WJC: 2021 Canada Roster Talk

[ORRFForever]

pretty much! minus a Sidney Crosby like phenom! As good as Wright is, his impact will be more along the lines of '04 Sidney Crosby and the gold medal meltdown team (thank you, M.A. Fluery! disappointed you never got a shot at making amends for that loss in a Team Canada sweater) than the '05 Sidney Crosby - the best team in the history of the tournament - team.

Hopefully this group will do as much going forward as the 2005 team on the international level.

 

[ORRFForever]

pretty much! minus a Sidney Crosby like phenom! As good as Wright is, his impact will be more along the lines of '04 Sidney Crosby and the gold medal meltdown team (thank you, M.A. Fluery! disappointed you never got a shot at making amends for that loss in a Team Canada sweater) than the '05 Sidney Crosby - the best team in the history of the tournament - team.

With Dach coming back, is he a bigger version of Patrice Bergeron coming back in 2005?

 

[AveryStar4Eva]

I’ll take a stab at it, no Lafreniere on the team (even though I think it would be smart to get him skating).

Newhook - Dach - Quinn
Perfetti - Byfeild - Cozens
Krebs - McMichael - Tomasino
Holloway - Zary - Mercer

Byram - Schneider
Harley - Drysdale
Guhle - Korczak

Spares: Poulin, Jarvis, Power, Barron

Not gonna attempt to figure out goalies

 

[ORRFForever]

I’ll take a stab at it, no Lafreniere on the team (even though I think it would be smart to get him skating).

I agree.

If I were the Rangers, let him get a head start at the WJR's. Get his feet moving, get his confidence up, then have him join the Rangers on Jan 7th.

A win-win and I don't see a down side.

 

[AveryStar4Eva]

I agree.

If I were the Rangers, let him get a head start at the WJR's. Get his feet moving, get his confidence up, then have him join the Rangers on Jan 7th.

A win-win and I don't see a down side.

Especially with the season likely being shortened don’t need to worry about wearing him out. Also as a Canadian I just want to see a super team put together

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

My ideal team:

Alexis Lafreniere - Kirby Dach - Peyton Krebs
Alex Newhook - Quinton Byfield - Dylan Cozens
Cole Perfetti - Connor McMichael - Dawson Mercer
Dylan Holloway - Jamieson Rees - Phil Tomasino
Samuel Poulin
Shane Wright

Bowen Byram - Braden Schneider
Matthew Robertson - Jamie Drysdale
Thomas Harley - Kaedan Korczak
Braden Guhle
Owen Power

 

[jj cale]

Great to see the Canadian WJC team talk heating up here, nice read as usual.

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

Unless Wright shits the bed, I think he’s there.

 

[Lockin17]

Lafreniere-Byfield-McMichael
Perfetti-Cozens-Pelletier
Krebs-Newhook-Tomasino
Poulin-Rees-Mercer
Foudy

Byram-Drysdale
Harley-Schneider
Robertson-Korczak
Poirier

Cossa
Miner
Garand

i wish !!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

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.

What if there was a team with a potentially better trio, Hughes, Turcotte, and Zegras, for instance with the best goaltender in the tournament (Knight)? Hasn’t that team been consistently better than Canada in this 2001 age group?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I agree.

If I were the Rangers, let him get a head start at the WJR's. Get his feet moving, get his confidence up, then have him join the Rangers on Jan 7th.

A win-win and I don't see a down side.

If the preseason starts before then, it makes no sense. If it starts after, he should play.

 

[NA Hockey]

If the preseason starts before then, it makes no sense. If it starts after, he should play.

Correct me if I am wrong but the top 2001 US players have never played the top Canadian players in the same event best on best. At the U17's Canada was split into three teams At the U18 Worlds, Canada did not have their best and at the 2018 Hlinka the US did not have their best. This will be the first time a US vs Canada teams will be led by the 2001 age groups and each will likely be missing their top 2001 born player Lafreniere and Hughes.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Correct me if I am wrong but the top 2001 US players have never played the top Canadian players in the same event best on best. At the U17's Canada was split into three teams At the U18 Worlds, Canada did not have their best and at the 2018 Hlinka the US did not have their best. This will be the first time a US vs Canada teams will be led by the 2001 age groups and each will likely be missing their top 2001 born player Lafreniere and Hughes.

For the most part, yes. I think that’s correct.

 

[NA Hockey]

For the most part, yes. I think that’s correct.

So, not to be confrontational, why is it in your mind that the 2001's US are clearly the best at the 01 age? We have never had a chance to find out. I will give you that the US goaltending is superior at the 01/02 age group but the Canadian 02's are superior to the US 02's s.

