World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Canada

[Gigantor The Goalie]

(2018) I'll make a bold prediction, in 4 years Mackinnon might be superior to Crosby(depending how much more physical toll he will endure in 4 years). There, I have said it. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean much for the team overall composition. We have made the mistake of going with experience before on international stages, while these tournaments are all about who is hot and who is not. Crosby was already not the best player on the ice in 2014(Toews), I suspect that Tavares and Mackinnon might surpass him in their prime.

Drouin - Mackinnon - Stamkos
Hall - Crosby - Tavares
Couture/Duchene - Toews - Carter
Benn - Bergeron - Perry
Huberdeau - Seguin

Notice the Drouin - Stamkos duo...yeah.

Huberdeau, Drouin, RNH, even McDavid might be new contenders, Huberdeau will be 25, Drouin 23, McDavid if he plays in the same kind of fashion as Crosby when he started at 18. That being said, he's really on the outside since there is more talent nowadays vs. when Crosby arrived.

On D, I don't believe in Keith in 4 years, but he will be there in case of injuries

Vlasic- Doughty
Subban - Pietrangelo
Rielly - Weber
Keith - Hamilton

Hopefully Ryan Murray and G. Reinhart are good enough to be talked about. (I could see Murray making Pietrangelo expandable if the Murray - Subban pair becomes a reality) Ekblad will have to wait for his turn at RD. Staal is a possibility if we need a shutdown. (Doubt it, all of these guys are good two-way players)

Subban is the one right shooter than could play on the left imo. He will bring too much to the table to ignore him at that point.

I disagree with a bit. I don't think Toews was the best player for Team Canada. That goes to either Weber or Doughty in my opinion. With MacKinnon's ability to play RW why not have Crosby and MacKinnon on the same line? The Cole Harbour duo would reek havoc on the opposition.

On defence there's no way Weber is on the 3rd pairing. 4 years into the future he'll be just as good as he is now. He's a monster of a defender that won't be usurped by Subban or Vlasic or AP or anyone yet.

 

[xxxx]

I like both ideas - having MacKinnon with Drouin and Stamkos (morel likely in 2018 or 2020 than in 2016) and having MacKinnon with Crosby (that can happen in 2016)

Benn - Crosby - MacKinnon as the first line


Then what about a line Tavares - Giroux - Stamkos, sounds crazy.

 

[JackSlater]

I like both ideas - having MacKinnon with Drouin and Stamkos (morel likely in 2018 or 2020 than in 2016) and having MacKinnon with Crosby (that can happen in 2016)

Benn - Crosby - MacKinnon as the first line


Then what about a line Tavares - Giroux - Stamkos, sounds crazy.

One positive for MacKinnon is that he will probably spend some time each summer with Crosby (and Duchene) and could develop some decent familiarity. MacKinnon would be one of a few guys (probably along with Bergeron and Stamkos) looking to play on Crosby's right wing.

 

[Get North]

I think some people are stepping over the defensive game our team needs. Sure we have the most firepower but we won the Olympics because of our solid defence, we need the same. Not only do the defencemen need to that but we need the offence to all be reliable players, I'm not sure if I trust players like Hall, Drouin, Seguin. I believe Seguin is good defensively but I haven't seen him game in and game out unfortunately. Guys like Sharp, Bergeron, Toews need to be on the team. Yzerman said we aren't making an all-star team, we also aren't out there to be offensively flashy. I believe in defence more than offence of course that doesn't mean we should have players that are pure defence but let's make sure that we got some very good defensive specialists.

I kind of got the guess at the 2016 roster just gotta fill in the holes:

- Crosby - Stamkos
- Toews - Giroux
- Getzlaf - Perry
- Bergeron -

Fillers: Tavares, MacKinnon, Benn, Seguin, Duchene, Johansen?

Or in a simpler way: Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, Giroux, Getzlaf, Perry, Bergeron, Tavares, MacKinnon, Benn, Seguin, Duchene, Johansen, Couture. I could add a guy like Carter instead of Johansen.

Keith - Weber
- Doughty
- Pietrangelo
- Subban

Fillers: Vlasic, Giordano, Hamhuis, Murray, Rielly.

