WC: 2016 Team Canada Pt. II

[Malcolm]

Considering the depth of the rosters at this years Worlds, this group on paper is a terrific group of names.

Now let's hope they can be assembled to form a team.

The Russians will get stronger on paper also as the NHL playoff rounds go by. Each and every available Russian will go home to play. Their only problem will be coming together as a team.

The Finns I think are as strong or stronger right now than Canada. The Team Finland fans are saying this is a stronger team than the bronze medal winning team in Sochi.

The Swedes are always competitive.

The USA right now is not looking strong but a bunch of kids with nothing to lose and lots to prove could also surprise. Remember 1980?

I see this Canada team grinding out games. The free flowing beautiful game of the 2015 team will be a distant memory.

PS PK and Carey Price it is not too late to pick up the phone or at the very least a quick text to Hockey Canada.

 

[Gsus]

The Finns I think are as strong or stronger right now than Canada. The Team Finland fans are saying this is a stronger team than the bronze medal winning team in Sochi.

No Canada is stronger than Finland overall. We have zero NHL defenders (Ville Pokka AHL). Right now we have no NHL goalies but Koskinen is really good tho. Forwards are good even tho Filppula, Haula, Donskoi etc. is missing. It would take an olympic roster vs this Canada roster to have chance saying that Finns roster looks better than Canada. And it still wouldn't be. So don't worry about us until we go head-to-head.

 

[snipes]

And it still wouldn't be. So don't worry about us until we go head-to-head.

I'm on to your Finnish underdog tricks

Should be a great game on the 17th, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be following you guys closely with my eyes on Laine.

Are you able to check out any of the games live?

 

[Bear12Good]

Dumba?
Why he?
I was expecting the veteran defender.

 

[snipes]

Dumba?
Why he?
I was expecting the veteran defender.

We are as confused as you are.

We are sending very good forwards, but our D is not looking good.

 

[Eye of Ra]

We are as confused as you are.

We are sending very good forwards, but our D is not looking good.

Its still the best D in the tournament by a land mile. Take a look at the other nations D.

 

[snipes]

Its still the best D in the tournament by a land mile. Take a look at the other nations D.

I would still feel much better if we added a top end #1 D to the team. I want to defend the Gold, especially in Russia on our biggest rivals home soil.

I think our forward group is probably the strongest. The Russians and Finns are sending some very talented players up front too though.

 

[tade]

Not thrilled with Dumba but great to see Perry going, he should fit very well next to McDavid. Most likely means no Giroux, Simmonds or Schenn.

Its still the best D in the tournament by a land mile. Take a look at the other nations D.

Time will tell, it is a good group of young defenders but they lack experience on this level.

 

[snipes]

Not thrilled with Dumba but great to see Perry going, he should fit very well next to McDavid. Most likely means no Giroux, Simmonds or Schenn.



Time will tell, it is a good group of young defenders but they lack experience on this level.

Perry and McDavid will absolutely dominate this tournament on the 1st line. Fans will be in for a real treat watching that.

I agree on the D, that's what worries me. While a lot of NHL players skip this tournament, it's still high end hockey and different from the NHL with it being on the larger ice surface.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Depending on who the goalie is I would prefer to see TC name two more defensemen. But I think enough time has passed now for Muzzin and Ekblad to have made a decision. Perry knocked out last night and says yes today. Not sure what the other guys are waiting on.

They do have room to add 1 more forward 2 Defensemen and 1 goalie. That would max out the roster at 25.

I doubt they would go that route though. 1 suspect they hope for 1 more defensemen and a 3rd goaltender.

I'm not thrilled with the Perry addition. I've never been a fan of his game, especially not in Europe and on that ice...but respect at least for answering the call. McDavid will have to do all the skating for him...He does at least bring some veteran experience.

The good news is that with Perry's addition, it will give me something to ***** about in GDTs, I always love to have something to ***** about...and as he is the only player on this addition of Team Canada that I truly dislike...there's my ammo.

