World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[Calderon]

A question about the rules: now that the full rosters have been announced, are teams only allowed to replace players if they get injured?

 

[Nucks2001]

Thoughts on what PP1 might look like?

I'm thinking something along the lines of...

Marner/Reinhart-Crosby-McDavid
MacKinnon-Makar

I could see them using Bennett as the net-front guy to free Reinnhart up and beef up PP2. Crosby’s gotta be in the Draisitl spot for McDavid.

PP1:
Bennett-McDavid-Crosby
MacKinnon-Makar
PP2:
Reinhart-Point-Marner
Joe Blow-Morrissey

 

[centipede2233]

I could see them using Bennett as the net-front guy to free Reinnhart up and beef up PP2. Crosby’s gotta be in the Draisitl spot for McDavid.

PP1:
Bennett-McDavid-Crosby
MacKinnon-Makar
PP2:
Reinhart-Point-Marner
Joe Blow-Morrissey

The thing is pp2 typically even in nhl games rarely sees icetime. I think they start with Reinhart but will adjust if the pp isn’t going

 

[JackSlater]

I'd much rather thm save Crosby's line for after a power play (assuming he and MacKinnon are not together) than throw him out there just because. Canada's power play should probably by Reinhart and Point in the middle spots, McDavid and MacKinnon on the wing, and Makar on top.

I wasn’t alive for it but based on the documentary I watched it seems like a similar dynamic to the 1987 Canada Cup; thé soviets had probably their best team ever, but Canada had the two best players in the world and Bourque at the peak of their powers and road them hard to victory despite a less than convincing roster

If you squint there are parallels. 1987 was definitely not the best Soviet team ever, weak goaltending and not the depth they had in the 70s and early 80s, but still a very dangerous team. I'd say that USA 2025 is a more talented roster than USSR 1987, but what made that team extra dangerous was incredible chemistry. Five of their very best players played together as a unit all year long for years. I don't think that USA's NTDP chemistry carries over to the senior given how long it has been since any of those guys played together.

If things get desperate I do think that Canada will put McDavid and MacKinnon together with Makar behind them as a nuclear option. It's not quite Gretzky and Lemieux but its pretty good, probably the best trio Canada could ice since Gretzky and Lemieux's playing days in fact. Different situation though since Canada had a long camp before the 1987 Canada Cup, and Gretzky and Lemieux played games as linemates during the exhibition games that were part of the camp.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

A question about the rules: now that the full rosters have been announced, are teams only allowed to replace players if they get injured?

Yes.

 

[Kimota]

I'm sorry I thought adults were in charge of putting this team together.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I'm sorry I thought adults were in charge of putting this team together.

I don’t get what the problem with it is? Suzuki isn’t McDavid if he wants to big dog the Worlds then that might factor into whether he gets to go to the tournaments he actually wants to go too. Maybe he will go this spring if he wants to go to the Olympics?

 

[GuyCANCZE]

I'm sorry I thought adults were in charge of putting this team together.

Well, it appears that Suzuki didn't receive the memo the first time, so Hockey Canada is re-sending it. That memo reads: "If you want to be included on a best-on-best roster, you'd better a) be on a deep Stanley Cup run, or b) suit up for the Worlds (especially the year before the best-on-best". But just showing up for the Worlds has its merits. Look at Sam Montembeault, One has to be seen in high-stakes situations so the powers-that-be can evaluate if one has what it takes. Big Habs fan here, by the way.

 

[Oleksiak]

If for some reason Makar can’t make the tournament I have very little doubt that it would be Bouchard who’s brought up.

You can shelter his defensive issues, and his offensive contributions are undeniable

You can't shelter a guy who's so bad in his own zone that he belongs in the ECHL. No room for a defenceman who refuses to learn how to play defence on this team. Too many options who won't disgrace the country with their play in the defensive zone.

 

[GoldenKnight]

Not sure why Canada would replace their 140 point second line C in MacKinnon with an old, sub-point-per-game Crosby for the second line C slot.

