WJC: 2021 Canada Roster Talk

[Gold Standard]

Crosby was on the first line at early 17, RW. Wright is in the same league as Crosby, and will be 17 in early January.

and that would have been Sid's 2nd. crack at the U20 team as a 17 year old in '05.

This will be Wright's first kick at the can...and really, 16 year old Canadian forwards don't do much at this tournament outside of Gretzky in '78. were you around for that one?

And Wright is not in the Sid Crosby tier of stardom. He's not in the McDavid tier of stardom! he's more Tavares/Stamkos tier.

 

[NA Hockey]

With Lafreniere this is my prediction.

Lafreniere	Dach	Cozens
Perfetti	Byfield	Quinn
Newhook	Mcmichael	Tomasino
Rees	Krebs	Mercer
Poulin	Holloway
Byram	Drysdale
Harley	Schneider
Guhle	Barron
Power
Garand
Levi
Gauthier

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Without Lafreniere

Quinn	Dach	Cozens
Newhook	Byfield	Jarvis
Perfetti	Mcmichael	Tomasino
Rees	Krebs	Mercer
Poulin	Wright
Byram	Drysdale
Harley	Schneider
Guhle	Barron
Power
Garand
Levi
Gauthier

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Nice team overall:

Team will have 8 defence, who would you add as the 8th?

So with Lafreniere, Jarvis doesn't make the team but without him he jumps to the second line?

I cant see Quinn playing 1st line Left wing when he has really only played right wing the last two years. I think if Lafreniere doesn't play, you would play Newhook on 1st line left wing and Quinn on second line right wing if you wanted to play him in your top 6.

 

[dmac7719]

So with Lafreniere, Jarvis doesn't make the team but without him he jumps to the second line?

Unfortunately, Canada still somewhat constructs their teams with the notion that the bottom 6 players need to fill more a role than just straight up taking higher talented players. I suspect here is that for a player like Jarvis, he needs to win a top 6 spot to make the team or else he doesn't really bring something that Team Canada would look for in a bottom 6 role.

 

[NA Hockey]

Unfortunately, Canada still somewhat constructs their teams with the notion that the bottom 6 players need to fill more a role than just straight up taking higher talented players. I suspect here is that for a player like Jarvis, he needs to win a top 6 spot to make the team or else he doesn't really bring something that Team Canada would look for in a bottom 6 role.

Ya you are probably correct re Jarvis. I guess he really hopes Lafreniere decides not to attend .

Without Lafreniere there I just don't think Tourigny force feeds Quinn first line out of position especially when he has no history with Hockey Canada (I know he coaches him, but HC is pretty set in their ways). Easier to keep him second line RW (at best) and move up Newhook to first line LW.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

I don't think there's a team in this tournament that could stop a Canadian lineup with Lafreniere, Dach, and Cozens.

The only way is if a goalie goes prime Hasek for a game.

That's just too much firepower at this level.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Anyone who follows the USHL/NCAA more than me on Owen Power’s chances of making it? Intriguing prospect given his physical attributes but his lack of playing top level junior (I don’t consider the USHL to be on par with all the CHL leagues bar the Q) might he be exposed against better competition?

 

[SOLR]

and that would have been Sid's 2nd. crack at the U20 team as a 17 year old in '05.

This will be Wright's first kick at the can...and really, 16 year old Canadian forwards don't do much at this tournament outside of Gretzky in '78. were you around for that one?

And Wright is not in the Sid Crosby tier of stardom. He's not in the McDavid tier of stardom! he's more Tavares/Stamkos tier.

Your opinion, I think he's in the Sid tier. What confuses people here: McDavid, Crosby are playmakers. Wright is more a shooter. He's easily a better shooter than Stamkos at the same age. And he has more speed in his game than Tavares. More accuracy than Tavares. This makes him a Sid-level shooter imo.

Wright will be 10 days from 17 years old at WJC... he's turning 17, not 16.

 

[Gold Standard]

Your opinion, I think he's in the Sid tier. What confuses people here: McDavid, Crosby are playmakers. Wright is more a shooter. He's easily a better shooter than Stamkos at the same age. And he has more speed in his game than Tavares. More accuracy than Tavares. This makes him a Sid-level shooter imo.

Wright will be 10 days from 17 years old at WJC... he's turning 17, not 16.

