World Cup: Canada 4 Nations Tournament 2025 Roster Talk

[NordiquesForeva]

I like the idea of Hagel and Point with McDavid, at least try it. If not Hagel then Konecny or Bennett with McDavid. All 3 guys drive to the net and will fish for pucks and will go to the dirty areas. Something Marner refuses to do yet he's taken every shift with McDavid so far. Point has 97 goals in the last two seasons but yet he's been buried with the Tampa boys because of Coopers favouritism. Cooper really needs to put his favouritism aside because it's hurting the team at this point.

Cooper should have changed up all 4 lines by the 3rd period in last nights game but he only tried a couple minor changes. I think it's time to split up Crosby and MacKinnon. Yeah we all know that they want to play together but a shake up is needed and Canada needs to take advantage of their depth at centre. I think this hurt them against the USA last night. Coopers needs to use his bench a lot more and the top guys will be a bit more fresh later in the game. But he just kept rolling the top 6 out there as if they were just dominating with o-zone time.

Konecny should have never come out of the lineup, he was good against the Swedes in his limited ice time. I would scratch Marner but we all know that's not going to happen. They also need to stop being so cute with the overpassing and just get the puck towards the net and drive the net. Way too much passing on the PP. I think they miss a big booming shot from past Canadian teams. There's no Rob Blake or Pronger or Weber on this team who were able to direct 100+mph shots to the net.

Re-unite Crosby with Marchand because they have proven chemistry from the past. Have to go with what's worked before. But I bet my money that Reinhart-McDavid-Marner will remain together for tomorrow's game because Cooper loves Marner LOL. It's laughable at this point. Oh and Binnington will be back in net even though he's been below average.

Cooper did change the lines to start the 3rd period last night. First, he switched MacKinnon’s and McDavid’s pairs of wingers. Then midway thru the 3rd period he put Crosby and Point on McDavid’s wings, and Marner and Stone on MacKinnon’s wings. Those lines played a few shifts together before the goalie was pulled near the end of the game

 

[featherhawk]

Binington should be on a beach in Mexico, and not anywhere near this team. Such a horrible decision to leave Logan Thompson or Blackwood home. Egregious

or
Kuemper

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

or
Kuemper

...was hurt when they picked the team, iirc...

 

[featherhawk]

...was hurt when they picked the team, iirc...

yes I am aware

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Cooper did change the lines to start the 3rd period last night. First, he switched MacKinnon’s and McDavid’s pairs of wingers. Then midway thru the 3rd period he put Crosby and Point on McDavid’s wings, and Marner and Stone on MacKinnon’s wings. Those lines played a few shifts together before the goalie was pulled near the end of the game

I saw that but it's not big enough of a change. Cooper needs to move guys from the bottom two lines to the top two lines because they bring elements that the top 2 lines lack. And why was Marner out there on the 6 on 5 with a couple minutes remaining? He's the last guy I would have our there when the game is on the line. Again it just proves my point that Cooper loves Marner to death and will go down swinging with him out there. If we don't win tomorrow, blame Cooper for his poor choices.

 

[ManByng]

or
Kuemper

Thompson should have at least been added after what he's done this season ! Why not go with a hot goalie? And Binnington caught lightning in a bottle when the Blues won the cup with him but he's not a great goalie!

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I saw that but it's not big enough of a change. Cooper needs to move guys from the bottom two lines to the top two lines because they bring elements that the top 2 lines lack. And why was Marner out there on the 6 on 5 with a couple minutes remaining? He's the last guy I would have our there when the game is on the line. Again it just proves my point that Cooper loves Marner to death and will go down swinging with him out there. If we don't win tomorrow, blame Cooper for his poor choices.

I’m in favour of a wholesale lineup shuffle. But I think it’s positive that Cooper did elevate Point to the top-6 in the 3rd period, even if it was too little/too late.

 

[Curufinwe]

Is Harley allowed to play even if Makar is playing?

 

[MessierThanThou]

Thompson should have at least been added after what he's done this season ! Why not go with a hot goalie? And Binnington caught lightning in a bottle when the Blues won the cup with him but he's not a great goalie!

This has to be the first season in a while where three Canadian goalies are near the top of the league and yet none of them made the roster LOL

 

[Sethual]

I just wish Skinner made the team so he could have played last nights game, been shit and gotten pulled, and then we could trade his dumb ass to Vancouver for Demko cause Demko is always injured lol

 

[Nakawick]

Hagel McDavid Point seems to be what a lot of folks would like to see. Hagel being one of the few natural left shots and familiarity with Point and has good speed. Konecny and Jarvis should be given a shot with the other fast center.

For that matter, if keeping the Tampa guys together for familiarity makes sense, why not the Florida guys? Bennett Crosby Reinhart?

 

[Jabba11]

I don't care what happened yesterday. Team Canada lost because they didn't play to the best of their abilities.

The Tkachuks are frauds and always go against smaller players than them. If Brady was a true player, he'd fight Parayko. Sam Bennett is a beast, and a true Canadian. Hagel as well.

Crosby and the Canadians aren't dead yet. They have enough talent and experience to win this thing. One game at the time. Play CANADIAN F*KEN HOCKEY

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I'd bring Konecny in for Jarvis, and keep Bennett in the lineup.

Maybe even try him with McDavid honestly, feel like his forechecking ability could help out higher up the lineup. Leaving Hyman off the roster is looking awfully bad right now.