 

[snipes]

They do have room to add 1 more forward 2 Defensemen and 1 goalie. That would max out the roster at 25.

I doubt they would go that route though. 1 suspect they hope for 1 more defensemen and a 3rd goaltender.

I'm not thrilled with the Perry addition. I've never been a fan of his game, especially not in Europe and on that ice...but respect at least for answering the call. McDavid will have to do all the skating for him...He does at least bring some veteran experience.

The good news is that with Perry's addition, it will give me something to ***** about in GDTs, I always love to have something to ***** about...and as he is the only player on this addition of Team Canada that I truly dislike...there's my ammo.

Who do you like with McDavid on the big ice? He's going to definitely need some speed to keep up. You know what, Hall might be good on the big ice even though they don't play on the same line in Edmonton.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Who do you like with McDavid on the big ice? He's going to definitely need some speed to keep up. You know what, Hall might be good on the big ice even though they don't play on the same line in Edmonton.

There isn't much of an option other than Hall. Marchand is your only other LW unless you count either Duchene or Domi...and you don't want to play Domi that high up in the lineup, at least I'd rather not see it. Despite the 4-5 games at the start of the season where the Hall-McDavid experiment didn't seem to gel, I hope they find it on Euro ice. Hall was exceptional last year with another generational, creative play-making center. We all know who that was.

But who knows...maybe Domi will shock and awe the audience like he did at the World Juniors.

 

[snipes]

There isn't much of an option other than Hall. Marchand is your only other LW unless you count either Duchene or Domi...and you don't want to play Domi that high up in the lineup, at least I'd rather not see it. Despite the 4-5 games at the start of the season where the Hall-McDavid experiment didn't seem to gel, I hope they find it on Euro ice. Hall was exceptional last year with another generational, creative play-making center. We all know who that was.

But who knows...maybe Domi will shock and awe the audience like he did at the World Juniors.

Hall - McDavid - Gallagher
Marchand - Duchene - Perry


That could be a strong top 6. Realistically, lines 1 through 4 up front will be tough to compete against.

 

[Addison Rae]

Christopher Tanev was the best shot supressing dman in the entire NHL this year by a mile (relative to team) he's a slam dunk top pairing guy, Canada's D may not look great on paper but it's actually a very effect d-core which will hopefully be anchored by Tanev.

 

[JackSlater]

They do have room to add 1 more forward 2 Defensemen and 1 goalie. That would max out the roster at 25.

I doubt they would go that route though. 1 suspect they hope for 1 more defensemen and a 3rd goaltender.

I'm not thrilled with the Perry addition. I've never been a fan of his game, especially not in Europe and on that ice...but respect at least for answering the call. McDavid will have to do all the skating for him...He does at least bring some veteran experience.

The good news is that with Perry's addition, it will give me something to ***** about in GDTs, I always love to have something to ***** about...and as he is the only player on this addition of Team Canada that I truly dislike...there's my ammo.

With Perry, Marchand and Gallagher involved there is the potential for massive amounts of complaints from any given game.

 

[1Gold Standard]

With Perry, Marchand and Gallagher involved there is the potential for massive amounts of complaints from any given game.

One of things where the Coach will repeat the same verse game after game, "Discipline Discipline Discipline!!! Can't take penalties in an elimination game and expect to come out on top" And for 7 games we'll hear that mantra... and guess what happens in the 1/4 final? One of those 3 will take a misconduct penalty 5 + game and boom. tournament done.

My bet, other than taking the under on McDavid 20 pts. (but McDavid will still lead the tournament in scoring) 1 of those 3 will take the misconduct that will cost us the tournament. My money is on Perry. Damn I'm cynical.

 

[tade]

With Perry, Marchand and Gallagher involved there is the potential for massive amounts of complaints from any given game.

I can't wait for this! They will drive opponents crazy.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I can't wait for this! They will drive opponents crazy.

ya, well, I'd much rather see them drive opponents crazy in the same manner as last year, Goals Goals and more Goals. Leave the cheap **** for a 7 game NHL playoff series.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I can't wait for this! They will drive opponents crazy.