Cut 2 defenceman from that list. I think we'll get atleast 2 veteran defencemen in the tournament.

 

[xxxx]

I think some people are stepping over the defensive game our team needs. Sure we have the most firepower but we won the Olympics because of our solid defence, we need the same. Not only do the defencemen need to that but we need the offence to all be reliable players, I'm not sure if I trust players like Hall, Drouin, Seguin. I believe Seguin is good defensively but I haven't seen him game in and game out unfortunately. Guys like Sharp, Bergeron, Toews need to be on the team. Yzerman said we aren't making an all-star team, we also aren't out there to be offensively flashy. I believe in defence more than offence of course that doesn't mean we should have players that are pure defence but let's make sure that we got some very good defensive specialists.

I kind of got the guess at the 2016 roster just gotta fill in the holes:

- Crosby - Stamkos
- Toews - Giroux
- Getzlaf - Perry
- Bergeron -

Fillers: Tavares, MacKinnon, Benn, Seguin, Duchene, Johansen?

Or in a simpler way: Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, Giroux, Getzlaf, Perry, Bergeron, Tavares, MacKinnon, Benn, Seguin, Duchene, Johansen, Couture. I could add a guy like Carter instead of Johansen.

Keith - Weber
- Doughty
- Pietrangelo
- Subban

Fillers: Vlasic, Giordano, Hamhuis, Murray, Rielly.

Cut 2 defenceman from that list. I think we'll get atleast 2 veteran defencemen in the tournament.

I think we need 3-4 defensive guys, it is enough imo on NHL ice, and with Toews and Getzlaf already on the team. A lot of things can change in two years, but now, I would assume that Carter or Sharp could be there again in 2016. Ther might be a "surprise" in Couture or O'Reilly, if they are playing well. I'd also give a 70% chance to Jamie Benn - which is a lot - as he played very well all-around hockey in Sochi.

There still can be a discussion about Milan Lucic, but even I think (and I'm a fan of physical play, especially on NHL ice, so I wouldn't mind watching him on a red-white jersey) that the competition on the left side will be quite strong, so Lucic would have to score 40 goals to possibly make the roster IMO.

A lot of people assume that Marleau, Nash, and Sharp won't be there again in 2016, but I think that one of them can possibly crack the roster. I expect Rick Nash to be better the next season, as he's still sure capable of scoring 40 goals per season.

I'm wondering what Couture's play will look like in 2015-16 season, as he was not that far from making the last olympic roster. Eric Staal is a wild-card now. I believe the next season tells us more.

 

[JackSlater]

I think we need 3-4 defensive guys, it is enough imo on NHL ice, and with Toews and Getzlaf already on the team. A lot of things can change in two years, but now, I would assume that Carter or Sharp could be there again in 2016. Ther might be a "surprise" in Couture or O'Reilly, if they are playing well. I'd also give a 70% chance to Jamie Benn - which is a lot - as he played very well all-around hockey in Sochi.

There still can be a discussion about Milan Lucic, but even I think (and I'm a fan of physical play, especially on NHL ice, so I wouldn't mind watching him on a red-white jersey) that the competition on the left side will be quite strong, so Lucic would have to score 40 goals to possibly make the roster IMO.

A lot of people assume that Marleau, Nash, and Sharp won't be there again in 2016, but I think that one of them can possibly crack the roster. I expect Rick Nash to be better the next season, as he's still sure capable of scoring 40 goals per season.

I'm wondering what Couture's play will look like in 2015-16 season, as he was not that far from making the last olympic roster. Eric Staal is a wild-card now. I believe the next season tells us more.

I would fully expect Couture to make any future editions of Canada over Sharp. At the Olympics Sharp plainly did not look good even in a limited role, and he is approaching his mid 30s. At this point Couture is also the better defensive forward, if not offensively. I suspect that Couture has a great shot at being one of Canada's LWers with some defensive responsibility.

