WJC: Canada 2018 Roster Talk

[CRhockey]

Lind is the only player that I feel should have made it but didn't. He's got the swagger that can get a team to give its all when it counts.

Still expecting a medal from these guys. They've got more than enough talent to get it done.

I had Lind on the roster, same thoughts. He had that something, swagger as you say.
Haven’t seen Comtois since day he played in the Ivan Hlinka tourney and our team got beat bad by Sweden. He didn’t impress me then so I am not sure on why he made it. Big body that pressure Pucks is what Bob Mckenzie said. Not sure if I would have picked him for that reason. Anyone see him differently as to why he made team? Hoping he brings something else.? . They may miss not bring Matthew Phillips in for Camp. Hope I am wrong.
Howden , good 4th line, kills penalties . Comtois and Howden were the two over Glass and Suzuki.
If The coach followed Canada’s Olympic script of building a team then thats a good blueprint. Canadian Olympic team were 4 lines of good skill , hockey sens and Plenty of speed.

 

[Dodospice]

Kyrou and Steel are as good as all those guys. There are no Ovechkin, McDavid, Crosby, Mathews, Laine on any team . All teams are in the same boat. It’s a tournament up for grabs. Maybe Dahlin gives Sweden an edge on best potential prospect?
It looks like it’s going to be a fun tournament.

I disagree, I think Kyrou and Steel are really really good players but I’d take other guys over them. This tournament is always up for grabs, look at the rosters the last 10 years or so and any of the Big 5 countries have a legitimate shot almost every year.

 

[Snippit]

If Kyrou, Steel and Thomas are put together, it's probably as good as any line in the tournament.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Yeah Canada has some quality players, but I think if you were to list each teams best 2 forwards, Steel and Kyrou would have CAN behind USA, SWE, FIN, possibly RUS. I think they would be close with the CZE. Not sure we have any of the best 6-10 forwards IMO(Tolvanen, Pettersson, Nylander, Andersson, Mittlestadt, Yamamoto, maybe Heponiemi, Kostin, Svechnikov, and the 3 Czechs, Brown though I would say Kryou/Steel are better than Brown). But what we lose in the gamebreaking talent we make up for with solid depth , the best goaltender, and possibly the best defense(us or Finland)

 

[LDN]

I can only really speak on OHL players as that is the only jr. league I watch and follow avidly, but I would say team Canada has made the correct decisions. I think Gadjovich and Formenton will really surprise people with their play. They can both play in many situations. Gadjovich is an amazing net presence, Formenton has so much pure speed is fantastic on the PK. As a London Knights fan I cannot say enough good things about Robbert Thomas. They can play him against other teams top lines and he can shut them down, but he also could play on the top line as the top centre on this team. He has an amazing shot, he is also a great passer I think a lot of eyes will be opened by his talent this WJC and he's only 18 as well so he could come back next year. Taylor Raddysh is a very clutch player. Big game player. Kyrou is a game breaker who has been on fire all season and Katchouk is also fast and can score. Mcleod is a solid centre for sure hopefully he can bring a bit more to this WJC. On defence Mete is such a smart player who can really make a good breakout pass. He is so good at zone entries and is an incredible skater. Timmins was a good pick as well. He is a good puck mover. I wish Dipietro made the team he is money in the bank. Suzuki would have been a good pick, but I guess he didnt have a good camp?

 

[Snippit]

I can only really speak on OHL players as that is the only jr. league I watch and follow avidly, but I would say team Canada has made the correct decisions. I think Gadjovich and Formenton will really surprise people with their play. They can both play in many situations. Gadjovich is an amazing net presence, Formenton has so much pure speed is fantastic on the PK. As a London Knights fan I cannot say enough good things about Robbert Thomas. They can play him against other teams top lines and he can shut them down, but he also could play on the top line as the top centre on this team. He has an amazing shot, he is also a great passer I think a lot of eyes will be opened by his talent this WJC and he's only 18 as well so he could come back next year. Taylor Raddysh is a very clutch player. Big game player. Kyrou is a game breaker who has been on fire all season and Katchouk is also fast and can score. Mcleod is a solid centre for sure hopefully he can bring a bit more to this WJC. On defence Mete is such a smart player who can really make a good breakout pass. He is so good at zone entries and is an incredible skater. Timmins was a good pick as well. He is a good puck mover. I wish Dipietro made the team he is money in the bank. Suzuki would have been a good pick, but I guess he didnt have a good camp?

