World Cup: Canada 4 Nations Tournament 2025 Roster Talk

[ORRFForever]

Bedard isn't at this level yet imo. Schiefele and Hyman should be on the team.

Hyman because of his chemistry with McDavid, Schiefele because he is BIG and was on fire when they chose this team.

In HC's defense, Hyman was ICE cold when the team was selected.

 

[Deux de Coeurs]

Feels like we are out of combinations with the roster we have, and this shouldn't be the case.

Would be fun to have guys like Scheifele, Suzuki, Celebrini, Bedard and even Guenther who would be my dark horse pick for the Olympics next year.

I see Hagel clicking with McDavid and Point.. Then keep Stone with McKinnon and Crosby and hope for the best.

Cirelli has no business on this team. So frustrating.

Why is Scott Salmond still involved in player selection after the WJC fiasco?

 

[syz]

Hyman because of his chemistry with McDavid, Schiefele because he is BIG and was on fire when they chose this team.

In HC's defense, Hyman was ICE cold when the team was selected.

Yea I mentioned it earlier but I think Hyman might still make the team if they didn't have to submit their rosters so ridiculously early for some reason. He basically started scoring again as soon as the teams got announced.

The roster deadline for this was like having ASG voting 3 months before the game... like what's the point.

 

[ORRFForever]

He basically started scoring again as soon as the teams got announced.

Yup.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Bedard isn't at this level yet imo. Schiefele and Hyman should be on the team.

I’d have included Bedard. I think it’s important to expose him to this kind of talent so we can help to develop him for the future. More importantly though, his shot is incredible and we need goal scoring.

 

[HabzSauce]

Canada has a lot to learn from that game. Overall it was an even game for the most part, but neither team should be content with how they played. Binnington gave away a goal early when Canada should have been building momentum, but realistically with Canada's crap goaltending we may as well expect a bad one every game. Cooper finally started changing the lines around but it was too late. Also, this is the second time in a row that Cirelli and Hagel were out late in the third when Canada needed a goal - Cooper needs to recognize that he is not coaching Tampa Bay in the NHL. Lobbing shots from the point if McDavid or MacKinnon can't generate something isn't a great strategy, especially when Makar isn't there to take those shots.

I thought that the defence was generally good. Morrissey filled in nicely as the number one, Harley was exceptional given the context, and Doughty was very good given his health and age. Binnington is what he is and despite the weak first goal he was otherwise solid. The forwards were a problem. McDavid scored a nice one and was generally threatening, but his linemates throughout the game were not clicking. MacKinnon tried but was a non factor. Crosby stunk, worst game I've seen him play internationally. I thought that Stone was pretty good. I liked Bennett for the most part but Canada taking two checking lines is a waste.

I'll add that I think the Tkachuks and dummy Miller did Canada a favour by starting the game that way. Canada has more players who are likely to rise to the occasion in an emotional game, and we saw that Canada didn't generate much when the game cooled down. USA's defence was excellent and the depth guys were good, but it makes life a lot easier when Hughes, while very dynamic, is probably the weakest player I've ever seen at this level and Matthews, who had a good defensive game, is so non-dynamic that he's a non factor offensively. This was a winnable game for Canada and it is disappointing that they went out of their way to pick experienced players who have won before and those guys generally just went through the motions late in a close game.

Going forward Canada needs to mix things up, obviously. The format of this tournament hurts Canada as most events have more games to figure things out and Canada usually needs to throw things in the blender. Still, they need to experiment even in a must-win game against Finland. I can't pretend to even know what they need to do. I thought that Reinhart would be good with McDavid, but it isn't working so far. As most of us figured out before the tournament Marner and McDavid are not a match. Maybe Point with McDavid as someone who can skate with him and shoot the puck too. If he is healthy, Konecny should draw back in. Canada needs some offence and he's a better scorer than Hagel, regardless of Cooper's comfort level. I don't know if this is allowable but Harley should stay on the team even if Makar comes back. I don't think that the defence needs much tweaking and the goaltending issue has no solution given that none of the goaltenders are great, so it needs to be the forwards.

