WJC: 2016 — Canada Roster Talk

[tade]

What are the chances that we will see Travis Konecny on Canada's roster at WJC? I know it will depend a lot on the start of the season but as of right now, what do you think? Thanks.

//and Aube-Kubel?

 

[leafsfuture]

What are the chances that we will see Travis Konecny on Canada's roster at WJC? I know it will depend a lot on the start of the season but as of right now, what do you think? Thanks.

//and Aube-Kubel?

High.

Canada doesn't shy away from small skilled guys. As long as he takes that next step offensively perhaps we expected last year he will make it. Especially one big ice, his hands and puck skills will be valuable

 

[spacemanatee]

as a florida fan; i hope montembeault makes the team

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

What are the chances that we will see Travis Konecny on Canada's roster at WJC? I know it will depend a lot on the start of the season but as of right now, what do you think? Thanks.

//and Aube-Kubel?

Re Konecny - I think the chances are extremely high. The 97 forwards are far superior to the 96's and he should be one of the best 97's available.

 

[docbenton]

On the D, remember when last year people were like, Sanheim is a 2 way defenseman who's more defensively-oriented but has some offensive upside? I was like, this guy is a pure offensive defenseman who's easily got top 10 talent.

Now he looks like one of the best offensive defenseman to come around in a long time. Still needs some work and consistency on defense but he's going to blow up the WJC if he doesn't make the NHL next year.

 

[xxxx]

On the D, remember when last year people were like, Sanheim is a 2 way defenseman who's more defensively-oriented but has some offensive upside? I was like, this guy is a pure offensive defenseman who's easily got top 10 talent.

Now he looks like one of the best offensive defenseman to come around in a long time. Still needs some work and consistency on defense but he's going to blow up the WJC if he doesn't make the NHL next year.

agreed. Sanheim is a spectacular defenseman. If he's available he will be one of our keystones, no doubt about it.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Re Konecny - I think the chances are extremely high. The 97 forwards are far superior to the 96's and he should be one of the best 97's available.

Add to that 97 Right handed D far superior to 96 RD.

With the exception of course of our super puper NHL Rookie of the Year, Ekblad.

I see the 2016 team as a young team with a lot of potential returnees for 2017 Montreal/Toronto. Hopefully it will be going for a 3-peat.

But I'll be happy just to pull a medal of any color out of Helsinki.

 

[JackSlater]

Add to that 97 Right handed D far superior to 96 RD.

With the exception of course of our super puper NHL Rookie of the Year, Ekblad.

I see the 2016 team as a young team with a lot of potential returnees for 2017 Montreal/Toronto. Hopefully it will be going for a 3-peat.

But I'll be happy just to pull a medal of any color out of Helsinki.

The 2016 draft looks so bad for Canada that I'm definitely hoping that Canada can win some tournaments while the edge in talent is still there.

This is my best guess for the 2016 team:

Dal Colle Fabbri Marner
Beauvillier Strome Point
Crouse McCann Virtanen
Perlini Barzal Konecny
Hawryluk

Sanheim Roy
Fleury Meloche
Chychrun Hicketts
Spencer

McDonald
Blackwood


I'm assuming (optimistically) that only Ekblad, McDavid and Bennett are missing. Fabbri is the top returning offensive player and so he gets the top centre spot. Marner is the best offensive talent available, and I think he projects as a winger, so he slots in on the right side. Dal Colle does a bit of everything, is a natural LW (Canada's weak point this year) and has some quality experience after his season with Oshawa. Strome isn't a great skater, but I doubt that Canada leaves the number three pick who just lead the OHL in scorning as a 17 year old out. TO mitigate his skating, he gets two agile wingers in Point and Beauvillier. Point is a quality returning player, and Beauvillier is someone I've been high on for quite some time, having seen him in the QMJHL quite a bit. I felt that he was highly underrated going into the draft, and if Canada continues making picks based on skill then I think he makes it. McCann seems obvious for a more defensive line, while Crouse and Virtanen did well in defensive roles last year. Virtanen could possibly slot higher, but I think his speed is served well on this line. Last line is another skill line, with Barzal being a solid all around centre, Konecny a great skating forward who has played a leadership role for Canada in the past, and Perlini a bigger player with the higher draft pedigree that Hockey Canada likes. Konecny and Perlini should be able to finish Barzal's passes. Hawryluk just seems like the kind of player HC likes having around, but I see him dropping as the games move on.

