WJC: 2017 Canada Roster Talk - Part 2

[Jason MacIsaac]

Girard is the only small Q defenceman there. As for this type of player, they just aren't there anymore at a high level. I wouldn't be all that against taking a banger at forward for an energy role, but in recent years those players haven't paid off very much.



Why? This guy has had a lot of posters pumping his tires for a while, but he doesn't do much to back them up. If Stephens stays at centre and McKenzie is right that Roy is a favourite, then McLeod is going to be in very tough to make the team. I don't see why he should be there right now.

The only way I see McLeod making this team is as a 13th forward where team Canada wants the extra center.

Strome, Barzal, Roy, Stephens and McLeod as center. They could also go the high skilled forward as the 13th as well.

 

[snipes]

Girard is the only small Q defenceman there. As for this type of player, they just aren't there anymore at a high level. I wouldn't be all that against taking a banger at forward for an energy role, but in recent years those players haven't paid off very much.

Yeah, I guess Chabot is heavier than he looks on the ice, he looks close to 180ish to my eyes. He looks really thin out there, far from a hulking Dman that will intimidate.

Physical play absolutely paid off last time on NA ice (Nurse roughing up Eichel after the whistle and dominating in the Gold medal game). Konecny played that role last year on Euro ice and I thought he was effective. But you're right, that style of player has been slowly phased out the past 5-7 years.

What do you think of Steel?

 

[jj cale]

I really liked what I saw out of Raddysh .

A lot of talk about how skating is not his strong suit but I don't see any problem with it, he even took guys out wide with good steam a few times.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

A lot of talk about how skating is not his strong suit but I don't see any problem with it, he even took guys out wide with good steam a few times.

I thought he moved pretty quick for a big guy. i'll watch again tomorrow or the next day.

 

[Statsy]

Yeah, I guess Chabot is heavier than he looks on the ice, he looks close to 180ish to my eyes. He looks really thin out there, far from a hulking Dman that will intimidate.

Physical play absolutely paid off last time on NA ice (Nurse roughing up Eichel after the whistle and dominating in the Gold medal game). Konecny played that role last year on Euro ice and I thought he was effective. But you're right, that style of player has been slowly phased out the past 5-7 years.

What do you think of Steel?

I do feel like we're missing that element with this team, a defenseman that physically dominates and is a real horse back there.

On a somewhat related note, I just watched a 1985 Canada vs USSR game on ESPN Classic Canada, and you wouldn't believe what a bullying mentality the whole team had. It was effective as hell and helped them shut down an extremely talented Soviet team, but man, every thirty seconds or so there would be some cringe worthy play that would have been a penalty now. It was the weirdest thing to watch.

 

[snipes]

I do feel like we're missing that element with this team, a defenseman that physically dominates and is a real horse back there.

On a somewhat related note, I just watched a 1985 Canada vs USSR game on ESPN Classic Canada, and you wouldn't believe what a bullying mentality the whole team had. It was effective as hell and helped them shut down an extremely talented Soviet team, but man, every thirty seconds or so there would be some cringe worthy play that would have been a penalty now. It was the weirdest thing to watch.

Yup. It's the Canadian way. We're such a nice and polite people away from sport, but hockey is ****ing war for us. I'm afraid we're losing that element, the give everything you have and sacrifice your entire being to win.

I stand by the belief that we will not win if we don't build a bully with this team. We can win Gold, but we need guys willing to play the Canadian way with relentless bully the other team into submission attitude.

 

[JackSlater]

The only way I see McLeod making this team is as a 13th forward where team Canada wants the extra center.

Strome, Barzal, Roy, Stephens and McLeod as center. They could also go the high skilled forward as the 13th as well.

I agree that thirteenth forward is his chance. Perhaps battling with Cirelli.

Yeah, I guess Chabot is heavier than he looks on the ice, he looks close to 180ish to my eyes. He looks really thin out there, far from a hulking Dman that will intimidate.

Physical play absolutely paid off last time on NA ice (Nurse roughing up Eichel after the whistle and dominating in the Gold medal game). Konecny played that role last year on Euro ice and I thought he was effective. But you're right, that style of player has been slowly phased out the past 5-7 years.

