World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[the valiant effort]

With the media banging the Wilson drum recently I get the feeling he’ll be there. Kinda like 2009 when Bobby Mac threw Bergeron’s name out there for 2010 before he had even rebuilt his post-concussion career. I think he had an inside track on how Yzerman and co felt about a healthy version of Bergeron as opposed to just a gut feeling.

 

[Regal]

I’m surprised that some still have hyman making the team. I know he had an amazing season last year but this year he has been struggling and now is injured. I’m pretty sure Mcdavid could play with anyone and doesn’t need hyman to help him play at his highest level.

It’s short tournament, just take your best players

Yea, I know he’s been a bit of a victim of puck luck going the other way this year, but while I can see the reasoning for bringing him last year or even the year before, I don’t think he’s naturally good enough to bring him if he’s not rolling and hope he is by the time the tournament rolls around.

With the media banging the Wilson drum recently I get the feeling he’ll be there. Kinda like 2009 when Bobby Mac threw Bergeron’s name out there for 2010 before he had even rebuilt his post-concussion career. I think he had an inside track on how Yzerman and co felt about a healthy version of Bergeron as opposed to just a gut feeling.

It just feels really weird to bring someone who might do something stupidly dangerous to a tournament designed to showcase the league’s stars

 

[the valiant effort]

It just feels really weird to bring someone who might do something stupidly dangerous to a tournament designed to showcase the league’s stars

I agree, he would be a ridiculous choice

 

[JackSlater]

Disagree here. Cirelli is playing really well this year and he fits that mould perfectly.

With how well Hagel and Scheifele (and I’d add Johnson, although he hasn’t played enough games to force his way in yet) are playing this year, that extra LW spot is covered. It could even go to Duchene.

Point-McDavid-Reinhart
Lafreniere-MacKinnon-Marner
Marchand-Crosby-Konecny
Cirelli-Thomas-Stone
Hagel/Scheifele

Those guys are having good years and I'm sure they are in the conversation, I'm not totally sure that Duchene or Scheifele isn't going to fall back to earth by February though, and their utility for next season and the Olympics is even less. I'd probably take Celebrini over them for a final LW spot, he's showing pretty well in terms of competitiveness, puck carrying, and even his scoring is not bad. Better investment for 2026 as well. But I'd also already have Bedard on the team.

Push comes to shove though I think it would probably go Hagel, Duchene, then Scheifele in terms of looking at that spot. But of course Hockey Canada may go completely rogue and we have no clue who the final depth spots will be.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Two games I’ve watched tonight; Tampa v Colorado and Los Angeles v San Jose.


Cirelli I think needs to be there, he did a great job against MacKinnon and is so good at stick level battles. It doesn’t hurt that his offensive game has taken off this year. Hagel and Point I think are locks. Rough night for Toews, I still think he’s a near lock but his normally exemplary defensive play and stick work has not seemed as efficient this year.



As for the other game, Celebrini is the most complete 18 year old I’ve seen enter the league since Matthews (19 YO in his case). I’d be seriously tempted to bring him along as 13th forward, he did everything so well and is probably the best pure skater that Canada has aside from MacKinnon and McDavid. Clarke scored and was a bit of a mixed bag, if he can play better below the circles I can see him making a case for Italy next year

 

[centipede2233]

Two games I’ve watched tonight; Tampa v Colorado and Los Angeles v San Jose.


Cirelli I think needs to be there, he did a great job against MacKinnon and is so good at stick level battles. It doesn’t hurt that his offensive game has taken off this year. Hagel and Point I think are locks. Rough night for Toews, I still think he’s a near lock but his normally exemplary defensive play and stick work has not seemed as efficient this year.



As for the other game, Celebrini is the most complete 18 year old I’ve seen enter the league since Matthews (19 YO in his case). I’d be seriously tempted to bring him along as 13th forward, he did everything so well and is probably the best pure skater that Canada has aside from MacKinnon and McDavid. Clarke scored and was a bit of a mixed bag, if he can play better below the circles I can see him making a case for Italy next year

Crosby went on to have a 102 pt rookie year in 2006, and he was left off team Canada. Team Canada isn’t taking a rookie in a best on best. I promise.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Crosby went on to have a 102 pt rookie year in 2006, and he was left off team Canada. Team Canada isn’t taking a rookie in a best on best. I promise.