If we look to 2018, I suspect that players like Toews (obviously) Carter, Bergeron, O'Reilly, Couture are the ones who will get looks in "defensive" roles for Canada at forward. Outside shot for Couturier depending on his development. Maybe Schwartz as well.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I think we need 3-4 defensive guys, it is enough imo on NHL ice, and with Toews and Getzlaf already on the team. A lot of things can change in two years, but now, I would assume that Carter or Sharp could be there again in 2016. Ther might be a "surprise" in Couture or O'Reilly, if they are playing well. I'd also give a 70% chance to Jamie Benn - which is a lot - as he played very well all-around hockey in Sochi.

There still can be a discussion about Milan Lucic, but even I think (and I'm a fan of physical play, especially on NHL ice, so I wouldn't mind watching him on a red-white jersey) that the competition on the left side will be quite strong, so Lucic would have to score 40 goals to possibly make the roster IMO.

A lot of people assume that Marleau, Nash, and Sharp won't be there again in 2016, but I think that one of them can possibly crack the roster. I expect Rick Nash to be better the next season, as he's still sure capable of scoring 40 goals per season.

I'm wondering what Couture's play will look like in 2015-16 season, as he was not that far from making the last olympic roster. Eric Staal is a wild-card now. I believe the next season tells us more.

It would be a massive shock if he made it considering he wasn't good enough for Sochi. I think his days at major int'l competitions are over.

 

[drewstar]

This upcoming generation of players could be the best ever if they all pan out. Regarding our forwards...

Just look at who could easily have been on the 2014 roster (of which 4 could have been centers) already:

Steven Stamkos (injury)
Claude Giroux (just missed the cut)
Tyler Seguin
Taylor Hall
Nathan MacKinnon

Up and coming:

Connor McDavid

Core players where age shouldn't be a question within the next 4 years:

Sidney Crosby
John Tavares
Jonathan Toews
Ryan Getzlaf
Corey Perry
Patrice Bergeron
Jamie Benn
Jeff Carter
Matt Duchene

And potental defensive fowards that just missed the 2014 roster:

Logan Couture
Ryan O'Reilly

Possible forward lines in the 2016 world cup of hockey:

Stamkos-Crosby-Bergeron
Couture-Tavares-MacKinnon
Hall-Toews-Seguin
Benn-Getzlaf-Perry
Extras: Giroux, Carter, Duchene.

I tried to find a balance between playmaking, sniping, speed, and defense with these line combinations.

6 new faces... Stamkos, Giroux, MacKinnon, Seguin, Hall, Couture.

Defense:

Keith-Weber
Pietrangelo-Doughty
Vlasic-Subban

 

[Get North]

I think we need 3-4 defensive guys, it is enough imo on NHL ice, and with Toews and Getzlaf already on the team. A lot of things can change in two years, but now, I would assume that Carter or Sharp could be there again in 2016. Ther might be a "surprise" in Couture or O'Reilly, if they are playing well. I'd also give a 70% chance to Jamie Benn - which is a lot - as he played very well all-around hockey in Sochi.

There still can be a discussion about Milan Lucic, but even I think (and I'm a fan of physical play, especially on NHL ice, so I wouldn't mind watching him on a red-white jersey) that the competition on the left side will be quite strong, so Lucic would have to score 40 goals to possibly make the roster IMO.

A lot of people assume that Marleau, Nash, and Sharp won't be there again in 2016, but I think that one of them can possibly crack the roster. I expect Rick Nash to be better the next season, as he's still sure capable of scoring 40 goals per season.

I'm wondering what Couture's play will look like in 2015-16 season, as he was not that far from making the last olympic roster. Eric Staal is a wild-card now. I believe the next season tells us more.

Our team was fairly young in Sochi so I think we should expect alot of the same faces with additions from Stamkos, Seguin, Giroux, MacKinnon. Those are some locks who should make the team, they're offensive players so taking out Nash, Kunitz, Sharp, Marleau is a very big improvement, we aren't getting enough defensive forwards back into our roster assuming the above happens. Therefore I think we should replace St.Louis, Carter for Couture, O'Reilly?/Johansen?/Schwartz? Any of these players.

Trying to dissect the roster and replacing the older players who will start to decline with younger players. Emphasis on keeping a solid defensive forward group while replacing the offence with a better group. Assuming all that happens the roster should have a forward group of: Benn, Bergeron, Couture, Crosby, Duchene, Getzlaf, Giroux, MacKinnon, Perry, Seguin, Stamkos, Tavares, Toews and then one of O'Reilly/Johansen/Schwartz.

