WC: 2015 — Team Canada

[Mehar]

I like the addition of Couturier. He's an elite defensive forward already, and I am curious to see him on the larger ice surface. I don't quite get the addition of Schenn. He'll be a willing player on the bottom lines, but I hoped for better after the first round is over. This leaves Canada with 13 forwards, so barring any further injuries only one more forward can be added.

I absolutely agree with you post. Do not understand why Canada was in such a hurry to name Schenn. They should have just waited until the first round was over.

 

[1Gold Standard]

like who? kadri?

Are you suggesting I'm a leafs fan? keep guessing.

No, I'm hoping, as I always do, for players who are either A team players (Tavares for example)or at least have the potential to be A team players (think Monahan). I think Hockey Canada rushed filling out the forward group.

Let's hope Hockey Canada can land a couple of significant d-men..otherwise this team isn't winning anything.

 

[therealdeal]

Are you suggesting I'm a leafs fan? keep guessing.

No, I'm hoping, as I always do, for players who are either A team players (Tavares for example)or at least have the potential to be A team players (think Monahan). I think Hockey Canada rushed filling out the forward group.

Let's hope Hockey Canada can land a couple of significant d-men..otherwise this team isn't winning anything.

I don't disagree that Schenn is a bad pickup, but to say this team can't win anything with this roster is just silly. The on paper rosters don't count for a lot in this tourney, and this team will have twice the talent as any other roster.

 

[leafsgirl12]

Are you suggesting I'm a leafs fan? keep guessing.

No, I'm hoping, as I always do, for players who are either A team players (Tavares for example)or at least have the potential to be A team players (think Monahan). I think Hockey Canada rushed filling out the forward group.

Let's hope Hockey Canada can land a couple of significant d-men..otherwise this team isn't winning anything.

I Agree i am a leafs fan but i think the only Leaf that deserves to be on Team Canada is Rielly. Hopefully they can add Rielly soon and another signficant dman after the first round is over.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I Agree i am a leafs fan but i think the only Leaf that deserves to be on Team Canada is Rielly. Hopefully they can add Rielly soon and another signficant dman after the first round is over.

Considering how young and inexperienced the forward group is (excluding 3-4 players) I'd prefer at this point to land more experienced top notch defenders if this team has any chance of ending the medal drought. The forward group is pretty much maxed out and their won't be any additions unless a player or two suffers an injury. Hockey Canada doesn't fly players (extra bodies) along with their families so that player can sit in his civvies and watch from the press box.

I prefer experienced top notch left handed d-men. Keith, Brodie, Methot... provided of course those types of players become available and are willing. We'll see.

 

[syz]

McDavid won't be eliminated any time soon, so he's already out of the discussion imo.

Pretty sure SSM are the favorites in the next series.

 

[xxxx]

^ Keith would be a huge boost. And maybe Seabrook, who's had some good moments already in the Nashville series. If the Preds are eliminated Weber won't come, since he seems to have some kind of injury. Quite the same (or worse) applies for Travis Hamonic from the Islanders. Russell and Brodie from Calgary seem to be a very possible option IMO.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Pretty sure SSM are the favorites in the next series.

The 4th game of the Erie/SSM series is scheduled for the 28th. That's the earliest McDavid would become available. That's 3 days before the tournament is scheduled to begin in Prague. That means the team will already be in Europe and has 13 forwards already named to the team. I doubt they fly in a junior player with the tournament already in progress and sit an NHLer or send one home over said junior player. Who knows if one of the already named players comes up with an injury between now and then.

 

[Alveio]

The 4th game of the Erie/SSM series is scheduled for the 28th. That's the earliest McDavid would become available. That's 3 days before the tournament is scheduled to begin in Prague. That means the team will already be in Europe and has 13 forwards already named to the team. I doubt they fly in a junior player with the tournament already in progress and sit an NHLer or send one home over said junior player. Who knows if one of the already named players comes up with an injury between now and then.

28th would be his last game (if they're eliminated in 4). So with the fly time and time difference between Canada and Czech Republic, he would come on late April 29th. So one full day to get his spot in the roster..

 

[1Gold Standard]

28th would be his last game (if they're eliminated in 4). So with the fly time and time difference between Canada and Czech Republic, he would come on late April 29th. So one full day to get his spot in the roster..

As I wrote, TC already has 13 forwards named. barring injury, Hockey Canada is not going to fly a junior player in late to replace an NHLer. As much as I'd like to see Schenn off the team, Hockey Canada isn't going to cut an NHLer for a junior player when the team is already in Europe. and SSM is not winning 4 straight, so the point is moot.

 

[leafsgirl12]

Considering how young and inexperienced the forward group is (excluding 3-4 players) I'd prefer at this point to land more experienced top notch defenders if this team has any chance of ending the medal drought. The forward group is pretty much maxed out and their won't be any additions unless a player or two suffers an injury. Hockey Canada doesn't fly players (extra bodies) along with their families so that player can sit in his civvies and watch from the press box.

I prefer experienced top notch left handed d-men. Keith, Brodie, Methot... provided of course those types of players become available and are willing. We'll see.

Rielly was already invited and he wants to go it would be nice for Keith or Brodie to go if there teams are elimated from the playoffs.

 

[leafsgirl12]

^ Keith would be a huge boost. And maybe Seabrook, who's had some good moments already in the Nashville series. If the Preds are eliminated Weber won't come, since he seems to have some kind of injury. Quite the same (or worse) applies for Travis Hamonic from the Islanders. Russell and Brodie from Calgary seem to be a very possible option IMO.

