WJC: 2022 Team Canada Roster Talk

[Leviathan899]

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.

Finley won’t make the team though, and this team shouldn’t have issues scoring at all. This team is going to be incredibly hard to play against imo, a skilled and fast team who are going to be tracking hard every shift, elite up the middle, guys like Perfetti, Lapierre, Johnson, guenther, Mctavish, Wright, Neighbours, Bedard, Bourque, greig and sourdif is the best forward group on paper in the tourney IMO.

 

[Leviathan899]

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 greig can definitely cross the line but I think he’s the better player over L’Hereux

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Spoken like someone who didnt watch the u18s last year. Bedard was getting an invite to this camp as soon as that tournament was done no matter what he did to start this year. He was Canadas best player (arguably) and was dominant in the medal rounds. 20 games this year (where he still has 11 goals) wasnt going to change that after his season and u18 last year. Othmann was on that team and Bedard blew him away, as a younger player and is a major corner stone piece of Canadian hockey going forward.

Inviting Bedard was a no brainer

I did watch. You shouldn’t be invited for an all star team based on prior seasons. There are enough stars performing this season.

 

[EichelFan15]

I did watch. You shouldn’t be invited for an all star team based on prior seasons. There are enough stars performing this season.

Luckily they aren’t picking an all-star team, they are picking the best team to win a high-pressure tournament - where having experience in these situations and rising to the occasion when it matters the most is extremely important. Plus the U-18’s were only like 6 months ago, so fairly fresh in the memory.

 

[Gold Standard]

Even with some bizarre head scratcher invites and omissions to camp, I don't see any reason just yet to change my medal predictions.

Canada v USA GMG
Finland v Sweden BMG

Had a great chat with my Cuban neighbor last night and he accepted the invite to my potluck watch party on the 2nd. provided of course Sebrango makes the final roster.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Even with some bizarre head scratcher invites and omissions to camp, I don't see any reason just yet to change my medal predictions.

Canada v USA GMG
Finland v Sweden BMG

Had a great chat with my Cuban neighbor last night and he accepted the invite to my potluck watch party on the 2nd. provided of course Sebrango makes the final roster.

Lovely Canadian story! Love seeing kids like Thomas (Barbados), Subban (Jamaica), and Duclair (Haïti) step up for Canada, the Caribbean contingent in hockey is quite strong

 

[newfy]

I did watch. You shouldn’t be invited for an all star team based on prior seasons. There are enough stars performing this season.

Its not an all star team though, its a team in a high pressure tournament and Bedard is considered a potential generational guy. Hes shown he can handle playing up age groups his whole career, including a dominant international tourney just this past summer. From what I understand Bedard has been playing better than his point total this season, despite the fact that its still pretty solid.

I'm not saying he should be a lock to be on the team (which he isnt), but saying hes the most egregious selection to go to camp given what hes done for Canada in the past and his pedigree as a high end player makes me think you didnt watch the u18s at all.

 

[kyle44]

Even with some bizarre head scratcher invites and omissions to camp, I don't see any reason just yet to change my medal predictions.

Canada v USA GMG
Finland v Sweden BMG

Had a great chat with my Cuban neighbor last night and he accepted the invite to my potluck watch party on the 2nd. provided of course Sebrango makes the final roster.

I think you're really underrating Russia. They have one of the deepest teams I've seen from them in many years. This age group also won the U-17 and Hlinka, and many of their players are performing at a very high level in the KHL and VHL.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Its not an all star team though, its a team in a high pressure tournament and Bedard is considered a potential generational guy. Hes shown he can handle playing up age groups his whole career, including a dominant international tourney just this past summer. From what I understand Bedard has been playing better than his point total this season, despite the fact that its still pretty solid.

I'm not saying he should be a lock to be on the team (which he isnt), but saying hes the most egregious selection to go to camp given what hes done for Canada in the past and his pedigree as a high end player makes me think you didnt watch the u18s at all.

Name 2-3 worse selections then.

 

[newfy]

Name 2-3 worse selections then.

Finley and Tverberg are 2 that were pretty easy for me. I wouldnt say those guys are bad selections either, obviously they could fit roles alright but Tverberg is likely competing for the same spot as Bedard with one good 14 game stretch in his career to this point. He also has no track record in high pressure games like Bedard does lighting up the u18 medal rounds.

Finley is competing for a very specific role obviously, but Canada has guys that can fill that role without being specialists. If theyre defending a late lead, I'll gladly take McTavish out there over Finley without a doubt in my mind and I'm completely fine with Wright in those situations. With 2 centers already as solid defensively as those 2 that bring other things to the table, I would take a potential game breaker like Bedard over Finley without thinking about it too hard at all.

 

[novisor]

What are the odds Bedard makes the team? I think people are underestimating his chances, I'd say given his performance at the U18 and given how HC is seemingly holding that in high-regard, I'd say 60/40 he makes the team.

 

[Mathieukferland]

What are the odds Bedard makes the team? I think people are underestimating his chances, I'd say given his performance at the U18 and given how HC is seemingly holding that in high-regard, I'd say 60/40 he makes the team.

He probably ends up a 13th forward for power plays, that’s my best guess

 

[Statsy]

An important aspect that seems to have really flown under the radar here is that during that U18 tournament, Wright and Bedard (an underager and a double underager) we’re not just the scoring heroes, but the guy the coach put out in the final minutes of a tight gold medal game to bring home the victory. They were the offensive stars AND the defensive stars!