Yup. I'm definitely high on the OHL guys.

Maybe we're just Knights homers but I agree with you that Thomas can easily be the go to #1 centre on this team.

 

[Halfy]

Canada is losing this year, the cuts of Logan Stanley, Nick Suzuki and Cody Glass are just... wow.

Sweden is winning gold this year, would be amazed if Canada wins bronze.

Jets fan here, I do not agree with this statement.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah Canada has some quality players, but I think if you were to list each teams best 2 forwards, Steel and Kyrou would have CAN behind USA, SWE, FIN, possibly RUS. I think they would be close with the CZE. Not sure we have any of the best 6-10 forwards IMO(Tolvanen, Pettersson, Nylander, Andersson, Mittlestadt, Yamamoto, maybe Heponiemi, Kostin, Svechnikov, and the 3 Czechs, Brown though I would say Kryou/Steel are better than Brown). But what we lose in the gamebreaking talent we make up for with solid depth , the best goaltender, and possibly the best defense(us or Finland)

Only focusing on the American players (easiest comparison) what is it that makes Yamamoto and Mittelstadt better than for instance Kyrou and Steel? With Yamamoto, Steel and Kyrou seem to have had equal (or better) seasons last year and Yamamoto doesn't seem to have done a whole lot in junior thus far this season. Mittelstadt's scoring this season seems good but not exceptional. I'm just looking at statsheets of course (I did see Yamamoto play one NHL game this year but he was not noticeable) so I am legitimately curious what I am missing. I see the American team being hyped up and I don't know what I'm not seeing.

 

[cc]

Jets fan here, I do not agree with this statement.

replace Stanley with Lind

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Jets fan here, I do not agree with this statement.

I don’t think you’d find too many who think it was a bad cut.

If we lose it’s definitely not going to be because we left Logan Stanley at home.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Only focusing on the American players (easiest comparison) what is it that makes Yamamoto and Mittelstadt better than for instance Kyrou and Steel? With Yamamoto, Steel and Kyrou seem to have had equal (or better) seasons last year and Yamamoto doesn't seem to have done a whole lot in junior thus far this season. Mittelstadt's scoring this season seems good but not exceptional. I'm just looking at statsheets of course (I did see Yamamoto play one NHL game this year but he was not noticeable) so I am legitimately curious what I am missing. I see the American team being hyped up and I don't know what I'm not seeing.

IDK I could definitely be wrong on that, it's not an opinion formed based on a lot of viewings. They just seem like they have more take over a game type of talent, even if Steel or Kyrou might be better all around players. So I guess that would be more skill? IDK. I don't have a good definitive answer, so I'll concede I very well could be wrong on that, I don't think they're drastically better players, I think Tolvanen, and Petterson may be the only true gamebreakers who can just takeover the game. Maybe Nylander given he did it last year. But I just feel like those 2 Americans and slightly better players, and I like Steel, not sure what's up with his production in the WHL this year though.

 

[Snippit]

Only focusing on the American players (easiest comparison) what is it that makes Yamamoto and Mittelstadt better than for instance Kyrou and Steel? With Yamamoto, Steel and Kyrou seem to have had equal (or better) seasons last year and Yamamoto doesn't seem to have done a whole lot in junior thus far this season. Mittelstadt's scoring this season seems good but not exceptional. I'm just looking at statsheets of course (I did see Yamamoto play one NHL game this year but he was not noticeable) so I am legitimately curious what I am missing. I see the American team being hyped up and I don't know what I'm not seeing.

Me neither. I think they'll be good but not as good as last year.

 

[Scouter]

IDK I could definitely be wrong on that, it's not an opinion formed based on a lot of viewings. They just seem like they have more take over a game type of talent, even if Steel or Kyrou might be better all around players. So I guess that would be more skill? IDK. I don't have a good definitive answer, so I'll concede I very well could be wrong on that, I don't think they're drastically better players, I think Tolvanen, and Petterson may be the only true gamebreakers who can just takeover the game. Maybe Nylander given he did it last year. But I just feel like those 2 Americans and slightly better players, and I like Steel, not sure what's up with his production in the WHL this year though.

