Canadian NTDP

[Harbessix]

I’m sure this has been brought up before but would it make sense for Hockey Canada to follow USA hockey’s lead and start up a national team development program? They could play their games against CHL teams as well as CIS teams, similar to the USNTDP playing vs the USHL and NCAA. That way the U17, U18 and U20 teams ect. would consistently have a lot of that built in chemistry from having players whom have played together for several years. Just a random thought.

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[yessir29292]

This would help with u18 u20 tournaments, no doubt. I don’t believe it’s best for players individual development, though.

Also, no chance it happens, CHL teams are all huge businesses who will not allow this.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I simply think you would end up with more players left off for political reasons than you do now. I don’t think it is even remotely the answer to whatever problems they have at the moment.

 

[SI90]

It’s all about developing the American talent and getting them to college and some pro. It started because the USHL isn’t as talented or as big as the Canadian Hockey League teams.

If your idea is to make the development team just in the name of “chemistry” for international tournaments I think that’s the wrong idea.

Also, while most the American kids have played together at some point, the majority who make the World Juniors are in college programs spread out so they haven’t played together since summer camp like the other teams.

 

[JackSlater]

No way it would happen and it would not be a positive. USA made that program because the talent level was low and players were spread out, which isn't the issue in Canada and is not the issue in USA anymore either. Canada doesn't need elite players playing depth roles on a national team all year, the CHL doesn't need to lose a lot of its best talent, and we all don't need to read the hysteria about which players do or do not get selected for that program were Canada to implement it.

I do think that Hockey Canada could incorporate more summer development opportunities for players of the same age group.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Canada produces more first round talent (and by far in most years I might add) than any other country because of the depth of their domestic league. You have so many individuals that have tasked with being "the guy" on their junior team, and this heavy reliance and pressure that this comes with is the best environment to develop in to be ready for the strains of the NHL. An NTDP would undo this. Just look at the top playoff scorers year after year and how well players have played in the CHL do versus NTDP players.

The issue with WJC performance won’t be solved with an NTDP. It will be solved by having a transparent system for hiring managers and coaches. The management set the player up to fail because of their flawed philosophy this year. There was plenty of talent available, more than any other country.


I would be fine if the reigning Memorial Cup champion’s coach and GM were automatically named WJC coach and GM, this is a good way to I still a merit based system to have the best people in place.


To summarize, an NTDP is not the right answer to this and will have a negative effect if anything on producing the continual levels of depth that Canada does

 

[1989]

Even though I've been a general proponent of a CNTDP, the truth is that it wouldn't happen and it doesn't really solve the issue.

The issues that Canada faces stem from a lack of extended camp programs. IMO what they need to do is implement/re-implement the following:

1. More development camps with longer tryout periods;
2. Soft term limits for team staff, especially coach or GM duties, to help rotate and bring in fresh faces;
3. Tryouts, not pure invitational system - increases transparency and motivation to succeed, may allow for some dark horse success, and further prepares junior players competing for NHL success.

Logistically I believe all three above points are achievable by Hockey Canada moreso than the development of any NTDP system and it would improve the flexibility, analysis and complexity of building skilled, compatible teams for the purpose of winning short best-on-best tournaments.

Canada doesn't lack talents, it lacks organization of said talents. It's like buying the best four racehorses in the world, hitching them to a chuckwagon and expecting that they'll be just as fast when the horses are used to running on their own with a single jockey when what they need is training to be under harness and pulling together.

 

[Drake1588]

With the NCAA rules changes coming, expected to result in some high-end players leaving Canada for the US college route, the last thing they're about to do is take more stars out of the CHL. So that's very unlikely. The USNTDP was designed to address a dearth of elite players in the US; this is a problem that Canada doesn't have, at all.

For the purposes of tourneys like this one, which has become a revenue cash cow, Hockey Canada needs to overhaul its player and head coach selection/management system. They left too many skilled players at home in favor of role players (and consequently Canada can't score). The tourney has seen odd coaching decisions made by a HC whose selection behind the bench confused a great many people. There's a certain amount of second guessing every year, of course, but this year it seems to have more merit.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Canada could play exhibtion games during international breaks like the european nations do to get the chemistry.

 

[SK94]

I don't really see in any value in this. Rather, the USA has grown out of NTDP than Canada should build a similar system. I'm starting to be in favor that USA Hockey's focus should be on the continuous development of the USHL instead of putting more money into the NTDP every year than is necessary. Player production is no longer tied to NTDP.