Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Autocorrect is a big Bruins fan, what can I say?That is a good one.
Autocorrect is a big Bruins fan, what can I say?That is a good one.
I think this is fair. If you look up and down the Canadian lineup you see players that have elevated their games at crunch time and are winners. The U.S. lacks that, which is why I think they may include a guy like Patrick Kane even though his best days are behind him. Talent-wise, the U.S. is right there though.
Marchand is already on the team. Stamkos shouldn't have been a consideration for a long time.Seeing names like Barzal, Marchand, Stamkos - much less Nurse, what the f*** is that? - is sickening. There will be zero chemistry or wind-down going into this tournament from regular games, so the brass had better not f*** this up by doing anything other than taking the hot hand.
Hagel-McDavid-Reinhart
Point-MacKinnon-Marner
Scheifele-Crosby-Stone
Bennett-Suzuki-Konecny
Thomas/Lafreniere/Bedard
Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Pietrangelo
Theodore-Dobson
Power/Bouchard, Parayko/Weegar
Binnington
Hofer
Talbot
A ton of Americans are significantly underperforming to date this season - guys like Matthews, Hughes, Robertson. That helps too as the Swedes and Finns look weak.
So much Depth Canada have , i would not worryIt's difficult not to look at the potential lineups of the teams and not think....." gee, the U.S team should win this" It's pretty much got no weakness across the board and filled with top end guys at all positions up and down the lineup and most importantly........pretty much every guy that will be there are in their primes. When you add it all up it's normally a recipe for success. Canada has a 1995 feel to it, caught in that space where some of it's key players are in their twilight years like Crosby/Marchand/Gretzky/Messier and with one section of the team massively wanting ( goaltending this year and defense in 95) Thankfully we won't be understaffed up front like in 95 with Kariya and Lemieux missing. Fingers crossed on Mcdavid though.........and every other key player, we simply can't afford any key injuries.
it's not depth I worry about.....it;s the roster itself compared to the U.S. We are definitely ripe for plucking at this point in time, which actually may not be the worst thing, every time that has happened in the past Canada has responded strongly.So much Depth Canada have , i would not worry
Agreed. I think the most logical 1st line for Canada is Crosby instead of Hyman on the first line for a line of Crosby-McDavid-ReinhartI really like a Reinhart McDavid pairing. Reinhart has arguably the best nose to the net goalscoring ability for Canada. And a tremendous shot
By far the best roster and rationale I’ve seen on here. Only problem I have is with Sam Bennett and Colton Parayko, but I understand the reasons as to why you have them listed. You’re right in that this Canada’s weakest roster, which is funny considering that we have 3 of the best players in the tournament (McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar). In some ways, I hope we lose so Hockey Canada does a double take.This is what I'd probably go with for Canada right now. My eye is toward preparing for the 2026 Olympics as best as possible, and with that in mind I wanted to go young but guys like Byfield, Johnston, and Fantilli made that difficult for me.
Lafreniere McDavid Reinhart
Hagel* MacKinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone*
Bedard/O'Reilly Thomas Point
O'Reilly/Bedard *Konecny/Bennett
Toews Makar
Morrissey Parayko/Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
*Dobson/Parayko *Power
Who the f*** knows about goalies.
There are a few thoughts here. Canada has to play to its strengths, namely McDavid/MacKinnon/Crosby plus Makar. The team should also go for versatility when possible, as good teams can win in a number of ways. I'd like to lean younger, as I said. McDavid is the best player Canada has and Reinhart is Canada's best winger, plus he should fit well with McDavid by providing defensive support and being able to contribute with a playmaker at centre. I went with Lafreniere because he is having a solid year, projects to be even better by the 2026 Olympics, and he's used to playing with a puck dominant linemate in Panarin. Canada can use his size as well, and it is a plus here that he is historically mainly a producer at even strength. MacKinnon is the focal point of the second line. I think his game could work with Marner as a wing playmaker who provides some of the defence that MacKinnon won't. Hagel knows how to play with elite players and contribute, and while I don't love the choice there aren't that many options. I strongly considered going with Bennett here.