I don't give a **** when he turns 17. The tournament starts and ends he'll be 16 years old. and playing in his 1st. tournament.

Sid was was 16 years and 4 months old when he played his 1st. tournament '04 in Helsinki. He was okay. nothing great, just okay.

but hey, go ahead and expect big things out of Wright comparing him to Sid's 2nd. tournament as a 17 year old; you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

I'm expecting him to make the team and hold his own...and get 3 or 4 pts. If he does that. I'll be happy.

 

[Hockey Stick]

I'm hopeful for very big things from Cozens and McMichael this year. The amount of returning guys who played in pretty prominent roles on last years team should make Canada even better than they look on paper. Exciting year to be a fan

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I don't see any scenario Wright makes the team and is played in a prominent role. He makes the team this year as an extra forward for experience and growth for next year. Maybe he plays on the 2nd PP unit.

 

[End on a Hinote]

Not to get ahead of myself, but this looks like the strongest Canada roster since 2005. I don't usually give Canada and early gold medal prediction but I think I will for this squad.

 

[Gold Standard]

man, it's going to be a fun few months til puck drop contemplating this Team Canada roster. and the tourney.

 

[SOLR]

I don't give a **** when he turns 17. The tournament starts and ends he'll be 16 years old. and playing in his 1st. tournament.

Sid was was 16 years and 4 months old when he played his 1st. tournament '04 in Helsinki. He was okay. nothing great, just okay.

but hey, go ahead and expect big things out of Wright comparing him to Sid's 2nd. tournament as a 17 year old; you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

I'm expecting him to make the team and hold his own...and get 3 or 4 pts. If he does that. I'll be happy.

So if you can count:

Sid was 17 and 4 months in his 2nd tournament, thus Wright is 4 months younger than Sid 2nd appearance and a much better winger (as a shooter) than Sid ever was or will be.

I think Wright would be just fine with Dach and Lafreniere, who will the 2 strongest players in the tournament - bar none. He has the talent to be there, and he has the best skills to be the best winger they can have.

And now he's been training in gyms for 8-9 months, you'll see a much more mature 16 years old than you could have ever seen if they had to play playoffs-memorials-Hlinka etc.

 

[tools99]

Just a few thoughts on what the lineup could look like... I have no doubt that Wright will be a star in the NHL and in an ordinary year, where guys like Dach, Byfield, Cozens, and others are unavailable he probably makes the team. But with the loaded forward group this year I think he finds himself as one of the last cuts unfortunately. I also have a feeling Jack Quinn is going to be in the top 6 considering Tourigny is the coach, which likely pushes a guy like Tomasino into the bottom 6. Another thing I fear is what Canada does with Newhook and Power, as I think Newhook should be stapled to the top 6 and Power should at least make the roster if not be on the third pairing.

Anyways here is my lineup projections

McMichael-Dach-Cozens
Perfetti-Byfield-Quinn
Newhook-Krebs-Tomasino
Holloway-Zary-Mercer
Pelletier Poulin

Byram-Drysdale
Harley-Schneider
Guhle-Barron
Robertson Korczak

Levi
Garand
Gauthier

 

[Gold Standard]

So if you can count:

Sid was 17 and 4 months in his 2nd tournament, thus Wright is 4 months younger than Sid 2nd appearance and a much better winger (as a shooter) than Sid ever was or will be.

I think Wright would be just fine with Dach and Lafreniere, who will the 2 strongest players in the tournament - bar none. He has the talent to be there, and he has the best skills to be the best winger they can have.

And now he's been training in gyms for 8-9 months, you'll see a much more mature 16 years old than you could have ever seen if they had to play playoffs-memorials-Hlinka etc.

I hope you're right. It would be great if you are right! If he's as good as you seem to think he is. he should be a tournament dominate player and easily score 12+ pts in the tournament. if that happens, dm me your email I'll gladly send you 100.00$ and you can order in some beers and bucket of KFC for you and your pals. have a night on me.

but If I'm right, you'll need to acknowledge it here. "man was I wrong! was ever wrong. you were right, you were right, Gold!"

and no blaming the coach. the coach was an idiot. didn't play him on the first line, he was stuck with a bunch of 4th line plugs. or any of the other nonsense HF posters come up with here.

sound good?