Is this agreeable? Am I missing something?

And boy are we ever trying to dissect this roster to death although alot of things can happen.

 

[dan1el]

Hall-Crosby(C)-Bergeron
Benn-Stamkos-Seguin
Giroux-Getzlaf-Perry
Tavares-Toews(A)-Duchene
Couture-Mack

Tried to balance four lines. Probably the four best in the tournament.

Keith-Weber
Vlasic-Doughty
Murray-Pietrangelo
Subban
Someone will have to step it up for the last LD spot, maybe Reilly?

Price
Lu
Crawford

 

[drewstar]

Our team was fairly young in Sochi so I think we should expect alot of the same faces with additions from Stamkos, Seguin, Giroux, MacKinnon. Those are some locks who should make the team, they're offensive players so taking out Nash, Kunitz, Sharp, Marleau is a very big improvement, we aren't getting enough defensive forwards back into our roster assuming the above happens. Therefore I think we should replace St.Louis, Carter for Couture, O'Reilly?/Johansen?/Schwartz? Any of these players.

Trying to dissect the roster and replacing the older players who will start to decline with younger players. Emphasis on keeping a solid defensive forward group while replacing the offence with a better group. Assuming all that happens the roster should have a forward group of: Benn, Bergeron, Couture, Crosby, Duchene, Getzlaf, Giroux, MacKinnon, Perry, Seguin, Stamkos, Tavares, Toews and then one of O'Reilly/Johansen/Schwartz.

Is this agreeable? Am I missing something?

And boy are we ever trying to dissect this roster to death although alot of things can happen.

I think at least 5 of these 6 forwards will make it that didn't make the 2014 OLY team. Assuming it's a 14-forward roster like the OLY.

Stamkos
Giroux
Seguin
MacKinnon
Couture
Hall (seems like he's the one guy you left off but I think he's likely to make it)

Carry overs:

Crosby
Tavares
Toews
Getzlaf
Perry
Bergeron
Benn
Carter/Duchene.

EDIT: McDavid is a wild card because he will have just finished his rookie year and likely won't make it given the depth of forwards available...that is unless he has a Crosby or Ovehckin-like rookie season that is super impressive...

 

[Get North]

I think at least 5 of these 6 forwards will make it that didn't make the 2014 OLY team. Assuming it's a 14-forward roster like the OLY.

Stamkos
Giroux
Seguin
MacKinnon
Couture
Hall (seems like he's the one guy you left off but I think he's likely to make it)

Carry overs:

Crosby
Tavares
Toews
Getzlaf
Perry
Bergeron
Benn
Carter/Duchene.

EDIT: McDavid is a wild card because he will have just finished his rookie year and likely won't make it given the depth of forwards available...that is unless he has a Crosby or Ovehckin-like rookie season that is super impressive...

Yeah, I don't think we can disagree with that roster unless someone has some big seasons than those players.

 

[JackSlater]

EDIT: McDavid is a wild card because he will have just finished his rookie year and likely won't make it given the depth of forwards available...that is unless he has a Crosby or Ovehckin-like rookie season that is super impressive...

McDavid will have only played one NHL season going into a potential 2016 World Cup. With the state of Canada's forwards right now, he probably has next to no chance. The depth is very high right now, and should be for the next several years.

For the 2018 Olympics, I would say that McDavid is still going to be hard pressed. He isn't going to be like Crosby and win the Art Ross as a teenager, and he isn't going to be a very solid defensive player at a young age like Toews in 2010. It will be difficult for him to make the roster at centre (Crosby, Toews, Tavares, Getzlaf, Duchene, Giroux, Seguin and so on) and we don't know if he will get any wing experience. Even at wing he would probably be put on the left, which is the far stronger side for Canada. I'm doubtful that we will see McDavid play in a best on best tournament this decade.