I think that Crosby and Marchand are bound to play together. For as much complaining as there is around Marchand, if he is kept to a reasonably low amount of minutes and he goes all out (Boston may be going nowhere this year) then he could be a good contributor, plus he's a guy who knows how to contribute to his team and take away from the other team. Stone is having a strong year, Canada could use his size, his defensive presence would be an asset, and sadly no young right side option took this spot from him. I'd still pick Thomas regardless of his injury. This event isn't until February, so Thomas should have been back for over a month. He's also very likely Canada's fourth best centre, and I feel confident that he will be there in 2026 anyway with Armstrong picking the team. Point is a good C/RW option who can go anywhere throughout the lineup and is a good goal scorer who can fit with Thomas as a playmaker. I put Bedard on the LW for a few reasons - he needs the reps heading into the 2026 Olympic season as a young guy, he has Canada's best wrist shot, and the left side is weak. I'd take O'Reilly as the spare who would also get shifts on other lines at LW because Canada needs a penalty killing C option other than Thomas. Konecny and Bennett are spares who could sub in at RW or LW respectively and could take someone's spot over the next few weeks. Konecny is a good even strength scorer, brings grit, and kills penalties, and Bennett brings a physical side that could be useful while having a strong year this year.
Defence revolves around Makar and Morrissey, and Canada probably needs them to be as Bourque and Coffey were in the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups. I generally don't believe that NHL "chemistry" carries over to international tournaments outside of a very small number of exceptions (Getzlaf/Perry for one) but in this case it helps that Canada can bring over two pairings directly and that three of them would make the team even without their partner. Makar is the best defenceman in hockey and while I don't think that Toews is that good, you know what you are getting by putting Toews there and it's necessary that Toews can kill penalties. Morrissey is the anchor of the second pairing and I'd give him different partners depending on game situations. I've liked Dobson's game for years and I like him as a right side option with room to grow by the 2026 Olympics. He isn't having a tremendous year so far but I definitely prefer him to Bouchard. Parayko is another right sided option and honestly Canada needs someone like him to play significant penalty kill minutes and give the defence some size. Theodore and Pietrangelo is a strong pairing and Pietrangelo brings some experience to a youngish defensive core. I included Power as another option because his skillset/size is tempting, even though he is a frustrating player, and he could be a good investment for 2026. Power would likely replace Dobson.
Goaltending is a mess, the worst Canada has ever been. I'd take Binnington because you know he will at least be selected for the 2026 Olympic team and outside of that who knows. Wait as long as possible and see who is playing well. I'd give some boost to Kuemper because he's both been a Stanley Cup winning goaltender and won the iihf world championship in recent years.
Special teams will probably be key for Canada with the power play giving Canada's best chance use its primary advantage - by far the best top three players of any country. I'd look at something like this:
Reinhart
MacKinnon Point McDavid
Makar
And I would hope that that unit gets used heavily. I'd end power plays with Crosby's line to carry things over to even strength. Penalty kill would be built around Toews/Makar and Pietrangelo/Parayko, with Thomas and O'Reilly as the centres and plenty of winger options like Marchand, Marner, Stone etc.
This is far from the most talented edition of team Canada at this level. At the very least the team is stocked with a lot of players who have won and contributed to winning at the highest level. By my count 12 of those skaters (not the spares) have won a Stanley Cup, 11 have won the WJC, 8 have won the iihf WC, and 3 have won a best on best (type) tournament. Toews is the only one without real international experience at a major tournament. I at least would not expect this team to be intimidated by a big moment or talented team.
Rather have Thomas, ROR, Suzuki or Johnston as the 4th line center. Don’t really trust Scheifele.Absolutely stacked upfront, elite but not best in tournament on d and relatively weak in goal.
Will be interesting to see the end-selections. I’d probably have the following today.
Hyman McDavid Reinhart
Point Mackinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone
Bedard Scheifele Konecny
Suzuki
Toews Makar
Morrisey Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
Weegar
Skinner
Binnington
Hill
Bubble: Lafreniere, Thomas, Johnston, Horvat, Doughty, Bouchard
This is what I'd probably go with for Canada right now. My eye is toward preparing for the 2026 Olympics as best as possible, and with that in mind I wanted to go young but guys like Byfield, Johnston, and Fantilli made that difficult for me.
Lafreniere McDavid Reinhart
Hagel* MacKinnon Marner
Marchand Crosby Stone*
Bedard/O'Reilly Thomas Point
O'Reilly/Bedard *Konecny/Bennett
Toews Makar
Morrissey Parayko/Dobson
Theodore Pietrangelo
*Dobson/Parayko *Power
Who the f*** knows about goalies.
There are a few thoughts here. Canada has to play to its strengths, namely McDavid/MacKinnon/Crosby plus Makar. The team should also go for versatility when possible, as good teams can win in a number of ways. I'd like to lean younger, as I said. McDavid is the best player Canada has and Reinhart is Canada's best winger, plus he should fit well with McDavid by providing defensive support and being able to contribute with a playmaker at centre. I went with Lafreniere because he is having a solid year, projects to be even better by the 2026 Olympics, and he's used to playing with a puck dominant linemate in Panarin. Canada can use his size as well, and it is a plus here that he is historically mainly a producer at even strength. MacKinnon is the focal point of the second line. I think his game could work with Marner as a wing playmaker who provides some of the defence that MacKinnon won't. Hagel knows how to play with elite players and contribute, and while I don't love the choice there aren't that many options. I strongly considered going with Bennett here.
