WC: 2015 — Team Canada II

[Macman]

It has nothing to do with proving anything. If I'm MLSE paying him that ridiculous super-inflated salary, he doesn't get a day off for the next 8 years imo. If he's not coaching the leafs, then I'm ordering him to get out there and rep the brand. plain and simple. Who knows, maybe a relationship formed with various players at various international events influences a player's decision to play in Toronto.

And no, I'm not a leafs fan.

Speaking of influence, Pierre LeBrun said yesterday he's received texts from players who said the Babcock signing has changed the way they now think about the Leafs as a destination. I'm assuming he meant in a good way.

 

[NyQuil]

It has nothing to do with proving anything. If I'm MLSE paying him that ridiculous super-inflated salary, he doesn't get a day off for the next 8 years imo. If he's not coaching the leafs, then I'm ordering him to get out there and rep the brand. plain and simple. Who knows, maybe a relationship formed with various players at various international events influences a player's decision to play in Toronto.

There's all kinds of ways he can earn that salary.

It doesn't have to include being the coach of the World Championships.

One argument in favour of him being the coach is that it's been awhile given Detroit's playoff streak.

But I just don't think it's a done deal that Babcock coaches the WHC team in the same year as the World Cup, even if he is available. Committing to both tournaments takes up a lot of time.

I'm surprised this is so controversial.

Speaking of influence, Pierre LeBrun said yesterday he's received texts from players who said the Babcock signing has changed the way they now think about the Leafs as a destination. I'm assuming he meant in a good way.

Reminds me of when they hired Brian Burke.

 

[1Gold Standard]

There's all kinds of ways he can earn that salary.

It doesn't have to include being the coach of the World Championships.

One argument in favour of him being the coach is that it's been awhile given Detroit's playoff streak.

But I just don't think it's a done deal that Babcock coaches the WHC team in the same year as the World Cup, even if he is available. Committing to both tournaments takes up a lot of time.

I'm surprised this is so controversial.



Reminds me of when they hired Brian Burke.

I didn't say it was a done deal. only that it would be interesting! and if it were me and I had intentions of being the World Cup coach I'd want the WHC gig as well... but that is just me. I like a heavy work load and am not in government bureaucrat mode.

 

[NyQuil]

I like a heavy work load and am not in government bureaucrat mode.

What a bizarre statement.

 

[McPuritania]

What????????

Just because this year McLennan was transitioning from one team to another doesn't mean that it is going to be that every year...

if Babcock has intentions of coaching TC in the World Cup he may have interest in taking the team and some of its players to the WHC as a tune up...

makes a little bit of sense...more so than just, ah it will be someone out of a job and looking to impress to get another gig.

Mclennan was named to coach Team Canada when he was still the Sharks coach...I don't think employment status should have any bearing on what Hockey Canada should or shouldn't do.

*McLellan

Not a big deal, but the amount of spelling mistakes I've seen on his name the last while is killing me.

 

[Get North]

Well looking to a 2016 roster.. It could be pretty good depending on how Calgary/Edmonton do. Don't expect them to go far in the playoffs if they even make the playoffs, Edmonton won't make it unless they add some top defencemen and they can't do that in one summer. Calgary/SJ/Edmonton/Vancouver are probably on the the edge of making the playoffs in the west and they got some good Canadians on the team. Colorado probably won't make the playoffs, I think only LA has a chance of making the playoffs from the West who didn't make the playoffs this season.

From the East.. Pittsburgh might get kicked out because of their lack of offensive depth. Florida is still quite far away from the playoffs, Boston should make it. I think either Ottawa/Columbus/Pittsburgh get the last spot in the playoffs.

