WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[jj cale]

Think we could maybe wait until the team hypothetically loses to write the post mortum and fire people? Like support the team as it is for now and if they don’t get it done? We have a whole year to figure out and talk about the why.

Don't worry, the team will be supported.

 

[ORRFForever]

He won't need to stand on his head, who wrote that piece anyway, bubbles?

Maybe. I think Canada will exceed your expectations.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Don't worry, the team will be supported.

In between the droning on about how awful it is I suppose lol

 

[jj cale]

Maybe. I think Canada will exceed your expectations.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

In the NYT's article, they imply Augustine needs to stand on his head for the U.S. to win Gold - and they say that is definitely a possibility. Still, I'd prefer to be Canada over a U.S. team that has no depth.

And a few defenders of authority figures told me I couldn’t complain about the roster selections for the bottom of USA’s roster?

 

[Forgot About Drai]

Anybody have the PP units?

 

[ORRFForever]

And a few defenders of authority figures told me I couldn’t complain about the roster selections for the bottom of USA’s roster?

You're FREE in the Canadian thread, my friend.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah the problem with the team construction, so far at least, is that Anholt/Cameron picked a number of players who are similar/redundant and would be expected to play similar roles. Howe, Gautheir, Luchanko, Cataford, Pinelli are all pretty similar players that bring similar elements and Beaudoin, while bigger/stronger than the others, is nothing more than a depth checker at this level.

What they should have done, in my view, is taken, say 3 of those guys for the necessary depth roles (based on play so far, that would be Pinelli, Howe and Gauthier), left the rest at home, and used those 3 open forward spots on Sennecke, Misa, and, say, Greentree. I mean, the comments around the 2-way play of each of those players is likely not too far from the truth, but Luchanko and Cataford (for example) have been really bad defensively so far and have added absolutely nothing offensively. I'd be willing to look past any defensive shortcomings and roll the dice with Sennecke and Misa (especially), and Greentree, even if 1 or 2 of them don't dress or play much.

The added size and strength on the wings from Greentree and Sennecke would ultimately be beneficial to the team in terms of their ability to get to the middle of the ice for prime scoring opportunities. That seems to be what's lacking so far; the bottom-6 haven't displayed the skill/strength to get off the boards and into the middle of the ice. I find it troubling that Martone and Rehkopf (two of our bigger/stronger wingers) haven't had much success doing so either. It would be unfortunate if Canada evolves into a 2-line team without any secondary scoring depth but that's the way its looking so far.

I agree, I don't quite see what they are going for. There was talk that Hockey Canada partly blames last year's failure on the team not getting to the middle of the ice, but there are some pretty prominent players with a lot of size that were left off and Rehkopf is being used as thirteenth forward. They talk about cutting Wood because he isn't a good enough skater, but Wood has actually played in this tournament and been pretty good, last year in Sweden while the team had Cataford in one of the RW spots. It doesn't yet have a clear identity. The top line is good but not overwhelming, McKenna and Catton can outskill the opposition, and then the other lines run around to give those guys a breather. At the very least Yager's line should also be an offensive line, as you indicated, with something like Misa and Sennecke on the wings.

I do think it is clear what the defence is going for and I like how Cameron has the defencemen joining in offensively. It will also become clear as the games progress how this team is supposed to play. Cameron is far from perfect but to give him some credit, both of his teams had clear identities and played to those identities consistently in his two tournaments. I expect that Canada will look a lot more coherent by New Year's Eve. The key is still turning Yager's line into a third offensive threat.

 

[JackSlater]

Anybody have the PP units?

Canada only had 2 or 3 power plays in the three pre-tournament games but they used

Howe
Nadeau Ritchie Cowan
Schaefer

and the rare time the second unit was on it had McKenna, Catton, Molendyk, and I don't remember who else.

 

[jj cale]

I wonder if George gets the start despite not really nailing down the opportunity with his play last night?

my guess is yes

 

[Halfy]

I wonder if George gets the start despite not really nailing down the opportunity with his play last night?

my guess is yes

He will. This was probably determined in October (or earlier)

 

[cmcneil02]

I feel like this is our year for a silver medal. 2026 we’re getting that gold though!

