WJC: 2024 Team Canada Roster Talk - Part 1

[newfy]

Surprised Firkus looked so bad. Has outshone Yager in Moosejaw when I watch imo.

With the make up of the team, I bet hes the guy they bring back if an NHLer doesnt come. He had a bad camp but if they need goals theyll want him. If any of the more skilled guys get hurt, theyll want him to help the PP and stuff too.

Bringing someone like Barkey back given the make up of the team would make absolutely no sense to me but I didnt watch the Usports games either

 

[ORRFForever]

On a positive note, this team should be tough to score on. One of Luneau, Warren, and Lamoureux will always be on the ice. 3 great defensive defensemen

Yes! Thank you for saying that. So much negativity in this thread.

 

[LeProspector]

Do you have an actual point? Like you came in here earlier all hot and bothered to shit on Cowan because you thought he got cut....were wrong then and said you would come back later when the team was actually picked. You are still wrong. Just take the L in silence without these weird strawmen.

I already admitted I was wrong? what more do you want? You want me to praise Cowan and say he’s a future NHL superstar? No I won’t do that. Cowan will be a very good 3rd line player in the NHL and he is not the best player in the OHL.

 

[ORRFForever]

Not a lot of nice, shiny names on that roster but still one that can win gold. Savoie, Celebrini, Dumais, Geekie and Wood will all bring talent. Possibly get an NHLer back. Danielson was a top 10 pick and maybe the best rookie in the NHL preseason this year. Yager has a history of being a stud for Canada in tourneys like the u18.

Its not your typical team Canada but they have talent and theyll be the hardest team physically/defensively to play against in the entire tournament as well

Well said.

 

[ORRFForever]

That's how they'll probably need to play and based on 3/4 goalies picked for camp it looks like that's how they intend to play. Now whether they can play that way is going to be interesting. Rather than running over teams they might just have to do what Canada did in 2014 at Sochi and just smother teams defensively.

High offensive teams ALWAYS hit a brick wall at some point - a HOT goalie or a team that back checks them to death in a single elimination game. Remember 2021, when the U.S. smothered our high powered offense in the GMG? Last year, Bedard saved our butts but it can go bad quite easily.

We will have a "from the net out" team. Since the NHL picked us dry, perhaps we had NO choice, but I am very comfortable with this approach.

 

[ORRFForever]

I thought we'd get Benson but someone made a convincing case against it. I have to believe we will get at least one of the 6 outstanding... and that looks like M.P.

When will we know?

Edit :

Benson just got his 3rd goal with the Sabres. Grrrrrrr!
Lousy 18 year old punk!!!!

 

[Ace]

Releasing Benson for WJC would be a savvy tank move for Buffalo.

….

….

What do you mean they’re trying to win?

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

I thought we'd get Benson but someone made a convincing case against it. I have to believe we will get at least one of the 6 outstanding... and that looks like M.P.

When will we know?

Edit :

Benson just got his 3rd goal with the Sabres. Grrrrrrr!
Lousy 18 year old punk!!!!

It was nice to see him finally pot one, but that's not why he won't be released. The chart @Ace posted above is consistent with the eye test and tells the story accurately.

Garbage game from the Sabres, obviously, but he was easily their best player. Stripping pucks, coming out of scrums with possession, the first to loose pucks. His anticipation and work rate was off the scale.

I apologize for prolonging the Benson chatter in here, but he's just too valuable to the Sabres to be playing elsewhere.

(Now watch Sabres' management say "f*** it, we're circling the drain. Let Benson wear the maple leaf." I'll happily take the L. He deserves to win somewhere.)

 

[yessir29292]

probably he doesnt want to go.. he has amassive ego on him unlikable player also lol.

massive ego?

 

[bert]

That team still had a +18 goal differential and lost in OT in the QF on a broken stick iirc. I seem to remember the leading scorer in the tournament was benched in OT for reasons.

