WJC: 2024 Team Canada Roster Talk - Part 1

[joeyrikley]

Whether or not Boston lets him go is one thing, but Poitras has to be on the radar for the team I imagine. Was he on the original summer list for Calgary meetings? I can't seem to find that list anymore?

The list was randomly removed, very odd. But I mean he’s obviously on their radar, he’s one of the biggest locks on the board. The reason he’s not on a any predictions is because it seems like an impossibility that he’ll be made available

 

[Cowumbus]

Happy for every qc kid that makes it but I still think he’s (Dumais) in tough to make it…. Rousseau though I think can be the starter

Why?

Wasn’t he one of the last cuts last year? If anything I think he’s only gotten better since then.

 

[wayupnorth]

what kind of year is Pickering having?

 

[joeyrikley]

what kind of year is Pickering having?

Mediocre production, but I'd personally be shocked if he's not included on this team. He's the kind of player Canada management loves

 

[joeyrikley]

Wright just got called up, brutal news

 

[jj cale]

Wright just got called up, brutal news

We have to believe we can win despite any losses. I hope the team takes a proper attitude going into this tournament...........that of a fighting underdog, every player embraces their specific roles.

 

[ORRFForever]

Wright just got called up, brutal news

Come on. LOL. We can't win.

We have to believe we can win despite any losses. I hope the team takes a proper attitude going into this tournament...........that of a fighting underdog, every player embraces their specific roles.

Yup. Let Sweden and the U.S. enjoy the spotlight. Just fly under the radar, as much as Canada can fly under the radar, and try to overachieve.

 

[jj cale]

Come on. LOL. We can't win.


Yup. Let Sweden and the U.S. enjoy the spotlight. Just fly under the radar, as much as Canada can fly under the radar, and try to overachieve.

I'm happy to give them the front runners tag, let them go under the heat lamp.

 

[joeyrikley]

I think at this point the only way we get Wright is if he really underperforms in the NHL again. Pointless in his first game.

Just feels like this team could be so good, but guys are just graduating to the NHL so fast.

I’m just hoping around December 15th I wake up to the post saying, “Adam Fantilli has been loaned to team Canada”…a boy can dream

 

[ORRFForever]

I'm happy to give them the front runners tag, let them go under the heat lamp.

Yup. Hopefully TSN will sell that narrative.

I think at this point the only way we get Wright is if he really underperforms in the NHL again. Pointless in his first game.

Just feels like this team could be so good, but guys are just graduating to the NHL so fast.

I’m just hoping around December 15th I wake up to the post saying, “Adam Fantilli has been loaned to team Canada”…a boy can dream

I agree. Maybe we'll get lucky....

If Jordan Eberle heals quickly, MAYBE we get Wright. Fantilli has been good but not great (stats watching only) so MAYBE we get Fantilli.

I'm not holding my breath for either. I'd be very happy with one.

 

[jj cale]

Yup. Hopefully TSN will sell that narrative.

Don't worry about that............It's TSN's second team at this tournament, they LOVE them.

Buttons going to be all over it gushing about "THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM"


It's going to be sickening but it's going to rile me up.

 

[ORRFForever]

Don't worry about that............It's TSN's second team at this tournament, they LOVE them.

Buttons going to be all over it gushing about "THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM"


It's going to be sickening but it's going to rile me up.

Hopefully rile up Team Canada as well.

 

[jj cale]

Hopefully rile up Team Canada as well.

They need to be riled up to have a chance.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Shane Wright is a 4th overall draft pick in his draft + 2 season, and it is uncommon for players with that kind of pedigree to be made available to Team Canada - particularly, in Wright's case, when he's already captained a team to a gold medal.

Team Canada has always been strong enough to win without players in situations like Wright's. Wanting him to come back to play again this year feels greedy, for lack of a better word. Its someone else's turn to step up, as imo Wright has nothing else to prove at this level at this point - not to mention I find it unlikely that Seattle would release him again, when he could spend those ~3 weeks playing meaningful hockey in Seattle or Coachella.

 

[novisor]

Shane Wright is a 4th overall draft pick in his draft + 2 season, and it is uncommon for players with that kind of pedigree to be made available to Team Canada - particularly, in Wright's case, when he's already captained a team to a gold medal.

Team Canada has always been strong enough to win without players in situations like Wright's. Wanting him to come back to play again this year feels greedy, for lack of a better word. Its someone else's turn to step up, as imo Wright has nothing else to prove at this level at this point - not to mention I find it unlikely that Seattle would release him again, when he could spend those ~3 weeks playing meaningful hockey in Seattle or Coachella.

