WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[SannywithoutCompy]

I don't agree at all, their offense is completely unnecessary, they're both puck-dominant dmen that would barely have the puck at this tournament. Dickinson and Molendyk will drive the offense from the back end.

Why would their offense be completely unnecessary? It's not like Parekh, for example, can't produce with other star talent, he literally does it in Saginaw.

You can't say an aspect of a player's game would be redundant in this tournament when they're better at that aspect than every invited player.

One can question some of the selections and omissions but HC’s decision to not select Parekh shows at least some insight. Opposing teams at the WJC would have gone around and through Parekh like sh*t through a goose.

Not really sure where this idea that Parekh is some sieve defensively is coming from. He's not elite but he's a solid defenseman, and would also be the most offensively talented defenseman on the roster.

 

[Kingpin794]

Every year:
Posters on this board chew on their fingernails for days leading up to the release of the camp roster
Hockey Canada releases their camp roster, which omits a few draft-eligible stars, one or two high-scoring talents and maybe a couple of guys who are in their last year of WJC eligibility
Posters on this board FREAK THE HELL OUT because of the omission of this guy or the inclusion of that guy
A few guys complain about nepotism/favouritism/old boys club/love of root vegetables
A few other guys say declare the team has no chance and could even miss the quarterfinal (TBF, that last one hasn't happened yet)
One or two guys say they're going to cheer for someone else because of Hockey Canada's corruption/incompetence/idiocy/love of root vegetables

Everyone on this board needs to relax. There is a solid roster there, good enough to compete for gold. Tournament hockey is often a game of bounces, so maybe crash out in the quarters or get goalied, or maybe they brawl in their second-last game and get thrown out of the tournament.

And at the end of the day, it's just a game. The sun came up the day after Canada lost in the quarter final last year. There's a pretty good bet the result of this tournament will be the end of the world.

That's the thing. It is a solid roster. BUT it could be better. They could win gold or they could walk away with no medal. They just seem to make it harder for themselves when they don't have to.

 

[FLYguy3911]

they're both puck-dominant dmen that would barely have the puck at this tournament.

Wut? Canada dominates possession in this tournament every year. That's why it's so weird they go out of their way not to select or even invite top tier skill guys.

 

[Digital Dog]

Can't wait to stay at home yes man our way to another quarter finals loss. Maybe we can even get Joe Hicketts on loan from LA.

yeah not saying i agree with them of course!!!

 

[macbowes]

Why would their offense be completely unnecessary? It's not like Parekh, for example, can't produce with other star talent, he literally does it in Saginaw.

You can't say an aspect of a player's game would be redundant in this tournament when they're better at that aspect than every invited player.

Look at the forwards on this team. This is not a team that is going to have a free-wheeling dman doing laps in the ozone. They want each line to have an identity. On defense, they want a first pair, a second pair, and a third pair, not 3 first pairs. They want the bottom-6 to play like a bottom-6. If Parekh isn't going to be PP1, and playing 18minutes+ a night, he has no place on the team.

 

[MeHateHe]

That's the thing. It is a solid roster. BUT it could be better. They could win gold or they could walk away with no medal. They just seem to make it harder for themselves when they don't have to.

Sure, and that's a reasonable argument to make. It's the annual roster hyperventilation that I'm mostly commenting on.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Not really sure where this idea that Parekh is some sieve defensively is coming from. He's not elite but he's a solid defenseman, and would also be the most offensively talented defenseman on the roster.

Apparently, HC shares my scepticism about Parekh’s abilities when facing elite opposition. I guess that makes me a fellow chimpanzee.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Look at the forwards on this team. This is not a team that is going to have a free-wheeling dman doing laps in the ozone. They want each line to have an identity. On defense, they want a first pair, a second pair, and a third pair, not 3 first pairs. They want the bottom-6 to play like a bottom-6. If Parekh isn't going to be PP1, and playing 18minutes+ a night, he has no place on the team.

Every time they do this shit they lose lol, take the most talented players and laugh your way to the bank.

Remember the 06 Olympics?

 

[macbowes]

Wut? Canada dominates possession in this tournament every year. That's why it's so weird they go out of their way not to select or even invite top tier skill guys.

They have a surplus of skill guys, and a need for role players. That's why.

 

[Digital Dog]

Every year:
Posters on this board chew on their fingernails for days leading up to the release of the camp roster
Hockey Canada releases their camp roster, which omits a few draft-eligible stars, one or two high-scoring talents and maybe a couple of guys who are in their last year of WJC eligibility
Posters on this board FREAK THE HELL OUT because of the omission of this guy or the inclusion of that guy
A few guys complain about nepotism/favouritism/old boys club/love of root vegetables
A few other guys say declare the team has no chance and could even miss the quarterfinal (TBF, that last one hasn't happened yet)
One or two guys say they're going to cheer for someone else because of Hockey Canada's corruption/incompetence/idiocy/love of root vegetables

Everyone on this board needs to relax. There is a solid roster there, good enough to compete for gold. Tournament hockey is often a game of bounces, so maybe crash out in the quarters or get goalied, or maybe they brawl in their second-last game and get thrown out of the tournament.

And at the end of the day, it's just a game. The sun came up the day after Canada lost in the quarter final last year. There's a pretty good bet the result of this tournament will be the end of the world.

i mean that is somewhat the point of this forum, i get your point but its kind of to be expected, you know that better than me judging by your forum stats

 

[Statsy]

This is the same thinking that got Makar played as a 7th D in 2018 despite being over a PPG and by far our best player.

Oh, man! I completely forgot about that. Now years later, with what we know about the kind of player Makar really is, that move seems all the more ridiculous.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Apparently, HC shares my scepticism about Parekh’s abilities when facing elite opposition. I guess that makes me a fellow chimpanzee.

