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Olympics: Team Canada 2022 (Part 2)

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JackSlater said:
I'm not a fan of bringing defencemen for chemistry reasons unless each defenceman is good enough to make the team on his own (Petrangelo and Bouwmeester in 2014) or they really do have demonstrable chemistry as opposed to simply being an elite defenceman with a good defenceman. A lot of the time those pairings get separated and you get the Seabrook stapled to the bench like in 2010. If Canada does simply have two pairings of elite defencemen with chemistry though, then that's simply a boon.
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I agree. I truly believe all of Toews, Makar, Theodore, Pietrangelo, Weegar, and Ekblad are truly elite defensemen. It’s simply a bonus that they have excellent existing chemistry.

I do admit Weegar would be on the bubble of Canada’s best 7 defensemen with about 10 other guys for me.
 
Dominance said:
Weegar in for Pelech (just makes sense; if there’s any gap there at all it is more than counterbalanced by familiarity with Ekblad) and I like this lineup a lot.

Huberdeau-McDavid-MacKinnon

- First line is absurd. You could say overkill, but I could see McDavid-MacKinnon working much like McDavid-Draisaitl and Huberdeau is the perfect high-IQ, high-skill guy who doesn’t need the puck on his stick at all times to complement them.

Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron

- The second line needs no introduction. They will line up against other teams’ top lines and control the puck 80% of the time.

Stamkos-Point-Stone

- Stamkos looks revitalized as a play-driver this season, and Point and Stone are outstanding two-way forces. This line will easily win any matchup.

Couturier-O’Rielly-Marner

- Three of the best two-way players in the game, with Marner adding the truly elite offensive creativity to turn this “shut down” line into one that can score any shift.

Barzal: his skating, pure skill, and excellent two-way play fits anywhere.

Toews-Makar

- I honestly wish this was Byram-Makar from what I saw this year, but Toews is one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. This pair is utterly dominant in the Colorado, and in a short tournament that chemistry is invaluable.

Theodore-Pietrangelo

- Not the best start to the season for either, but these guys have each been top-10 Norris finalists the last couple of years, and the known chemistry is here as well.

Weegar-Ekblad

- Again, proven chemistry - it’s incredible we could have it on each of our d-pairings. These guys are again, simply one of the most dominant pairings in the NHL. Ekblad will be a Norris finalist this year, but Weegar is no sidekick.

Doughty may honestly be the best defenseman on the team if he continues the revitalization he showed at the start of this year, but finds himself in the 7D spot right now due to the chemistry aspect. Can play either side, too.

Price is Price; he’s more than proven he simply wills wins to happen when the stakes are high. Binnington and Hart are both having absolutely outstanding seasons and could find themselves Vezina finalists.

This team should stomp everyone. Seriously. I would take them over any team in the history of the Olympics. There is nothing even approaching a weaker link.
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SpoolCat said:
Ive read on instagram that Jon Cooper spoke to Tom Wilson about the Olympic team. Looks like Wilson is definitly a possibility. Kind of scary isn't it.
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To his credit he’s been good this season but I still don’t want him there
 
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Jbo Jeans said:
Did anybody else see Tavares pose in Team Canada lululemon Olympic apparel. Does that mean hes on the team lmao?
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It was posted a while ago, but just know that Tavares is a Lululemon "ambassador" (i.e., paid to wear their clothing) so I don't think it means too much.
 
I was looking at the 1991 Canada cup team Canada, Mike Keenan decided to name dirk graham, Steve larmer, Rick tocchet and shayne corson over pall in there prime yzerman, sakic, gilmours, Neely, nieuwendykeand Oates. Absolutely ridiculous
 
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Mathieukferland said:
To his credit he’s been good this season but I still don’t want him there
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The juice isn't worth the squeeze with Tom Wilson, in my opinion. Certainly a valuable contributor to the Caps, but he's a risk I wouldn't take in a single-elimination tournament with IIHF refereeing and tight games that can be won/lost on special teams. With someone like Morrow in 2010, he was a rugged and physical player, but experienced and disciplined. Wilson has a bit of work to do to reach that point imo, but seems to be on the right path.
 
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centipede2233 said:
I was looking at the 1991 Canada cup team Canada, Mike Keenan decided to name dirk graham, Steve larmer, Rick tocchet and shayne corson over pall in there prime yzerman, sakic, gilmours, Neely, nieuwendykeand Oates. Absolutely ridiculous
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1991 was a strange tournament with lots of weird roster selections (both at the time, and in hindsight). Yzerman and Keenan mutually agreed that it would be best if he left the team, after being a healthy scratch for the first game or two. Sakic, Gilmour and Oates were straight-up cut from training camp, along with other really good players including Muller and Bellows. Nieuwendyk and Neely were injured. Recchi and Cullen were free agents and didn't want to cover their own insurance costs. And of course Mario, Bourque and Roy decided against participating.

Larmer and Tocchet were studs who fully belonged on the team. Graham was a great defensive winger (with limited offensive capability), but Keenan coached him in Chicago and was presumably happy to slot him into a checking role. The two most questionable picks, in my view, were Courtnall and Corson. Pat Burns was the assistant coach and its probably not a coincidence that two of his forward made their way onto the team. However, this was back in an era where we actually held lengthy training camps before these tournaments, so players had to at least somewhat earn their way onto the team.

