WC: 2017 Team Canada

[therealdeal]

The Islanders are the best team to miss the playoffs, from the perspective of this team at least. Plenty of solid Canadian players.

They talked about this tournament on TSN the other day. They think that Hextall is the most likely candidate to be GM. It's tough to assume that a GM can get their players to participate after Treliving failed to get anyone from Calgary last year. The unknown status of NHL Olympic participation also makes it more difficult to predict who will accept invitations.

I've said this in other years, but if it is difficult to get good players to accept the invitation, I wouldn't mind Hockey Canada looking at some Canadian KHLers. It is always surprising to see that there are a fair number of successful Canadians in that league. Young talented NHL players are optimal, but if Canada is left to select among players like Bieksa or Dillon again, I would rather them take a top end KHL defenceman who can at least give the (presumably) young Canadian defencemen some tips on playing defence on the larger ice surface. Someone like Chris Lee (sixth in overall KHL scoring this year as a defenceman) could be useful in a mentor role, especially once again over slugs like Bieksa. Canada usually gets good young forwards for this tournament, but in the rare event that those players are difficult to come by there could be room for a successful Canadian KHL forward as well. Two guys who had good offensive years are Brandon Kozun (9th in scoring, nearest teammate was 28th in scoring) and Matt Ellison (14th in scoring, nearest teammate 33rd in scoring). The forwards are unlikely, but just a thought.

I agree 100%, and I feel like they've had successful experiments with that in the past. It's funny they don't try that on really lean years like 2016.

 

[Bear12Good]

Chris Lee very very good.
Chris Lee better player then Zaytsev or Voinov.

 

[Bear12Good]

Robinson very good too.
Robinson = Giordano

 

[JackSlater]

I agree 100%, and I feel like they've had successful experiments with that in the past. It's funny they don't try that on really lean years like 2016.

Yes it has worked before, most notably with Giordano. Looking at 2014, I'm sure that top end Canadian KHLers would be better than Bieksa, Garrison or Brouwer, as those players were basically guaranteed to fail internationally. Inviting those players also has the added benefit (in my opinion) of preventing sudden surges in patriotism, as demonstrated by famous Kazakhs Nigel Dawes and Kevin Dallman.

Robinson very good too.
Robinson = Giordano

My analysis of the KHL players is very superficial, but I have seen Robinson's name a fair amount over the years. Looks to consistently be one of the best KHL defencemen. The KHL is a good league, and I would take an elite Canadian KHL defenceman over a fully developed, mediocre Canadian NHL defenceman who isn't suited to larger ice.

 

[Bear12Good]

Giordano play in KHL too.

 

[Bear12Good]

Yes it has worked before, most notably with Giordano. Looking at 2014, I'm sure that top end Canadian KHLers would be better than Bieksa, Garrison or Brouwer, as those players were basically guaranteed to fail internationally. Inviting those players also has the added benefit (in my opinion) of preventing sudden surges in patriotism, as demonstrated by famous Kazakhs Nigel Dawes and Kevin Dallman.



My analysis of the KHL players is very superficial, but I have seen Robinson's name a fair amount over the years. Looks to consistently be one of the best KHL defencemen. The KHL is a good league, and I would take an elite Canadian KHL defenceman over a fully developed, mediocre Canadian NHL defenceman who isn't suited to larger ice.

Totally right.

Robinson nhl top level player.

 

[Bear12Good]

Lee assist

 

[Eye of Ra]

If Islanders misses the playoffs then perhaps JOSH HO-SANG can steal a spot? He have been good lately.

 

[1Gold Standard]

If Islanders misses the playoffs then perhaps JOSH HO-SANG can steal a spot? He have been good lately.

Not sure he'd want to given his rocky relationship with HC bureaucrats in the past. It hasn't been pretty and there have been a few exchanges back and forth. And I've usually been a Ho-Sang defender when it comes to that rocky relationship, but I'd have to say no to Josh this year. A full season with the Isles next year, and if his play warrants an invite, then sure! why the hell not.

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

A tad bit over optimistic this morning, but what the hell...

and I'm back on the MacKinnon train for now.

St. Louis/Preds players are the only 1st.rd additions, all other hopefuls move on to rd. 2. No Connor unfortunately.

J BENN T SEGUIN J CARTER
J SKINNER J TAVARES M SCHEIFELE
J DROUIN N MACKINNON B HORVAT
J SCHWARTZ S COUTURIER B SCHENN

J HUBERDEAU A MANTHA

J MUZZIN D DOUGHTY
R ELLIS P.K SUBBAN
B HUTTON C PARAYKO
M MATHESON D SEVERSON

S MASON
C WARD

That's better!

