WJC: 2021 Canada Roster Talk

[Canada4Gold]

It's too bad our goaltending is such a question mark this year because our forward group is stacked, and the defense core is awesome as well.

Canada v. all the European teams combined who's forward group is better? Sounds silly initially, but it looks pretty close to me. Apologies for the players out of position

Lafreniere - Dach - Cozens
Newhook - Byfield - McMichael
Mercer - Tomasino - Perfetti
Holloway - Krebs - Quinn
Wright, Pelletier

Raymond - Stutzle - Kakko
Podkolzin - Rossi - Holtz
Reichel - Lundell - Amirov
Lambert - Hendriksson - Puistola
Mysak, Abramov

I'm probably missing some guys on the fringes but this feels close.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It's too bad our goaltending is such a question mark this year because our forward group is stacked, and the defense core is awesome as well.

Canada v. all the European teams combined who's forward group is better? Sounds silly initially, but it looks pretty close to me. Apologies for the players out of position

Lafreniere - Dach - Cozens
Newhook - Byfield - McMichael
Mercer - Tomasino - Perfetti
Holloway - Krebs - Quinn
Wright, Pelletier

Raymond - Stutzle - Kakko
Podkolzin - Rossi - Holtz
Reichel - Lundell - Amirov
Lambert - Hendriksson - Puistola
Mysak, Abramov

I'm probably missing some guys on the fringes but this feels close.

Goaltenders looked really good last night. Lennox really the only of the 4 that wasnt very good.

 

[EXTRAS]

It's too bad our goaltending is such a question mark this year because our forward group is stacked, and the defense core is awesome as well.

Canada v. all the European teams combined who's forward group is better? Sounds silly initially, but it looks pretty close to me. Apologies for the players out of position

Lafreniere - Dach - Cozens
Newhook - Byfield - McMichael
Mercer - Tomasino - Perfetti
Holloway - Krebs - Quinn
Wright, Pelletier

Raymond - Stutzle - Kakko
Podkolzin - Rossi - Holtz
Reichel - Lundell - Amirov
Lambert - Hendriksson - Puistola
Mysak, Abramov

I'm probably missing some guys on the fringes but this feels close.

Outside Laf I take the euro team pretty easily here

 

[snipes]

Newhook is on the way.

Newhook will definitely help in that department.

Holloway will be a good addition as well. Strong two way player, fast, physical on the forecheck and strong on the face off circle. Hockey Canada has always loved players like him with our wave after wave Canadian Way style of attack.

This team should be strong but games aren’t played on paper and this will be nice to have a best-on-best type WJC even without Laf. Obviously I’d like our chances at Gold more with Lafreniere but we can win this without him if everyone buys into the Canadian Way of fast, skilled, and physical hockey every single shift with suffocating pressure.

Strong crop on D as well which I like. Expecting big things from Byram and Drysdale in particular.

 

[57special]

There were so many good forwards out there that I think there is no way you can call Newhook and Holloway a lock.

 

[Goulet17]

There were so many good forwards out there that I think there is no way you can call Newhook and Holloway a lock.

Yeah, I think this is a reality. Fans of Newhook and Holloway may not want to hear it, but they are at a real disadvantage. I would feel bad for Newhook in particular if it plays out that way after what occurred last year, but he can get back to BC and focus on helping his college team.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Outside Laf I take the euro team pretty easily here

Eh I do think the Euro team edges it but I definitely dont think it is easily.

 

[Statsy]

It's too bad our goaltending is such a question mark this year because our forward group is stacked, and the defense core is awesome as well.

Canada v. all the European teams combined who's forward group is better? Sounds silly initially, but it looks pretty close to me. Apologies for the players out of position

Lafreniere - Dach - Cozens
Newhook - Byfield - McMichael
Mercer - Tomasino - Perfetti
Holloway - Krebs - Quinn
Wright, Pelletier

Raymond - Stutzle - Kakko
Podkolzin - Rossi - Holtz
Reichel - Lundell - Amirov
Lambert - Hendriksson - Puistola
Mysak, Abramov

I'm probably missing some guys on the fringes but this feels close.

I probably take Europe, but it really is a lot closer than it should be. It’s an interesting exercise.

 

[Dack]

There were so many good forwards out there that I think there is no way you can call Newhook and Holloway a lock.

I've seen a lot of people suggest that players who are completely on the bubble are locks.

These are the actual locks
Byfield
Dach (assuming NHL camp doesn't start up before the tournament)
Cozens
McMichael
Mercer



And on defense
Byram
Drysdale
Maybe Harley?

There are like 25 first rounders at this camp, calling anyone who's not a returnee a lock is a stretch imo even if you think they're more likely to make it than not. There are some other guys you could add that are probably very likely to make it like Krebs, but the main idea is that this may be the best group of players team Canada has ever had to pick from because of covid. Unless someone made the team last year and or is a top 5 pick from the last 2 drafts they aren't a lock.

 

[EXTRAS]

Anyone who has seen the scrimmages wanna give their best guess on the 7 or 8 guys who make the defense?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Anyone who has seen the scrimmages wanna give their best guess on the 7 or 8 guys who make the defense?

Bryram, Drysdale and Harley feel like the 3 locks to make it.

Bryam-Drysdale
Harley-Korczak
Guhle-Barron/Schneider
Barron/Scneider

That would be my best guess right now but wouldn't be shocked if the bottom 3 end up different.

