Canada’s Camp Roster Already Under Scrutiny Ahead of World Juniors

[WhatTheDuck]

It seems like they have decided who their star defensemen will be so to speak. They are going to lean on Dickinson, Bonk and maybe Schaefer to be the studs who drive the play and command tons of puck time. Then they are auditioning the rest to figure out who would make up the steadiest support cast of reliable shutdown guys. Likely just didn't see Yak or Parekh fitting the latter role.

Not saying I agree with it, just trying to come up with a reason why they were excluded (or originally in Parekh's case)

 

[Dack]

You can have 7D at the World Juniors. Parekh is the perfect powerplay specialist to bring on your roster.

I don't feel that confident about anyone else on the team having the offensive ability to run the powerplay in a short tournament. Schaefer is probably next best, but he's only 17 and you don't want to heap that pressure on and underager at the WJC. Dickinson has put up a lot of points this year, but London is able to overwhelm with talent and better coaching. I don't think Dickinson is a PPQB in a short tournament with a lot of parity at the top.

This is my opinion on it. I think Parekh is the best choice for a "break glass in case of emergency" option. You can take him along as a 7th D or bottom pairing guy and play him sparingly, using him on the powerplay. If the team is defending a lead you cut his minutes and if you need a goal you put him out there more often.

I wouldn't have excluded Yakemchuk from this camp either but Team Canada doesn't seem to trust the defense of either of them.

 

[Haatley]

Yeah, Parekh is incredible soft and very poor defensively. Not the type of player I would personally add to a WJC roster.

Winning CHL defenseman is effectively given to the top scoring dman, which is made easier when you essentially play as a 4th forward on a stacked team.

Look at some of the recent winners:

Nathan Staios
Noel Hoefenmayer
Ty Smith
Ryan Sproul
Tony DeAngelo
Derrick Pouliot

Not the most prestigious list of players. They didn't originally have him on the roster, so I'm guessing Hockey Canada doesn't put a lot of weight into that award either.

How many of these did it in their draft year?

Some very good defencemen have won that you left off the list.
Olen Zellweger
Thomas Chabot

But none of them did it in their draft year.

Parekh is not bad defensively. You clearly haven't watched him play. He's not great... but I have seen him live multiple times this season. He's not as bad as people like you make him out to be.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

How many of these did it in their draft year?

Some very good defencemen have won that you left off the list.
Olen Zellweger
Thomas Chabot

But none of them did it in their draft year.

And he's not going to win it in his d+1.

My point is that winning that award means doesn't really mean you're a good defenseman. It means you can score points.

Parekh is not bad defensively.

Couldn't disagree more. There are some things that he does well because of his skating, but he's very easily exposed by a heavy forecheck.

You clearly haven't watched him play. He's not great... but I have seen him live multiple times this season. He's not as bad as people like you make him out to be.

I have watched him like 15 times. He is very below average defensively, especially when we are talking about WJC dmen.

 

[Gravity]

Hage should have at least got an invite. He's impressing in the NCAA.

 

[lakai17]

It seems like they have decided who their star defensemen will be so to speak. They are going to lean on Dickinson, Bonk and maybe Schaefer to be the studs who drive the play and command tons of puck time. Then they are auditioning the rest to figure out who would make up the steadiest support cast of reliable shutdown guys. Likely just didn't see Yak or Parekh fitting the latter role.

Not saying I agree with it, just trying to come up with a reason why they were excluded (or originally in Parekh's case)

Molendyk injured then or what? Another stud from the dub not getting recognition

 

[Larry Fisher]

Some guys just kinda suck in international play. Despite it being in Ottawa this year they're using IIHF refs and some kids can't adapt. Oh and I think he's turning out into a solid pick for the Sens.



Have you followed Hage at all this season? The kid's turning out pretty fricking awesome despite being drafted by the awful Habs... LOL

Nobody jumped on this but I think you made a valid, important point here on Yakemchuk. Discipline can be an issue for him or over-aggressiveness, which could prove costly with the international rules. Maybe Hockey Canada considered him a liability for that playing style, which is great in the WHL and will be awesome in the NHL but not necessarily in IIHF events.

That said, I still think Yakemchuk should be there. He's now the only available Top 10 pick from 2024 not attending camp with the additions of Sennecke and Parekh, plus Iginla's surgery taking him out. And the fact Yakemchuk was one of the oldest players from his draft class, already 19 for a 19-year-olds tournament, makes me think he could have dominated alongside Dickinson on a big, imposing top pairing.