WJC: 2017 Canada Roster Talk - Part 1

[MXD]

I would give a long, hard look at Dominic Ducharme.

 

[86Habs]

I would give a long, hard look at Dominic Ducharme.

Sure. He's had tremendous success with Halifax. Though it would be good to know what exact role he played in our disastrous 2016 effort, particularly with respect to our special teams play. Special teams are typically an area that the assistance coaches focus in on, and both our PP and PK were pretty bad over the course of the tournament.

 

[jj cale]

Whatever the roster ends up like I would just like to see some world class goaltending on a Canadian junior team again, it's been so long now.

Goaltending used to be Canadas bread and butter, it's ace card. Now? you go into each game just cringing when a puck comes at whatever goalie we have out there every year.

Sad, it's cost us so many games.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Sure. He's had tremendous success with Halifax. Though it would be good to know what exact role he played in our disastrous 2016 effort, particularly with respect to our special teams play. Special teams are typically an area that the assistance coaches focus in on, and both our PP and PK were pretty bad over the course of the tournament.

Benoit Groulx was an assistant on the poor 2014 team and did a great job with the team last year. Though what you said is true and I haven't always been a fan of Ducharme's PP scheme in Halifax I'm not sure what he was on this year but I do think he would be a strong choice for coaching next years team and a very likely choice.

 

[xIsle]

Sure. He's had tremendous success with Halifax. Though it would be good to know what exact role he played in our disastrous 2016 effort, particularly with respect to our special teams play. Special teams are typically an area that the assistance coaches focus in on, and both our PP and PK were pretty bad over the course of the tournament.

Ducharme was in charge of the PP. That's what he said on radio last evening in Montreal. So was it his decision to alternate Sanheim and Dermott for the first PP unit? And to go with either Perlini or Chartier on the 2nd PP instead of Beauvillier or Konecny? I must say I'm not quite impress with those decisions.

So it was probably Kelly McCrimmon who was in charge of the PK.

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Ducharme was in charge of the PP. That's what he said on radio last evening in Montreal. So was it his decision to alternate Sanheim and Dermott for the first PP unit? And to go with either Perlini or Chartier on the 2nd PP instead of Beauvillier or Konecny? I must say I'm not quite impress with those decisions.

So it was probably Kelly McCrimmon who was in charge of the PK.

I dont want any of the 2016 Coaches or assistants on next years team...this should be a punishment...too bad

looking at next years players option, looks like we will at least have some size to go along with some talent

Center looks like many will be over 6 feet tall?? the wingers look big also...

Im not sure about the defense, if they will be big or not...talent will be there

Chabot, lauzon Juulsun, Jacob chychrun

I even think they will extend an invite to sean day for the summer evaluation camp, to see how he is progressing...we will see if sean day gets invited to the U18 (if his team gets knocked out)

 

[wishywashy19]

Whatever the roster ends up like I would just like to see some world class goaltending on a Canadian junior team again, it's been so long now.

Goaltending used to be Canadas bread and butter, it's ace card. Now? you go into each game just cringing when a puck comes at whatever goalie we have out there every year.

Sad, it's cost us so many games.

I can't let this post pass by
Count me to the petition
I'm really wondering what we are doing at the national level to improve this position

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Will Hockey Canada finally go back to allowing goaltenders to compete for a spot?
I think it is better to go with the hot hand as opposed to who Hockey Canada favors.

Agree with this. I don't know why they decided to go with just selecting 2 guys and not having any competition in camp. It worked better in the past when they'd invite 4 guys and have them duke it out so the best two make it.

Hockey Canada does some puzzling things, but none more puzzling than their recent decisions to just name 2 goalies right off the bat.

 

[jj cale]

I can't let this post pass by
Count me to the petition
I'm really wondering what we are doing at the national level to improve this position

I've been wondering the same thing for years, sadly it does not seem like the powers that be are.

Goaltending is just so bad most every year for ages now, I just cannot see how they let it go on. It's way past awful. When we win now it is in spite of our goaltending rather then being an important element of it.