 

[covfefe]

What are the odds Bedard makes the team? I think people are underestimating his chances, I'd say given his performance at the U18 and given how HC is seemingly holding that in high-regard, I'd say 60/40 he makes the team.

80/20 he’ll be there, HC loves him and rightfully so.

They have a very clear incentive for him to go 1OA and Michkov/Dvorsky playing big roles for their teams, while Bedard sits at home, would be bad for business.

 

[HSF]

What are the odds Bedard makes the team? I think people are underestimating his chances, I'd say given his performance at the U18 and given how HC is seemingly holding that in high-regard, I'd say 60/40 he makes the team.

i think he is a lock imo

He will be a big part of next years team and it makes sense to have him on the roster even in a limited role.

Returning players are key to continued success

 

[SpoolCat]

I think you're really underrating Russia. They have one of the deepest teams I've seen from them in many years. This age group also won the U-17 and Hlinka, and many of their players are performing at a very high level in the KHL and VHL.

Agreed I think Russia on paper is at worst co favorites with us. The Americans shouldn't be taken lightly but I don't think they have their best team compared to Russia.

 

[Fil Larkmanthanasiou]

Puzzling that Canada hasn't invited Savoie. He is 2nd in the nation in scoring (only trailing a 24 year old senior). Great steal for Kenny in the 4th round this year.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... j_cH-tBbdw

 

[EichelFan15]

An important aspect that seems to have really flown under the radar here is that during that U18 tournament, Wright and Bedard (an underager and a double underager) we’re not just the scoring heroes, but the guy the coach put out in the final minutes of a tight gold medal game to bring home the victory. They were the offensive stars AND the defensive stars!

I remember it well that they were getting double shifted at end of the game. Always thought that the assist on the empty netter from bedard showed ridiculous poise for a 16 year old in that position.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Finley and Tverberg are 2 that were pretty easy for me. I wouldnt say those guys are bad selections either, obviously they could fit roles alright but Tverberg is likely competing for the same spot as Bedard with one good 14 game stretch in his career to this point. He also has no track record in high pressure games like Bedard does lighting up the u18 medal rounds.

Finley is competing for a very specific role obviously, but Canada has guys that can fill that role without being specialists. If theyre defending a late lead, I'll gladly take McTavish out there over Finley without a doubt in my mind and I'm completely fine with Wright in those situations. With 2 centers already as solid defensively as those 2 that bring other things to the table, I would take a potential game breaker like Bedard over Finley without thinking about it too hard at all.

Is Bedard competing for a 4th line energy role? I thought he would be more of a 13th forward type who they could use in the top 6 as a scoring role if he's really impressive.

Tverberg has had a surprising season offensively, and isn't the biggest but I've always heard his game is based around being physical high energy but can also chip in with some scoring if needed.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Was the Tverberg invite just to keep him closer to Hockey Canada given the US interest? I didn't hear any buzz about him being on the radar and a 7th round pick playing NCAA hockey would usually struggle to get any recognition.

 

[Statsy]

Was the Tverberg invite just to keep him closer to Hockey Canada given the US interest? I didn't hear any buzz about him being on the radar and a 7th round pick playing NCAA hockey would usually struggle to get any recognition.

I had that same thought. I feel it’s a reaction to the recent Perreault decision to go with the US.

 

[93LEAFS]

Disappointed that M Savoie and Brandt Clarke aren't invited. Maybe it's the right call with Savoie being so young but I don't get it with Clarke not even being invited to camp.

Not the most common position, but some scouts are horrified by his defence/skating. I can easily see this being an evaluation situation. No two scouts criteria are exactly the same.

 

[newfy]

Is Bedard competing for a 4th line energy role? I thought he would be more of a 13th forward type who they could use in the top 6 as a scoring role if he's really impressive.

Tverberg has had a surprising season offensively, and isn't the biggest but I've always heard his game is based around being physical high energy but can also chip in with some scoring if needed.

Hes going to compete for a fourth line/13th forward spot because hes so young. Guys that age even if they make the team start there if they even make it. Canada doesnt take a pure energy fourth line ever, they usually bring one guy dedicated to that and also have guys all throughout the line up that play that way.

Bedard may not be competing directly with either of them, but those guys have to make their energy worth bringing over someone as skilled as Bedard in a line up that already has a bunch of skilled players that play that way. McTavish, Neighbours, Sourdif, Greig, plu dmen like Guhle and Sebrango all bring that element. Do you bring more energy guys or the skill of Bedard? Bedard for me no doubt assuming he has a good camp

 

[prongertheman9]

Luckily they aren’t picking an all-star team, they are picking the best team to win a high-pressure tournament - where having experience in these situations and rising to the occasion when it matters the most is extremely important. Plus the U-18’s were only like 6 months ago, so fairly fresh in the memory.

This point was echoed by a Hockey Canada management member on the radio today when asked about Bedard. He said that they are aren't worried about a slower start in Regina in a less than ideal situation there and how Bedard has had a reputation everywhere he's been to manufacture offence in the biggest situations. They had heard it going into the U-18's and then watching him prove it there in the medal rounds made an enormous impression on the brass.

 

[prongertheman9]

Not the most common position, but some scouts are horrified by his defence/skating. I can easily see this being an evaluation situation. No two scouts criteria are exactly the same.

I also remember thinknig at the U-18's that Clarke's role/icetime were huge to start the tourney and that it slowly diminished as the games went on. Does anyone else remember that? No icetime stats to back it up. It's possible that HC saw something there that they didn't like.