Rob
Registered User
With regards to goaltending I forgot about Alexis Gravel. He is having a great year for the Mooseheads. A big goalie with big potential.
I think I'm over the undrafted late bloomer phase/SteenbergenLeason. I want only players who have come up through the POE and have years of proven elite level tournament experience
You guys think there's any chance of Byfield playing? Or will we most likely will have to wait another year to see him put on a Canada sweater? He's been pretty good from what I can tell this year in the OHL...
Knowing Hockey Canada's stupid rhetoric of having to keep underagers out, I'd say no. However he's the only 2002 born forward I see having a shot of earning an invite, he's ridiculously good.
So you want to pass on superior players because they’ve never played for Canada before?
So no Leason, Steenbergen, Point, Batherson, Makar, Timmins, Foote, Formenton, Gadjovich, Ingram, Lauzon, Myers, Cirelli or Joseph.. and that’s just from the last 3 seasons.
You’re severely limiting your options and passing on high level players just because they weren’t a part of the POE in the past. Not a smart way to build a team IMO.
I said undrafted late bloomers with no POE experience. and even though I included Steenbergen as an example, I believe he had been drafted and was on pretty much of a hot 2 year run. and to every rule there are always exceptions, so I can look past the lack of experience in his case. He didn't have a great tournament, was relegated for much of it to 13th. forward status, but scored the tournament's MVP goal. so, God bless him for that. Every other player you listed had been drafted except for Myers, and he had POE experience at U17. Leason on the other hand...the very definition of late bloomer. I think in the future I'd prefer to go with a Cozens or Dach in that RW slot. Elite level tournaments are won with elite level players.
Brayden Point? no POE experience? drafted and was in the POE 6 months out of diapers. u17, Hlinka, U18. etc.
Al Murray is the best talent evaluator in the business. I'd put any player TB selects on Team Canada when available.
Colton Point, not Brayden. All the players I listed were just from the last 3 years. Also yes Myers did technically play at the U-17 it was before HC moved to the current format, playing for Team Atlantic isn’t quite the same thing.
There hasn’t really been any undrafted players on the roster lately except Leason and Myers, so I’m not really sure why that would even be a concern. Neither of which were an issue in the tournament, in fact they played quite well. I’d be more concerned with taking guys like MacKenzie Entwistle and Markus Phillips then I would be with a late bloomer that’s clearly shown the ability to be there.
Most if the final defence cutsWith Canada losing last week, anybody Canada fans wish were on the roster but werent?
Lafreniere-Hayton-Thomas
Krebs-Dach-Cozens
Pelletier-Veleno-Fortier
Foudy-Dellandrea-Noel
Groulx/McMichael (hopefully Lavoie)
Smith-Dobson
Byram-JBD
McIsaac-Woo
Addison/Robertson (hopefully Merkley)
Rodrigue
Gravel
I'm expecting Smith, Dobson, Hayton and Veleno to be in the NHL but if I was to create a team with everyone available
Krebs-Dach-Cozens
Lafreniere-Hayton-Thomas
Foudy-Veleno-Lavoie
Foote-Dellandrea-Noel
Suzuki/Byfield
Smith-Dobson
Byram-Merkley
McIsaac-Woo
Robertson
Rodrigue
Hofer
Feedback on this prediction?
Lafreniere - Veleno - Lavoie
Foudy - Hayton - Thomas
Groulx - Dellandrea - Noel
Foote - Cozens - Dach
13F: One of Suzuki/Fortier/McBain
Smith - Dobson
McIsaac - Addison
Tychonick - JBD
7th D: One of Woo/Bahl
Rodrigue
Gravel
Mandolese
Just for fun! Way to soon to make those prediction anyway:
A. Lafrenière-B. Hayton-D. Cozens
J. Veleno-K. Dach-R. Lavoie
L. Foudy-A. Thomas-S. Noel
B.O. Groulx-T. Dellandrea-M. Laferriere
P. Krebs
T. Smith-N. Dobson
J. McIsaac-J. Bernard-Docker
B. Byram-J. Woo
R. Merkley or K. Bahl
I think Veleno will get a long look in camp but he likely doesnt make the full time NHL roster yet. He should be available, unless the Griffins have him playing a huge role next year
Dont expect three guys that are playing in the tourney for the first time, in their draft+1 seasons to be the top line or youll be disappointed, especially when there are great returning options for those positions. I also really doubt Dach is a better player next year than Hayton or Veleno.
Also, dont expect the second pair to be Byram and Merkley or youll be disappointed as well
Thank god. The Hunters have won championships and draft and develop prospects in the OHL and NHL. Mark Hunter's experience with the Leafs will be a huge asset up top for an organization that's currently inept.Interesting news from Hockey Canada with regard to the WJC:
https://www.tsn.ca/knights-hunter-to-helm-canada-for-wjc-1.1269588
Mark Hunter is going to be in charge of the U20 program for Hockey Canada. This doesn't mean that he is coaching the team, but he will have a say in that process. I'm optimistic about this, as the Hunters are involved in a lot of winning at the junior level. I hope that the next coach is also someone who has experience winning at the junior level.