WJC: 2015 — Canada Roster Talk (Part IV)

[covfefe]

I couldn't sleep last night thinking about Crouse and his lack of strength. The guys underweight, weak and a real *****. In short a pushover. I could take him.

I'm not a big fan of Crouse and that still might be the loftiest claim I have ever heard. A friend who plays for Kingston said he is the strongest kid in the OHL.

Were you 6'4 and 215lb at 17? You do realize the guy was born in 1997, right?

Sometimes the hyperbole on here is just too alarming and you feel compelled to say something.....

 

[Paxon]

I'm not a big fan of Crouse and that still might be the loftiest claim I have ever heard. A friend who plays for Kingston said he is the strongest kid in the OHL.

Were you 6'4 and 215lb at 17? You do realize the guy was born in 1997, right?

Sometimes the hyperbole on here is just too alarming and you feel compelled to say something.....

That post was definitely sarcastic

 

[RickyR]

...a couple of thoughts (from a Jets perspective, admittedly).

I think Morrissey needs more prominence on the PP. It seems that Theodore is getting the prime PP minutes, whereas Morrissey has been much more effective. He sees the ice better, makes better passes, and is more adept at getting the puck through to the net on shots. He had a couple of terrific assists tonight - 5 points in the 3 warm-up games, I think.

Petan had a very strong game tonight and seems to have great chemistry with Point. I think they should stay together, either with Fabbri or another good winger. Petan plays a strong game in all zones, and creates a lot of chances for his linemates.

I liked Morin's game tonight. Duclair and Domi are a very nice duo. Virtanen can be a game-breaker, but probably needs to play with some more skilled linemates.

What exactly does Gauthier bring to this team? I don't think he was even strong in the face-off circle tonight. He just has no clue what to do when he has the puck on his stick.

Agree on morrisey. He is by far the most dangerous offensive force on the blue line. Every shift he has looked great.

 

[JackSlater]

I wouldn't change anything. Why, when everything works? There were some doubts expressed about Petan and that 3rd line before the SWI game (to change his line-mates) And they looked great at the game. Ritchie is ok with McDavid, he scored a goal, and his physical presence there is something I like. Not to mention that they need at least another game to gel together, it's quite a new line and McDavid just played his second game after a month. Crouse-Gauthier-Virtanen could be dangerous line, just wait a bit. Their time will come. And mainly, they don't need to score goals everytime. It's a team game.

I don't see the point of Ritchie with McDavid. His goal was good obviously, but he seems to either blow the chances that McDavid gifts him or just isn't even in position in the first place. Lazar can provide the physical presence that is needed at the junior level. That line needs a goal scorer.

The thing that still boggles my mind...is that they purposefully set about building a "checking line" for this tournament...that they don't actually use to match with opposing top lines.

What's the point? In the Reinhart/McDavid lines are going to be your go-to matchup units...why bring Gauthier? In hopes that he can play a first up PK shift after not seeing the ice for the last 10 minutes of the period? It's just goofy. Even though Gauthier is a strong PKer, it's going to be extremely difficult for even the best of them to step off the bench after playing so few shifts and immediately go up against the very best offensive players the other team has to offer...with a man advantage.

Best way to salvage it is just to sit him and roll 4 lines you actually like...which isn't too different from the minutes Gauthier is actually getting at this point. You don't want to play him more just to keep his useless self "in the game" more for the PK shifts...So something like:

Domi-Reinhart-Duclair
Ritchie-McDavid-Lazar
Virtanen-Fabbri-Point
Petan-Paul-Crouse
*goat.

Correct, they do not need Gauthier given the other players already on the team. He looks out of his depth.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I don't see the point of Ritchie with McDavid. His goal was good obviously, but he seems to either blow the chances that McDavid gifts him or just isn't even in position in the first place. Lazar can provide the physical presence that is needed at the junior level. That line needs a goal scorer.



Correct, they do not need Gauthier given the other players already on the team. He looks out of his depth.

you're being too polite, Jack.!

 

[86Habs]

I don't see the point of Ritchie with McDavid. His goal was good obviously, but he seems to either blow the chances that McDavid gifts him or just isn't even in position in the first place. Lazar can provide the physical presence that is needed at the junior level. That line needs a goal scorer.

Correct, they do not need Gauthier given the other players already on the team. He looks out of his depth.

Groulx really should have waited until after the Swiss game to make his final cuts, instead of cutting Dal Colle & Dickinson immediately after the Russian game and prematurely making a decision on Gauthier. I believe Gauthier made the team largely based on his performance in the CIS games, and have a hard time believing Gauthier wouldn't have been cut if in fact the cuts were made last night.

Dal Colle would have been just the finisher that is needed on the McDavid line, and Ritchie would still have been useful on a lower line with Paul or one of the smaller centers (Petan or Point).

 

[JackSlater]

Groulx really should have waited until after the Swiss game to make his final cuts, instead of cutting Dal Colle & Dickinson immediately after the Russian game and prematurely making a decision on Gauthier. I believe Gauthier made the team largely based on his performance in the CIS games, and have a hard time believing Gauthier wouldn't have been cut if in fact the cuts were made last night.

Dal Colle would have been just the finisher that is needed on the McDavid line, and Ritchie would still have been useful on a lower line with Paul or one of the smaller centers (Petan or Point).

