WJC: 2023 Team Canada Roster Talk

[Scandale du Jour]

With the drama around HC - Mailloux isn‘t in consideration in the slightest.
I think the hockey world would explode if he were invited to camp given the allegations that currently surround HC.

Logan Mailloux is not a guy worth discussing for the roster.

Yeah, no way in hell they are dumb enough to open that can of worms.

 

[ORRFForever]

How would everyone rank the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Canadian teams ?

* We beat the Russians with the help of a TSN Camera in 2020

* A terrific team <bleeped> the bed against the Americans in 2021.

* A McT led team won last week (2022) - needing a mini miracle.

* 2023 looks stacked.

I'd have to go 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Do we throw 2024 in the mix?

 

[bsu]

I think the 2021 Canadian team was better than the 2022 one personally regardless of result. I think the tournament last year was better overall than this one too.

 

[JackSlater]

I think the 2021 Canadian team was better than the 2022 one personally regardless of result. I think the tournament last year was better overall than this one too.

I don't think there's much question that the 2021 team was better than the 2022 team. Better at forward, defence, and in net. You can only play who lines up in front of you though.

 

[canuck2010]

The lack of love for Mailloux has nothing to do with his play and everything to do with off ice considerations. We’re talking about an organization trying to get past allegations that they turned a blind eye to sex crimes, and you’re suggesting they invite a guy to camp that has been involved in a sex crime. I have no doubt Mailloux will get past this and hopefully not be eternally dogged by this scandal, but Hockey Canada giving him an invite would be painfully tone deaf.

I'm not buying what you are selling. Hockey Canada wasn't and isn't trying to just get past this scandal. In fact are trying to save their own sorry asses for a lack of guidance, clarity and their responsibility with this situation potentially dating back as far as 2003. They used sponsorship and tax payer funding to keep the lid on their own transgressions and avoid scrutiny. Mailloux has paid his debt to society, what about those involved at Hockey Canada? They should should have thought of optics a long time ago except they just didn't care to give up the gravy train. Ban a kid from playing hockey, sure and potentially walk with a nice fat severance package in the meantime?

 

[ORRFForever]

I'm not buying what you are selling. Hockey Canada wasn't and isn't trying to just get past this scandal. In fact are trying to save their own sorry asses for a lack of guidance, clarity and their responsibility with this situation potentially dating back as far as 2003. They used sponsorship and tax payer funding to keep the lid on their own transgressions and avoid scrutiny. Mailloux has paid his debt to society, what about those involved at Hockey Canada? They should should have thought of optics a long time ago except they just didn't care to give up the gravy train. Ban a kid from playing hockey, sure and potentially walk with a nice fat severance package in the meantime?

I agree with you, he should be available to play, but Hockey Canada's not going to open that can of worms.

 

[Statsy]

I'm not buying what you are selling. Hockey Canada wasn't and isn't trying to just get past this scandal. In fact are trying to save their own sorry asses for a lack of guidance, clarity and their responsibility with this situation potentially dating back as far as 2003. They used sponsorship and tax payer funding to keep the lid on their own transgressions and avoid scrutiny. Mailloux has paid his debt to society, what about those involved at Hockey Canada? They should should have thought of optics a long time ago except they just didn't care to give up the gravy train. Ban a kid from playing hockey, sure and potentially walk with a nice fat severance package in the meantime?

When I say "this scandal", I am not talking about Logan Mailloux's scandal, I am talking about Hockey Canada's issues that you detailed. Whether or not they should have been more concerned with optics previously, it would clearly be malpractice to not pay attention to them now.

 

[ORRFForever]

When I say "this scandal", I am not talking about Logan Mailloux's scandal, I am talking about Hockey Canada's issues that you detailed. Whether or not they should have been more concerned with optics previously, it would clearly be malpractice to not pay attention to them now.

In 2 or 3 years, they could pull it off, but if they did it at Christmas (2022), the CBC and Toronto Star would rake them over the coals and do everything in their power to damage the World Juniors - God willing there won't be a CBC one day soon.

I would take a "screw you" approach but I'm sure Hockey Canada wants/needs their federal government money and sponsors so...

 

[ORRFForever]

I miss World Junior hockey !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cowumbus]

True but prior to Johnson scoring the Golden Goal, he was getting ripped (mercilessly) on HF because of how ineffective he was. Why? He was trying to be too clever by half - instead, dump, chase and put the puck in the net. NO "Michigan" garbage.

