WJC: 2020 Canada Roster Talk Part II

[JackSlater]

That's some initially promising news regarding Lafreniere. They can't play him if there is a risk of hurting his leg further, but if he is good to go for a knockout game then that could be a nice boost. ALso some new lines:

 

[Anichels]

I'm not sold on Daws.

I don't care much about stats in the CHL because team defence and systems can impact goalie stats a lot.
He has great stats in the OHL.

He's a big body who covers the net, but his rebound control in this tournament and his lateral movement isn't as sound as it should be for WJHC.

This it's from my evaluation from both games.

Hoffer I'm willing to give a chance because he came in cold vs. the Russians.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

That's some initially promising news regarding Lafreniere. They can't play him if there is a risk of hurting his leg further, but if he is good to go for a knockout game then that could be a nice boost. ALso some new lines:

The defense is an easy fix, shift Smith to his strong side and slot McIsaac way down.

Smith - Bernard-Docker
Byram - Drysdale
McIsaac/Bahl - Addison

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

That's some initially promising news regarding Lafreniere. They can't play him if there is a risk of hurting his leg further, but if he is good to go for a knockout game then that could be a nice boost. ALso some new lines:

So 1 player out. Every line , Every D pair changes.
Alternative ... Move Mercer in for McMichael ; Move McMichael in for Lafreniere.

 

[snipes]

That's some initially promising news regarding Lafreniere. They can't play him if there is a risk of hurting his leg further, but if he is good to go for a knockout game then that could be a nice boost. ALso some new lines:

Major sigh of relief for Laf. He’s young, he should be able to rebound quickly with no structural damage.

Really don’t like McIsaac on the top pair, he’s been brutal in both games.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

The forwards and D could all wake up and play to their potential, but it won’t matter a lick when we have the worst goaltending of any big team in the tournament.

Nobody can make a damn save, and when they do it’s shaky as hell. I don’t remember having such little confidence in Canadian goaltending and I’m 34 years old. Crazy.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

The defense is an easy fix, shift Smith to his strong side and slot McIsaac way down.

Smith - Bernard-Docker
Byram - Drysdale
McIsaac/Bahl - Addison

Problem is, Byram has been just as bad.

Personally, I would shift Smith to the left as well.

 

[wishywashy19]

The forwards and D could all wake up and play to their potential, but it won’t matter a lick when we have the worst goaltending of any big team in the tournament.

Nobody can make a damn save, and when they do it’s shaky as hell. I don’t remember having such little confidence in Canadian goaltending and I’m 34 years old. Crazy.

You haven’t been around long enough.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Our best RW option is still stuck playing 4th line C. That job can go to Byfield or Cozens, Thomas could be a 1st line winger here, and is wasted on the 4th line.

So 1 player out. Every line , Every D pair changes.
Alternative ... Move Mercer in for McMichael ; Move McMichael in for Lafreniere.

The previous lines were terrible and obviously did not work. Why should Hunter keep the status quo?

This is an improvement from the previous lines. That said, hopefully Byfield is just keeping Lafrenieres spot warm, and gets moved down for the knockout games, he has not played well enough to be a top 6 option. Also Thomas deserves a shot higher up the lineup on the right side.

 

[jj cale]

I told everyone who would hear about the goaltending. This tournament has become bad for my health.

 

[jj cale]

You haven’t been around long enough.

Yeah, where has he been?

 

[snipes]

I told everyone who would hear about the goaltending. This tournament has become bad for my health.

The fact that we didn’t get a pound of flesh from the Russians physically when we were losing pissed me off in a way that I haven’t had about a Canadian team in a long time.

I can deal with a loss, in fact losing 15-0 but us competing physically and with intensity would have been more satisfactory, it was the way we lost that was so beyond frustrating. Played like a bunch of limp wristed cowards.

I didn’t see anyone play the Canadian Way last game, completely disgusting performance.

 

[jj cale]

The fact that we didn’t get a pound of flesh from the Russians physically when we were losing pissed me off in a way that I haven’t had about a Canadian team in a long time.

I can deal with a loss, in fact losing 15-0 but us competing physically and with intensity would have been more satisfactory, it was the way we lost that was so beyond frustrating. Played like a bunch of limp wristed cowards.

I didn’t see anyone play the Canadian Way last game, completely disgusting performance.

