WJC: 2015 — Canada Roster Talk

[1Gold Standard]

Even going into this camp with all the game footage they have these days they essentially know the entire roster except for maybe 5-6 players before it even begins. Why risk one of your best players just because some dbag player on the bubble for his team wants to make a statement.

I mean, you don’t need to evaluate Ekblad, or have him playing just to keep him in shape. Give the spot to a kid who still has something to prove at the junior level instead of a guy who’s already a man among boys and isn’t gaining anything from playing against them anymore?

Then in that case, don't even bother with having a summer camp at all. Instead adopt the Olympic approach of ball hockey and walk throughs. Nobody needs to evaluate Gauthier either...the difference between winning and losing doesn't rest on his shoulders. The difference makers at the WJHC are the elite level skilled, star players and not the 4th line marginal players... The WJHC is not the NHL where the top 2 lines often neutralize the other and the 4th line grinders decide a 7 game series. At the WJHC it's elite level skilled players that are required.

Have a camp, but all players are treated the same...nobody gets special treatment.

 

[Get North]

If you can roll 4 skilled lines and have 4 lines that can win their shift by playing in the offensive zone you do that, don't build a NHL line-up.

 

[ottawah]

I couldn't disagree more. Two years ago the locks all sat in the press box throughout the entire camp. They brought that prima donna attitude to the tourney and it definitely showed in their dismal play. Our lockout team of "superstars" was embarrassed and everyone on these boars went crazy at how none of them played in camp......

There were several players this year that played on the ice like they were in a press box and had already made the team ......

 

[4thlineduster]

Then cut them....simple solution to a simple problem.

 

[McMoMoney29]

2015 WJC Team Canada

How do you see Canada's roster in the 2015 WJC?
Reinhart, Ekblad, Horvat and Domi will most likely be in the NHL so who will fill their spots?

 

[ottawah]

How do you see Canada's roster in the 2015 WJC?
Reinhart, Ekblad, Horvat and Domi will most likely be in the NHL so who will fill their spots?

I'm not so sure on Domi or Horvat. Horvat maybe because he could play 4th line, but not Domi.

Reinhart could go back simply because the Sabres are going no where with or without him.

Ekblad? Hard to break in on D at 18, but number 1's usually stick.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

There is no problem with our players development. If you consider all of the players eligible for the WJC who are playing in the NHL instead. Perhaps they are overdeveloped and are too good.

Best hockey nation on the planet!

 

[StronGeer]

Good question!

I'm amazed there's not a thread for this already!

 

[veganhunter]

Jarry
Fucale

Ekblad Fleury
Morrissey Nurse
Theodore Sanheim
McKeown
(random order)

Petan McDavid Fabbri
Dal Colle Lazar Bennett
Ritcie Reinhart Duclair
Kilmchuk Horvat Chase
Baptiste
(random order)

IMO Fucale, Gauthier, and Bigras should not make the team but I imagine I'm going to be disappointed when the roster is announced.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

Have a feeling Reinhart is going to stick with buffalo, I am not counting on his services.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Have a feeling Reinhart is going to stick with buffalo, I am not counting on his services.

It will be a significant loss no doubt..tough to replace...as equally significant will be the loss of Lazar who'll be with the Sens. Although, Ottawa might consider releasing him for the tournament. My opinion on NHL teams releasing players has changed over the past few years...more and more it seems that our Canadian teenagers, once they make the big club, are reluctant to play in a junior tournament. I want players who are all in, or else they can go on their merry professional way; I hope to see them on the senior team at some point in the future.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

It will be a significant loss no doubt..tough to replace...as equally significant will be the loss of Lazar who'll be with the Sens. Although, Ottawa might consider releasing him for the tournament. My opinion on NHL teams releasing players has changed over the past few years...more and more it seems that our Canadian teenagers, once they make the big club, are reluctant to play in a junior tournament. I want players who are all in, or else they can go on their merry professional way; I hope to see them on the senior team at some point in the future.

Yeah, we might get Lazar available.

As you said though, Reinhart is pretty tough to replace.

We need to win this year and I am more then a little concerned with our potential lineup.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Yeah, we might get Lazar available.

As you said though, Reinhart is pretty tough to replace.

We need to win this year and I am more then a little concerned with our potential lineup.

you should be more concerned about the idiots in charge of selecting the roster than anything else...

It's poor player selection and team management that has been our downfall the past several years...combined with shoddy coaching of course and goaltending worthy of Div. 1b.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

you should be more concerned about the idiots in charge of selecting the roster than anything else...

It's poor player selection and team management that has been our downfall the past several years...combined with shoddy coaching of course and goaltending worthy of Div. 1b.

Geez writer, you're about to issue a fatwa on these guys aren't you?

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Geez writer, you're about to issue a fatwa on these guys aren't you?