They had the same skepticism with Makar and played our best player as a 7th D, so I'd say they are certainly chimpanzees in some cases. Not saying anything about you.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Why would their offense be completely unnecessary?

Because there are already better players offensively on the back end that can drive play and quarterback a power player without being as much of a risk as Parekh. The Akey and (especially) Allen invites are pretty head scratching, but I doubt either of them make the team…. I’m puzzled by a lot of snubs, but Parekh is not one of them

 

[TheDoldrums]

Every time they do this shit they lose lol, take the most talented players and laugh your way to the bank.

Remember the 06 Olympics?

they do this every year tho, they don't always lose

 

[ChesterNimitz]

They had the same skepticism with Makar and played our best player as a 7th D, so I'd say they are certainly chimpanzees in some cases. Not saying anything about you.

No offence taken.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Because there are already better players offensively on the back end that can drive play and quarterback a power player without being as much of a risk as Parekh. The Akey and (especially) Allen invites are pretty head scratching, but I doubt either of them make the team…. I’m puzzled by a lot of snubs, but Parekh is not one of them

Allen or Akey over Parekh are unjustifiable IMO. There's also no better powerplay QB on the team than Parekh, although Dickinson will be solid.

 

[DackellDuck]

Look at the forwards on this team. This is not a team that is going to have a free-wheeling dman doing laps in the ozone. They want each line to have an identity. On defense, they want a first pair, a second pair, and a third pair, not 3 first pairs. They want the bottom-6 to play like a bottom-6. If Parekh isn't going to be PP1, and playing 18minutes+ a night, he has no place on the team.

They’re building a team that’d do real well in the OHL playoffs.

The problem is at the WJC, the talent level of other teams is a lot higher than in the OHL playoffs. And it’s single game elimination, you don’t grind teams down over 7 game series.

Talent wins.

Having 3 1st pairs is way better than having a “3rd pair”.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

They’re building a team that’d do real well in the OHL playoffs.

The problem is at the WJC, the talent level of other teams is a lot higher than in the OHL playoffs.

Having 3 1st pairs is way better than having a “3rd pair”.

Yep. Same logic as inviting Jake Evans onto team Canada for the 4 Nations. He's a great 4th liner but I'd rather have a 1st liner playing 4C than a 4th liner doing it.

 

[HighLifeMan]

One can question some of the selections and omissions but HC’s decision to not select Parekh shows at least some level of insight. Opposing teams at the WJC would have gone around and through Parekh like sh*t through a goose.

Yeah he's truly shown to hold teams back, hey Chester?. It's not as if he won a memorial cup or gold at the Hlinka all while being named CHL defensemen of the year last season.

 

[Halfy]

Based on what I see, here’s what I expect HC to do regarding the roster:

Forwards (13):
Brayden Yager (05) - returnee
Matt Wood (05) - returnee
Carson Rehkopf (05) - returnee
Easton Cowan (05 - returnee
Gavin Mckenna (07) - obvious
Calum Ritchie (05) - age plus obvious
Jett Luchanko (06) - “almost made nhl”
Porter Martone (06) - size and obvious
Andrew Cristall (05) - extra forward
Bradly Nadeau (05) - pro experience
Denver Barkey (05) - bottom 6
Cole Beaudoin (06) - bottom 6
Mathieu Cataford (05) - QMJHL mandatory inclusion

I also feel Gauthier has a strong chance with his HC past.

Defence (7):
Oliver Bonk RH (05) - returnee
Tanner Molendyk LH (05) - made ‘24 team, injured
Sam Dickinson LH (06) - obvious
Matthew Schaefer LH (07) - could see a shocking cut
Andrew Gibson RH (05) - random low scoring size guy for bottom pair
Caden Price LH (05) - 2 u18 experiences
Cam Allen RH (05) - HC guy, will be looking to give him a spot with even an okay camp

Goalies (2):
Carson Bjarnason (05) - performing best
Carter George (06) - u18 performances

Don’t be shocked if Ratzlaff makes it because he was “on the team” last season.

(This is not what I’d do but what I feel HC will do)

 

[Hattrick Kane]

You don’t need a ton of these role players if you just bring the most talented guys and score at will.

Who cares if you give up 3 or 4 goals a game if you’re scoring 10?

 

[Mathieukferland]

gold at the Hlinka

To be fair he was a liability at that Hlinka, even if he put up good offensive numbers. He took way many risks as the last man back and was often skating to his death from behind his own net on zone exits

 

[Statsy]

Allen or Akey over Parekh are unjustifiable IMO. There's also no better powerplay QB on the team than Parekh, although Dickinson will be solid.

Caden Price is on pace for a 90+ point season. I don't think we're going to have a hard time finding decent PP quarterbacks.

 

[FLYguy3911]

They have a surplus of skill guys, and a need for role players. That's why.

How'd that work out last year? Noah Warren was really impactful!

So much surplus of skill guys last year they had 18 year old Oliver Bonk running a power play unit. He didn't even do that with London.

You're more likely to say, 'I wish we had more firepower' than the other way around. These decision makers operate under the assumption that these "skill guys" are robots incapable of adapting their games. A lot of these kids are elite prospects for a reason.

And again this is a Camp roster. This isn't even the final version which makes it all the more ridiculous.

 

[Pebble live]

Well we are witnessing the politics in Canadian hockey. There are guys on this team who absoutley should not be there and it's difficult to explain without assuming there's politics behind the scenes and it's more about who you know.

No Yakemchuk is an idiotic move.

Not a good start. Do not want to see this team do well this year.