World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[NordiquesForeva]

That's all fair. The main thing in my mind that is a positive with Barzal is that Duchene was generally pretty useful for Canada, and Barzal is a reasonably similar kind of player. Would be nice if he was a better goal scorer. At this point I've written him off for this team and I will be surprised if he's there. There are other options that can bring some extra versatility.

I agree on Duchene. I thought he did an admirable job in 2014. In addition to his C/LW versatility think his skillset, with his speed and play driving ability through the neutral zone, played well on international ice...and to his credit he certainly took advantage of every opportunity to play for Canada internationally which probably helped his reputation with the "powers that be" and got him some reps on international ice.

Barzal is very similar to Duchene. But I think the circumstances of the 4 Nations tournament are much different than the 2014 Olympics...different ice surface, different makeup of the structure of the forward group with (imo) Barzal's primary skillsets being fairly redundant, we're weak on the left side/strong on the right side, etc.. Not to mention Barzal isn't exactly lighting the world on fire, and iirc Duchene was somewhere in the top-10 or so in NHL scoring at the Christmas break in 2013.

 

[therealdeal]

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Not surprising, But Binningtom and Hill are on the team

Both odd choices frankly. Binnington was not good for Canada in the spring, and Hill has been shady.

Why not Monty?!

 

[JackSlater]

I agree on Duchene. I thought he did an admirable job in 2014. In addition to his C/LW versatility think his skillset, with his speed and play driving ability through the neutral zone, played well on international ice...and to his credit he certainly took advantage of every opportunity to play for Canada internationally which probably helped his reputation with the "powers that be" and got him some reps on international ice.

Barzal is very similar to Duchene. But I think the circumstances of the 4 Nations tournament are much different than the 2014 Olympics...different ice surface, different makeup of the structure of the forward group with (imo) Barzal's primary skillsets being fairly redundant, we're weak on the left side/strong on the right side, etc.. Not to mention Barzal isn't exactly lighting the world on fire, and iirc Duchene was somewhere in the top-10 or so in NHL scoring at the Christmas break in 2013.

Yeah that's all true. Duchene was a good soldier for Canada internationally, not that Barzal always refuses either, but his speed was an asset that that team didn't really have. Barzal is one of the best skaters in the NHL but Canada has quality skaters who are healthier and have produced more. Numbers game for him.

I do think that Duchene consistently showing up for Canada helped push him on that team over guys like Seguin and Hall who were also elite skaters and having strong years that year. Hall and Seguin missed their chance in 2018.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Binnington and Hill making the team kind of hint that management is not going to be putting a ton of weight on the first 1/4 of this season. Probably bodes well for guys off to slow starts and not well for guys hoping their strong starts put them in a better spot to be selected.

Vast majority of this team was likely essentially picked in the summer.