If there is any consolation it is that we are still the only country that can manage to do that, no one else can.

Thank God we sometimes have such strong teams that even with crappy or at best sub par goaltending we can still take gold, but how long will that last with other countries improving?

It's a scary thought, our goaltending is abominable at the junior level, it breaks my heart.

 

[JackSlater]

Agree with this. I don't know why they decided to go with just selecting 2 guys and not having any competition in camp. It worked better in the past when they'd invite 4 guys and have them duke it out so the best two make it.

Hockey Canada does some puzzling things, but none more puzzling than their recent decisions to just name 2 goalies right off the bat.

I think they started it in 2014, and the reason given was basically that there is so much pressure on Canadian goaltenders that it's better to just name two and relieve them of some of the pressure. Of course that seems to be simply avoiding the problem rather than trying to solve the problem. Make the level of goaltenders in Canada higher, and don't develop such mentally fragile players.

 

[jj cale]

I think they started it in 2014, and the reason given was basically that there is so much pressure on Canadian goaltenders that it's better to just name two and relieve them of some of the pressure. Of course that seems to be simply avoiding the problem rather than trying to solve the problem. Make the level of goaltenders in Canada higher, and don't develop such mentally fragile players.

Yeah, the goalies just seem to collapse mentally at the first whiff of offensive pressure.

You can almost smell it through the t.v screen.

Huge problem.

 

[canswetoxic]

No worries Canada! Home crowd and home advantage+ref, Gold will be your comes next year.

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

No worries Canada! Home crowd and home advantage+ref, Gold will be your comes next year.

Refs will be IIHF refs so definitely not an advantage

 

[JayKing]

Hart and Montembeault early favorites for the goalie spots?

 

[JayKing]

Guy Boucher. Won the Gold in 2009 as an assistant-coach. Won a Gold at the U-18.
Won two Gold medals at the Spengler Cup. He's well known by Hockey Canada and he has had success on the International Stage. Should be the obvious choice IMO, if he's not in the NHL of course.

Would be shocked if Boucher doesn't have an NHL job next year

 

[canswetoxic]

Refs will be IIHF refs so definitely not an advantage

Can they please at least get NHL ref instead ?

 

[jj cale]

Can they please at least get NHL ref instead ?

Can we get Peter Forsberg to o.k that?

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Hart and Montembeault early favorites for the goalie spots?

i think Montembeault is too old for next year??

What Hockey Canada used to do was to bring a 19 year old goalie AND an 18 year old...this way preparing the 18 year old for the following year

I think like they did with Fucale

They brought Fucale as an 18 year old and as an 19 year old last year

I wish they can go back to this system

 

[jj cale]

I don't care if they bring 2 or 1200 to camp next year, I just want ONE that can make saves and doesn't melt down at the first sight of pressure.

Is that too much to ask?

 

[xxxx]

Keegan Kolesar, a RW from the Seattle Thunderbirds, is something to consider imo. I think he will be at least in the mix.

 

[redbull]

Beauvillier - Stephens - Marner
Jost - Barzal - Gauthier
Dubois - McLeod - Konecny
Harkins - Brown - Bitten
Patrick

Chabot - Chychrun
Clague - Spencer
Fabbro - Roy
Bear

Hart
Cormier
Sawchenko

I imagine Marner will be in NHL but loaned to Team Canada. No Strome or Crouse. Chychrun might stay in the NHL but I'm hoping he doesn't for the sake of this team. If he does a guy like Jake Bean from Calgary or Girard from the Q could be slotted in.

Also completely agree with Mr Writer above. Canada needs to find a coach and hire them as the head coach of the national junior team. Not picking different guys every year, installing new systems, etc... I think we could benefit from it.

I don't think Marner will be in the NHL next year...I also don't think he should be in junior. He should play a year in Europe, like Matthews did this year. Not sure if that's allowed in the CHL-NHL agreement and/or CBA to have a CHL player play in Europe but Marner may fall into that rare-but-overused "too good for junior" category.