Looking at the potential rosters I will say goaltending goes to the US but if Lafreniere and Dach both play the advantage on paper looks to go to the Canadians on D and at forward by a good margin.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

What if there was a team with a potentially better trio, Hughes, Turcotte, and Zegras, for instance with the best goaltender in the tournament (Knight)? Hasn’t that team been consistently better than Canada in this 2001 age group?

I do not think that is a potentially better trio. At all.

 

[NA Hockey]

I do not think that is a potentially better trio. At all.

I agree.

Lafreniere is significantly better than Zegras, Dach proved to be better than Hughes this year (but it is close) and Turcotte and Cozens is a wash IMO. So not sure many people would give the US the advantage in that head to head match up.

 

[ORRFForever]

I agree.

Lafreniere is significantly better than Zegras, Dach proved to be better than Hughes this year (but it is close) and Turcotte and Cozens is a wash IMO. So not sure many people would give the US the advantage in that head to head match up.

I don't think U.S. fans should come here and downgrade Canadian players anymore than we should go to their thread and do the same.

 

[JackSlater]

What if there was a team with a potentially better trio, Hughes, Turcotte, and Zegras, for instance with the best goaltender in the tournament (Knight)? Hasn’t that team been consistently better than Canada in this 2001 age group?

You seem to be harping on this but what kind of sample are we talking about? The age-relevant U18 where USA has a big advantage and finished ahead of Canada, or the age-relevant Hlinka where Canada has a big advantage and finished ahead of USA? The 2020 WJC where the Canadian 2001s played a big role in a gold medal effort while the American 2001s didn't? These are all distinct events and the 2002s are also very likely to have a big impact on how things turn out. By the same token, people trying to parallel this potential Canadian team with the 2005 Canadian team are off base. It looks like a strong Canadian team this year, but not some unbeatable powerhouse.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

So, not to be confrontational, why is it in your mind that the 2001's US are clearly the best at the 01 age? We have never had a chance to find out. I will give you that the US goaltending is superior at the 01/02 age group but the Canadian 02's are superior to the US 02's s.

Looking at the potential rosters I will say goaltending goes to the US but if Lafreniere and Dach both play the advantage on paper looks to go to the Canadians on D and at forward by a good margin.

I’m only speaking about the results so far. USA has absolutely wrecked teams like Sweden, Russia, Finland, and then the less than full strength Canadian team. They played the full strength Canadian team even with the back ups at the Hlinka.

I wouldn’t suggest only the best team can win. Canada always has a chance, but it’s arrogant to suggest that because you have three high level prospects that the only way you could lose would be excellent goaltending. I’m not holding you to comments of others, but they were said.

If anything, we actually have seen that exact result in this age group and it wasn’t involving Canada. USA dominated the 2019 WJC18 more than any team in recent memory, and got beat by a vintage Askarov performance.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I do not think that is a potentially better trio. At all.

And I would remove the potentially.

I’m merely trying to show the ridiculousness of the statement. The fact that it’s even a discussion shows how ridiculous the statement was.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

What if there was a team with a potentially better trio, Hughes, Turcotte, and Zegras, for instance with the best goaltender in the tournament (Knight)? Hasn’t that team been consistently better than Canada in this 2001 age group?

This is all subjective of course.

For me, the Canadian trio is better.

But the real impact is on how it shapes the rest of the roster. With these three in the top 6, the Canadian group is unstoppable (as much as a team can be in WJC hockey). It's not just about skill. It's about the experience, skill, depth, hockey IQ, and physicality. They would have it all for a tournament-style game.

The only flaw would be goaltending, but I think there's enough quality to find a hot hand. Any early hiccups while finding that in-form goalie are going to get brushed away due to the talent upfront.

For America, Knight is the only variable because goalies can indeed steal the show on their own. That's something I can agree with.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You seem to be harping on this but what kind of sample are we talking about? The age-relevant U18 where USA has a big advantage and finished ahead of Canada, or the age-relevant Hlinka where Canada has a big advantage and finished ahead of USA? The 2020 WJC where the Canadian 2001s played a big role in a gold medal effort while the American 2001s didn't? These are all distinct events and the 2002s are also very likely to have a big impact on how things turn out. By the same token, people trying to parallel this potential Canadian team with the 2005 Canadian team are off base. It looks like a strong Canadian team this year, but not some unbeatable powerhouse.

