World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[therealdeal]

Yeah Bedard hasn’t been good. Could be a Chicago problem, but he’s not helping to win games or making that team any better.

We can’t just give spots away on this team, this team will be fine without him.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah Bedard hasn’t been good. Could be a Chicago problem, but he’s not helping to win games or making that team any better.

We can’t just give spots away on this team, this team will be fine without him.

Who is the 13th best Canadian forward though, and is he good enough to force his way onto this team? This version of Canada isn't deep enough to cut Yzerman or Savard or Oates or Giroux or Stamkos and St. Louis or whoever else Canada has cut in the past, those guys just aren't there for depth roles. Bedard isn't blowing people away but he is on a putrid team and remains Canada's best young forward. Canada can benefit in 2026 from getting him some reps here and at the 2025 iihf world championship to. It's important to have an eye toward 2026 and not just this event.

I will be very surprised if Hockey Canada doesn't bring him.

 

[therealdeal]

I think we’re crazy deep at forward.

Who is the 13th best Canadian forward though, and is he good enough to force his way onto this team? This version of Canada isn't deep enough to cut Yzerman or Savard or Oates or Giroux or Stamkos and St. Louis or whoever else Canada has cut in the past, those guys just aren't there for depth roles. Bedard isn't blowing people away but he is on a putrid team and remains Canada's best young forward. Canada can benefit in 2026 from getting him some reps here and at the 2025 iihf world championship to. It's important to have an eye toward 2026 and not just this event.

I will be very surprised if Hockey Canada doesn't bring him.

I would be surprised as well, but I think there are probably like 30 Canadian forwards who will help you win hockey games ahead of Bedard (at this point in his career).

BTW, I ain’t a hater of the kid, I’m waiting eagerly for him to turn it around Lafreniere style, and I think he will. Just seems a bit lost out there is all.

 

[Eye of Ra]

How about a classic checking unit for 4th line? Hyman - Bennett - Wilson

 

[gassoff]

At this moment, without the injured players like, Doughty, Thomas, Barzal, this is my team Canada:

hyman - mcdavid -reinhart
konecny- point - marner
marchand - crosby - mackinnnon
hagel - o'reilley - wilson
laferniere


toews - makar
morrissey - dobson
theodore - pietrangelo
weegar

binnington, hill, fleury

 

[Suntouchable13]

Can we give Helle Canadian citizenship and start him in goal?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Can we give Helle Canadian citizenship and start him in goal?

No, but you may be able to snag Joey Daccord. I believe he has Canadian citizenship. I think he was leaning towards the Swiss but may be a free agent.

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

Yeah at least for the Olympics teams run a summer camp and historically the Canada/World Cup as well. This tournament occupies a weird space, in my opinion anyway. Sort of an upjumped all star game/tournament.... maybe more though. It's hard to know. The NHL could have just held another World Cup with national teams and had a better product but of course the NHL cannot do the simple and correct.

The NHL sanctioned event (not IIHF) only wants players that play in the NHL to participate. Probably for a multitude of reasons be financial, logistical and Insurance wise. Thats why only 4 country's are participating. They are the only countries that are able to use all NHL players. (minis Russia of course, but they would want some KHL guys to play as well)

 

[Z-Diddy]

can we get over the Zach Hyman needing to be on this team for Connor's sake? McDavid could have enough on ice chemistry for a couple goals with my dead grandmother, Scheifele, Batherson, Bedard, Horvat, Jarvis, hell there is a dozen better quality more complete forwards

 

[JackSlater]

The NHL sanctioned event (not IIHF) only wants players that play in the NHL to participate. Probably for a multitude of reasons be financial, logistical and Insurance wise. Thats why only 4 country's are participating. They are the only countries that are able to use all NHL players. (minis Russia of course, but they would want some KHL guys to play as well)

I'm not all that into the new four nations event other than for development reasons honestly. I do think that federations should be allowed to pick non-NHLers if that is what they want. The NHL is a stupid league though.

 

[HockeyWooot]

can we get over the Zach Hyman needing to be on this team for Connor's sake? McDavid could have enough on ice chemistry for a couple goals with my dead grandmother, Scheifele, Batherson, Bedard, Horvat, Jarvis, hell there is a dozen better quality more complete forwards

In a short 4 team tournament there isn’t much runway to develop chemistry between players, Hyman will be on the team.

See Kunitz inclusion in 2014.

 

[JackSlater]

In a short 4 team tournament there isn’t much runway to develop chemistry between players, Hyman will be on the team.

See Kunitz inclusion in 2014.

I would hope that Hockey Canada learns that familiarity is not the same as chemistry. Kunitz of course got taken off Crosby's line almost immediately because he was not a player of that calibre. He got put back there by default because of an injury and other lines falling into place, but he was a mistake despite his goal in the final.