I think that Crosby and Marchand are bound to play together. For as much complaining as there is around Marchand, if he is kept to a reasonably low amount of minutes and he goes all out (Boston may be going nowhere this year) then he could be a good contributor, plus he's a guy who knows how to contribute to his team and take away from the other team. Stone is having a strong year, Canada could use his size, his defensive presence would be an asset, and sadly no young right side option took this spot from him. I'd still pick Thomas regardless of his injury. This event isn't until February, so Thomas should have been back for over a month. He's also very likely Canada's fourth best centre, and I feel confident that he will be there in 2026 anyway with Armstrong picking the team. Point is a good C/RW option who can go anywhere throughout the lineup and is a good goal scorer who can fit with Thomas as a playmaker. I put Bedard on the LW for a few reasons - he needs the reps heading into the 2026 Olympic season as a young guy, he has Canada's best wrist shot, and the left side is weak. I'd take O'Reilly as the spare who would also get shifts on other lines at LW because Canada needs a penalty killing C option other than Thomas. Konecny and Bennett are spares who could sub in at RW or LW respectively and could take someone's spot over the next few weeks. Konecny is a good even strength scorer, brings grit, and kills penalties, and Bennett brings a physical side that could be useful while having a strong year this year.
Defence revolves around Makar and Morrissey, and Canada probably needs them to be as Bourque and Coffey were in the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups. I generally don't believe that NHL "chemistry" carries over to international tournaments outside of a very small number of exceptions (Getzlaf/Perry for one) but in this case it helps that Canada can bring over two pairings directly and that three of them would make the team even without their partner. Makar is the best defenceman in hockey and while I don't think that Toews is that good, you know what you are getting by putting Toews there and it's necessary that Toews can kill penalties. Morrissey is the anchor of the second pairing and I'd give him different partners depending on game situations. I've liked Dobson's game for years and I like him as a right side option with room to grow by the 2026 Olympics. He isn't having a tremendous year so far but I definitely prefer him to Bouchard. Parayko is another right sided option and honestly Canada needs someone like him to play significant penalty kill minutes and give the defence some size. Theodore and Pietrangelo is a strong pairing and Pietrangelo brings some experience to a youngish defensive core. I included Power as another option because his skillset/size is tempting, even though he is a frustrating player, and he could be a good investment for 2026. Power would likely replace Dobson.
Goaltending is a mess, the worst Canada has ever been. I'd take Binnington because you know he will at least be selected for the 2026 Olympic team and outside of that who knows. Wait as long as possible and see who is playing well. I'd give some boost to Kuemper because he's both been a Stanley Cup winning goaltender and won the iihf world championship in recent years.
Special teams will probably be key for Canada with the power play giving Canada's best chance use its primary advantage - by far the best top three players of any country. I'd look at something like this:
Reinhart
MacKinnon Point McDavid
Makar
And I would hope that that unit gets used heavily. I'd end power plays with Crosby's line to carry things over to even strength. Penalty kill would be built around Toews/Makar and Pietrangelo/Parayko, with Thomas and O'Reilly as the centres and plenty of winger options like Marchand, Marner, Stone etc.
This is far from the most talented edition of team Canada at this level. At the very least the team is stocked with a lot of players who have won and contributed to winning at the highest level. By my count 12 of those skaters (not the spares) have won a Stanley Cup, 11 have won the WJC, 8 have won the iihf WC, and 3 have won a best on best (type) tournament. Toews is the only one without real international experience at a major tournament. I at least would not expect this team to be intimidated by a big moment or talented team.
Point could move up, it wouldn't really matter. He'd be good with Crosby. In an ideal situation you'd have a right and left handed centre on each line, but that isn't always an option. If O'Reilly was with Thomas you'd have one of each, and having them available as PK centres also gives Canada a left and a right option depending on where the faceoff is.I like this team. I'm not sold on Bennett, but reading the tea leaves I can easily imagine either him or Wilson being selected. Both have the potential to be high-impact players for us in a short tournament, or present significant issues with penalties/discipline. I trust that the coaching staff will know how to deploy them appropriately.
I'd like to see Point in a more important ES role than #4RW. Personally I'd swap him for Stone to bring a little more speed to the Crosby line, but its a relatively minor point. I'm a big fan of Point and I think he can play top-6 minutes on Team Canada, but if Cooper decides to use Crosby as the matchup centre then it makes sense to have Stone and Marchand on his wings.
Reinhart on McDavid's wing also provides a RHS faceoff option for that top line, which is somewhat important.