WJC: 2022 Team Canada Roster Talk

[bsu]

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Man, I genuinely think Clarke is a great defender. Stunning decision from Hockey Canada imo.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Even if they want a tougher, more gritty leaving Zach L’Hereaux off is odd.

 

[kyle44]

Bedard is the most egregious selection. The kid flat out didn’t earn it. Meanwhile, guys like Clarke and Othmann are lighting it up a year after being first round picks and can’t get into the camp. Savoie is lighting it up as a draft eligible and doesn’t make it.

I'm a massive Savoie fan, but I'm confident that if Bedard was put in his situation (first line PP) on far and away the best team in the CHL, his numbers would be similar.

Bedard hasn't performed to my expectations for him this year, but I've watched a lot of WHL and he's usually the most dynamic player on the ice. He's surrounded by black holes offensively right now, so it'll be interesting to see how he performs at camp with quality linemates.

 

[kyle44]

Even if they want a tougher, more gritty leaving Zach L’Hereaux off is odd.

He's a loose cannon. They type of player that would take a 5 minute major with two minutes left in the semifinal game. Think Stefan Della Rovere with more offense. Honestly, though, Ridly Greig isn't much different.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'm a massive Savoie fan, but I'm confident that if Bedard was put in his situation (first line PP) on far and away the best team in the CHL, his numbers would be similar.

Bedard hasn't performed to my expectations for him this year, but I've watched a lot of WHL and he's usually the most dynamic player on the ice. He's surrounded by black holes offensively right now, so it'll be interesting to see how he performs at camp with quality linemates.

You could be right, but I think with a team like this to even think of picking a 16 year old should require a complete lack of excuses. It can’t just be that you have potential and your team misuses you. There are plenty of older stars that didn’t even make the camp.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I’m not doubting his ability to put up points. Guy is elite in that regard, but theres more to this guy than looking at a stat sheet.
At the u18’s last year, even with how highly regarded Clarke is/was - it wasn’t him running Canada’s PP1; it was Zellweger getting the majority of starts.
Theres also the issue of Clarke overcommitting in the offensive zone and being out of position leading to odd man rushes. I also find he puck watches a little too often for my liking. Yeah Barrie’s goalies haven’t been too good this season but their defence hasn’t helped much. That includes Clarke.

Simply put, there are better 19 year olds to do Clarkes job. Theres always next year where I imagine he’s one of the leaders on the team.
Being a high draft selection gets you through the door, but it doesn’t guarantee you get to dance.
I remember the outrage when Glass didn’t make the team in 2018

Exactly what I was saying.
That being said - He should have gotten an invite at the very least.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

He's a loose cannon. They type of player that would take a 5 minute major with two minutes left in the semifinal game. Think Stefan Della Rovere with more offense. Honestly, though, Ridly Greig isn't much different.

Yeah - I guess Greig does is a similar player and he’s a year older so he got the nod.

 

[JackSlater]

And giving an objective take because I’m biased towards both these players, I don’t know how they come up with Cuylle over Othmann. That seems like picking a player because he’s a year older. A lot of these HC selections seem to be about picking the 19 year olds and picking grit. They actually took a 16 year old that probably didn’t deserve it, yet left off a bunch of deserving 18 year olds. If you are going to have hard and fast rules, be consistent. Don’t decide Bedard has too high potential to be subject to the rules. I don’t understand it.

To add to this, which is all accurate, Button demonstrated the same inconsistency. Took it upon himself to remind all of us who might have issue with some omissions that this "is a 19 year olds tournament" and then in the next segment highlighted that Bedard was a guy who needed to be invited. Even if someone wants to say that it's good for Bedard to get the experience of going to camp under his belt for next year, the exact same thing would be applicable to Clarke, Othmann, and M. Savoie. Hockey Canada is being inconsistent.

Even if they want a tougher, more gritty leaving Zach L’Hereaux off is odd.

Yes, looking at the direction Hockey Canada seems to want to go in you would think that L'Heureux is an easy choice for an invitation. I was confused when the forward selections moved beyond the L names and he wasn't named.

 

[Halfy]

What was the question that was asked about Matt Savoie? I can’t find a link to the full presser. And what was the answer?

