WJC: 2015 — Canada Roster Talk (Part IV)

[xxxx]

People probably think that Jarry would have like 98.9 SV% and having 1 GAA or what. What about him having a bad game too at the tournament, it's that even possible to imagine...... I think Hockey Canada did what they thought it would be the best. You may disagree, but they are not stupid. They have reasons, and even if you would disagree with their selections, it doesn't make you and your selections right, just because you think it would work, or just because you think they are stupid, as your reasoning why.

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

People probably think that Jarry would have like 98.9 SV% and having 1 GAA or what. What about him having a bad game too at the tournament, it's that even possible to imagine....oh..

I have to say I'm more confident in my viewings of Jarry than of those I've seen of Fucale.

And for Canuck fans, I don't think Virtanen is a bad choice for playing wing with McDavid, but I see alot of you guys leaving Fabbri away from Mcdavid when they have clear chemistry and McDavid saying they've played a long time together and feed off each other well.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I never said Crouse wasn't a good player. I said I don't think he is anywhere near a top 5 pick, especially in this draft and I just think it's crazy how he even got invited. Especially over talents like Marner and Strome who are a couple of the best players in the league already and can take over games.

Role.

This is the point fans like you are missing. You can't simply take the 20 highest scoring players and expect to win. You need guys who can play various roles. Canada has a tendency to go too far in this regard, where even their third line was devoid of top end skill in favor of grit/physicality. But that's not a problem this year, IMO. This year Canada can ice 3 scoring lines, so bringing along "role players" for the fourth line/13th forward makes sense.

Crouse's spot on the team will be as a 4th line banger or energy guy. That line will be tasked with gaining momentum by going out there to hit, punish, and dominate on the cycle, all in short shifts so the other three lines can have a bit of a rest. Who among Strome, Marner or Dal Colle can perform that specific task better than Crouse?

If this was simply about "who will score more points", then Crouse loses out to those guys. But TC is attempting to build all the right pieces to a championship team, and you need players who can play certain roles in order to do that.

As for the rest of that paragraph (that I mistakenly deleted from quoting), you seem to put way too much emphasis on a player's stats than his actual skill set to determine who should or shouldn't be ranked high by NHL scouting. Nazem Kadri has a lot more natural skill than a guy like Andrew Ladd or Milan Lucic. However, clubs would probably rather have a guy like Ladd or Lucic on their club for a long playoff run than Kadri. Crouse may never win a scoring title, but he'll be that character kid who plays hard every single night, strong defensively, and has good hands and a scoring touch in close.

My biases? Gauthier is one of the best defensive forwards in the CHL, if not the best. Of course he was going to make the team if he had a good camp. That's why I didn't understand why people were surprised.

And by all accounts, Crouse had an outstanding camp as well. So why is a surprise Crouse made the team after a strong camp, yet people shouldn't be surprised Gauthier made the team after a good camp?

I don't have a Dal Colle bias. I'm not even a Generals fan. I just happened to watch him play and know how good he is and how great he can be. Canada cut their best goalscorer and that is unacceptable to me.

There is plenty of offense on this team. It would be one thing if offense looks to be lacking and they still cut Dal Colle. However, there's more than enough offense that made the team that cutting a one-dimensional scorer shouldn't sink the team.

(By "one-dimensional scorer" I'm saying because he's not exactly going to help the team in any other way -- he's not physical, isn't great defensively, isn't fast, won't PK, etc.)

 

[xxxx]

Btw, Fucale in no way is already #1. I think if Comrie has a good game tomorrow, it's him who's gonna be #1.

 

[CanaFan]

I have to say I'm more confident in my viewings of Jarry than of those I've seen of Fucale.

And for Canuck fans, I don't think Virtanen is a bad choice for playing wing with McDavid, but I see alot of you guys leaving Fabbri away from Mcdavid when they have clear chemistry and McDavid saying they've played a long time together and feed off each other well.

I agree and I think TC is going to have those two together barring some monumental lack of chemistry (which is unlikely given their prior history). And I do think (wish) my fellow Canuck fans would worry a bit less about where Jake plays, even though I agree he's better used in a scoring role. Whatever role he (and any player) is asked to play, it is still an honour to represent your country and you want to see guys who are willing to do whatever is asked of them, even if it is less glamorous or not their usual role.