Defence is weaker than it's been in a while. Sanheim seems like the best available player, and I see him with one of the few quality RHD available in Roy. I see Roy a fair amount, and he's the kind of guy that can do it all. Second pair is the defensively oriented pairing that HC likes to bring. Fleury has all the tools (maybe not the toolbox) but those players can often be very useful defensively at the junior level. Meloche has good size, uses his body well, has a big right handed shot and is pretty smart defensively in my viewings. Not the fastest player, but smart enough and Fleury's has the speed on that pairing. Chychrun is American but I think HC will be more than happy to pick him, and he does seem like a quality player. Hicketts was pretty poor last year in my opinion, but I doubt that HC will cut the only returning defenceman. Spencer is just a solid defenceman with a right handed shot, and I think HC will pick him. I like Vande Sompel better, but I don't think he gets picked. In Spencer's favour is that Tampa Bay picked him, and their scouts seem good at their jobs.

McDonald and Blackwood as the goaltenders. Mostly just based on their draft positions, as I never pay much attention to the goaltenders. HC will continue the stupid plan of picking only two goaltenders.

 

[1Gold Standard]

The 2016 draft looks so bad for Canada that I'm definitely hoping that Canada can win some tournaments while the edge in talent is still there.

This is my best guess for the 2016 team:

Dal Colle Fabbri Marner
Beauvillier Strome Point
Crouse McCann Virtanen
Perlini Barzal Konecny
Hawryluk

Sanheim Roy
Fleury Meloche
Chychrun Hicketts
Spencer

McDonald
Blackwood


I'm assuming (optimistically) that only Ekblad, McDavid and Bennett are missing. Fabbri is the top returning offensive player and so he gets the top centre spot. Marner is the best offensive talent available, and I think he projects as a winger, so he slots in on the right side. Dal Colle does a bit of everything, is a natural LW (Canada's weak point this year) and has some quality experience after his season with Oshawa. Strome isn't a great skater, but I doubt that Canada leaves the number three pick who just lead the OHL in scorning as a 17 year old out. TO mitigate his skating, he gets two agile wingers in Point and Beauvillier. Point is a quality returning player, and Beauvillier is someone I've been high on for quite some time, having seen him in the QMJHL quite a bit. I felt that he was highly underrated going into the draft, and if Canada continues making picks based on skill then I think he makes it. McCann seems obvious for a more defensive line, while Crouse and Virtanen did well in defensive roles last year. Virtanen could possibly slot higher, but I think his speed is served well on this line. Last line is another skill line, with Barzal being a solid all around centre, Konecny a great skating forward who has played a leadership role for Canada in the past, and Perlini a bigger player with the higher draft pedigree that Hockey Canada likes. Konecny and Perlini should be able to finish Barzal's passes. Hawryluk just seems like the kind of player HC likes having around, but I see him dropping as the games move on.

Defence is weaker than it's been in a while. Sanheim seems like the best available player, and I see him with one of the few quality RHD available in Roy. I see Roy a fair amount, and he's the kind of guy that can do it all. Second pair is the defensively oriented pairing that HC likes to bring. Fleury has all the tools (maybe not the toolbox) but those players can often be very useful defensively at the junior level. Meloche has good size, uses his body well, has a big right handed shot and is pretty smart defensively in my viewings. Not the fastest player, but smart enough and Fleury's has the speed on that pairing. Chychrun is American but I think HC will be more than happy to pick him, and he does seem like a quality player. Hicketts was pretty poor last year in my opinion, but I doubt that HC will cut the only returning defenceman. Spencer is just a solid defenceman with a right handed shot, and I think HC will pick him. I like Vande Sompel better, but I don't think he gets picked. In Spencer's favour is that Tampa Bay picked him, and their scouts seem good at their jobs.

