WJC: Canada 2018 Roster Talk

[tony d]

Not that I know of, looking at that roster maybe Comtois or Foote for captain?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

My money is on Clague. Especially with Fabbro looking like he might be out.

 

[CRhockey]

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?

I live outside of Canada now so very limited viewing exposure to the CHL games. Good to hear someone’s views on these players. I believe this Canadian team will bring it hard and fast. I like the coach and the have solid goaltending. Wouldn’t surprise me to see then at the end of tourney with gold.

 

[CRhockey]

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.

My thought exactly!

 

[Goose of Reason]

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.

Sam Steel is great on the powerplay for one, so that's not entirely true. A lot of the defense are great on the powerplay as well and they have good triggermen. I don't think they'll be lost for talent with the man advantage.

As for the captain, I would guess one of Steel, Dube, or Clague.

 

[carlhockey]

Hi guys, I'm new on the forum but I've followed junior hockey and hockey in general pretty closely all my life. Looking at this years tournament I don't think you can really say Canada is not co-favorite. Their defense and goaltending combination is up there with being the best this year. A lot of talk on here on how the American forwards are way more talented but I just don't see it. Tkachuk's numbers at BU really are not that stellar. Mittelstaht as well...they are both well under a point per game. Not to mention Yamamoto has not played well this year since returning from the Oilers. I think a lot of people don't know how good of a player Kyrou truly is, he's extremely dynamic and I would not be the least bit surprised if he is on the blues roster next year. Steel and Steenbergen are also both extremely dynamic and Steenbergen is averaging over a goal per game this year. Overall I think Canada's deep lineup and speed will make for a good game for the US and it will be very evenly matched. It also should not be overlooked that the pressure will be on the States playing on home soil, it will be interesting to see how they react when playing Canada and >50% of the crowd is going to be Canadian. Sweden is also up there with their forward and defensive depth however they always seem to mess it up in the medal round. Finland this year has some very high end defensive talent as well as they are loaded with first round picks.

Prediction
Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Czech Republic pulls the upset (some great dynamic forwards this year).

 

[Wadd]

Not that I know of, looking at that roster maybe Comtois or Foote for captain?

Captain will be Clague or Dube probably

 

[LDN]

Mete for Captain

 

[JackSlater]

Things will change of course but it's clear what the coaching staff is going for at forward. I like the defence pairings. If Bean must play then I like that he will be paired with a good defensive player who can cover for his mistakes.

 

[Dominance]

Hi guys, I'm new on the forum but I've followed junior hockey and hockey in general pretty closely all my life. Looking at this years tournament I don't think you can really say Canada is not co-favorite. Their defense and goaltending combination is up there with being the best this year. A lot of talk on here on how the American forwards are way more talented but I just don't see it. Tkachuk's numbers at BU really are not that stellar. Mittelstaht as well...they are both well under a point per game. Not to mention Yamamoto has not played well this year since returning from the Oilers. I think a lot of people don't know how good of a player Kyrou truly is, he's extremely dynamic and I would not be the least bit surprised if he is on the blues roster next year. Steel and Steenbergen are also both extremely dynamic and Steenbergen is averaging over a goal per game this year. Overall I think Canada's deep lineup and speed will make for a good game for the US and it will be very evenly matched. It also should not be overlooked that the pressure will be on the States playing on home soil, it will be interesting to see how they react when playing Canada and >50% of the crowd is going to be Canadian. Sweden is also up there with their forward and defensive depth however they always seem to mess it up in the medal round. Finland this year has some very high end defensive talent as well as they are loaded with first round picks.

Prediction
Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Czech Republic pulls the upset (some great dynamic forwards this year).

Extremely well said. I’d add Batherson in as another dynamic offensive player who is being understated as a result of his draft position alone.

Welcome to HFBoards!

 

[Dominance]

Things will change of course but it's clear what the coaching staff is going for at forward. I like the defence pairings. If Bean must play then I like that he will be paired with a good defensive player who can cover for his mistakes.

That’s one hell of a hard-hitting, quick-moving fourth line who will bite a ton of teams in the ass.

 

[carlhockey]

What are the chances Fabbro is going to make the start of the tournament?

 

[bert]

Things will change of course but it's clear what the coaching staff is going for at forward. I like the defence pairings. If Bean must play then I like that he will be paired with a good defensive player who can cover for his mistakes.

Dube on the first line... Yuck.

He is a good mucker, but he should not be on a first line. Will be great in a checking or shut down role.

 

[DieTomi]

Dube on the first line... Yuck.

He is a good mucker, but he should not be on a first line. Will be great in a checking or shut down role.

Definitely agree with this. Put someone on their wing that can put pucks in the net, not just do the dirty work on the boards. Switching Gadjovich and Dube would look much more threatening and it'd make the third line an unreal shutdown line with speed. Stephens and Cirelli were fantastic in that role last year, and I could see the same with Dube and McLeod.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Dube on the first line... Yuck.

He is a good mucker, but he should not be on a first line. Will be great in a checking or shut down role.

He was arguably Canada’s best forward last year... he’s a complete two way forward and probably should have made the Flames out of camp this year.

He’s a beauty. This team could use as many Dillon Dube types as they can

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Hopefully Thomas and Kyrou end up on the same line at some point

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Personally I would switch Howden and Mcleod. Dube and Gadjovich

 

[Oberyn]

He was arguably Canada’s best forward last year... he’s a complete two way forward and probably should have made the Flames out of camp this year.

He’s a beauty. This team could use as many Dillon Dube types as they can

Dube was tied for last in points among forwards for Canada last year. Now I get there's more to his game than points, but I find it difficult to even consider Dube being Canada's best forward when he had 0 goals and 3 assists in 7 games.

 

[DieTomi]

He was arguably Canada’s best forward last year... he’s a complete two way forward and probably should have made the Flames out of camp this year.

He’s a beauty. This team could use as many Dillon Dube types as they can

You're a flames fan... of course you thought he was the best forward last year lol. He's a good two way player but his offensive instincts and abilities aren't anything to write home about. Gadjovich is a much better offensive player, isn't he putting up the 2nd most shots per game in the entire CHL behind Tippett? The guy is a shooting machine and putting him with Steel and Kyrou should be a no brainer. Dube is like Lias Andersson but without the deceptive shot. He is a smart player who can score goals by being in the right positions and finishing off plays but he doesn't create a whole lot of offense on his own. His skillset would be much better served on the 3rd line. He could still put up PPG if the line clicks, just like Cirelli and Stephens last year.

 

[DieTomi]

Hopefully Thomas and Kyrou end up on the same line at some point

Thomas is better than Steel imo. I could see the two being put together if these lines aren't working.

 

[Warden of the North]

I dont like this roster very much. I foresee 4th or maybe a bronze finish

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

McLeod with Gadjovich and Steenbergen looks to have so much offense on the wings. McLeod wont have to shoot.

 

[Boonk]

Dube was tied for last in points among forwards for Canada last year. Now I get there's more to his game than points, but I find it difficult to even consider Dube being Canada's best forward when he had 0 goals and 3 assists in 7 games.

He was playing on the 4th line last year.

 

[Oberyn]

He was playing on the 4th line last year.

So if he was Canada's best player why was he stuck on the 4th line?

 

[Boonk]

So if he was Canada's best player why was he stuck on the 4th line?

Never said he was Canada's best player, don't put words in my mouth that I didn't say. I just said he was on the 4th line. Gee it sure wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that he was stuck on a fairly good Canadian offense composed of a strong 97 group huh?