WJC: 2016 — Canada Roster Talk (Part IV)

[BLNY]

I'm not going to read through 35 pages, but I'll chip in with some comments that likely echo some of what's been said already.

1. This team was designed for a plumbers convention, but went to a MENSA convention. There's little in the way of IQ, little in the way of legitimate offensive talent, and zero snipers. I lost count of the number of odd man rushes that resulted in no shots on net.

2. The defense doesn't move the puck well at all. Slow minded, poor passing, etc. Fleur in particular handles the puck like a grenade.

3. 5 man units that looks lost out there. When they're not running into their own team mates, they're looking for someone to take charge. There's no General.

4. Bad special teams. The lack of cohesion at even strength spills over to the PP. Poor passes, telegraphed shots and passes, slow puck movement. The PK was roasted today, and it won't improve against a Finnish team that went 8-16 in the round robin.

5. Someone mentioned that the team looked its best when physical today. I would agree that they gained some momentum after Konecny's big hit in the first. His line is the only one consistently throwing its weight around. That's really hard to do for 60 minutes, and when only one line is doing it ... if you want to play bang and crash for wins you have to have the whole group playing that way, and it's all that much harder to do on the big ice.

Seriously, this group is one of the most underwhelming I've seen. I don't think any of the players have an answer, and I don't think Lowry does either. It's going to take finding lightning in a bottle for them to even beat Finland. Given their performance in the pre-tournament games and the round robin, I'm not hopeful.

 

[Alerion]

The moment that perfectly encapsulates this team so far was today when Quenneville came in on a 3 on 1 with Konecny and Stephens and they didn't even get a shot directed at the net.

 

[burpsalot]

Another thing to consider with Team Canada this year is a number of guys haven't been playing regularly this season and are almost finding their legs in the tournament, or at least shaking rust off. Point, Virtanen, and Stephens all sustained injuries this season and Blackwood is fresh off an 8 game suspension. I can't remember the last time so many players were rusty coming into the round robin.

Add to that, they intentionally made others rusty. Crouse, Marner, Strome & a few of their D didn't play in the CIS games & didn't play from the time they left their CHL club until the Belarus game. That was 13 days for Marner & 14 days for Strome.

Will the line-up change again on Saturday? Probably.

Over 3 weeks wasted trying to figure out who plays with who.

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Add to that, they intentionally made others rusty. Crouse, Marner, Strome & a few of their D didn't play in the CIS games & didn't play from the time they left their CHL club until the Belarus game. That was 13 days for Marner & 14 days for Strome.

Will the line-up change again on Saturday? Probably.

Over 3 weeks wasted trying to figure out who plays with who.

Nah

Thats just an excuse

Im sure there was some rust but that may last 2-3 games

Its not like they were off for 2 months


Anyways, maybe they sacrificed this team in terms of looking for next year????

 

[Thebesthockey]

they love the pass more than the shot

team canada = Scott Gomez 2.0

 

[islandermaniac]

Dubois would be a much better option at LW than Chartier or Quenneville. It's too bad.

He took his western boys who look like they could have been replaced with just about anyone. I've lambasted dal Colle for doing nothing out of his comfort zone to make this team. A kid in a short tournament should be willing to finish checks, for example. Dal Colle didn't bother to do that and he got cut. And I was totally cool with that!!! But what the hell are chartier and queeneville doing!!??? They're doing the same crap that I accused dal Colle of doing, which was essentially nothing at all. Completely invisible. These kids are so lucky to have made this team and what are they doing with the opportunity? Sweet jack all.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

He took his western boys who look like they could have been replaced with just about anyone. I've lambasted dal Colle for doing nothing out of his comfort zone to make this team. A kid in a short tournament should be willing to finish checks, for example. Dal Colle didn't bother to do that and he got cut. And I was totally cool with that!!! But what the hell are chartier and queeneville doing!!??? They're doing the same crap that I accused dal Colle of doing, which was essentially nothing at all. Completely invisible. These kids are so lucky to have made this team and what are they doing with the opportunity? Sweet jack all.

