Olympics: Team Canada 2022 (Part 2)

[A1LeafNation]

I'm curious why you've got Tavares between RoR and Stone and Scheifele who has actually played with them internationally as the extra. Personally, I just don't think Tavares will be a starter on the team if he makes it.

Just my opinion but I like JTs two-way game more than Scheif

 

[heretik27]

Just my opinion but I like JTs two-way game more than Scheif

Wouldn't Couturier be a better option if you're aiming for a stronger defensive center?

 

[Sky04]

Wouldn't Couturier be a better option if you're aiming for a stronger defensive center?

He is, Tavares and Scheifele are not even close defensively.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Wouldn't Couturier be a better option if you're aiming for a stronger defensive center?

He is, Tavares and Scheifele are not even close defensively.

Regardless of the circus that is Toronto, I still think Tavares is a franchise center and can play up and down the line up if there are injuries as well as PP and PK. I like his offence better than Couts and defence better than Scheif.

 

[Sky04]

Regardless of the circus that is Toronto, I still think Tavares is a franchise center and can play up and down the line up if there are injuries as well as PP and PK. I like his offence better than Couts and defence better than Scheif.

Tavares has never been a good two way center and his offense has been the same as Couturier's the last 2 years despite being much worse defensively. It doesn't matter about injuries because Canada already has too many centers in the top-6 playing wing. I don't see a top-9 role for Tavares at all and for a 4th line defensive line, Couturier is by far a better fit.

 

[centipede2233]

I doubt taveras makes this team.

 

[Tutu to]

I'm curious why you've got Tavares between RoR and Stone and Scheifele who has actually played with them internationally as the extra. Personally, I just don't think Tavares will be a starter on the team if he makes it.

I feel the answer is pretty obvious when you look at his username and picture lol.

 

[garbageteam]

In a best on best? I doubt it. A fair number of liabilities there. In particular a pretty poor skating squad overall.

that roster likely going 0 for 2 by the time the semis round begins. The US and Finnish teams appear quite a bit stronger to me at least.

anyone else worried in goal down the stretch if Price isn’t in form?

 

[JackSlater]

anyone else worried in goal down the stretch if Price isn’t in form?

Yes. We'll see how things look in a few months I guess.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Tavares has never been a good two way center and his offense has been the same as Couturier's the last 2 years despite being much worse defensively. It doesn't matter about injuries because Canada already has too many centers in the top-6 playing wing. I don't see a top-9 role for Tavares at all and for a 4th line defensive line, Couturier is by far a better fit.

Disagree, this why Team Canada always wants him. They like his two way game.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

that roster likely going 0 for 2 by the time the semis round begins. The US and Finnish teams appear quite a bit stronger to me at least.

anyone else worried in goal down the stretch if Price isn’t in form?

I think Kuemper is a decent fallback option.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Disagree, this why Team Canada always wants him. They like his two way game.

Team Canada picked him the last time for his offense. They didn't pick him for his two way game.

This narrative about Tavares having a strong two way game is strange to me. At best you could describe him as being dependable in his own zone (ie. he's not a liability). But Leaf fans pushing this idea that he's a strong two way player or that TC would select him because of his two way game isn't based on reality.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Team Canada picked him the last time for his offense. They didn't pick him for his two way game.

This narrative about Tavares having a strong two way game is strange to me. At best you could describe him as being dependable in his own zone (ie. he's not a liability). But Leaf fans pushing this idea that he's a strong two way player or that TC would select him because of his two way game isn't based on reality.

I think his predicament is that which he doesn’t fit in either a top 6 role due to his declining production, and he doesn’t fill a defensive forward need because he isn’t a consistent Selke finalists like the others; fortunately the leadership group is made up of competent hockey executives and not TSN and Sportsnet analysts

 

[ORRFForever]

I doubt taveras makes this team.

I doubt it, too.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Carey Price out long term due to mental health issues, enters players assistance program.

Who is your pick for starter if Price can’t go?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Carey Price out long term due to mental health issues, enters players assistance program.

Who is your pick for starter if Price can’t go?

As of this minute probably Fleury or Keumper.

 

[JackSlater]

Carey Price out long term due to mental health issues, enters players assistance program.

Who is your pick for starter if Price can’t go?

Kuemper I guess. Whoever is playing best early this year though. I'd rather not go with Fleury if there is any decent alternative.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Carey Price out long term due to mental health issues, enters players assistance program.

Who is your pick for starter if Price can’t go?

The news in the French media is he probably won’t need more than the minimum 30 days required by the programme but it’s good to therorize in case he can’t go I suppose

 

[Zybalto]

Team Canada picked him the last time for his offense. They didn't pick him for his two way game.

This narrative about Tavares having a strong two way game is strange to me. At best you could describe him as being dependable in his own zone (ie. he's not a liability). But Leaf fans pushing this idea that he's a strong two way player or that TC would select him because of his two way game isn't based on reality.

I agree with you here and was going to leave him out of consideration if it was bigger ice but his board play and strong 2nd half last year certainly keep him in the mix on the NHL ice surface. Tavares/Getzlaf/Stamkos grinded teams into the ground during that 2016 gold medal run and would have a lot more points if Stamkos (the triggerman they kept trying to set up) could stop hitting posts. I figure throwing a guy like O'Reilly between those 2 again would make for a very dangerous, crazy tough to contain 4th line in China.

 

[ORRFForever]

Now, I believe the subject here is whether Marner is on the first line or excommunicated from the team...and USA's chances fluctuating from 50% to 0% depending on Eichel's surgery status.

Exactly !!!!!!

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I agree with you here and was going to leave him out of consideration if it was bigger ice but his board play and strong 2nd half last year certainly keep him in the mix on the NHL ice surface. Tavares/Getzlaf/Stamkos grinded teams into the ground during that 2016 gold medal run and would have a lot more points if Stamkos (the triggerman they kept trying to set up) could stop hitting posts. I figure throwing a guy like O'Reilly between those 2 again would make for a very dangerous, crazy tough to contain 4th line in China.

The difference between today and those 2014/2016 tournaments is Tavares is now older and less effective than he was at his peak, and there are more youngsters who are in their prime who simply weren't around back then.

Is it possible Tavares makes it? Sure, Canada does tend to show favoritism to players who played at previous international tournaments for them. But even if he makes it, it'll be in a much more limited role than his previous stints on Team Canada. He's simply no longer one of the top 12 forwards in Canada now. He was back in 2014/2016.

 

[User9992]

I doubt Finland can compete with Olympic Canada team. Finland has like 5-6 Elite level players (Barkov, Rantanen, Aho, Heiskanen & Saros). Meanwhile Canada's roster is full of Elite level players from top to bottom, even their reserve players are Elite too.

 

[JackSlater]

I doubt Finland can compete with Olympic Canada team. Finland has like 5-6 Elite level players (Barkov, Rantanen, Aho, Heiskanen & Saros). Meanwhile Canada's roster is full of Elite level players from top to bottom, even their reserve players are Elite too.

That's true pretty much every time, and yet Canada doesn't win the Olympic tournament every time NHLers are there. They have to play the games and see who wins, and it isn't always the more talented team. Finland beating Canada in an elimination game would not be a huge surprise or anything.

 

[Steazy Doo]

Did you watch him in the playoffs? If he makes this team it’s on reputation alone and not form

Better then Marners playoff

 

[ORRFForever]

Better then Marners playoff

Low bar, indeed.