WJC: 2023 Team Canada Roster Talk Part 2

[GlassesJacketShirt]

All Matier has to do is defend. That's all he, Del Mastro, Allan, and Hinds are there to do.

When it comes to the elite teams (Canada, USA, Sweden, etc.), I'm always weary about selecting players who are only there to defend. Matier feels like he's there to do that and alas, he looks like a liability in that department as well.

 

[ORRFForever]

Yup, it looks like many of them are used to being a one-man show. Hopefully now they've learned that teamwork beats individual skills.

It also looks like the team read too many of their clipping and thought this tournament would be a walk - and all they had to do was show up, be fancy and win. Wrong!

It used to be important in the 80’s. The best round Robin got the gold I think.

Yup.

 

[ORRFForever]

Tough loss.

Czech came ready today. I fully expect the team to be ready for the rest of the tournament.

Yes.

EVERY year, Canadians say, "I sure wish Canada would face some adversity during the Round Robin - it would really help in the medal rounds".

In 2023, we get our wish and everyone panics. Oy...

Yeah, that's enough of that shit.

Amen, brother.

I'd tell the players, "If you do that crap, you better score because, otherwise, you're riding the bench for the rest of the game".

And that applies to everyone - even Bedard.

 

[JackSlater]

When it comes to the elite teams (Canada, USA, Sweden, etc.), I'm always weary about selecting players who are only there to defend. Matier feels like he's there to do that and alas, he looks like a liability in that department as well.

It's true that you would rather a guy who can defend and also contribute all over the ice. Not sure that Canada had so many of those options. With Zellweger, Clarke, and Korchinski locked in as the offensive defencemen you do need defencemen who can cover for them. Del Mastro was pretty good in that role in the summer on a shaky Canadian defence, we'll see how the pairings progress moving forward. Ultimately I do think each pairing ends up with one of those guys because you don't want a Zellweger Clarke pairing for a few reasons.

 

[Rob]

I'm not sure it is a good thing that their next two opponents are easy wins. We won't find out if this team has really put it back together until they play Sweden on NYE.

 

[ORRFForever]

I'm not sure it is a good thing that their next two opponents are easy wins. We won't find out if this team has really put it back together until they play Sweden on NYE.

It is what it is.

See it as a postive : It will give the team a chance to experiment with different lines without worrying about winning/losing. It will also give TC a chance to build some momentum and confidence.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I'm not sure it is a good thing that their next two opponents are easy wins. We won't find out if this team has really put it back together until they play Sweden on NYE.

Always going to be easy games in this tournament. The good thing is they have another test before the medal round begins and they can build to it over the next few days.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

When it comes to the elite teams (Canada, USA, Sweden, etc.), I'm always weary about selecting players who are only there to defend. Matier feels like he's there to do that and alas, he looks like a liability in that department as well.

Sometimes players just don’t adapt well to playing different roles than they’re used to. Matier is an all-situations, 25+ minute a night guy with Ottawa that serves as their primary matchup defenseman, PMD, point shooter, and PP QB. He may be having difficulty adjusting his game to a much more limited role. Or, he’s just overmatched at this level and can hide out as Canada’s 7th defenseman for a few weeks.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Sometimes players just don’t adapt well to playing different roles than they’re used to. Matier is an all-situations, 25+ minute a night guy with Ottawa that serves as their primary matchup defenseman, PMD, point shooter, and PP QB. He may be having difficulty adjusting his game to a much more limited role. Or, he’s just overmatched at this level and can hide out as Canada’s 7th defenseman for a few weeks.

I think that's my main issue: if he can't handle the speed of play as a defender, then he's a wasted roster spot if there's nothing else to his game at this level. Team Canada was deadset on having defense-focused guys to compliment aggressive puck movers, only problem is when the puck mover has to account for the other guy........

