WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[Some Other Flame]

Aside from the obvious that they're (probably) morons, it also seems like Dave Cameron was really using this to audition for another NHL coaching job.

 

[chaser17]

Was hoping for at least a close USA-Latvia game should the US won.

It was 5-1.

We're cooked.

No we aren't, relax. We outshot Latvia 57-27 (41-26 vs USA), got goalied. Latvia only losing 5-1 on a back to back after their biggest win in years is impressive.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

No we aren't, relax. We outshot Latvia 57-27 (41-26 vs USA), got goalied. Latvia only losing 5-1 on a back to back after their biggest win in years is impressive.

I agree, thought it would be much worse after such a quick turn around for them.
Hard to not be impressed with Latvia.

 

[HFpapi]

Even at the disastrous '06 Olympics I don't blame roster selection for the poor results. Despite head scratchers like Draper, Smyth, and the ghost of Todd Bertuzzi over young and hungry Crosby, Staal, Spezza etc, Canada still had the horses to get it done.

This IMO is squarely on piss poor roster selection. Vastly inferior players compared to what was available to us were selected due to this obsession with roles and "roster construction" and the quality gap is showing in every game.

 

[gritdash60]

Canada still has the best roster in tournament, losing 1 or 2 players won't change that fact.

 

[therealdeal]

No we aren't, relax. We outshot Latvia 57-27 (41-26 vs USA), got goalied. Latvia only losing 5-1 on a back to back after their biggest win in years is impressive.

The goalie didn’t make one impressive save, we just can’t generate offence. Puck possession is pretty good, but it’s all perimeter shots and shots from blocked lanes.

It could be a chemistry thing, but this seems like a team made of grinders.

 

[JackSlater]

Unfortunate for Bonk that he was put in this role.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

No we aren't, relax. We outshot Latvia 57-27 (41-26 vs USA), got goalied. Latvia only losing 5-1 on a back to back after their biggest win in years is impressive.

Many of the Canadian shots were very low quality. I’ve not completely given up on the team but it would be a mistake to think Canada had a bad break and it worries me that the coach is trying to push that narrative despite the team looking very similar to last years squad which struggled to do anything offensively.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Unfortunate for Bonk that he was put in this role.

Pretty wild to make a kid have to "figure out" a role like PP QB at the highest level he has ever played. A quote that doesn't make Hockey Canada look great at all lol

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Dave Cameron seems like the type of guy, where if he were given a team with prime Kucherov, Ovechkin and McDavid on it, he’d play Kuch in net, Ovy would be a defensive defensemen and McDavid would drive the Zamboni. Doesn’t play guys to their strengths, and apparently has no idea what he’s seeing on the ice.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Pretty wild to make a kid have to "figure out" a role like PP QB at the highest level he has ever played. A quote that doesn't make Hockey Canada look great at all lol

It’s especially wild when his teammate from the Knights is fully capable of being the PPQB

 

[VictoriaJetsFan]

I have seen Sawyer Mynio play live. He has offensive skill...more than Oliver Bonk. Canada will generally never learn that, because the idiot coach won't give him much of a chance.

 

[Leviathan899]

lol Anholt, Salmond, Murray, Seabrook, and Cameron unable to swallow their pride. I have been far from Zayne Parekh’s biggest fan, but it’s evident at this point he’s the closest offensive producer from the blue line that is available to Canada to Schaefer. And in the need for a true PP1 QB and his inclusion makes even more sense.


I hope the guys on the ice do well, but going back to the beginning of December this management group is infuriating how incompetent they are. I know TSN and RDS are more hesistate to criticize hockey Canada, but fair play to Scott Wheeler for saying what we’re all thinking

Genuinely curious but would most fans here rather they skip a camp and just select the highest scoring CHL players at the time the team needs to be selected? It seems that’s the case lately. Which ok, fine, they should do that just to quiet all the critics and give them what they desire, and if we win, awesome that’s what we all want anyways, and if we don’t, we can all swallow our pride and accept that it’s a competitive tournament and we’re not the only good country. Some years you win, some you don’t.

 

[Sensatauro]

Unfortunate for Bonk that he was put in this role.

I hear their is a good pp qb whose got a cannon of a shot...not sure anyone's ever heard of him though. It's not like he was noticable playing against some NHL guys in preseason. What's his name yaksomechuk or something... probably a good call to pass on him.

Meh, who needs a a ppqb anyways, right APU?!


(Well we DOOO!)

 

[Leviathan899]

Craig Button mentioned on the broadcast of the Sweden v Kazakhstan game thar Dave Brown of Erie will be taking over as GM next year; not knowing Erie that well, does anyone here care to comment on his ability as a manger?

He’s a good GM and a really smart hockey guy. Know him personally, so slightly biased maybe, but he’s a super hard working guy and is always in the rinks scouting, even as a GM. Very personable guy and a forward thinker. He was running the U17 program the last couple of years I believe, and they’ve won gold back to back years at that level, this year both Canadian teams reaching the finals. I’m happy with this pick. Would love to see a guy like DJ smith or Bob Boughner named as HC, both guys who have had a ton of success coaching at the junior level.!

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Genuinely curious but would most fans here rather they skip a camp and just select the highest scoring CHL players at the time the team needs to be selected? It seems that’s the case lately. Which ok, fine, they should do that just to quiet all the critics and give them what they desire, and if we win, awesome that’s what we all want anyways, and if we don’t, we can all swallow our pride and accept that it’s a competitive tournament and we’re not the only good country. Some years you win, some you don’t.

