WJC: 2021 Team USA Roster Talk

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Apparently the team will be announced tomorrow.

With Robertson

Robertson-Turcotte-Kaliyev
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
Brisson-Bordeleau-Brink
Beniers-Beecher-Berard
Farinacci-Slaggert

Without Robertson

Kaliyev-Turcotte-Brink
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
Brisson-Bordeleau-Beniers
Farinacci-Beecher-Berard
Slaggert-Colangelo

York-Thrun
Sanderson-Helleson
Lacombe-Skinner
Kleven-Faber

Knight
Wolf
Stein

The easy cuts are the coach's Providence players Moynihan and McDonald. If no Robertson, you then have to cut Slaggert or Colangelo. I don't think either should be on the team next year, but I think Slaggert has a better chance to play a role, so I'd keep Slaggert.

 

[NAD24]

Apparently the team will be announced tomorrow.

With Robertson

Robertson-Turcotte-Kaliyev
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
Brisson-Bordeleau-Brink
Beniers-Beecher-Berard
Farinacci-Slaggert

Without Robertson

Kaliyev-Turcotte-Brink
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
Brisson-Bordeleau-Beniers
Farinacci-Beecher-Berard
Slaggert-Colangelo

York-Thrun
Sanderson-Helleson
Lacombe-Skinner
Kleven-Faber

Knight
Wolf
Stein

The easy cuts are the coach's Providence players Moynihan and McDonald. If no Robertson, you then have to cut Slaggert or Colangelo. I don't think either should be on the team next year, but I think Slaggert has a better chance to play a role, so I'd keep Slaggert.

Fair, I agree McDonald is a definite cut, although I think its more likely than not that Moynihan makes the team, I think Leaman likes what he can do on the ice and will remain loyal to him, plus it helps he has been apart of this group since 2017 and a lot of the guys including Zegras think he'll prove his worth during the tournament.

 

[wings5]

Apparently the team will be announced tomorrow.

With Robertson

Robertson-Turcotte-Kaliyev
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
Brisson-Bordeleau-Brink
Beniers-Beecher-Berard
Farinacci-Slaggert

Without Robertson

Kaliyev-Turcotte-Brink
Boldy-Zegras-Caufield
Brisson-Bordeleau-Beniers
Farinacci-Beecher-Berard
Slaggert-Colangelo

York-Thrun
Sanderson-Helleson
Lacombe-Skinner
Kleven-Faber

Knight
Wolf
Stein

The easy cuts are the coach's Providence players Moynihan and McDonald. If no Robertson, you then have to cut Slaggert or Colangelo. I don't think either should be on the team next year, but I think Slaggert has a better chance to play a role, so I'd keep Slaggert.

Just when I thought Canada should have a decent edge at forward, Brisson, Bordeleau and Berniers look like much better players than I originally thought before this season. US team should be strong

 

[JiggsNY]

I get it but also I think the leafs should be a little more lenient like Chicago with Dach. It’s not like this is his first pro camp. He just spent all summer skating with Toronto heading into the bubble and played playoff games with the leafs. The leafs should have all the info they need to know if he’s making the team.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I get it but also I think the leafs should be a little more lenient like Chicago with Dach. It’s not like this is his first pro camp. He just spent all summer skating with Toronto heading into the bubble and played playoff games with the leafs. The leafs should have all the info they need to know if he’s making the team.

I think he should be going but if he doesn't go I don't think it is a strictly Leaf decision. It is pretty obvious at this point that the difference with Dach and Lafreniere,Hughes,Kakko and potentially Robertson is that Dach immediately went out of his way to make it clear that he absolutely wanted to be at this tournament.

 

[Peasy]

“Ideally, TOR would like to have Robertson in the WJC but the top priority for the team, and presumably the player himself, is to try to make Leafs 2021 roster. If the projected NHL RTP date of Jan. 13 is reality, camps would open late Dec/early Jan. WJC gold medal game is Jan. 5.

Robertson has been in TOR this week, not at camp in Plymouth, MI. He has followed WJC testing protocols, is eligible to meet Team Sunday in EDM but it’s possible he won’t be there. Team may have no choice but to move on without a top player who played in WJC last year.“



The Leafs don’t need to take Robertson into camp. Such garbage. Toronto’s front office is terrible in so many ways.

Where has it been said that Toronto is withholding Robertson from the WJC?

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

Did Robertson get released finally ?

 

[ORRFForever]

Did Robertson get released finally ?

A lot of contradictory posts on the subject in this thread.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I get it but also I think the leafs should be a little more lenient like Chicago with Dach. It’s not like this is his first pro camp. He just spent all summer skating with Toronto heading into the bubble and played playoff games with the leafs. The leafs should have all the info they need to know if he’s making the team.

The Leafs are not in tank mode like Chicago so if they feel Robertson can help them they will make sure he is available and ready to help them. Any team in the NHL feeling a player will help them when the puck drops January 13th will keep the player... you see it with Kaako, Lafreniere etc...