A lesser player excelling next to the best player in the world does not necessarily indicate noteworthy chemistry. Hyman still might make it, but if he does it should be because they can envision him succeeding in a fourth line role on his own and not just stapled to McDavid. Honestly he might be ok in that role too, despite the terrible offensive start.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Who is the 13th best Canadian forward though, and is he good enough to force his way onto this team? This version of Canada isn't deep enough to cut Yzerman or Savard or Oates or Giroux or Stamkos and St. Louis or whoever else Canada has cut in the past, those guys just aren't there for depth roles. Bedard isn't blowing people away but he is on a putrid team and remains Canada's best young forward. Canada can benefit in 2026 from getting him some reps here and at the 2025 iihf world championship to. It's important to have an eye toward 2026 and not just this event.

I will be very surprised if Hockey Canada doesn't bring him.

I doubt very much anybody playing on the February team shows up for the World Championship in May. Not even youngster players like Bedard.

 

[JackSlater]

I doubt very much anybody playing on the February team shows up for the World Championship in May. Not even youngster players like Bedard.

You're probably right, but they should. Bedard will not be touching the playoffs this year and he could use the reps.

 

[DJB]

Am I the only one that doesn’t want to see Toews make the team? He is so carried by Makar we have other LD options which would be way better

 

[Z-Diddy]

In a short 4 team tournament there isn’t much runway to develop chemistry between players, Hyman will be on the team.

See Kunitz inclusion in 2014.

thanks for making my point, this is a short new tournament, not even semi close to weight as the Olympics in international sport importance, thats barely a step above an All Star game and below the World Cup, so who cares about chemistry? You need to maximize the talent available, people always forget worrying about Team Canada 2010 Vancouver when we had 8 centermen on the team, they are the best of the best, you can put any one of them on the wing, they will learn in about half a practice together

This is not as if Connor and Hyman have super fraternal twin telepathy like the Sedins, Zach goes to the front of the net, he does not deserve to be on the team because of a career year in goals last season, would be a waste of a pick for a dozen more complete forwards

 

[Nucks2001]

Am I the only one that doesn’t want to see Toews make the team? He is so carried by Makar we have other LD options which would be way better

Yea you’re probably the only one or one of few. Toews is a top 20 defencemen and Canada’s best two-way defenceman right now.

 

[Regal]

Am I the only one that doesn’t want to see Toews make the team? He is so carried by Makar we have other LD options which would be way better

I think he’s regressed a bit from 2022 when he was great but I’m not sure if there’s a better option.

 

[jigglysquishy]

If we were stacked on LD I'd leave him off, but we're not.

 

[JackSlater]

Toews is not a great player but beggars cannot be choosers. If he can complement Makar solidly and take some PK minutes then that's good enough. I would not be sad if the coaches found a few extra minutes and had Makar and Morrissey together once in a while, but it would be risky because they need to carry a load.

 

[Regal]

Am I the only one who isn't convinced that the Team Canada brass will take Bedard?

For the record, I would have him on my team 100% but TC is historically very conservative and vet-heavy (even at the WJC level). They famously left Crosby, Staal, and Spezza off in '06.

I could easily see them taking a Stamkos, Scheifele, or Stone over Bedard.

Again, Bedard should be there if it were up to me but it's not like his play this season demands it either. 3 goals in 16 games for a guy who would be brought for his goal scoring from the wing, he hasn't exactly forced TC's hand.

I think everyone knows Stamkos doesn’t offer much at 5v5 anymore so I can’t see him making it. But someone like Stone is a much better player than Bedard at this point so I wouldn’t even chalk it up to being conservative.

Thing with Bedard is, what if he turns the corner in January but they’ve left him off due to his play now?

 

[DJB]

I think he’s regressed a bit from 2022 when he was great but I’m not sure if there’s a better option.

Why wouldn’t Josh Morrissey be up on the top pair? He might be our best two way defender

 

[Nucks2001]

Wow. The Devon Toews slander needs to stop. Having watched this guy, he’s just so hard to play against. He’s a top 10-15 shutdown in the leauge and such a long stick on him. Yea, he hasn’t had the strongest start to the season, but he’s been incredible the last 2 seasons and has chemistry with Makar. He’s also a 50+ point guy. He can contribute on both ends

 

[Regal]

Why wouldn’t Josh Morrissey be up on the top pair? He might be our best two way defender

I think Toews is mostly assumed on the top pair because has the familiarity with Makar. Morrissey will obviously be on the team but they need three left side Dmen and after Morrissey we’re looking at Theodore, Toews, Weegar, Chabot, and Rielly or maybe young guys like Power or Harley. I think the idea is that you’d want more of a two-way guy which kind of leaves Toews and Weegar, and Toews has that aforementioned familiarity with Makar. He’s also been better than all the options but Morrissey in recent years. Not a great start for him this year though so we’ll see.

 

[Nucks2001]

What you’re getting with Devon Toews