WJC: 2023 Team Canada Roster Talk Part 2

[arider1990]

The whole team was out of sync. The bottom 2 lines were invisible. The 1st line showed flashes but Bedard tried to do too much, Othmann was a no show, and Wright never took charge when they needed him. Their 2nd line was the best of the night but still wasn't great. On D I felt they overused Zellweger and underused Korchinski. I also didn't care for the rest of the D outside of Clarke. In goal, Gaudreau was not great at all while Milic made some great saves. Other than that they need to clean up all the penalties.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Is Bedard going to try and go through 5 players all tournament? Going to be a quick exit for him if thats the type of game he is going to play.

I’d actually like to see Fantilli on Bedard’s line, Roy on the second line and Othmann on that third line.

Did you even watch the game? Fantilli was horrible. Why would you reward him? Makes no sense.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

what has fantilli done to deserve a role like that?

Nothing - sometimes it’s a hunch, or a gut feeling.

I think that Fantilli can Bedard can bring out the best in each other’s games to be honest.

 

[JackSlater]

Certainly one of the worst showings from Canada in recent memory. Best case scenario is that the team does what Canada did in 2020 when Canada got decimated in its second game. At least the team should know who the goaltender is, and Hockey Canada should know not to appoint a goaltender based on results at the u18 or Hlinka going forward.

Terrible showing but likely things are different if Clarke's goal counts. Worst part was the lack of adjustments. A few top chances in the second period but things were forced without generating quality for most of the third. Bedard is great but heropuck is not going to cut it. The coach also needs to actually utilize the depth players he selected in an effective gameplan. The defencemen need to be better but that's always the case for the first game. The goaltender needs to be Milic going forward.

 

[Rob]

2020. Got shit pumped by Russia and then beat them in the final.

I just checked and in 2020 we lost to the Russians in our second game.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Thank you

I’ve been stating since they picked the team that this is an extremely SOFT TEAM

tsn and lots of posters here hyping the size but what is size if not used

Soft soft soft soft team. No cycling no hitting no pressure

You stop bedard and you stop this team basically

What I have an issue with is the players that were brought to play physical (Bankier, Dach, Schaefer) were soft. On a night where secondary scoring was non-existant, leaving all the talent off the roster (Bolduc, Dumais, Beck) looks very bad

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Is Bedard going to try and go through 5 players all tournament? Going to be a quick exit for him if thats the type of game he is going to play.


Did you even watch the game? Fantilli was horrible. Why would you reward him? Makes no sense.

Can’t be any worse than Othmann.

Fantilli can be a great play driver - and I feel that too line needs the offence to be able to go through more Than just Bedard to keep the defence guessing.

I also think a big body should take Wrights spot as designated net front presence because Wright has such a dangerous shot himself and it will allow Bedard to distribute the puck to a much more capable shooter than Othmann.

At the end of the day - it’s only a hunch and I have no say - but needless to say, lines need juggling.

 

[Spic Bud]

Nothing - sometimes it’s a hunch, or a gut feeling.

I think that Fantilli can Bedard can bring out the best in each other’s games to be honest.

well Its impossible to disagree with a gut feeling.

I think Fantilli looks like a guy who can carry a good 4th line with his skating and puck carrying but who knows Dennis Williams might try your suggestion cuz its not like he has a lot of options.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

well Its impossible to disagree with a gut feeling.

I think Fantilli looks like a guy who can carry a good 4th line with his skating and puck carrying but who knows Dennis Williams might try your suggestion cuz its not like he has a lot of options.

Maybe a Ostapchuk on that top line instead to activate Wright more as a shooting option and have Ostapchuk do the dirty work in front of the net instead?

I like Wright and Bedard together but don’t like Wright’s role.

 

[Chelios]

I am at a bit of a loss for how anyone could be complimentary of Clarke in that game. I thought he was horrible.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I am at a bit of a loss for how anyone could be complimentary of Clarke in that game. I thought he was horrible.

