Bob McKenzie was talking about the centres on TSN and he sees it as McDavid, Reinhart and Petan as the first 3. I agree with that, I think if Horvat comes back then Petan to wing and Horvat as the 3C, if Lazar comes back aswell then he goes to RW as Petan/Horvat are the 3C. The LWs are probably in order of Domi, Fabbri, Dal Colle, Ritchie, one of the 4 LWs will have to move to the top 6 RW spot, Virtanen and Baptiste are the only RWs listed. Point might be able to move over if he makes the team but first he has to make the team. The line combos should be pretty familiar because Fabbri was solid with McDavid, Ritchie was good on the RW but I think Virtanen can replace that easier. Virtanen has speed like McDavid and a very good shot, playing with McDavid should give him alot of opportunities to showcase that. 2nd line should have Domi on it, he is so good this season, speed, skill, intensity is what Domi brings every night and even though he is small his dad is Tie so physicality will never be a problem. Reinhart pretty easily the 2C and I think a guy like Dal Colle will fit well. Dal Colle has a big shot, good skills and size on that line that kind of has all the tools that line might lack (size, shot, ability to get open for shots). 3rd line might be lacking a bit of skill, Ritchie is a big kid and he's definitely going to scare teams which was shown at the SSS where a Russian player didn't want to receive a hit from Ritchie so just left it and Ritchie took it and scored. The C will be Petan, he has high offensive skill, I mean some people have this guy on the 4th line or barely playing but he was one of the best forwards last year at the WJHC for Canada. Such a sick offensive player, slicks hands, great passing ability and on the RW is kind of open, Baptiste, Point, Paul can all kind of that spot if no NHL player is loaned. The 4th line should have Chartier as the 4C if scoring is their first priority, he's not a bad defensive player, all-around he is solid but the hockey IQ is the outstanding part. He gets open, he finds player, he knows how to make plays with the puck, on his LW, I think should be Paul. Paul is a big kid with a nice shot, 18 goals in 24 games in the OHL and he has size. That line might lack some speed, so Point or Baptiste should be on that line for energy, intense players that give 110% every shift. Gauthier as the 13th forward, play him out there on the PK, faceoffs shouldn't be a problem because Reinhart is here. Gauthier is a pretty quick skater for his size and that speed + size could do some damage if an injury hits.
The defence shouldn't lack offence, Nurse and Bowey have big, heavy shots. Morrissey and Theodore bring that dynamic offensive ability from the back-end, both can QB the PP, good passers and have shots that get to the net. Offence shouldn't be a problem but we want balance so we have Heatherington, Fleury, Bigras and Morin to choose from for defence. Sanheim is a close one but I think Heatherington is just everything but better and he's older. Morin is a big guy, physical, good skater, I like him as the all-around solid guy with big size. No opposition is really going to make Morin look bad so I like him as a #6 or #7. Bigras and Fleury are left, Fleury was solid in the summer development camp, I like his size and speed plus his ability to bring offence but I think Bigras is more developed and more calm defensively. Last year at the WJHC he wasn't very good but he's looked good this season and if he sucks put him as the #7 and don't play him much but I doubt that happens. Nurse, Bowey, Morrissey, Theodore are my locks with Heatherington, Morin as the next 2 to take spots. Bigras and Fleury fighting for the last spot, both solid and I don't have a problem if they go with one over the other.
Fucale and Comrie will fight for it but I really liked Comrie at the SSS. Fucale was good last season, I don't think anybody should be criticizing him, he was the last reason we lost last year, we were just running around too much defensively.
Fabbri-McDavid-Virtanen
Domi-Reinhart-Dal Colle
Ritchie-Petan-Baptiste
Paul-Chartier-Point
Gauthier
Nurse-Bowey
Morin-Morrissey
Heatherington-Theodore
Bigras
Fucale/Comrie
Unit 1 PP: Petan-McDavid-Virtanen-Morrissey-Bowey
Unit 2 PP: Ritchie-Reinhart-Domi-Theodore-Nurse
Unit 1 PK: Gauthier-Baptiste-Heatherington-Morin
Unit 2 PK: Reinhart-Domi-Bigras-Bowey
I'd be interested to hear how other see it and why, pretty long post but my favourite tournament of the season.
It's like you want to make this kids brainless robots.