 

[Bear12Good]

That's better!

This more better

Jamie Benn John Tavares Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand Connor McDavid Ryan O'Reilly
Jeff Carter Claude Giroux Mike Hoffman
Jeff Skinner Mark Scheifele Mitchell Marner
Wayne Simmonds


Jonathan Marchessault



Drew Doughty Jake Muzzin
P.K. Subban Dougie Hamilton
Tyson Barrie Mark Giordano

Damon Severson

 

[xxxx]

I think that for the sake of seeing "who we actaully have" from the best possible roster, I will make it - the best possible roster that could be made from the teams that are now out and will very very likely be out for the tournament: Hall included, as he would've been on the best team. So are Stamkos and Ekblad, but given their health situations, it's obviously rather unlikely we would see them. But not impossible.

Benn - Tavares - Seguin
Hall - Giroux - Stamkos
O'Reilly - Carter - Scheifele
Duchene - MacKinnon - Little

Muzzin - Doughty
De Haan - Hamonic
Tanev - Ekblad

Luongo, Smith

Then there's basically a whole B team of other very good players available:

Drouin - Little - Simmonds
Schenn - Spezza - S.Reinhart
Skinner - J.Staal - Sharp
E.Kane - Horvat - Toffoli
Huberdeau/Domi

Hamhuis - Barrie
Del Zotto - Myers
Demers - Green
Severson

Mason, Ward, Pickard

 

[Bear12Good]

I think that for the sake of seeing "who we actaully have" from the best possible roster, I will make it - the best possible roster that could be made from the teams that are now out and will very very likely be out for the tournament: Hall included, as he would've been on the best team. So are Stamkos and Ekblad, but given their health situations, it's obviously rather unlikely we would see them. But not impossible.

Benn - Tavares - Seguin
Hall - Giroux - Stamkos
O'Reilly - Carter - Scheifele
Duchene - MacKinnon - Little

Muzzin - Doughty
De Haan - Hamonic
Tanev - Ekblad

Luongo, Smith

Then there's basically a whole B team of other very good players available:

Drouin - Little - Simmonds
Schenn - Spezza - S.Reinhart
Skinner - J.Staal - Sharp
E.Kane - Horvat - Toffoli
Huberdeau/Domi

Hamhuis - Barrie
Del Zotto - Myers
Demers - Green
Severson

Mason, Ward, Pickard

Stamkos can accept invite after long injury?

 

[Bear12Good]

Luongo too old for IIHF Worlds

 

[PecnoTrunk]

I think that for the sake of seeing "who we actaully have" from the best possible roster, I will make it - the best possible roster that could be made from the teams that are now out and will very very likely be out for the tournament: Hall included, as he would've been on the best team. So are Stamkos and Ekblad, but given their health situations, it's obviously rather unlikely we would see them. But not impossible.

Benn - Tavares - Seguin
Hall - Giroux - Stamkos
O'Reilly - Carter - Scheifele
Duchene - MacKinnon - Little

Muzzin - Doughty
De Haan - Hamonic
Tanev - Ekblad

Luongo, Smith

Then there's basically a whole B team of other very good players available:

Drouin - Little - Simmonds
Schenn - Spezza - S.Reinhart
Skinner - J.Staal - Sharp
E.Kane - Horvat - Toffoli
Huberdeau/Domi

Hamhuis - Barrie
Del Zotto - Myers
Demers - Green
Severson

Mason, Ward, Pickard

you can forget these guys:
Stamkos - injury related rest
Ekblad - will rest after concussion season
Myers - injury related rest
Luongo, Smith - to old and will say no
Muzzin - Doughty - long season will say no

 

[Bear12Good]

you can forget these guys:
Stamkos - injury related rest
Ekblad - will rest after concussion season
Myers - injury related rest
Luongo, Smith - to old and will say no
Muzzin - Doughty - long season will say no

Totally agree.
But Muzzin ads Smith can accept invite.

 

[xxxx]

- Any of them could go. We can talk about possibilities, but it's never zero. I quite believe that not Ekblad nor the Panthers would actually want to play at this tournament with everything that has happened this season to him. I am a little more optimistic with Stamkos, since it's not a head/concussion injury, and he must be hungry for some hockey to play, after last season being injured, this season again...maybe he would be interested because of that, who knows.

- I think Muzzin is possible. Doughty in theory too, but that would be a little miracle, similar to Crosby kinda.