I think heads are going to roll after this tournament. Even HC can't possibly stick their heads in the sand any longer at the issues that keep getting worse and worse every year. That guy who played nets at the WJAC, he is better then any guy we have here, not that goaltending is the only issue.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Scary

 

[Tube Skates]

As a hockey fan it’s a treat to see the three big Russian players from the Q at least 8 times a year. Halifax has had big good teams the last couple years and none of our players could handle them consistently one on one. They can all handle the puck in open ice. If you’re lucky you can hold them up along the boards and have another player come get the puck or knock down a pass if your players are fast enough. For those wondering about Rodrique his game has regressed over his Q career with injuries. There is a number of Q league goaltenders above him now.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Scary

What a weird first unit. A guy who shoots well but doesn't pass that well (Hayton), three shooters, and Addison. So... who's going to pass? Cozens is the best passer on that PP, and he's not exactly a natural playmaker.

And then two defensemen on the second unit, two playmakers, and no Byfield. Wat

 

[Vader611]

Should get Thomas on wing and Byfield taking his c spot

 

[duul]

Man, I'd really like to see Lavoie in Mercer's spot on the 2nd line. Think he would do a lot better with Veleno.

 

[Star Ocean]

How the hell can Lafrenière go from not supporting his leg to healthy right away? That is some super human recovery.

When sweden lost nylander we were toast.

 

[bert]

Byfield needs to play center so he can use his speed and distribute the puck. Hayton needs to be on a checking line, he is trying to do way too much out there. If they tell Hayton his role is to shut down the oppositions players I think he will feel less pressure and will play alot looser, the game will come alot easier to him.

 

[Heldig]

What a weird first unit. A guy who shoots well but doesn't pass that well (Hayton), three shooters, and Addison. So... who's going to pass? Cozens is the best passer on that PP, and he's not exactly a natural playmaker.

And then two defensemen on the second unit, two playmakers, and no Byfield. Wat

A bit funny to say Hayton does not pass well. Based on 2 games viewing I suppose?

 

[Dodospice]

If it were me, based on the play so far and Lafreniere getting injured, I’d be rolling these lines out for Game3:

McMichael- Hayton- Cozens
Foote- Veleno- Lavoie
Foudy- Thomas- Mercer
Byfield- Dellandrea- Dudas

Bahl- Bernard-Docker
Smith- Drysdale
McIsaac- Addison
Byram

Hofer
Daws
Rodrigue

PP1:
Drysdale
Cozens- Hayton- McMichael
Lavoie

PP2:
Smith
Addison- Foote- Veleno
Thomas

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

A bit funny to say Hayton does not pass well. Based on 2 games viewing I suppose?

To be fair, he hasn't passed the puck well at all in those 2 games. Doesn't seem like a stretch to say he'll continue to struggle in game #3.

 

[Goulet17]

Problem is, Byram has been just as bad.

Personally, I would shift Smith to the left as well.

Has Byram really been just as bad? I keep hearing this narrative, but Byram has been on the ice for 1 of the 10 goals that Canada has given up.

Addison has received virtually all of the PP time in the first two games over Byram, but Addison has yet to record a point and the PP has generally struggled.

Based on the defensemen used in the first two games, I have these totals for goals against while they are on the ice:

Jacob Bernard-Docker - 4 goals against (1 minor penalty)
Kevin Bahl - 3 goals against (1 minor penalty)
Ty Smith - 7 goals against
Jared McIsaac - 3 goals against (1 minor penalty)
Bowen Byram - 1 goal against (0 penalties)
Jamie Drysdale - 1 goal against (0 penalties)
Calen Addison - 0 goals against (0 penalties) (But has yet to record a point while receiving the vast majority of PP time).

Canada did shut out Russia in the third period, which perhaps coincidentally Byram and Drysdale started to play heavier minutes. (It is probably unwise to read to much into that particular period given the context with the score).

 

[AveryStar4Eva]

Our best RW option is still stuck playing 4th line C. That job can go to Byfield or Cozens, Thomas could be a 1st line winger here, and is wasted on the 4th line.



The previous lines were terrible and obviously did not work. Why should Hunter keep the status quo?

This is an improvement from the previous lines. That said, hopefully Byfield is just keeping Lafrenieres spot warm, and gets moved down for the knockout games, he has not played well enough to be a top 6 option. Also Thomas deserves a shot higher up the lineup on the right side.

Agreed I don’t know why they haven’t tried Thomas on that top spot, he’s a much better passer than Foote. Faster as well.