WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[ORRFForever]

Take the best talent and you will never be questioned.

I don't know about that.

 

[hockey20000]

atleast the 2026 team will be stacked...unless they do the same thing again lol

 

[Mathieukferland]

atleast the 2026 team will be stacked...unless they do the same thing again lol

Between the 2024 draft where all but Yakemchuk and Celebrini will be available in terms of the top players, 2025 where the number of Canadians picked in the first round could break the prior record of 19, and the presumptive first overall picks from the 26 and 27 drafts as well as 2 or 3 other potential top 5 players in 2026, you would have to think that is a player pool so deep that not even the most regressive, grit-obsessed dinosaur could pick a bad team. But stranger things have happened

 

[Miller Time]

atleast the 2026 team will be stacked...unless they do the same thing again lol

Don't worry, they will...

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

This is kind of wild. Maybe I just don't remember it happening but I can't think of many examples of NHL GMs openly questioning HC.

The Ottawa Senators are also going on a 9-game, 22 day road trip to allow the city of Ottawa to host the WJC this year. So it's a bit of a double whammy to have both this kind of schedule in a year where we desperately need to make the playoffs, and see our blue chip prospect that was en route to playing for TC not even get an invite to camp.

Staios must be wondering what else can go wrong for us this year.

 

[Mathieukferland]

If it makes any of our complaints feel validated, Jamie McLennan was on TSN yesterday saying that the team selection showed the arrogance of hockey Canada trying to act as if they’re smarter than everyone

 

[TheBeastCoast]

If it makes any of our complaints feel validated, Jamie McLennan was on TSN yesterday saying that the team selection showed the arrogance of hockey Canada trying to act as if they’re smarter than everyone

Alternatively he is also an idiot. Spent the first half hour of that same show complaining about Stolarz and sun glasses.

 

[newfy]

Is Rehkopf not going to make this team? Based on how good he looked last year, that would be a shock. TSN doesn't have him on it and the Athletic does but said he could be cut.

Would be crazy if he didn't. Most guys who play back to back have a much better tourney the second time around, and once he got promoted, he was actually really good last year.

Tanner Howe playing a year with Bedard did a lot for his stock.

Leaving a top 3 pick that's almost a goal per game and is 6'4 like Sennecke at home from camp is such classic Hockey Canada. How does he not even get to camp? What a joke

Kinda reminds me of the year they almost left Mantha at home, then he showed up and was Canadas best player. Just because a big guy might float here and there doesn't mean he isn't going to dominate against junior players, when he's DOminating his junior league at home as well

 

[Statsy]

Would be crazy if he didn't. Most guys who play back to back have a much better tourney the second time around, and once he got promoted, he was actually really good last year.

Tanner Howe playing a year with Bedard did a lot for his stock.

Leaving a top 3 pick that's almost a goal per game and is 6'4 like Sennecke at home from camp is such classic Hockey Canada. How does he not even get to camp? What a joke

Kinda reminds me of the year they almost left Mantha at home, then he showed up and was Canadas best player. Just because a big guy might float here and there doesn't mean he isn't going to dominate against junior players, when he's DOminating his junior league at home as well

I think he's going to be there for sure. For the record, I just saw that TSN vid and though they named 4 centers as favourites (leaving out Rehkopf), they only named six wingers to the team. In other words they think that some of those guys that didn't make it at C will still get a spot as a winger. Team Canada always has more centers than they know what to do with. LOL

 

[Kingpin794]

I think he's going to be there for sure. For the record, I just saw that TSN vid and though they named 4 centers as favourites (leaving out Rehkopf), they only named six wingers to the team. In other words they think that some of those guys that didn't make it at C will still get a spot as a winger. Team Canada always has more centers than they know what to do with. LOL

Everyone including the mascot lists themselves as centers in junior hockey. Its where the money is at (along with top pair D). Quite a few of them shouldn't be playing center or only do so sparingly.

 

[hockey20000]

If it makes any of our complaints feel validated, Jamie McLennan was on TSN yesterday saying that the team selection showed the arrogance of hockey Canada trying to act as if they’re smarter than everyone

overdrive guys always have good opinions tbh my fav show to watch for 3 hours everyday

 

[Celly4Celebrini]

That does make much sense…

If you were picking an NHL all star team, would you omit say Adam Fox for Brandon Carlo because Fox wouldn’t be on PP1 or be playing top pair minutes?

You take the best damn players. Not guys who are “used” to playing less minutes.

using the notorious for no defence player with little reprecussions for losing NHL all-star event probably isnt the point you should of made.

You take the players who give you the best chance to win gold, having 6 exclusively OFD is not a recipe for success when its 3-2 in the gold medal game and you need to defend in your own end.

 

[Kingpin794]

using the notorious for no defence player with little reprecussions for losing NHL all-star event probably isnt the point you should of made.

You take the players who give you the best chance to win gold, having 6 exclusively OFD is not a recipe for success when its 3-2 in the gold medal game and you need to defend in your own end.

Or you could just score again and make it 4-2/hold possession/create pressure instead of trying to defend. Both are valid. Its silly though to purposefully exclude one of those strategies.