 

[kyle44]

To add to this, which is all accurate, Button demonstrated the same inconsistency. Took it upon himself to remind all of us who might have issue with some omissions that this "is a 19 year olds tournament" and then in the next segment highlighted that Bedard was a guy who needed to be invited. Even if someone wants to say that it's good for Bedard to get the experience of going to camp under his belt for next year, the exact same thing would be applicable to Clarke, Othmann, and M. Savoie. Hockey Canada is being inconsistent.



Yes, looking at the direction Hockey Canada seems to want to go in you would think that L'Heureux is an easy choice for an invitation. I was confused when the forward selections moved beyond the L names and he wasn't named.

Its funny how his mantra has changed. In 2015-16, he couldn't express enough how you need to "take the best players" when Laine, Puljujarvi and Juolevi dominated the tournament as 17 year olds.

 

[Statsy]

You don't need a bottom six. The team should have a go-to defensive line, though that line should still be able to score some, and then three strong talented lines. NHL teams had a bottom six because there are so many teams that talent is stretched thin. Not an issue for Canada 2022 at the WJC. A one-off result from a year ago shouldn't lead to selecting a worse path.

It definitely seems like Hockey Canada has a certain identity in mind for this team. If it works then it works and that's great but if it doesn't those involved will deservedly get tons of shit.

I feel like I have to make that same post on annual basis. It’s weird how people are so stuck on the NHL that they can’t wrap their heads around the fact that Canada in the WJC has at MINIMUM three lines that would be the best line on any regular junior team in the world. Yet somehow all these guys are “top six, bottom six!” Lol

 

[JackSlater]

What was the question that was asked about Matt Savoie? I can’t find a link to the full presser. And what was the answer?

They basically asked how they could cut the eligible Canadian leading WHL scorer. The panel was having none of it and said that they wanted to talk about the players who were there and not those who weren't. I don't remember if they even took another question.

Its funny how his mantra has changed. In 2015-16, he couldn't express enough how you need to "take the best players" when Laine, Puljujarvi and Juolevi dominated the tournament as 17 year olds.

I don't even think that he's trying to be a shill for Hockey Canada. Just unaware and inconsistent.

 

[Eegs]

My prediction: Stankoven makes the team, starts as an extra forward and eventually works himself into an important scoring role.

 

[86Habs]

I mean...are you guys really surprised? Look at the teams Cameron has built in the past, particularly the 2011 World Junior team. Look at the size throughout this lineup (not to mention that a few of our "smaller" forwards like Cizikas and Schenn were wrecking balls). This 2022 team will be constructed using a template Cameron has followed in the past. I'm somewhat concerned that elite talent is being left at home, but we should have team that's able to compete for gold. We'll find out in the next 5 weeks if he's right or not.

 

[Mathieukferland]

You could be right, but I think with a team like this to even think of picking a 16 year old should require a complete lack of excuses. It can’t just be that you have potential and your team misuses you. There are plenty of older stars that didn’t even make the camp.

Feels like a bit of a marketing exercise to be honest, I know he doesn’t have a great supporting cast in Regina but I feel he’s not even had the best season for a D-2 Canadian…. But they were never going to pick an underager that plays in the USA

 

[EichelFan15]

You could be right, but I think with a team like this to even think of picking a 16 year old should require a complete lack of excuses. It can’t just be that you have potential and your team misuses you. There are plenty of older stars that didn’t even make the camp.

HC is obviously taking the U-18’s last year heavily into consideration. They think that Wright, McTavish, Guenther etc are all locks and would be hard not to invite Bedard after he outperformed them all (offensively) in the medal rounds with 10 points in 3 games and single handed broke a couple important games open.

 

[JackSlater]

I feel like I have to make that same post on annual basis. It’s weird how people are so stuck on the NHL that they can’t wrap their heads around the fact that Canada in the WJC has at MINIMUM three lines that would be the best line on any regular junior team in the world. Yet somehow all these guys are “top six, bottom six!” Lol

It's what people are used to but Canada has by and large moved away from that model for some time now. For the better too. If you have the talent then use it as long as you've checked off the necessary defensive boxes.

 

[sabresEH]

I liked him a lot of his draft year but... Jack Finley has 12 points in 18 games this season. He also happens to be 6'6. I think it's very clear what they're going for with this team and I don't think it worked that well in the past.

Dont worry though...despite this being his 5th year in the WHL, and he's never once actually reached the point per game pace, Jack Finley is getting invited because he's 6 foot 6.

