WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[hockey20000]

favorite time of year is slowly approaching the team should be stacked this year

 

[Matttheleaf]

I know that Rehkopf is a former Ranger so that may make me slightly biased, but I am shocked people have him on the 4th line or as one of the extra forwards again. Especially since he was on the team last year and is 3rd in the OHL in scoring this year (for some reason having more assists than goals which is very different from last year). I think that you want him on a top line with other elite players and they can make things happen offensively.

 

[Mitch nylander]

I know that Rehkopf is a former Ranger so that may make me slightly biased, but I am shocked people have him on the 4th line or as one of the extra forwards again. Especially since he was on the team last year and is 3rd in the OHL in scoring this year (for some reason having more assists than goals which is very different from last year). I think that you want him on a top line with other elite players and they can make things happen offensively.

The issue is he's up against the following in the winger spots.

1. Gavin Mckenna (WHL leading scorer with 41 points in 21 games),
2. Porter Martone (2nd in the o in goals),
3. Beckett Sennecke (3rd overall pick, having an excellent season in the O),
4. Easton Cowan (51 game point streak & played top 6 last year),
5. Matthew Wood who adds a different element and played well last WJC.

Now add in guys like Bradley Nadeau who played an NHL game last year, Tij Iginla who went 5th overall, Andrew Cristall who has 31 points in 10 games, Callum Ritchie who got a cup of coffee this year in the NHL and has been pretty good this year in the O, Cayden Lindstrom could be back.

I think 13th forward makes sense to me.

 

[SpoolCat]

I really am curious what role McKenna will have. They've gotten better in recent years with Bedard and Celebrini having larger roles. I still remember when 17 year old Laf was told publicly that he would be cut if an injured played who hadn't played all year was available. There are a ton of returnees and highly regarded older players this year so he will have lots of competition. In fact I don't know If I can remember a year with as much competition in the forward ranks. I honestly am kind of surprised at the amount of rosters I've seen with him on the first line. When in doubt Hockey Canada almost always goes to the older player. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if he's left off the team. Although I'm not overly crazy about Anholt anymore, I don't think he's that dumb. Although he did trade the pick that would be Connor Bedard once.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I still remember when 17 year old Laf was told publicly that he would be cut if an injured played who hadn't played all year was available.

That whole saga in 2019 was a debacle (rather ironically given what has come out since I think it was Formenton who was the injured player who got injured against U SPORTS). Lafrenière was on fire foing into the camp and somehow found himself as the 13th forward on a team that could not score or generate anything because it was saturated with role players. Add in the absurdity of Tim Hunter calling him a public skater after a 15-0 win and it was a farce all around.


As for McKenna and the current team, unfortunately it wouldn’t suprise me if he started as the 13th forward. On ability alone I would have him playing top 6 with a familiar line mate like Martone, but based off how Cameron (to his credit he won gold in 2022) and Anholt have dealt with their teams in the past I fear that another Minten or Allard type player is forced into the top 6 to try to change the identity of a forward group that leans pretty heavily towards skill and less to grit

 

[ORRFForever]

I don't care who's the 13th forward - or on any other line. Players work their way up and down the lineup based on how well they play and, by the end of the RR, they end up playing with players who are equally productive. In other words, it all works itself out in the end.