I would say a solid chance, but if he makes it he’ll be playing on a fourth line role where his speed can be utilized. Similar to Formenton last season I’d think.
WJC: Canada 2019 Roster Talk
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If I was making the roster (you all will be glad I'm not...)
Comtois - Vilardi - Leason
Formenton - Glass - Tippett
Lafreniere - Suzuki - Studnicka
Ratcliffe - Hayton - Lavoie
Foudy
Joseph-Bouchard
Smith-Dobson
McIsaac-Brook
Bernard-Docker
Scott
Dipietro
Comtois - Vilardi - Leason
Formenton - Glass - Tippett
Lafreniere - Suzuki - Studnicka
Ratcliffe - Hayton - Lavoie
Foudy
Joseph-Bouchard
Smith-Dobson
McIsaac-Brook
Bernard-Docker
Scott
Dipietro
CheckingLineCenter
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- Aug 10, 2018
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TheBeastCoast
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I would put it at a very slim chance right now....but who knows he could steal one I suppose. I am a fan of the player though just don't really see him slotting in this year.
newfy
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- Jul 28, 2010
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Yeah I dont even like his chances at stealing one. Hes not going to play on the PP over a lot of the guys ahead of him and thats the only role I could see him stealing a spot as.
Half Clapper
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- Dec 1, 2017
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TheBeastCoast
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There are a lot of really good players. Not many spots open in the forward group really.
biturbo19
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- Jul 13, 2010
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I don't think it's remotely surprising that Merkley didn't get an invite. There was no chance they're taking him. He may generate points, but he's a volatile potential liability that they just don't need to mess around with. With Bouchard and Smith both elite PPQBs in their own right, so there's no room for a "PP specialist", which is all Merkley would be on this team. Also a team overflowing with RHD options where you're only gonna take 3 or maybe 4 (Bouchard, Dobson, Brook, Mitchell, Bernard-Docker). Merkley just brings too much risk in his careless/reckless/lazy defensive lapses and puck management, and he's got a temper that can flare up and lead to bad penalties too. He's got a reputation as tough to coach for a reason, and it's just not a headache a team with a stacked defense needs to deal with.
This one did surprise me a little bit. Didn't think he'd actually make the team, especially with Comtois and Vilardi back in the mix. But i thought he'd at least get thrown an invite. I guess they've already got a handful of "playmaker" inclined guys ahead of him and are looking for more of a shooter.
I actually kinda think pairing Smith and Bouchard together seems like a bit of a waste. They're both pretty much a 1-man-breakout. Phenomenal outlet passers, and both pretty dynamic jumping into the play offensively too. I'd much rather see them "spread the wealth" and pair each of them with a steady, less dynamic partner who can just sorta mind the home front and let Smith and Bouchard have some extra run. Like say, Smith+Brook/Dobson, and Joseph/McIsaac with Bouchard. Gives you two big minute pairings that can completely tilt the ice, instead of one overloaded pairing.
biturbo19
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- Jul 13, 2010
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Unless something changes, right now i'd probably take a team that looks like this:
Formenton-Glass-Suzuki
Lafreniere-Hayton-Vilardi
Comtois-Veleno-Tippett
Bowers-Studnicka-Dellandrea
*Frost
Smith-Brook
Joseph-Bouchard
McIsaac-Dobson
*Beaudin
DiPietro/Scott
Forwards:
Not the "sexiest" choices for a 4th line, but guys who can play a role and contribute in lesser minutes are important. Plus, they can all still get around and chip in plenty offensively, so it's not a Gauthier situation or anything. I could see an argument for Foudy with his speed, or Ratcliffe with his size over Bowers and wouldn't fuss much about it, but Bowers is my (slight) preference.
I think Formenton is worth a look riding shotgun with Glass-Suzuki, where he could bring a really direct north-south goal-scorer element to a pair of more creative guys. Which frees up Lafreniere to play with a pair of guys who can really cycle the puck around and set him up. And a third scoring line with some potential Comtois-Veleno chemistry, and Tippett can sorta do his quick-strike opportunistic one-man-army thing there without disrupting either of the top-2 lines.
Frost seems like a great spare in the same mold as Point back in the day, who can slide into a bunch of different spots in the Top-9 and find chemistry as injuries happen or if something just isn't clicking. Just like the idea of having an extra high-skill player in reserve, because it feels like they always end up needing one for some reason or another.
I'd take Anderson-Dolan if i were confident that he's going to be 100% healthy and ready to go, but i'm skeptical on that and wouldn't want to burn a spot on a guy that may have a ton of rust and may not be totally up to speed when there are plenty of other reasonable options available.