What do you think of Steel?

If Nurse was available again he would be a good pick, but there isn't anyone like that. Physical play and intimidation do work better at the junior level than they do at the senior level in recent times, but the personnel just isn't there. It can't be forced. The only somewhat similar eligible Canadian defenceman I can think of is Meloche, and he didn't do much to impress in the summer or the super series.

Also, consider a guy like Gauthier. Ten years ago Gauthier would have been a physical monster at this level with his size and speed, not unlike his uncle. It's just not going to happen this year though. He will us his size to leverage the opposition, but he isn't going to plaster opposing defencemen regularly or scare anyone.

Steel is having a great year and looked good tonight. I assume at this point that he's on the team. I was curious about how well he would shift to the wing but it looked like a success.

 

[coolwood]

I agree that thirteenth forward is his chance. Perhaps battling with Cirelli.



If Cirelli was battling for a spot as 13th forward I doubt they would have scratched him

 

[Locks]

Who do you think looked better among the dmen battling for a spot? Chabot is obviously a lock.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Lauzon can be a physical, hitting beast on the back end. Not a small guy either.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

Is there anywhere to re-watch the game? or atleast highlights?

 

[snipes]

Lauzon can be a physical, hitting beast on the back end. Not a small guy either.

19 years old, 6'3 200ish pounds. Pretty good numbers, he'll likely be on the squad. I'm a big proponent of big 19 year old Dmen who can intimidate.

Intimidation works in Junior hockey. Physical violence and all out vitriol can mess with other teams heads, especially in Canada when the crowd gets roaring. I'm not sure about his physical side, I follow the WHL closely, the Q, not so much.

This teams looks to be Q heavy with a Q coach. Frankly, that group looked the best during the Russia series a few weeks back. I still think we lack a RHD who can be our PP QB. Ethan Bear should be that guy, boneheaded move not giving him at least a look.

In terms of some vitriol up front, Givani Smith deserved a look. He plays a nasty Canadian style game that could be effective when we need to bully the Russians and Americans. Arrogance and swagger influence games in Junior hockey.

 

[SNMU]

Steel looked really good. Lauzon is physical and looked good. Mete showed his speed.

 

[tade]

Jost-Strome-Raddysh
Steel-Barzal-Gauthier
McLeod-Dubois-Speers
Howden-Stephens-Senyshyn
Roy/Merkley

Chabot-Fabbro
Lauzon-Myers
Bean-Juulsen
Girard

Hart
Ingram

 

[JackSlater]

If Cirelli was battling for a spot as 13th forward I doubt they would have scratched him

Where does he fit? Strome, Barzal and Stephens are taking three centre spots. Roy looks like a very good bet there as well. We can guess that Jost, Steel and Joseph/Dubois take up LW spots. Hockey Canada is high on Howden, who played well last night, and he's going for a LW spot on this team. As far as I know Cirelli doesn't have RW experience. There are only so many spots.

Who do you think looked better among the dmen battling for a spot? Chabot is obviously a lock.

Hard to say. Couldn't really see the numbers or names on the backs of the jerseys, and the announcer only seemed to know Mete's name from the beginning. I knew that Myers was the big defenceman and Girard was the small one. Not many stood out. Brisebois was bad in the first but then settled down. Myers had a great play on a goal but also made some bad puck decisions that were highly avoidable.

 

[86Habs]

Why? This guy has had a lot of posters pumping his tires for a while, but he doesn't do much to back them up. If Stephens stays at centre and McKenzie is right that Roy is a favourite, then McLeod is going to be in very tough to make the team. I don't see why he should be there right now.

Agreed, I think he's on the outside looking in right now. Sometimes draft position can be informative, and other times not so much. McLeod has some good tools but is likely somewhat of a longer-term project for NJ depending on what their expectations are for him. In the absence of a Roy or a Stephens he would be a solid selection as a defensive matchup center, but it's pretty clear to me that those two are in front of him which leaves the 13th forward position as the only available spot and Ducharme may choose to go with a better offensive talent (Cirelli, Joseph). Reading the tea leaves, this is how I would expect the forward group to shape up right now:

Jost - Strome - Raddysh
Steel - Barzal - Gauthier
Dubois - Stephens - Senyshyn
Howden - Roy - Joseph
Cirelli

With Dubois and Howden being somewhat interchangeable on the left side.