 

[JackSlater]

TSN showed that this was the sixth time in tournament history that Canada did not win its opening game. Results of the other five times:

1979: 5th
1980: 5th
1984: 4th
1998: 8th
2016: 6th

The 1979 and 1980 tournaments don't mean much as Canada was still just sending the Memorial Cup champions plus a few ringers, but the results in the other three years are very poor. The 1998 team notable fell apart when faced with further adversity and the 2016 team displayed a terrible attitude and never seemed willing to accept that there was a problem. This is more trivia than anything else however. We'll see where things stand after the New Year's Eve game.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Just curious what people think for future tournaments. Taking the 2 best goalies then take the future goalie in order to develop them. What could it have hurt taking Gabriel D'Aigle as an extra.

I feel like Canadian goalie development is at its worst ever and needs to be figured out.

 

[JackSlater]

Just curious what people think for future tournaments. Taking the 2 best goalies then take the future goalie in order to develop them. What could it have hurt taking Gabriel D'Aigle as an extra.

I feel like Canadian goalie development is at its worst ever and needs to be figured out.

It's two issues. One, goaltending needs to be improved in Canada regardless of the WJC. Canada can get good goaltending at the WJC without producing a lot of NHL goaltenders, but there is no excuse for the state of Canadian goaltending at the top level. As far as the goaltenders selected, they should stick to the goaltenders who have played the best over the last calendar year or so. Gaudreau was picked solely because of what he did behind a team that apparently stomped the u18 tournament two years ago, and that's irrelevant. His play this year and his play at the camp clearly did not matter.

I'd rather them take three goaltenders even when it is a home tournament but I don't think it's a big deal either way. I don't know what development the third goaltender is going to get in that you're only going to have two goaltenders on the ice for most of the practice anyway and the third guy is very unlikely to touch the ice in a game.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Where was this hype coming from where TSN kept mentioning this team in the same breath as the 2005 team? I don't see anything close to the same level of talent or dominance from this roster, whether it be on paper or on the ice.

Now, I'm not saying this team can't win gold. It certainly has enough talent to do *that*. I just don't get the pre-tournament talk about it possibly being the greatest Canadian WJC ever. What were TSN's talking heads even basing that on?

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Where was this hype coming from where TSN kept mentioning this team in the same breath as the 2005 team? I don't see anything close to the same level of talent or dominance from this roster, whether it be on paper or on the ice.

Now, I'm not saying this team can't win gold. It certainly has enough talent to do *that*. I just don't get the pre-tournament talk about it possibly being the greatest Canadian WJC ever. What were TSN's talking heads even basing that on?

The main factors seems to be the returning NHLers who would bring tremendous cred and skill, combined with two upcoming top three picks in the upcoming draft, some highly thought of puck movers on defense and lots of truckulence down the lineup....

Hey wait a minute!

 

[ORRFForever]

This sums up the Michigan crap and the way Canadians feel after last night's game...

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Where was this hype coming from where TSN kept mentioning this team in the same breath as the 2005 team? I don't see anything close to the same level of talent or dominance from this roster, whether it be on paper or on the ice.

Now, I'm not saying this team can't win gold. It certainly has enough talent to do *that*. I just don't get the pre-tournament talk about it possibly being the greatest Canadian WJC ever. What were TSN's talking heads even basing that on?

Getting 3 players back from the NHL and Connor Bedard basically. Number of returning players from this summer too. I personally don't think any talk of "greatest" anything should be started 2 weeks before the tournament starts anyways lol something you have plenty of time to talk about in the decades after a team is done playing and has proved it.

 

[ORRFForever]

Where was this hype coming from where TSN kept mentioning this team in the same breath as the 2005 team? I don't see anything close to the same level of talent or dominance from this roster, whether it be on paper or on the ice.

Now, I'm not saying this team can't win gold. It certainly has enough talent to do *that*. I just don't get the pre-tournament talk about it possibly being the greatest Canadian WJC ever. What were TSN's talking heads even basing that on?

You answered your own question.

