WJC: Canada 2018 Roster Talk

[Dodospice]

Canada should do well this year, their goalies and D are top notch. Their forwards lack high end potential to dominate a game, outside of maybe a player or 2. I do think however that they’re going to play their roles and obviously the team was constructed this way on purpose.

Their goaltending is the best duo going into the tournament and I’d say the Oettinger and Woll are the 2nd best.

Their defence is really mobile and can all move the puck, they’re going to be able to generate a lot from the back end and start the break out to allow them to exit their zone quickly. I like their construction back here, from what I’ve seen from other teams Finland has the 2nd best forwards.

Their forwards are where things get interesting, they don’t have the pure scorers like the other countries but this is likely by design. Katchouk, Howden, Thomas, McLeod, Dube, Comtois, Gadjovich, Formenton are all going to use their speed or physicality to make things tough on the other team. There is a lot of potential on this team for some hard forechecking lines and really strong shut down lines. I think they recognized that they weren’t going to be able to run and gun with some of the other teams with higher skilled forwards and are going to take a different approach this time around.

 

[Scouter]

Canada should do well this year, their goalies and D are top notch. Their forwards lack high end potential to dominate a game, outside of maybe a player or 2. I do think however that they’re going to play their roles and obviously the team was constructed this way on purpose.

Their goaltending is the best duo going into the tournament and I’d say the Oettinger and Woll are the 2nd best.

Their defence is really mobile and can all move the puck, they’re going to be able to generate a lot from the back end and start the break out to allow them to exit their zone quickly. I like their construction back here, from what I’ve seen from other teams Finland has the 2nd best forwards.

Their forwards are where things get interesting, they don’t have the pure scorers like the other countries but this is likely by design. Katchouk, Howden, Thomas, McLeod, Dube, Comtois, Gadjovich, Formenton are all going to use their speed or physicality to make things tough on the other team. There is a lot of potential on this team for some hard forechecking lines and really strong shut down lines. I think they recognized that they weren’t going to be able to run and gun with some of the other teams with higher skilled forwards and are going to take a different approach this time around.

I might give the US the goalie edge, but it's pretty close, also assuming Woll makes the team since Swayman might have a shot.

 

[Postanin CB Ting]

Watch a lot of Bean, do you?

A little, enough to know the beans cooked.

 

[Get North]

I don't know how many saw the Canada West-USA game earlier today for the gold medal in the World Junior A Challenge gold medal, but the Canada West had an identity. They were all quick players, some smaller than others, some were 6'2, but the forwards had legs. They attacked every puck and beat USA to most pucks, they played in sync and as a unit. Everybody on that team understood how to play and they all had the abilities to play because the coaches picked the players who could play that system. That's why they won. USA probably had more talented forwards, but the Canada West team were a better team along with good goaltending.

It was interesting to watch especially a day after the WJC roster was announced.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I might give the US the goalie edge, but it's pretty close, also assuming Woll makes the team since Swayman might have a shot.

I am not sure how anyone could think the States have an edge in goaltending. It is a pretty clear edge for the Canadian goalies in my opinion in every way.

 

[JackSlater]

I don't know how many saw the Canada West-USA game earlier today for the gold medal in the World Junior A Challenge gold medal, but the Canada West had an identity. They were all quick players, some smaller than others, some were 6'2, but the forwards had legs. They attacked every puck and beat USA to most pucks, they played in sync and as a unit. Everybody on that team understood how to play and they all had the abilities to play because the coaches picked the players who could play that system. That's why they won. USA probably had more talented forwards, but the Canada West team were a better team along with good goaltending.

It was interesting to watch especially a day after the WJC roster was announced.

I didn't see the game but one thing I can give credit for, having seem Ducharme's teams in the QMJHL for years now, is that the players mostly fit his system. My picks would have been a bit different but I expect that this group will be pretty cohesive.

