Is this the greatest Canada team ever?

[Anichels]

I think there might be an argument to be made for best team.

The only reason I say that is that I think in terms of the Defense and Forwards, this team is obviously not better - but they are very, very good.
However, I think Levi has been arguably much better than the goaltending in 2005. So as a team, this might in fact be the best ever team.

They need to win tonight, though.

 

[JackSlater]

This is 100% correct. Part of our admiration of 2005 team comes from the vast number of players who had tremendous success in pro hockey. Crosby, Bergeron, Carter, Richards, Phaneuf, Seabrook, etc. all went on to have at minimum above-average careers. What happens with this team remains to be seen, however pretty sure guys like Byram, Drysdale, Cozens are going to be stars in the NHL but I don't know if there is enough of them to match the 2005 level of post-tournament success.

Also competition is a HUGE factor. Not only did the 05' team dust a stacked Russian squad (Podkolzin is no Malkin or Ovechkin), but countries have lost some serious talent due to over-bearing Covid rules including Canada's first opponent Germany, who they ran the score up on (Reichel, Seider sat out, role players quarantining for the start of the tournament, etc.). As you also mentioned, countries like the Czechs and Slovaks are not where they were in 2005 (this is evidence by the fact that 2005 was also the last tournament that the Czech's medaled) and between the two they have one since - a bronze for Slovakia in 2015.

It helps that those guys went on to become stars but by the same token players like Dawes and Stewart, who were elite at the WJC level, get underrated in retrospect due to how their NHL careers ended up going. The 2005 team was pretty widely regarded as the best ever by a few minutes into the second period of the gold medal game when most of those players outside of Bergeron and Crosby were not sure bets. I don't think that it's the same situation as this team is in.

 

[ORRFForever]

No, but it has proven a memorable team. Probably the best skating team Canada. The 2005 team looked better than the opposition in a way that the 2021 team doesn't. I remember hearing Patrick O'Sullivan, credible source I know, talk about how in 2005 he felt that the Americans were relieved not to be playing Canada in the finals. He basically said they'd rather win bronze than get decimated and embarrassed in the final. I don't think that people will talk that way about the 2021 team. Of course, the team could still lose the gold medal tonight and render all of this pointless.

Well said.

 

[ORRFForever]

I think they still have to win a gold medal yet right?

Might just be me but it seems a little premature for this topic.

Yes. Don't jinx us with this kind of thread.

 

[ORRFForever]

After we lose by three to the US tonight, will this still be a legitimate question? Or will we, as Canadians, be asking “what went wrong?”

Depends.

If Canada wins, will you stop with your infatuation with the U.S. team?

 

[ORRFForever]

I am looking forward to watching a lot of these players progress over the next 3-4 seasons, but am especially looking forward to Dach, Lafreniere, Cozens, Byram, Drysdale moving on up the Hockey Canada depth chart and playing a senior men's tournament sooner than later.

If this team goes on to dominate international hockey for the next 12 years, I'll reconsider, but until that happens, I don't expect to ever see a team like 2005, again.

 

[ORRFForever]

Way too early to discuss that.

Win against the USA and then, MAYBE we'll talk.

Then again, 2005 is pretty much untouchable.

That 2005 team ended up having Crosby, Bergeron, Weber, Carter, Getzlaf and Richards on the 2010 Olympic team.

Don't overlook Perry.

 

[Fatass]

Depends.

If Canada wins, will you stop with your infatuation with the U.S. team?

Has there been a team since the Fedorov, Mogilny, Bure Russians to have so much elite skill (firepower) as this US team though?

 

[ORRFForever]

Has there been a team since the Fedorov, Mogilny, Bure Russians to have so much elite skill (firepower) as this US team though?

I don't see what you see. I really don't.

 

[SOLR]

Honestly, it's pretty unfortunate that this group hasn't been tested at all. Would've been nice to see at least one great round robin game (the divisions were awful this year), or at the very least see Russia show up yesterday. Even as a Canadian I'm glad that the gold medal game should be a nailbiter - would've been kind of shitty having to beat up on a weak Finland team again

Russia did show up, they were not a good team.

 

[SOLR]

Also a shoutout to the 1995 team, which was generally viewed as our best junior team ever until 2005. This was during the lockout, so several guys who would have been in the NHL were available for this tournament - most notably Daigle, Allison, and McCabe. In hindsight this team lacks the star quality of the 2005, but at the time they were rightfully seen as a juggernaut with a good mix of high-end draft picks (Daigle, Jovanovski, Redden, O'Neill, Smyth), top prospects at the time (Storr, Baumgartner, Allison, McCabe, Friesen, Harvey) and good ol' fashioned Canadian grit and experience that you typically saw in the bottom of the lineup with Canadian teams of that era. The level of competition was similar to other tournaments of the mid to late 1990s. The line of Allison/Murray/Daze absolutely wrecked their opponents (this was probably our best line ever until Bergeron/Crosby/Perry ten years later) and McCabe was dominant on the PP. Obviously many of these prospects didn't turn out as expected for a variety of reasons, but for the time period this was a really, really good team.

It's pretty strange that we have all our best teams on a 10-year cycle. 1995-2005-2015-?2025

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

Best Canadian junior team ever? You might wan't to wait until you win the tournament, before asking such a question.

 

[Mickey Marner]

It's pretty strange that we have all our best teams on a 10-year cycle. 1995-2005-2015-?2025

I think it's mostly just coincidence. Both the lockouts and Crosby & McDavid were ten years apart.

 

[Dr Quincy]

After semifinals they are simply amazing:

6 games, 6 wins with score 41:4.

The mighty 2005 Canada team was 41:7 in 6 games.

Yeah, one loss in finals could destroy it.

Yup.
Unbeatable, steamrolling powerhouse. No chance they lose. Epic all time greatest team ever.

 

[NyQuil]

Yup.
Unbeatable, steamrolling powerhouse. No chance they lose. Epic all time greatest team ever.

I hate you.

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

I take relief, in the fact that a Canadian didn't start this thread! Trailer Park Boys statement.

 

[Dr Quincy]

I hate you.

Get in line!!

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Only if they win the finals in a lopsided fashion and MAYBE. We will have to see in 15 years how good the kids on this team get. Thats really the reason why 2005 Team Canada seem so great. Also, its hard to compare since the format is slightly different. Its easier when you get a bye.

 

[CherryToke]

Seems like the other teams have more flaws than most years but yeah that Canadian defence is beastly for sure

 

[MichaelFarrell]

This team has it all. They have the skill, speed and the ability to bury the opportunities they create. The goaltending has been solid as well but Canada doesn’t give up many scoring chances.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Is this the greatest jinx thread ever?

Probably not, but the US still has to win first to even consider whether it might be.

 

[jj cale]

Yes. Don't jinx us with this kind of thread.

I'm just glad it wasn't one of our fans who made it.

 

[CupsOverCash]

So if usa wins tonight, what does that mean for team canada?

 

[NyQuil]

So if usa wins tonight, what does that mean for team canada?

It means pretty conclusively that they aren’t.

 

[HSF]

No I don’t think so . I think the other teams had weaker rosters too

I guess we will see how many star players come off this team

also I think the pressure is way different with fans