WJC: 2016 — Canada Roster Talk

[JackSlater]

It's not about production, it's about him being the most skilled player Canada has available to them. Yes he is more skilled than Marner or Point or Konecny, by a significant margin. Inconsistent? Yes. Lazy and high-risk too often? Yes. But he has more talent than just about anybody.

First off, of course it's about production. This isn't figure skating - production is the the factor that determines who wins. Either producing offence or negating the production of offence by the opposition is a hockey player's job. Second, it's funny to suggest that he is significantly more skilled than these players. Somewhat flashier? Yes. If he was significantly more skilled than those players then he would be able to outproduce them significantly barring some massive deficiency in some other area of his game.

You're just wrong about that. He wasn't invited to last summer's camp despite producing at the same or higher level than other invited 18 y/o's. The rift wasn't over making the team (he wouldn't have anyway), it was being invited to the summer camps.

What other 96 year forwards were invited to that camp?

Bennett, Dal Colle, Fabbri, Hawryluk, Perlini, Point, Virtanen. Bennett outproduced Ho Sang. Dal Colle outproduced him. Fabbri outproduced him. Point outproduced him. Virtanen is a natural wing, brings a physical presence that Ho Sang lacks and is clearly a better fit for a role on the lower lines. Same thing with Perlini.

Hawryluk is a player that I think Ho Sang has a legitimate case to be invited over, though Hawryluk somewhat mitigates his limited offence with contributions away from the puck from what I've seen. Hawryluk is clearly the kind of player that Hockey Canada prefers in a fourth line, for better or worse. Looks to me like one 18 year old that Ho Sang deserved to be invited over, and even that is debatable. He was a marginal candidate for an invitation, but it was build up (and he reacted) as if it was some huge snub. It wasn't.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Well your an educated individual who forms their own opinions and (presumably) would change their opinions when new evidence is presented.

I think a lot of his reputation comes when he was heads and shoulders the best player on the ice when he was younger and went coast to coast all the time because he could.

His reputation is deserved. He overhandles the puck consistently, but with that also comes an innate ability to open up the ice considerably for not only himself but his teammates as well. There will always be positives and negatives within his game, you just hope that those positives outweigh the negatives more often than not.

For example last night he created consistently in the offensive zone, but was also responsible for a bobbled puck at the blueline that resulted in a breakaway against, and a few neutral zone turnovers that drive coaches absolutely bonkers. Even with those mistakes however he was one of, if not the best forwards on the ice.

He is an interesting player that in the right role absolutely has the ability to be a difference maker. I can definitely see how he can rub certain coaches, scouts, etc.. the wrong way, so I don't think the criticism's are unfair or unwarranted.

 

[Monahan For Mayor*]

What did McDonald do that has made him a lock? He has been the worse of two goaltenders so far. Also, why should someone in august become a lock. This is such a silly post.

The best. The kid playing last night was horrible. Way to deep in his net, let in two bad ones.

 

[PWJunior]

His reputation is deserved. He overhandles the puck consistently, but with that also comes an innate ability to open up the ice considerably for not only himself but his teammates as well. There will always be positives and negatives within his game, you just hope that those positives outweigh the negatives more often than not.

For example last night he created consistently in the offensive zone, but was also responsible for a bobbled puck at the blueline that resulted in a breakaway against, and a few neutral zone turnovers that drive coaches absolutely bonkers. Even with those mistakes however he was one of, if not the best forwards on the ice.

He is an interesting player that in the right role absolutely has the ability to be a difference maker. I can definitely see how he can rub certain coaches, scouts, etc.. the wrong way, so I don't think the criticism's are unfair or unwarranted.

Does Connor Bleakley get no blame for the bad pass that led to the breakaway or is that all on JHS' shoulders? The puck was passed behind him and it seemed to be bouncing as well.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Does Connor Bleakley get no blame for the bad pass that led to the breakaway or is that all on JHS' shoulders? The puck was passed behind him and it seemed to be bouncing as well?

The blame can absolutely be shared, and I certainly worded that poorly. The point being that those are situations that can arise during the game due to his playstyle and desire to want to make things happen. That is not necessarily a bad thing but not everyone appreciates that degree of risk, and some view it as a selfish trait.

 

[Plub]

Marner does things I've never seen before, I beg to differ

one for example at 3:07

Unless you don't watch much hockey, I'm calling BS. I've seen Jr. players make plays like those pretty much all the time. A lot of guys look amazing in Jrs, as I'm sure many on here know.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

sucks cant see more of dermott and juulsen today, they have been excellent
but cant wait to see marner play

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Unless you don't watch much hockey, I'm calling BS. I've seen Jr. players make plays like those pretty much all the time. A lot of guys look amazing in Jrs, as I'm sure many on here know.

well, i dont see many players in jr with his level of two way play and puck stealing abilities, his offense sure i agree players have come and gone who can do similar things, but when it comes to all round play and stuff there have not been many

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

The best. The kid playing last night was horrible. Way to deep in his net, let in two bad ones.