I still think he will need to add a lot of strength and learn to play without the puck and playing against men in the SEL (for example) would be far better for his development. Back on thread though, does anyone know whether A CHL player who's under 20 a) would be allowed to play in Europe and b) would then be allowed to play in the WJC. I think it's a "yes" to both, but not 100% and can't think of any recent examples.

 

[Dahlman1221]

I don't think Marner will be in the NHL next year...I also don't think he should be in junior. He should play a year in Europe, like Matthews did this year. Not sure if that's allowed in the CHL-NHL agreement and/or CBA to have a CHL player play in Europe but Marner may fall into that rare-but-overused "too good for junior" category.

I still think he will need to add a lot of strength and learn to play without the puck and playing against men in the SEL (for example) would be far better for his development. Back on thread though, does anyone know whether A CHL player who's under 20 a) would be allowed to play in Europe and b) would then be allowed to play in the WJC. I think it's a "yes" to both, but not 100% and can't think of any recent examples.

Don't think he can play in europe. Think I read it somewhere

 

[1Gold Standard]

This whole "too good for the CHL" argument is just a pile of nonsense anyway. 2.32 PPG and 4th in OHL scoring doesn't scream to me like he's too good for the OHL. If he hits a 3.5 PPG for the remainder of the season, then that argument can be made.

If he's not yet physically up to the NHL game, then London is the best place for him.

Although one change in the NHL-CHL agreement I think would be a good idea *suggested by others, is more flexibility in NHL CHL player recall for 19 year old players. i.e. a 18 year old drafted player once returned to junior has a limited recall to the NHL team. a 19 year old player has a much more open recall to his NHL team. set a number at 10 recalls per season.

Could be a fair compromise imo.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I'm not going to speculate about who sticks in the NHL next year. I'd rather deal with that in October at the close of NHL camps to get a clearer picture of who will be and who won't be available.

1. Still can't find a solution to the Strome Marner "chemistry" dilemma. but the 2nd line would be my go to line anyway I'd rather not mess with that. Marner and Strome with the coaches are going to have to find a way to make it work.
2. I want to see more from Benson for the remainder of this year and next, otherwise I may prefer Jost.
3. if Crouse is indeed back for a 3rd. tournament, that 3rd line is big, fast and skilled.
4. Get an accomplished coach and be better prepared. being at home, motivation won't be the problem.

P-L DUBOIS D STROME M MARNER
A BEAUVILLIER M BARZAL T KONECNY
L CROUSE M MCLEOD N PATRICK/ J GAUTHIER
T BENSON/T JOST N ROY N MERKLEY

W BITTEN M STEPHENS

T CHABOT N JUULSEN
J CHYCHRUN J ROY
J LAUZON N MELOCHE
D FABBRO


C HART
Z SAWCHENKO

 

[redbull]

This whole "too good for the CHL" argument is just a pile of nonsense anyway. 2.32 PPG and 4th in OHL scoring doesn't scream to me like he's too good for the OHL. If he hits a 3.5 PPG for the remainder of the season, then that argument can be made.

If he's not yet physically up to the NHL game, then London is the best place for him.

Although one change in the NHL-CHL agreement I think would be a good idea *suggested by others, is more flexibility in NHL CHL player recall for 19 year old players. i.e. a 18 year old drafted player once returned to junior has a limited recall to the NHL team. a 19 year old player has a much more open recall to his NHL team. set a number at 10 recalls per season.

Could be a fair compromise imo.

generally I'd agree with you. But in Marner's case, the things he needs to improve on are things the OHL cannot help him improve on. Like getting stronger (which will happen with time and the gym) but it's being able to play against stronger competition, physically stronger, will be a huge adjustment for him.

Bob McKenzie had a great little rant about Marner (not in a negative way) and said (paraphrasing):
Marner's so skilled vs. junior competition that he makes a lot of high risk plays, cheats offensively, takes long shifts (Hunter coaches him this way because it's good for Marner's development and his team). Having another year where there will be even less bigger/stronger/older players to play against won't help him in any way.

I like the recalls idea, if it happens.