Defence:
I'd split the pairings 3 ways basically. Smith and Brook as a bit of a big minute puck-moving matchup pairing, and Joseph there as a really steady mobile partner who can give Bouchard a bit of extra leeway to jump in offensively. Then McIsaac and Dobson as a 3rd pairing that you shouldn't have to worry about in any matchups if you get caught out. Three pairings that should all be able to tilt the ice consistently.
The extra D spot is a tough one. I'd want to take Mitchell or Bernard-Docker in a vacuum...but i'm disinclined to take 4 RHD, especially with how strong Bouchard/Dobson/Brook would be. Would just hate to run into a situation where you have to play a RH shot on their off side, whereas i wouldn't flinch at say, Ty Smith playing RD if he had to. So i'd probably take Beaudin, as my favourite of the LH shooters and be pretty happy with that. Could be useful as a guy to slot in with Dobson if you fall behind and need just a little bit more push offensively from the back end too.
Kinda put off by just how many RHD they have in camp actually. Including a wildcard like Crotty. 5LHD to 7RHD seems like an odd balance, though they haven't exactly left out any notable LHD either. Makes me wonder if they are just going to take 4RHD, or if someone like Brook or Dobson isn't as much a lock as i'd expect. Or maybe that's just how the best players worked out.
I think the goaltending is pretty well a set duo. Just a matter of sorting out who emerges as the starter. Either one should be good enough to get the job done.
This feels like a pretty strong team to me. Barring some weird selections, terrible coaching, or some other sort of unpredictable wildness...this is a team that should do very well and challenge for Gold. Never really know in a short tournament that can have funky chemistry problems, wild emotional momentum swings and stuff, but the roster has a lot of potential imo.
Formenton-Glass-Suzuki
Lafreniere-Hayton-Vilardi
Comtois-Veleno-Tippett
Bowers-Studnicka-Dellandrea
*Frost
Smith-Brook
Joseph-Bouchard
McIsaac-Dobson
*Beaudin
DiPietro/Scott
Forwards:
Not the "sexiest" choices for a 4th line, but guys who can play a role and contribute in lesser minutes are important. Plus, they can all still get around and chip in plenty offensively, so it's not a Gauthier situation or anything. I could see an argument for Foudy with his speed, or Ratcliffe with his size over Bowers and wouldn't fuss much about it, but Bowers is my (slight) preference.
I think Formenton is worth a look riding shotgun with Glass-Suzuki, where he could bring a really direct north-south goal-scorer element to a pair of more creative guys. Which frees up Lafreniere to play with a pair of guys who can really cycle the puck around and set him up. And a third scoring line with some potential Comtois-Veleno chemistry, and Tippett can sorta do his quick-strike opportunistic one-man-army thing there without disrupting either of the top-2 lines.
Frost seems like a great spare in the same mold as Point back in the day, who can slide into a bunch of different spots in the Top-9 and find chemistry as injuries happen or if something just isn't clicking. Just like the idea of having an extra high-skill player in reserve, because it feels like they always end up needing one for some reason or another.
I'd take Anderson-Dolan if i were confident that he's going to be 100% healthy and ready to go, but i'm skeptical on that and wouldn't want to burn a spot on a guy that may have a ton of rust and may not be totally up to speed when there are plenty of other reasonable options available.
Defence:
I'd split the pairings 3 ways basically. Smith and Brook as a bit of a big minute puck-moving matchup pairing, and Joseph there as a really steady mobile partner who can give Bouchard a bit of extra leeway to jump in offensively. Then McIsaac and Dobson as a 3rd pairing that you shouldn't have to worry about in any matchups if you get caught out. Three pairings that should all be able to tilt the ice consistently.
The extra D spot is a tough one. I'd want to take Mitchell or Bernard-Docker in a vacuum...but i'm disinclined to take 4 RHD, especially with how strong Bouchard/Dobson/Brook would be. Would just hate to run into a situation where you have to play a RH shot on their off side, whereas i wouldn't flinch at say, Ty Smith playing RD if he had to. So i'd probably take Beaudin, as my favourite of the LH shooters and be pretty happy with that. Could be useful as a guy to slot in with Dobson if you fall behind and need just a little bit more push offensively from the back end too.
Kinda put off by just how many RHD they have in camp actually. Including a wildcard like Crotty. 5LHD to 7RHD seems like an odd balance, though they haven't exactly left out any notable LHD either. Makes me wonder if they are just going to take 4RHD, or if someone like Brook or Dobson isn't as much a lock as i'd expect. Or maybe that's just how the best players worked out.
I think the goaltending is pretty well a set duo. Just a matter of sorting out who emerges as the starter. Either one should be good enough to get the job done.
