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.

 

[newfy]

Also with the deep collection of players available this year, forward in particular, they should have an actual camp again and not just pre-select the team while bringing in a couple of extras as fodder. Plenty of forwards deserve a legitimate look.

It reminds me of when minor teams nowadays do tryouts in the spring, right after the last season ended. So much development + nearly half a season of games take place in that time frame, it makes no sense to not have a camp to at least see if some guys have chemistry and how they all look from different leagues coming together.

There’s gonna be a lot of upset fans this year, as always. People also shouldn’t count out someone like Emmitt Finnie making the roster in place of someone like Iginla either. He’s so well respected by coaches, has played some in the AHL already, and plays the game the right way. Doesn’t hurt he’s also among WHL scoring leaders. Ahead of guys like Iginla and Yager.

There’s always someone like Finnie who ends up on the team.

Part of the reason I came to this thread was to see if there was any talk about Finnie. He was a late pick, but during COVID where the draft was goofy. I'm not saying it shouldn't count for anything, but 2 years removed from the draft during COVID, I'm not willing to say a guy has a draft pedigree advantage because was drafted in the 3rd or 4th instead of the 6th or 7th.

Finnie is top ~7 in goals and points in the WHL, 4 points out of 2nd in league scoring, big, physical, and one of the best face off guys in the entire CHL (pushing 60%). He got a long look at an NHL camp for a junior player and has some AHL games under his belt. Almost a goal per game player playing in all situations.

In a 4th line, PK and possibly move up the line up type role to shake things up... I would love to see a real argument for someone like Barkey to be on the team over him right now. For the record, I'm not saying Finnie should be on the team, and I don't think he'll end up making it.... but this is the exact reason a real camp should be used to pick some of these guys. Put a guy like Finnie head to head on the ice for 3 or 4 games and see how he measures up with a guy like Barkey/Hage/Nadeau/Cristall/younger players and see what happens.

 

[therealdeal]

Just a quick aside...

Trying to remember who was NOT allowed to play at the World Juniors for Canada last year.

Their stats this year...

Connor Bedard - 3 goals / 10 assists in 17 games and he couldn't look any less happy in Chicago.
Adam Fantilli - 3 goals / 4 assists in 15 games.
Zach Benson - 3 goals / 1 assist in 11 games.
Shane Wright - 1 goal / 1 assist in 16 games.
Kevin Korchinski - playing in the AHL.

So... How did they benefit from being in the NHL at 18 / 19 and why couldn't they play at the WJR's in 2023?

Yeah, well said. Such a waste to send these guys to the NHL on their first eligible year or two. They gain nothing.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I want to see DuPont.

 

[JackSlater]

I want to see DuPont.

I don't particularly want him on the team but I'd like to see him invited to camp. No downside to it, see how he performs.

 

[dino200022]

Would like to see an actual "Camp" this year rather than just inviting 25 guys and cutting a few. Need to bring back the 40 man camp and have these guys earn their spot through their play rather than their merit.

Keep the TSN reporters out of the kids faces at 6AM while they are getting cut, and find a better way to make the cuts.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't particularly want him on the team but I'd like to see him invited to camp. No downside to it, see how he performs.

Fair enough. You're the one rooting for the team.

I think he's better though right now than someone like Parekh.

 

[JackSlater]

Fair enough. You're the one rooting for the team.

I think he's better though right now than someone like Parekh.

Parekh doesn't need to be on the team either. He might end up there but he shouldn't be a lock. As for a 15 year old, let him get a camp under his belt if his play garners it, but expectations should be low.