He speaks the truth.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Geez writer, you're about to issue a fatwa on these guys aren't you?

Hey listen, all they have to do is be in contention for gold medals and I won't say boo...

They are allowed on occasion to come up empty and finish out of the medals...that's sport and **** happens... we learn from it and get on to the next tournament...2010 losing to the U.S. in OT GMG... hey it happens....move on. 2011. blow a 3rd period lead...a heartbreaker, but it happens to all teams...move on..

but to lose 3 semi-finals in a row...to finish out of the medals 2 years in a row with different groups of kids in remarkably similar fashion, suggests Team Management and coaches are the major problem. They have a particular philosophy on how they want to play and are not selecting the right team to play it and are either too stubborn or too dumb to adapt....

but let's see if they learned anything from the Sochi model of a dominate puck possession team. but my guess, since it is N. American ice, they'll stick with the dump and chase, grind em down on the wall type of game. IMO - not only does HC have a flawed approach for this tournament, but they can't even select the right players for that flawed approach. Anyway..if they make a mess of it again this year, then the new HC boss sincerely has to look at the people who are in charge of the POE b/c anything less than an appearance in the GMG this year is unacceptable. At the elite junior level, you are in a results oriented business, and if you can't produce the results, then you are out. you get fired.

 

[Get North]

Anybody think we get some pests/sparkplugs like Hawryluk, Chase cracking this team? We are offensively stacked but maybe have a different dimension to the team might get us going.

 

[ottawah]

Hey listen, all they have to do is be in contention for gold medals and I won't say boo...

They are allowed on occasion to come up empty and finish out of the medals...that's sport and **** happens... we learn from it and get on to the next tournament...2010 losing to the U.S. in OT GMG... hey it happens....move on. 2011. blow a 3rd period lead...a heartbreaker, but it happens to all teams...move on..

but to lose 3 semi-finals in a row...to finish out of the medals 2 years in a row with different groups of kids in remarkably similar fashion, suggests Team Management and coaches are the major problem. They have a particular philosophy on how they want to play and are not selecting the right team to play it and are either too stubborn or too dumb to adapt....

but let's see if they learned anything from the Sochi model of a dominate puck possession team. but my guess, since it is N. American ice, they'll stick with the dump and chase, grind em down on the wall type of game. IMO - not only does HC have a flawed approach for this tournament, but they can't even select the right players for that flawed approach. Anyway..if they make a mess of it again this year, then the new HC boss sincerely has to look at the people who are in charge of the POE b/c anything less than an appearance in the GMG this year is unacceptable. At the elite junior level, you are in a results oriented business, and if you can't produce the results, then you are out. you get fired.

I believe that is most of the issue. When it gets right down to it, a very talented hockey player can play many roles. Many players though will not show this in the CHL because they are the offensive stars for their team.

I found with the Olympic team they have been doing much better since trying not to pick role players (Zamner, really?) and picking the most talented players, then asking them to play their heart out. Picking players limited to various roles seems ludicrous with our talent level.

The junior team seems to have taken the idea they have to build a team around a concept of what a 3rd and 4th line do in the NHL. I find that idea crap. You only have a "checking" line or a "Bang and Grind" in the NHL because you do not have the offensive talent to spread across all four lines. In a tourney like this we do.

Canada has a great compliment of players at this camp that can fit multiple roles. To me a "4th" line of Baptiste, Bertuzzi and Bennet can provide the same penalty killing, shut down and checking role that a line of Paul, Gauthier and Nastasiuk can, while providing a huge improvement on offense.


I want a team that can role 4 talented lines, in pretty much all situations and not give opponents a moment of pause.

Anybody think we get some pests/sparkplugs like Hawryluk, Chase cracking this team? We are offensively stacked but maybe have a different dimension to the team might get us going.

I think that has been part of the problem. Choosing role players in the past. I think Canada has some great pest potential with offensive upside (Hawryluk is no slouch when it comes to O though).

 

[Get North]

I think that has been part of the problem. Choosing role players in the past. I think Canada has some great pest potential with offensive upside (Hawryluk is no slouch when it comes to O though).

I understand what you mean that we can role 4 offensive lines. Teams are gonna have big defenceman who maybe our skilled players can't win the battles along the boards maybe someone like Hawrlyuk or Chase fits on that line to do the dirty work. Guys like Rychel, Leier, Anderson aren't for me but I like players like Chase. They have alot of different dimensions to their game and maybe 3 high offensive players don't work you can throw Chase in there to see if something can happen. We need some reliable two-way players aswell, Horvat and Lazar can be our 2 and 3 down the middle if Reinhart is in Butfalo.