He was trying to be a forward. he was completely lost whenever he needed to defend.

 

[ORRFForever]

There are far more teams who lost early and won Gold, than teams who went undefeated.

 

[snipes]

Bedard should be playing centre as well as the #1C.

 

[Spic Bud]

Maybe a Ostapchuk on that top line instead to activate Wright more as a shooting option and have Ostapchuk do the dirty work in front of the net instead?

I like Wright and Bedard together but don’t like Wright’s

Maybe a Ostapchuk on that top line instead to activate Wright more as a shooting option and have Ostapchuk do the dirty work in front of the net instead?

I like Wright and Bedard together but don’t like Wright’s role.

I can get down with that... Othmann on the second line instead of fantilli too idk but they should have experimented more in the pre-tourney

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Is Dean subject to a suspension because of the illegal hit to the head call?

I wouldn’t make wholesale changes to the lines. I would, however, like to see a lot more of Roy, less of Fantilli, and much better execution from Stankoven, Guenther and Othmann against Germany. The bottom six guys need to be a lot more physical, but in a controlled and disciplined manner.

It’s interesting that this forward group really lacks a big, skilled net-front presence. Neither Othmann nor Wright really fit the bill as they’re shooters (as is Bedard obviously). Maybe someone like Schaefer, but I get the sense there are too many mouths to feed on those power play units to bring someone like that in…

 

[OilersFanatics505]

I hope you are correct but I doubt it. This team was built wrong. No true leader. Wright is not a leader sorry to say

Wright had the most points for Canada…

Edit: admittedly I did stat watch.

 

[Dack]

The team will be fine.

Probably.

I still expect them to win gold. I'm just saying that just because they're the best team in the tournament doesn't necessarily mean that the decision makers chose the best possible team.

 

[Mrb1p]

Othmann is comically bad. Almost worse than Drouin in 14.

 

[CanadianSniper]

Hey, I haven't been on here in a long time, so not sure if this has been covered already, but can anyone explain how on earth Benjamin Gaudreau a guy ranked 38th in the OHL alone in SV% this year, and a guy who for his entire career has hovered around 4 GAA and sub .900 Sv% ever made Team Canada, let alone started the tournament? How did this happen?

 

[Fonzieleaf]

There are far more teams who lost early and won Gold, than teams who went undefeated.

Hopefully that's Canada

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Othmann is comically bad. Almost worse than Drouin in 14.

Othmann has struggled in the OHL this season, particularly being traded to Peterborough. He failed to convert some nice opportunities tonight, but he was finishing his checks out there so I’ll give him some credit for that.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

Hey, I haven't been on here in a long time, so not sure if this has been covered already, but can anyone explain how on earth Benjamin Gaudreau a guy ranked 38th in the OHL alone in SV% this year, and a guy who for his entire career has hovered around 4 GAA and sub .900 Sv% ever made Team Canada, let alone started the tournament? How did this happen?

My only explanation is that he was good during the under 18 tournament

 

[Mrb1p]

Othmann has struggled in the OHL this season, particularly being traded to Peterborough. He failed to convert some nice opportunities tonight, but he was finishing his checks out there so I’ll give him some credit for that.

Sure, but not on the first, not anywhere near the top 6.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Sure, but not on the first, not anywhere near the top 6.

The fact that we seem to have a defined top-6/bottom-6 is a step back in Canada’s approach to constructing teams, imo. But to your point, I agree. I’d like to see Roy get top-6 minutes, Fantilli and Othmann get fewer minutes, and either Dean or Gaucher promoted up to the top-6 (yes, I realize that means breaking up the Gaucher line from the exhibition games). Fantilli and Othmann could form the basis of a good third scoring line.

 

[TheNumber4]

Bedard is a dynamic talent and worthy of being a 1OA pick, but his game is immature and selfish. Don’t even mind him michiganning and doing all his Bedard stuff but he’s gonna be our point shot man too? Still though, If Canada wins Gold it will be on his shoulders.