Don’t worry, I’m just bustin’ balls. I actually like the new word. A portmanteau of prospect and trajectory meaning a prospect’s career trajectory. Put it in the hockey dictionary, TSN!
ALL of Canada’s Forwards and top-6 Defensemen are 1st Round Picks
- Thread starter Dominance
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In a sport where you've been the best in the world for decade, and there are really only 5 teams consistently competitive for gold right now (Canada, Finland, Russia, USA, and Sweden) plus maybe a couple that could pull off an upset, Gold or bust is a pretty reasonable expectation. While not as extreme a talent divide as their is in basketball, the same standards apply to USA basketball at any international event. Until Hockey has something like 8 or 10 viable Gold Medal threats (unlikely to happen any time soon), its going to be gold or bust.
haha, even if it is not a word recognized by a dictionary, I definitely didn't invent it. Hell, it has an ubran dictionary with like 5 different definitions already.
X66
114-110
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Skinnyjimmy08
WorldTraveler
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Arthur Morgan
Registered User
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
If he plays good enough I am sure he will. Lots of options if he doesn't though.
Dack
Registered User
- Jun 16, 2014
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Not including goalies because of how spotty our track record is with them and only skaters are mentioned in the OP.
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Year[/TD][TD]2010[/TD][TD]2011[/TD][TD]2012[/TD][TD]2013[/TD][TD]2014[/TD][TD]2015[/TD][TD]2016[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]NHL Contributor (Top 6ish forward or top 4 d man)[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]8[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]9[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Replacement Level Players (bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing guys) or still developing and pushing for an NHL role.[/TD][TD]1 (Bourque has 400+ career games!)[/TD][TD]4-5 (Despres was a good player before his injuries)[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]7[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Busts[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]7[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]4[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]
I looked at how the Canadian WJC team have turned out each year from 2010-2016 any further than that and too many guys are still developing. Usually there are 9-10 impact skaters/team, some names are returnees but there are also returnees who turn into replacement level guys or bust altogether. There's some grey area my list, I wanted to list out every name in each category but that would take forever. I gave some guys the benefit of the doubt as being 2nd line forwards (Josh Anderson and Jake Virtanen) but I also have some guys listed in the replacement territory who have far greater impacts on the game than their roles on the team show (Marcus Foligno, Cizikas and Oleksiak recently). If guys like Lazar and F. Gauthier don't continue to hang around the NHL they could easily be moved into the bust category as well. I originally made this top nine forwards but I wanted it to be as black and white as possible, no need to question whether Cody Eakin is an impact forward or a 4th liner.
Some years I think I counted one player twice or missed one but I think we can see the trends. However I would not be surprised if 12-15 of the skaters this year became impact players.
1. This is a 25 man roster, larger than the one's I looked at.
2. All but two of the skaters are first rounders, usually the team is made up of guys picked much later who are bigger longshots. First rounders turn out more often than players picked in other rounds.
I think part of the reason this team is so strong is because of how strong the 2020 draft was for Canada. 19 of the 31 first round picks this year were Canadian, the only one not available is Lafreniere. Additionally the entirety of Canada's eligible 2019 draftees were also available because there's no NHL season.
Long Story short I think this team will produce a larger than usual amount of quality NHLers.
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Year[/TD][TD]2010[/TD][TD]2011[/TD][TD]2012[/TD][TD]2013[/TD][TD]2014[/TD][TD]2015[/TD][TD]2016[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]NHL Contributor (Top 6ish forward or top 4 d man)[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]8[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]10[/TD][TD]9[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Replacement Level Players (bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing guys) or still developing and pushing for an NHL role.[/TD][TD]1 (Bourque has 400+ career games!)[/TD][TD]4-5 (Despres was a good player before his injuries)[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]2[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]7[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Busts[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]6[/TD][TD]9[/TD][TD]7[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]4[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]
I looked at how the Canadian WJC team have turned out each year from 2010-2016 any further than that and too many guys are still developing. Usually there are 9-10 impact skaters/team, some names are returnees but there are also returnees who turn into replacement level guys or bust altogether. There's some grey area my list, I wanted to list out every name in each category but that would take forever. I gave some guys the benefit of the doubt as being 2nd line forwards (Josh Anderson and Jake Virtanen) but I also have some guys listed in the replacement territory who have far greater impacts on the game than their roles on the team show (Marcus Foligno, Cizikas and Oleksiak recently). If guys like Lazar and F. Gauthier don't continue to hang around the NHL they could easily be moved into the bust category as well. I originally made this top nine forwards but I wanted it to be as black and white as possible, no need to question whether Cody Eakin is an impact forward or a 4th liner.
