I somewhat agree, but I feel having a couple of players able to physically overpower smaller high skilled dmen (like Fox, McAvoy, etc.) can play a big role in tight games.
Olympics: Team Canada 2022 (Part 2)
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Scheifele's game is entirely built around puck possession imo. He plays a pretty heavy forechecking + cycling game with Wheeler and previously Kyle Connor. When he's got the puck on his stick he's one of the best in the league at using his body to protect and shield it. Defensively, he's been cheating for the last few years for offense and hasn't looked as interested in that aspect of the game, but if you've seen him with Stone/RoR previously, he fits right in and gives that line a bit more of an offensive punch. I don't think it's that he's not capable, it seems to be an issue of not being willing (for the last few years). Given the minutes Maurice dumps on him and Wheeler and the fact that Bryan Little hasn't been healthy in like 5+ years, it's understandable that he might feel a bit of a weight on his shoulders in those prior years to produce offensively. With PLD picking up the slack this season I think I saw Scheifele back check for the first time in years last night. He's still not quite there, having only played 4 games so far this season, but I think he's a bit of a chameleon and fits in anywhere you need him in a lineup. If he's not at least taken as a back up, I'd be quite surprised. On the other hand, a part of me wants to see him get snubbed so he plays with that chip on his shoulder all season haha
Good to know! Admittedly I'm not a Scheif fan (I'm a habs fan after all), but if he's able to play that role for Canada, it would be great
Though I'm really coming around to my suggestion of Burns as a forward, even if I didn't mean it seriously at first lol
No need to single out Marner and Barzal as they are puck stipping machines in their own right:
Top 10 players in the NHL for takeaways over the last 2 years:
1. Stone
2. Matthews
3. Marner
4. Draisaitl
5. O'Reilly
6. Backlund
7. Brown
8. Scheifele
9. Aho
10. Barzal
Team Canada should own the world again as they have an advantage in every area you can name except the goaltending position but with the pure offensive and defensive talent in front of the goalkeeper, its going to make life for the keeper much easier than any other team will be up against.
Appreciate the information/correction...thank you! Was more implying that in puck battles (for neutral pucks in the corners or along the walls) which happen far more often, than giveaways/takeaways in any given game, Marner and Barzal are not necessarily guys that come to mind when thinking of players who, more often than not, come out of the corner with the puck... I still think they are both going to make the team however, as the puck possession domination of Team Canada during the tournament, is going to mean a lot less neutral puck battles, than in a usual NHL game.
Anyone see any players that are inserting themselves into the conversation with 3 months to go?
Mathieukferland
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CanadienShark
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As much as I'd love to see it, Couture's chance was in 2014/2016 WCH. He won't make the team this time.
TheBeastCoast
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Too much competition at center for couture to make it. Byram is a rookie, no rookie makes team Canada, none.
One name that should be on team Canada’s radar is Andrew mangiapane
Not only is he having a nice season, he was tournament mvp in team Canada’s gold medal win last hockey world championships
Not only is he having a nice season, he was tournament mvp in team Canada’s gold medal win last hockey world championships
JackSlater
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I think it's time we stop beating around the bush - after last night Marner is not only on the team, but he's also on the top line. So the only question is, who best complements Marner? McDavid wants the puck too much so he's gone. MacKinnon likes the big moments and Canada needs the puck on Marner's stick at the critical moments, so that's a big no. This is the puzzle that I'm sure is keeping the selection committee, as well as the coaching staff, up at night. The team is only going to go as far as Marner can carry it, so he may as well be put in the best position to succeed.
Gold Standard
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JackSlater
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Given that Marner will be captain, it's probably best to leave Crosby at home and avoid the whole power struggle. Though honestly most of the players are just going to follow the team's alpha, Marner, anyway.
Mathieukferland
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It’s time Mitch Marner puts the team on his back in Beijing, it’s not like he will have any help out there
JackSlater
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It goes without saying that the 2018 Olympics would have turned out differently if Canada had tabbed Marner to lead the team. If the Canadian sports media didn't ignore everything that goes on in Toronto it almost certainly would have happened. When the going gets tough, Mighty Mitch gets going. If Yzerman can't be the GM, we can at least bring in the new Yzerman, though with superior leadership and clutch qualities, to lead the team.
TheBeastCoast
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Not gonna lie it is going to be fun watching the bitching and moaning when he is named to the team lol
Weeger I could see having a shot but I think Byram will get passed over just due to his age and the fact there are so many candidates on D.
Couture is interesting in that he's been a fringe candidate for so long and has that outside shot with it being played on NHL ice. If he stays hot, he could for sure be in the mix but do you take him ahead of guys like Tavares/Stammer who were there for gold in 2016 if they are running hot too?
Last Year
This Year
I would love to see this pair together at the olympics. When they play together at 5on5 the panthers score well over 50% of the goals.
This Year
I would love to see this pair together at the olympics. When they play together at 5on5 the panthers score well over 50% of the goals.
Expected goals is useful, particularly against, but should be noted that a lot of star players can regularly put up better goals for than their expected goals for, because of their shooting ability or because the chances they’re creating are actually better than what expected goals is listing them as. Huberdeau and Stamkos are two big ones here that do that.
Sidney the Kidney
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Which is kind of why expected goals, in its current form, is questionable as a useful stat. It doesn't take into account shooting talent, so it will often "punish" stars and "reward" bad players.
It might be fine on a team level, where each team's star players and 4th liners balance each other out. But when comparing individual players, IMO, it's extremely flawed.
SOLR
Registered User
He'll be hard to ignore, we don't have many pure wingers like him. If you play him with responsible players he'll do well.
Hell, I was thinking it might be worth trying something like:
Huberdeau/Tavares - McDavid - Scheifele/Point
Mckinnon - Crosby - Marner
Marchand - Bergeron - Barzal
This place one element of super speed on each line.
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HFpapi
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Call me crazy and maybe it’s sacrilege (I’ve been his fan since he was 16 so it pains me to say), but I wonder if Canada jumped the gun naming Crosby as one of the first 3. 34 years old, coming off yet another injury, poor playoffs last Spring, only one game played this season… February is still 3 months away but maybe should’ve taken a wait-and-see approach with him. He’s been penciled onto the team for so long I don’t think anyone has asked themselves if he’s really our 2nd line C.
I get your point of view but not naming Crosby right away would have been a mistake. He’s a sure fire top 10 player in the history of the nhl, his international record is impeccable and a proven winner, if he’s injured when it’s time to go to China a replacement can be named and if he does go and he’s lost a step or 2, worse case scenario is he’s your 4th line center in a checking role, which suits his skill set anyway.
JackSlater
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Crosby was always going to be on the team provided that he's healthy enough to play, so it makes perfect sense to name him early. The only bad picks in the first three would be marginal picks. If he isn't healthy enough to play then it won't matter anyway, though I don't think there is any reason doubt his health in February. Crosby doesn't have to be the second line centre, but there was no possibility of him not being named.
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