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 posters still dump on him - 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 4 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.

 

[ORRFForever]

Canadian kids who are excelling ages 20 – 23…

2019 Draft :

Connor McMichael is PPG+ and having a breakout season.
Thomas Harley (2019) is looking great in Dallas.
Bowen Byram (2019) has 3 goals, 7 assists and is a +7 in Buffalo.

2020 Draft :

LAF (2020) is almost PPG with only 2 PP points.
Cole Perfetti is almost PPG.
Seth Jarvis is almost PPG and a 200 foot ace in Carolina.
D-Man Braden Schneider is 0.5PPG and a +12 in NY.
Will Cuylie is almost PPG with ZERO PPP. @Pavel Buchnevich

2021 Draft :

Owen Power is having a breakout season in Buffalo.
Kent Johnson is PPG in Columbus.
Brandt Clarke is having a great season in LA
Dylan Guenther is almost PPG in Utah and their best player.
Wyatt Johnston in Dallas.
Logan Stankoven is almost PPG in Dallas.

And that does not include players with high end potential…

Dylan Cozens
Quinton Byfield
Jamie Drysdale
Jack Quinn
Dylan Holloway
Kaiden Guhle
Dawson Mercer
Brayden Schneider
Connor Zary
Jake Neighbours
Ridly Grieg
Mavrik Bourque
Luke Evangelista
Mason McTavish
Brennan Othmann
Logan Mailloux
Shane Wright
Connor Geekie
Matt Savoie
Denton Mateychuk

Canadians need to stop worrying ALL THE TIME !

 

[the valiant effort]

Without a big uptick in player over the next 18 days gifting Bedard a spot on the team would be a tad “insulting”. This is not a Crosby ‘06 situation where it was clear he had a motor that could inject that older team with oomph. Canada has no shortage of established forwards playing at a high level and should let such merit fill the team.

 

[ORRFForever]

Bedard - Mcdavid - Reinhart
Marner - Crosby - Mackinnon
Koneckny - Point - Stone
Schiefele - Thomas - Lafreniere
Hyman / Verhaghe

Toews - Makar
Morrisey - Pietrangelo
Doughty - Dobson
Pelech / Bouchard

Binnington
Hill ?
Someone?

I think Canada brass will look at this tournament as a 2026 Olympic rehearsal, with an eye toward the future. I think that lineup would beat anybody. The first 3 lines all have insane scoring, transition/ puck control and leadership. The 4th line is a bit of an x factor - probably the strongest 4th line in the tournament. We need guys like Konecky and Doughty to counteract the Tkachuk bullsheet that im sure we will have to deal with.

The defence is solidly 2nd best in the world. USA has better top 3 D but our depth is crazy good. Who the H3ll knows how the goaltending will shape out.

I'm glad you included Konecny. At 27, he's in his prime and he's tearing things up in Philly. Do you think he can play on the Left side, though?

 

[ORRFForever]

Without a big uptick in player over the next 18 days gifting Bedard a spot on the team would be a tad “insulting”. This is not a Crosby ‘06 situation where it was clear he had a motor that could inject that older team with oomph. Canada has no shortage of established forwards playing at a high level and should let such merit fill the team.

Well said.

 

[ORRFForever]

A little old in the tooth but Matt Duchene has played his way onto my team. He fills out the left side nicely. And he can take faceoffs...

Hagel - McDavid*- Konecny : Hagel and Konecny can score and McDavid can feed. A line in their prime.

Duchene* - MacKinnon - Scheifele* : Duchene & Scheifele have played their way onto the team / great seasons!

Marchand - Crosby* - Reinhart : Marchand and Sid gelled well last time and Reinhart can score.

Bennett*- Stone - Marner : I am not a Marner fan but I think this is easily the best 4th line in the tournament.

I'd dump Marchand (like a hot rock) if given the chance but he's locked in. Why? What was HC thinking? If Marchand does NOT play, LAF will take his place.

Brayden Point is hurt.

While it's not the youngest offensive team in the tournament, it's younger than I thought / fear it would be a year ago. It's also well rounded. There is ZERO weakness up front. The forwards are terrific and the least of our worries.