Olympics: Team Canada 2022 (Part 2)

[ujju2]

Point - McDavid - Mackinnon
Bergeron - Crosby - Marchand
Stone - Barzal - Marner
Tavares - O'Reilly - Stamkos
Couturier/Scheifele

Theodore - Pietrangelo
Muzzin - Makar
Nurse - Doughty
Ekblad/Hamilton

Price
Fleury
Binnington

I could see Hyman being a longshot for the team if he continues to score at this pace with McDavid.

I'd have Couturier in over Marner. Lots of offensive options on the team already, Couts brings a needed skillset.

Edit: looks like Holtby's having a great start to the season. If he keeps it up he might be a dark horse to beat out Binnington.

 

[ujju2]

Just took a look at the 2014 roster and boy oh boy is this roster gonna be multitudes better than that.
Marleau
Sharp
Hamhuis
Nash
Carter
Kunitz
Toews
Benn

To name a few who in their absolute primes would not make this years team.

Toews in his absolute prime wouldn't make this team? I know he gets a lot of hate around these parts because of his contract but wow that's a delusional take.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I'd have Couturier in over Marner. Lots of offensive options on the team already, Couts brings a needed skillset.

Edit: looks like Holtby's having a great start to the season. If he keeps it up he might be a dark horse to beat out Binnington.

He wasn’t included on the main list, even if he’s on track to win the Vézina they can’t pick him

 

[Mathieukferland]

After the first full week of the season, here would be my team


Bergeron-Crosby-Marchand
Stamkos-McDavid-Huberdeau
Barzal-MacKinnon-Point
Couturier-O’Reilly-Stone
Scheifele

note: Marner drops out and Stamkos draws in to play alongside McDavid. Scheifele’s spot could go to Giroux, Couture, or a number of other Canadian forwards who have had good starts

Theodore-Makar
Pietrangelo-Doughty
Ekblad-Hamilton
Parayko
Byram

note: with the right side so insanely stacked I feel it would be unjust to leave players off the team just based on handiness, though I know the management group will. Ekblad would be my pick right now for Norris and can look to make himself a spot in the top 4. Toews coming back should help his chances and Byram has been great to start the season, hence the inclusion. Ekblad and Pietroangelo have played the left side before, Chychrun and Chabot drop out

Price (if not available this order starts with Binnington)
Binnington
Kuemper
Hart

Note: Binnington has started well, would be my number one given big game experience if Price is unable to go

 

[JackSlater]

After the first full week of the season, here would be my team


Bergeron-Crosby-Marchand
Stamkos-McDavid-Huberdeau
Barzal-MacKinnon-Point
Couturier-O’Reilly-Stone
Scheifele

note: Marner drops out and Stamkos draws in to play alongside McDavid. Scheifele’s spot could go to Giroux, Couture, or a number of other Canadian forwards who have had good starts

Theodore-Makar
Pietrangelo-Doughty
Ekblad-Hamilton
Parayko
Byram

note: with the right side so insanely stacked I feel it would be unjust to leave players off the team just based on handiness, though I know the management group will. Ekblad would be my pick right now for Norris and can look to make himself a spot in the top 4. Toews coming back should help his chances and Byram has been great to start the season, hence the inclusion. Ekblad and Pietroangelo have played the left side before, Chychrun and Chabot drop out

Price (if not available this order starts with Binnington)
Binnington
Kuemper
Hart

Note: Binnington has started well, would be my number one given big game experience if Price is unable to go

Ekblad seems to be picking up where he left off last year, if not better. That's really good for the team. Canada could use another Norris type defenceman.

 

[ORRFForever]

Under the category of "Irony" and "Something you thought you'd NEVER see"...

I'm standing up for Marner in the Toronto forum where they want him drawn and quartered.

 

[JackSlater]

Agreed on Suzuki.

The one younger player I've been impressed by is Konecny. He's been really good. I'm not convinced he's necessarily a TC quality player, but I think he's close. He can play any forward position, adds an element of grit and physicality, has really good speed and hustle, and can score. I'm biased as a 67s fan, but he's moved up my own depth chart so far this season.

