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WJC: 2024 Team Canada Roster Talk - Part 1

Craig Ludwig said:
Sweden played the game that Canada used to always play, and now seem to have forgotten. Hit, hit and hit, drive the net, drive the net. Canada, for so many years, came out flying in the first period and intimidated, this team especially just doesn't have that physicality.
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I think this Canada team is missing game breakers offensively. Celebrini might be their biggest threat to score but he needs help. It’ll be interesting to see how they adjust in the medal round
 
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Smif said:
How has he been brutal, exactly? Did he have two bad giveaways that led to goals or even scoring chances? No. He just didn't score, just like everoyone else that got shutdown by Sweden's D. People are overreacting like crazy.

I would like to see some lineup changes by putting more skill with skill but Minten's been fine. People just seeing what they want to see.
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Minten had multiple terrible giveaways that directly lead to grade A scoring chances against. Not sure what you’re talking about there. I don’t think he’s been as bad as some are letting on but he hasn’t played well.

He had a couple decent opportunities that he just shot straight into the goalies logo.

Hopefully he picks it up and brings his best going forward. Canada really needs to simplify things and get back to playing the proper style of hockey.

The lack of urgency and weak forecheck was very apparent. If they try to play a cute perimeter game rather than in your ****ing face all out aggression especially on the forecheck, then they’ll lose out quickly.

The Swedish D did an excellent job shutting down zone entries and stick checking along with playing physical every time Canada tried fancy zone entries. They need to get pucks in deep and on their toes with a wave after wave forecheck. They were able to generate turnovers as the Swedish D aren’t overly great puck movers when they did have good forechecks going Canada was able to generate turnovers, which was not as often as it should have been. The Swedish D are quite mobile and structured defensively along with good size and physicality. The continuous attempted controlled zone entries and trying to make perfect passes was stupid rather than getting them on their heels with pucks in the corners.

Junior hockey has elements of psychological and physical intimidation that can tremendously swing games and momentum in ways more apparent than at the NHL level.

Get back to playing the proper Canadian way and style of hockey.
 
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Need a lot of guys to step up offensively. Savoie, Minten, Dumais have all been ghosts. Time for a shake up. I actually think the D have been a bit better than I expected coming into the tourney but I thought the forwards would look better than this
 
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I have been harsh on Minten but the real problem isn't him it is the coaches and their use of him. He should be a third line forward playing a key role in a defensive/checking role and if he can kick in with a little offense that's a bonus.

He should not be on the top line, top PP and leading the team in ice time especially in a game we are losing 2-0. I think had he played on the 3rd line with middle minutes up front there would be very little talk about him and to me that is 100% on the coaches.

Poitras has by far been the most disappointing player in terms of what should actually be expected of him. He was needed to be one of the best players in the tournament for this team to have a lot of success and he hasn't been close to it. Dumais and Savoie also get an honorable mention as guys who have not provided any of the offensive skill or creativity that this team sorely lacks.

But ultimately it is the coaching that has been the worst so far for Canada, the lines, the ice time, the PP units have made little to no sense. They sit guys who have the potential to add what we need, the guys who have played well, while force feeding guys that don't have it.

I know some might argue it is a short tournament so it is hard to build chemistry but at the same time I would argue because it is a short tournament you can't keep forcing guys minutes hoping they will eventually get out of their funks, you don't have time to wait for that especially once the knock-out games begin.
 
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Seems that they are bringing Firkus over. Seems odd to me that Savoie would suddenly have an injury that makes him questionable going forward... I'm interested to hear more about this. Regardless, after flying over Donovan, Nelson, and now Firkus late it's time for Hockey Canada to stop with the policy of not bringing over the total allotment 25 players. It doesn't matter if two skaters don't get to play and the CHL loses two players for a few weeks, the goal is to be prepared and above all else to win the tournament. Enough of the bullshit of not daring to bring two guys who don't play - give those players the choice to not be selected if it's a significant issue.

Canada can still win this tournament. Sweden and USA are the biggest threats. USA hasn't looked that good but is still highly dangerous. Sweden has looked better than every other team and clearly outplayed Canada, but they weren't all that threatening on offence really and Canada should have a clear area for improvement if they play again - namely, make the game messy by driving to the hard areas and play the best players the most.

