WJC: Canada 2018 Roster Talk

[JackSlater]

I definitely disagree with your assessment on the puck over glass situation. If it's in your own end, that would be one thing (even then it would depend on the details of the situation, such as how much forecheck the player was under), but for the puck to go out at the far end of the rink, a hockey rarity if ever there was one, I would hardly call egregious.

As for the assertion that you were basing things on one game, that was just a hypothesis I was floating and I'll have to take your word for it that you were taking into account multiple games. I'm definitely not putting any faith in the fact that people in a GDT were all over him. People on forums tend to pick a scapegoat and spend their waking hours piling on. I certainly hope that people can give Jake Bean a clean slate and let him prove himself this year, but there are many that just won't let go of last year.

And finally, I'll weigh in on the goaltending split. It's just more evidence that the team is committed to Hart as being "the guy", though I'm not sure I would disagree with the assessment that we should ride the hottest goalie in the game right now.

I do wish that there was video of his penalty. It really was terrible. I don't see how it isn't much worse that he fired it over the opposite glass at the worst time, something that almost never happens, instead of just over the glass in his own zone. He had time and just fired it way, way too hard. As for Bean I am hoping for, but not expecting, a good performance. If he performs well then all is good. There are instances (Schenn for instance) of players drastically improving from one tournament to the next.

Bean reminds me of Dylan Olsen, who also deserves a mention of one of the d-men who didn't really deserve to be at the WJC.

True. Another problem that year was that Cowen was injured (yet still playing) so one pairing always had a liability.

Ryan Murphy (2013) and Joe Hicketts (2016) are the two defenceman that stick out to me as being in the conversation for the worst Canadian d-men that I've ever seen (at least, d-men that played big minutes and were heavily relied upon...I'm sure there have been others who played limited roles who were nominally "worse" players).

Not coincidentally, Murphy and Hicketts were coached by their junior coaches, Steve Spott and Dave Lowry, respectively.

I'm always going to be skeptical of coaches who take their own players. I hated how Hay handled Gallagher in 2012 too, but at least Hay is a proven coach.

 

[Dominance]

Can we stop talking about Hicketts now?

 

[canwincup]

They've been replaying Canada's games from last year on TSN, and my god was Bean a liability.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Dylan Olsen was definitely the worst D-man I've seen play for Canada. Hicketts and Murphy were pretty bad, and they were visible because of how much they played, but Olsen couldn't even keep up with the game at an even elementary level. If the puck was going towards him, the play was dead (or alive for the other team) almost immediately.

 

[Mr Hockey]

looking forward to watching Makar!

 

[John Agar]

Nice read by Mahura.... the cut....

Kyrou going to the post... text book....

 

[TheBeastCoast]

That shift by Makar was really impressive. Wow. I think this might be a long night for the Swiss.

 

[Wintersun]

Makar is insanely good. His hands, skating ability are out of this world, same with the speed with which he processes the game.

 

[John Agar]

I have made a GDT thread...

Perhaps anyone watching the game move over there so we may engage Swiss and other countries hockey fans....

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Mmm do you guys think they will pick fabbro even though he won't be 100% ? Let's face it , there is not way he is 100%. Same with timmens. One of them should be cut. Why bring in 2 guys that aren't 100%. Doesn't make sense to me

Mahura needs to be in this tema over one of the guys who isn't 100%

 

[hockeyanalyst99]

If you look at the Canadian Defense, Bean is the weakest defensively. Please review last tournament, at least the game vs USA, Bean was not good defensively and caused some goals which as scored by the Americans. He should be cut, defensive liability.

 

[lawrence]

If you look at the Canadian Defense, Bean is the weakest defensively. Please review last tournament, at least the game vs USA, Bean was not good defensively and caused some goals which as scored by the Americans. He should be cut, defensive liability.

things change in a year, and Bean has made his way onto the roster again right? he is one of the best the countries have to offer, and in general, Jake Bean regular play is anything but a liability.

 

[coolwood]

things change in a year, and Bean has made his way onto the roster again right? he is one of the best the countries have to offer, and in general, Jake Bean regular play is anything but a liability.

Is he improved? Maybe, he doesn't look like a total disaster, good in the offensive zone. As for making the team, he seems to have made this team from the moment he was born. I honestly believe a better defensman will be sent home because of his place in Hockey Canada royalty.

 

[JackSlater]

Mmm do you guys think they will pick fabbro even though he won't be 100% ? Let's face it , there is not way he is 100%. Same with timmens. One of them should be cut. Why bring in 2 guys that aren't 100%. Doesn't make sense to me

Mahura needs to be in this tema over one of the guys who isn't 100%

It depends where they're at, but TSN even noted during the second intermission that regardless of how Mahura looks, if those guys are healthy they are on the team and Mahura is gone. I have liked how Mahura has played and I'm not really interested in 80% of Fabbro or 90% of Timmins though.

If you look at the Canadian Defense, Bean is the weakest defensively. Please review last tournament, at least the game vs USA, Bean was not good defensively and caused some goals which as scored by the Americans. He should be cut, defensive liability.

Bean was a liability last year and he isn't going to be a defensive rock this year, but at least he's showing good offensive instincts in the offensive zone. If given the most favourable matchups and zone starts he might be fine. I wouldn't have picked him for this team but he's not going anywhere. These last two games have at least showed that Bean could have a positive impact if used well.

