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

[ORRFForever]

ORRFF Stats Watch (November 21, 2024)

Positives :

* Sam Reinhart with his 15th Goal.
* Braydon Point with his 11th Goal.
* Brandon Hagel with his 9th Goal and 10th Assist.
* LAF with his 8th Goal.
* Will Cuylle with his 7th Goal.
* Brett Howden with his 8th Goal.
* Drake Batherson with his 8th Goal.
* Sean Monahan with his 7th Goal and 10th, 11th and 12th Assist.
* Jordan Kyrou with his 7th Goal.
* Anthony Cirelli with his 6th Goal and 13th Assist.
* Kent Johnson with his 3rd and 4th Goal.
* Connor Zary with his 4th Goal.
* Connor Geekie with his 3rd Goal and 3rd Assist.
* Cale Makar with his 20th Assist.
* Connor McDavid with his 16th Assist.
* Shea Theodore with his 13th Assist
* Brad Marchand with his 9th Assist.
* Cole Sillinger with his 8th and 9th Assist.
* Aaron Ekblad with his 8th Assist.
* Robert Thomas with his 7th Assist.
* Dawson Mercer with his 7th Assist.
* MacKenzie Weegar with his 6th, 7th and 8th Assist.
* Macklin Celebrini with his 2nd and 3rd Assist.

* Jake Neighbours with the shootout goal for the win in O.T..

Goalies :

* Logan Thompson (Wash) with 2 goals / 25 shots in loss to the Avs.
* Jordan Binnington (St L) gave up 2 Goals / 25 shots in the win over (SJ).
* Spencer Martin (Carolina) gave up 4 goals / 21 shots in loss to New Jersey.
* MAF (Minny) gave up 3 goals / 32 shots in win over Edmonton.
* Stuart Skinner (Edm) gave up 5 goals / 26 shots in loss to Minny.

Negatives :

* Adam Fantilli.

*************************************************************************************************

I still LOVE my team - it certainly can score...


Hagel - McDavid*- Konecny

Duchene* - MacKinnon - Scheifele*

Marchand - Crosby* - Stone

Bennett*- Reinhart - Marner

 

[ORRFForever]

He's too old and slow as was mentioned. If Stamkos who is much quicker and fits more of a need on the team is slowly becoming a non-issue with this team than Tavares is as well. I don't see him thriving going up against the best defenses in the world and going toe-to-toe with other great centres. He just isn't there anymore. In 2016 sure, but not now. Not even on the wing. We can do better.

There is just too much offensive fire power available to Canada for us to choose someone (other than Sid) in their mid-late 30's. Marchand should do the right thing by Canada and "call in sick".

 

[Zybalto]

He's too old and slow as was mentioned. If Stamkos who is much quicker and fits more of a need on the team is slowly becoming a non-issue with this team than Tavares is as well. I don't see him thriving going up against the best defenses in the world and going toe-to-toe with other great centres. He just isn't there anymore. In 2016 sure, but not now. Not even on the wing. We can do better.

I agree which is why he's not on my team either.

Canada has Marchand/Crosby as the vet leadership already locked in and we are probably looking at other vets on D/goaltending. Being easily the best team in the world down the middle, Canada should just use its glut of high scoring two way wingers. Every line on Canada is probably going to like both a 1st line on almost any team and a matchup line at the same time. With such a short tournament, I'm a big fan of keeping players in their positions as well.

I mean, a 4th line of Hagel/Point/Marner is just an example of what we could see which is a nightmare matchup for anyone.

 

[ORRFForever]

As per the Daily FaceOff's Matt Larkin...

MSN

Zach Hyman	Connor McDavid*	Nathan MacKinnon*
Brandon Hagel	Brayden Point*	Mitch Marner
Brad Marchand*	Sidney Crosby*	Sam Reinhart
Alexis Lafreniere	Nick Suzuki	Travis Konecny
Connor Bedard

MY COMMENT : I hate this line up. Hyman is ICE cold. Bedard has NOT earned a spot. I don't want Marner anywhere but on the 4th line.

Defensemen​

Devon Toews	Cale Makar
Noah Dobson	Evan Bouchard
Shea Theodore	Alex Pietrangelo
MacKenzie Weegar

Goaltenders​

Jordan Binnington

Adin Hill

Logan Thompson

IN: Travis Konecny, Brandon Hagel

OUT: Mark Stone, Steven Stamkos

Why: Is this a psychological experiment in which the amount of tinkering reveals something about each prognosticator’s personality? I had a fair amount of reactionary second-guessing here. With the Vegas Golden Knights’ Mark Stone already taking up his customary spot on injured reserve and needing to ensure he’s fresh for the Stanley Cup playoffs, competing for Canada is a risky proposition for team and player, so he’s out. Travis Konecny has been great for the Philadelphia Flyers so far this season and brings an element of jam to an exciting Canadian fourth line. It pained me removing Steven Stamkos’ power-play threat, but Brandon Hagel is just too versatile as an all-situations piece, so he slides in. Connor Bedard hangs on as my 13th forward; remember, this tourney is an audition for the Olympics, so Canada would be wise to give him some reps in a medium-stakes event ahead of Milan 2026, even if he’s had a tough sophomore year.