WJC: 2017 Canada Roster Talk - Part 2

[86Habs]

I could certainly get behind a lineup like that. Pretty much the same group i'd take, arranged a little differently.

I'm not really high on taking Senyshyn, i'd take Joseph instead. But i do like the idea of Senyshyn and McLeod's speed working together there. That could definitely work.

Not sure i'd want both of Barzal and Steel on the same line. Two of the best playmakers on the team, and neither of them are really huge volume shooters to take advantage. But sometimes that weirdly works.

I think that's a solid group to take though, and a pretty good starting point to putting lines together to at least try out. Ultimately that's what it'll come down to...who finds chemistry quickly. But those make a lot of sense on paper.

Yeah, in theory I'm definitely attracted to the speed, pace and aggressiveness with which I think McLeod and Senyshyn would be able to play. They would certainly give the opposition a much different look than the more methodical Strome and Roy lines. Senyshyn seems to finally be recovering from a tough off-season and some secondary goal-scoring ability would of course be useful. I'm not familiar enough with Joseph in all honesty to give him the benefit of the doubt over Senyshyn, but I have an open mind and will be watching the camp with interest.

In terms of Steel & Barzal, I kind of alluded to it in my earlier post so I agree that having two pass-oriented playmakers on the same line isn't typically ideal but: 1) Gauthier is a good triggerman/power forward at this level which, while he's not a volume shooter like we'd normally like to see, still compliments the other two smaller playmakers nicely; 2) I see Barzal as an overall offensive threat that could bias towards shooting if/when necessary; and 3) I really couldn't find anywhere else in the lineup to slot in Steel.

 

[jj cale]

I know little about this Girard but quite a few have him pencilled in on our team.

Does anyone have a good handle on what kind of game he has that could help this years team? I see he is very tiny for a d-man and 5'9 D-men don't exactly inspire confidence in me at first thought.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I know little about this Girard but quite a few have him pencilled in on our team.

Does anyone have a good handle on what kind of game he has that could help this years team? I see he is very tiny for a d-man and 5'9 D-men don't exactly inspire confidence in me at first thought.

Very gifted offensively.

 

[Mach12]

Connor McDavid is still eligible to play for this team
Could you imagine

He would score a hat trick every game.

 

[JackSlater]

I know little about this Girard but quite a few have him pencilled in on our team.

Does anyone have a good handle on what kind of game he has that could help this years team? I see he is very tiny for a d-man and 5'9 D-men don't exactly inspire confidence in me at first thought.

Seeing Girard a few times over the years in the Quebec league, he's an elite skater and has elite vision at this level. I highly doubt that Canada has a defenceman better at rushing the puck up the ice and making a breakout pass. Very good playmaker in the offensive zone too. Not a great shot though, so he might not be the best powerplay option for Canada. Size is an issue on defence predictably. For a stylistic comparison I would say Keith with more offence (for the junior level) and much less defence/nastiness.

 

[SNMU]

Have to change the C for that to be true. The 3rd line wingers can score

You're just looking at hockeydb.com and assuming that just because his goals aren't as high as the other two that he can't score but McCleod can put em in.

 

[jj cale]

Seeing Girard a few times over the years in the Quebec league, he's an elite skater and has elite vision at this level. I highly doubt that Canada has a defenceman better at rushing the puck up the ice and making a breakout pass. Very good playmaker in the offensive zone too. Not a great shot though, so he might not be the best powerplay option for Canada. Size is an issue on defence predictably. For a stylistic comparison I would say Keith with more offence (for the junior level) and much less defence/nastiness.

Thanks to you and beast coast for the responses.

The positives you mentioned............I like!! Can never have enough guys with those tools at a high level.

If the comparison is Keith, my question is can he/does he make it work in his own end like Keith does? Keith has one of the most active and effective sticks in his defense work and that plus his smarts and skating make up for his slight size. What is Girard like in his own zone?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Thanks to you and beast coast for the responses.

The positives you mentioned............I like!! Can never have enough guys with those tools at a high level.

If the comparison is Keith, my question is can he/does he make it work in his own end like Keith does? Keith has one of the most active and effective sticks in his defense work and that plus his smarts and skating make up for his slight size. What is Girard like in his own zone?

I don't think he is a liability in his own end but if he makes this team it should not be for his defensive abilities and other defensemen on the team most likely are going to be tasked with the tough minutes defensively really to me the only worry is that he could get worn down on the forecheck by some of the bigger forwards on some of the teams. If he is used properly I think he will be a really important piece of the team.

 

[jj cale]

I don't think he is a liability in his own end but if he makes this team it should not be for his defensive abilities and other defensemen on the team most likely are going to be tasked with the tough minutes defensively really to me the only worry is that he could get worn down on the forecheck by some of the bigger forwards on some of the teams. If he is used properly I think he will be a really important piece of the team.

I can only hope he would be utilized effectively by the coaches. The thing I want to hear is that he can handle himself defensively when he is put in that position during his shifts because it is of course going to happen. By handling himself I don't mean physically, I just mean an effective defensive style for his size.