 

[hockey20000]

world juinor preview show time wooo

 

[ORRFForever]

world juinor preview show time wooo

Family is watching something else. Thankfully it will be repeated (ad nauseam).

world juinor preview show time wooo

The TSN World Junior Preview Show is the same every year - same format. Might be best to record and fast forward.

 

[Leviathan899]

Cowan and Ritchie have been phenomenal. Schaefer really impressive through 3 games.

Ritchie has looked amazing all season so far, such an improvement to his overall pace and physicality. Always been elite with the puck but starting to really push the pace and win battles. His time at the Vail camp with all the NHL stars has paid dividends so far.

 

[Leviathan899]

of course... Flyers can't draft anything decent besides great Michkov, decent future third line Tuomaala and fourth liner Ruohonen.

Everyone seems to be low on Luchanko... Flyers scouting just, lol.

Luchanko is good, not sure why people are down. He played fine against CZE. A few bad turnovers don’t define a player. Great pick by Philly. Plus, they draft well. Foerster, Brink, Sanheim, Konecny, Laughton, Andrae, Farabee, York, etc all good players.

 

[Leviathan899]

We are supposed to have a heck of a team this year.

They do. Just went 3-0 in pre tournament against some good teams, and in general controlled the play from start to finish, with some breakdowns. These teams they play are all high level teams too, the lack of respect for the quality of the competition is routinely surprising to me.

 

[ORRFForever]

They do. Just went 3-0 in pre tournament against some good teams, and in general controlled the play from start to finish, with some breakdowns. These teams they play are all high level teams too, the lack of respect for the quality of the competition is routinely surprising to me.

Canadians fans at HF (NOT directed at any one poster) eat their own.

 

[jj cale]

They do. Just went 3-0 in pre tournament against some good teams, and in general controlled the play from start to finish, with some breakdowns. These teams they play are all high level teams too, the lack of respect for the quality of the competition is routinely surprising to me.

I respect all the teams Lev.

My concerns are about how our team is playing and how I expect them to roll as a team at this tournament which is coming at teams in waves with 4 lines being effective and wearing teams down, not 2 lines or sometimes only 1.

It's about us not them.

 

[therealdeal]

Edit: removed

 

[1Gold Standard]

All hands throwin hands!

It’s the most beautiful time of the year! Time to make another billion dollars for the coolest hockey playing country on earth, mfers.

 

[ORRFForever]

All hands throwin hands!

It’s the most beautiful time of the year! Time to make another billion dollars for the coolest hockey playing country on earth, mfers.

That "billion dollars" feeds OUR addiction so...

 

[ORRFForever]

Help me understand...

According to Sports Interaction, we are slight favourites :

Sports Interaction

sports.on.sportsinteraction.com

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But on these sites, we are large favourites - despite what the Dec 9th title says...

Team USA is the Pick to Win the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

We look at the betting odds, picks, and predictions for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship, which takes place in Canada this year

www.mytopsportsbooks.com

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On Bet 99 we are slight underdogs...

https://bet99.com/en/sports/ice_hockey/international/world-juniors/512843

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It seems the U.S. were the initial favourites but the early money is on Canada and shifted the odds. It will be interesting to see what happens once the big(?) money starts flowing in.

While the odds differ, we are favourites on all 3 (5?) sites.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

All hands throwin hands!

It’s the most beautiful time of the year! Time to make another billion dollars for the coolest hockey playing country on earth, mfers.

They make a lot of money off this tournament....I highly doubt it starts with a B like you keep saying lol

 

[ORRFForever]

In the history of tournaments, I don't think there has ever been a tournament where Morreale did not pick the U.S. to win...

2025 World Junior Championship predictions | NHL.com

U.S., Canada among picks to win gold, Schaefer, Hagens top prospects for draft, according to NHL.com writers

www.nhl.com

I guess his NJ High School Ice Hockey HOF membership (LOL) has tainted his objectivity.