This feels like a pretty strong team to me. Barring some weird selections, terrible coaching, or some other sort of unpredictable wildness...this is a team that should do very well and challenge for Gold. Never really know in a short tournament that can have funky chemistry problems, wild emotional momentum swings and stuff, but the roster has a lot of potential imo.
- Aug 21, 2016
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McIsaac was one of the worst defensemen at the super serie, I highly doubt he makes the team...
- Aug 21, 2016
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I think so, I liked him much better than McIsaac at the super serie and the left side is really weak compared to the right side, I wouldnt be surprised if they use a righty on the left side...
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
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Well thought out and written post. But in this writer's opinion the team you propose does not make the medal round. By omitting several of the fastest skaters available you are materially lowering the overall speed median of the strongest potential part of the team, the forwards. The team you propose will spend most of the tournament chasing the play rather than initiating it. It will not allow the team to play the high tempo style Hockey Canada is seeking and the team needs when playing against the U.S., the Russians, etc. Your team will definitely be caught slow. Even if we send the 'best' team possible, with the rather pedestrian defence we have available, it will be challenge for us to repeat. To in any way limit the striking speed of our forwards will make that challenge an impossibility.
Last edited:
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
jj cale
Registered User
This team needs Nova Scotia love, Shane Bowers...............step on up.
biturbo19
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- Jul 13, 2010
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I'm a bit curious, other than Foudy and maybe Anderson-Dolan (left off because injury/rust could slow him down), who are the real burner forwards from camp i've left off? A guy like Vilardi certainly brings the speed quotient well down, but as long as he's available, i can't see any way they don't take him. It is still a hockey tournament, not a speed skating relay after all.
I actually kinda see this defence corps as a potential strength of this team, with a lot of ability to push the puck up ice and "play fast". Initiating the play, rather than chasing tends to start with the defence, and there are potentially quite a few strong puck-movers in this group. They can all skate too...aside from Bouchard, who generally gets around it with great outlet passing that helps the forwards attack with speed anyway.
Gold Standard
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- Sep 7, 2018
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I'm a bit curious, other than Foudy and maybe Anderson-Dolan (left off because injury/rust could slow him down), who are the real burner forwards from camp i've left off? A guy like Vilardi certainly brings the speed quotient well down, but as long as he's available, i can't see any way they don't take him. It is still a hockey tournament, not a speed skating relay after all.
I actually kinda see this defence corps as a potential strength of this team, with a lot of ability to push the puck up ice and "play fast". Initiating the play, rather than chasing tends to start with the defence, and there are potentially quite a few strong puck-movers in this group. They can all skate too...aside from Bouchard, who generally gets around it with great outlet passing that helps the forwards attack with speed anyway.
your take is the correct one. ideally you'd like all to be high IQ speedsters who can play and process the game up-tempo, unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world. You take the high IQ player over the speedster dumb dumb, think Mark Stone > Evander Kane.
A Few Good Males
Registered User
I'm a Detroit guy so I like seeing people project Veleno in the top-9, but why do you think Frost will be the extra and not a regular in the lineup? Admittedly, I haven't seen him play live, just know that he was second in the O in scoring last year and Philly fans think he's better than everyone else does. I know the Soo was great last year which probably inflated his numbers, but still, I figured he would be a top-six guy on this team.
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
So medal rounds game will now be 3v3 in overtime....Who thought deciding a gold medal with 3v3 would be a good idea? Seriously...
Edit: Looks like this isn't in place this year and is starting at the WHC for the first time.
Edit: Looks like this isn't in place this year and is starting at the WHC for the first time.
newfy
Registered User
- Jul 28, 2010
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Really? I dont think he stood out good or bad against Russia he was steady, but I think in that series a lot of players didnt look great. McIsaac looked like a good PKer with a physical edge which is what the defense is missing with basically everyone else invited. He was one of the best in the summer and has had a great start in the Q. I would put his odds of making the top 7 higher than not making the team at all.
This offseason I really thought Bowers would have a big year this year but being an NCAA guy on top of a really slow start offensively makes me wonder if he'll make it. I think he would be competing with guys like Veleno, Dellandrea and Studnicka for a bottom 6 center spot. After the u18 Dellandrea had, the start to the year Veleno has had and the camp Studnicka had I would put Bowers behind all those guys now.
I think he needs a really good camp to turn it around and he could definitely still make it, but I would give the edge to some of the other players over him
BKarchitect
Registered User
Seems like it comes down to camp for Bowers. I don't think a lukewarm statistical start to his college season really impacts his ability to be an effective bottom-six player for TC but there's nothing to indicate he would have any sort of inside track in a crowded field either. OTOH, Mitchell's been fantastic and while I know Bouchard/Dobson is a serious roadblock to all other RHDs trying to make the squad, I'd hope he gets a good shot.
BKarchitect
Registered User
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