Does he have that? I don't want some small guy back there who for all his positives on offense is just leaking goals the other way.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I can only hope he would be utilized effectively by the coaches. The thing I want to hear is that he can handle himself defensively when he is put in that position during his shifts because it is of course going to happen. By handling himself I don't mean physically, I just mean an effective defensive style for his size.

Does he have that? I don't want some small guy back there who for all his positives on offense is just leaking goals the other way.

He is a very smart player and has a good active stick, defensively his biggest weakness is below the goal line teams can abuse him on the cycle because he just isn't that strong(Though I haven't seen to many games this year he may have gotten stronger) Most of his defensive issues are just stemming from natural ones that come from being an under sized defensemen.

 

[SpoolCat]

Just watched TSN's preview show they seemed pretty definite about none of Beavilier, Crose or Chychrun being made available for Team Canada

 

[jj cale]

He is a very smart player and has a good active stick, defensively his biggest weakness is below the goal line teams can abuse him on the cycle because he just isn't that strong(Though I haven't seen to many games this year he may have gotten stronger) Most of his defensive issues are just stemming from natural ones that come from being an under sized defensemen.

Thanks, he doesn't sound like a disaster in the defensive zone anyway, that's cool with me.

A top heavy Q defense this year, when is the last time that happened? I wouldn't mind a run down on all the guys from the Q on defense vying for a spot on this years squad as I don't have a handle on any of them.

 

[jj cale]

Crouse saw significant time on Strome's wing at last year's tournament - more so as the tournament progressed and Crouse was moved up from the Stephens/Konecny line. It didn't work particularly well last year, and (if Crouse is in fact released, which I doubt) I don't see any reason why it would work this year.

I guess it is looking like we don't have to worry about this anymore.

 

[Steazy Doo]

Anyone know what reporters will be covering the camp?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Anyone know what reporters will be covering the camp?

Mark Masters is usually a good bet.

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

Bobby Mac said he'll be there.

 

[JackSlater]

Thanks to you and beast coast for the responses.

The positives you mentioned............I like!! Can never have enough guys with those tools at a high level.

If the comparison is Keith, my question is can he/does he make it work in his own end like Keith does? Keith has one of the most active and effective sticks in his defense work and that plus his smarts and skating make up for his slight size. What is Girard like in his own zone?

He's not as good defensively as Keith is, even relative to his lower tier of hockey. Not many are though. He honestly might get in trouble against the cycle, but I still like him for this team.

One player that I am very interested to see at the camp is Senyshyn. I like the package he brings (good size and skating from a goal scoring winger) but I was turned off by his bad start. Mono and minor surgery, I know. Have to like 19 points (11 goals) in his last ten games though. Could be a good option on a bottom line.

Hockey Canada has posted a few WJC promo videos from former Canadian WJC players, and I liked this one:



Dave Andreychuk Mario Lemieux Steve Yzerman is not a bad depth forward line. 5270 points (2211 goals) combined in the NHL among just the members of that one world junior forward line.

 

[jj cale]

He's not as good defensively as Keith is, even relative to his lower tier of hockey. Not many are though. He honestly might get in trouble against the cycle, but I still like him for this team.

One player that I am very interested to see at the camp is Senyshyn. I like the package he brings (good size and skating from a goal scoring winger) but I was turned off by his bad start. Mono and minor surgery, I know. Have to like 19 points (11 goals) in his last ten games though. Could be a good option on a bottom line.

Hockey Canada has posted a few WJC promo videos from former Canadian WJC players, and I liked this one:



Dave Andreychuk Mario Lemieux Steve Yzerman is not a bad depth forward line. 5270 points (2211 goals) combined in the NHL among just the members of that one world junior forward line.

Yeah, I really liked that video. I have been trying to find some video game action on that 83 tournament but have never been able to find any on youtube, I was hoping to see Marios hattrick game but alas.

Do you have any viewings of the rest of the Q guys at camp aside from Chabot?(he is the only one I have seen play out of all those guys, I never get to see Q games aside from the Memorial Cup stationed here out west and I don't put all my stock on highlight packages video)

It would be nice to have that one horse on the backend but you don't get them every year. Chabot will definitely be our go to guy back there this year but I have my doubts he will rise above anything more then good/solid all around d-man. It would be nice to have a guy who really takes the bull by the horns on both sides of the puck.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah, I really liked that video. I have been trying to find some video game action on that 83 tournament but have never been able to find any on youtube, I was hoping to see Marios hattrick game but alas.

Do you have any viewings of the rest of the Q guys at camp aside from Chabot?(he is the only one I have seen play out of all those guys, I never get to see Q games aside from the Memorial Cup stationed here out west and I don't put all my stock on highlight packages video)

It would be nice to have that one horse on the backend but you don't get them every year. Chabot will definitely be our go to guy back there this year but I have my doubts he will rise above anything more then good/solid all around d-man. It would be nice to have a guy who really takes the bull by the horns on both sides of the puck.