 

[rielledup]

I'm confused why people are just ok with Marchand being on this team and being named right away. Small slow old and way past his prime. Seems like a legacy pick and not based on merit

 

[centipede2233]

I’d put konecny in for Marchand. Slow ass Marchand against that USA team it’s too fast for him

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

I'm confused why people are just ok with Marchand being on this team and being named right away. Small slow old and way past his prime. Seems like a legacy pick and not based on merit

...No one was surprised with Marchand on the team; LEGACY picks are what Canada does...same with Doughty and HasBeenington...Marchand & Doughty will probably be on the Olympic team; not because they deserve to be, but because they were important parts once upon a time...Hell, if Jay Bouwmeester came out of retirement, he'd probably have a spot on the Roster...

 

[DavidLamb]

Top Canadian goalies by saving percentage 2024-25:

1. Logan Thompson 0.921
2. Darcy Kuemper 0.918
3. Mackenzie Blackwood 0,916
4. Jake Allen 0.910
5. Cam Talbot 0.905
6. Joel Hofer 0,903
7. Calvin Pickard 0.901
8. Adin Hill 0.900
9. Stuart Skinner 0.900
10. Sam Montembeault 0,897
11. Jordan Binnington 0,897

It's not like three goalies are the best in the nation, and just having a bad year either. All 3 are good/mediocre in their respective careers.

What does this tell us about management and the coaching staff!!

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

What does this tell us about management and the coaching staff!!

 

[MessierThanThou]

What does this tell us about management and the coaching staff!!

Top Canadian goalies by saving percentage 2024-25:

1. Logan Thompson 0.921
2. Darcy Kuemper 0.918
3. Mackenzie Blackwood 0,916
4. Jake Allen 0.910
5. Cam Talbot 0.905
6. Joel Hofer 0,903
7. Calvin Pickard 0.901
8. Adin Hill 0.900
9. Stuart Skinner 0.900
10. Sam Montembeault 0,897
11. Jordan Binnington 0,897

It's not like three goalies are the best in the nation, and just having a bad year either. All 3 are good/mediocre in their respective careers.

Here's how it looks with GSAx (min. 22 Games). Binnington is 29th, Thompson is 2nd. Blackwood is 9th.

1 . Logan Thompson - GSAx (2) - behind only Hellebuyck
2. Darcy Kuemper - GSAx (15)
3. Mackenzie Blackwood - GSAx (9)
4. Jake Allen - played less than 22 games
5. Cam Talbot - GSAx (18)
6. Joel Hofer - played less than 22 games
7. Calvin Pickard - played less than 22 games
8. Adin Hill - GSAx (19)
9. Stuart Skinner - GSAx (33)
10. Sam Montembeault - GSAx (20)
11. Jordan Binnngton - GSAx (29)

NHL Goalie Advanced Stats 2024-2025

NHL Goalie Analytics, Goals Saved Above Expected

moneypuck.com

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

Can someone explain the choice to include Montembeault? I get the Quebecois wanted representation but why in the form of one of the worst Canadian starting goalies in the league who had no chance to play.

 

[ClarkSittler]

I think leaving Scheifele, Wilson and Hyman off this roster might hurt us in the long run. All 3 would've been valuable last game. They go to the net and don't mind hanging around there. They would've been hard to manage for the American defense. Not to mention Wilson would've dummied one, if not both, of the Tkachuk brothers.
Not having Logan Thompson is dumb too.

 

[M21]

It isn’t really the roster that is the problem. Take away the hate for players on teams you don’t like and look at the style of play. The NHL allows obstruction/interference in the game to create parity for the less skilled teams and that has unfortunately ruined this tournament. The games have been awful and the skilled players have been neutered. The game needs a serious rethink as the entertainment value is just not there anymore.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Today is essentially a semifinal, I’m ripping up the lineup card from against the states and trying to get this relatively anemic team Canada to score, here’s what I’m going with:


Bennett-McDavid-MacKinnon


The team has gone moribund after the first 15 mins against Sweden, time to go nuclear and play this line 27 minutes a night. McDavid game 7 against the LA Kings 2022 (28:14) and MacKinnon games 5 and 6 (average 26:21) against Dallas in the bubble 2020? Those are the two versions of those players that need to turn up for Canada if they have any hope of winning the tournament.

Hagel-Point-Reinhart

Hagel and point rid themselves of the dead weight Cirelli looked like against the USA. Their speed will be key going forward. Reinhart is demoted from top line to hopefully take advantage of the speed that point generates to find space to shoot.

Marchand-Crosby-Stone

As much as possible, keep Sid on a line where he can handle the pace of the game. Him and MacKinnon have looked disjointed 5v5.

Jarvis(RH)-Cirelli-Marner

Marner is allowed to drive his own line and play in a defensive matchup role that won’t handcuff McDavid. Jarvis looked more defensively sound than Konecny did against Sweden when they were both in, so he gets to stay in the lineup over Konecny.


There’s been a lack of clarity as to whether Harley is allowed to play or not, but if he is, I would go with:


Toews-Makar

Obvious


Harley-Doughty

Save the one weird change I thought they played well against the states


Morrissey-Parayko

Good pairing against the USA apart from one idiotic rimmed breakout pass thay hit off the winger’s skate in the third that led to a quasi breakaway



Hill

Is much better suited to face the type of traffic Canada gives up versus Binnington


Do or die now

 

[McFlash97]

If Canada loses this tournament, the management which selected this team have to be relieved of thier duties immediately. In saying that. They have to come through with a poorly constructed roster. Don' t want to see a 2-1 Finland game. We need to see a dominant, in your face, overwhelming performance. Enough with the pathetic showing. Lets get going.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

If Canada loses this tournament, the management which selected this team have to be relieved of thier duties immediately. In saying that. They have to come through with a poorly constructed roster. Don' t want to see a 2-1 Finland game. We need to see a dominant, in your face, overwhelming performance. Enough with the pathetic showing. Lets get going.