WJC: 2024 Team Canada Roster Talk - Part 1

[ORRFForever]

Canada in 2020 had a lot of good leadership. You had captain Hayton battling through injury to play in the gold medal game and a handful of returning players.

This year? I don't know. Canada looks like a team that can't win the tight games. Pre tournament vs USA you have Beck making a horrendous give away to lose. Today was just an all over disaster. Over passing, terrible break away attempts, inability to get the puck out and then you have the coach making a too many men mistake at the worst time.

I almost wish they lost 8-0 because then you could chalk it up to a bad game but the way they've played tight games is very concerning.

All that means is we are due for a tight game to go our way.

Sweden was the better team, today. Kudos to them.

I don't know of it's because he's a year older, but I expect more from Cowan than Minten.

I agree. Hopefully they improve.

 

[MM917]

I am not sure how they get the lines fixed because they have so many of the "top" guys playing like crap.

Celebrini and Geekie are the only two guys you would have expected to be contributors offensively to show up. I give credit to Allard and Rehkopf for playing well but not sure they can be top offensive guys going forward, although I think I give Rebkopf the chance.

Do you go with the guys playing best and have Geekie-Celebrini put together and hope that line can carry everyone? I still have hope for Geekie-Savoie to work so I likely go with that. Spit balling here but maybe:

Cowan-Geekie-Savoie
Rehkopf-Celebrini-Yager
Minten-Poitras-Dumais
Allard-Beck-Danielson
Wood

Leaves the 4th line which has been good together, puts the 3 disappointing duds together on the 3rd line. Not sure about the fits on the Celebrini/Rehkopf and Geekie/Savoie as there doesn't seem to be a clear 3rd guy for either line.

 

[NyQuil]

Not overly concerned.

Canada is going to have to score first though if the teams match up again IMO.

 

[TLEH]

 

[TheDoldrums]

No idea why Minten is getting that much ice compared to others, obviously the staff loves him.but dial it down

Also pls play Rehkopf more

 

[ORRFForever]

Not overly concerned.

Canada is going to have to score first though if the teams match up again IMO.

Agree, 100%

 

[Rob]

Any hockey historians here remember the last time Team Canada was shutout in the round robin?
I remember Sweden shutting them out back in '98.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

End of the day the top guys have to make more of impact. That is Geekie, Poitras and Savoie mostly but if Minten is going to be played 20 minutes a night then have to include him in that group as well. The game isn't the end of the world if they make it not the end of the world.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Cowan-Geekie-Savoie
Rehkopf-Celebrini-Yager
Minten-Poitras-Dumais
Allard-Beck-Danielson

Rehkopf-Celebrini-Danielson
Geekie-Beck-Savoie
Allard-Minten-Yager
Cowan-Poitras-Dumais

They need to mix in the checking line guys with the scorers, because they consistently play with pace, create space for offense, and go to the net. And the 4th line guys should be there because that's how they're playing.

This team doesn't have the raw offense to go all-star game mode and put 3 scorers on every line.

 

[All the Answers]

For Letang to not put Rehkopf on what has thus far been an inept pp, when everyone in the OHL realised after game 10 he was going to win best shot and goal scoring title is just asinine. I hope Razor gets a hat trick every remaining game vs the sting. No one on this roster has yet shown me a shot in the same league as Carson. PP1 dumba$$

 

[ORRFForever]

No idea why Minten is getting that much ice compared to others, obviously the staff loves him.but dial it down

Also pls play Rehkopf more

I agree with this, too.

 

[TLEH]

Don't think you bring Rehkopf to be an extra forward. You use him in the Top 6 or not at all. You can't score right now so.. maybe use him in the Top 6.

 

[Halfy]

I had concerns going into the tournament about how many perceived “two way” players they brought. The USA game took away my concerns but they have returned. We’ll see.

 

[ORRFForever]

The NYE game is all but irrelevant.

We will face Czechia in the Quarters.
If we win there, the U.S..
If we win the semis, I'm going to assume Sweden.

 

[NyQuil]

The NYE game is all but irrelevant.

We will face Czechia in the Quarters.
If we win there, the U.S..
If we win the semis, I'm going to assume Sweden.

Tricky path forward.

 

[bobber]

Rehkopf one of the top scoring juniors in Canada got the least amount of minutes. This in a game where Canada was out coached and out hit. Letang was hoping for a miracle.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Why so many minutes for Fraser Minten? I assume a lot on the penalty kill, but he's kind of just a plug in high-level competition.

 

[All the Answers]

Why so many minutes for Fraser Minten? I assume a lot on the penalty kill, but he's kind of just a plug in high-level competition.

Leaf pick, culture of losing. Poor choice for captain.

 

[MXD]

Any hockey historians here remember the last time Team Canada was shutout in the round robin?
I remember Sweden shutting them out back in '98.

Vs. Russia in 2020.

 

[kevsh]

Leaf pick, culture of losing

Now come on, he's not even playing on the Leafs yet ... Seriously.

 

[All the Answers]

Now come on, he's not even playing on the Leafs yet ... Seriously.

Been to 2 camps, more exposure than I'd like.

 

[ORRFForever]

Tricky path forward.

Of course, if Slovakia beats the U.S. tomorrow, everything changes. If the Swiss beat the Norway and Czechia, again, everything changes.

Very crazy WJR's in 2024.

***

Instead of blaming the coach (and everyone else), why not just give props to Sweden for playing a perfect game?

 

[Smif]

This is actually very surprising. I thought Celebrini would've been in the 13 mins TOI area.

 

[hockey20000]

minton 19 mins and rehkopt 4 mins lol... thats a firable offence can we ship out coach back to sarnia?

 

[ORRFForever]

minton 19 mins and rehkopt 4 mins lol... thats a firable offence can we ship out coach back to sarnia?

Another good point.