It doesn't stop us from dreaming!

 

[joeyrikley]

Shane Wright is a 4th overall draft pick in his draft + 2 season, and it is uncommon for players with that kind of pedigree to be made available to Team Canada - particularly, in Wright's case, when he's already captained a team to a gold medal.

Team Canada has always been strong enough to win without players in situations like Wright's. Wanting him to come back to play again this year feels greedy, for lack of a better word. Its someone else's turn to step up, as imo Wright has nothing else to prove at this level at this point - not to mention I find it unlikely that Seattle would release him again, when he could spend those ~3 weeks playing meaningful hockey in Seattle or Coachella.

I don't agree with the notion that Wright has "nothing left to prove" in juniors. He was NOT great last year, regularly an afterthought throughout the tournament. I know he was a point per game, but I couldn't name you one thing, other than the gold medal game goal, that he did. I think the average hockey fan was vastly underwhelmed by him last year

Plus Canada got Barrett Hayton in his draft + 2 season, and he was the fifth overall pick who had played the year prior, so there is examples of it happening

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I don't agree with the notion that Wright has "nothing left to prove" in juniors. He was NOT great last year, regularly an afterthought throughout the tournament. I know he was a point per game, but I couldn't name you one thing, other than the gold medal game goal, that he did. I think the average hockey fan was vastly underwhelmed by him last year

Plus Canada got Barrett Hayton in his draft + 2 season, and he was the fifth overall pick who had played the year prior, so there is examples of it happening

Perhaps your expectations were too high given wright’s strengths and his role/responsibilities on last year’s team. I was neither impressed nor vastly underwhelmed by his performance last year, as his play fell at the low end of my range of expectations for him. At the world junior level Wright would be a facilitator and very dependable 200-foot center, not a primary offensive weapon on his line. The average hockey fan may have been underwhelmed because of high expectations associated with wright’s name value but in reality Shane Wright did Shane Wright things over the course of the tournament and captained a strong team to a gold medal.

If Bedard wasn’t on last year’s team and Wright was relied on more for offense maybe we’d have seen more production but even then I’m not sure.

Even if he plays on this year’s team I doubt his offensive output would be all that impressive or noteworthy as that’s just not his game.

Regardless Seattle will have to make a call on where Wright is best able to develop over the course of ~3 weeks and with all the bouncing around he’s done over the last 12 months I’d be surprised if they release him to play in Sweden.

 

[joeyrikley]

Perhaps your expectations were too high given wright’s strengths and his role/responsibilities on last year’s team. I was neither impressed nor vastly underwhelmed by his performance last year, as his play fell at the low end of my range of expectations for him. At the world junior level Wright would be a facilitator and very dependable 200-foot center, not a primary offensive weapon on his line. The average hockey fan may have been underwhelmed because of high expectations associated with wright’s name value but in reality Shane Wright did Shane Wright things over the course of the tournament and captained a strong team to a gold medal.

If Bedard wasn’t on last year’s team and Wright was relied on more for offense maybe we’d have seen more production but even then I’m not sure.

Even if he plays on this year’s team I doubt his offensive output would be all that impressive or noteworthy as that’s just not his game.

Regardless Seattle will have to make a call on where Wright is best able to develop over the course of ~3 weeks and with all the bouncing around he’s done over the last 12 months I’d be surprised if they release him to play in Sweden.

I vastly disagree, I’ve watched Wright play at the u18s and he was nothing short of dominant. His offensive prowess was impossible to miss. Yes he is a two way stud, but as a 4th overall pick he should’ve been more noticeable offensively. That is not unfair expectations.

If he were on this team, anything less than 10 points would be disappointing in my opinion

 

[yessir29292]

I vastly disagree, I’ve watched Wright play at the u18s and he was nothing short of dominant. His offensive prowess was impossible to miss. Yes he is a two way stud, but as a 4th overall pick he should’ve been more noticeable offensively. That is not unfair expectations.

If he were on this team, anything less than 10 points would be disappointing in my opinion

That was almost 2 years prior when his prospect value was at on all time high, he was better than Bedard and Michkov at that tournament. Come last years World Juniors expecting that from Wright was simply unrealistic, he was never going to will Canada to gold, just be a very crucial piece.

There’s a reason he went 4th overall and not 1st and year after the u18s, he was not the same prospect after that.