Played “poorly” but was still 5th overall in scoring.. not too bad.

Every team needs a whipping boy though.

 

[chaser17]

I didn't think Kent Johnson was as good as this forum made him out to be during the tournament. He had great moments for sure but he gave away the puck way too easily, way too much. Stankoven was much better overall IMO.

Stankoven was the steal of the draft last year, probably should've been a top 10 pick. Highly skilled and works his ass off, isn't the captain of his WHL team by default either.

 

[ORRFForever]

Stankoven was the steal of the draft last year, probably should've been a top 10 pick. Highly skilled and works his ass off, isn't the captain of his WHL team by default either.

Well said.

 

[DavidLamb]

World Junior camp observations: 2023 draft eligibles, Canada and U.S. roster projections

Camp observations. Dach and Del Bel Belluz cited for looking good at the camp, Clarke cited for looking good but not great. Various other players mentioned. Also includes a projected roster with only McTavish assumed to be unavailable due to the NHL.

Othmann Wright Guenther
Bolduc Bedard Stankoven
Fantilli Johnston Savoie
Ostapchuk Gaucher Dean
Roy
Del Bel Belluz

Lambos Zellweger
Mateychuk Clarke
Del Mastro Korchinski
Allan
Ceulemans

Gaudreau
Milic
Brennan

I like your lineup. However, i would change slightly:

NHL list and may not be available for WJC:

Sillinger Wright Guenther
MacTavish

Potential line combinations from summer camp observation and 2022 WJC. This is not taken into account how players will improve relative to each others from Sept-Dec 2022:

Othmann Stankoven Bedard -> Stankoven (great on faceoffs)
Roy Johnston Savoie
Ostapchuk Dach Gaucher ---. checking line
Bolduc Fantilli/Kidney Firkus

Dean Del Bel Belluz Robertson

Lambos Zellweger
Mateychuk Clarke
Del Mastro Kyrou
Allan Korchinski

Ceulemans - looked very slow and out of shape during camp.

Gaudreau
Milic
Brennan

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Why do we need a typical 4 th line like in the nhl ? What I’m trying to ask is , we don’t have a salary cap to deal with , we should be taking the fastest best skaters , is this what we are doing ? Why no love for Owen beck ? Bourgault ?

 

[JackSlater]

Why do we need a typical 4 th line like in the nhl ? What I’m trying to ask is , we don’t have a salary cap to deal with , we should be taking the fastest best skaters , is this what we are doing ? Why no love for Owen beck ? Bourgault ?

Bourgault is too old. There is utility to having a fourth line that is dedicated primarily to defence, gets thrown out for defensive zone faceoffs, and has several penalty killers. The stupid thing is when Canada takes two of those lines. Canada can easily have a fourth line like Ostapchuk - Gaucher - Dean that is very responsible defensively while also being a threat to score. If the forward group all together looks like

Othmann Johnston Bedard
Roy Stankoven Guenther
L'Heureux Wright Savoie
Ostapchuk Gaucher Dean
Kidney, Winterton/Fantilli

That won't be a bad thing.

 

[Gold Standard]

Bourgault is too old. There is utility to having a fourth line that is dedicated primarily to defence, gets thrown out for defensive zone faceoffs, and has several penalty killers. The stupid thing is when Canada takes two of those lines. Canada can easily have a fourth line like Ostapchuk - Gaucher - Dean that is very responsible defensively while also being a threat to score. If the forward group all together looks like

Othmann Johnston Bedard
Roy Stankoven Guenther
L'Heureux Wright Savoie
Ostapchuk Gaucher Dean
Kidney, Winterton/Fantilli

That won't be a bad thing.

I'm not convinced yet McTavish won't be back. Fingers crossed. Although, given a choice between another junior tournament and the WHC next May, I'd prefer the latter and not the former. but anyway, I'm done with summer, just looking forward now to NHL camps.

 

[JackSlater]

I'm not convinced yet McTavish won't be back. Fingers crossed. Although, given a choice between another junior tournament and the WHC next May, I'd prefer the latter and not the former. but anyway, I'm done with summer, just looking forward now to NHL camps.

I can't see him back but you never know. Very physically developed and already dominated the tournament, but I also don't see him as ready to step in and be a top NHLer yet. Even if he is in a marginal role in Anaheim I don't see them sending him down after the 2022 tournament. If they do.... welcome back. Gun to my head I would guess Sillinger, McTavish, and two other forwards won't be there. If that is the case the team should still have access to a very strong group of forwards.