Maybe this team does the same with the right matchups (Russia is not in this tournament and a weaker team replaces them) but hard not to feel like they are undermanned in this one.

This current roster reminds me of some of those early 2000s teams where they picked for roles instead of just picking the best and most talented players. Like why is HC taking a sub-PPG, twice undrafted forward? There's no way that is one of Canada's best 12 available forwards. Cut the better Moose Jaw forward for what I assume is a role decision.

If you're going to go with a more well-rounded forward group, that's one thing, but where is the skill on the backend to support that group? I'm not seeing it and I'm maybe the biggest Mateychuk fan. Noah Warren has FIVE points this season. In what year is that ever good enough for Team Canada?

And I'm far from a goalie expert but possibly relying on an undrafted goalie also? Idk...

This right here tells me you haven't watched and are just using stats. He's massive, he skates like the wind and is really hard to play against. He almost made the NHL as an 18 year old. He's gonna pk and play a shut down role. It's a hockey game not a fantasy league.

Overall I like the d core.

Looks like the forwards lack some skill compared to other years. I am not going to pretend I know these players but the ones they have chosen that I have watched play in the Ottawa area are strong. Looking forward to seeing how they do. For me they have the third best roster but who knows anything can happen. Sweden seems to be underrated and at home. But that's for a different thread.

 

[bert]

You seem to have trouble following the conversation in this thread.

I'm sure someone is saving you a seat at the kids table. It's okay big boy.

I don't think I ever see you actually discuss hockey on here.

 

[bert]

Management seems to have not learned last year’s lesson of not picking a team like you have a salary cap to adhere to. The only reason this wasn’t noticed was because Bédard carried a team that had basically no depth scoring.


Canada has the deepest player pool of any country and to bring players like Allard (who I don’t even think is better than BMB on his own team) and Warren because they think he will have chemistry with Luneau is mind boggling to me when players like Heidt and Firkus are left off of teams. Hope they win gold but this has Tim Hunter 2019 grind show disaster written all over it

They never play together........ He made the team because he is a very good shut down d man. Watch some games man. Do you think that Heidt and Firkus would do better on D in a pk role?

 

[jj cale]

Yes! Thank you for saying that. So much negativity in this thread.

Yeah, you are right OF, we will need to start getting behind these kids starting right now and being more positive, they deserve our support, they are going to do their best win or lose representing us and we need to respect that.

Your post here was a good reminder of that.

 

[jj cale]

It was nice to see him finally pot one, but that's not why he won't be released. The chart @Ace posted above is consistent with the eye test and tells the story accurately.

Garbage game from the Sabres, obviously, but he was easily their best player. Stripping pucks, coming out of scrums with possession, the first to loose pucks. His anticipation and work rate was off the scale.

I apologize for prolonging the Benson chatter in here, but he's just too valuable to the Sabres to be playing elsewhere.

(Now watch Sabres' management say "f*** it, we're circling the drain. Let Benson wear the maple leaf." I'll happily take the L. He deserves to win somewhere.)

You are right, Benson wont be coming, we are just going to have to make do with what is here and hopefully some of these kids step up, there is still good hockey players on this team.

 

[Mathieukferland]

They never play together........ He made the team because he is a very good shut down d man. Watch some games man. Do you think that Heidt and Firkus would do better on D in a pk role?

I know they don’t play together. My point was hockey Canada seems to think they both played on Hull for a long time together and it feels like a pick that is made with a view to potential chemistry. Seabrook being brought to play with Keith in 2010 if you will. I’ve seen him a play a few times for Robitaille in Gatineau and I thought he was just…. Meh

With regard to Firkus and Heidt, I was wasn’t comparing them to Warren. I was comparing them to Allard and to a lesser extent Cowan. I find it strange that Allard was even invited over McConnell-Barker, who the few times I saw soo I thought was their best player

 

[Macman]

could make a better team by bringing just western canadian kids than what HC picked lol

Yeah, it sure would be nice if Canada could win one of the these things for change.