I think Chase can find a spot on our roster if it has these lines on it:

Fabbri - McDavid - Ritchie
Duclair - Lazar - Virtanen
Dal Colle - Horvat - Petan
Bennett - McCann - Chase/Baptiste

Petan has to do well during the December camp and the regular season. I liked him at last years WJC but the summer camp wasn't good. I really like the type of players we have though, two-way reliable centres along with different type of wingers, Ritchie a big PWF, Fabbri a puck hounder with offensive skill, Virtanen a fast explosive PWF, Duclair an offensive wizard. Imagine how fast the 2nd line could be, the first line hopefully keeps up where they left off in early August. Bottom 6 full of scorers that have a good defensive game. I think McCann makes his way onto this roster and if Reinhart is available we could potentially have Horvat on the 4th line or a top 9 including: McDavid, Reinhart, Lazar, Horvat, Fabbri, Ritchie, Virtanen, Duclair, Dal Colle/Petan.

This has the potential to be a great team.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

Hey listen, all they have to do is be in contention for gold medals and I won't say boo...

They are allowed on occasion to come up empty and finish out of the medals...that's sport and **** happens... we learn from it and get on to the next tournament...2010 losing to the U.S. in OT GMG... hey it happens....move on. 2011. blow a 3rd period lead...a heartbreaker, but it happens to all teams...move on..

but to lose 3 semi-finals in a row...to finish out of the medals 2 years in a row with different groups of kids in remarkably similar fashion, suggests Team Management and coaches are the major problem. They have a particular philosophy on how they want to play and are not selecting the right team to play it and are either too stubborn or too dumb to adapt....

but let's see if they learned anything from the Sochi model of a dominate puck possession team. but my guess, since it is N. American ice, they'll stick with the dump and chase, grind em down on the wall type of game. IMO - not only does HC have a flawed approach for this tournament, but they can't even select the right players for that flawed approach. Anyway..if they make a mess of it again this year, then the new HC boss sincerely has to look at the people who are in charge of the POE b/c anything less than an appearance in the GMG this year is unacceptable. At the elite junior level, you are in a results oriented business, and if you can't produce the results, then you are out. you get fired.

Hey, if they don't at least make the finals this year you are going to get your wish.

Hang in there pal.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Hey, if they don't at least make the finals this year you are going to get your wish.

Hang in there pal.

After this summer's latest round of internal Hockey Canada promotions of the various nincompoops to new positions, one already said in an interview with TSN, "that for now, this year at least, I''ll continue my involvement with the junior team..."

And if you read between the lines, I take that to mean, he's already been told, last chance there bozo.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

After this summer's latest round of internal Hockey Canada promotions of the various nincompoops to new positions, one already said in an interview with TSN, "that for now, this year at least, I''ll continue my involvement with the junior team..."

And if you read between the lines, I take that to mean, he's already been told, last chance there bozo.

This puts you in a very difficult position.

On one hand another failure this year practically assures heads will roll and you get your wish.


On the other hand how can you not cheer for the good guys to succeed against all the heathens? It's just unnatural for all sane people and even for nature itself. When Canada loses, even the birds cry in unrelenting sorrow.


This really puts a fella like you in a bind.

For the sake of all that is pure and good in life we need them to win this year and have those guys still get the axe.

 

[1Gold Standard]

This puts you in a very difficult position.

On one hand another failure this year practically assures heads will roll and you get your wish.


On the other hand how can you not cheer for the good guys to succeed against all the heathens? It's just unnatural for all sane people and even for nature itself. When Canada loses, even the birds cry in unrelenting sorrow.


This really puts a fella like you in a bind.

For the sake of all that is pure and good in life we need them to win this year and have those guys still get the axe.

That would be the proverbial win win...but I would never wish for a poor result so that a few bureaucrats get tossed to the wolves...as much as they deserve it, team first is my motto.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

[/B]

That would be the proverbial win win...but I would never wish for a poor result so that a few bureaucrats get tossed to the wolves...as much as they deserve it, team first is my motto.

That's the spirit

 

[Get North]

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/feature/?id=9542

Craig Button's Team Canada Roster:

Domi - McDavid - Reinhart
Bennett - Petan - Lazar
Dal Colle - Horvat - Dickinson
Klimchuk - Gauthier - Baptiste
Ritchie

Morrissey - Ekblad
Fleury - Bowey
Morin - Nurse
Theodore

Fucale
Desrosiers

Forwards - how do you leave Duclair and Fabbri off the roster after their great summer camps, both coming off great seasons and Fabbri with a great Memorial Cup playoff. Virtanen is also surprising to be left off, I think Baptiste, Gauthier, Dickinson, are left off the team for Virtanen, Fabbri, Duclair. Ritchie moves up on the line-up instead of either Klimchuk or Bennett. Although it matters on how they're performing at the time of the Olympics.

Defence - I agree with the players on the roster.

Goaltending - Agreed.

Button analyzing the roster: http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=460965