Team Canada 2022

[Gold Standard]

This tournament comes down to us and the Americans. The Swedes and the Finns with a shot as well...these are the teams that will finish 1-4. The only question remaining is, in what order? Should be a barrel of fun between now and then.

 

[jfc64]

This is how you could see a Team Canada 10: (no. 109-120 in scoring at forward and no. 55-60 in defense respectively and save percentage no. 19-20 for goalies.

Not bad.

Jeff Skinner - Tyler Bozak - Jake DeBrusk
Sam Steel - Eric Staal - Alex Chiasson
Andrew Cogliano - Michael McLeod - Nicolas Roy
Matt Martin - William Carrier - Curtis Lazar

Calvin de Haan - Christopher Tanev
Jordie Benn - Sean Walker
Brendan Smith - Philippe Myers

Brian Elliott
Devan Dubnyk

 

[jfc64]

This tournament comes down to us and the Americans. The Swedes and the Finns with a shot as well...these are the teams that will finish 1-4. The only question remaining is, in what order? Should be a barrel of fun between now and then.

The russians have a good defense nowadays. And a few young players at forward.

Alexander Ovechkin - Yevgeni Kuznetsov - Nikita Kucherov
Artemi Panarin - Yevgeni Malkin - Vladimir Tarasenko
Kirill Kaprizov - Vadim Shipachyov - Pavel Buchnevich
Valeri Nichushkin - Mikhail Grigorenko - Alexander Radulov
Ilya Mikheyev - Nikita Gusev - Andrei Svechnikov

Mikhail Sergachyov - Alexander Romanov
Ivan Provorov - Nikita Zadorov
Dmitri Orlov - Nikita Zaitsev
Vladislav Gavrikov

Andrei Vasilevsky / Sergei Bobrovski

 

[JackSlater]

I don't think that any prediction in terms of results is all that credible at the moment. This is hockey, where the stronger team loses plenty of times, and single elimination hockey at that. There is a group of five teams that will very likely produce the winner but other than that it's difficult to predict. Canada has lost best on best tournaments despite having a much stronger roster than any other team, and in 2022 (unlike recent tournaments or even the theoretical best on best 2018 tournament) it isn't as if Canada's roster will be drastically better than every other roster anymore. In 2018 I believe that Canada would have been the strong favourite to win that tournament. In 2022 I'd put Canada as the mild favourite. Some other countries have improved and Canada is weaker.

A lot will come down to how these teams play together and with limited international competition at the senior level recently I'd expect a bit more randomness than usual. WJC and IIHF WC results are not particularly predictive at the best on best level but the loss of continuity with no 2018 tournament and limited IIHF WC participation the last few years probably means that coaching staffs will know what they are dealing with less than they usually would.

 

[Wondercarrot]

The russians have a good defense nowadays. And a few young players at forward.

Alexander Ovechkin - Yevgeni Kuznetsov - Nikita Kucherov
Artemi Panarin - Yevgeni Malkin - Vladimir Tarasenko
Kirill Kaprizov - Vadim Shipachyov - Pavel Buchnevich
Valeri Nichushkin - Mikhail Grigorenko - Alexander Radulov
Ilya Mikheyev - Nikita Gusev - Andrei Svechnikov

Mikhail Sergachyov - Alexander Romanov
Ivan Provorov - Nikita Zadorov
Dmitri Orlov - Nikita Zaitsev
Vladislav Gavrikov

Andrei Vasilevsky / Sergei Bobrovski

Having watched Zub this past year, he is a far superior player to Zaitsev (who has been decent this year).

 

[Mathieukferland]

Previous Team Canadas dominated with a strong, almost impenetrable defense. This iteration isn't going to have that. It will be more of an offensive, puck moving group. Can still achieve the same results but it will be a different look. I think a combo of Fleury and Price will be fine and the forwards speak for themselves. One of the clear favorites but an overwhelming one? I don't know about that. The top five all look very good.