- Luongo would be a great option, depends on him.
- Smith could go imo.

 

[therealdeal]

This more better

Jamie Benn John Tavares Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand Connor McDavid Ryan O'Reilly
Jeff Carter Claude Giroux Mike Hoffman
Jeff Skinner Mark Scheifele Mitchell Marner
Wayne Simmonds


Jonathan Marchessault

Drew Doughty Jake Muzzin
P.K. Subban Dougie Hamilton
Tyson Barrie Mark Giordano

Damon Severson

If we even get 6 of these guys we'll have a good team. I doubt we will though.

 

[Bear12Good]

- Any of them could go. We can talk about possibilities, but it's never zero. I quite believe that not Ekblad nor the Panthers would actually want to play at this tournament with everything that has happened this season to him. I am a little more optimistic with Stamkos, since it's not a head/concussion injury, and he must be hungry for some hockey to play, after last season being injured, this season again...maybe he would be interested because of that, who knows.

- I think Muzzin is possible. Doughty in theory too, but that would be a little miracle, similar to Crosby kinda.

- Luongo would be a great option, depends on him.
- Smith could go imo.

I think Crosby have more chances then Daughty accept invite again.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I have a hard time to believe that Tavares, Hall, J.Staal, Benn, Seguin, Giroux, Duchene, Doughty, Carter, Stamkos etc wants to play.

Team without playoffs players:

Jonathan Drouin - Mark Scheifele - Nathan Mackinnon
Tanner Pearson - Ryan O'Reilly - Tyler Toffoli
Evander Kane - Brayden Schenn - Wayne Simmonds
Max Domi - Bo Horvat - Andreas Athanasiou

Jake Muzzin - Tyson Barrie
Calvin De Haan - Travis Hamonic
Michael Del Zotto - Jason Demers

Drouin and Mackinnon had awesome chemistry in juniors. Schefiele would look good on that line. Pearson and Toffoli have chemistry from Kings, Reilly is similiar to Carter. The 3rd line is really hard to play against. 4th line is young players with skill and grit.

Muzzin and Barrie would work. Haan and Hamonic is a pair in Islanders. Zotto and Demers could form a shutdown pair.

 

[JackSlater]

I have a hard time to believe that Tavares, Hall, J.Staal, Benn, Seguin, Giroux, Duchene, Doughty, Carter, Stamkos etc wants to play.

Team without playoffs players:

Jonathan Drouin - Mark Scheifele - Nathan Mackinnon
Tanner Pearson - Ryan O'Reilly - Tyler Toffoli
Evander Kane - Brayden Schenn - Wayne Simmonds
Max Domi - Bo Horvat - Andreas Athanasiou

Jake Muzzin - Tyson Barrie
Calvin De Haan - Travis Hamonic
Michael Del Zotto - Jason Demers

Drouin and Mackinnon had awesome chemistry in juniors. Schefiele would look good on that line. Pearson and Toffoli have chemistry from Kings, Reilly is similiar to Carter. The 3rd line is really hard to play against. 4th line is young players with skill and grit.

Muzzin and Barrie would work. Haan and Hamonic is a pair in Islanders. Zotto and Demers could form a shutdown pair.

I would be very surprised if Hamonic played. He requested a trade last year because he thought that New York was too far away from western Canada for him to fulfill his obligations to his family. I can't imagine that going to Europe when you don't have to fits with that issue. He rescinded the trade request, but it still would seem odd. Del Zotto also never belongs on a shutdown pairing.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I would be very surprised if Hamonic played. He requested a trade last year because he thought that New York was too far away from western Canada for him to fulfill his obligations to his family. I can't imagine that going to Europe when you don't have to fits with that issue. He rescinded the trade request, but it still would seem odd. Del Zotto also never belongs on a shutdown pairing.

Looks like I can scratch Mantha from my roster. That's too bad. I was looking forward to seeing what he could do.

perhaps it's an opportunity for a player like Athanasiou. decent option. I thought he was overlooked for the Malmo junior team.

 

[xxxx]

I like Athanasiou a lot. He's fast, he can go hard to the net, he has skills, he can do it all.

 

[1Gold Standard]

and my roster took another hit with the Tavares injury last night. Given the history with what happened at Sochi, I doubt NY gives John the green light to trot off to Europe now.

The good news is, Leafs will, in all likelihood, take out the Sens. so, Hoffman Turris and Stone going would be decent.

 

[Bear12Good]

What do you think about chances
Jonathan Huberdeau ?