Konecny is good. In the summer I was considering the B team players and had Konecny there. Good sort of utility player at this level who brings different things to the table and takes nothing away. He did well doing the grunt work on Point's line at his one IIHF WC appearance and you could see him doing a decent job in that sort of role again. I wouldn't take him on the team at this point or anything but I also wouldn't be shocked or disappointed if he was on the long list.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I wonder if Perron has a shot?

 

[JackSlater]

I wonder if Perron has a shot?

I'd be surprised if he wasn't included in the long list and you'd have to think that he's tempting Armstrong at the moment. There is a long way to go though and usually talent sorts itself out.

 

[StlBill]

I wonder if Perron has a shot?

Given who the GM is, I think both Perron and Kyrou get a sniff

 

[StlBill]

I also had a lengthy conversation with Parayko last night, and you have no idea how much he wants a shot at this team...

 

[ORRFForever]

I also had a lengthy conversation with Parayko last night...

Seriously?

 

[ORRFForever]

8 letters / 2 words that need to be descrambled to solve our goaltending needs...

IONC WDSA

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

8 letters / 2 words that need to be descrambled to solve our goaltending needs...

IONC WDSA

Nico Daws

 

[ORRFForever]

Nico Daws

Good Man !!!!!

 

[86Habs]

I’m going to say that I did not expect Marner to start this poorly; I would say his spot is in play now

I think "his spot" has always been in play, honestly. Recent history tells us that Hockey Canada favours bigger, stronger, faster goal-scoring wingers over playmaking wingers. That said, its very early and there is plenty of time for him to turn it around. Marner has the added benefit of being strong defensively and a good PKer, which tilts things in his direction too.

After the first full week of the season, here would be my team


Bergeron-Crosby-Marchand
Stamkos-McDavid-Huberdeau
Barzal-MacKinnon-Point
Couturier-O’Reilly-Stone
Scheifele

note: Marner drops out and Stamkos draws in to play alongside McDavid. Scheifele’s spot could go to Giroux, Couture, or a number of other Canadian forwards who have had good starts

Theodore-Makar
Pietrangelo-Doughty
Ekblad-Hamilton
Parayko
Byram

note: with the right side so insanely stacked I feel it would be unjust to leave players off the team just based on handiness, though I know the management group will. Ekblad would be my pick right now for Norris and can look to make himself a spot in the top 4. Toews coming back should help his chances and Byram has been great to start the season, hence the inclusion. Ekblad and Pietroangelo have played the left side before, Chychrun and Chabot drop out

Price (if not available this order starts with Binnington)
Binnington
Kuemper
Hart

Note: Binnington has started well, would be my number one given big game experience if Price is unable to go

Good roster, I'd probably have the same 13 forwards on my team right now too. Hockey Canada, and Armstrong in particular, has also shown a reluctance to select Giroux, so I'd have his chances at fairly low honestly (when he was selected to the 2016 team he dressed for one game). I'd like for a LHS defenceman to step up in the next few months and secure a spot...Chycrun, Pelech, Chabot, Toews, Nurse. Plenty of options there. I can't see us go to Beijing with one LHS defenceman on the roster (Theodore)...my guess is we'll have at least 3 out of the 8-man group, assuming Pietrangelo or Ekblad can switch over in the top-6.

Konecny is good. In the summer I was considering the B team players and had Konecny there. Good sort of utility player at this level who brings different things to the table and takes nothing away. He did well doing the grunt work on Point's line at his one IIHF WC appearance and you could see him doing a decent job in that sort of role again. I wouldn't take him on the team at this point or anything but I also wouldn't be shocked or disappointed if he was on the long list.

Yeah he reminds me a lot of Patrick Sharp (though Sharp was better offensively and Konecny plays with more jam)...he does a lot of things well, nothing extraordinary, and a good, versatile player to have at the bottom of your roster. A longshot, to be sure, but I like seeing players like that get rewarded. I have trouble envisioning veteran players like Stamkos, Tavares, or Toews (to name a few) named to the roster but end up being healthy scratches; its seems...disrespectful and maybe a bit of a distraction. To me, I'd rather have a guy like Konecny on the roster but healthy scratched, and the veterans (if they're playing at a high enough level) be part of the core forward group. As I write this Stamkos has shown that he belongs as part of that core forward group. Jury is out on some of the others.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah he reminds me a lot of Patrick Sharp (though Sharp was better offensively and Konecny plays with more jam)...he does a lot of things well, nothing extraordinary, and a good, versatile player to have at the bottom of your roster. A longshot, to be sure, but I like seeing players like that get rewarded. I have trouble envisioning veteran players like Stamkos, Tavares, or Toews (to name a few) named to the roster but end up being healthy scratches; its seems...disrespectful and maybe a bit of a distraction. To me, I'd rather have a guy like Konecny on the roster but healthy scratched, and the veterans (if they're playing at a high enough level) be part of the core forward group. As I write this Stamkos has shown that he belongs as part of that core forward group. Jury is out on some of the others.

