World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[NordiquesForeva]

NHL GMs must be size queens because the only reason that anyone like Nurse, Lowry, or Wilson (Wilson less so than the other two) must have a change is because Hockey Canada, Salmond, Armstrong, or whoever it may be, seem hellbent on recreating the 2010 when the best players simply do not fit that mould anymore. I think Darnell nurse might be the 9th best left-handed Canadian defenseman available.


I always advocated for Sakic as GM because team Canada should be built like the 2022 Colorado avalanche, fast, puck moving, and high to low scissor transitions in the offensive zone that are impossible to contain. In the way that physicality is emphasized in the playoffs, speed and skill becomes emphasized in best on best. The management team seems to think they’re building team to play the 2012 Los Angeles Kings in the first round, not Sweden or the USA in a gold medal game…. It’s some syndrome permeating through hockey Canada recently


You forgot the worst part, « One executive did mention the question of how many power-play defencemen Team Canada can have. You need players who can play defensively and fill two-way roles. That’s where Darnell Nurse and Travis Sanheim »

TRAVIS SANHEIMhe’s not even good defensively (nor is nurse)size queens ffs

Hockey Canada is trying to fill out a template that was very successful in 2010 and 2014. The problem is, those big, fast skating, 40/50 goal scoring wingers that can play a mean game (Perry...Marleau...Benn...Carter...Nash) aren't available anymore, nor are the large, mobile elite 2-way defenseman (Weber...Pietrangelo) that are in their prime. Hockey Canada is left looking to fill out a roster based on what worked in the past, without the talent available to do so. My view is that Canada would be much better off shifting gears and playing up to their strengths which at this point seems to be speed and 2-way versatility.

 

[JackSlater]

There are two players I'd prefer to have in the forward group - namely, Johnston and Byfield - but overall this is fairly decent. The one change I'd propose making to the line combinations is to switch Marner and Point. MacKinnon and Marner have played together (successfully, I may add) at the WCs, and more importantly I feel as though the chemistry could be off with McDavid and Marner. McDavid doesn't need a pass-first playmaker like Marner on his wing; he needs a finisher, and someone that can contribute defensively (and take faceoffs on his strong side). To me, Point fits the bill perfectly there.

All things being equal, I've always felt Reinhart, Stamkos or Point would look best alongside McDavid.

I don't believe that Marner was MacKinnon's linemate at that tournament. Konecny - Point - Marner was a line that year, though Marner was on the first PP unit with MacKinnon. I do agree that Marner doesn't fit with McDavid. On McDavid's line you want him to have the puck as much as possible, not to wait for Marner to set him up. MacKinnon is a better stylistic fit in that he is used to playing with Rantanen and is a better finisher than McDavid. In an ideal world McDavid is with a sniper on one wing and a hard working player who can battle on the boards and defend in his own zone (rich man's Hyman basically) but Canada's options aren't amazing.

 

[Nucks2001]

I don't believe that Marner was MacKinnon's linemate at that tournament. Konecny - Point - Marner was a line that year, though Marner was on the first PP unit with MacKinnon. I do agree that Marner doesn't fit with McDavid. On McDavid's line you want him to have the puck as much as possible, not to wait for Marner to set him up. MacKinnon is a better stylistic fit in that he is used to playing with Rantanen and is a better finisher than McDavid. In an ideal world McDavid is with a sniper on one wing and a hard working player who can battle on the boards and defend in his own zone (rich man's Hyman)

Canada already has a rich man’s Hyman that can defend in his own zone, Sidney Crosby. I think these would be the best line combinations:

Crosby-McDavid-Reinhart
Lafreinere-MacKinnon-Bedard
Stone-Point-Marner

1st line: Crosby and McDavid have a history of playing together at their summer camps, MacKinnon once said it was “unfair” and they never lost when they were paired together. Crosby provides the puck retrieval role and is still arguably the best behind the net passer. Reinhart is familiar with McDavid and is the type of player that would benefit from playing in Crosby’s cycle game.

2nd line: Historically, MacKinnon has worked best with a big and skilled power forward on his wing (Landeskog, Rantanen, Nichuskin). Laf is the closest thing that Canada has to that right now and I think we see him take his game to another level while playing alongside these players 2 studs. Bedard may be the most dangerous player on this line. He provides MacKinnon with a tremendous amount of flexibility. If MacKinnon wants to play shooter on his line, Bedard is such a good playmaker that he can do that.

3rd Line: Point has a history of playing with Marner and is used to letting his RW run the offence for his line. This line exemplifies the type of players Canada should be taking. Yes, they might not be the traditional 6”3 guys, but these are extremely skilled players that can play a shutdown role when needed too.

