WJC: 2021 Canada Roster Talk

[tigervixxxen]

Can someone explain why this is an issue for Power but it's not an issue for Newhook, Holloway or Levi, all of which are also NCAA players. Are their leagues not playing anytime soon, or are their coaches not as adamant they need their player or what?

I have heard reservations about Holloway and Levi so we’ll see if they show up. Newhook is definitely going but that’s probably a factor of he’s a lock for the team and also if they prevented him from going he probably leaves the program since he’s turning pro very soon anyway.

 

[Get North]

Enough talk about no Power as it appears Dach and Lafreniere will be missing the tournament if the NHL begins their season on Jan. 1 as expected. Regardless, the roster remains strong and still plenty of experience from last years champions.

McMichael - Newhook - Quinn
Krebs - Cozens - Jarvis
Perfetti - Byfield - Tomasino
Rees - Zary - Mercer
Poulin/Beckman

The defence is locked with Schneider and Drysdale taking the top 4 right slots. Byram on the left of one. That's the 3 locks and the rest of the guys at camp are your basic 6'2~, two-way defencemen.

Lennox/Gauthier/Garand are probably the goalies.

 

[dmac7719]

They don't have Marvelous Mel Pearson looking out for their best interest.

I do not think that this is some conspiracy or effort to impact the results of the WJC at all. I do not think that coaches, schools, or NHL teams when that issue comes up, care about the results of some international tournament. Pearson is interested in having a good player on his team for as many games as possible. His job is based on winning games and good players help teams win games. I also expect that Power is at least involved in the decision in some way.

Ultimately the covid situation has made things awkward in terms of preparing for this tournament and even staging it. While a coach putting his self-interest first and seemingly ruling out a player is not ideal, if that's the worst that happens in the build up to the tournament then that's more than acceptable.

This. It's funny that so many people here are putting all the blame on Pearson. No one is even mentioning that just maybe, Power also doesn't want to leave his team for the entire WJC camp. This guy has been practicing with team since the end of August. He just might be the type of guy that wants to put more of his focus into a team that committed to him as a player and a person.

 

[Gopher13]

I have heard reservations about Holloway and Levi so we’ll see if they show up. Newhook is definitely going but that’s probably a factor of he’s a lock for the team and also if they prevented him from going he probably leaves the program since he’s turning pro very soon anyway.

Newhooks is going and Levi/Holloway are also going. Levi's NCAA coach has spoken to Team Canada and if he isn't going to the #1 or #2 goalie they have agreed to release him back to Northeastern sooner than later. Holloway and Newhook are different cases because they will likely play a lot vs a player like Power who probably wouldn't even make the team or play very limited minutes. If Levi is the 3rd goalie he is better off going back to Northeastern and playing rather than watching games from the stands at the WJC. He would miss half the NCAA season and wouldn't be playing at WJC.

 

[ORRFForever]

This. It's funny that so many people here are putting all the blame on Pearson. No one is even mentioning that just maybe, Power also doesn't want to leave his team for the entire WJC camp. This guy has been practicing with team since the end of August. He just might be the type of guy that wants to put more of his focus into a team that committed to him as a player and a person.

While I support Pearson - he wants to keep his job, assuming Power doesn't want to leave Michigan for the World Juniors is silly. It's a huge stage and it could be the difference between being 1st overall and just being another player in the Top 10.

 

[dmac7719]

While I support Pearson - he wants to keep his job, assuming Power doesn't want to leave Michigan for the World Juniors is silly. It's a huge stage and it could be the difference between being 1st overall and just being another player in the Top 10.

Why is it silly? There is at least 1 other example where a highly regarded Canadian prospect that was playing in college declined an invite to represent Canada in a tournament because he wanted to focus on his studies and on his college team.
Also, Power having a dominant college season will go way further in pushing him to the 1OA spot than anything he could have done at the WJCs.

 

[ORRFForever]

Why is it silly? There is at least 1 other example where a highly regarded Canadian prospect that was playing in college declined an invite to represent Canada in a tournament because he wanted to focus on his studies and on his college team.
Also, Power having a dominant college season will go way further in pushing him to the 1OA spot than anything he could have done at the WJCs.

It's silly. The World Juniors is huge (especially for a Canadian kid) and a good showing at the WJR's could be, as I said before, the difference between being #1 overall and being a Top 10 draft pick.

I have no problem with your other arguments, but I don't believe there is any chance Power doesn't want to play for Canada, in Canada, on world wide TV, at the WJR's against the best players in the world.

 

[dmac7719]

It's silly. The World Juniors is huge (especially for a Canadian kid) and a good showing at the WJR's could be, as I said before, the difference between being #1 overall and being a Top 10 draft pick.