I'm not convinced of Stamkos yet. I'm curious to see where his game is at come December. Regarding Stamkos and Konecny, yes Stamkos is a better player. But when it comes to depth players sometimes it's better to have a guy who can contribute in any role than a guy who may be iffy in certain situations.

To explain what I'm thinking (poorly), it's why Marleau was consistently valuable for Canada at the best on best level while better players sometimes weren't. If McDavid is a 10/10 player, maybe Stamkos is an 8/10 and Konecny is a 7/10. Call him a 6/10 if you want. But I'm confident that Konecny can bring that 7 or 6 on any line and in any role that he might be required to play, just as Marleau could bring his 7/10 to every line he played on. Marleau's size, speed, defensive responsibility, and solid goal scoring without monopolizing the puck could be an asset in ay configuration or role. I could see Stamkos ranging from an 8 to a 3 or 4 depending on where he ends up on a roster and how he is used. Lines need different things to function. Of course if the sniper version of Stamkos could re-emerge, that would be great.

I wouldn't have Konecny on the roster and I'm not fully convinced of Stamkos, though he might make it at the moment. But they are good players who could be useful. I'll always be curious about what Stamkos could have done in 2014 if he hadn't broken his leg.

 

[86Habs]

I'm not convinced of Stamkos yet. I'm curious to see where his game is at come December. Regarding Stamkos and Konecny, yes Stamkos is a better player. But when it comes to depth players sometimes it's better to have a guy who can contribute in any role than a guy who may be iffy in certain situations.

To explain what I'm thinking (poorly), it's why Marleau was consistently valuable for Canada at the best on best level while better players sometimes weren't. If McDavid is a 10/10 player, maybe Stamkos is an 8/10 and Konecny is a 7/10. Call him a 6/10 if you want. But I'm confident that Konecny can bring that 7 or 6 on any line and in any role that he might be required to play, just as Marleau could bring his 7/10 to every line he played on. Marleau's size, speed, defensive responsibility, and solid goal scoring without monopolizing the puck could be an asset in ay configuration or role. I could see Stamkos ranging from an 8 to a 3 or 4 depending on where he ends up on a roster and how he is used. Lines need different things to function. Of course if the sniper version of Stamkos could re-emerge, that would be great.

I wouldn't have Konecny on the roster and I'm not fully convinced of Stamkos, though he might make it at the moment. But they are good players who could be useful. I'll always be curious about what Stamkos could have done in 2014 if he hadn't broken his leg.

No, that was well explained and I get what you're saying. I liked Marleau on Team Canada and feel it was a classic case of a good coach (Babcock) putting a player in the best possible position to succeed, even if those key skills (penalty killing, strong defensive play up and down the wing) weren't necessarily obvious from his NHL play. Same as Carter. Both guys were vastly underrated at the time as Team Canada candidates, imo, with many of the pundits preferring the flashier play of guys like Giroux, Hall or Seguin.

I wiffle-waffle on Stamkos a lot. At his best, he could be a valuable finisher for us in the top-6, and provide elite faceoff ability on the right side (Bergeron being our only other elite RHS option). He's good enough defensively that that won't keep him off the team I guess, and he still has a lot of the speed from his younger days so he could get up and down the ice with the likes of McDavid and MacKinnon. He wouldn't add a robust physical or defensive dimension to his line, like I believe we need with McDavid or MacKinnon. At his worse, as you said, he's a 3 or 4...a passenger, not visible, not physically engaged, not getting open or not finding the net with his shot. He then becomes a busted selection, useful only for taking draws. Then we need to hope that Armstrong brought the right assets along to replace him in whatever top-6 role he was in.