I've seen all of the Q players in person a few times over the last few years. I never watch their junior games on television. Chabot is obviously good and Girard has been discussed already. Lauzon and Myers are both quite good, thoguh I haven't seen them this year. Last year it was difficult to judge any Rouyn Noranda player because the team was generally so much better than the opposition. Brisebois is the one who confuses me. I've seen his teams play many times over the years, including multiple times this year, but I've never even noticed him. I was surprised by his selection and I am surprised that he was drafted while a player like Myers was not. This group doesn't look like it has a Doughty or Pietrangelo or Ellis like in years past. Has to be a strong group. One key will be making sure that the third pairing actually features good players, because this has been a big weakness for Canada for the last five years.

 

[leafs1396]

Now it seems like TSN is just assuming that no NHLers will be released this year. It really does baffle me that Crouse and Chychrun won't be released from ARZ because frankly, the YOTES suck. Why the GM won't let those two prospects get some seasoning at the world juniors is beyond me. It is not like they are playing meaningful minutes in the NHL right now.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

You're just looking at hockeydb.com and assuming that just because his goals aren't as high as the other two that he can't score but McCleod can put em in.

You have no idea what I am doing to think that. He can skate and he should have a defensive vs offensive role imo. He is not a goal scorer.

 

[SNMU]

You have no idea what I am doing to think that. He can skate and he should have a defensive vs offensive role imo. He is not a goal scorer.

McCleods skating is very good, we need his speed for this tournament to create odd man rushes and what not. We don't need him playing defense.

 

[jj cale]

I've seen all of the Q players in person a few times over the last few years. I never watch their junior games on television. Chabot is obviously good and Girard has been discussed already. Lauzon and Myers are both quite good, thoguh I haven't seen them this year. Last year it was difficult to judge any Rouyn Noranda player because the team was generally so much better than the opposition. Brisebois is the one who confuses me. I've seen his teams play many times over the years, including multiple times this year, but I've never even noticed him. I was surprised by his selection and I am surprised that he was drafted while a player like Myers was not. This group doesn't look like it has a Doughty or Pietrangelo or Ellis like in years past. Has to be a strong group. One key will be making sure that the third pairing actually features good players, because this has been a big weakness for Canada for the last five years.

Thanks for the rundown. As you say, we can only hope that each pairing will be solid if not spectacular this year. If we get that I think there is enough talent on board to be competitive with all the strong teams.

I am becoming very interested in just what this version of TC will/can do. It is an odd year, it does not look like we are going to get any nhl guys and it is odd for us to not really have any of our usual star power unless guys like Strome and Dubois can emerge as those guys for us but I am really doubtful on that. Much like Mr Writer I am not as big on Stromes game as others are(though being on small ice helps him) It is not that I think he is a bad player but there is no wow factor or star quality to him at all imo.To me he is a 2nd or even 3rd line centre on a really strong world junior team Canada. And Dubois?...............I don't know, he may end up being good or just average but he is going to be counted on for a lot on this team. Hopefully guys you mentioned like Senyshyn can impress in camp and step up when the games start.

This team will have to compete really, really tenaciously and be coached well to get gold.

 

[JackSlater]

McCleods skating is very good, we need his speed for this tournament to create odd man rushes and what not. We don't need him playing defense.

If this team is relying on McLeod for offence then something has gone terribly wrong.

 

[biturbo19]

He is a very smart player and has a good active stick, defensively his biggest weakness is below the goal line teams can abuse him on the cycle because he just isn't that strong(Though I haven't seen to many games this year he may have gotten stronger) Most of his defensive issues are just stemming from natural ones that come from being an under sized defensemen.

I think Girard tends to do his best defending with the puck. ie. Defends best by not having to really defend.

Combined with some of those small defenceman issues, i'm not entirely sure how well he fits on a group that's going to have to do it mostly by committee this year. Certainly if he is on the team, i think it's either as a spare guy, or hopefully with a partner who can do a lot of the heavy-lifting without the puck. Just seems like a tricky fit to me.

Yeah, I really liked that video. I have been trying to find some video game action on that 83 tournament but have never been able to find any on youtube, I was hoping to see Marios hattrick game but alas.

Do you have any viewings of the rest of the Q guys at camp aside from Chabot?(he is the only one I have seen play out of all those guys, I never get to see Q games aside from the Memorial Cup stationed here out west and I don't put all my stock on highlight packages video)

It would be nice to have that one horse on the backend but you don't get them every year. Chabot will definitely be our go to guy back there this year but I have my doubts he will rise above anything more then good/solid all around d-man. It would be nice to have a guy who really takes the bull by the horns on both sides of the puck.

Yeah. I think that's really what this blueline looks like it's missing. There are a decent collection of good defencemen...but it's hard to see that absolute horse anywhere in that mix. They're gonna have to get it done by committee i think. Which should have some interesting implications for what the composition of this blueline ultimately ends up being.