Here's a fairly hopeful look at the roster:

Benn-Giroux-Seguin
Hall-McDavid-Eberle
O'Reilly-Monahan-MacKinnon
Couture-Turris-Stone
Bennett

Giordano-Brodie
Dillon-Burns
Methot-Barrie
Ekblad

Smith/Jones/Luongo/Fleury

Some veterans who could go depending on how they feel are: Thornton, Marleau, Duchene, Vlasic, Henrique, Crosby, Letang.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Well looking to a 2016 roster.. It could be pretty good depending on how Calgary/Edmonton do. Don't expect them to go far in the playoffs if they even make the playoffs, Edmonton won't make it unless they add some top defencemen and they can't do that in one summer. Calgary/SJ/Edmonton/Vancouver are probably on the the edge of making the playoffs in the west and they got some good Canadians on the team. Colorado probably won't make the playoffs, I think only LA has a chance of making the playoffs from the West who didn't make the playoffs this season.

From the East.. Pittsburgh might get kicked out because of their lack of offensive depth. Florida is still quite far away from the playoffs, Boston should make it. I think either Ottawa/Columbus/Pittsburgh get the last spot in the playoffs.

Here's a fairly hopeful look at the roster:

Benn-Giroux-Seguin
Hall-McDavid-Eberle
O'Reilly-Monahan-MacKinnon
Couture-Turris-Stone
Bennett

Giordano-Brodie
Dillon-Burns
Methot-Barrie
Ekblad

Smith/Jones/Luongo/Fleury

Some veterans who could go depending on how they feel are: Thornton, Marleau, Duchene, Vlasic, Henrique, Crosby, Letang.

It would be nice to get 2 solid years in a row. Sid playing in back to back years goes beyond optimism though. I'd much prefer Sid to be contending for Stanley Cups, but if J.T. becomes available, I hope HC has a roster spot for him next year.

 

[xxxx]

They have been passed by, but I'll give those 2 one more opportunity to show up before I start giving them the Iginla treatment. The rest of your player evaluations are spot on though, as usual. I'm happy for Muzzin. I've always been a Muzzin supporter and felt he could be an adequate fill in on the real NT in an emergency, if we were ever short of a LD.

Kudos to True Hockey Fan as well...for being the eternal optimist. A few more consecutive solid performances by Canada at various IIHF events and my criticism of Hockey Canada will go silent.

thx, after more than 5 years, it finally paid off

I think the next year's roster could be strong as well, because of the World Cup, which is scheduled just 4 months after the WHC, and whether some people like the tournament or not, I believe every canadian player wants to be on that team. And showing up for WHC could definitely help. For example Bergeron already said it would be an honor to play for Canada's best team again, and I think canadian players overall will look at this WC the same way as in the previous 20 years.

Johansen and Couture shouldn't be blacklisted or anything, but their respective decisions were just as bad as those made by the Edmonton players last year. Of course now Hall and Eberle have proven themselves a bit more, so that is mostly forgotten, and good for them. They were pretty much the first players to put up celebratory pictures, I noticed. I would have both firmly ahead of Couture and Johansen now. O'Reilly too.

I agree.

The player who impressed me the most was O'Reilly. A lot of great players to choose from, as usuall, but O'Reilly has to be in the mix for a LW spot on the WC roster imo.

Tyler Myers will be on the next Olympic team. Possibly Dougie Hamilton as well.

I am very interested in Myers' next season in Winnipeg as he looked very good after the deal.

 

[JackSlater]

I agree.

The player who impressed me the most was O'Reilly. A lot of great players to choose from, as usuall, but O'Reilly has to be in the mix for a LW spot on the WC roster imo.

I've been a supporter for a long time. I can see him battling it out for a spot with a player like Schwartz in a utility role on the defensive line. Really good showing for O'Reilly.

 

[1Gold Standard]

for those interested in next year's tourney in Moscow/St. Petersburg. The website is up and running.

http://www.iihfworlds2016.com

The Moscow venue is an interesting one. brand new...and only 1 metro (subway) stop from where I used to live in Moscow.

If anybody is planning on attending, and you have questions...I'll be happy to answer...