McDonald and Blackwood as the goaltenders. Mostly just based on their draft positions, as I never pay much attention to the goaltenders. HC will continue the stupid plan of picking only two goaltenders.

Nice. I'm going a little off the board this year, but my roster projections are still a work in progress, based mostly on which players I'd like to see make it and the players HC has on the summer camp roster.

I keep Strome off for now due to his skating issues (but hope he impresses more at summer camp and is able to work on and improve his skating over the summer). And I'm looking for a spot to get McCann in there, but I like Barzal more. He's a more skilled and dynamic center imo...and I don't believe that either McCann/Barzal can deliver playing in a more limited 4th line role, so I opted for Barzal over McCaan. And I like Virtanen playing the LW. If Crouse sticks in Florida (and from what I'm hearing, it's likely) then A BEAUVILLIER slides in there no fuss no muss.

M DAL COLLE R FABBRI B POINT
J VIRTANEN N MERKLEY M MARNER
L CROUSE M BARZAL J GAUTHIER
B PERLINI R CHARTIER J HAWRYLUK

J MCCANN or N AUBÉ-KUBEL


T SANHEIM N MELOCHE
J HICKETTS J ROY
B HICKEY N JUULSEN/A CARRIER
H FLEURY

I think ultimately Chychrun beats out either Fleury or Hickey and he and Juulsen form a deadly 3rd pairing. But I want to see how Chychrun plays @ Hlinka before giving him that assignment. I saw a few BU games, I like Hickey, but HC will continue it's fine tradition of pimping for the CHL. Like you, any player picked by Al Murray in TB is good enough for me. Spencer moved up on my depth chart but not yet making the A team. Interestingly, Meloche isn't on the summer camp roster. but in the end we'll end up with 4 LD 3 RD. I hope Meloche is one of them.

And I agree with you on the goaltenders and also don't like HC's approach to them. It's HC being HC.

Now back to my summer vaca.

Oh, and a Happy Canada Day to all.

 

[euro35]

The 2016 draft looks so bad for Canada that I'm definitely hoping that Canada can win some tournaments while the edge in talent is still there.

This is my best guess for the 2016 team:

Dal Colle Fabbri Marner
Beauvillier Strome Point
Crouse McCann Virtanen
Perlini Barzal Konecny
Hawryluk

Sanheim Roy
Fleury Meloche
Chychrun Hicketts
Spencer

McDonald
Blackwood


I'm assuming (optimistically) that only Ekblad, McDavid and Bennett are missing. Fabbri is the top returning offensive player and so he gets the top centre spot. Marner is the best offensive talent available, and I think he projects as a winger, so he slots in on the right side. Dal Colle does a bit of everything, is a natural LW (Canada's weak point this year) and has some quality experience after his season with Oshawa. Strome isn't a great skater, but I doubt that Canada leaves the number three pick who just lead the OHL in scorning as a 17 year old out. TO mitigate his skating, he gets two agile wingers in Point and Beauvillier. Point is a quality returning player, and Beauvillier is someone I've been high on for quite some time, having seen him in the QMJHL quite a bit. I felt that he was highly underrated going into the draft, and if Canada continues making picks based on skill then I think he makes it. McCann seems obvious for a more defensive line, while Crouse and Virtanen did well in defensive roles last year. Virtanen could possibly slot higher, but I think his speed is served well on this line. Last line is another skill line, with Barzal being a solid all around centre, Konecny a great skating forward who has played a leadership role for Canada in the past, and Perlini a bigger player with the higher draft pedigree that Hockey Canada likes. Konecny and Perlini should be able to finish Barzal's passes. Hawryluk just seems like the kind of player HC likes having around, but I see him dropping as the games move on.