In my mind, Russia and the USA are the only two that can hope to challenge for gold apart from Canada. Russia can be severely outplayed and win games against Canada because they have match winning skill and the best goaltender in the world, and the USA is able to somewhat rival Canada when it comes to top 4 defensemen and top 6 forwards, though they lack the superstar depth and 2 way forwards that Canada has. Would love to see a gold medal game between one of those three. Regarding Finland and Sweden, Leijonat lack defensemen and Sweden are missing game breakers

 

[Mathieukferland]

In my mind, Russia and the USA are the only two that can hope to challenge for gold apart from Canada. Russia can be severely outplayed and win games against Canada because they have match winning skill and the best goaltender in the world, and the USA is able to somewhat rival Canada when it comes to top 4 defensemen and top 6 forwards, though they lack the superstar depth and 2 way forwards that Canada has. Would love to see a gold medal game between one of those three. Regarding Finland and Sweden, Leijonat lack defensemen and Sweden are missing game breakers

 

[Number 57]

How I would build the forward lines is start with the famous Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron line who obviously have chemistry.

Who plays with McDavid? I would nominate Brayden Point who could be a skilled puck digger/forechecker/2-way presence on that line. A very smart player who should click easily with McD and be able to finish his plays, as well as give him the puck. On the other wing Huberdeau or Marner.

3rd line one of Huberdeau/Marner and obviously centered by MacKinnon. Lots of other options for 3rd man, Couturier/O'Reilly/Stone I think will be on the team but could be userful 4th liners/pkers. The other players I would like to dominate are Barzal, Stamkos and Scheifele. As of now probably Stammer as odd man out because of health issues past 2 years.

Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Marner-McDavid-Point
Huberdeau-MacKinnon-Stone
Couturier-O'Reilly-Scheifele
**Barzal/Stamkos

I don't want Tavares anywhere near this team.

Wildcards: Benn and Seguin if they start the year on fire with Dallas

 

[Eternal Leaf]

I thought the defense might be a weak spot but it's pretty stacked.

Some of the younger guys have taken a serious step forward and turned into studs.

Makar
Pietrangelo
Theodore
Doughty
Girard
Hamilton
Chychrun
Chabot
Ekblad
Rielly
Parayko
Letang

That's a lot of good defenders to pick through. A collection of 6 from this group is going to be world-class when paired with the forwards.

Only the goaltending seems a bit iffy in its current state.

 

[therealdeal]

I thought the defense might be a weak spot but it's pretty stacked.

Some of the younger guys have taken a serious step forward and turned into studs.

Makar
Pietrangelo
Theodore
Doughty
Girard
Hamilton
Chychrun
Chabot
Ekblad
Rielly
Parayko
Letang

That's a lot of good defenders to pick through. A collection of 6 from this group is going to be world-class when paired with the forwards.

Only the goaltending seems a bit iffy in its current state.

I would also add Nurse to that list. I honestly think he’s played his way into serious talk for a spot.

Hurts losing Ekblad though, I think he was also a lock pre-injury.

doesn’t seem like Makar lost a step from that injury. Petro looks really good again too. Plus I honestly think if you give Doughty 20 minutes a night on a good team with a good partner, he’s probably still the best defenseman in the world.

 

[snipes]

I thought the defense might be a weak spot but it's pretty stacked.

Some of the younger guys have taken a serious step forward and turned into studs.

Makar
Pietrangelo
Theodore
Doughty
Girard
Hamilton
Chychrun
Chabot
Ekblad
Rielly
Parayko
Letang

That's a lot of good defenders to pick through. A collection of 6 from this group is going to be world-class when paired with the forwards.

Only the goaltending seems a bit iffy in its current state.

Missing Nurse.

Given his skating ability, size, and two way play on the big ice I think he’ll be a top 4 D man on Team Canada come the 2022 Olympics.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

I would also add Nurse to that list. I honestly think he’s played his way into serious talk for a spot.

Missing Nurse.

Given his skating ability, size, and two way play on the big ice I think he’ll be a top 4 D man on Team Canada come the 2022 Olympics.

Spot on guys.

I totally forgot about Nurse.

Going into the season I think all of us were worried about the older defensemen aging out and leaving a gap on the backend. But 3-4 young defencemen have turned into stars and Doughty himself has been excellent.

 

[Boonk]

Much more confident in our D core heading into this tournament than looking back on it 2-3 years ago. It will be amazing for sure.

 

[Gold Standard]

I hope the two or three posters out there who advocated for Tom Wilson on Team Canada's Olympic team caught TSN/SN highlights. That's why Tom Wilson and players like him have no business on any Team Canada at any tournament. Ever.