I'd like Canada to win this event but clearly there needs to be improvement. There is some time but not much. Likewise, the moment this tournament ends the brain trust of the 2026 Olympic team needs to start planning for how to pick a cohesive and effective group of forwards for 2026.

What about

Marchand - Sid - Mack
Konecny - McDavid - Stone
Reinhart - Bennett - Jarvis
Hagel - Cirelli - Point

Aiden Hill

 

[Steazy Doo]

Feels like we are out of combinations with the roster we have, and this shouldn't be the case.

Would be fun to have guys like Scheifele, Suzuki, Celebrini, Bedard and even Guenther who would be my dark horse pick for the Olympics next year.

I see Hagel clicking with McDavid and Point.. Then keep Stone with McKinnon and Crosby and hope for the best.

Cirelli has no business on this team. So frustrating.

Why is Scott Salmond still involved in player selection after the WJC fiasco?

Suzuki has no business either

 

[syz]

Reinhart has been the least effective forward so far. Invisible and playing with no jam or hustle.

I thought Bennett played well enough to dress for the Finland game. Konecny should dress as well. I’d scratch Cirelli, who is what he is but accomplished less than Bennett with significantly more ice time.

Moreso than Hyman or Scheifele, I think Wilson would have been a huge asset to this team. Wouldn’t have thought so a few months ago, but I see it now.

My only thing with Wilson is that I think HC is at least in part using this as an audition for Italy, and there's zero chance they bring Tom Wilson to an IIHF officiated event.

He'd work at this tournament in particular but they'd never pick him for the Olympics.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Suzuki has no business either

That’s overstating things. He’d be perfectly in place in that team. Good two way play, killer shot, plays center. What’s not to like?

That being said, he’s not essential either. He’s one of those guys who’s on the margin. Wouldn’t have surprised me if he made it, wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...what about taking the best players...not the coach's pet (Cirelli)...not the tenured guys (Doughty, Binnington)...Canada's best players...period...

 

[Mathieukferland]

It just feels like Hockey Canada is constantly chasing the high of 2014 when the reality is that team was a unicorn

Dreger mentioned on overdrive a few months ago that the management team though 2010 was too loose a team, and 2014 is viewed as the gold standard within hockey canada. I have defended the roster selection, and I don’t think this team was stupidly picked as the WJC team, but maybe it’s time for a whole philosophical real build that puts speed and skill at the forefront. That being said, Canada has by far the best performing forwards in the NHL, so maybe it is a coaching issue rather than a talent one

 

[Divine]

Dreger mentioned on overdrive a few months ago that the management team though 2010 was too loose a team, and 2014 is viewed as the gold standard within hockey canada. I have defended the roster selection, and I don’t think this team was stupidly picked as the WJC team, but maybe it’s time for a whole philosophical real build that puts speed and skill at the forefront. That being said, Canada has by far the best performing forwards in the NHL, so maybe it is a coaching issue rather than a talent one

It's a goaltending issue.

When your goalie allows goals on shots he's supposed to start, no one wants to stray too far away from the net which neuters the offence.

Canada doesn't even need elite goaltending. Just stop the shots that you're supposed to and allow the difficult ones. When you allow shots you're supposed to stop, the team doesn't trust you and plays defence first at the cost of their offence.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Dreger mentioned on overdrive a few months ago that the management team though 2010 was too loose a team, and 2014 is viewed as the gold standard within hockey canada. I have defended the roster selection, and I don’t think this team was stupidly picked as the WJC team, but maybe it’s time for a whole philosophical real build that puts speed and skill at the forefront. That being said, Canada has by far the best performing forwards in the NHL, so maybe it is a coaching issue rather than a talent one

People forget this but the 2014 team had problems scoring. The game against Latvia was even a bit of a nailbiter. It was amazing defensively and we had Carey Price who was the best player in the tournament but our scoring wasn’t all that strong.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Suzuki has no business either

I’d love to hear this argument. Why and who is he worse than other than the obvious ones?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It's a goaltending issue.

When your goalie allows goals on shots he's supposed to start, no one wants to stray too far away from the net which neuters the offence.

