WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[Statsy]

Good to see them invite Sennecke. At least undid one silly mistake for now.

Including Parekh, that's two mistakes corrected. Apparently they are reading this forum.

 

[Jacob]

What are Howe’s chances? Seems like some pencil him in but some don’t. 50:50?

 

[ORRFForever]

What are Howe’s chances? Seems like some pencil him in but some don’t. 50:50?

I think that is high. I can't see him making the team.

 

[frontsfan67]

Thought Kevin He positioned himself well enough with his play for an invite. He could have been a real spark plug energy type player for that roster.

Next year

 

[frontsfan67]

What are Howe’s chances? Seems like some pencil him in but some don’t. 50:50?

One of the lowest among the invites but never 0.

Imo only Pinelli, Allen and Ivankovic have lesser odds of making it THIS YEAR. However Dave Cameron is Pinellis coach in Ottawa so I wouldn’t completely rule that out even though we should and Ivankovic for sure on team next year.

 

[Digital Dog]

One of the lowest among the invites but never 0.

Imo only Pinelli, Allen and Ivankovic have lesser odds of making it THIS YEAR. However Dave Cameron is Pinellis coach in Ottawa so I wouldn’t completely rule that out even though we should and Ivankovic for sure on team next year.

Pinelli is vrtually a lock with Cameron

 

[Kingpin794]

Pinelli is vrtually a lock with Cameron

He might make the team but never forget Hanlon's razor.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Pinelli is vrtually a lock with Cameron

My commentary below is coming from a 67s fan, in an attempt to provide a somewhat unbiased look at Pinelli to see what kind of player we're getting if Cameron/Anholt do end up selecting him.

For the record, based on the talent available I wouldn't have selected Pinelli for the selection camp, nor would he be on my team - just to get that out of the way.

- Pinelli is tied for 3rd in OHL goals this season (with Sennecke and Martone; behind Misa and Lardis*); tied for 1st in power-play goals
- 3rd in OHL goals last season, though a bit lower than that based on goals/game.

The context for the goal-scoring is that Pinelli is doing it on a fairly weak 67s team that is near the bottom of the conference. His centre is Foster, a scoring winger who hasn't played centre until forced to do so at the beginning of this season. The other winger rotates between two 20-yr olds who are more puck retrieval specialists, or a Swiss import that has 0 goals this season. Ottawa lacks secondary scoring below the Pinelli line so their opponents can lock-in hard on the Pinelli line and if you limit Pinelli's scoring, you have a good chance of beating Ottawa.

Pinelli has been in on 41% of Ottawa's goals this season. He has a terrific shot, which is his primary offensive weapon. He's a good stickhandler through traffic. Speed is only OK. If there is any criticism about his offensive game, its that he often tries to do too much by himself...but it could be that that is what he's been instructed to do by Cameron given Ottawa's lack of offensive talent around him. You can see by his low assist totals that he's not a playmaker.

Despite ranking 15th out of 20 OHL teams in goals, Ottawa has the 2nd ranked PP in the league.

Off the puck, Pinelli works hard and is good at puck retrieval. He's not a big guy, but plays a feisty game. Picks up a lot of silly after-the-whistle calls. Kills penalties in Ottawa, but that's not exactly a point in his favour (or Dave Cameron's) as Ottawa's PK is by far the worst in the league.

With Cameron's influence on team selection, its not unreasonable to see Pinelli as the team's 4th line LW. He can play an energy role (if he stays disciplined) and provide a quick-strike offensive threat at the bottom of the forward group. Not the way I would draw it up, but entirely possible.

* Both of whom deserved camp invites btw

 

[BondraTime]

McKenzie said he expects Howe is a lock, so that is a very large difference in opinion on here

 

[Mathieukferland]

McKenzie said he expects Howe is a lock, so that is a very large difference in opinion on here

He was awful and out of place at both u18s and was just meh at Hlinka, his club numbers are just average without Bedard….. am I missing something here?

 

[kyle44]

McKenzie said he expects Howe is a lock, so that is a very large difference in opinion on here

Yeah, I noticed that too. If McKenzie expects it, you can bet that the people picking the team told him as much. Whenever MacKenzie has listed locks/frontrunners in previous years that had the masses scratching their heads (e.g., Dudas, Seeley), they've always made the team.