 

[francis246]

For 2016 this is what I think the lines will be:

Hall - Crosby - MacKinnon
Tavares - Giroux - Stamkos
Bergeron - Toews - Seguin
Benn - Getzlaf - Perry (Arguably the best line at the 2014 Olympics)
Couture

Keith - Weber
Pietrangelo - Doughty
Giordano - Subban
Rielly/Murray

 

[Get North]

I think Benn has better chemistry with Seguin than Getzlaf and Perry. We got two definitive duos (Getzlaf/Perry and Benn/Seguin IMO).

 

[drewstar]

McDavid will have only played one NHL season going into a potential 2016 World Cup. With the state of Canada's forwards right now, he probably has next to no chance. The depth is very high right now, and should be for the next several years.

For the 2018 Olympics, I would say that McDavid is still going to be hard pressed. He isn't going to be like Crosby and win the Art Ross as a teenager, and he isn't going to be a very solid defensive player at a young age like Toews in 2010. It will be difficult for him to make the roster at centre (Crosby, Toews, Tavares, Getzlaf, Duchene, Giroux, Seguin and so on) and we don't know if he will get any wing experience. Even at wing he would probably be put on the left, which is the far stronger side for Canada. I'm doubtful that we will see McDavid play in a best on best tournament this decade.

I agree.

What makes it scary good is how young our core players are. Looking at center alone, we have the 4 carry overs (Crosby, Tavares, Toews, Getzlaf). Then 1 carry over (Bergeron) and potentially 4 more excellent players who didn't even make the 2014 team due to either injury (Stamkos) or simply couldn't get in because they were generally unproven or was simply got beat out for a spot (Giroux, Seguin, MacKinnon).

9 players who are natural centers, and 10 if you include Couture.

Just incredible depth, all of whom are elite players at what they do.

 

[JackSlater]

I agree.

What makes it scary good is how young our core players are. Looking at center alone, we have the 4 carry overs (Crosby, Tavares, Toews, Getzlaf). Then 1 carry over (Bergeron) and potentially 4 more excellent players who didn't even make the 2014 team due to either injury (Stamkos) or simply couldn't get in because they were generally unproven or was simply got beat out for a spot (Giroux, Seguin, MacKinnon).

9 players who are natural centers, and 10 if you include Couture.

Just incredible depth, all of whom are elite players at what they do.

Duchene as well. This is probably the deepest that Canada has ever been in terms of centres (not the top end talent of the 80s, but better depth) which is mostly a good thing.

An important element over the next four years will be which centres can successfully transition to the wing. We can likely consider Crosby, Toews and Tavares as centre locks going forward. Getzlaf seems like a centre or bust player to me, though in his younger days he played a bit of wing for Canada at the WJC and Dreger claimed that HC was considering using him at LW during the Olympics. Bergeron proved in 2014 that he can flourish on the wing. Stamkos has shown at multiple WCs that he can be successful on the wing. Duchene looked fine on the wing in 2014, and HC clearly thinks he could slide into a LW spot. Couture plays some LW, and seems like an ideal fit in that spot given that his game is more based around smarts than anything else. I see him as a future defensive presence/board worker on Canada.

Giroux, Seguin and MacKinnon all have some RW experience at this point, which is helpful, particularly since that is Canada's weaker side. This is pure speculation on my part, but I think Giroux might be the most difficult fit at wing since he is biased toward playmaking more than Seguin and MacKinnon, which is traditionally the domain of centres. All in all it isn't a terrible problem to have.

 

[avesfan]

2018
Bergeron-Crosby-Stamkos
Duchene-Tavares-Giroux
Couture-Toews-Benn
Hall-Getzlaf-Perry
(Seguin)

Pietrangelo-Weber
Doughty-Vlasic
Keith-Subban
(Reilly)

Price
Smith
Luongo

2022
Drouin-Crosby-Stamkos
Duchene-Tavares-Mackinnon
Couture-Toews-Benn
Hall-Seguin-McDavid
(Johansen,Eberle)

Pietrangelo-Doughty
Subban-Ekblad
Reilly- D. Hamilton
(Keith)

Price
M.Subban
Bernier

2018- I left this very untouched, because why take apart something that works. The biggest changes were made at forward, with five new faces. I really think Duchenes going to play a huge role on that team, and unlike most posts that have him on the 4th line or 13th forward again, I have him on the second line. The top two lines look like they can score at will, the third line would be able to shutdown just about anybody and the fourth adds size and skill to compliment any situation. For defense, out is Bouwmy and Hamhuis. Smith will backup Price, and Bobby Lu will be there but wont see any game action at all. Like I said before, no big changes.