MacDonald let in a laughable goal, the type that derails a gold medal game.

 

[xxxx]

this should be a demolition of the Czech team +)

Can't wait for Strome and Barzal. Interested to see Watson, Stephens and Aubé-Kubel. Yep, and Marner. He looks fantastic as of now.

 

[stavs*]

Unless you don't watch much hockey, I'm calling BS. I've seen Jr. players make plays like those pretty much all the time. A lot of guys look amazing in Jrs, as I'm sure many on here know.

all the time? aside from a few players that can even do that, I've rarely seen something like that. You have to have great edge work and creativity to pull something off like that and actually be successful with it. It's almost perfect how he baits the defender into poking for the puck and then proceed to deke him out while transitioning to backwards skating.

 

[Stizzle]

Sanheim looks like a borderline NHL player. So many weaknesses defensively, it's not even funny.

As much as I wanna agree, he's left too much to be desired and his flaws seem flagrant. Don't get me wrong though, he might still make it, but I can't see him having too much success, most people here had his stock on the rise, only recently.

You saw 2 exhibition games in early August and now your an expert on the kid? The 1st games he's played in 3 months. Come on, man. That's not reasonable.

There's a reason why, amongst the Flyers board posters, he's regarded as neck and neck with Provorov as our best prospect. Those are people who actually watch him play all the time. His defense is very good. Relax, he will be fine.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

So who's in net? From everything I've heard McDonald has the inside track to be starter. You would think they would give him the start if they feel he's their guy.

Between Montembeault and Blackwood as starter apparently.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

That's a very french blueline

 

[Zarzh]

Between Montembeault and Blackwood as starter apparently.

I guess they're fighting for the backup job for the moment than.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

I guess they're fighting for the backup job for the moment than.

It's summer camp...

Canada most likely goes with the hot goaltender going into camp and let him run with it.

 

[HighLifeMan]

It's summer camp...

Canada most likely goes with the hot goaltender going into camp and let him run with it.

McDonald was the top goaltender heading into summer camp and did nothing to change that during his one start. He is the only one of the group that comes with international experience, let alone having won a bronze* medal and being named the top goaltender at the u18 tournament.

Hockey Canada knows what they have in the player, but as you said things can definitely change, but as it stands now McDonald is a lock to be at the final evaluation camp and at this point does not need to be evaluated further.

 

[Zarzh]

It's summer camp...

Canada most likely goes with the hot goaltender going into camp and let him run with it.

For the moment.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

McDonald was the top goaltender heading into summer camp and did nothing to change that during his one start. He is the only one of the group that comes with international experience, let alone having won a gold medal and being named the top goaltender at the u18 tournament.

Hockey Canada knows what they have in the player, but as you said things can definitely change, but as it stands now McDonald is a lock to be at the final evaluation camp and at this point does not need to be evaluated further.

I think all three are a lock to be at the evaluation camp. While he did perform well at the under 18 he has also choked twice in the QMJHL which would be a better sample size to use.

 

[HighLifeMan]

I think all three are a lock to be at the evaluation camp. While he did perform well at the under 18 he has also choked twice in the QMJHL which would be a better sample size to use.

Saying he choked is a massive stretch especially considering Charlottetown had absolutely no chance to win against Halifax in his first playoff opportunity, and this year his playoffs were cut short due to injury.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Saying he choked is a massive stretch especially considering Charlottetown had absolutely no chance to win against Halifax in his first playoff opportunity, and this year his playoffs were cut short due to injury.

Maybe slightly exaggerated but he clearly didn't play up to his regular season level. In no way is he a Fucale or Price going into the evaluation camp.

 

[Hope Bringer]

Good to see Quenneville has been solid. He's pretty much a major longshot, but maybe he'll impress the coaches

His coach is part of the coaching staff so he may have a better shot than you think. He could be a decent utility player as the extra forward or something.

 

[Leafidelity]

 

[xxxx]

I like Ho-Sang, I think he has a pretty good chance to make it..

I'm extremely happy with the forward group.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

What did McDonald do that has made him a lock? He has been the worse of two goaltenders so far. Also, why should someone in august become a lock. This is such a silly post.

Maybe because he was BY FAR the best player for the same group of kids two years ago at the WJC. Maybe because he faced the second most shots, on a bad team defensively and yet still had the second highest sv % in the Q.

Also he is by far the strongest goaltender technically. That first goal was bad but he hadn't faced a shot for four months before that. After that the Russians had several good scoring chances and Mason made them look routine. He's always in great position.

The fact he's not playing tonight pretty much shows what Craig Button was talking about. Hockey Canada knows what they have in Mason and they want to get another look at the other two guys.