthier will do a bang up job giving pre and in game interviews to RDS and French language commercials for Hockey Canada sponsors. It's the only reason to have him when winning a tournament comes well down the list of priorities for the goofs at Hockey Canada.

and what about the penalty killing

 

[ottawah]

Gauthier is a great penalty-killer, physical guy, I think he could perfectly fit the 4th line center role.

Her is not physical, and hockey canada has staed (although people do not believe) that they will be moving away from this idea of "roles" and just go with talent.

 

[ottawah]

and what about the penalty killing

Lots of players at the camp are extraordinarily good penalty killers in their own right. That will not be an issue with or without Gauthier.

 

[PRNuck]

Sure! Gauthier will do a bang up job giving pre and in game interviews to RDS and French language commercials for Hockey Canada sponsors. It's the only reason to have him when winning a tournament comes well down the list of priorities for the goofs at Hockey Canada.

You said it, not me!

 

[xxxx]

Lots of players at the camp are extraordinarily good penalty killers in their own right. That will not be an issue with or without Gauthier.

thanks for the info. Does it mean that you wouldn't have him in the line up?

 

[New User Name]

Can someone please explain why HC didn't extend an invite to Cole Cassels?

 

[FLYguy3911]

Elie and Paul I could easily see for being flip flopped.

When it Came down to the seventh D I though Theodore for offensive guy and Heatherington for a defensive guy, but maybe a swing guy and a 96' born player would be better for a seventh D and a two way guy would be a better option then a more one dimensional player in Hicketts and Sanheim, went with Hicketts because Sanheim is still fairly inconsistent and Hicketts has really impressed this year.

How is Sanheim inconsistent? You mean putting up points?

 

[YEGJuniorFan]

Ekblad and Reinhart were pretty good last year, especially Ekblad, and McDavid, while he had some difficulties, was 16 and certainly not the problem on the team. I don't know how you could look at the team last year or the year before and think that undrafted players were a problem on either of them.

Reinhart was playing as an 18 year old. Marner and Strome are 17 year olds this year. Its a significant difference. Ekblad? Well he is a 1st overall pick, they buck the trend from time to time.

 

[Pip]

Can someone please explain why HC didn't extend an invite to Cole Cassels?

Because even without the suspension he's likely on the outside looking in. Lots of very talented players will be left off this team.

 

[blendini]

Can someone please explain why HC didn't extend an invite to Cole Cassels?

He was invited to the American team camp

 

[Get North]

Dickinson is playing really good right now, he's playing everywhere and he has good offensive ability better than Gauthier, he wears the C for Guelph and he's always going 110%. He has a nice shot, size and uses his body well, he's on my team. Paul is another guy I want on the team, he isn't the fastest but he's a big kid with a pretty unique offensive skill-set, he can score, pass and sees the ice really well. RW is probably going with Baptiste but if we get nobody loaned than Baptiste might have to move up in the line-up which than my RW would probably be Point. Great energy guy and he has skill.

Gauthier my extra forward, he can kill penalties and get a few shifts to just rest some other guys since he is defensively responsible. That would be a pretty solid 4th line IMO, size, skill and you got that energy and grit. I wanted Chartier but I just don't think he'd fit well in this tournament. Klimchuk just doesn't excel enough for me to have him on the team. Ellie is a close one but I don't think he has enough offensive ability has Paul or the tools Dickinson has or the relentless attacking Point brings.

 

[DanrikCarter]

Hicketts delivered 1g and 1a last night. Every time I watch him I am amazed at how great he is at holding the puck in on the blue line. I feel Canada has to take this guy. They only have one other natural right sided defenceman in this camp.

Morrissey - Bowey
Nurse - Theodore
Morin - Hicketts
Fleury

Powerplay:
Domi - McDavid - Reinhart
Virtanen - Hicketts

 

[Tripod]

Hicketts delivered 1g and 1a last night. Every time I watch him I am amazed at how great he is at holding the puck in on the blue line. I feel Canada has to take this guy. They only have one other natural right sided defenceman in this camp.

Morrissey - Bowey
Nurse - Theodore
Morin - Hicketts
Fleury

Powerplay:
Domi - McDavid - Reinhart
Virtanen - Hicketts

Canada has lots of options at D. You didn't have Sanheim yet he has 28 points in 29 games and is +13. As someone said earlier, some good players are going to be left off this team.

 

[DanrikCarter]

Canada has lots of options at D. You didn't have Sanheim yet he has 28 points in 29 games and is +13. As someone said earlier, some good players are going to be left off this team.

True, but Sanheim is another left sided defenceman. I mean, sure, you can move a guy over to the other side but I think it is important to take players who you can slot into their natural positions.

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

How is Sanheim inconsistent? You mean putting up points?

Consistency as in one night you think he's the best player on the ice, and then on other nights you'd be surprised he was even drafted.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Consistency as in one night you think he's the best player on the ice, and then on other nights you'd be surprised he was even drafted.

I've watched him play about 25 games this year and I don't really see how you come to that opinion. I think the worst game I seen him play was his first game back in Calgary after being returned from Flyers' camp. Other than that game I can't think of a game where he was flat out awful. He had a stretch a couple weeks ago where he wasn't putting up points, but I never considered his play inconsistent or of the undraftable quality. Even when Sanheim has an off game, he generally makes an impact in at least one end of the rink. He's big, mobile, great hands, great passer, can PK, QB a PP, can play the left side, the right side, offensive or shutdown role. He never gets beat one-on-one. He's definitely an underdog to be a top 6 guy, but he would be a good candidate as a 7th guy because you can plug him in to almost any role.