Getting 3 players back from the NHL and Connor Bedard basically. Number of returning players from this summer too. I personally don't think any talk of "greatest" anything should be started 2 weeks before the tournament starts anyways lol something you have plenty of time to talk about in the decades after a team is done playing and has proved it.

Canadian fans sure have short memories. If this team runs the (remaining) table, the same fans who are crying, today, will claim this team was one of the GREATS and the Czechia game was a springboard to said greatness.

HF is such B.S.

 

[ORRFForever]

The main factors seems to be the returning NHLers who would bring tremendous cred and skill, combined with two upcoming top three picks in the upcoming draft, some highly thought of puck movers on defense and lots of truckulence down the lineup....

Hey wait a minute!

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The team is talented. There is no denying that. Fans are just overreacting - not directed at you GJS.

Simply put : Most of the complainers aren't international fans. They jump on the bandwagon if Canada wins and they bitch if Canada loses. Given the over reaction to the Czechia game, you'd think these fans have never seen a short international tournament - and maybe they haven't.

 

[MXD]

It seems that most people who are angry about the Michigan is a group whose opinion will matter less and less as time goes on, and who already started to matter less.

But JFC, sticks to the face of goalies on a Mich attempt should definitely be called.

 

[ORRFForever]

It seems that most people who are angry about the Michigan is a group whose opinion will matter less and less as time goes on, and who already started to matter less.

That sentence makes no sense.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

It seems that most people who are angry about the Michigan is a group whose opinion will matter less and less as time goes on, and who already started to matter less.

But JFC, sticks to the face of goalies on a Mich attempt should definitely be called.

If you're okay with the Michigan, then you shouldn't be calling for that to be a penalty because it's technically a "follow through" like any other shot.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Both those players should have been benched for trying the Michigan. Way to try and show up your opponents 5 minute into the game. Probably gave them lots of motivation to win, which they did.

 

[JackSlater]

Where was this hype coming from where TSN kept mentioning this team in the same breath as the 2005 team? I don't see anything close to the same level of talent or dominance from this roster, whether it be on paper or on the ice.

Now, I'm not saying this team can't win gold. It certainly has enough talent to do *that*. I just don't get the pre-tournament talk about it possibly being the greatest Canadian WJC ever. What were TSN's talking heads even basing that on?

Bedard is very highly hyped, Fantilli is pretty highly hyped, and NHL reinforcements are coveted. Realistically all three are marginal NHLers of course so while Canada gets three top players it isn't like Canada is getting Lemieux and Yzerman in 1985 or Stamkos, Tavares, and O'Reilly in 2010 or something. Bedard can be a difference maker but the jury is out on Fantilli.

Never should have been compared to the 2005 team, as no team since then has been close to that level in talent or actual performance.

 

[ORRFForever]

Both those players should have been benched for trying the Michigan. Way to try and show up your opponents 5 minute into the game. Probably gave them lots of motivation to win, which they did.

Exactly.

This team needed a kick in the teeth and they got one. I'm glad it happened in game 1 and not in the medal rounds.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

The team is talented. There is no denying that. Fans are just overreacting - not directed at you GJS.

Simply put : Most of the complainers aren't international fans. They jump on the bandwagon if Canada wins and they bitch if Canada loses. Given the over reaction to the Czechia game, you'd think these fans have never seen a short international tournament - and maybe they haven't.

It is indeed only one game.

I will say this: a lot of the team's ability to come back will come down to the coaches, both in terms of deployment and tactics. My personal opinion is that the 2013 team failed because the coaching was by far the most inept in the tournament, let's hope this staff is creative enough to get things moving in a different direction.

Edit: As an aside, I still don't understand what's the big deal with the Michigan attempts. So long as the player can get the shot off, there is still a practical usage of using them in a one score game. I'd get the distaste if it were perfomed in the middle of a pounding because it is a high skill move, and at that point there's no reason to embarass the opponent.