Perron would have given this team scoring depth. But it may not have mattered with Lowry's bench management

 

[VanJack]

Everybody's dumping on the forwards and the d-men, but Team Canada hasn't had an impact goaltender at this tournament since Carey Price 10 years ago....can't win at this tournament without elite netminding.

 

[bigdirty]

Everybody's dumping on the forwards and the d-men, but Team Canada hasn't had an impact goaltender at this tournament since Carey Price 10 years ago....can't win at this tournament without elite netminding.

We've done that a few times. But it means your forwards and defense have to be that much better to get it done. A few skaters have had good games, but nobody has been all that great for Canada so far.

 

[4thline]

We've done that a few times. But it means your forwards and defense have to be that much better to get it done. A few skaters have had good games, but nobody has been all that great for Canada so far.

I think that's the crux of it. Marner and Konecny were good this game, Strome and Barzal were good that game etc.

No one's been "great" at any point, and too few have been "good" at any given time together. This team could win with "good" from the majority of the guys, the majority of the time, but that hasn't happened- which then blame falls hardest on those expected to be "great"

 

[islandermaniac]

Everybody's dumping on the forwards and the d-men, but Team Canada hasn't had an impact goaltender at this tournament since Carey Price 10 years ago....can't win at this tournament without elite netminding.

Except for the fact that Canada has won a hell of a lot of hockey games at the wjc since Carey price was in net.

 

[VanJack]

People are always looking for an underlying crisis every time Team Canada comes up lame on the bigger European ice...but this team looks mentally and physically tired to me....I still think Major Junior players play way too many games with long bus travel in between, particularly in Western Canada....then a long flight to Europe on top of that.....Finns, Swedes and Russians just look fresher to me....these Canadian players start in the summer with WJC selection camps and have played close to 40 regular season games by the time to go to another final cut-down camp just before Xmas..too many games; too many practices and too much travel for kids 18-19 imo...no real solutions though, just the way it is.

 

[HarryLime]

I have next to no hope against Finland. The Fins have just played awesome and seem to be so in sync. We have a lot of talent but it's not working at all. Next year I hope Marner comes back. He's gotten a lot of negative comments and I can see why. I don't think he's been bad. Honestly would say he's been one of our best players. But when you're seeing so many top prospects like Laine, Pulju, Mathews, Nylander tear up at 17 you expect more out of Strome and Marner, who have been good but not great.

As a Leafs fan I just hope King Joff comes back for the next game so I can have an incentive if Canada loses.

 

[WilliamNylander]

Obviously Lowry won't do this because he hasn't tried it yet but IMO...

Load the top six, Konecny and Barzal need to be in there. Marner and Strome are a given. Virtanen might as well be the 13th forward, but he won't because of pedigree. Honestly I would put him in the press box to just avoid the penalties.

On defense, load up on Chabot and Sanheim. Sorry but nobody else can push the play like they can. Maybe even stack one line with Marner Strome and Konecny and let them try and match up against Pulju Aho and Laine because that line is going to murder any of Canada's lines as they are now.

 

[Atomos2]

Maturity. This team lacks it. And this includes the coach.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Obviously Lowry won't do this because he hasn't tried it yet but IMO...

Load the top six, Konecny and Barzal need to be in there. Marner and Strome are a given. Virtanen might as well be the 13th forward, but he won't because of pedigree. Honestly I would put him in the press box to just avoid the penalties.

On defense, load up on Chabot and Sanheim. Sorry but nobody else can push the play like they can. Maybe even stack one line with Marner Strome and Konecny and let them try and match up against Pulju Aho and Laine because that line is going to murder any of Canada's lines as they are now.

Strome lacks the foot speed to execute his defensive responsibilities against the offensive speed that Laine, etc. can throw at you. I would build a line around Stevens to play against them. Chip the puck deep and make them skate 200 feet as often as possible. You win by neutralizing their top line and having your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines having an edge over the Finns' respective lesser lines. Playing our so called top line against their top line is a prescription for defeat. It's simply a bad match up. Without its top players available (McDavid, Fabri, etc.) Canada must rely on its greater depth to eek out a win in what will be a hostile environment. If they play a simple game that employs the same level of physicality and intensity that Canada displayed in the second period of today's game, a win over the Finns is achievable.