I know you're going to say I'm biased, but I would argue Sanheim is more consistent game-to-game than Morin. He's playing his best hockey of the season right now. I don't want to make him out to be a prospect with zero flaws because he certainly has his faults, but I think people look at the year he had last year and just associate words like raw and inconsistent with him when I just don't think that's true. Again I think that would describe Morin more so than Sanheim.

I did hear an interview with Jankowsi talking about Hicketts and I think Jankowski had to change his shorts after he got off the air. He may have an inside track to a spot on the right side.

 

[Love]

Like others have said, if Kassian's return from injury lines up with the WJC then I could see Horvat going.

The thing is, even though he's only playing around 10 mins a night he is playing a very important role right now. Vancouver is a 4 line team and our "4th line" and "3rd line" seem to be interchangeable on a weekly basis.

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

I've watched him play about 25 games this year and I don't really see how you come to that opinion. I think the worst game I seen him play was his first game back in Calgary after being returned from Flyers' camp. Other than that game I can't think of a game where he was flat out awful. He had a stretch a couple weeks ago where he wasn't putting up points, but I never considered his play inconsistent or of the undraftable quality. Even when Sanheim has an off game, he generally makes an impact in at least one end of the rink. He's big, mobile, great hands, great passer, can PK, QB a PP, can play the left side, the right side, offensive or shutdown role. He never gets beat one-on-one. He's definitely an underdog to be a top 6 guy, but he would be a good candidate as a 7th guy because you can plug him in to almost any role.

I know you're going to say I'm biased, but I would argue Sanheim is more consistent game-to-game than Morin. He's playing his best hockey of the season right now. I don't want to make him out to be a prospect with zero flaws because he certainly has his faults, but I think people look at the year he had last year and just associate words like raw and inconsistent with him when I just don't think that's true. Again I think that would describe Morin more so than Sanheim.

I did hear an interview with Jankowsi talking about Hicketts and I think Jankowski had to change his shorts after he got off the air. He may have an inside track to a spot on the right side.

Yeah I think Hicketts is going to make the team.

I've been to several Hitmen games this year myself, none of them recent last one I went to was two weeks ago. I've heard he's been playing great hockey night in night out as of late, I can't compare to Morin I haven't seen him play once this year he was just coming off injury so It's to be expected he's not on his A game yet.

Early in the season Sanheim would either be non-existant in some games even with the large amount of ice time, other times he'd chip in on a pp with an assist and yet still be less than impressive overall, And more often then not He's looked like an absolute stud of a defenceman. But considering he's a potential player for the WJC there are times when he's not on his game and if he's like that at a higher level of hockey it's going to be a problem. There's been a couple of occasions where Ben Thomas has been the hands down better player on certain nights I've been too. He most certainly has been beat one on one this season.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Yeah I think Hicketts is going to make the team.

I've been to several Hitmen games this year myself, none of them recent last one I went to was two weeks ago. I've heard he's been playing great hockey night in night out as of late, I can't compare to Morin I haven't seen him play once this year he was just coming off injury so It's to be expected he's not on his A game yet.

Early in the season Sanheim would either be non-existant in some games even with the large amount of ice time, other times he'd chip in on a pp with an assist and yet still be less than impressive overall, And more often then not He's looked like an absolute stud of a defenceman. But considering he's a potential player for the WJC there are times when he's not on his game and if he's like that at a higher level of hockey it's going to be a problem. There's been a couple of occasions where Ben Thomas has been the hands down better player on certain nights I've been too. He most certainly has been beat one on one this season.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I don't know what your expectations are for the kid, but I consider myself pretty critical when evaluating players, especially my own team's, but the more I watch the kid play, the more I come away impressed with what he brings. His best asset is probably his smarts. He makes good, quick decisions with the puck. If HC wants a physical defensemen they won't want Sanheim. If they want a shot blocker they wont want Sanheim. If they want a defenseman that doesn't take any risks they won't want Sanheim. If they want a PP specialist with a booming shot, they won't want Sanheim. Everything else he checks the box.

Ben Thomas is a solid junior player. He plays a safe steady game. If that's what you prefer in a defenseman then I can see how you could say he was better in such and such game, but Ben Thomas has never been asked to play the role Sanheim has been put in. Honestly I don't think he's capable. With Thomas out the last week or so, Sanheim has more than picked up the slack. When Virtanen was out, he was arguably Calgary's best offensive and defensive player. As far as him never being beat one on one, it was a bit tongue in cheek. When he has position I personally haven't seen him beaten. He's got a long reach and excellent footwork. He gets beat pinching from time to time and relying on his skating too much and the occasional defensive breakdown (mostly with new d-partner Zipp).

It will be interesting to see who makes it between the 96s- Fleury, Hicketts, Sanheim. HC has made it pretty clear they want 19 year olds if all else is equal.

 

[Stizzle]

Consistency as in one night you think he's the best player on the ice, and then on other nights you'd be surprised he was even drafted.

This is just incorrect. I don't know how you could even possibly think something like this. I've seen about half his games this year. So unless I've picked the exact wrong games to miss, you are just exaggerating.