 

[Scouter]

I am not sure how anyone could think the States have an edge in goaltending. It is a pretty clear edge for the Canadian goalies in my opinion in every way.

It's pretty easy actually, Oettinger is pretty clearly the best goalie here by a margin, Woll is the best backup by a margin, it's simple really.

 

[Dominance]

Canada should do well this year, their goalies and D are top notch. Their forwards lack high end potential to dominate a game, outside of maybe a player or 2. I do think however that they’re going to play their roles and obviously the team was constructed this way on purpose.

Their goaltending is the best duo going into the tournament and I’d say the Oettinger and Woll are the 2nd best.

Their defence is really mobile and can all move the puck, they’re going to be able to generate a lot from the back end and start the break out to allow them to exit their zone quickly. I like their construction back here, from what I’ve seen from other teams Finland has the 2nd best forwards.

Their forwards are where things get interesting, they don’t have the pure scorers like the other countries but this is likely by design. Katchouk, Howden, Thomas, McLeod, Dube, Comtois, Gadjovich, Formenton are all going to use their speed or physicality to make things tough on the other team. There is a lot of potential on this team for some hard forechecking lines and really strong shut down lines. I think they recognized that they weren’t going to be able to run and gun with some of the other teams with higher skilled forwards and are going to take a different approach this time around.

I agree with most of what you’re saying, but what are Kyrou, Steel, and even Thomas if not remarkable scorers? Sure, they weren’t drafted top-10. But what does that matter? All three are better scorers than anything the Americans have (maybe excepting Mittelstadt...but even then), and what other nation has three who are better? Sweden, maybe?

 

[Dominance]

It's pretty easy actually, Oettinger is pretty clearly the best goalie here by a margin, Woll is the best backup by a margin, it's simple really.

How do you possibly argue Oettinger over Hart? Like he may be better in the future, but now..?

 

[Scouter]

How do you possibly argue Oettinger over Hart? Like he may be better in the future, but now..?

Ok, it's close now, we'll see how it plays out won't we.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It's pretty easy actually, Oettinger is pretty clearly the best goalie here by a margin, Woll is the best backup by a margin, it's simple really.

I mean if you don't look at how the goalies have actually played this year....sure. Hart and Point have both played considerably better this year. I mean there is literally a direct comparison with Point and he has far better numbers on a far worse team then Oettinger or Woll. I am curious if you are actually able to justify your reasoning though.

 

[Scouter]

I mean if you don't look at how the goalies have actually played this year....sure. Hart and Point have both played considerably better this year. I mean there is literally a direct comparison with Point and he has far better numbers on a far worse team then Oettinger or Woll. I am curious if you are actually able to justify your reasoning though.

Colgate play in a different weaker conference than the US goalies, so Point's numbers are a bit skewed. Oettinger and Woll are not having as good years this season, but their teams may be worse than last season.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Colgate play in a different weaker conference than the US goalies, so Point's numbers are a bit skewed. Oettinger and Woll are not having as good years this season, but their teams may be worse than last season.

But my entire point is that Point is objectively playing on a really bad team this year....Like unquestionably worse the Woll or Oettinger. So him having far better numbers while basically being the team....Yeah I can't really get behind saying the US goalies are better. Especially when this is just discussing Canada's backup.

 

[Scouter]

But my entire point is that Point is objectively playing on a really bad team this year....Like unquestionably worse the Woll or Oettinger. So him having far better numbers while basically being the team....Yeah I can't really get behind saying the US goalies are better. Especially when this is just discussing Canada's backup.

My point is Point (haha) is on a bad team, but that conference is worse so I again say his numbers are skewed.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

My point is Point (haha) is on a bad team, but that conference is worse so I again say his numbers are skewed.

How would a goalies numbers on a terrible team be skewed? That honestly doesn't make sense. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, just trying to understand where you are coming from. I can see if he was on a great team in a bad conference, but how exactly could him being on a terrible team make his numbers skewed? When he isn't in the net Colgate gets pumped.