 

[Statsy]

Yeah, I noticed that too. If McKenzie expects it, you can bet that the people picking the team told him as much. Whenever MacKenzie has listed locks/frontrunners in previous years that had the masses scratching their heads (e.g., Dudas, Seeley), they've always made the team.

McKenzie always has inside information. He is the insider of insiders. LOL. With that said, his info comes before we get these guys actually playing together in a camp. I still think Howe is going to have to show well against his peers. Really there are very few "locks" on this team due to the impressive caliber of competition this year.

 

[kyle44]

McKenzie always has inside information. He is the insider of insiders. LOL. With that said, his info comes before we get these guys actually playing together in a camp. I still think Howe is going to have to show well against his peers. Really there are very few "locks" on this team due to the impressive caliber of competition this year.

Agreed, although the Hockey Canada favourites often have a longer leash and can survive a poor selection camp performance better than others.

 

[BondraTime]

Not sure any of Mckenzie’s locks have ever been cut, for what it’s worth. It’s damn beer automatic.

This team is all but picked, aside from 4/5 spots, as it is every year.

 

[JackSlater]

What are Howe’s chances? Seems like some pencil him in but some don’t. 50:50?

As others have alluded to, McKenzie highlighted Howe as a "prominent candidate" on TSN's preview show. McKenzie has better contacts than anyone else, so if he said that there would be a legitimate reason. He didn't explain why Howe would be in that position, but there must be a good reason.

 

[Statsy]

Not sure any of Mckenzie’s locks have ever been cut, for what it’s worth. It’s damn beer automatic.

This team is all but picked, aside from 4/5 spots, as it is every year.

Not sure any of Mckenzie’s locks have ever been cut". But have you actually LOOKED? Has anyone actually gone back to Bob's pre-camp selections from previous years and run the numbers?

 

[kyle44]

Not sure any of Mckenzie’s locks have ever been cut, for what it’s worth. It’s damn beer automatic.

This team is all but picked, aside from 4/5 spots, as it is every year.

This. It's not as if these are McKenzie's projections based on his viewings of the players. This is from a call/text that goes something like: "Hey Scott Salmond/Peter Anholt. The TSN WJ Preview Show is next week, who do you have as locks/frontrunners for the roster that I should list."

Similarly, if guys like Rehkopf and Wood aren't listed as locks/frontrunners, it's because someone connected to the team told him so. Don't be shocked to see one of them cut (as crazy as that might be).

 

[Statsy]

This. It's not as if these are McKenzie's projections based on his viewings of the players. This is from a call/text that goes something like: "Hey Scott Salmond/Peter Anholt. The TSN WJ Preview Show is next week, who do you have as locks/frontrunners for the roster that I should list."

Similarly, if guys like Rehkopf and Wood aren't listed as locks/frontrunners, it's because someone connected to the team told him so. Don't be shocked to see one of them cut (as crazy as that might be).

This is patently false. Insider information can come from assistant coaches or goaltending coaches or scouts. These are leaks, by the way. There is ZERO for Salmond/Anholt to gain by just telling McKenzie who is on the team.

 

[kyle44]

This is patently false. Insider information can come from assistant coaches or goaltending coaches or scouts. These are leaks, by the way. There is ZERO for Salmond/Anholt to gain by just telling McKenzie who is on the team.

Far away from being patently false. TSN and Hockey Canada have a symbiotic relationship. If you don't think that McKenzie has those kind of connections with Hockey Canada, you are very naïve. This is a U-20 junior hockey team; they aren't leaking national secrets. Why do you think he is right with his projections/pronouncements regarding Hockey Canada every single year?

 

[Statsy]

Far away from being patently false. TSN and Hockey Canada have a symbiotic relationship. If you don't think that McKenzie has those kind of connections with Hockey Canada, you are very naïve. This is a U-20 junior hockey team; they aren't leaking national secrets. Why do you think he is right with his projections/pronouncements regarding Hockey Canada every single year?

I don't think he is. I think he does very well with his projections at the draft, but that is a different thing entirely. I think that's why people are confused. Any one us can make a lock list for Team Canada in any given year and have MOST of it right.

 

[Jacob]

Glad I brought it up.

 

[kyle44]

I don't think he is. I think he does very well with his projections at the draft, but that is a different thing entirely. I think that's why people are confused. Any one us can make a lock list for Team Canada in any given year and have MOST of it right.