 

[KaseMeOutside]

I can see both sides of the issue, but if he's coming straight from a highly competitive environment to the Leafs it's not going to put him that far behind, the training camps are going to be short anyways

 

[KingLB]

I can see both sides of the issue, but if he's coming straight from a highly competitive environment to the Leafs it's not going to put him that far behind, the training camps are going to be short anyways

Thats my thought exactly. Personally I think coming in “in game shape” is going to give Turcotte/Byfield/Bjornfot a huge leg up coming to the Kings camp vs guys that have been doing some light-medium intensity skates.

 

[NewHampshire]

I am not up to date on Canadians coaching in the NCAA but purely from my point of view I would think Major Jr coaches know in tight games which 18-19 year olds will perform with the game on the line whereas a NCAA coach may rely on older players in tight games. I also think Major Jr coaches aren't afraid to move pieces around where what I have seen at the world juniors the American coaches stick pretty much with the lines as they are. Prime example was who scored the gold medal goal last year. Akil Thomas who played limited minutes was out with 3 or 4 minutes left in the game. I also thing the Canadian coaches come with a respect from the players that maybe the NCAA coaches do not but again only my opinion and by no means am I a genius lol

Why would you think a team full of college players would not respect a college coach? College coaches rely on their best players just like any other coach in any other sport. I think it's important to remember that these are short tournaments and sometimes things happen...

That said, Sandelin coached last year's team the way he coaches in Duluth - its a strategy anyone would love over a long season, but didn't work in a short tournament and does emphasize spreading talented up and down the line-up. Who knows what Leaman will do, but I'll say again that is NOT how he coaches at PC...

Motzko, Hastings, Sadelin and Leaman are all very different coaches. Lumping them together as college coaches and assuming college coaches will fail is un-nuanced and reactionary...

 

[DatDude44]

Robertson-Zegras-Caufield would be an absolutely disgusting line....and would free up kaliyev for easier matchups where his lack of everything minus goal scoring ability wouldn’t hurt u as much and allow him better opportunity to light the lamp and play his game. But my god please have turcotte to help pick him up defensively

 

[NewHampshire]

Fair, I agree McDonald is a definite cut, although I think its more likely than not that Moynihan makes the team, I think Leaman likes what he can do on the ice and will remain loyal to him, plus it helps he has been apart of this group since 2017 and a lot of the guys including Zegras think he'll prove his worth during the tournament.

Moynihan has a real role on this team and is a fantastic option on a bottom six line that skates and checks, but remains capable of chipping in offensively. I love your fourth line of Farinacci, Beecher and Moynihan - they scored 10, 9 and 13 goals, respectively, as NCAA true freshman - all three skate hard, play both ways and check aggressively. That is a legit match-up fourth line that can be dangerous in its own right. Pair that with a deep top-nine and Team USA should have the makings of a real nice offensive group.

Moynihan is extremely likely to EARN a role on this team, he's far from an obvious cut...

 

[Choralone]

Robertson-Zegras-Caufield would be an absolutely disgusting line....and would free up kaliyev for easier matchups where his lack of everything minus goal scoring ability wouldn’t hurt u as much and allow him better opportunity to light the lamp and play his game. But my god please have turcotte to help pick him up defensively

To be fair, Kaliyev is an underrated playmaker as well - he's not just a plug who can shoot.

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

Where has it been said that Toronto is withholding Robertson from the WJC?

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/1337476622425972736

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/1337477502827188229

 

[SanDogBrewin]

I get it but also I think the leafs should be a little more lenient like Chicago with Dach. It’s not like this is his first pro camp. He just spent all summer skating with Toronto heading into the bubble and played playoff games with the leafs. The leafs should have all the info they need to know if he’s making the team.

Bunch of BS is what it is. Leafs front office are hot garbage.

 

[Peasy]

Bunch of BS is what it is. Leafs front office are hot garbage.

If he really wanted to go I'm sure they would let him. But there is obviously a mutual interest from both sides of wanting to have the best shot at making the roster.

Dach doesn't have that issue as he played full time last year and his spot is guaranteed.

 

[Kahvi]

Flames fan here, asking:
1) will Wolf make the team (or did he already make it)
2) how likely he'll get to play

 

[Rob Brown]

Bunch of BS is what it is. Leafs front office are hot garbage.

Because one of their players may or may not go to the WJs? That makes the front office garbage? We don't even know what the decision is, and if he doesn't go he won't be the first player ever to go that route.

Relax...

 

[Peasy]

Flames fan here, asking:
1) will Wolf make the team (or did he already make it)
2) how likely he'll get to play

Yes he will make it.

And he will likely play 1 game just like last year unless Knight is absolutely horrible.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

Wow:
Bordeleau, Beecher cut

 

[J1mLahey]

No Robertson, now official

 

[OldScool]

Bordeleau and Beecher cut but Berard/Moynihan/slaggert are massive head scratchers. I get Leaman coaches Providence but come on....

 

[AvatarAang]

Wow i thought 2 of Slaggert, farinacci, Moynihan and colangelo would be cut over Beecher and bordeleau