Canada is playing in St. Petersburg ( I used to live there as well) and then hopefully on to Moscow for 1/2 final and final action.

 

[rojac]

It has nothing to do with proving anything. If I'm MLSE paying him that ridiculous super-inflated salary, he doesn't get a day off for the next 8 years imo. If he's not coaching the leafs, then I'm ordering him to get out there and rep the brand. plain and simple. Who knows, maybe a relationship formed with various players at various international events influences a player's decision to play in Toronto.

And no, I'm not a leafs fan.

Interesting. In my mind, if I'm MLSE paying Babcock 50M to coach the Leaf and then that's the job I want him doing. I don't want him to be thinking about coaching anything other than the Leafs.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Interesting. In my mind, if I'm MLSE paying Babcock 50M to coach the Leaf and then that's the job I want him doing. I don't want him to be thinking about coaching anything other than the Leafs.

a valid POV.

but, I only posed a what if scenario…

Our Olympic coach (who just took on a new gig) where he may be available to coach the NT a few times over the course of the next few years…

In the end it will be up to Babcock to decide what kind of role he wants with Hockey Canada and the NT going forward outside his TML responsibilities, be it WHC, Olympics or World Cup….but hey, the internet experts got to get in there and micromanage the careers of others from their keyboard, concerning themselves with “workload”. I don’t think that’s for us to fret about really. If he’s up to the challenge then he’s up to the challenge. If not, then we move on. Next!!!

 

[xxxx]

I wish Quenneville was the new coach. (if it's not Babcock) but true to be told, there are many, many great canadian coaches in the NHL, so whether it's even McLellan, or Sutter, you can't really go that much wrong. But hey, JQ has won 3 cups in six years, should have finally get recognition from Hockey Canada. at least as an assistant.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I wish Quenneville was the new coach. (if it's not Babcock) but true to be told, there are many, many great canadian coaches in the NHL, so whether it's even McLellan, or Sutter, you can't really go that much wrong. But hey, JQ has won 3 cups in six years, should have finally get recognition from Hockey Canada. at least as an assistant.

Coach Q is a good option if Babcock has had enough. I'd certainly prefer him over Hitch/Julien (although they can stay on as assistants with the NT if they want.)

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Hockey Canada's very own Scott Salmond was on Leaf's Lunch today discussing the World Cup. http://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-1050/salmond-hockey-world-cup-should-be-exciting-experience-1.315766

 

[1Gold Standard]

Hockey Canada's very own Scott Salmond was on Leaf's Lunch today discussing the World Cup. http://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-1050/salmond-hockey-world-cup-should-be-exciting-experience-1.315766

I'm happy to see Salmond get so much attention and airtime. Maybe some NHL team will finally hire him and get him the hell away from Hockey Canada. I'll uncork a bottle of bubbly when that happens. unless of course if it's my NHL team that hires that bureaucratic knownothing, then it would be

 

[JayKing]

I wish Quenneville was the new coach. (if it's not Babcock) but true to be told, there are many, many great canadian coaches in the NHL, so whether it's even McLellan, or Sutter, you can't really go that much wrong. But hey, JQ has won 3 cups in six years, should have finally get recognition from Hockey Canada. at least as an assistant.

I'm on the Todd McLellan bandwagon. The way team Canada played at the worlds was the most exciting hockey I saw all year. If he can carry that over in a best on best tournament it'd be great.

 

[tony d]

Yeah, McLellan should be the coach for the World Cup. Time to start grooming a new coach for the next generation of Team Canada.

 

[xxxx]

I agree with McLellan, but I think Quenneville deserves finally some attention and McLellan can still be one of the assistants. Can't wait for his new season with the Oilers.

 

[Aceboogie]

I want either Quenville or McLellan. Both seem like "new age" coaches and a great fit with the roster Canada has. Q would be great because half the team will be Hawks,and hes also the best coach in the league. TM would be great because he gets alot out of his talent.