 

[Sonic Disturbance]

And by all accounts, Crouse had an outstanding camp as well. So why is a surprise Crouse made the team after a strong camp, yet people shouldn't be surprised Gauthier made the team after a good camp?

Because...

1) Gauthier is a returning player. How many players make TC at 18 then are cut at 19 (barring injuries)?
2. Gauthier is in his second season post-draft. Crouse is draft eligible and is only 17. Typically, only exceptional players make the team when draft eligible, ex. MacKinnon, Ekblad etc. While a good prospect, Crouse is not even close to being in that league.

 

[1Gold Standard]

People probably think that Jarry would have like 98.9 SV% and having 1 GAA or what. What about him having a bad game too at the tournament, it's that even possible to imagine...... I think Hockey Canada did what they thought it would be the best. You may disagree, but they are not stupid. They have reasons, and even if you would disagree with their selections, it doesn't make you and your selections right, just because you think it would work, or just because you think they are stupid, as your reasoning why.

All evidence points to the contrary.

This criticism brought to you by Bob's Burger Truck.

 

[sda]

Michael Dal Colle.

He is a good player but not what you think. He just didnt show that he was better than 13 others. Guys like Paul Gauthier Crouse and Virtanen stepped up thier games while Dal Colle didnt show that he was anywhere near as good as you suggest

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

I thought McDavid was supposed to be in the Slovakia game, not the exhibition game against Sweden?

 

[Black Noise]

Virtanen hasn't matched Gauthier's scoring in major junior this year. Come down to earth with your teams prospect. Be happy he made the team at all

WTF are you talking about? Virtanen has outscored Gauthier this year and last year.
A lot of people seem to forget how young Virtanen is, he was almost eligible for this years draft.
Gauthier is almost a full year older than Virtanen. Based on the amount he is producing at his age, Canuck fans have a good reason to be excited.

 

[Icebreakers]

If team Canada wins gold, everyone will say its the right choice, if they dont people will be saying how Dal Colle would have won them the gold, but tbh its probably neither.

 

[PecnoTrunk]

If team Canada wins gold, everyone will say its the right choice, if they dont people will be saying how Dal Colle would have won them the gold, but tbh its probably neither.

I agree with you...

Hello every one....

Now, i will post my opinion on the cuts and this team, my opinion is based on the following, i attended some summer camp games, watched the SSS and CIS games....and of course the Russian game....

my biggest surprise is the team cutting Fleury over Hicketts....picking a diminutive player who probably will not have a long nhl career over a big bodied, excellent skater (Fleury was one of the best players during the summer camp) is shocking....I never have seen Hicketts play except recently....this to me is the biggest shock, i hope Hicketts makes me eat my keyboard, but i highly doubt it, there was a reason he went un-drafted...hope he doesn't disappear against the bigger teams...

I have been reading post that are all over the place regarding the players chosen, some posters really only look at stats and fill the roster according to number of goals and points.....you cannot build a team on stats, points and goals alone...it takes skill, points are not always indicative of skill (Kunitz is good but there were better options)

People are ragging on about Gauthier, Paul, Crouse.... i am pleasantly surprised at how good Paul and Crouse are, they deserve a spot on the team, they out skated and out worked others including MDC (Maybe he was hurt??? I dont know, we dont know). Gauthier was not good during the summer evaluation, but he showed well during the Russian game and played well during the SSS....

I hope Brayden Point shows up against the bigger teams, i thought he disappeared a little during the Russian game at times....we will see

Just like at the olympics, the coaches have already determined their starting goalie, Fucale...it is his job to lose....the same way it was Prices job to lose...

As for people complaining about Ritchie, its very simple, there are 2 exhibition games left, if he does anything stupid he will get the Ben Johnson treatment

Other than Hicketts, im ok with this team, we will see if i eat my keyboard...

Thank you...post you all later

 

[Future]

You must know more about hockey than all the NHL scouts and hockey Canada. Why are you typing on a message board?

