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

[ORRFForever]

Bedard with a 2 point night. Not sure why he doesn't get more multiple point nights.

 

[ORRFForever]

Nathan MacKinnon is the best player in the NHL - perhaps that's not a controversial thing to say in 2025.

 

[Crosby2010]

Nathan MacKinnon is the best player in the NHL - perhaps that's not a controversial thing to say in 2025.

Imagine him and McDavid on the same line. Good grief, give me some oxygen!

I honestly don't know what is better, having McDavid, MacKinnon and Crosby as the 1-2-3 down the middle or having two or even three of them all on one line. I have to say that from a coaching standpoint the 1-2-3 method would be more effective because you are just rolling talent out left right and centre non-stop. But the sheer curiousity with me just begs to see one big Super line to see what would happen.

 

[ORRFForever]

Imagine him and McDavid on the same line. Good grief, give me some oxygen!

I honestly don't know what is better, having McDavid, MacKinnon and Crosby as the 1-2-3 down the middle or having two or even three of them all on one line. I have to say that from a coaching standpoint the 1-2-3 method would be more effective because you are just rolling talent out left right and centre non-stop. But the sheer curiousity with me just begs to see one big Super line to see what would happen.

Agree.

Are we sure Sid is playing?

 

[Crosby2010]

Agree.

Are we sure Sid is playing?

Honestly, I don't know. Last update was three hours ago that I saw and it says he is travelling to Montreal to be evaluated.

 

[Soundwave]

Celebrini makes the team IMO.

 

[ORRFForever]

Time to restart this thread.

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

Shane Wright is playing really well.

Celebrini with another goal.

 

[Peiskos]

Suggesting Canada should be worried about an international hockey tournament is like suggesting an ocean should be worried about a raindrop.

 

[ORRFForever]

Including the 4 Nations, Auston Matthews has 1 goal, an empty netter, in the last 12 games.

That's a shame.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

You were plenty worried in 2025, so why wouldn't you be in 2026?

 

[SOLR]

Celebrini and Johnston are the 2 important changes that need to happen for the Olympics. The team at the 4 nations dodged one and was caught slow (again).

Marchand I think is done.
Stone I think is done and much less useful in a Olympics setting.

Johnston and Celebrini are not small players.

Jarvis meh, passenger, I'd rather have someone like Suzuki who can go up the lineup if needed.
And finally, how do we optimize Crosby's energy, maybe that's the spot for Bedard. So that Crosby doesn't have to play tier 2 teams.

2026
Celebrini - McDavid - Point
Johnston - Mackinnon - Crosby
Hagel - Cirelli - Marner
Suzuki - Bennett - Reinhart
Bedard
Stone (if injury)
Thomas


This sets up the next Olympics for something like this
2030
Mackinnon - Mcdavid - McKenna
Bedard - Celebrini - Marner
Johnston - Suzuki - Point
Fantilli - Wright - Iginla (5 years from now all entering their primes)
K. Johnson

 

[DethOfDragnz]

Nothing to worry about Canadas got this at the 2026 Olympics!

 

[End on a Hinote]

Honestly, I'm still a bit worried. We got a little lucky against the Americans and were outscored and outplayed a great deal by them. Sweden gave us a scare and Finland nearly made a crazy comeback happen.

I'm not saying we should be blowing teams away 10-1, but we should be better. Yes the world is catching up, but that doesn't mean we can't improve, either.

 

[ORRFForever]

Honestly, I'm still a bit worried. We got a little lucky against the Americans and were outscored and outplayed a great deal by them. Sweden gave us a scare and Finland nearly made a crazy comeback happen.

I'm not saying we should be blowing teams away 10-1, but we should be better. Yes the world is catching up, but that doesn't mean we can't improve, either.

The players in the pipeline are a huge improvement. What's coming is amazing.

**

Quinton Byfield with a 4 point night. Nice!

 

[ORRFForever]

Jordan Kyrou does NOT get enough love.

 

[ORRFForever]

For a guy playing 12 minutes a game on a loaded team, Mavrik Bourque is doing well in his first NHL season.

 

[Peiskos]

Jordan Kyrou does NOT get enough love.

Ya Kyrou is decent, a solid 70-80 point guy.

 

[ORRFForever]

Marner is so good - tonight's O,T. winner.

 

[dalewood12]

If the Leafs go on a deep-ish run (lets say Conference Finals) this year, could Chris Tanev be in the conversation for D in Milan?

 

[ORRFForever]

If the Leafs go on a deep-ish run (lets say Conference Finals) this year, could Chris Tanev be in the conversation for D in Milan?

Not after tonight. Ouch!

I don't think so. A little old in the tooth.

He's got good hair, though.

 

[Nucks2001]

If the Leafs go on a deep-ish run (let’s say Conference Finals) this year, could Chris Tanev be in the conversation for D in Milan?

Maybe. I think Tanev is on the outside looking in though. There’s many reasons he was left off. Barring a Forsling-like run and a Cup, I doubt he makes it

 

[ORRFForever]

Bedard is pointless in 3 games since the All Star Break.