Are we in Canada paranoid about 2026 or should we not be worried?

[JackSlater]

Outside of goaltending a big part of the problem is how disappointing the very top picks, top five let's say, Canada has produced have performed since the strong 2015 draft. So many whiffs, guys who had injuries derail their development, guys who play for the United States, or guys who are Pierre Luc Dubois. Obviously Makar was a homerun and Celebrini falling into Canada's lap is nice, but it's fairly disappointing compared to draft pedigree. Bedard and Lafeniere should still be stars, but even in their cases neither came in as strongly as hoped.

 

[Crosby2010]

Outside of goaltending a big part of the problem is how disappointing the very top picks, top five let's say, Canada has produced have performed since the strong 2015 draft. So many whiffs, guys who had injuries derail their development, guys who play for the United States, or guys who are Pierre Luc Dubois. Obviously Makar was a homerun and Celebrini falling into Canada's lap is nice, but it's fairly disappointing compared to draft pedigree. Bedard and Lafeniere should still be stars, but even in their cases neither came in as strongly as hoped.

There are some whiffs in the draft no doubt after 2015. But that 2020-'24 era is starting to shape up. I can remember the 2003 draft and just how much that carried Canadian international teams. They dominated the 2005 WJC in a way no one ever has. And that draft class was prevalent in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. You might see that same sort of thing in the recent drafts, although nothing is quite like the 2003 draft. Lafreniere is starting to finally take shape and let's be patient with Bedard, he's a smallish 19 year old wonder kid at the moment and he still won the Calder and had 61 points in 68 games last year and is around a PPG this year despite a Hawk team that probably has trouble skating backwards.

 

[ORRFForever]

There are some whiffs in the draft no doubt after 2015. But that 2020-'24 era is starting to shape up. I can remember the 2003 draft and just how much that carried Canadian international teams. They dominated the 2005 WJC in a way no one ever has. And that draft class was prevalent in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. You might see that same sort of thing in the recent drafts, although nothing is quite like the 2003 draft. Lafreniere is starting to finally take shape and let's be patient with Bedard, he's a smallish 19 year old wonder kid at the moment and he still won the Calder and had 61 points in 68 games last year and is around a PPG this year despite a Hawk team that probably has trouble skating backwards.

Bedard's on a 67 point pace at 19 on the worst team I seen in years and people still dump on - not directed at you C2010.

It is what it is.

 

[JackSlater]

There are some whiffs in the draft no doubt after 2015. But that 2020-'24 era is starting to shape up. I can remember the 2003 draft and just how much that carried Canadian international teams. They dominated the 2005 WJC in a way no one ever has. And that draft class was prevalent in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. You might see that same sort of thing in the recent drafts, although nothing is quite like the 2003 draft. Lafreniere is starting to finally take shape and let's be patient with Bedard, he's a smallish 19 year old wonder kid at the moment and he still won the Calder and had 61 points in 68 games last year and is around a PPG this year despite a Hawk team that probably has trouble skating backwards.

Sure but it isn't just the 2003 draft. The latter half of the 2000s in general was a strong period for Canada. Had the 2018 Olympics had NHLers Canada would have been ridiculously loaded at that tournament. It would have been an incredible team. 2022 Canada would have been a very clearly less talented team, and 2026 will be less talented still. The trend is in the wrong direction. I'm not sure that things will get righted until there is a big loss that stings pride at a national level. That's what happened in 1996 and 1998. WJC losses and especially iihf world championship losses don't do that, not that Canada has been bad at those levels lately.

I'm fine with waiting for Lafreniere, Bedard, and others. I'd put them on the four nations event team because I believe in their talent going forward. It's a lull period though. There were strong points though, like 2013-2015. There have been a lot of wasted opportunities though.

 

[ORRFForever]

Some posters are acting like the concern over the current lineup is new. Anyone who has been paying attention knows that the 2016-2019 drafts <bleeped> the bed. During those same years, the Americans were having very strong drafts and those players are currently in their prime. I've been talking about this for 5 years.

Having said that, the Canadian lineup is still better than every other country up front. The D is terrific and deep. It's only in Goal where there is a (strong) concern.

Having said all that, the Calvary is on its way. Give the 2020/2021/2022/2023/2024+ drafts a little time to mature. There are ELITE stars a plenty in the pipeline.