Kudo Shinichi
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- Apr 20, 2012
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It probably has to do with lafreniere being eligible to play for the next few years, while for others its their last chance
WJC: Canada 2019 Roster Talk Part 2
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Kudo Shinichi
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Hockey Stick
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Lafreniere is built differently than other 16-17 year olds. He is really strong for his age, he likes the physical side of the game, good size and he's a goal scorer. I don't think he will struggle at this tournament, but he is still a slow skater compared to guys like Anderson-Dolan, Veleno, and Studnicka.
Hockey Stick
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This isn't the time for a 'respect' move like that, so I really hope that's not the case. The kid needs to at least get his feet wet in this years tournament if they plan on him being their leader next year, because once he's drafted, I can't see him coming back to a junior tournament
newfy
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Really bad of me to say this but I'm alost hoping for one of those 2 to stay injured. Dont know if healthy Vilardi would bring more offense than Lafreniere, but to bring a guy that hasnt played in 6 months and is a risk to reinjure himself over him seems pretty wild. JAD definitely wouldnt bring the same offense but his injury is less risky. Its a classic hockey Canada trying to be the smartest people in the room. Bring Phillips, cut Lafreniere over wingers like Entwhistle or Studnicka.
Sometimes they dont make any sense
newfy
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Dont like Phillips with Bouchard. I get that they want a defensive guy with him but hes not going to help Bouchard out offensively at all. I think McIsaac could handle the defensive stuff on that pairing while not being a black hole offensively. I dont mind Smith Mitchell though that seems like a well rounded pairing, same with Dobson Brook
I think Smith-Mitchell is the 2nd pairing. Or at least I hope so. Smith, Dobson, and Mitchell are the best all-around defenders for Canada IMO. Bouchard is a stud offensively, but his mobility is a question mark for me at this tournament. Might not affect him in the NHL, but against guys like Hughes, Necas, Zadina, Tolvanen, I would much rather have those mobile two-way guys.
CantLoseWithMatthews
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I hope it's not the coach playing favourites. Smith should really be in that spot
Canada4Gold
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Its strange but from what i have seen of Brook he is legit and easily a top-4 defender on Team Canada. I just didn't realize he was versatile to play the left side on the top pairing.
Just a guess the staff doesn't look at it like pair 1,2 and 3 and more like top defensive pair
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Entwistle is in his final junior season and he isn't even 1PPG. Wasn't last season either. He's as marginal of a prospect as it gets that you will see close to making a Canadian WJC team.
What is the reason why he helps Canada more than Lafreniere does? Why wouldn't you bring your best hockey players to this tournament?
What is the reason why he helps Canada more than Lafreniere does? Why wouldn't you bring your best hockey players to this tournament?
LeafChief
Matthew Knies Enthusiast
I'd honestly like to know as well.
I can't say I've seen Entwhistle play (I have seen Lafreniere play live). What are Entwhistle's redeeming qualities that have him still around in this camp?
Jason MacIsaac
Registered User
It's Hunter being a hard nosed coach overrating grit. I haven't seen this storyline before. Lafreniere is a game breaker you want on a roster.
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TheBeastCoast
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JackSlater
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I think it's easy enough to see why Entwistle is there. He's a good defensive player with size on the wing. He's played for Canada before. I don't think he should be there over some of the available players (admittedly he did look solid in the super series and the USports games) but those are the likely reasons. If they are looking at a Bowers Entwistle line then we can surmise that the team is going to have one line that is pretty much a purely defensive line. Perhaps Hunter assumes that the team already has enough offence throughout the lineup. I don't like the decision as I've seen far more Canadian junior teams that lack that one extra elite scorer than teams that lack that one extra gritty defensive winger.
For the sake of argument with Lafrenière, Veleno and Vilardi, it looks like Canada picked all the top offensive players depth wise.
3 scoring lines and a checking/defensive line looks like the set-up for this forward group regardless of who is cut. Usually we see a big, physical 4th line like Comtois/Howden/Batherson/Gadjovich or Ritchie/Gauthier/Crouse. This year it looks more of a quicker skating, defensive 4th line like Studnicka/Bowers/Entwhistle/Veleno
JackSlater
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Not really if Lafreniere is the player likely to be cut (and if not him, one of Vilardi or Anderson-Dolan) while Bowers or Entwistle is already locked in. If it were a choice between Lafreniere or Entwistle I doubt that it's a decision on which the championship hinges, but I know that I would rather the elite talent given the other pieces on the team. The same logic applies to the Phillips pick to a lesser degree.
So the 2 top defenseman imo aren't even on the top pairing, weird.
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