Your assessment of Crouse is horribly inaccurate and completely biased towards players you want to cheer for. I have watched Marner, Strome and Crouse live multiple times. Crouse has jam, big time he is good away from the puck and is alot to handle. Marner especially was weak in his own zone and on the puck when I saw him recently.

How is it inaccurate? I think he's a solid player and a first round prospect, likely 10-20. But he is not a top 5 pick. Not even close. He is not exceptional.

Marner is not weak in his own zone. I realize you came to that conclusion by watching him play live once, but if you watched him more you'd realize he has grit, intensity, and a commitment to a 200 foot game.

Every year people like you tear down people that question Hockey Canada's moves and say that they know what they are doing. Every year it seems like you people are proven wrong. Hopefully it's not the case this year and Canada wins Gold, but if they don't, and they badly need to score that big goal and they fail, remember that they cut Michael Dal Colle. That's the last thing I'll say on this.

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

my biggest surprise is the team cutting Fleury over Hicketts....picking a diminutive player who probably will not have a long nhl career over a big bodied, excellent skater (Fleury was one of the best players during the summer camp) is shocking....I never have seen Hicketts play except recently....this to me is the biggest shock, i hope Hicketts makes me eat my keyboard, but i highly doubt it, there was a reason he went un-drafted...hope he doesn't disappear against the bigger teams...

Welcome to HF.

I'm also not a big fan of cutting Fleury, But Hicketts has been nothing short of sensational in my viewings this year, last year he was dealing with the injury bug in a big way and when he was playing coming off injury last year he was playing way below his capabilities, he'd be drafted at least in the 2nd if he had a chance to re-enter the draft.

 

[WhatASaveDave]

What time is the game against Sweden tmr ?

 

[OttawaOilers]

What time is the game against Sweden tmr ?

7:00 EASTERN STANDARD TIME

------------

Can anyone make me a Curtis Lazar WJC banner? I'd really appreciate it.

And if I have to pay, I'll give you my 500 vCash... If I can even do that.

PM me if you're nice. Thanks!

 

[Royal Canuck]

I agree with you...

Hello every one....

Now, i will post my opinion on the cuts and this team, my opinion is based on the following, i attended some summer camp games, watched the SSS and CIS games....and of course the Russian game....

my biggest surprise is the team cutting Fleury over Hicketts....picking a diminutive player who probably will not have a long nhl career over a big bodied, excellent skater (Fleury was one of the best players during the summer camp) is shocking....I never have seen Hicketts play except recently....this to me is the biggest shock, i hope Hicketts makes me eat my keyboard, but i highly doubt it, there was a reason he went un-drafted...hope he doesn't disappear against the bigger teams...

I have been reading post that are all over the place regarding the players chosen, some posters really only look at stats and fill the roster according to number of goals and points.....you cannot build a team on stats, points and goals alone...it takes skill, points are not always indicative of skill (Kunitz is good but there were better options)

People are ragging on about Gauthier, Paul, Crouse.... i am pleasantly surprised at how good Paul and Crouse are, they deserve a spot on the team, they out skated and out worked others including MDC (Maybe he was hurt??? I dont know, we dont know). Gauthier was not good during the summer evaluation, but he showed well during the Russian game and played well during the SSS....

I hope Brayden Point shows up against the bigger teams, i thought he disappeared a little during the Russian game at times....we will see

Just like at the olympics, the coaches have already determined their starting goalie, Fucale...it is his job to lose....the same way it was Prices job to lose...

As for people complaining about Ritchie, its very simple, there are 2 exhibition games left, if he does anything stupid he will get the Ben Johnson treatment

Other than Hicketts, im ok with this team, we will see if i eat my keyboard...

Thank you...post you all later

As someone who watches Hicketts play on a weekly basis, I can tell you that you won't be dissapointed.

Don't let his size fool you, he can throw his weight around and hold off the biggest players in junior hockey. His skating is underrated and his shot and vision and puck movement are top notch.

The reason he went undrafted was because of his injuries, not his play.

In 32 games with the Royals during the 13-14 season he was +25 and had over 20 points, but injuries left him out of play for the majority of the season.