I agree on both counts. Dickinson is another defensive player but more competent offensively and importantly can play on the wing, which makes him a far more valuable utility player. Dal Colle didn't look great in the camp action that I saw, but given his scoring this year and last he probably should have been given preference over Gauthier as well. Being a natural winger also helps given how many centres are on the team. The team is the team now though.

 

[keslerburrows]

Lines remain the same again at practice.

REALLY starting to wonder if we'll ever see a change in the lineup.

 

[Paxon]

I don't see the point of Ritchie with McDavid. His goal was good obviously, but he seems to either blow the chances that McDavid gifts him or just isn't even in position in the first place. Lazar can provide the physical presence that is needed at the junior level. That line needs a goal scorer.

Correct, they do not need Gauthier given the other players already on the team. He looks out of his depth.

Agree with both points. Ritchie should be in the bottom 6 if he's on this team. Count me among the many who thinks Fabbri's a great fit alongside McDavid and Lazar. A defensive/faceoff in Gauthier specialist isn't really needed on a team that has McDavid and Reinhart. Those two are going to see all of the ice time against the top competition, so what does that leave Gauthier? There's always value in having a guy you can depend on to take a key defensive zone draw, but it's not greater than the value of having a stronger overall fourth line in my book.

 

[veganhunter]

I don't really understand why anyone (especially after last night) would think Petan is going to be playing on the 4th line but to each their own I suppose.

 

[DoubleDouble*]

Gauthier, Morrissey and Lazar have looked the best to me.

 

[nowhereman]

I'd like to see Virtanen playing with literally anyone but the offensive black hole that is Gauthier. If he's on the fourth line, that's fine. It's a deep team. But his skillset is being squandered by his linemates.

 

[Patmac40]

Gauthier, Morrissey and Lazar have looked the best to me.

Don't

 

[Alerion]

I'd like to see Virtanen playing with literally anyone but the offensive black hole that is Gauthier. If he's on the fourth line, that's fine. It's a deep team. But his skillset is being squandered by his linemates.

There's a good chance Gauthier is the 13th forward. Everyone in this thread has been harsh on him and rightfully so as the last couple games have been terrible by any standard.

 

[Sharpshooter]

Gauthier, Morrissey and Lazar have looked the best to me.

 

[199991]

Gauthier has been better than Virtanen so far

 

[Snippit]

Whenever I see Gauthier with the puck, he looks surprised he has it and pushes it away to where nobody is...

 

[Sharpshooter]

10 of 10 for you = 100% Vancouver Canucks fan!

You won a beauthiful...nothing

It's not that I disagree with you about Gauthier because i'm a Nucks supporter, it's because, as others have clearly noted; fans of other clubs I may add, the consensus has been that Gauthier is the weakest cog thus far in the machinery that is the forward group. His skating hasn't been up to par, his decision making has been questionable, and for some, myself included, it's been a bit of a head-scratcher as to why MDC was cut instead of Gauthier. It's the coach's prerogative of course, but Gauthier has not been very good.

 

[Get North]

TSN's World Junior Preview Show at 7 EST, 4 PST and it's one hour long.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Crouse, Point, Virtanen the fourth line i'd want.

Domi, Reinhart, Duclair
Fabbri, McDavid, Ritchie
Petan, Lazar, Paul
Crouse, Point, Virtanen
Gauthier

You could also leave Lazar on McDavids line, and just switch Ritchie+ Fabbri.

 

[Scouter]

It's not that I disagree with you about Gauthier because i'm a Nucks supporter, it's because, as others have clearly noted; fans of other clubs I may add, the consensus has been that Gauthier is the weakest cog thus far in the machinery that is the forward group. His skating hasn't been up to par, his decision making has been questionable, and for some, myself included, it's been a bit of a head-scratcher as to why MDC was cut instead of Gauthier. It's the coach's prerogative of course, but Gauthier has not been very good.

It's probably because Fred plays center and Mike plays wing.

 

[WonderTwinsUnite]

It's probably because Fred plays center and Mike plays wing.

On a team with 8 other natural centres, that hardly makes a difference.

 

[67Cup]

Gauthier is an awkward looking skater but is actually quite fast. Speed is not the problem. It's balance and hands. He ended up on the ice too many times after contact with shorter players with a lower Center of gravity. Long term, he's going to have to learn to deal with that. And then there's the problem with his hands. So far, he is handling the puck as if he had a bad case of frostbite. The problem may be partly a matter of confidence. He also didn't perform well in the face off circle last night. That was supposed to be a strength. He needs to raise his game to justify his place on the roster.

I don't see the reason for all the Fabri love in this thread. He has looked pretty anonymous out there to me.

 

[Sharpshooter]

It's probably because Fred plays center and Mike plays wing.

We have 6 players who could play at the center position:

McDavid
Reinhart
Paul
Lazar
Petan
Point

While I agree that it's probably the reason, I kinda second guess the exclusion of MDC for the inclusion of Gauthier, who is maybe more redundant than MDC at wing.

 

[nowhereman]

Gauthier has been better than Virtanen so far

Yeah, no... not even close. Gauthier has been terrible and doesn't even deserve to be on the team.

On the other hand, Virtanen is quite the player. The team would be better served by moving him up the lineup.