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.

 

[jj cale]

I want to see DuPont.

To be honest he is actually the one guy at his age I would even consider giving a shot at camp for TC in all my years following the WJC , especially at that position.

 

[Petes2424]

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.



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.

100%. If his birthday was a few months later, he’s likely a 1st or 2nd round pick in 2024. Heck, if he wasn’t playing for that Kamloops Memorial Cup team in 22-23’, he’d probably have been a 2nd or 3rd rounder in 2023.

That Kamloops team was absolutely loaded for their run, and he was stuck playing on the 4th line most of the season. Most remember how he stepped up in the playoffs, with his streak, and that led to him being drafted, but from what I’ve been told, it was around February of 2023, when they moved him up to play with Minten for a stretch, due to an injury, is when he caught Detroit’s eye. He was growing like a weed too. His WHL draft year he was only 5’3” I think it was. Very small player but it goes to show how players change physically in their late teens.

I’m not sure there’s any other 7th rounders already signed from the 2023 draft, and he’s been signed for about a year already.

He was in the perfect spot in Kamloops with Stankoven, Minten and all those kids. Even though they were the ones keeping him from playing in their Top 6, they pushed him everyday. Covid and Kamloops hosting the Memorial Cup killed his draft status, but nobody should be surprised if this 7th Rounder is playing in the NHL much sooner than many of the kids people are mentioning for this team. He’s earned it as much as anyone. So we’ll see how that plays out.

On the subject of tryouts in the Spring??? That goes back to the A/AA levels in Detroit, back in the 1990s. All due to the Rinks being privately owned in Michigan, having to make money year round.

The Associations playing out of those rinks, had to contract ice for April and May. So they would have Spring tryouts in March. Before their fall team was even done for some teams. All to guarantee they could pay their spring ice bill to the rinks.

It started as purely “spring teams” though. They’d set up non-official spring leagues and play 3-4 tournaments as well. Then wrap it up in early June, having tryouts in late July, as their contracts started again in August.

It was the norm.

I’d say it’s 50/50 now, if teams will also have July-August tryouts at the A and AA levels, and AAA over-rosters in the Spring because kids can double roster anyway. Even if AAA teams call them “fall tryouts”, they’ll still turnover 3-4 kids before their fall team is rostered. Plus cut a few of the kids they over-rostered with. Whether they have tryouts in August or not. Selling Spring Tryouts to parents as “training all summer for the fall season.”

Unfortunately a dozen or so kids are always looking for an A/AA team (at each level) come late August. So a lot of the good A and AA programs, will keep a couple roster spots open too. Knowing they’ll get that AAA overflow.

So that turned into programs in Canada, and the rest of the States, having Spring tryouts as well. They actually bought into how the Honeybaked, Belle Tire and Little Caesars success, was due to training together all summer. When in reality, everyone in those Detroit leagues know, the entire summer is actually a tryout for the fall AAA team, as nothing is etched in stone. Which sucks for the kids in many ways.

So most of Canada followed suit with tryouts in the Spring, thinking those Michigan AAA teams were “on to something.” In reality, it’s hurting kids in Canada who do get better over the summer, or even those who move (to a new city) over the summer, and might only be lower to average players at their level. Mostly at the A and AA level though. That’s where we’re seeing it hurt.

The top kids in Detroit though, will still end up playing at their level because AAA teams aren’t set in stone, and it trickles down. Where in Canada, many of them are set now. Especially outside of Toronto AAA teams. Where a 12 year old let’s say, is now a much better player over the summer, and gets shut out of playing at the proper level.

To be fair though, tryouts have never been what parents envision. They still think if their kid shows up and is one of the 18 best skaters on the ice, he should 100% make that AAA team. When in reality, he never has a chance in most cases, as there’s kids living in different areas, kids switching teams, or kids who were the very top A/AA players the prior season, who will end up with those spots. My own kid went from AAA in Detroit to a team in Southern California, to the GTHL, back to Detroit, because of my situation. In all of those years though, he still played summer tournaments in Toronto for a big Toronto based AAA summer team, which lets be frank, is just a GTHL all-star team. Hell, when I was in California for those two years, my kid was 9 and 10. He also played in the Brick tournament for the LA team, and on this team called Team Northwest in Western Canadian tournaments. It was kids from Minnesota to LA, invite only.

So there’s kids like that, who end up walking onto a Honeybaked or Marlies roster for the fall team, never trying out for those teams. Or even worse for that parent in Detroit or Toronto who’s kid could probably play AAA, I know kids who were playing in California for the Wave (back in the day) or LA Selects, who were already recruited to come to LC, Compuware, Belle Tire or Honeybaked. Sometimes families moved to Michigan, but other times, kids went to a billet family.

So this whole Spring tryout thing is a complete farce in Michigan, and somewhat of a farce with the AAA teams in Canada. At least in Toronto. In most cases, even if your kid had a great summer and was now AAA quality, he likely has to play another year in A or AA. If he dominates, the AAA coaches will find him. It’s still pretty rare that a kid who can’t make AAA in the Spring, suddenly will in the fall.

Anyway. I’ve seen this becoming a big topic in minor hockey recently. Fact is, it’s never not going to be somewhat political. There’s too much money thrown around. When my kid went to So-Cal that first year, we moved in July or August, and he was already guaranteed a spot in like May, because of me, people I know, and the fact he played AAA in the springtime as a 9 year old. He never made their tryouts even. They had no clue how good he was or not. So while they lucked out with him, I’ve seen other players or people in the sport, get their kid on teams unseen as well, and the kid has no business playing on top teams. Where it’s actually embarrassing for the poor kid.

Those politics are never going to go away. I’ve spent my entire life in the sport, and I’ll be the first to admit. It still is, and will always be, an elitist sport. It’s just too expensive. The good part is, if your kid is good enough, they will find him pretty quickly, and within a season, he’ll be playing AAA. They’ll find the money if you can’t afford it, if he’s a top player.

So the whole spring tryout thing probably isn’t hurting many kids from playing AAA in the fall, but most definitely is at the A and AA levels. Hockey Canada needs to make sure A and AA teams aren’t “set in stone” after spring tryouts. The entire ridiculous reasoning for it, was built on a complete misunderstanding of what was actually happening in Michigan. All because some morons at Hockey Canada were trying to figure out the reason why Detroit teams dominate AAA Hockey in many ways. It’s much deeper than pretend Fall tryouts in April.

Anyway, it needs to be fixed. The associations doing it are limiting access to kids. If that means mandating fall tryouts in August, then so be it.

 

[newfy]

To be honest he is actually the one guy at his age I would even consider giving a shot at camp for TC in all my years following the WJC , especially at that position.

Another good reason to bring back these camps. I don't imagine Dupont would make it, but you invite him, let him get a camp under his belt and a little experience with what goes on. Even when you invite him you can tell him he can play his way onto the team but that he's mostly there for the experience and you want him to be a leader on the team for the next 3 years.

If he gets cut, his confidence isn't taking a hit and he knows what to expect. Win win situation, but you're not doing that when you only invite 5 extra players

 

[jj cale]

Another good reason to bring back these camps. I don't imagine Dupont would make it, but you invite him, let him get a camp under his belt and a little experience with what goes on. Even when you invite him you can tell him he can play his way onto the team but that he's mostly there for the experience and you want him to be a leader on the team for the next 3 years.

If he gets cut, his confidence isn't taking a hit and he knows what to expect. Win win situation, but you're not doing that when you only invite 5 extra players

There always should be a camp 100%.