This season he's been tearing it up, leading the WHL in defenceman points and also tied for the scoring lead with the Royals.

I assure you, this cut wasn't a fluke, and you won't be dissapointed with Hicketts' play.

 

[lawrence]

Btw, Fucale in no way is already #1. I think if Comrie has a good game tomorrow, it's him who's gonna be #1.

I actually have no faith in any of the goalies right now. I am hoping our offence prevails and score the living crap out of everyone kinda like what happened in 2006 or something.

 

[lawrence]

Has nothing to do with hating the Canucks ( I don't). It's that literally nobody at a Hockey Canada or in the media is projecting Virtanen to play on a line with McDavid, except Canucks fans.

So either that's a huge coincidence, or blatant homerism.

Please provide the links of at least 3 Canucks fans putting Virtannen on the line of McDavid.

thanks.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Not a fan of MDC & Fleury getting the scissors.

Crouse shouldn't have even been invited to the camp IMO let alone making the team over someone like Dal Colle.

 

[TT1]

ill be keeping a close eye on Virtanen, Ritchie and Gauthier. i honestly hope they prove me wrong, doubt they will tho.

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

Which players would you guys put in if Canada gets into a shootout? There are so many to choose from. I would take a combination of Duclair, McDavid, Fabbri, Petan, Point, Reinhart, Domi. Too many to choose from.

 

[BigBen]

Here's what i think: If you're looking at CHL stats, some of the cuts look confusing. But if you watched any of the CIS games or the game against Russia, the guys that were cut didn't impress that much. I was really looking forward to watching MDC, but he was incredibly underwhelming whenever i saw him play. People wonder why a guy like Paul or Crouse were invited, and I wondered the same too, but they made way more of an impact and looked a lot better than MDC. I'd much prefer TC pick a team based on camp and game performance than CHL stats, and thats what they did. Guys like Point, Crouse and Gauthier actually deserved to make the team based on camp and exhibition games compared to MDC, as much as I hate to say it. He was basically invisible out there.

However, I do think it's pretty redundant to have a guy like Gauthier on the team when you already have great 2 way players in Lazar, McDavid and Reinhart who are a lot more offensively talented. And i's already been said but I agree that they need to build a team with 3 scoring lines and one shutdown line/3 guys who can play the PK. The talent in the two-way forwards we have is awesome, not to mention the guys we have on the backend.

 

[1Gold Standard]

If team Canada wins gold, everyone will say its the right choice, if they dont people will be saying how Dal Colle would have won them the gold, but tbh its probably neither.

Not necessarily so! Kunitz over Giroux was and is a wrong choice, the Sochi result doesn’t change that imo. But for this tourney, it will depend on whether or not the choices HC made have a direct and positive impact on the outcome.

1. Gifting the goaltending positions: Giving 2 players rosters spots without an open competition at selection camp is just the height of stupidity, but If goaltending is subpar this year, then Hockey Canada has a lot of tough questions to answer and people have to lose their jobs over it.

2. Hicketts over Fleury??? We’ll see how smart they actually are in player selection and adept at identifying the right Players to play their strategy. Over the past 5 years (more specifically the past 3) they have been woefully inept. I’d say they have been downright DUMB.
3. Lawson Crouse??? He has to make a positive impact to the team and not be just a passenger getting valuable "experience" and soaking in the atmosphere like so many other 17 year olds (almost all) do at this tournament… if it proves that he is in over his head, then whoever went to bat for this guy to be included on the roster, coach, chief scout or somebody else on the selection committee, then it’s pink slips for that guy. as for the coach, he is unlikely to be back in any event, win or lose. but regardless, if this team fails to make at least the GMG, people have to start losing their jobs. It's as simple as that.
4. Ritchie/Gauthier: For Ritchie not being a liability with his typical undisciplined play...and as for the other, when not giving Fucale a reprieve from RDS interviews, contributing on both sides of the puck.

 

[CanuckPirate]

Virtanen hasn't matched Gauthier's scoring in major junior this year. Come down to earth with your teams prospect. Be happy he made the team at all

Very aggressive for someone who is wrong.