I will say that I don't remember Canada having better pre-tournament games than these last two. Outscoring Czech Republic and Switzerland 17-1 and outshooting Switzerland 61-7 is pretty good. Pre-season and the tournament are very different though. I really like that the team is playing Ducharme's system very well, as that kind of thing is sustainable. Mete and Makar look great with the puck and should largely remedy Canada's biggest weakness last year - cleanly leaving the defensive zone. Clague looks good with Makar. Katchouk and Comtois in particular are providing a very nice physical element. I'm content with how things look right now. The game with Finland should be a good one and may give the most insight into the team. I somewhat expect the outdoor game against USA to be a bit of a disjointed mess.

 

[Give and Go]

Hope your not a scout

Same to you

 

[Piestany88]

It depends where they're at, but TSN even noted during the second intermission that regardless of how Mahura looks, if those guys are healthy they are on the team and Mahura is gone. I have liked how Mahura has played and I'm not really interested in 80% of Fabbro or 90% of Timmins though.



Bean was a liability last year and he isn't going to be a defensive rock this year, but at least he's showing good offensive instincts in the offensive zone. If given the most favourable matchups and zone starts he might be fine. I wouldn't have picked him for this team but he's not going anywhere. These last two games have at least showed that Bean could have a positive impact if used well.

I will say that I don't remember Canada having better pre-tournament games than these last two. Outscoring Czech Republic and Switzerland 17-1 and outshooting Switzerland 61-7 is pretty good. Pre-season and the tournament are very different though. I really like that the team is playing Ducharme's system very well, as that kind of thing is sustainable. Mete and Makar look great with the puck and should largely remedy Canada's biggest weakness last year - cleanly leaving the defensive zone. Clague looks good with Makar. Katchouk and Comtois in particular are providing a very nice physical element. I'm content with how things look right now. The game with Finland should be a good one and may give the most insight into the team. I somewhat expect the outdoor game against USA to be a bit of a disjointed mess.

I like Mahura too and am not big on Timmins anyway. Mahura should definitely be on the team even over Foote

 

[carlhockey]

I like Mahura too and am not big on Timmins anyway. Mahura should definitely be on the team even over Foote

Foote will be very useful come penalty killing time

 

[Piestany88]

Foote will be very useful come penalty killing time

True , plus we need some size

 

[Get North]

Dube looks like the perfect fit for Steel and Kyrou. Adds that tenacity, physicality and goal scoring touch they need on that line. Steenbergen doesn't have that strength that Dube has yet. McLeod is really impressing me in his secondary scoring role, don't expect him to light it up, but he makes a lot of good players and looks significantly stronger on his skates than last year. He was so easy to push last year but this year he is strong. Him, Gadjovich and Batherson are creating a strong 3rd line that can maintain possession with the Comtois line.

It would be disappointing to see Mahura get cut again because he's playing so well. I feel confident in a defense without Fabbro because of the play of Makar and Mete. I didn't expect these 2 to be able to push the play like this, but they are doing better than Clague who was considered the #1. He's playing a safer role while Mete and Makar are pushing offensively. A defensive core of Clague, Makar, Mete, Fabbro, Mahura, Timmins, and Foote, is a good enough defensive core for me, all 6-7 are playing extremely well and having positive results when they are out there. Bean looks alright though, defensively I still don't feel safe with him and would rather have anybody else out there, but offensively he can find himself a role with his great shot.

 

[Statsy]

I was so impressed with that Canada game today that I just went back and rewatched it. The funny thing is that the Swiss only really got FOUR shots on goal. They were credited with two phantom shots in the first and the Eggenberger breakaway in the second actually went off the outside of the net. Seven was great, but four is even better!

 

[King Weber]

Makar is insanely good. His hands, skating ability are out of this world, same with the speed with which he processes the game.

Him and Girard on the Avs blueline will be a treat to watch.


Hope Fabbro gets healthy enough to play.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Very impressed with how this team plays. very impressed indeed. And here I thought this team would struggle scoring goals. It seems as though they may have found some magic sauce. I hope Fabbro is good to go, but damn, losing Mahura would suck. his name has a Hawaiian vibe to it, Mahura aloha.

I suppose Hockey Canada would never consider going with a 12-F 8-D team for a year. risky, but worth having that discussion over morning coffee.

 

[Back in Black]

Very impressed with how this team plays. very impressed indeed. And here I thought this team would struggle scoring goals. It seems as though they may have found some magic sauce.

They always do well in the pre-tournamnet games against weaker teams. The true test starts next week.

Hard to believe CANADA has only won 1 gold in the last 8 years. But I believe this is the year!

 

[1Gold Standard]

They always do well in the pre-tournamnet games against weaker teams. The true test starts next week.

Hard to believe CANADA has only won 1 gold in the last 8 years. But I believe this is the year!

Of course I prefer winning the tournament than losing it, but I'm more interested in the overarching developmental picture than just a 2 week snapshot of a 1 game winner take all - anything can happen type of format. just 2 short years ago I was all doom and gloom of our 98s as one of the worst years in a long long time, but now with the players that are there, plus a few that didn't garner invites to camp and those missing due to NHL commitments, my doom and gloom has moved on to thumps up. so, as long as we are competing for the gold medal (any Canadian team should) I'll be happy. play in GMGs and we'll win our fair share.

 

[bert]

Mmm do you guys think they will pick fabbro even though he won't be 100% ? Let's face it , there is not way he is 100%. Same with timmens. One of them should be cut. Why bring in 2 guys that aren't 100%. Doesn't make sense to me

Mahura needs to be in this tema over one of the guys who isn't 100%

Couldn't agree with this assessment anymore.