The negativity in this place every year is so heart-warming.

 

[bert]

I know they don’t play together. My point was hockey Canada seems to think they both played on Hull for a long time together and it feels like a pick that is made with a view to potential chemistry. Seabrook being brought to play with Keith in 2010 if you will. I’ve seen him a play a few times for Robitaille in Gatineau and I thought he was just…. Meh

With regard to Firkus and Heidt, I was wasn’t comparing them to Warren. I was comparing them to Allard and to a lesser extent Cowan. I find it strange that Allard was even invited over McConnell-Barker, who the few times I saw soo I thought was their best player

You literally said 'they brought him because they think he will have chemistry with luneau'. They're both RD men. Seabrook is a rd and Keith is a ld. Seabrook was a good pick and they won... weird choice.

Warren is a very unique talent and much like when Canada Brought Bahl (who is now a shut down d in the NHL) there were all sorts of stat watchers complaining. Super similar situation. He's there to play a role and there no one else that's going to do it better.

When Canada brings a shut down d man to the next best on best people are going to lose their minds. But it's gonna happen. A Nurse or Oleksiak or Parayko style player will be on that team and play 15 minutes a game pking and d zone starts. It's part of the game as much as people don't like it on hf boards. Where charts are king and no actual hockey knowledge/experience seems to matter.

 

[Mathieukferland]

You literally said 'they brought him because they think he will have chemistry with luneau'. They're both RD men. Seabrook is a rd and Keith is a ld. Seabrook was a good pick and they won... weird choice.

Warren is a very unique talent and much like when Canada Brought Bahl (who is now a shut down d in the NHL) there were all sorts of stat watchers complaining. Super similar situation. He's there to play a role and there no one else that's going to do it better.

When Canada brings a shut down d man to the next best on best people are going to lose their minds. But it's gonna happen. A Nurse or Oleksiak or Parayko style player will be on that team and play 15 minutes a game pking and d zone starts. It's part of the game as much as people don't like it on hf boards. Where charts are king and no actual hockey knowledge/experience seems to matter.

I was referring to the fact they didn’t play together on Gatineau. Excuse my English if I didn’t express it clearly but I mean to say that the perception of having Warren on the team for me feels like he is being brought as a compliment to Luneau, not because they had a great deal of history together on hull.

I have no issues with bringing defensive defenseman. I thought hinds was great last year. But I don’t think Warren plays near that level as hinds did last year.


And different topics but



1.Seabrook was separated from Keith and ended up the 7th defenseman in 2010, I don’t think it was a great pick



2.Parayko and Nurse are both atrocious in their own end, I don’t mind bringing more defensive profile guys like Toews or Pelech but if you have Parayko and Nurse playing 15 minutes a night in a best on best than Canada will lose

 

[TheDoldrums]

With regard to Firkus and Heidt, I was wasn’t comparing them to Warren. I was comparing them to Allard and to a lesser extent Cowan

Cowan is 2nd in the OHL in PPG, seems like a weird target for a point about Canada selecting role players over skill/talent (even if you did acknowledge it was to a lesser extent)

 

[hullsy47]

Cowan is 2nd in the OHL in PPG, seems like a weird target for a point about Canada selecting role players over skill/talent (even if you did acknowledge it was to a lesser extent)

People went after Cowan, for being 18 .the kid is one of the top 5 in tye ohl
And he can embrace a 4tjh line role.
He is unselfish maybe to a fault but he just wants to win

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I find it strange that Allard was even invited over McConnell-Barker, who the few times I saw soo I thought was their best player

I didn't think Allard should've even been invited to camp either, but he can play a role BMB can't. Sometimes you have to bring in guys that will accept a role on the 4th line. We see it every year.