 

[Dodospice]

It's pretty easy actually, Oettinger is pretty clearly the best goalie here by a margin, Woll is the best backup by a margin, it's simple really.

I think Hart is better than Oettinger right now, since only 1 goalie can play in a medal game (in theory) I give Canada an edge in goal but overall I think Oettinger/Woll is a better duo than Hart/Point.

 

[Dodospice]

I agree with most of what you’re saying, but what are Kyrou, Steel, and even Thomas if not remarkable scorers? Sure, they weren’t drafted top-10. But what does that matter? All three are better scorers than anything the Americans have (maybe excepting Mittelstadt...but even then), and what other nation has three who are better? Sweden, maybe?

I think they are remarkable scorers and I don’t care where they’re drafted but I don’t think they have the ability to take over a game or score goals like some other guys in the tournament.

Finland has Tolvanen who is a pure goal scorer, guy will not struggle to fill the net at all. Canada doesn’t have a pure sniper like him, their secondary scorers don’t match up but Heponiemi and Vesalainen I expect should have strong tournaments too. Tolvanen is the real bread and butter here.

For Sweden, Elias Pettersson, Alex Nylander (who I think will be released) and Lias Andersson all have that type of skill, especially Pettersson and Nylander they’re better than any scorers Canada has and Andersson is right up there.

Russia is going to have Svechnikov, Abramov and Kostin are all high skill players that can really score and dazzle offensively. I wouldn’t be confident any are better than Canada’s but Svechnikov is a pure sniper.

USA has Brown, Mittelstadt and Yamamoto that I would consider as good as anyone on Canada offensively.

No one probably has the depth to matchup 1 through 13 with Canada but I think a lot of teams high end guys are as good or better and you can’t overlook how much playing against men will impact these players, which most of these players play against. They’ll be able to do more against players their own age which will make things a lot of more even then they appear at first glance.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I think the team looks fine. It's no better or worse than I anticipated it being a couple of months ago.

 

[Piestany88]

It's pretty easy actually, Oettinger is pretty clearly the best goalie here by a margin, Woll is the best backup by a margin, it's simple really.

Pffft

 

[CanuckistanFlyerfan]

I don't know how many saw the Canada West-USA game earlier today for the gold medal in the World Junior A Challenge gold medal, but the Canada West had an identity. They were all quick players, some smaller than others, some were 6'2, but the forwards had legs. They attacked every puck and beat USA to most pucks, they played in sync and as a unit. Everybody on that team understood how to play and they all had the abilities to play because the coaches picked the players who could play that system. That's why they won. USA probably had more talented forwards, but the Canada West team were a better team along with good goaltending.

It was interesting to watch especially a day after the WJC roster was announced.

I watched it and your assessment is bang on. Canada won a lot of puck battles solely with their speed. And Rose was a rock in net.

 

[Flamesfan62]

They can be considered a favorite along with USA, Sweden , Finland and Russia. It’s anyone’s tournament and Canada has as good a chance or better than most teams. So yes they can be considered a favorite.

If 4 or 5 teams are considered favourites then you can’t say one team is clearly ahead. At that point it’s just anyone’s tournament.

 

[vippe]

How does the Canadian team stack up this year?

Is it a good team? Strenghts? weaknesses? Coaching? What players to look for? Star?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

How does the Canadian team stack up this year?

Is it a good team? Strenghts? weaknesses? Coaching? What players to look for? Star?

Defense and Goaltending should be a major strength. There isn't a clear star upfront so there are a few question marks when it comes to the offense, might have to be by committee. I feel confident that Ducharme will have the team ready to play every game he is a solid coach and will do a good job. As for a player to look for Kale Clague in my opinion could end up being the best D-Man in the tournament.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Colgate is not some club team. They are better than BU this year. And the ECAC has been comparable to Hockey East for the last five years.

 

[Rob Brown]

So why didn't Glass make it?