 

[JackSlater]

They have to play Wright because the 2021s are so weak. If they don't play him they won't really have a star for next year. They always bring up 1-2 player early to bring continuity to the team, Wright will be that this year. I don't expect Simoneau (2021) to make the team, but maybe next year.

Moreover, imo Wright is already one of the top 9 forwards we have... I'm still dreaming about Lafreniere - Dach - Wright.

Simoneau is in his last year of eligibility.

and that would have been Sid's 2nd. crack at the U20 team as a 17 year old in '05.

This will be Wright's first kick at the can...and really, 16 year old Canadian forwards don't do much at this tournament outside of Gretzky in '78. were you around for that one?

And Wright is not in the Sid Crosby tier of stardom. He's not in the McDavid tier of stardom! he's more Tavares/Stamkos tier.

You're right. Crosby was not on the top two lines as a 16 year old. Even as a 17 year old he was on the top line but there were several players who played bigger roles. Even if Wright were on the level of a Crosby or McDavid we wouldn't reasonably expect much from him at this point.

Here's Sportsnet's first crack at a roster. Not far off what people here are projecting. There usually seem to be two or so random picks each year.

A way-too-early look at Canada's 2021 World Junior Championships roster - Sportsnet.ca

 

[Gold Standard]

Simoneau is in his last year of eligibility.



You're right. Crosby was not on the top two lines as a 16 year old. Even as a 17 year old he was on the top line but there were several players who played bigger roles. Even if Wright were on the level of a Crosby or McDavid we wouldn't reasonably expect much from him at this point.

Here's Sportsnet's first crack at a roster. Not far off what people here are projecting. There usually seem to be two or so random picks each year.

A way-too-early look at Canada's 2021 World Junior Championships roster - Sportsnet.ca

Shame on you Sportsnet! It's never too early to contemplate Team Canada rosters. especially considering the year the world is having. I'm expecting a gold medal out of this team, it's looking pretty damn stacked, but I just want to see my favorite tourney! and whoever wins - wins.

I'm not giving Hockey Canada any of my usual grief this year.

 

[SOLR]

I hope you're right. It would be great if you are right! If he's as good as you seem to think he is. he should be a tournament dominate player and easily score 12+ pts in the tournament. if that happens, dm me your email I'll gladly send you 100.00$ and you can order in some beers and bucket of KFC for you and your pals. have a night on me.

but If I'm right, you'll need to acknowledge it here. "man was I wrong! was ever wrong. you were right, you were right, Gold!"

and no blaming the coach. the coach was an idiot. didn't play him on the first line, he was stuck with a bunch of 4th line plugs. or any of the other nonsense HF posters come up with here.

sound good?

I didn't say he would dominate, I said he would be fine I would expect 6-7 points from the first line with Lafreniere being the "man" and with Wright not playing as much on the PP (where McMichael will get more time just to feed Lafreniere).

 

[newfy]

Wow. Crazy view if you watched any NCAA hockey in the spring. Newhook was probably the best player in the country. I'd say he should be top 6 even with Dach and Laf there.
Mercer will be there because he's a returnee. Probably similar role to last year.

I'm aware of how good Newhook is. But Hockey Canada has left him off rosters/not invited him at times when it seemed like they should have. The guys in here who follow Hockey Canada closely have noticed this as well with Newhook.

Mercer is a returning player, Newhook isnt and has been shat on by hockey Canada in the past. I wouldnt pencil Newhook above Mercer in the line up at this point in time

 

[JackSlater]

Shame on you Sportsnet! It's never too early to contemplate Team Canada rosters. especially considering the year the world is having. I'm expecting a gold medal out of this team, it's looking pretty damn stacked, but I just want to see my favorite tourney! and whoever wins - wins.

I'm not giving Hockey Canada any of my usual grief this year.

It's good to see Hockey Canada at least throwing around financial muscle this year. I'm hoping for a competitive camp.

Looking at the defencemen, only five of them are right handed. I'd guess that the team takes at least three RHD. Drysdale is obviously a lock, and I expect at least two of Barron, Korczak, Schneider, and Spence to be there. I'm not a big Spence fan based on his QMJHL play. I do like Barron, but his missed time and health issues may give Hockey Canada some pause. I'd be very surprised if Schneider didn't make the team. He'd complement Byram (or Harley) very well and he looked good at the camp last year.