But with hindsight the roster construction of that team was terrible and was the most extreme example of Canada choosing "structure over skill." You would hope they have learned some lessons since the days of choosing Gagne/Smyth/Draper over more talented players.

 

[Channelcat]

Crosby-McDavid-Reinhart
Verhaege-MacKinnon-Stone
Marchand-Point-Marner
Hagel-Thomas-Lafreniere
Suzuki

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Pietrangelo
Theodore-Tanev
Bouchard

Binnington
Thompson
Talbot

I like Thompson at G. The guy is flying under the radar imho.

 

[Brett44]

Lafreniere - McDavid - Reinhart
Marchand - Crosby - MacKinnon
Hagel - Point - Marner
Bennett - Thomas - Stone
Scheifele / Konecny

Toews - Makar
Morrissey - Dobson
Theodore - Pietrangelo
Sanheim

Binnington
Thompson
Hill

one of the better line-up proposition.

 

[JackSlater]

Two games I’ve watched tonight; Tampa v Colorado and Los Angeles v San Jose.


Cirelli I think needs to be there, he did a great job against MacKinnon and is so good at stick level battles. It doesn’t hurt that his offensive game has taken off this year. Hagel and Point I think are locks. Rough night for Toews, I still think he’s a near lock but his normally exemplary defensive play and stick work has not seemed as efficient this year.



As for the other game, Celebrini is the most complete 18 year old I’ve seen enter the league since Matthews (19 YO in his case). I’d be seriously tempted to bring him along as 13th forward, he did everything so well and is probably the best pure skater that Canada has aside from MacKinnon and McDavid. Clarke scored and was a bit of a mixed bag, if he can play better below the circles I can see him making a case for Italy next year

I was getting at this as well with Celebrini. He's already elite in a few areas, gaining the line and puck battles etc., and could be an asset in a depth line, plus he gets some reps with guys like Crosby, MacKinnon, and McDavid before the 2026 Olympics.

I do not expect that he will make the team. I would be shocked if he was even given consideration. But over the last few weeks he's become someone I'd personally consider. Even in terms of scoring he's currently at 10 points in 12 games. Put him on a team with another elite scorer, especially on the PP, and he's likely have a few more.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Does anyone actually know how many spots there are on the roster? As in, can we carry 15 forwards on the roster? If so, bringing Celebrini or Bedard (or maybe even both) becomes a lot more feasible if you're smart about the 13th forward position and actually expect them to see some game time and a play a minor role on the team.

Then, as the #14 and #15 forwards, I'm sure Celebrini and/or Bedard would benefit (with an eye towards 2026) from practicing with the team and maybe dressing for a game.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Celebrini propaganda

And I know he's not really under consideration, but Tavares has quietly been pretty damn good this season.

 

[JackSlater]

Does anyone actually know how many spots there are on the roster? As in, can we carry 15 forwards on the roster? If so, bringing Celebrini or Bedard (or maybe even both) becomes a lot more feasible if you're smart about the 13th forward position and actually expect them to see some game time and a play a minor role on the team.

Then, as the #14 and #15 forwards, I'm sure Celebrini and/or Bedard would benefit (with an eye towards 2026) from practicing with the team and maybe dressing for a game.

They have consistently cited a 23 man roster, so 13 forwards. I'd definitely be all for 14 forwards like at the 2014 Olympics.

Along those lines, NHL.com released a final projected Canada roster (Canada final projected roster for 4 Nations Face-Off | NHL.com)

Went with this:

F: Barzal, Bedard, Crosby, Konecny, Lafreniere, MacKinnon, Marchand, Marner, McDavid, Point, Reinhart, Scheifele, Stone

D: Bouchard, Hamilton, Makar, Morrissey, Pietrangelo, Theodore, Toews

G: Thompson, Hill, Talbot

Almost everyone is agreeing on the core pieces by this point. Don't like what they did with the depth pieces though.

 

[McMoMoney29]

As an oiler fan I’m hoping only one Oiler makes it on this team… We have guys that can head man the PP good enough to not have to deal with Bouchards single handed goal against every game.