2022- This was way too hard to choose from. I think 2022 will be the official "changing of the guard". The roster is just a really rough estimate. Players like RNH, Huberdeau, Darnell Nurse, Sam Bennett, either of the Reinharts and the other 100 potential superstars by then could have easily been thrown in there in place of anybody else. In 8 years, several players, potentially some who've we've never heard of will establish themselves as elite, so until then, its all guess work.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

2022- This was way too hard to choose from. I think 2022 will be the official "changing of the guard"...[/B]

2022 is so far away, my friend. Like you hinted at, at this point, it is like throwing darts.

Do we even know where it would be played?

 

[avesfan]

2022 is so far away, my friend. Like you hinted at, at this point, it is like throwing darts.

Do we even know where it would be played?

The IOC has the candidates narrowed down to Olso, Norway; Almaty, Kazakhstan and Beijing, China. You're right though, anything can happen, it was just a fun way to kill time at work ahaha

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

You're right though, anything can happen, it was just a fun way to kill time at work ahaha

Fair enough.

The IOC has the candidates narrowed down to Olso, Norway; Almaty, Kazakhstan and Beijing, China.

Sadly, no North American locations.

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

Fair enough.



Sadly, no North American locations.

No, but rumor has it that Calgary may bid for the 2030 Olympics.. Some speculate that Ken King changed his position in the Flames organization because

A) He knows nothing about hockey
B) To work on the new arena
C) To help make an Olympic bid for Caglary

 

[avesfan]

No, but rumor has it that Calgary may bid for the 2030 Olympics.. Some speculate that Ken King changed his position in the Flames organization because

A) He knows nothing about hockey
B) To work on the new arena
C) To help make an Olympic bid for Caglary

I heard Quebec City was considering a bid for 2026 aswell

 

[JackSlater]

2018
Bergeron-Crosby-Stamkos
Duchene-Tavares-Giroux
Couture-Toews-Benn
Hall-Getzlaf-Perry
(Seguin)

Pietrangelo-Weber
Doughty-Vlasic
Keith-Subban
(Reilly)

Price
Smith
Luongo

2022
Drouin-Crosby-Stamkos
Duchene-Tavares-Mackinnon
Couture-Toews-Benn
Hall-Seguin-McDavid
(Johansen,Eberle)

Pietrangelo-Doughty
Subban-Ekblad
Reilly- D. Hamilton
(Keith)

Price
M.Subban
Bernier

2018- I left this very untouched, because why take apart something that works. The biggest changes were made at forward, with five new faces. I really think Duchenes going to play a huge role on that team, and unlike most posts that have him on the 4th line or 13th forward again, I have him on the second line. The top two lines look like they can score at will, the third line would be able to shutdown just about anybody and the fourth adds size and skill to compliment any situation. For defense, out is Bouwmy and Hamhuis. Smith will backup Price, and Bobby Lu will be there but wont see any game action at all. Like I said before, no big changes.

2022- This was way too hard to choose from. I think 2022 will be the official "changing of the guard". The roster is just a really rough estimate. Players like RNH, Huberdeau, Darnell Nurse, Sam Bennett, either of the Reinharts and the other 100 potential superstars by then could have easily been thrown in there in place of anybody else. In 8 years, several players, potentially some who've we've never heard of will establish themselves as elite, so until then, its all guess work.

2018 team isn't bad, but as you say 2022 is too difficult to estimate. The youngest player on that 2022 team would be a 25 year old McDavid, with the rest in their late 20s or 30s. It's difficult to think of it now, but almost all of those players will be replaced by the younger generation.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Just cause where Canadian

Hall - Crosby - Tavares
Mackkinon - Nugent-Hopkins - Stamkos
Duchene - Seguin - Drouin
Couture - McDavid - Eberle
Reinhart Toews

Subban - Pietrangelo
Keith - Doughty
Ekblad - Weber
Schultz Nurse

Price
Bernier
Subban

Towes as the 14th forward ? what?