The difference between being a top 10 caliber pick and being and 1OA caliber pick does not come from any play at the WJCs. This is just a ridiculous kind of statement to make.

I have no problem with your other arguments, but I don't believe there is any chance Power doesn't want to play for Canada, in Canada, on world wide TV, at the WJR's against the best players in the world.

Cool. Care to provide any sort of evidence that could even remotely authenticate this claim, other than that he's a Canadian kid. Like I mentioned before, there is a least 1 example were a Canadian prospect chose playing with his college team rather than representing Canada in an international tournament.

 

[ORRFForever]

The difference between being a top 10 caliber pick and being and 1OA caliber pick does not come from any play at the WJCs. This is just a ridiculous kind of statement to make.


Cool. Care to provide any sort of evidence that could even remotely authenticate this claim, other than that he's a Canadian kid. Like I mentioned before, there is a least 1 example were a Canadian prospect chose playing with his college team rather than representing Canada in an international tournament.

I'm not going to waste our time arguing something neither of us can prove. We can agree to disagree but until Power says he's choosing to pass on the WJR's, I'm going to assume he wants to be there.

 

[Breakers]

LOL

He does a hell of a lot more for his draft stock playing in 10 competitive real games for the next month than he does being at some bubble selection camp.

 

[Breakers]

The difference between being a top 10 caliber pick and being and 1OA caliber pick does not come from any play at the WJCs. This is just a ridiculous kind of statement to make.

THIS ^^^^^^^
Otherwise you wouldn't have seen Zadina fall

 

[dmac7719]

THIS ^^^^^^^
Otherwise you wouldn't have seen Zadina fall

Exactly. If WJC were so important to going 1OA than Drouin, Jones and Barkov would have all been picked before Mackinnon in 2013. Also Ryan Ellis would have gone way earlier than 11th (I think people forget just how dominate of a player he was in junior). That's just 2 examples off the top of my head, I'd wager there are a lot more instances like all of the above

 

[ORRFForever]

Good Lord.

I can't believe posters are arguing that Power playing against the best players in the world, on the best world junior team in the world, on world wide TV, in his home country, is NOT in his best interest.

 

[Breakers]

Good Lord.

I can't believe posters are arguing that Power playing against the best players in the world, on the best world junior team in the world, on world wide TV, in his home country, is NOT in his best interest.

I can't believe you don't seem to grasp the fact that he
1) Isn't guaranteed a spot on the team
2) Isnt guaranteed big minutes in 19 year old tournament even he makes the team
3) Nobody is saying the tournament isnt in his best interest, they are saying attending the camp for 30+ days is not in his best interest.
4) NOTHING is preventing him from going and playing in the tournament, his coaches are encouraging it, and made the schedule to allow him to go, and want him to attend

Hockey Canada is the problem not michigan.

If he stays for most of the camp and is one of the later cuts, that is brutal for his development as nobody will see him play anything competitive till January.

 

[ORRFForever]

I can't believe you don't seem to grasp the fact that he
1) Isn't guaranteed a spot on the team
2) Isnt guaranteed big minutes in 19 year old tournament even he makes the team
3) Nobody is saying the tournament isnt in his best interest, they are saying attending the camp for 30+ days is not in his best interest.
4) NOTHING is preventing him from going and playing in the tournament, his coaches are encouraging it, and made the schedule to allow him to go, and want him to attend

Hockey Canada is the problem not michigan.

If he stays for most of the camp and is one of the later cuts, that is brutal for his development as nobody will see him play anything competitive till January.

IF Power was from Mississippi and not Mississauga, I'd bet my life that Michigan would find away to ensure he attended camp - 50 days or not.

As an American, I think your NCAA bias is showing. As a Canadian, I KNOW my bias is showing so... chances are we are not going to agree.

 

[All Mighty]

I haven't seen anyone mention that Mel Pearson was actually born in Vancouver to a Canadian NHL/WHA player. Say what you want about him wanting to keep one of his top defensemen at school, but suggesting he is doing it because he doesn't want to help Canada's WJC team is questionable at best.

 

[ORRFForever]

I haven't seen anyone mention that Mel Pearson was actually born in Vancouver to a Canadian NHL/WHA player. Say what you want about him wanting to keep one of his top defensemen at school, but suggesting he is doing it because he doesn't want to help Canada's WJC team is questionable at best.

It's been mentioned.

 

[Canada4Gold]

I can't believe you don't seem to grasp the fact that he
1) Isn't guaranteed a spot on the team
2) Isnt guaranteed big minutes in 19 year old tournament even he makes the team
3) Nobody is saying the tournament isnt in his best interest, they are saying attending the camp for 30+ days is not in his best interest.
4) NOTHING is preventing him from going and playing in the tournament, his coaches are encouraging it, and made the schedule to allow him to go, and want him to attend

Hockey Canada is the problem not michigan.