I’m a cousin of Jack’s so I’m obviously biased, but also a little shocked at some of these omissions. There is not much around him this year in terms of talent so obviously his numbers will be down. He isn’t competing for a scoring role. He’s there to try and win the 4C and PK specialist role.

I haven’t watched as many Spokane games this year as I had in years past since they aren’t that good. But I saw him/Spokane in Kelowna on Friday night and his line mates just don’t see the ice like he does. If put onto a better team I’m sure his numbers would be better. With that said, the one goal Spokane scored on Friday was on the PP with Finley creating havoc in front of the net. You can’t move him. He’s also pretty solid on the draw.

If he can go into camp and use his body the way a 6’6 guy should, I’m sure people will like him and understand the selection.

Edit: It’s also his 4th full dub season. Not his 5th. He played games as a 15 year old but lots of guys do. He’s the classic, hockey people love him and the casual fan doesn’t. When he played as a 15 year old in the dub his coach, Dan Lambert?, at the time said he wished he could keep him for the season. Another comment like that was made about him(and others) while he was with AHL Syracuse last year.

 

[Morgs]

Not a mention of Tverberg even after being announced. The guy is really really good, and I can't tell if he's a token selection (because there were rumours about him going to USA) or if they legitimately see a spot for him on this team. He'd bring a Hyman-style effect to a line with stars or a strong two-way effort with a real scoring touch to the bottom-6.

 

[Dack]

I’m a cousin of Jack’s so I’m obviously biased, but also a little shocked at some of these omissions. There is not much around him this year in terms of talent so obviously his numbers will be down. He isn’t competing for a scoring role. He’s there to try and win the 4C and PK specialist role.

I haven’t watched as many Spokane games this year as I had in years past since they aren’t that good. But I saw him/Spokane in Kelowna on Friday night and his line mates just don’t see the ice like he does. If put onto a better team I’m sure his numbers would be better. With that said, the one goal Spokane scored on Friday was on the PP with Finley creating havoc in front of the net. You can’t move him. He’s also pretty solid on the draw.

If he can go into camp and use his body the way a 6’6 guy should, I’m sure people will like him and understand the selection.

Edit: It’s also his 4th full dub season. Not his 5th. He played games as a 15 year old but lots of guys do. He’s the classic, hockey people love him and the casual fan doesn’t. When he played as a 15 year old in the dub his coach, Dan Lambert?, at the time said he wished he could keep him for the season. Another comment like that was made about him(and others) while he was with AHL Syracuse last year.

I like Finley, so don't take that as me trash talking your cousin. I just think they left a lot of talent off the camp roster in favour of size and age. He's far from the only surprising name on that list, it's less about any one player and more about a lot of guys I think should be here (Othman, Clarke, Savoie, L’Heureux and others) not being on it.


He can absolutely be a good 4th liner on this team.

 

[sabresEH]

I like Finley, so don't take that as me trash talking your cousin. I just think they left a lot of talent off the camp roster in favour of size and age. He's far from the only surprising name on that list, it's less about any one player and more about a lot of guys I think should be here (Othman, Clarke, Savoie, L’Heureux and others) not being on it.


He can absolutely be a good 4th liner on this team.

Oh definitely didn’t take it that way. Was just quoting you as you were one of the ones to mention his name specifically. I know people in his circle were worried about his point totals affecting his chances of being invited. But I told them what I said here. His point totals didn’t really matter. As long as he was doing his job in the other areas he was going to get his chance to win a bottom 6 spot. HC likes him and have for a few years.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I think there’s a bit of an overreaction. The only notable surprises to be named to the selection camp are Tverberg and Iorio in my honest opinion.

Canada has an embarrassment of riches. The 2020 draft was real deep to boot. I don’t think the difference between winning and losing is going to be having Cuylle make the selection camp over Savoie.

 

[duul]

It's a joke that Carter Savoie wasn't invited. He's scoring a goal a game in Div 1 hockey.

 

[CapsFans]

Team of players not invited to the selection camp:

C.Savoie M.Savoie Wisdom
Othman A.Fantilli Perreault
Milne Kidney Mclennon
Bolduc Korczak Stillman

Poirier Clarke
Allan Tourigny
Mateychuk Nelson

Milic
Gaudreau
Brennan

ExtrasL L'Heureux, Pinelli, Benning, Ceulemans

I included Perreault because he wasn't invited to the U.S. selection camp.