Crosby either plays wing, or as a C in the bottom 6. Anything else is Canada shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[nbwingsfan]

You can't shelter a guy who's so bad in his own zone that he belongs in the ECHL. No room for a defenceman who refuses to learn how to play defence on this team. Too many options who won't disgrace the country with their play in the defensive zone.

What a horrible take

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Well, it appears that Suzuki didn't receive the memo the first time, so Hockey Canada is re-sending it. That memo reads: "If you want to be included on a best-on-best roster, you'd better a) be on a deep Stanley Cup run, or b) suit up for the Worlds (especially the year before the best-on-best". But just showing up for the Worlds has its merits. Look at Sam Montembeault, One has to be seen in high-stakes situations so the powers-that-be can evaluate if one has what it takes. Big Habs fan here, by the way.

The fact that Matt Duchene is still getting shout-outs by the management team as someone under strong consideration is probably mostly a testament to being a loyal soldier for Hockey Canada his entire career.

6 World Championships, 1 Olympics, 1 World Cup. Those 6 WCs, mostly as a young player, established such a strong foundation for him with HC that it eventually became hard to leave him off best-on-best teams even if other players were nominally better than him. Same goes for Dan Hamhuis and Jay Bouwmeester back in the day. World Championships appearances = best-on-best selections down the road. Loyalty to HC is usually rewarded.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah Suzuki is not good enough to just skip out on the world championships every single time and walk onto a best on best roster. No one expects any Canadian player to go every year, but it is notable that he never shows up. In 2022, 2023, and 2024 he played all 82 regular season games and didn't make the playoffs - he was healthy, in his early 20s, and just didn't go. Suzuki would have been a strong contender for first line centre on some of those teams. Hockey Canada is right in this instance if they really are sending him a message.

It's overdiscussed in the media anyway, Suzuki is not even the best centre who didn't make the team. If someone goes down and they want a centre I'd expect/hope that they call Thomas up.

 

[Nucks2001]

The fact that Matt Duchene is still getting shout-outs by the management team as someone under strong consideration is probably mostly a testament to being a loyal soldier for Hockey Canada his entire career.

6 World Championships, 1 Olympics, 1 World Cup. Those 6 WCs, mostly as a young player, established such a strong foundation for him with HC that it eventually became hard to leave him off best-on-best teams even if other players were nominally better than him. Same goes for Dan Hamhuis and Jay Bouwmeester back in the day. World Championships appearances = best-on-best selections down the road. Loyalty to HC is usually rewarded.

I think Duchene put himself in that conversation by being the best Dallas Star so far this season and outplaying guys like Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. He’s still a very competent skater, can play both wing and center, and is a very good face-off taker.

I think Colton Parayko is more of a testament of them favouring the WC and management favouring players (looking at you Mr. Armstrong). The fact that Weegar has had the better past 3 seasons AND had a spectacular 2023 WC while WINNING GOLD (soemthing Parayko hasn’t), shows that Hockey Canada uses the WC against some players and not for others

 

[JackSlater]

I think Duchene put himself in that conversation by being the best Dallas Star so far this season and outplaying guys like Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. He’s still a very competent skater, can play both wing and center, and is a very good face-off taker.

I think Colton Parayko is more of a testament of them favouring the WC and management favouring players (looking at you Mr. Armstrong). The fact that Weegar has had the better past 3 seasons AND had a spectacular 2023 WC while WINNING GOLD (soemthing Parayko hasn’t), shows that Hockey Canada uses the WC against some players and not for others

No one makes these teams exclusively because of the world championship. I have no doubt that Weegar's iihf world championship performance helped his case for this team, and if someone goes down he likely gets a call. Realistically Parayko plays a different role than Weegar would.

 

[Nucks2001]

No one makes these teams exclusively because of the world championship. I have no doubt that Weegar's iihf world championship performance helped his case for this team, and if someone goes down he likely gets a call. Realistically Parayko plays a different role than Weegar would.

It seems like Suzuki didn’t make it because he didn’t

 

[JackSlater]

It seems like Suzuki didn’t make it because he didn’t

Suzuki didn't make it because Canada has better players. He was a marginal candidate to make the team. By refusing to go to the iihf world championship various times he did nothing to help his case.