 

[BlazingBlueAnt]

Maturity. This team lacks it. And this includes the coach.

Agreed and its not an age thing either, nobody is saying "**** it, this is my team" and taking the team on their shoulders. It should be Point, Virtanen, and Crouse as returning player, but they are not doing it.

 

[Bloomberg]

So what's the shutdown line that matches with finlands top line?

 

[jdatb]

So what's the shutdown line that matches with finlands top line?

There isn't one.

 

[Bloomberg]

There isn't one.

Then make them play defense, with Konecny - Barzal - Marner

 

[lawrence]

I don't believe that.
Maybe Jake is really nervous and too excited to play his father's home country.

I don't know much Canada's team but i see that it isn't so dominate than it was last year.
Of course it's quite impossible to replace McDavid,Domi, Reinhart etc key players last years gold medal team.

Unfortunately i won't be in Hartwall Arena in Saturday.
But i'll watch this game on TV i wish good luck for team Canada best one will win.

Who'll be Canada's starting goalie in Saturday is it Blackwood or McDonald?.
HAPPY NEW YEAR

He's just struggling equally as bad as 9'other guys. He's taking a hit because of the team he was drafted by. Canadian fans Are jerks.no mercy. Other gets free passes.if,the Canucks have taken perlini or fleury they be torn to shreds.

 

[Bloomberg]

He's just struggling equally as bad as 9'other guys. He's taking a hit because of the team he was drafted by. Canadian fans Are jerks.no mercy. Other gets free passes.if,the Canucks have taken perlini or fleury they be torn to shreds.

I think it's more to due with the high expectations placed on him. Does he have a point yet?

 

[Atomos2]

Then make them play defense, with Konecny - Barzal - Marner

Konecny - Barzal - Strome - Marner
Chabot - Sanheim

No goalie

 

[ChesterNimitz]

So what's the shutdown line that matches with finlands top line?

Krouse, Stevens and any other large, mobile forward. It's late in the 'game' to be mixing and matching but this tournament is down to one and done so adjustments are needed. The 'shut down line' merely has to be -1 or better and the rest of the lines an accumulative +2 for the team to win. The shut down line has to play a simple chip out/chip in game and always maintain a defensive posture on the ice (always having their bodies between the puck and Canada's net). If our players are chasing their numbers, we are in trouble. It's a sad commentary that Canada has to adopt (at least when facing this one line) an approach that lesser teams like Denmark and Switzerland use against Canada. But the clear fact is, Finland's elite, top 3 players are more dynamic than Canada's. As earlier noted, for Canada to win, it will have to be the team's depth that carries the day. It can be done. Play like they did against the U.S. and with a little luck, Canada will move on.

 

[JackSlater]

Krouse, Stevens and any other large, mobile forward. It's late in the 'game' to be mixing and matching but this tournament is down to one and done so adjustments are needed. The 'shut down line' merely has to be -1 or better and the rest of the lines an accumulative +2 for the team to win. The shut down line has to play a simple chip out/chip in game and always maintain a defensive posture on the ice (always having their bodies between the puck and Canada's net). If our players are chasing their numbers, we are in trouble. It's a sad commentary that Canada has to adopt (at least when facing this one line) an approach that lesser teams like Denmark and Switzerland use against Canada. But the clear fact is, Finland's elite, top 3 players are more dynamic than Canada's. As earlier noted, for Canada to win, it will have to be the team's depth that carries the day. It can be done. Play like they did against the U.S. and with a little luck, Canada will move on.

The problem is that Lowry doesn't know that depth is Canada's advantage. He likes to cut the minutes of the "checking" line as the game goes on, so there is no way he will give them big minutes against Finland.

In many ways, Lowry is the coaching opposite of Babcock. Importantly, Babcock rolled four lines and had great appreciation for his defensive line.