The defense was very solid (Desjardins might have been a questionable, but again, he was a Habs player and Burns may have influenced his selection), and Ranford was strong in goal.
 
SpoolCat said:
Ive read on instagram that Jon Cooper spoke to Tom Wilson about the Olympic team. Looks like Wilson is definitly a possibility. Kind of scary isn't it.
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Scary for the other teams, yes.

Dominance said:
I agree. I truly believe all of Toews, Makar, Theodore, Pietrangelo, Weegar, and Ekblad are truly elite defensemen. It’s simply a bonus that they have excellent existing chemistry.

I do admit Weegar would be on the bubble of Canada’s best 7 defensemen with about 10 other guys for me.
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Toews is a guy who never impresses me when I see him. I recognize that the Canadian defence could use some guys who are more steady complements than outright offensive stars, though Pelech is my preference on the left side. If in fact the results are there and he drives results then that's enough. Weegar is a guy I have no feel for. I've read about his play but the odd time I watch Florida I never notice hi in any way. In my mind Ekblad is a lock for the team, so if he is legitimate on his own that only helps.

One thing is for sure - Pelech, Toews, and Weegar were not worthy of supplanting Griffin Reinhart when it came to WJC minutes, or even making the team in two of their cases.
 
86Habs said:
1991 was a strange tournament with lots of weird roster selections (both at the time, and in hindsight). Yzerman and Keenan mutually agreed that it would be best if he left the team, after being a healthy scratch for the first game or two. Sakic, Gilmour and Oates were straight-up cut from training camp, along with other really good players including Muller and Bellows. Nieuwendyk and Neely were injured. Recchi and Cullen were free agents and didn't want to cover their own insurance costs. And of course Mario, Bourque and Roy decided against participating.

Larmer and Tocchet were studs who fully belonged on the team. Graham was a great defensive winger (with limited offensive capability), but Keenan coached him in Chicago and was presumably happy to slot him into a checking role. The two most questionable picks, in my view, were Courtnall and Corson. Pat Burns was the assistant coach and its probably not a coincidence that two of his forward made their way onto the team. However, this was back in an era where we actually held lengthy training camps before these tournaments, so players had to at least somewhat earn their way onto the team.

The defense was very solid (Desjardins might have been a questionable, but again, he was a Habs player and Burns may have influenced his selection), and Ranford was strong in goal.
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Keenan would name Wilson and Hyman. Could see a Cirelli or Pageau too. MacKinnon out, Barzal out, and no Marner or Huberdeau.
 
centipede2233 said:
I was looking at the 1991 Canada cup team Canada, Mike Keenan decided to name dirk graham, Steve larmer, Rick tocchet and shayne corson over pall in there prime yzerman, sakic, gilmours, Neely, nieuwendykeand Oates. Absolutely ridiculous
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They were lucky the Russians were missing half their team due to political reasons.
 
Going to say it again, Kyrou deserves a look. Granted, I understand if he were to ever make the team, he wouldn’t get the assignment, however I’d love to see him and McJesus’s speed & skill together...
 
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JackSlater said:
Keenan would name Wilson and Hyman. Could see a Cirelli or Pageau too. MacKinnon out, Barzal out, and no Marner or Huberdeau.
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you're forgetting Boone Jenner as well. With the resurgence he's having, he'd be a lock on any Mike Keenan team... Hyman Jenner Wilson would be the line.

It's a decent Team Canada C Team bottom 6 line, but take any two of those players to a best on best A team tournament, it will not end well for us. Anybody remember Jenner WJHC sobbing on the blueline in 2012?
 
Gold Standard said:
you're forgetting Boone Jenner as well. With the resurgence he's having, he'd be a lock on any Mike Keenan team... Hyman Jenner Wilson would be the line.

It's a decent Team Canada C Team bottom 6 line, but take any two of those players to a best on best A team tournament, it will not end well for us. Anybody remember Jenner WJHC sobbing on the blueline in 2012?
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Damn it, Jenner would be a Keenan lock. Bad miss on my part. MacKinnon out, Jenner in. He does play a heavy game after all.

TSN says that Doughty is ahead of schedule and will be practicing with full contact in a few days. That's ideal for Olympics purposes.
 
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JackSlater said:
Keenan would name Wilson and Hyman. Could see a Cirelli or Pageau too. MacKinnon out, Barzal out, and no Marner or Huberdeau.
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There would be one totally oddball selection too. Like Courtnall in 1991. Maybe even someone like Jordan Kyrou.
 
SupremeNachos said:
What about a guy like Spurgeon?
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There were people within Hockey Canada who were real Spurgeon boosters going all the way back to 2014...not sure if there are any remaining... would have helped his cause if had once or twice answered Hockey Canada's phone call in May to play a few World Championships, but he has a Doughty level dislike for that tournament. At least Doughty played in one.

Anyway. he has a shot, albeit not a great one.
 
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