They didn't even bother calling 4-5 quality players to camp.

That's a big joke and there's no justification for it.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Broken collarbone.

Tough kid. Got up and skated off, wasn’t even really wincing

 

[Knave]

Genuinely curious but would most fans here rather they skip a camp and just select the highest scoring CHL players at the time the team needs to be selected? It seems that’s the case lately. Which ok, fine, they should do that just to quiet all the critics and give them what they desire, and if we win, awesome that’s what we all want anyways, and if we don’t, we can all swallow our pride and accept that it’s a competitive tournament and we’re not the only good country. Some years you win, some you don’t.

Okay so if you win some and lose some fire everyone at Hockey Canada and just draft the highest scoring players in order for 12F, 6D and a couple spares.

If Hockey Canada can only subtract value and hand Canada its first ever loss to Latvia, what are they there for?

You're not making an argument to keep Hockey Canada management or Dave Cameron. You're saying they're irrelevant to winning or losing.
And if that's how people feel, why employ them? Why defend them?

When you hear Bonk say shit like "I didn't know I was going to be the point guy on PP1" you really have to wonder. I like Bonk. I think he can play an important role on the team. But not as the QB of a lackluster powerplay.

 

[Woodrow]

Team Canada versus team rejects sorted by points would be pretty fun to watch.

 

[JPeeper]

No we aren't, relax. We outshot Latvia 57-27 (41-26 vs USA), got goalied. Latvia only losing 5-1 on a back to back after their biggest win in years is impressive.

No we didn't. Goalie played great sure, but he had to make maybe 2 good saves all game including the pathetic shootout attempts. Canada is severely devoid of offensive talent.

 

[wetcoast]

Wait…wasn’t this year supposed to be the response to last year? Seems like game 1 would be a good place to start.

Each tournament is it's own team with it's own dynamic, nothing about last year carries over.

Its such a relief you’re here to explain to everyone what’s permissible.

Sure if that's the way you want to see it be my guest, except that's not even close to the opinion my post suggests.

you make sure you come back jump in and let people know when it’s ok to question management.
Some people might say it’s after you lose to a team who has won 2 games in its entire WJC history - a team they beat 10-0 last year.

Look it's fine to question management it's the drive by posters that love chaos that most of my post is directed to, then others who think the tournament is lost and they assume that if they were in charge and player X was inserted instead then somehow everything would be all right?

It's a short tournament, Canada has dominated both opponents in actual gameplay and they lost a game where the other goalie stood on his head and no the kids weren't perfect but perfection is the enemy here right?

Not you though, you’re made of sterner stuff.

Not relevant but I admire the compliment.

I do actually think that a little bit of adversity will make this team better going forward.

 

[MikeGoods]

Many of the Canadian shots were very low quality. I’ve not completely given up on the team but it would be a mistake to think Canada had a bad break and it worries me that the coach is trying to push that narrative despite the team looking very similar to last years squad which struggled to do anything offensively.

Totally agree. The Canadian team did not compete for the interior ice and the Americans got to the slot more than enough based on the highlights of the goals I saw. With Dave Cameron at the helm and all of the game breaking talent left off this roster I think the US team destroys them on New Year's Eve....

 

[lakai17]

Having the size of Sennecke and Yakemchuk would be beneficial. Both can skate for their size too. Misa has a great shot we all know.

 

[Leviathan899]

Who is blaming Cowan? He's been one of the best forwards on the team. People seem pretty consistent on where the blame lies, and it is above Cowan or really any specific player. Hockey Canada brought more grinders than it needed to and Cameron hasn't figured out how to correctly utilize the talent he has yet. I'm sure there is mindless cheerleading too but that's easily ignored. Cowan is far from a problem for this team.

I'm pretty shocked that they looked as good as they did coming off last night. It was closer than the four goal margin would indicate, with Latvia hitting a few posts and having a few other near chances, and the shots were pretty close for most of the game. Credit to Latvia again. Still far from a team that Canada should lose to or look uninspiring against, but definitely a step up from the very worst teams in the tournament.

That wasn’t a great game for the Americans overall imo. Danny Nelson had a really good game and they did execute when needed, but Latvia was the better team for some stretches there, and had plenty of good scoring chances throughout. They could have easily had 4-5 goals, US goalie played well, with some luck. I didn’t think the Hagens line, despite the points, was very dangerous throughout. Have to forecheck the US D, they’ll turn the puck over a lot if so. All in all good for the US here and Latvia for playing a solid and entertaining game on a tough back to back. Come out of this one feeling a bit better about Canada’s chances. Especially since we know they can beat the Swedes and Czech’s based off the pre tourney, which is has the same intensity as prelim games. Hopefully they come out with a fresh mindset tomorrow and a willingness to go to the net.

 

[Leviathan899]

Many of the Canadian shots were very low quality. I’ve not completely given up on the team but it would be a mistake to think Canada had a bad break and it worries me that the coach is trying to push that narrative despite the team looking very similar to last years squad which struggled to do anything offensively.

As weird as it is, Canada played better against Latvia than the Americans did, despite the score differential. They executed and we didn’t, but Latvia had way more scoring opportunities against the US, especially 5 on 5. Nelson first goal, shot right in front on a good play. Catton had the exact same play and missed the spot Nelson hit by a couple of inches. Game could go either way. USA didn’t dominate Latvia