So I get what you're saying. I've looked at what Cooper has done with him, especially in the playoffs, and I see 3rd line deployment (though solid production on a really good team). I'd like to see him keep up his high quality of play though, and wonder whether continued chemistry with him and Point will result in them going as a package deal.

 

[StlBill]

Seriously?

Yeah, Berube gave the Blues yesterday off and most of them were out after the win on Saturday. Hung out with Parayko, Thomas, Kyrou, Neighbors, Neal, Scandella, Sunny, and Walman. Colton is a really nice guy. Us Blues fans almost wish he wasn’t so nice, like wish he had a little of Pronger’s mean streak lol. But yeah, he really wants a shot at the Olympic team.

 

[centipede2233]

I’m sure cooper will give his candid opinion on stamkos, whatever that opinion is behind closed doors.

if guys like Perron or Hyman somehow make the team, that really puts the bubble guys like stamkos, marner and barzal in jeopardy (btw I have barzal making it but he’s definitely not a sure fire lock)

 

[86Habs]

I’m sure cooper will give his candid opinion on stamkos, whatever that opinion is behind closed doors.

if guys like Perron or Hyman somehow make the team, that really puts the bubble guys like stamkos, marner and barzal in jeopardy (btw I have barzal making it but he’s definitely not a sure fire lock)

I don't know, neither Perron nor Hyman have much of a history with Hockey Canada. Kind of a prerequisite if you look back on things. In recent memory, Logan Couture is the only player I can think of that didn't suit up for Canada in either the WJHCs or WHCs and ended up making our A team (2016 World Cup). There have probably been others, but he's the one that comes to mind immediately. Perron played in the Canada/Russia Super Series ages ago, but that's it.

Perron obviously has his GM with STL selecting the team. He's also a pretty impactful player, and has been for a few years now. I wouldn't personally select him, but wouldn't be all that disappointed if Armstrong did. There is a chance that Hyman rides McDavid's coattails to Beijing, just like Kunitz did. I truly hope HC has learned its lesson from the Kunitz selection; that 1-0 semifinal win vs. the United States could have easily been a 3-0 game if Crosby and Bergeron had a better finisher playing with them.

At some point though, there will simply be too many better players in front of these guys and my guess is both Perron and Hyman revert back to their means. I think Perron has some chance (call it 20%) of making the team, moreso than does Hyman.

 

[centipede2233]

I don't know, neither Perron nor Hyman have much of a history with Hockey Canada. Kind of a prerequisite if you look back on things. In recent memory, Logan Couture is the only player I can think of that didn't suit up for Canada in either the WJHCs or WHCs and ended up making our A team (2016 World Cup). There have probably been others, but he's the one that comes to mind immediately. Perron played in the Canada/Russia Super Series ages ago, but that's it.

Perron obviously has his GM with STL selecting the team. He's also a pretty impactful player, and has been for a few years now. I wouldn't personally select him, but wouldn't be all that disappointed if Armstrong did. There is a chance that Hyman rides McDavid's coattails to Beijing, just like Kunitz did. I truly hope HC has learned its lesson from the Kunitz selection; that 1-0 semifinal win vs. the United States could have easily been a 3-0 game if Crosby and Bergeron had a better finisher playing with them.

At some point though, there will simply be too many better players in front of these guys and my guess is both Perron and Hyman revert back to their means. I think Perron has some chance (call it 20%) of making the team, moreso than does Hyman.

It seems every best on best team Canada always names a player to the team like out of nowhere cause intangibles, I’m sure we will see a left field selection this time to, just don’t know who lol

 

[ORRFForever]

Yeah, Berube gave the Blues yesterday off and most of them were out after the win on Saturday. Hung out with Parayko, Thomas, Kyrou, Neighbors, Neal, Scandella, Sunny, and Walman. Colton is a really nice guy. Us Blues fans almost wish he wasn’t so nice, like wish he had a little of Pronger’s mean streak lol. But yeah, he really wants a shot at the Olympic team.

Cool! Big kid?

 

[ORRFForever]

So...

Are we still taking Marner?

 

[um]

So...

Are we still taking Marner?

We're taking him off our list!