Pats are a worse team this year.

 

[Scouter]

Mahura is a bit of an interesting call, since Ferraro was the last cut, thought it would be him instead.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Me neither. I think they'll be good but not as good as last year.

Yeah I mean I am not blown away by the Canadian team this year....but the hype around the American team has been confusing to me as I honestly don't see what makes there team so much stronger on paper anyways and have been thinking this for a while now. This years American team to me is substantially weaker then what there team was last year....they should have an extremely good team next year though.

 

[Boonk]

Yeah I mean I am not blown away by the Canadian team this year....but the hype around the American team has been confusing to me as I honestly don't see what makes there team so much stronger on paper anyways and have been thinking this for a while now. This years American team to me is substantially weaker then what there team was last year....they should have an extremely good team next year though.

Dont think next years US team will be that good compared to the 16’ or 17’ teams, even this years team. They’ll have to lean on some of the 2000s kids, possibly even 01s like Jack Hughes. Dont really see the 99’ Americans as dominant as the 97s, 98s or even the 2000s.

 

[Rob]

If Canada has problems scoring goals this year there should be plenty scrutiny regarding the selection process.

 

[BrunoDaBear]

Gadjovich and Suzuki were 18 and 17 year old linemates last year. Gadjovich had 46 goals and Suzuki had 45.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

If Canada has problems scoring goals this year there should be plenty scrutiny regarding the selection process.

Let's be honest here, if the team doesn't play well there would be scrutiny regardless of who they picked lol. I really don't remember a year where the 10 days leading up to the tournament isn't filled with people complaining about the team.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Canada doesn't lack scoring ability 5 on 5. They lack the soft PP point producing players who pad stats in the CHL. I am down on McLeod as much as any and I really think he is terrible on the power play, however he absolutely kills it 5 on 5. In the last two years he has put up 70 points in 68 games 5 on 5 or 4 on 5.

Howden is similar to McLeod, in the last two years he has put up 78 points in 78 games minus the power play.

Suzuki has 91 points in 93 games minus power play points.

If there was anyone I would have a gripe about leaving off the roster it would be Morgan Frost. The guy is a 5 on 5 scoring machine.

 

[CRhockey]

Yeah Canada has some quality players, but I think if you were to list each teams best 2 forwards, Steel and Kyrou would have CAN behind USA, SWE, FIN, possibly RUS. I think they would be close with the CZE. Not sure we have any of the best 6-10 forwards IMO(Tolvanen, Pettersson, Nylander, Andersson, Mittlestadt, Yamamoto, maybe Heponiemi, Kostin, Svechnikov, and the 3 Czechs, Brown though I would say Kryou/Steel are better than Brown). But what we lose in the gamebreaking talent we make up for with solid depth , the best goaltender, and possibly the best defense(us or Finland)

All good points. The tournament will see who breaks through, it could be any of those players you mentioned.

 

[CRhockey]

Let's be honest here, if the team doesn't play well there would be scrutiny regardless of who they picked lol. I really don't remember a year where the 10 days leading up to the tournament isn't filled with people complaining about the team.

Every Canadian hockey fan is an armchair General Manager. No team gets its roster dissected more often.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Every Canadian hockey fan is an armchair General Manager. No team gets its roster directed more often.

the only difference between a Canadian roster thread and other team roster threads is scale. The nature of the comments here on roster selection is the same as others.

 

[Curufinwe]

Canada doesn't lack scoring ability 5 on 5. They lack the soft PP point producing players who pad stats in the CHL. I am down on McLeod as much as any and I really think he is terrible on the power play, however he absolutely kills it 5 on 5. In the last two years he has put up 70 points in 68 games 5 on 5 or 4 on 5.

Howden is similar to McLeod, in the last two years he has put up 78 points in 78 games minus the power play.

Suzuki has 91 points in 93 games minus power play points.

If there was anyone I would have a gripe about leaving off the roster it would be Morgan Frost. The guy is a 5 on 5 scoring machine.

Frost is up to 41 ESP in 33 games now.

 

[RedHot]

Have they announced the captain yet?