If he stays for most of the camp and is one of the later cuts, that is brutal for his development as nobody will see him play anything competitive till January.

I'm not saying there's some sort of conspiracy here because there's not, but saying someone can play in a tournament but they aren't allowed to go try out for said team when they're a bubble player is basically making the entire decision for all parties as he's not going to just show up mid December and be on the team as a bubble player.

Yes Hockey Canada's decision is playing a huge role as well as it changed the time frame(for good reason IMO), but everyone involved including Pearson essentially knows that him not being released for the camp means he won't be on the team. Lets not paint it like Pearson is making a decision that still allows him to be on the team and out of nowhere Hockey Canada makes a crazy decision that is the only reason he won't be there. Yes Pearson decision technically allows him to still play the tournament but effectively eliminates any chance he'll be named to the roster.

The story is basically this: Hockey Canada changed their camp to a very long camp because the vast majority of their team aren't playing hockey right now so they wanted them to get into game shape. That altered the schedule for guys who are playing(NCAA/QMJHL) so they'd be away from their team for longer. Pearson basically said no we need Power he can't attend the longer camp, that wasn't the plan, which essentially means he won't be on the team because he can't try out, which as a bubble player is a nail in that coffin.

I can see both sides. I don't necessarily agree with Pearson's end of things as any non NHL player is usually released for WJC camps and the tournament so this is a bit strange for all involved, but in fairness to him and Michigan Hockey Canada did change the plan, and losing a player for 2 months is a lot different than anything in the past and they have no incentive to allow it.

 

[ORRFForever]

...but everyone involved including Pearson essentially knows that him not being released for the camp means he won't be on the team. Lets not paint it like Pearson is making a decision that still allows him to be on the team and out of nowhere Hockey Canada makes a crazy decision that is the only reason he won't be there. Yes Pearson decision technically allows him to still play the tournament but effectively eliminates any chance he'll be named to the roster.

^ Spot on. ^

Pearson releasing Power on Dec 10th is disingenuous and ensures he won't make the team.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I haven't seen anyone mention that Mel Pearson was actually born in Vancouver to a Canadian NHL/WHA player. Say what you want about him wanting to keep one of his top defensemen at school, but suggesting he is doing it because he doesn't want to help Canada's WJC team is questionable at best.

He’s coached USA hockey before

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Didn’t realized I clicked on the Owen Power thread, my bad.

 

[cupcrazyman]

Top NHL prospect Owen Power denied world junior opportunity by Michigan | London Free Press

This week, Michigan coach Mel Pearson indicated he would release Power to Hockey Canada, but did not specify when that might happen. Before that, Pearson expressed concerns about the length of the commitment to the camp and tournament and how it would affect Power’s school work.

 

[Gold Standard]

Didn’t realized I clicked on the Owen Power thread, my bad.

my sentiments exactly, not sure why he's got such traction on this site. I haven't seen a prospective roster here that has him anything more than a 7-8 d-man. If he was not a late b-day and coming in as a drafted player (or TOP 3) and projected to be Canada's #1 d-man, I would get the buzz....but as it stands, not sure what all the fuss is about.

If I were Hockey Canada I would have told Coach Mel immediately you can either release when camp opens or don't. You and the player can figure it out. If not, then hope to see him next year and hope we're all back to a somewhat normal life. fingers crossed.

 

[Marky9er]

Its November of his draft year, Power needs to get in real game action at a high level asap not prepare for it at a later date. If he does well he may get to do both.

As a Canadian Wing's fan I think I'm seeing both sides of the coin and there's no contest IMO. NHL teams are already lining up to watch him in NCAA, let him play.

 

[Square Corners]

Enough talk about no Power as it appears Dach and Lafreniere will be missing the tournament if the NHL begins their season on Jan. 1 as expected. Regardless, the roster remains strong and still plenty of experience from last years champions.

McMichael - Newhook - Quinn
Krebs - Cozens - Jarvis
Perfetti - Byfield - Tomasino
Rees - Zary - Mercer
Poulin/Beckman

The defence is locked with Schneider and Drysdale taking the top 4 right slots. Byram on the left of one. That's the 3 locks and the rest of the guys at camp are your basic 6'2~, two-way defencemen.

Lennox/Gauthier/Garand are probably the goalies.

Byfield would also likely be gone if Dach/Lafreniere are.

Thomas Harley is also a lock on D.

Could see it being Brochu over Lennox. Lennox was awful last yaer in the OHL and Brochu was one of the best. And he plays for London so heavily influenced by the Hunter's