Their seems to be so many uncertainties for this years team. Does this not seem very wide open for spots versus years past? There are very few locks on this team and many guys that are close in skill. It also seems rare that the strength of the seem isn't in its 19 year olds but rather the 18 year olds. next years team will have a lot of returning players no doubt.
WJC: 2020 Canada Roster Talk
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TheBeastCoast
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To me looks like a team that is going to have to seriously lean on Lafreniere. Definitely not going to be the favourites going in on paper anyways. Not that I think the group is bad...but very young.
jj cale
Registered User
Yeah, it's not really a very inspiring team I don't think. Good coaching and competent goaltending is probably going to determine if it performs well.
If I remember correctly this year Canada is in a murderous group too.
Oleksiak
Registered User
Defense looks way better than last year though, and coaching won't be an issue this time around. The stacked group does bring the possibility of a softer quarter-final matchup if we can finish in the top two.
JackSlater
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- Apr 27, 2010
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The captains for the super series are Smith, Dudas, and Lafreniere. No surprise with Smith and Lafreniere as the only WJC returnees available for the super series.
canuck2010
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- Dec 21, 2010
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I might be crazy but I like the potential for this WJC team. Solid defensive core and the potential to roll four hard working, skilled, tough to play against lines. Power hockey, take the puck and the play to the net. Cute the cute perimeter shit and toe drags.
Oleksiak
Registered User
I like that kind of team a lot but big ice/IIHF officials take away a lot of the benefits that style brings. Fully expecting to take a couple of penalties for finishing a check. I still think we're a contender, especially if we get one of the guys in the NHL.
BondraTime
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ConnorMcMullet
#12 Colby Cave
- Jun 10, 2017
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Nice forward depth this year. Normally guys like Lavoie, Newhook, and McMichael would be locks, but they're all going to have to fight for spots if they want to play.
snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
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Lavoie hit.
Also added two points. He was a beast last night. 6’4 200+ pound sniper that will strike fear.
Let’s ****ing go boys.
EXTRAS
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- Jul 31, 2012
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I think it would be very unlikely that 3 undrafted yet forwards make the team. Last season only lafreniere made it And I don't think they had any the year before. Taking yet to be drafted players to this tournament is usually reserved for the absolutely elite prospects when it comes to Canada.
JackSlater
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biturbo19
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Even ignoring all the other stuff surrounding Merkley specifically...this just isn't something that's smart to do. You can bring "specialists" and it's often not a bad idea...but they have to be guys you can trust to play regular shifts. You can't just sit a guy on the bench all game, only to have them come in cold and "quarterback" a powerplay like that. Those type of players need to stay in the game and get that feel for the puck and the game flow. It's just not a good idea, and there are plenty of other defencemen in the mix who actually can be trusted to play a regular shift and even tough matchup minutes...while also being highly capable PP QBs.
I think a lot of times, Canada's PP struggles end up being the opposite of "lacking a QB" anyway. It's often that they're throwing together so many players who are very much "go-to" focal points on their own respective club team PPs. So you get a lot of weird awkward feeling out process, where guys aren't sure who is in charge and start deferring to one another until it becomes either overly elaborate, or overly predictable and formulaic. Not that they lack guys who can QB a good powerplay...but that they don't sort out which of those capable guys is going to really "run" the show, early enough.
Yeah. I'd actually be surprised if Newhook isn't on the team. He's a nice versatile piece, with high-end upside and played well at the U18s for them not too long ago. If (hopefully) Krebs is good to go...i could even see them going back to the well with a Newhook-Krebs-Cozens type line. That seemed to mesh well.
LeafChief
Matthew Knies Enthusiast
MatchesMalone
Formerly Innocent Bystander
- Aug 29, 2010
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At forward yeah. Most of the defense seems pretty set in stone. Dobson is starting to look doubtful, but McIsaac and Ty Smith will be back. Bowen Byram, Jacob Bernard-Docker, and Thomas look like close to locks to me
WaW
Armchair Assistant Coffee Gofer for the GM
- Mar 18, 2017
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How on earth would Perfetti make the team, but not Byfield? Lol I know Perfetti had more points last year and useless Craig Button (stupidly) was the one relevant guy who ranked him as a better prospect, but that ship has long sailed based on what everyone is seeing this year.
Perfetti will absolutely make the 2021 team though, as he is one hell of a player/prospect. Unfortunately for Byfield, this is his only chance to make it as he'll almost certainly be in the NHL next year. Of course as a Wolves fan I really want to see our team represented by Canada for once. He's been one of if not the most dominant player in the OHL on the highest scoring team in the league so far this year. Making a great case for himself.
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JackSlater
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- Apr 27, 2010
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Byfield is also good at faceoffs, and that may prove helpful too. I doubt that he will be placed in a prominent role on the team, but if he is in the running for fourth line centre then it could be helpful.
MrHeiskanen
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- Nov 12, 2017
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TheBeastCoast
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It is a pretty ridiculous group of defensemen competing for spots this year....but yeah I don't see how he isn't on the team.
JackSlater
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Sens of Anarchy
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- Jul 9, 2013
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How 'bout Jamieson Rees or Alex Newhook for that 4th line C spot?
JBD should have an RD spot close to locked up I would think. I also think we definitely want him on this team. He can play D. He's steady. Makes the right play. He could have helped them last year imo.
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Byfield is almost at 2 ppg this year. You would think he'd be at least in the bottom 6 yet I don't see him on anybody's lists which I find odd.
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