Canada doesn't even need elite goaltending. Just stop the shots that you're supposed to and allow the difficult ones. When you allow shots you're supposed to stop, the team doesn't trust you and plays defence first at the cost of their offence.

Yeah. Three softies in two games ain’t going to take you far.

Goaltending doesn’t matter - until you don’t have it. It’s the most important position in the game, especially a tournament like this. You have multiple forwards and blueliners but only one goalie in net. He can make or break you. As good as the US was tonight goaltending was the difference.

 

[ORRFForever]

Beat Finland, who should be coming down a but after their win against Sweden, and we get a 2nd chance at the U.S..

This game was completely EVEN. It could have gone either way.

Let's see how the tournament plays out.

 

[Divine]

Beat Finland, who should be coming down a but after their win against Sweden, and we get a 2nd chance at the U.S..

This game was completely EVEN. It could have gone either way.

Let's see how the tournament plays out.

It wasn't even statistically. The scoring chances favoured Canada. The goals favoured Canada.

Do you trust Binnington in another game against Helly?

Put Hill in net and we likely win this game.

 

[Nucker101]

the Tampa whining makes no sense, Point/Hagel/Cirelli were 3 of our most effective forwards lol

If anything I want to see Point and Hagel especially to continue to get big minutes.

Marchand was dreadful, he didn't even try to stir the pot much either.

 

[SnapVirus]

Scheifele - McDavid - Bennett
Marner - Mackinnon - Wilson
Point - Crosby - Suzuki
Hagel - Reinhart - Stone
Koneckny

Makar - Toews
Bouchard - Harley
Morrissey - Theodore
Parayko

Thompson
Hill

 

[ORRFForever]

It wasn't even statistically. The scoring chances favoured Canada. The goals favoured Canada.

Do you trust Binnington in another game against Helly?

Put Hill in net and we likely win this game.

Tonight's game does not matter. Beat Finland on Monday and play their hearts out on Thursday against the U.S..

 

[centipede2233]

Lines won’t matter if cooper continues to hitch his wagon to binnington

 

[majormajor]

I’d have included Bedard. I think it’s important to expose him to this kind of talent so we can help to develop him for the future. More importantly though, his shot is incredible and we need goal scoring.

Buddy only has 16 goals right now, playing against much worse goalies than Hellebuyck and much worse defenses than Team USA.

What about

Marchand - Sid - Mack
Konecny - McDavid - Stone
Reinhart - Bennett - Jarvis
Hagel - Cirelli - Point

Aiden Hill

I love the Donair Line. The Americans have the chemistry from playing more as a group - well Canada has three guys who play every offseason together, they might as well go with it.

Reinhart can do so much of the netfront work and board work that Hyman does, he seems like the right guy to put with McDavid, they just need to figure it out in time. I would not put Konecny there.

 

[red devil]

If they can't find a player that has chemistry with McDavid in the next game or 2 (if they make the finals), I can't see Hyman not being on the Olympic team

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Still don’t understand why Sean Monahan and Mark Scheifele are sitting at home while Sean Bennett and Brad Marchand have roster spots. I can at least somewhat understand Marchand, but going with Bennett over Monahan/Scheifele is just straight up moronic - 1 of many moronic choices we made this year.

 

[JackSlater]

What about

Marchand - Sid - Mack
Konecny - McDavid - Stone
Reinhart - Bennett - Jarvis
Hagel - Cirelli - Point

Aiden Hill

I wouldn't drop Marner. He is not ideal and I don't think he would make a team Canada during strong times, but they can probably use him right now. He just shouldn't be with McDavid. A bit of a strange thing, which was commented on when the team was picked, is that Canada took an excessive amount of right handed forward options. I'd drop Hagel, assuming Konecny is healthier, and let Marner be the main creator on one of the defensive lines. Konecny is in to bring energy and also brings more skill than Hagel can. Marchand can be effective but not playing heavy minutes. I'd put Point with McDavid, leave MacKinnon's line from game 1 alone and hope they can work it out. We are probably stuck with Bennett and Cirelli as two of the centres so might as well try to make the most of it.