 

[NyQuil]

He won’t be back.

If they had lost, maybe due to unfinished business.

 

[Statsy]

If McTavish is back I’ll be shocked.

One of the interesting question marks for me is actually Shane Wright. This is a guy that lost an entire year of development. Other players went far and wide to get some games in and he sat at home and got surpassed in the eyes of many scouts. Then he has a chance to play a big tourney with his peers and he again inexplicably chooses to sit out. Perhaps he was nursing an injury or the year was just too emotionally draining for him, but I find it hard to believe that he’s ready to stick for the year with Seattle, even if they let him start the season with the club. I can’t believe he wouldn’t be there in December, but then again I was more than a little shocked to not see him at the summer tournament. I hope he shows.

 

[jj cale]

McT won't be back but Stankoven being available is comforting, the last 3-4 games he was our most consistently effective forward.


Who knows with Wright, perhaps he wanted to train to be as ready as can be for this season and to show them right out of the gate "see, you messed up not picking me" though with the draft season he had I think playing in the tournament would have been the best thing for him. He's become a bit of an enigma at this point, no one seems to have a good read on how good of a hockey player he really is at this point, not playing doesn't help.

 

[PecnoTrunk]

If McTavish is back I’ll be shocked.

One of the interesting question marks for me is actually Shane Wright. This is a guy that lost an entire year of development. Other players went far and wide to get some games in and he sat at home and got surpassed in the eyes of many scouts. Then he has a chance to play a big tourney with his peers and he again inexplicably chooses to sit out. Perhaps he was nursing an injury or the year was just too emotionally draining for him, but I find it hard to believe that he’s ready to stick for the year with Seattle, even if they let him start the season with the club. I can’t believe he wouldn’t be there in December, but then again I was more than a little shocked to not see him at the summer tournament. I hope he shows.

I’m a Montreal canadiens fan

I was shocked and disappointed when we didn’t pick wright with the first

I still think wright will be the best player from this draft.

The one year off due to whatever reason hurt him but he will catch it up and be the best of the draft. There is a reason he got exceptional status

As for Juraj Slafkovský i always question a guy so big playing against smaller players. They seem to dominate until they match up against nhl calibre big players then the difference dwindles

I think Owen beck will make this team.

 

[ORRFForever]

If McTavish is back I’ll be shocked.

Agree.

He just pulled off one of the greatest plays in WJR history, why go back and tarnish your legacy? Even if available, if I was McT, I would pass.

He won’t be back.

If they had lost, maybe due to unfinished business.

Agree.

 

[jj cale]

I’m a Montreal canadiens fan



I think Owen beck will make this team.

I like Beck a lot, let's hope he can be both a TC and Habs player.

 

[JackSlater]

If McTavish is back I’ll be shocked.

One of the interesting question marks for me is actually Shane Wright. This is a guy that lost an entire year of development. Other players went far and wide to get some games in and he sat at home and got surpassed in the eyes of many scouts. Then he has a chance to play a big tourney with his peers and he again inexplicably chooses to sit out. Perhaps he was nursing an injury or the year was just too emotionally draining for him, but I find it hard to believe that he’s ready to stick for the year with Seattle, even if they let him start the season with the club. I can’t believe he wouldn’t be there in December, but then again I was more than a little shocked to not see him at the summer tournament. I hope he shows.

I lean toward thinking that Wright will be back. In addition to all the hockey that he missed, he didn't really dominate the 2022 season and perhaps more importantly Seattle should already be working Beniers into the lineup. Might not want two rookie centres in prominent roles. Now the the pressure to keep the first overall pick in the NHL should be off, not that that pressure may have existed in Seattle anyway, I expect him to be in junior unless he blows people away in camp and then early in the NHL season.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I’m a Montreal canadiens fan

I was shocked and disappointed when we didn’t pick wright with the first

I still think wright will be the best player from this draft.

The one year off due to whatever reason hurt him but he will catch it up and be the best of the draft. There is a reason he got exceptional status

As for Juraj Slafkovský i always question a guy so big playing against smaller players. They seem to dominate until they match up against nhl calibre big players then the difference dwindles

I think Owen beck will make this team.

For the record, Juraj played against men last season and only men. Which is why he didn't dominate in league play as a 17 year old. And which is why its unusual that he dominated at the Olympics and World Championships.

But as a Habs fan, i was also surprised we took him over Wright until the Dach trade. Huge gamble by Hughes.