Defence is weaker than it's been in a while. Sanheim seems like the best available player, and I see him with one of the few quality RHD available in Roy. I see Roy a fair amount, and he's the kind of guy that can do it all. Second pair is the defensively oriented pairing that HC likes to bring. Fleury has all the tools (maybe not the toolbox) but those players can often be very useful defensively at the junior level. Meloche has good size, uses his body well, has a big right handed shot and is pretty smart defensively in my viewings. Not the fastest player, but smart enough and Fleury's has the speed on that pairing. Chychrun is American but I think HC will be more than happy to pick him, and he does seem like a quality player. Hicketts was pretty poor last year in my opinion, but I doubt that HC will cut the only returning defenceman. Spencer is just a solid defenceman with a right handed shot, and I think HC will pick him. I like Vande Sompel better, but I don't think he gets picked. In Spencer's favour is that Tampa Bay picked him, and their scouts seem good at their jobs.

McDonald and Blackwood as the goaltenders. Mostly just based on their draft positions, as I never pay much attention to the goaltenders. HC will continue the stupid plan of picking only two goaltenders.

I like Fabbri as well but Point is the highest scoring 96 on this roster along with DalColle this year with a whl coach and not Scott Walker running the forwards, You may get to see Point play a bigger role. Point voted best Player in whl eastern conference in coaches poll as well Yes that was ahead of Rienhart Id like to see Point Fabbri and Marner together it would be tic tac toa all over again .
Petan Fabbri and Point played a few shifts last year and it was stupid!

 

[JackSlater]

I like Fabbri as well but Point is the highest scoring 96 on this roster along with DalColle this year with a whl coach and not Scott Walker running the forwards, You may get to see Point play a bigger role. Point voted best Player in whl eastern conference in coaches poll as well Yes that was ahead of Rienhart Id like to see Point Fabbri and Marner together it would be tic tac toa all over again .
Petan Fabbri and Point played a few shifts last year and it was stupid!

I do think that Point has a big role to play. My hope is that HC continues playing lines pretty evenly, as this has produced some good results in the last two years.

 

[Snippit]

Eh...it doesn't look like we'll be tournament favourites. We're counting on a lot of 97s to carry the load.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

On the D, remember when last year people were like, Sanheim is a 2 way defenseman who's more defensively-oriented but has some offensive upside? I was like, this guy is a pure offensive defenseman who's easily got top 10 talent.

Now he looks like one of the best offensive defenseman to come around in a long time. Still needs some work and consistency on defense but he's going to blow up the WJC if he doesn't make the NHL next year.

I expect Sanheim to return to the Hitmen. If so, he should play a huge role for Canada this upcoming WJC.

I'll be rooting for the USA of course, but Sanheim has the potential to absolutely dominate. Could be a coming out party for him.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Eh...it doesn't look like we'll be tournament favourites. We're counting on a lot of 97s to carry the load.

not prohibitive favorites, but should be in contention for a shot at a gold medal, along with the U.S., Swedes and the Czechs.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

not prohibitive favorites, but should be in contention for a shot at a gold medal, along with the U.S., Swedes and the Czechs.

I agree. I'm very optimistic about this team.

Of course, the team usually ends up doing the opposite of what I predict - so we'll see

 

[DatDude44]

Fabbri won't play in the world juniors cuz he's definitely gonna crack the blues roster this year.

 

[GuillaumeLetsundress*]

Fabbri won't play in the world juniors cuz he's definitely gonna crack the blues roster this year.

Whether he makes the blues or not I could very well see him playing, depending on the managements decisions of course

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

Just imagine if McDavid and Bennett were still playing..

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Hickey is pretty much a lock for this team. Same with McDonald.

 

[xxxx]

Just imagine if McDavid and Bennett were still playing..

or Ekblad

 

[madmike77]

The 2016 draft looks so bad for Canada that I'm definitely hoping that Canada can win some tournaments while the edge in talent is still there.

