World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[jj cale]

Digging in now to take my second gut punch of this hockey year, the absolute stench of the juniors have me well prepared for this one.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Digging in now to take my second gut punch of this hockey year, the absolute stench of the juniors have me well prepared for this one.

Any update on if the four nations team will be holding practices?

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Digging in now to take my second gut punch of this hockey year, the absolute stench of the juniors have me well prepared for this one.

On a positive note, Jon Cooper is a hundred times better than Dave Cameron.

And this team's iffy selections are more along the edges.

 

[jj cale]

Any update on if the four nations team will be holding practices?

i've heard of nothing but it won't matter if they do. It's not just a deficiency problem in personnel relative to other teams that is the only problem right now with Hockey Canada, it's the " vibe surrounding our teams at the current moment and it's rather ugly. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Our time is not now. We have to fix it.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

There is a lot of talk about Bennett deserving to be on this team or not.....Marchand is the worst forward on this team and he was one of the first ones announced lol

 

[Linds]

There is a lot of talk about Bennett deserving to be on this team or not.....Marchand is the worst forward on this team and he was one of the first ones announced lol

I'm not a Boston fan, but you're definitely underrating Marchand. He's a proven champion and plays a complete game

 

[Nucks2001]

There is a lot of talk about Bennett deserving to be on this team or not.....Marchand is the worst forward on this team and he was one of the first ones announced lol

Agreed

 

[Nucks2001]

I'm not a Boston fan, but you're definitely underrating Marchand. He's a proven champion and plays a complete game

He's not completely useless for the team, but when you consider that you have Hagel, Konency and Bennett to fill those roles, you can start to see why Marchand being named in the first 6 was a reach.

I think he likely got in because of his experience, Don Sweeney and probably Sid and Mack. Again, he's not a terrible player by any means, I think at this stage in his career, there are better options available. Does he even kill penalties on this team with guys like Cirelli, Stone, Reinhart, Hagel, Konecny?

 

[Regal]

He's not completely useless for the team, but when you consider that you have Hagel, Konency and Bennett to fill those roles, you can start to see why Marchand being named in the first 6 was a reach.

I think he likely got in because of his experience, Don Sweeney and probably Sid and Mack. Again, he's not a terrible player by any means, I think at this stage in his career, there are better options available. Does he even kill penalties on this team with guys like Cirelli, Stone, Reinhart, Hagel, Konecny?

Probably depends on whether the Nova Scotia line becomes a thing. I’d imagine they’d want to spread the minutes, so if he’s getting big minutes with MacK and Sid maybe not, but if he falls down the lineup, maybe they play him more on the PK over the better 5v5 guys. His PK numbers are still really strong.

 

[Nucks2001]

Probably depends on whether the Nova Scotia line becomes a thing. I’d imagine they’d want to spread the minutes, so if he’s getting big minutes with MacK and Sid maybe not, but if he falls down the lineup, maybe they play him more on the PK over the better 5v5 guys. His PK numbers are still really strong.

True. I just think one of the PK units is already a lock with Cirelli and Hagel (Coop coaching too).

From there, I think it’s a MUST to have Stone on your penalty kill. He’s been Canada’s best PK winger for a while now. Leaves Marchand on the outside, looking in.

I wonder who will be centering the 2nd pk unit now that I think about it. Won’t see much time. I don’t see Coop trusting Bennett to fill those shoes. Maybe Jarvis if he plays or Point.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

True. I just think one of the PK units is already a lock with Cirelli and Hagel (Coop coaching too).

From there, I think it’s a MUST to have Stone on your penalty kill. He’s been Canada’s best PK winger for a while now. Leaves Marchand on the outside, looking in.

I wonder who will be centering the 2nd pk unit now that I think about it. Won’t see much time. I don’t see Coop trusting Bennett to fill those shoes. Maybe Jarvis if he plays or Point.

In the past, it wouldn't be unusual to see Babcock run 3 PK units at the best-on-best level with very short shifts, so I'd expect Marchand to be in the mix.

Like you, I don't see Bennett as being a good PK option.

But if you're worried about who will take the faceoffs on the PK, well...you should be! Cirelli is at 51% this season but under 50% for his career. Point is under 50% this season and for his career. Reinhart takes faceoffs on his strong side from time-to-time, but is in the low 40% range overall. Stone and Marner, both really good PK options, don't take faceoffs. Canada lacks that elite faceoff ability that we had from 2010 to 2016 with Bergeron and Toews, and I think it'll be a significant detriment to our PK as there is a good chance that we lose d-zone draws and get hemmed in in our own end.

For this reason, I'd actually expect Crosby to see some PK time, even if its only to take critical d-zone faceoffs. Crosby is still at ~55% this season, and in the high-50% range for his career, so still elite and the best faceoff guy we have. So maybe:

Crosby - Marchand (for d-zone draws then look for a change first clear)
Cirelli - Hagel
Stone - Marner

I'm comfortable with the PKing ability of those 6 players, just not their ability to win critical draws (except Crosby)

 

[Juxta Position]

Anxious to see who plays on McDavid’s LW. I think it’s a given that the Nova Scotia line will at least start the tournament out as Canada’s 2nd line.

Reinhart is likely the 1st line RW. I think Hagel could complement the 1st line well as the LW. Be the forechecker and puck retrieval guy while Reinhart focuses on getting in front of the net.

But don’t you want Hagel with Cirelli? A lot of questions. Excited to see what Cooper comes up with.

If only there was a winger out there who had great chemistry with McDavid, never gives up on a play, and has scored 50 goals in this league next to.....Connor McDavid.

Team Canada's nepotism (I'm looking at you Armstrong and Cooper) will cause this team to lose this tournament. And to be honest I hope that happens so the executives at hockey see that these guys are not the guys to pick the team for the Olympics.

I'd rather Canada get shelled in this farce of a tournament to prove that these guys are completely out to lunch with their picks, than to have that happen on the Olympic stage.