 

[Leviathan899]

I'm watching everything about team white defense this game. He looked really good this frame.

Yeah I agree with you, I had to keep looking at my notes and seeing who 8 White was, Sebrango had a great game. Was very good defensively getting in lanes, liked his gaps and did a good job stepping up and taking away space. Moved the puck well. I also like Robertson; Korczak and Hunt among the guys who don’t get talked about much.

 

[Leviathan899]

Agree with Krebs. As for Mercer, I want to see how things turn out when the clearly rusty non-QMJHL guys get going before calling him a lock

Mercer is without a doubt a lock for this team, and it’s not even close. He’ll wear a letter as well, I’d bet my house on it. Not one returning player gets cut this year imo. krebs is as close to a lock for a non returning player as you can get. I think Graeme Clarke has a 99% chance of making this team too. Tomasino lock as well.

 

[Leviathan899]

Byfield doesn't seem like a big game player or good in best vs best tournaments to me but maybe it's my ducks goggle's on lol

Byfield was average this game, some nice moments but overall was just okay.

 

[Leviathan899]

I think it has a lot to due with the quality of competition. Canada has so much depth that they could send two gold medal contending teams. For most of these players the competition is much better than the league they play and is even better than a lot of the tournament teams. Better more equal competition makes it much harder to shine and stand out.

Very good point, even a red vs white game you’re playing essentially a team that could compete for gold in the tournament. So it’s a lot higher comp than a league game between London and Kitchener or Brandon vs swift current. Even watching Michigan vs Wisconsin the other day, this red and white game had so much more skill and speed. Hard to stand out and differentiate yourself with so many good players playing.

 

[EXTRAS]

Mercer is without a doubt a lock for this team, and it’s not even close. He’ll wear a letter as well, I’d bet my house on it. Not one returning player gets cut this year imo. krebs is as close to a lock for a non returning player as you can get. I think Graeme Clarke has a 99% chance of making this team too. Tomasino lock as well.

Seems a bit premature calling a 3rd rounder who has played 16 reg. Season games since being drafted a 99% lock
^-_-^

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

Mercer is without a doubt a lock for this team, and it’s not even close. He’ll wear a letter as well, I’d bet my house on it. Not one returning player gets cut this year imo. krebs is as close to a lock for a non returning player as you can get. I think Graeme Clarke has a 99% chance of making this team too. Tomasino lock as well.

Yeah I completely forgot Mercer was in the team a year ago. That was my bad

 

[Prominence Problem]

Yeah I agree with you, I had to keep looking at my notes and seeing who 8 White was, Sebrango had a great game. Was very good defensively getting in lanes, liked his gaps and did a good job stepping up and taking away space. Moved the puck well. I also like Robertson; Korczak and Hunt among the guys who don’t get talked about much.

I didn't notice Korczak as much, but Robertson and Hunt stood out to me as well.

 

[WRC]

I probably take Europe, but it really is a lot closer than it should be. It’s an interesting exercise.

I think it's more of a pompous exercise than an interesting one. Thinking this way within a team is what puts a gold medal favorite at risk of relegation. (Fussen, 1992). Be a proud Canadian (as I am), but be a humble one as well.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I think it's more of a pompous exercise than an interesting one. Thinking this way within a team is what puts a gold medal favorite at risk of relegation. (Fussen, 1992). Be a proud Canadian (as I am), but be a humble one as well.

What we say on the internet has quite literally no impact with what happens on the ice. The fans can think whatever we want about the team I am sure the coach will do his job to keep them grounded.

 

[WRC]

Yeah, I think this is a reality. Fans of Newhook and Holloway may not want to hear it, but they are at a real disadvantage. I would feel bad for Newhook in particular if it plays out that way after what occurred last year, but he can get back to BC and focus on helping his college team.

I think you're way off base. They knew this would happen, so why have them there in the first place? I watched every BC game last year, and Newhook should be a top 6 on this team without question. All accounts out of Chestnut Hill are that he's actually stronger and faster than he was when the shutdown occurred. He'll be back helping his college team alright ...... in the second week of January.

 

[Leviathan899]

There were so many good forwards out there that I think there is no way you can call Newhook and Holloway a lock.

Yeah, as much as the media and some fans are proclaiming them as locks, I don’t think that’s the case. I’d suggest both are favourites to make it, but I know if Newhook doesn’t have a the best camp, they’ll cut him. I think Holloway is going to make it, perfect 4th or even 3rd line C.

 

[WRC]

What we say on the internet has quite literally no impact with what happens on the ice. The fans can think whatever we want about the team I am sure the coach will do his job to keep them grounded.

Without question, just don't like the "greater than thou" attitude from fans. Picture USA b-ball fans saying that they're Olympic team would beat an all-star team from all other countries combined. Even if it has merit, it's still somewhat sickening.

 

[Leviathan899]

Seems a bit premature calling a 3rd rounder who has played 16 reg. Season games since being drafted a 99% lock
^-_-^

I’m sure it will seem premature but I don’t care, I believe he’s close to a lock. Number of reasons, he plays for Tourigny in Ottawa, and is a very good all around player. Has grown leaps and bounds in his two way game, can play on all four lines. Was a member of the 01 Gretzky Hlinka team that won gold. Had a great game last night and I just know he’s a hockey Canada favourite. Draft position doesn’t mean a ton when picking this team.

 

[Leviathan899]

Yeah I completely forgot Mercer was in the team a year ago. That was my bad

No worries all good.