 

[86Habs]

Where does he fit? Strome, Barzal and Stephens are taking three centre spots. Roy looks like a very good bet there as well. We can guess that Jost, Steel and Joseph/Dubois take up LW spots. Hockey Canada is high on Howden, who played well last night, and he's going for a LW spot on this team. As far as I know Cirelli doesn't have RW experience. There are only so many spots.

As far as I can tell (based on my Interwebs research) Joseph is a left-shooting RW...perhaps someone who watches the Q can confirm.

 

[JackSlater]

Agreed, I think he's on the outside looking in right now. Sometimes draft position can be informative, and other times not so much. McLeod has some good tools but is likely somewhat of a longer-term project for NJ depending on what their expectations are for him. In the absence of a Roy or a Stephens he would be a solid selection as a defensive matchup center, but it's pretty clear to me that those two are in front of him which leaves the 13th forward position as the only available spot and Ducharme may choose to go with a better offensive talent (Cirelli, Joseph). Reading the tea leaves, this is how I would expect the forward group to shape up right now:

Jost - Strome - Raddysh
Steel - Barzal - Gauthier
Dubois - Stephens - Senyshyn
Howden - Roy - Joseph
Cirelli

With Dubois and Howden being somewhat interchangeable on the left side.

I agree that the above is the most likely forward group.

As far as I can tell (based on my Interwebs research) Joseph is a left-shooting RW...perhaps someone who watches the Q can confirm.

Joseph is a RW, but he was listed as a LW in the practice lineups. By the same token though Dubois (generally LW or C in junior) was listed as a RW. As long as one of them is a LW, that still leaves little room for Cirelli on that side with Jost, Steel and possibly Howden in the other spots.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Lauzon is physical but not sure I'd call him an intimidator. I'm not sure he makes the cut, I just never felt like Canada ever gave him the longest look. I do think Myers is in though.

 

[WestCanFan]

Is there anywhere to re-watch the game? or atleast highlights?

please no - horrible camera work, announcers only talked about the CUS team, no shots where you could see a player name need another option to watch todays game who is sitting out today?

 

[JackSlater]

please no - horrible camera work, announcers only talked about the CUS team, no shots where you could see a player name need another option to watch todays game who is sitting out today?

The announcer also called the university team "team Canada" at least 5 times.

As for who is sitting out...



Lines...





Interesting that Senyshyn is sitting out. Will be watching for Speers as best I can as well.

 

[coolwood]

Well reading into the lines again it doesn't look good for Cirelli. So much for my last post

 

[86Habs]

The announcer also called the university team "team Canada" at least 5 times.

As for who is sitting out...



Lines...





Interesting that Senyshyn is sitting out. Will be watching for Speers as best I can as well.

Probably a good sign for Senyshyn that he's scratched. Same for Raddysh. The coaching staff will obviously want to provide as much opportunity as possible to those on the bubble to prove themselves.

Still confident in the forward group I projected above. Speers may push Cirelli for one of those final spots if his game and conditioning are on-point after his injury, but it's down to 14 guys in my view. Wouldn't be surprised to see some of the Wagner, Merkley, Dube, McLeod group cut after tonight's game.

 

[Statsy]

"At least something is hitting McNiven, cause it's not a puck these days ". Ouch!

 

[JackSlater]

Mete scored the only goal of the period on a pass from Howden from behind the net. Dubois with the secondary and the screen in front. Not many stood out in that period. Pretty sloppy, which isn't surprising. I liked Roy down low, Dubois and Jost. Not surprising that those three (plus Speers and Geerahhh) formed a very dangerous PP unit.

Roy scored Canada's second goal during the second. Followed up after Joseph missed on a partial breakaway. Either Speers or a RHD sprung Joseph in the neutral zone. Third goal was Howden on a ti from the point during a two man advantage. Not sure who had the point shot, since the announcer was too busy to let us know. Hart came out of the game at the halfway point as part of the goalie rotation. He didn't let in any goals, but at that point U Sports only had 4 shots.