Perry. Marchand and Gallagher are gritty players but not any hitting machines.

And with the big ice and IHHF rules they will not play dirty.

 

[Rexor]

I can't wait for this! They will drive opponents crazy.

Nah, I for one prefer the composed, disciplined and ultra-skilled Canadians from last year or Sochi. It would be disappointing if they returned to their good old dirty ways.

 

[Malcolm]

With Perry, Marchand and Gallagher involved there is the potential for massive amounts of complaints from any given game.

Do you see the refs cracking down on their aggressive game? Will they be able to adjust to the international reffing?

 

[tade]

Perry. Marchand and Gallagher are gritty players but not any hitting machines.

And with the big ice and IHHF rules they will not play dirty.

And that's not what I've meant. They will chirp opponents, a little slash here and there, they will find a way to do it and not be penalized. That's what I mean. Would be great to see, especially in a game vs Russia, but maybe I am completely wrong.

Nah, I for one prefer the composed, disciplined and ultra-skilled Canadians from last year or Sochi. It would be disappointing if they returned to their good old dirty ways.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the same or comparable performance from Team Canada as last year. But I love combination of both... pure on-ice domination, with passion, grit, tenacity and I love when the game is being played on the edge... Not dirty plays.

 

[JackSlater]

My bet, other than taking the under on McDavid 20 pts. (but McDavid will still lead the tournament in scoring) 1 of those 3 will take the misconduct that will cost us the tournament. My money is on Perry. Damn I'm cynical.

McDavid is going to be hurt by the lack of running mates. He needs a Kurri style player (goal scorer who can cover defensive duties when necessary) but Canada's best defensive scorers are slow. It will also be common for Canada to get trapped in its own zone with that group of defencemen.

I agree that Perry is the most likely candidate... he's the most hot headed. Marchand always did a very good job at keeping his composure (while making the opposition lose theirs) as a junior internationally (U17s and WJC).

Perry. Marchand and Gallagher are gritty players but not any hitting machines.

And with the big ice and IHHF rules they will not play dirty.

Not about hitting. Those are the NHL's three premier pests, and all on the same team. They will instigate a lot of post whistle conflict at the very least.

Do you see the refs cracking down on their aggressive game? Will they be able to adjust to the international reffing?

I don't think that they will change much. Big hitters are the ones who are most penalized by IIHF reffing, generally wrongly of course, and these guys aren't huge hitters. They might crack down on the post whistle shenanigans though. Stick work is alive and well in IIHF tournaments, so there won't be an issue there.

 

[team canada fan]

Perry stayed out of the box in Sochi and Vancouver. He knows when to restrain himself and when to yap/poke and prod. He or O'Reilly are destined to be captain, and if it is Perry who is named captain, that will be further onus on him to stay out of the box. Marchand is the second most senior member of this team and will also be counted on for leadership, and to lead by example. Gallagher will be there to impress and not pull a 'Virtanen'. For sure the other teams, especially as they fall behind in games will try and goad these 3 guys. But I think the discipline that the Senior Canadian teams have shown historically will shine through. When's the last time you saw a Senior Men's Team Canada entry bog down and fail with undisciplined play?

 

[86Habs]

Perry stayed out of the box in Sochi and Vancouver. He knows when to restrain himself and when to yap/poke and prod. He or O'Reilly are destined to be captain, and if it is Perry who is named captain, that will be further onus on him to stay out of the box. Marchand is the second most senior member of this team and will also be counted on for leadership, and to lead by example. Gallagher will be there to impress and not pull a 'Virtanen'. For sure the other teams, especially as they fall behind in games will try and goad these 3 guys. But I think the discipline that the Senior Canadian teams have shown historically will shine through. When's the last time you saw a Senior Men's Team Canada entry bog down and fail with undisciplined play?

See: Getzlaf, Ryan. 2012 quarter-final game vs. Slovakia. Took a late 5-minute major (boarding, or maybe charging...I forget) and a game misconduct, and Slovakia scored the winner immediately after on the PP.