 

[bert]

I was referring to the fact they didn’t play together on Gatineau. Excuse my English if I didn’t express it clearly but I mean to say that the perception of having Warren on the team for me feels like he is being brought as a compliment to Luneau, not because they had a great deal of history together on hull.

I have no issues with bringing defensive defenseman. I thought hinds was great last year. But I don’t think Warren plays near that level as hinds did last year.


And different topics but



1.Seabrook was separated from Keith and ended up the 7th defenseman in 2010, I don’t think it was a great pick



2.Parayko and Nurse are both atrocious in their own end, I don’t mind bringing more defensive profile guys like Toews or Pelech but if you have Parayko and Nurse playing 15 minutes a night in a best on best than Canada will lose

I know what youre suggesting in the first paragraph it just doesnt makse sense. However if you think that he isn't good enough as a shut down d you're fair to have that opinion.

They won in 2010...... How was that a bad pick. Seabrook was a great d man and if someone got hurt he would be a fantastic option to have been brought in. Very strange hill to die on here.

Team Canada will bring a heavy shut down d man. Toews or Pelech don't fit that bill. I am not saying it's going to be Nurse or Parayko but there's gonna be someone. You're gonna be upset like most of hf. When USA rolls with both Tkachuks and other physical forward you need some physicality and push back. Look how Vegas just won a cup. Heavy d cores win. Doesn't look great on the fancy charts but thats what wins when it matters.

 

[dino200022]

I know what youre suggesting in the first paragraph it just doesnt makse sense. However if you think that he isn't good enough as a shut down d you're fair to have that opinion.

They won in 2010...... How was that a bad pick. Seabrook was a great d man and if someone got hurt he would be a fantastic option to have been brought in. Very strange hill to die on here.

Team Canada will bring a heavy shut down d man. Toews or Pelech don't fit that bill. I am not saying it's going to be Nurse or Parayko but there's gonna be someone. You're gonna be upset like most of hf. When USA rolls with both Tkachuks and other physical forward you need some physicality and push back. Look how Vegas just won a cup. Heavy d cores win. Doesn't look great on the fancy charts but thats what wins when it matters.

I agree, I usually do not stick my nose in too many things but the takes in here are just getting ludicrous. Canada is building a TEAM from top to bottom, so sick of hearing about certain players being here. They did not just pull random players names out of a hat folks. They have a certain coaching style and they are looking for players to fill certain roles.

Lets look at the 05 team, probably the best ever. A bunch of guys that were under PPG or just over PPG players in their leagues that played integral roles on the team - Ladd, Fraser, Stewart, Dixon, Coburn, Weber.

I understand if Canada is going to have a 60 minute powerplay every game they may have made a mistake cutting some of those guys. But remember we have to kill penalties, for-check, be physical, play solid defense. There are so many more elements to a game of hockey than scoring goals, but it does not seem here like some folks remember that. This is not an EA Sports game, this is real life hockey!

 

[therealdeal]

Let’s fricking go boys!!

 

[FLYguy3911]

This right here tells me you haven't watched and are just using stats. He's massive, he skates like the wind and is really hard to play against. He almost made the NHL as an 18 year old. He's gonna pk and play a shut down role. It's a hockey game not a fantasy league.

Overall I like the d core.

Quite the assumption.

Yes all the hockey cliches for a guy that can't make plays with the puck. Almost made the NHL at 18, but he's not even an impact player in the Q as a 4th year player! Please list off the effective defensemen at this tournament that scored at a... 0.25 PPG rate in the CHL. I'll wait on that one.

People say the same things about these low scoring defensemen, every year and it hardly ever plays out how they envision. And we have never seen a case this extreme. Yes he may be good defensively, but this is an overseas IIHF tournament. You have to be able to make plays with the puck - under pressure and at a pace they've never played at before.

For reference, a guy like Oliver Bonk who probably doesn't make this roster in a normal cycle, has about the minimum puck skills Canada should be looking for. And he's a PPG player in the OHL.