This is my best guess for the 2016 team:

Dal Colle Fabbri Marner
Beauvillier Strome Point
Crouse McCann Virtanen
Perlini Barzal Konecny
Hawryluk

Sanheim Roy
Fleury Meloche
Chychrun Hicketts
Spencer

McDonald
Blackwood


I'm assuming (optimistically) that only Ekblad, McDavid and Bennett are missing. Fabbri is the top returning offensive player and so he gets the top centre spot. Marner is the best offensive talent available, and I think he projects as a winger, so he slots in on the right side. Dal Colle does a bit of everything, is a natural LW (Canada's weak point this year) and has some quality experience after his season with Oshawa. Strome isn't a great skater, but I doubt that Canada leaves the number three pick who just lead the OHL in scorning as a 17 year old out. TO mitigate his skating, he gets two agile wingers in Point and Beauvillier. Point is a quality returning player, and Beauvillier is someone I've been high on for quite some time, having seen him in the QMJHL quite a bit. I felt that he was highly underrated going into the draft, and if Canada continues making picks based on skill then I think he makes it. McCann seems obvious for a more defensive line, while Crouse and Virtanen did well in defensive roles last year. Virtanen could possibly slot higher, but I think his speed is served well on this line. Last line is another skill line, with Barzal being a solid all around centre, Konecny a great skating forward who has played a leadership role for Canada in the past, and Perlini a bigger player with the higher draft pedigree that Hockey Canada likes. Konecny and Perlini should be able to finish Barzal's passes. Hawryluk just seems like the kind of player HC likes having around, but I see him dropping as the games move on.

Defence is weaker than it's been in a while. Sanheim seems like the best available player, and I see him with one of the few quality RHD available in Roy. I see Roy a fair amount, and he's the kind of guy that can do it all. Second pair is the defensively oriented pairing that HC likes to bring. Fleury has all the tools (maybe not the toolbox) but those players can often be very useful defensively at the junior level. Meloche has good size, uses his body well, has a big right handed shot and is pretty smart defensively in my viewings. Not the fastest player, but smart enough and Fleury's has the speed on that pairing. Chychrun is American but I think HC will be more than happy to pick him, and he does seem like a quality player. Hicketts was pretty poor last year in my opinion, but I doubt that HC will cut the only returning defenceman. Spencer is just a solid defenceman with a right handed shot, and I think HC will pick him. I like Vande Sompel better, but I don't think he gets picked. In Spencer's favour is that Tampa Bay picked him, and their scouts seem good at their jobs.

McDonald and Blackwood as the goaltenders. Mostly just based on their draft positions, as I never pay much attention to the goaltenders. HC will continue the stupid plan of picking only two goaltenders.

McDonald had a very strong year in the QMJHL with the 2nd highest save percentage in the league, although he was injured in the playoffs. Hopefully he's fully recovered for next year (think he should be).

 

[Love]

Just imagine if McDavid and Bennett were still playing..

18 year old Sam Bennett!

 

[SingleAallStar]

Can somebody explain why they don't think this team is star-studded or favourite? Isn't the best possible player for a tournament like this a highly picked D+1 player.

Aren't people overrating having that young new star about to be drafted (McDavid)

Marner and Strome were picked 3/4 and put up crazy stats last year. Both could have been #1's in a WEAK (DEFINITELY WEAK) year but still. Most of the time these guys go straight to the NHL.

People were acting like Reinhart was such a saviour coming down and that Domi was an offensive star last year. Is there any doubt that Strome has Reinhart like quality and Marner is better than Domi?

 

[JackSlater]

Can somebody explain why they don't think this team is star-studded or favourite? Isn't the best possible player for a tournament like this a highly picked D+1 player.

Aren't people overrating having that young new star about to be drafted (McDavid)

Marner and Strome were picked 3/4 and put up crazy stats last year. Both could have been #1's in a WEAK (DEFINITELY WEAK) year but still. Most of the time these guys go straight to the NHL.

People were acting like Reinhart was such a saviour coming down and that Domi was an offensive star last year. Is there any doubt that Strome has Reinhart like quality and Marner is better than Domi?

People often compare Canadian teams to Canadian teams of the past instead of the actual opposition. This team will certainly be talented enough to compete with anyone they come against.

 

[Whitesnake]

Is Juulsen going to be added to some of your guys' list? I mean, he is a very good 2-way and it's not like the right D is filled with seniors...Juulsen totally deserve some considérations.