Some years I think I counted one player twice or missed one but I think we can see the trends. However I would not be surprised if 12-15 of the skaters this year became impact players.
1. This is a 25 man roster, larger than the one's I looked at.
2. All but two of the skaters are first rounders, usually the team is made up of guys picked much later who are bigger longshots. First rounders turn out more often than players picked in other rounds.
I think part of the reason this team is so strong is because of how strong the 2020 draft was for Canada. 19 of the 31 first round picks this year were Canadian, the only one not available is Lafreniere. Additionally the entirety of Canada's eligible 2019 draftees were also available because there's no NHL season.
Long Story short I think this team will produce a larger than usual amount of quality NHLers.
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Serious question...why "should" Byfield be on the 1st or 2nd line for you to ask the question like that?
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
- 18,732
- 21,853
As awesome as this is, I think Spence might come out of the tournament as one of Canada's best players.
Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 30,454
- 28,256
What round were these 3 drafted?
I'd be shocked if Canada didn't win this one. Their biggest problem might be lack of games and a weaker pool. I expect them to roughshod over Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland. Great. They might not get a real challenge till the Semi's. Everyone in the other group will be battling hard every game because it is such a tough pool. But, literally, that is the only problem for Canada.
Well, Askarov and a really nice looking Russian Team. Knight and a pretty solid US squad. Goes back to goaltending sometimes.
It’s a unique set of challenges this year to have a team that has so little game play under their belts. Having said that, I‘ve watched enough Ivan Hlinka and World Cup/Canada Cup to know that teams can go from being inactive to dialing it up in a very short time. I think that problem has probably been exaggerated a bit. It should also be offset by the fact that these guys are quite fresh and should be relatively free of the usual knicks and knocks you take during the course of a season.
The risk of being in a weaker pool is offset by you winning your own group and getting the number 4 seed in the quarterfinals. By the time you reach the semis, you’ll have a tough opponent no matter what. As for getting stuffed by a hot opposition goalie, well that’s a risk every damn year!
On the other hand the Europeans will have less rust from playing before and by the time we play them we’ll have hit our stride.
I feel the same as you, but I genuinely think the exhibition games with Sweden and Russia will be a big help.
Mikeshane
Registered User
- Jan 15, 2013
- 6,175
- 3,924
It looks to be a good team but Spencer Knight looked very good last year and if he ends up being the best player at the most important position it'll be quite a challenge even with this roster.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/379758/spencer-knight
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/379758/spencer-knight
Is this necessarily a good thing? How many 1st round picks are usually available to Canada for the WJC?
Seems like a combination of a strong 2020 top end and very weak depth from the 2019 draft.
Seems like a combination of a strong 2020 top end and very weak depth from the 2019 draft.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
They aren’t even the favorite on paper, but if Canada insists, give it to them. Takes all the pressure off us if everyone believes that nonsense.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
It's a nice accomplishment but I'm not sure how much it means in this tournament. Being a first rounder, even a high one isn't a guarantee of success. Look at Finland. The aren't bereft of talent but typically punch above their weight through strong team play and good coaching. For Canada to waltz through this tournament as *some* suggest things aren't only going to have to go really well for them but a few other teams will have to fall on their faces.
Sky04
Registered User
- Jan 8, 2009
- 29,889
- 19,281
That doesn't really matter now.... they're first round picks because they stand out above their peers at their current level of competition.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Exactly. Brett Howden was a first rounder and Adam Fox a second rounder from the same draft. Need I say more?
As I’ve been saying, the American team has earned the right to be the favorites because of how they’ve dominated this age group. I was openly mocked multiple times by one person, in particular, for saying this. The Canadians showed the obvious point I made no respect and instead have declared themselves the favorites.
No issue. Everyone’s allowed an opinion, and I guess we’ll go into the tournament with the best team but without the pressure. Sounds like a good solution to me.
Northern Avs Fan
Registered User
- May 27, 2019
- 21,970
- 29,649
As long as Canada’s goaltending doesn’t implode, it’s soon going to become clear why they’re the favourite in this tournament.
Uhm, what? That's just factually incorrect. They have never dominated this age group - they've been placing better the past decade, but 4 trips to the finals in the past 10 years is a far cry from dominating.
List of IIHF World Under-20 Championship medalists - Wikipedia
Eternal Leaf
Registered User
While I do agree Canadians tend to get excited about their team, there's no doubt this is the best team on paper.
The 1st round picks angle is obviously just fluff.
But the quality of these prospects is exceptional throughout the lineup. I think this will become evident as soon as the team hits the ice.
Mathieukferland
Registered User
uSa dOmInAtEd tHe uNdEr 18 wOrlDs wItH tHiS aGe GrOuP