I don't think Seabrook would go if hawks were elimated since his Wife is expecting there 2nd child and he likely wants to have some family time.

 

[Aceonfire*]

could work. although I seriously doubt Schenn has the hockey IQ to play a big ice game....****, he barely has the hockey smarts to play on NHL ice. I'm not a fan of the player nor of his selection, but I hope he surprises me.

He has been great in the past for the WJCs but they were always on the smaller ice.

I think he might surprise people.

 

[1Gold Standard]

He has been great in the past for the WJCs but they were always on the smaller ice.

I think he might surprise people.

great is a bit if a stretch.... he was okay as an 18 year old in Sask. And good in 2011, as 19 year old highly touted prospects should be.... I didn't think he was all that good in last year's tournament.. but perhaps in a limited and more defined role, playing with players he's familiar with, he can make more of a positive impact. But I'm skeptical. just don't think he's a very smart player.

 

[Striiker]

Schenn played decent for most of this year, but once he was put at RW at the end he was fantastic. He looked like a completely different player. Before that he was bounced between LW and C on various lines and he just looked off, but I guess that's because RW is where he belongs.

Plus, when he was finally put at RW it was with Couturier and the two of them finished the year (maybe 10 games? Not 100% sure) as our best line, I'd assume they end up together at the WC on the 4th line.

 

[JackSlater]

Schenn played decent for most of this year, but once he was put at RW at the end he was fantastic. He looked like a completely different player. Before that he was bounced between LW and C on various lines and he just looked off, but I guess that's because RW is where he belongs.

Plus, when he was finally put at RW it was with Couturier and the two of them finished the year (maybe 10 games? Not 100% sure) as our best line, I'd assume they end up together at the WC on the 4th line.

So Schenn is worse at LW than at RW? That is somewhat inconvenient given the makeup of the team.

 

[xxxx]

O'Reilly - Couturier - B.Schenn could be a perfect checking-line in the playoffs imo.

 

[Striiker]

So Schenn is worse at LW than at RW? That is somewhat inconvenient given the makeup of the team.

Yeah. He struggled there, even with Giroux and Voracek.

 

[xxxx]

just watched Coach's Corner when Cherry was talking about Boychuk vs Ovechkin and I agree with him that Johnny Boychuk is one of the best defensemen in the NHL right now and if the Islanders are eliminated, Hockey Canada should definitely take him. He's experienced, he's big, and defensively responsbile (and has really played effectively against Ovechkin so far too). You can't pass on him.

 

[Aceonfire*]

As others have said. I doubt McDavid gets an invite. They have NHlers that want to go.

 

[1Gold Standard]

just watched Coach's Corner when Cherry was talking about Boychuk vs Ovechkin and I agree with him that Johnny Boychuk is one of the best defensemen in the NHL right now and if the Islanders are eliminated, Hockey Canada should definitely take him. He's experienced, he's big, and defensively responsbile (and has really played effectively against Ovechkin so far too). You can't pass on him.

and a right-handed shot. 5 d-men already named to the roster, inc. 4 righties and 1 leftie. I'm thinking Hamhuis, Methot and Rielly would be better selections at this point. And I'd still prefer a more experienced left-handed d-men over Rielly, but I doubt we get one..but getting 3 experienced, capable left-handed shooting d-men at this point is pretty much a pipedream.

 

[leafsgirl12]

and a right-handed shot. 5 d-men already named to the roster, inc. 4 righties and 1 leftie. I'm thinking Hamhuis, Methot and Rielly would be better selections at this point. And I'd still prefer a more experienced left-handed d-men over Rielly, but I doubt we get one..but getting 3 experienced, capable left-handed shooting d-men at this point is pretty much a pipedream.

Hopefully it is known in the next couple days if Rielly is able to go.

 

[Eye of Ra]

What north americans fails to understand is that the other teams in this tournament also have b/c/d teams.

My country, Sweden, every year we have "****" teams, take a look at our team this year for exemple: http://www.swehockey.se/ImageVaultFiles/id_93038/cf_78/SWE_roster_RUS-SWE_no1.PDF

and still, we always reach Semifinal on pure heart and tactic. So you dont need dream-teams in this tournament.

And one more thing......Europeans dont think that WC is bigger than Olympics and our own league.....even WJC, World Cup and Stanley Cup is bigger to win. But, we do care about WC also, its a funny little tournament with heart.

 

[Canuckistani]

even WJC, World Cup and Stanley Cup is bigger to win. But, we do care about WC also, its a funny little tournament with heart.

Really?

I always thought that the WHC ranked second only to the Olympics for European fans, followed by the rest in whatever order.

As far as Canadians are concerned, it's Olympics, World Cup, WJC and then WHC. It's not that the WHC is totally irrelevant (it's a great place for players to get experience for best-on-best events) but it's not something we mourn losing.

BTW, is that the Swedes' final roster for the WHC? Really weak squad. Are they not even waiting for the first round of the NHL playoffs to end?

 

[leafsgirl12]

Really?

I always thought that the WHC ranked second only to the Olympics for European fans, followed by the rest in whatever order.

As far as Canadians are concerned, it's Olympics, World Cup, WJC and then WHC. It's not that the WHC is totally irrelevant (it's a great place for players to get experience for best-on-best events) but it's not something we mourn losing.

BTW, is that the Swedes' final roster for the WHC? Really weak squad. Are they not even waiting for the first round of the NHL playoffs to end?

Team Canada can add 4 more people to there roster including one more goalie, before facing Latvia to open the tournament. Hopefully one of the people ends up being Rielly