 

[JackSlater]

I hope the two or three posters out there who advocated for Tom Wilson on Team Canada's Olympic team caught TSN/SN highlights. That's why Tom Wilson and players like him have no business on any Team Canada at any tournament. Ever.

Wilson on a best on best team is lunacy for a few reasons, but I would love to see him at the IIHF WC. The crazy potential of it alone would make any result more than worth it.

 

[Gold Standard]

Tyler Seguin back in the picture...he may have something to say about Team Canada roster spots by late November-early December.

Good to see him back and scoring.

for now he comes off IR and on Team Canada B.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

I was surprised only one user put Seguin as wildcard to make a team. He is elite, after this surgery he should make strong push to make Olympic team.

 

[JackSlater]

I'm pretty confident that Seguin missed his chance once the NHL refused the 2018 tournament. He was a given that year. Canada's 2022 right wings are pretty deep.

 

[86Habs]

Agreed with the comments on Canada's depth at C, RW, and RHS centers that can convert to wing. I see Seguin as interchangeable with Stamkos. Both are RHS, both can play wing, both good shooters/goal scorers, good skaters, both are really good at faceoffs. I'd like to see one of them on the 2022 team, and I'm kind of indifferent as to whom. Depends on who's performing better at the time, I guess.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

I'm pretty confident that Seguin missed his chance once the NHL refused the 2018 tournament. He was a given that year. Canada's 2022 right wings are pretty deep.

Yep, he would for sure been on 2018 team. I will cheer for him to make 2022 team, he is only missing Olympic gold medal to make Triple Gold Club.

 

[JackSlater]

Agreed with the comments on Canada's depth at C, RW, and RHS centers that can convert to wing. I see Seguin as interchangeable with Stamkos. Both are RHS, both can play wing, both good shooters/goal scorers, good skaters, both are really good at faceoffs. I'd like to see one of them on the 2022 team, and I'm kind of indifferent as to whom. Depends on who's performing better at the time, I guess.

Canada's only real weakness at forward is with shooters. A prime Seguin or Stamkos would be ideal in the sort of role that Seguin played as Giroux's triggerman at the 2015 IIHF WC. I'm not convinced of either of them at this point however as time and injuries erode their speed. I'd happily take early 2010s Stamkos or mid 2010s Seguin and staple that player to McDavid's right wing.

 

[RandomTask26]

I'm mostly curious about what the defence will look like. Hockey twitter seems to love the Isles/Avs defencemen, and chemistry is always a good thing, so I wonder if we'd see something like:

Theodore-Pietrangelo
Toews-Makar
Pelech-Pulock
Girard

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I'm mostly curious about what the defence will look like. Hockey twitter seems to love the Isles/Avs defencemen, and chemistry is always a good thing, so I wonder if we'd see something like:

Theodore-Pietrangelo
Toews-Makar
Pelech-Pulock
Girard

Toews, Pelech, and Pulock won't sniff this team but maybe I'm wrong about that.

 

[snipes]

Toews, Pelech, and Pulock won't sniff this team but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Definitely not ahead of guys like Nurse, Ekblad (assuming health), and even Doughty if he keeps level of play up. Veteran D man with best-on-best experience are important to have.

 

[jcs0218]

Canada's only real weakness at forward is with shooters. A prime Seguin or Stamkos would be ideal in the sort of role that Seguin played as Giroux's triggerman at the 2015 IIHF WC. I'm not convinced of either of them at this point however as time and injuries erode their speed. I'd happily take early 2010s Stamkos or mid 2010s Seguin and staple that player to McDavid's right wing.

If he is healthy, Stamkos will be on the 2022 team.

He can play all 3 offensive positions. He has a good shot to score on chances. He can play in almost any situation. Plus, he usually ranges between 53%-57% in the faceoff circle.

It is for these reasons I think Tavares will also probably make the team, or have a very good chance.

I see a lot of people picking Barzal (as one example). Has Barzal ever played the wing before? He certainly can't take faceoffs, as demonstrated by 41%-43% range the past few seasons. He doesn't kill penalties either.

Canada will take more than 4 centres.

But any additional centres they take will be ones who they can trust to play the wing, trust to play in defensive situations, and trust to take faceoffs if necessary.

Barzal doesn't really fit any of these three roles, so I could see Stamkos or Tavares being taken ahead of him.