2016 - 2019 A Black Hole For Canadian Talent

[ORRFForever]

2016-2019 was a Black Hole for Canadian talent. While many of the U.S.'s best players are from these drafts and IN THEIR PRIME, we had 2 of our 23 players from those 4 drafts : Makar and Hagel - Hagel had ONE assist all tournament.

So, for the next couple Best On Best, we either rely on older players or we rush the kids. Either way, it will be some tough sledding.

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[BigDaddyLurch]

...man, you going for a Thread record??...

 

[Peiskos]

I think we're actually in a good spot, our 2026 team should be even more loaded than this one. Bedard and Celebrini should make that team as well. With Makar, MacKinnon, McDavid, Marner etc.

 

[WarriorofTime]

If you look at nhl, 2013-2015 drafts are definitely in their primes.

 

[ORRFForever]

If you look at nhl, 2013-2015 drafts are definitely in their primes.

I am just saying, there's a 4 year black hole that's may come back to haunt Canada.

I think we're actually in a good spot, our 2026 team should be even more loaded than this one. Bedard and Celebrini should make that team as well. With Makar, MacKinnon, McDavid, Marner etc.

I hope you're right.

Many of the U.S.'s best players are in that sweet 25-29 range while our best players are aging. Again, there's gonna be a gap of young and old.

...man, you going for a Thread record??...

Last one, I promise.

 

[maroon 6]

I didn’t realize 2018 was that bad

Barrett Hayton or Ryan McLeod were the best Canadian forwards drafted

Yikes

 

[WarriorofTime]

I am just saying, there's a 4 year black hole that's may come back to haunt Canada.

Good defensemen then imo. Forwards will have a little bit of a gap to bridge in theory I suppose but there’s some good up and comers and guys like McDavid and MacKinnon can likely hold the fort down well into their 30s. Not exactly about to slow down anytime soon.

 

[ORRFForever]

I didn’t realize 2018 was that bad

Barrett Hayton or Ryan McLeod were the best Canadian forwards drafted

Yikes

Pffft. Check out the 2016 - 2019 drafts. It's BRUTAL !!!

 

[maroon 6]

Pffft. Check out the 2016 - 2019 drafts. It's BRUTAL !!!

2017 was not the greatest but Suzuki, Thomas and Vilardi aren’t too bad

 

[ORRFForever]

Good defensemen then imo. Forwards will have a little bit of a gap to bridge in theory I suppose but there’s some good up and comers and guys like McDavid and MacKinnon can likely hold the fort down well into their 30s. Not exactly about to slow down anytime soon.

In tonight's O.T., the U.S.'s young legs looked strong.

I hope I'm wrong and the gap doesn't come back to haunt us.

Canada just needs to get over this upcoming hump.

 

[Matty Sundin]

Meh they said this same thing in the late 90s and early 2000s and it showed with the lack of world jrs success. We are slumping I will admit it but it’s not the first time.

 

[WarriorofTime]

2017 was not the greatest but Suzuki, Thomas and Vilardi aren’t too bad

All have a punchers chance at the 2030 Olympic team or whatever 2028 thing the nhl holds.

 

[ORRFForever]

2017 was not the greatest but Suzuki, Thomas and Vilardi aren’t too bad

Yes. I am not a Suzuki fan but Thomas is very good and Vilardi has come on as of late.

 

[1989]

The things that derailed those draft classes' careers from a Canadian MNT perspective are all things that could happen to other players from any country.
Injury, stalled development, family issues, accidents, etc. to name just a few.

In the 100+ upcoming games of competitive NHL hockey and other tournament play, who is to say the Americans or whoever else don't suffer from a lack of representation as their players may encounter such difficulties professionally or personally? It's not worth lamenting the woes of what could have been.

 

[ORRFForever]

I think we're actually in a good spot, our 2026 team should be even more loaded than this one. Bedard and Celebrini should make that team as well. With Makar, MacKinnon, McDavid, Marner etc.

I'm not sold on Bedard and Celebrini yet.

Canada has a TON of talent so, perhaps, it won't be an issue but when the average NHL career is 5 years, a 4 year gap in talent is not nothing.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I'm not sold on Bedard and Celebrini yet.

Canada has a TON of talent so, perhaps, it won't be an issue but when the average NHL career is 5 years, a 4 year gap in talent is not nothing.

I’m not sure the average NHL career length is at all relevant to this tbh. The average career of players at the level we’re talking about is at least 10+

 

[ORRFForever]

I’m not sure the average NHL career length is at all relevant to this tbh. The average career of players at the level we’re talking about is at least 10+

True. But, again, it's a heck of a gap.

I hope it is not an issue but Canada seemed slow and a step behind in O.T.. I could see that getting worse until our next generation steps up.

 

[Tutu to]

You’re kinda right. Canada had a few rough years while America had a golden generation from players born 96-01.

That being said if you look at our best prospects Bedard, Celibrini, Schaefer, Misa, Mckeena, Du Pont ect we are doing a significantly better job then the Americans.

 

[ORRFForever]

You’re kinda right. Canada had a few rough years while America had a golden generation from players born 96-01.

That being said if you look at our best prospects Bedard, Celibrini, Schaefer, Misa, Mckeena, Du Pont ect we are doing a significantly better job then the Americans.

Actually, I 100% right. (wink)

I realize there are a TON of amazing prospects from the 2020 draft forward. Many are just not ready yet. 2030 will be insane in its depth / talent for Canada.

...man, you going for a Thread record??...

P.S. I've ONLY started 2 threads. Okay... 3.