 

[tunnelvision]

Geekie-Wright-Savoie: Keep the ICE boys together, hard working, 2-way line
Celebrini-Minten-Dumais: Thinking Duclair-Reinhart-Domi, two offensive studs with a 2-way centre to ground them
Cowan-Beck-Yager: Defensive, hustler line, think Comtois-Howden-Formenton
Hvidston-Danielson-Goyette: I like the defensive upside mixed with offensive upside
Heidt-Firkus: Can't decide who would be scratched, depends on the game I think, Firkus offers instant offence, Heidt brings solid 2-way play

Mateychuk-Luneau: Two best players, worry about too much offence on a single pair
Pickering-Lamoureux: BIG BOYSSSSSSSSS
Molendyk-Bonk: Young guys, Molendyk offensive provider, Bonk defensive anchor
Donovan-Dickinson: Both lefty's, I'd likely play Donovan in the more important games

Benson-Geekie-Savoie
Celebrini-Wright-Danielson
Minten-Yager-Wood
Catton-Beck-Firkus
Cowan/Dumais

Korchinski-Mateychuk
Pickering-Luneau
Molendyk-Bonk
Dickenson/Yakemchuk-Lamoureu

How would you build PP and PK units from these rosters?

 

[joeyrikley]

That was almost 2 years prior when his prospect value was at on all time high, he was better than Bedard and Michkov at that tournament. Come last years World Juniors expecting that from Wright was simply unrealistic, he was never going to will Canada to gold, just be a very crucial piece.

There’s a reason he went 4th overall and not 1st and year after the u18s, he was not the same prospect after that.

You’re acting like his fall to 4th was something anyone had anticipated, while it was actually shocking to watch. Hindsight is 20/20

To say he doesn’t have the ability to dominate at a high level, is untrue

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I vastly disagree, I’ve watched Wright play at the u18s and he was nothing short of dominant. His offensive prowess was impossible to miss. Yes he is a two way stud, but as a 4th overall pick he should’ve been more noticeable offensively. That is not unfair expectations.

If he were on this team, anything less than 10 points would be disappointing in my opinion

It’s possible he had a physical maturity advantage at the u18 tournament that hasn’t been available to him at the u20s or thus far in his AHL/NHL career. I watch a lot of OHL a and have seen him dominate offensively with Kingston and Windsor, but have long thought that his value at the pro level will lie in his two-way ability and dependability, with 65-75 points a realistic target. He played more of that role at the 2023 u20s.

Like I said, I had a range of expectations for him at last year’s tournament and he met them, though barely. I don’t think Canada wins gold without him though as he was able to anchor a really strong (though not offensively dominant) second line that played well in all zones.

This whole thing started when I said I don’t think Wright has anything left to prove at the world junior level. I think that’s true. He’s captained a team to a gold medal and should move on to bigger and better things in his pro career. For the record I’d be thrilled if he’s made available to us, but certainly surprised.

Montreal made a mistake drafting Slaf first overall, that much is certain. But I don’t think Wright goes #1 in a redraft either. The player selected at #10 by Anaheim - Mintyukov - has been better than Wright at the OHL and now NHL level, not to mention players like Cooley and perhaps a few others.

 

[yessir29292]

You’re acting like his fall to 4th was something anyone had anticipated, while it was actually shocking to watch. Hindsight is 20/20

To say he doesn’t have the ability to dominate at a high level, is untrue

It wasn’t a shock like it would’ve been had the draft been held year prior.

Why are people acting like a PPG, first like centre, captain, PP1, PK1, guy who took every important draw and was elite 2way is underwhelming from the 4th overall pick in his d+1. If Beniers or McTavish in the the cancelled World Juniors people would have not been underwhelmed.

 

[joeyrikley]

It wasn’t a shock like it would’ve been had the draft been held year prior.

Why are people acting like a PPG, first like centre, captain, PP1, PK1, guy who took every important draw and was elite 2way is underwhelming from the 4th overall pick in his d+1. If Beniers or McTavish in the the cancelled World Juniors people would have not been underwhelmed.

He was never the go to guy on the team that’s why. Bedard, Stankoven, Roy, Zellweger, even Guenther were more impactful than wright ever was last years tournament. I never went into a game expecting Wright to be THE guy, that’s what I think he’s got to prove. Hayton did it, Strome did it, McTavish did it, Wright should too

 

[Gold Standard]

He was never the go to guy on the team that’s why. Bedard, Stankoven, Roy, Zellweger, even Guenther were more impactful than wright ever was last years tournament. I never went into a game expecting Wright to be THE guy, that’s what I think he’s got to prove. Hayton did it, Strome did it, McTavish did it, Wright should too

Damn straight, And proving to be The Guy would be a much greater developmental tool than whatever collection of NHL/AHL games he can get in from Dec.15 to Jan 5.