 

[Mathieukferland]

The défense and goalies that TSN came up with; Tanev is not someone I thought of, but I actually would prefer him than Sanheim or Nurse. Dobson and Bouchard are too gaffe prone for my liking, I would rather have only one or none of them there replaced with Pietroangelo, Doughty, etc

 

[Eternal Leaf]

View attachment 923906The défense and goalies that TSN came up with; Tanev is not someone I thought of, but I actually would prefer him than Sanheim or Nurse. Dobson and Bouchard are too gaffe prone for my liking, I would rather have only one or none of them there replaced with Pietroangelo, Doughty, etc

Bouchard's value also decreases with Makar on the #1 PP.

Toews-Makar
Morrissey - Dobson/Tanev
Theodore - Pietrangelo

This should be what they go for in my opinion. You always need someone to play the shutdown game with multiple superstars across the ice so maybe Tanev is the right pick.

Plus you get some decent natural chemistry with Toews-Makar and Theodore-Pietrangelo.

 

[JackSlater]

View attachment 923906The défense and goalies that TSN came up with; Tanev is not someone I thought of, but I actually would prefer him than Sanheim or Nurse. Dobson and Bouchard are too gaffe prone for my liking, I would rather have only one or none of them there replaced with Pietroangelo, Doughty, etc

A sad group outside of Makar and Morrissey. I have liked Tanev for a while and there is value in bringing a pure defensive player for down in the lineup. Would have preferred him as a depth option around the 2022 Olympics though or even 2018. I like Dobson a lot better than I do Bouchard - if Dobson got to exist on the Oilers power play last year it would not even remotely be a question. I'd still take Pierangelo or a healthy Doughty as a right side option.

The point raised above that Makar is going to rightfully get all of the prime offensive minutes (power play etc.) is a good one. Applies to forwards too where you're going to have six forwards or so who never sniff the power play and only a handful who will have an impact there.

 

[Mathieukferland]

A sad group outside of Makar and Morrissey

Mike Johnson was on the radio yesterday in Toronto basically confirming that Darnell nurse was going to be the third pair left side defenseman for Canada….. I honestly can’t believe it, I think there are 10 or more left sided canadian defenders I would take in front of him


Morrisey
Theodore
Toews
Harley
Power
Reilly
Weegar (plays left side)
Guhle
Chabot
Bryam
Ekblad
Chychrun
Pelech


I think I would all take in front of Nurse

 

[JackSlater]

Mike Johnson was on the radio yesterday in Toronto basically confirming that Darnell nurse was going to be the third pair left side defenseman for Canada….. I honestly can’t believe it, I think there are 10 or more left sided canadian defenders I would take in front of him


Morrisey
Theodore
Toews
Harley
Power
Reilly
Weegar (plays left side)
Guhle
Chabot
Bryam
Ekblad
Chychrun
Pelech


I think I would all take in front of Nurse

Nurse is not good. It's unfortunate that he developed on the path he did when he could have been turned into a very effective player. I'll just choose to believe, for now, that Johnson doesn't really know much about how Hockey Canada is thinking when it comes to this team.

 

[Regal]

The only way I could see Nurse making it at this point is if McDavid refuses to play otherwise

 

[Regal]

Canada already has a rich man’s Hyman that can defend in his own zone, Sidney Crosby. I think these would be the best line combinations:

Crosby-McDavid-Reinhart
Lafreinere-MacKinnon-Bedard
Stone-Point-Marner

1st line: Crosby and McDavid have a history of playing together at their summer camps, MacKinnon once said it was “unfair” and they never lost when they were paired together. Crosby provides the puck retrieval role and is still arguably the best behind the net passer. Reinhart is familiar with McDavid and is the type of player that would benefit from playing in Crosby’s cycle game.

2nd line: Historically, MacKinnon has worked best with a big and skilled power forward on his wing (Landeskog, Rantanen, Nichuskin). Laf is the closest thing that Canada has to that right now and I think we see him take his game to another level while playing alongside these players 2 studs. Bedard may be the most dangerous player on this line. He provides MacKinnon with a tremendous amount of flexibility. If MacKinnon wants to play shooter on his line, Bedard is such a good playmaker that he can do that.

3rd Line: Point has a history of playing with Marner and is used to letting his RW run the offence for his line. This line exemplifies the type of players Canada should be taking. Yes, they might not be the traditional 6”3 guys, but these are extremely skilled players that can play a shutdown role when needed too.

I like this idea. I’ve mostly seen Sid with MacKinnon or centering his own line, but I think he makes a lot of sense with McDavid as the two are smart enough to make it work, he’s still one of the best in the league around the net and at this point probably is better suited to not be the main puck carrier in a best on best tournament. I think to some degree his defense slipped last year because he cheated to start the attack, but he doesn’t need to do that with McDavid.

And this uses Marner to the best of his abilities when he doesn’t really seem like an ideal fit with McDavid or MacKinnon but is also kind of too talented to want to leave off given the lack of high end skill.

I do question whether Bedard is good enough all around for a top 6 role in a best on best yet, and he struggled at the world championships, but it probably makes sense to try him and then make a switch if it’s not working out. I’m not sure if Stone has played LW at all either, though that might not be an issue.