Minten and the issues with his usage are obvious at this point. I'm not as down on Dumais as the general public seems to be, he's generated turnovers and probably should have a couple extra assists. Off the top of my head I'll produce lines (defence airings are fine) and PP groups that would probably be an improvement -

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

Geekie
Wood Dumais Celebrini
Mateychuk

Allard
Savoie Poitras Rehkopf
Nelson

Units run through Celebrini and Savoie. If Savoie is actually out then Poitras moves over to the wall and it runs through him with Yager in the bumper spot. Sub Yager into Dumais' spot if necessary.

I expect that Canada will look better in the elimination games and the chance to win is still easily there. That may not be enough to win the tournament, but it is my expectation. Canada has had worse efforts in the round robin just over the last few years (2020 against Russia easily comes to mind) but tends to rebound. If that doesn't happen then things will really need to be looked at.
 
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snipes said:
Junior hockey has elements of psychological and physical intimidation that can tremendously swing games and momentum in ways more apparent than at the NHL level.

Get back to playing the proper Canadian way and style of hockey.
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What exactly is the proper Canadian way? Dump and bang?
 
czechcanadian said:
It certainly hurts us but others are missing players as well.
It just is what it is. Happens every year. Next man up.
The team is still really good on paper. On any given day they could beat anyone.
You put the loss behind you, make adjustments and play again.
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Oh, 100%. The roster should still compete no matter what, every year, for gold. It’s actually probably a good thing cause the tournament doesn’t have great parity as is and lots of fans get to see some different players.

I think it’s worth mentioning when the big picture questions come along about other countries catching up or passing Canada and what not. This year the team really, really feels it.
 
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snowkiddin said:
I think this Canada team is missing game breakers offensively. Celebrini might be their biggest threat to score but he needs help. It’ll be interesting to see how they adjust in the medal round
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They have one on the bench vs Sweden who may have been Canada's second best forward vs Latvia in Carson Rehkopf. You know the player with 32 goals in 32 games this season. He may have the best shot of any player in this tourney but apparently the coaches when he does play to be in front of the net and screen the goalie for some non-existent shot.
 
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Did Rehkopf really play ~5 minutes last game? While Minten had 19 and Allard had 11.... I don't understand, I didn't watch the game vs Sweden, but it just feels like the coaches always try to galaxy brain the lines and usage. How is the guy lighting up the OHL not getting favorable O-zone deployment. I don't really understand the coaches current philosophy. I do expect them to still contend for gold though and figure it out, last year started out really rough, and the defense last year was shaky the whole tournament. Still I hope they make the top 6 the scoring lines as opposed to having 4 solid lines, Canada can easily make a top 6 that can score a ton (if the players play to reasonable expectations), and a bottom 6 that should be able to shut down, check hard, and score a few goals.
 
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nbwingsfan said:
It clearly gives you blue coloured glasses where you ignore all the faults in his game
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No, it doesn't. I don't wear glasses besides if I were to wear these imaginary glasses, I would ignore all the faults in every player on team Canada.
 
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ChazzMichaelMichaels said:
Oh, 100%. The roster should still compete no matter what, every year, for gold. It’s actually probably a good thing cause the tournament doesn’t have great parity as is and lots of fans get to see some different players.

I think it’s worth mentioning when the big picture questions come along about other countries catching up or passing Canada and what not. This year the team really, really feels it.
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Idk if I'm as worried about other countries catching up thanks to the 2023 draft class, and 2024 looks pretty good for Canada, Celebrini being far ahead of any other talent, and the US's only likely top 10 pick is Eiserman. Also Canada is icing an entirely new roster outside of previous 13F Beck, who only played 3 games last year. I feel like the NTDP and built in chemistry makes some US prospects seem better then they are some times. I mean Leonard, Perrault, and Smith, all play at BC and it makes me wonder if that'll lead to them not becoming as versatile as they could be if they had to experiment with different line mates.
 
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ORRFForever said:
When I made this post, I thought I'd get a TON of feedback.
NO one commented on my post. :laugh: Grrrr.

Is it just me (there is always a good chance I'm the crazy one) or are these odds insane? :help:
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I got 6-1 on Czechia beating the US and I'm like WTF are these guys talking about, there is no way the US is 6 times more likely to win that game. Then we got within an eyelash of an upset, but alas it wasn't to be and I lost the bet.

I'll definitely throw some money down on Slovakia for this. It's not even that the US are playing poorly, but the odds makers have definitely been sleeping on Slovakia and Czechia.
 
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