 

[qc14]

Or you could just score again and make it 4-2/hold possession/create pressure instead of trying to defend. Both are valid. Its silly though to purposefully exclude one of those strategies.

It's so funny seeing this come up (with regards to Four Nations as well) because in general it's offensive skill that is where the biggest gaps between players are found and doubly so at the junior level.

If anything Canada should want to get into a track meet and win every game 7-4. A lot easier for a Finland or Czechia to play well defensively and hope for a lucky break to win 2-1 than to be able to go goal for goal over and over and over again with the depth of skill Canada has.

 

[kyle44]

Or you could just score again and make it 4-2/hold possession/create pressure instead of trying to defend. Both are valid. Its silly though to purposefully exclude one of those strategies.

You also can't discount the impact of puck possession, breakouts and transition play. Hutson and Casey aren't exactly world beaters in their own zone, but part of the reason USA was so lethal last year was because of their (and Buium's) ability to move the puck up ice in a hurry. You don't need to worry about being in a defensive shell if you have the puck more often than not. It's pretty tough to lose the tournament when you average nearly 7 goals/game.

 

[MeHateHe]

If it makes any of our complaints feel validated, Jamie McLennan was on TSN yesterday saying that the team selection showed the arrogance of hockey Canada trying to act as if they’re smarter than everyone

Two things can be true: you can disagree with the roster camp lineup (I do) and you can recognize that the folks who made the decisions have some vision and understanding of what they do. It's one thing for us meathead keyboard warriors to all cosplay like we're not all NHL GMs because of politics, but for a mid ex-goaltender to blather on about arrogance is goofy. Does he expect Hockey Canada to put roster selections to a vote? I vote for Boaty McBoatface as captain!

 

[Mathieukferland]

the folks who made the decisions have some vision and understanding of what they do

Ultimately the players don’t pick themselves. The root of the issue is, why is the same GM who so miserably failed last year back. Makes no sense. This years roster is a bit more insulated from stupidity because of how much talent there is, but it’s dumb not to change the GM after the disaster last year

 

[1Gold Standard]

wait a minute wait a minute, boyz! I've been severely out of the loop...and wasn't paying attention...but Al Murry is back with Hockey Canada as Head Scout? All's good in the world. I feel better now.

 

[wjclover]

This is mine after they made the selection camp

Canada

Nadeau. Cowan. “A.” Wood

Yager. Luckshanko. Rehkophf “A”

Ritchie. “A”. Barkey. Martone

Cataford. Catton. Heidt

Cristal



Bonk. “C.” Dickinson. Ratzlaf

Molendyk. Myino. George

Allen. Price. Bjarson

Schafer.

 

[nbwingsfan]

using the notorious for no defence player with little reprecussions for losing NHL all-star event probably isnt the point you should of made.

You take the players who give you the best chance to win gold, having 6 exclusively OFD is not a recipe for success when its 3-2 in the gold medal game and you need to defend in your own end.

If they could just go score another goal or two?

 

[PanniniClaus]

If it makes any of our complaints feel validated, Jamie McLennan was on TSN yesterday saying that the team selection showed the arrogance of hockey Canada trying to act as if they’re smarter than everyone

I like it. Jamie doesn't crap on too much.

 

[yessir29292]

I will say, I was shocked to see last year the reaction when the US won. How it's their game, Canada is doomed, etc. After Canada went back to back in 2022 and 2023. US has won six times (04, 10, 13, 17, 21, 24) - since their first Canada has won 10 times. Excluding the five peat (2010 - onwards) it's 5 golds each.

If the US wins this year and goes back to back for the first time, expect a lot of doom and gloom.

It was an insane reaction, calling it their game after winning that. Canada has had the best u20 talent for a while now. If Bedard, Fantilli, Benson, Wright and Korchinski are playing on the team last year they walk to gold. USA only missing Cooley. Same with this year, it really wouldnt be a competition if Canadas top guys were there. Benson-Celebrini-Bedard line would put up 40 points each. The only reason other countries can compete with Canada in this tournament is because their top guys are too good for junior hockey and playing in the NHL.

 

[wickedwitch]

It was an insane reaction, calling it their game after winning that. Canada has had the best u20 talent for a while now. If Bedard, Fantilli, Benson, Wright and Korchinski are playing on the team last year they walk to gold. USA only missing Cooley. Same with this year, it really wouldnt be a competition if Canadas top guys were there. Benson-Celebrini-Bedard line would put up 40 points each. The only reason other countries can compete with Canada in this tournament is because their top guys are too good for junior hockey and playing in the NHL.

A reminder of what happened the last time Canada had all of their best juniors available: 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships - Wikipedia

Also, it's a single elimination tournament. Even if Canada genuinely always had the most talent, it would still very much be a competition. The discrepancy just isn't that big.

 

[Mehar]

Ridiculous decisions.

Still going to be a world-class team but this is called overthinking.

Took the words out of my mouth. Sometimes Hockey Canada brass think they are smarter than everyone else and overthink these selections, when it should not be that complicated. The omissions of guys like Yakemchuk, Iginla, and Parekh this year were headscratchers for me. Will be a lot of finger pointing and hindsight again if this team fails to win Gold.