 

[snipes]

Unfortunately, Canada still somewhat constructs their teams with the notion that the bottom 6 players need to fill more a role than just straight up taking higher talented players. I suspect here is that for a player like Jarvis, he needs to win a top 6 spot to make the team or else he doesn't really bring something that Team Canada would look for in a bottom 6 role.

Holloways two way game, physicality, and speed/size combo would be a guy I’d think who fits the Team Canada way of constructing a team.

This team is stacked top to bottom, should be a fun tournament.

 

[LeafChief]

This USA age group has dominated their competition for years. Only been beat a few games, and they usually beat all these top countries by many goals. But some call them overrated because they lost one game that Askarov stood on his head and then were used in minor roles by a bad coach last year. If they are let to play their games, I can’t see how we aren’t the favorites. Canada is good every year and certainly has a chance to win, but we’ve consistently been the best in this age group.

As usual, you are wrong.

 

[Canada4Gold]

They have to play Wright because the 2021s are so weak. If they don't play him they won't really have a star for next year. They always bring up 1-2 player early to bring continuity to the team, Wright will be that this year. I don't expect Simoneau (2021) to make the team, but maybe next year.

Moreover, imo Wright is already one of the top 9 forwards we have... I'm still dreaming about Lafreniere - Dach - Wright.

12 first round picks in 2020 are Canadian born 2002's that are eligible for next year. Yeah some of those like Byfield and maybe Drysdale and Perfetti will be in the NHL and not available next year, but that still leaves 9 guys headlined by Jarvis. I don't think Canada's team next year will lack talent at all. This tournament always tends to lag a year behind draft years in terms of dominance. Look at the 2019 draft. It was dominated by Americans early and then have a stacked team this year. Canada's stacked year this year will help combat that, but they've got a ton of 18 year olds who will be the impact forces here next year in the WJC.

Wright will probably be a star attraction next year, but I don't think they bring him this year just because next year is weak, that doesn't really make sense and it's not really true either. If they bring him it'll be because he's one of the best options, which from what I've seen of him could definitely be true.

 

[NA Hockey]

So if you can count:

Sid was 17 and 4 months in his 2nd tournament, thus Wright is 4 months younger than Sid 2nd appearance and a much better winger (as a shooter) than Sid ever was or will be.

I think Wright would be just fine with Dach and Lafreniere, who will the 2 strongest players in the tournament - bar none. He has the talent to be there, and he has the best skills to be the best winger they can have.

And now he's been training in gyms for 8-9 months, you'll see a much more mature 16 years old than you could have ever seen if they had to play playoffs-memorials-Hlinka etc.

I am not disputing how good Wright is, he is fantastic but he has never played the wing. Literally his entire life he has played centre and your suggestion would be to play a double underager on the first line at a position he hasn't ever played? On what looks to be the most stacked team Canada has had in years?

He is absolutely a force but he is not amongst the top 12 Under 20 players in Canada as of today. 5 years from now he likely is the best player from this bunch and a top 3 player in the NHL, but today he just isn't.

 

[SOLR]

12 first round picks in 2020 are Canadian born 2002's that are eligible for next year. Yeah some of those like Byfield and maybe Drysdale and Perfetti will be in the NHL and not available next year, but that still leaves 9 guys headlined by Jarvis. I don't think Canada's team next year will lack talent at all. This tournament always tends to lag a year behind draft years in terms of dominance. Look at the 2019 draft. It was dominated by Americans early and then have a stacked team this year. Canada's stacked year this year will help combat that, but they've got a ton of 18 year olds who will be the impact forces here next year in the WJC.

Wright will probably be a star attraction next year, but I don't think they bring him this year just because next year is weak, that doesn't really make sense and it's not really true either. If they bring him it'll be because he's one of the best options, which from what I've seen of him could definitely be true.

1) The record proves otherwise, they always try to have 1-2 D (Mercer and Drysdale last year) or D-1 (exceptionally, Crosby, Tavares, McDavid, Lafreniere etc.) players so they can always have at least 3-4 returnees of calibre. The last thing you want is to send a whole team that has never played in the tournament. The issue here: the 2021 draft is very weak for everyone. So the next batch of players are the 2022s (2023s will be right behind and are also a good crop for Canada), so the smart thing to do is to get at least 1 2022 in this year (the exceptional one) and Savoie next year (Bedard, Yager?).

2) Canada isn't going to see Lambert, Slafkovsky play, without playing Wright.