This is the most successful USA age group ever. Other teams have not been able to play competitive games against them. They’ve lost I think three total games out of what must be over 20, two of which Askarov stole. They also lost one game uncharacteristically to Finland that Hughes missed. That’s it, if I’m remembering their results for the course of two years as U17 and U18 correctly in international games.

Aside from that, they’ve humiliated the other team almost every other game they’ve played. It’s true that they haven’t played the full strength Canadian team. It’s also true that they made very easy work of a less than full strength Canadian team twice and took the full strength Canadian team to overtime with the backups. Quite frankly, it’s arguable whether Canada even beat the American back ups, but that’s irrelevant.

I wouldn’t suggest that only one team can win. However, it’s beyond arrogant to suggest that because you have three strong players that the other teams could only compete if their goalie stood on their head. If anything, it’s been that way with another team in this age group, not the Canadians. But I think anyone can win. I wouldn’t suggest Canada doesn’t have a very good chance to win in a best on best or a less than best on best tournament. I was merely responding to a ridiculous comment.

 

[JackSlater]

This is the most successful USA age group ever. Other teams have not been able to play competitive games against them. They’ve lost I think three total games out of what must be over 20, two of which Askarov stole. They also lost one game uncharacteristically to Finland that Hughes missed. That’s it, if I’m remembering their results for the course of two years as U17 and U18 correctly in international games.

Aside from that, they’ve humiliated the other team almost every other game they’ve played. It’s true that they haven’t played the full strength Canadian team. It’s also true that they made very easy work of a less than full strength Canadian team twice and took the full strength Canadian team to overtime with the backups. Quite frankly, it’s arguable whether Canada even beat the American back ups, but that’s irrelevant.

I wouldn’t suggest that only one team can win. However, it’s beyond arrogant to suggest that because you have three strong players that the other teams could only compete if their goalie stood on their head. If anything, it’s been that way with another team in this age group, not the Canadians. But I think anyone can win. I wouldn’t suggest Canada doesn’t have a very good chance to win in a best on best or a less than best on best tournament. I was merely responding to a ridiculous comment.

You haven't really backed up your statement well. At least three times, probably more, you've said basically "the Americans 2001s have been better than the Canadian 2001s" that I've seen. USA did better at the U18 where it has a big advantage over Canada, and Canada did better at the Hlinka where it has a big advantage over USA. The Canadian 2001s have already played a big role in winning a championship. Additionally, this tournament will feature 2002s in prominent roles and Canada's 2002s look comfortably better than the American 2002s.

Anyway, yes the American 2001s won the IIHF U18, as happens almost every year. The other factors to consider don't favour USA all that much, and given the miniscule sample size we're looking at it's difficult to draw any conclusions anyway. By all means though continue coming in to the Canadian 2021 WJC thread and getting indignant that the Canadian 2021 WJC team is being hyped up.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You haven't really backed up your statement well. At least three times, probably more, you've said basically "the Americans 2001s have been better than the Canadian 2001s" that I've seen. USA did better at the U18 where it has a big advantage over Canada, and Canada did better at the Hlinka where it has a big advantage over USA. The Canadian 2001s have already played a big role in winning a championship. Additionally, this tournament will feature 2002s in prominent roles and Canada's 2002s look comfortably better than the American 2002s.

Anyway, yes the American 2001s won the IIHF U18, as happens almost every year. The other factors to consider don't favour USA all that much, and given the miniscule sample size we're looking at it's difficult to draw any conclusions anyway. By all means though continue coming in to the Canadian 2021 WJC thread and getting indignant that the Canadian 2021 WJC team is being hyped up.

I have nothing to back up. You got upset that I called out a ridiculous suggestion. Remember how this started. You took offense to what I said, not the other way around.

(mod)

 

[JackSlater]

I have nothing to back up. You got upset that I called out a ridiculous suggestion. Remember how this started. You took offense to what I said, not the other way around.

And this website is not segregated based on nationality. You shouldn’t try to suggest that I have less of a right to give my opinion in this thread than anyone else.

Yes, you clearly can't back up your statement. That's pretty obvious by this point. I'm not upset by your repetitive claim, more so looking to see what the actual evidence is. You seem to have very little, so that's that. I'm sure that most of us are very impressed that the United States finished higher than Canada did at the 2019 IIHF U18 tournament. The US team may very well finish ahead of Canada at the 2021 WJC as well.

I'd also suggest that you actually read the post that you quoted before you whine about who has a right to post where. I'll repeat - by all means though continue coming in to the Canadian 2021 WJC thread and getting indignant that the Canadian 2021 WJC team is being hyped up.