 

[SillyRabbit]

Even without Makar, Bouchard would likely be a long shot for the team. His defensive deficiencies are too much for a tournament like this

Yeah, I think if Makar was out, Morrissey would just get upgraded to his spot. Bouchard would not be needed.

 

[lawrence]

So Hyman's return, not a surprise really. Maybe he is the biggest snub of this tournament?

on pace for 22 goals while playing either with Mcjesus or Drai. So on non Mcjesus team hes probably like 10 goals? seems like they are choosing players based on how good they are this season rather then last years stat watching.

 

[Cypher]

Montembault has to be a pure publicity move, games in Montreal and a french speaker. Only logical explanation, especially after a showing like tonight... oof. If he sees a minute of ice time, it's over for Canada.

 

[PanniniClaus]

The fact that Matt Duchene is still getting shout-outs by the management team as someone under strong consideration is probably mostly a testament to being a loyal soldier for Hockey Canada his entire career.

6 World Championships, 1 Olympics, 1 World Cup. Those 6 WCs, mostly as a young player, established such a strong foundation for him with HC that it eventually became hard to leave him off best-on-best teams even if other players were nominally better than him. Same goes for Dan Hamhuis and Jay Bouwmeester back in the day. World Championships appearances = best-on-best selections down the road. Loyalty to HC is usually rewarded.

Absolutely. It counts and it damn well should. Could care less that Suzuki didn't get a phone call.

Montembault has to be a pure publicity move, games in Montreal and a french speaker. Only logical explanation, especially after a showing like tonight... oof. If he sees a minute of ice time, it's over for Canada.

He's had some outstanding games behind this mess of a team. He's also a loyal Hockey Canada guy and has played well when called upon.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

Yeah, I think if Makar was out, Morrissey would just get upgraded to his spot. Bouchard would not be needed.

You know Morrissey wouldn't be able to QB the PP like Bouchard, let's not kid ourselves here.

on pace for 22 goals while playing either with Mcjesus or Drai. So on non Mcjesus team hes probably like 10 goals? seems like they are choosing players based on how good they are this season rather then last years stat watching.

Insert another winger with mcdavid for a full season, any winger of your choice. Let's see him get 60 goals.

 

[lawrence]

You know Morrissey wouldn't be able to QB the PP like Bouchard, let's not kid ourselves here.


Insert another winger with mcdavid for a full season, any winger of your choice. Let's see him get 60 goals.

woah, don't attack the messenger. It seems like they are going by how well they are this season not last. thus he got left out.

 

[Regal]

You know Morrissey wouldn't be able to QB the PP like Bouchard, let's not kid ourselves here.


Insert another winger with mcdavid for a full season, any winger of your choice. Let's see him get 60 goals.

Bouchard would be better, but a PP with McDavid, MacKinnon, Point and Reinhart would be elite regardless.

Not every winger is going to suddenly score 54 goals with McDavid, but neither is Hyman going to ever again, so it’s a moot point. If the tournament was last year, it would make sense to take him for the chemistry and hot hand, but if he’s not rolling it makes no sense to take him. He’s a good player but there’s better players who can do the same things.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

Bouchard would be better, but a PP with McDavid, MacKinnon, Point and Reinhart would be elite regardless.

Not every winger is going to suddenly score 54 goals with McDavid, but neither is Hyman going to ever again, so it’s a moot point. If the tournament was last year, it would make sense to take him for the chemistry and hot hand, but if he’s not rolling it makes no sense to take him. He’s a good player but there’s better players who can do the same things.

You make good points. I agree with hyman. It's too bad he had a slow start.

Having a mobile D who can QB the pp is important. I think Scott Niedermayer is the best ever at it on the pp. Bouchard has his bomb like pronger and roam around the blueline, a deadly combo. Forwards can work it down low but you need one of makar or Bouchard on the point. The rocket from the point is what Bouchard has over all the Ds in the league, accurate too.