My friend, nobody is confused. McKenzie has been writing and commentating on the World Juniors for 33 years. Him and TSN helped make the tournament what it is today. He is the most connected journalist/TV personality to Hockey Canada. The man is completely retired but speaks to key personnel involved in shaping the team prior to TSN's preview show and selection camp, which is why you see locks/frontrunners or omissions listed that you and I would never select even though we watch a lot of junior hockey. This isn't some conspiracy; it is a fact that Bob and TSN are very plugged in to all things World Juniors.

 

[Statsy]

My friend, nobody is confused. McKenzie has been writing and commentating on the World Juniors for 33 years. Him and TSN helped make the tournament what it is today. He is the most connected journalist/TV personality to Hockey Canada. The man is completely retired but speaks to key personnel involved in shaping the team prior to TSN's preview show and selection camp, which is why you see locks/frontrunners or omissions listed that you and I would never select even though we watch a lot of junior hockey. This isn't some conspiracy; it is a fact that Bob and TSN are very plugged in to all things World Juniors.

You don't have to tell me the history of TSN and the WJC. The first one I watched was the first one they did (John Slaney winning it for Canada with a big slapper!), and I am not saying Bob McKenzie doesn't have solid connections to people in Hockey Canada.

What I AM saying is that it is unlikely that these sources are Anholt or Cameron, and Salmond isn't the guy picking the team. I'm also saying that some of the insider info that Bob gets is more of "The coach is high on this guy" as opposed to "They're definitely taking this guy". I hope you can see the fine difference there. Ultimately, my point is that Bob's locks are by no means 100% correct, even if they are mostly on the mark. Again I must reiterate that those picks don't take camp into consideration.

If Tanner Howe absolutely blows during this camp and still makes this team, feel free to come back and gloat.

 

[JackSlater]

McKenzie definitely has well placed sources in Hockey Canada. It isn't even just a world juniors thing, he's pulled off some extremely accurate predictions at the best on best level like calling Bergeron making the 2010 Olympic team when no one had him there. If he says a guy is a lock then he is almost certainly a lock, but he didn't use the term lock this time.

 

[Digital Dog]

My commentary below is coming from a 67s fan, in an attempt to provide a somewhat unbiased look at Pinelli to see what kind of player we're getting if Cameron/Anholt do end up selecting him.

For the record, based on the talent available I wouldn't have selected Pinelli for the selection camp, nor would he be on my team - just to get that out of the way.

- Pinelli is tied for 3rd in OHL goals this season (with Sennecke and Martone; behind Misa and Lardis*); tied for 1st in power-play goals
- 3rd in OHL goals last season, though a bit lower than that based on goals/game.

The context for the goal-scoring is that Pinelli is doing it on a fairly weak 67s team that is near the bottom of the conference. His centre is Foster, a scoring winger who hasn't played centre until forced to do so at the beginning of this season. The other winger rotates between two 20-yr olds who are more puck retrieval specialists, or a Swiss import that has 0 goals this season. Ottawa lacks secondary scoring below the Pinelli line so their opponents can lock-in hard on the Pinelli line and if you limit Pinelli's scoring, you have a good chance of beating Ottawa.

Pinelli has been in on 41% of Ottawa's goals this season. He has a terrific shot, which is his primary offensive weapon. He's a good stickhandler through traffic. Speed is only OK. If there is any criticism about his offensive game, its that he often tries to do too much by himself...but it could be that that is what he's been instructed to do by Cameron given Ottawa's lack of offensive talent around him. You can see by his low assist totals that he's not a playmaker.

Despite ranking 15th out of 20 OHL teams in goals, Ottawa has the 2nd ranked PP in the league.

Off the puck, Pinelli works hard and is good at puck retrieval. He's not a big guy, but plays a feisty game. Picks up a lot of silly after-the-whistle calls. Kills penalties in Ottawa, but that's not exactly a point in his favour (or Dave Cameron's) as Ottawa's PK is by far the worst in the league.

With Cameron's influence on team selection, its not unreasonable to see Pinelli as the team's 4th line LW. He can play an energy role (if he stays disciplined) and provide a quick-strike offensive threat at the bottom of the forward group. Not the way I would draw it up, but entirely possible.

* Both of whom deserved camp invites btw

Wow, didnt see such a deep dive coming from my throw away comment, kudos. For what its worth i dont think he is a terrible choice to paly a fourth line role but i also have other preferred candidates