This is a good start but IMO Toews will be picked over Horvat.
If Suzuki keeps improving, I can see him being the last forward in. Or at least get an invite. Craig Button, FWIW, has him slotted in with the forwards. Ballsy, but promising.
As of today, Suzuki isn’t there yet but only if he keeps progressing, we never know
That's what we heard about the Canadian WJC team this year.....Team Canada will as always be great on paper but it's not iron clad, especially on defense.
Whatever they do, if they want to get the most of Mackinnon they’ll want to have one of his wingers being more of a playmaker he can work off of like he does with Rantanen.
I wish it wasn’t Armstrong/Holland because the personnel we have right now lends itself most to a speed and youth focused team
I am thinking Trotz will probably be offered the coaching job.I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cirelli make a push for this team. Has been great internationally and will benefit from Cooper likely being the coach (no offense to Craig Berubé but you can’t give the Lamborghini keys to a bus driver)
Bergeron-Crosby-Marchand
Scheifele-McDavid-Huberdeau
Marner-Mackinnon-Point
Cirelli-O’Reilly-Stone
Note: It’s almost embarrassing how many talented forwards Canada has. I’m not kidding when I could say fairly certainly that forwards 13-25 are probably the second best group in international hockey (if they had their own team).
Weber-Chabot
Theodore-Hamilton
Pietrangelo-Makar
Note: if you were to ask me how I felt about Canada’s defence 18 months ago, I would not have been optimistic. With Makar and Theodore’s fabulous progression, these qualms have been quashed. Though not the 5 hall-of-famers blue line of 2010, this group still looks as if it will be competent and should be comfortably the second best group in Beijing behind Sweden.
Price
Hart
Blackwood
Note: not much to say here, if Price is healthy he’s one of the best in the world and will start.
That's what we heard about the Canadian WJC team this year.....Team Canada will as always be great on paper but it's not iron clad, especially on defense.
You're not wrong, but I wouldn't compare WJC teams with the Olympic team.
WJC teams often include a little bit of guesswork involving a prospect's growth curve and how they handle pressure in a tournament setting.
The Olympic team doesn't involve as much guesswork. We all know MacKinnon, McDavid, Crosby, and the rest are superstars of the highest ilk. We've already seen them consistently dominate in the best league against the best players.
But yes, this is not as much of a sure thing as it was in 2014.
I am thinking Trotz will probably be offered the coaching job.
Yeah I'd like Cooper as the Head Coach. Trotz should absolutely be on the staff though.I'm confident they could win with Trotz, but it would be another tournament of manufacturing 3-0 and 2-1 wins. I hope they pick a coach who has his players push the pace (e.g., Cooper).
It is better to win 3-0 and 2-1, while safely controlling the play, rather than getting into more risk taking 5-4 shootouts with a team where a player out of position due to risk taking costs you the game.I'm confident they could win with Trotz, but it would be another tournament of manufacturing 3-0 and 2-1 wins. I hope they pick a coach who has his players push the pace (e.g., Cooper).
It is better to win 3-0 and 2-1, while safely controlling the play, rather than getting into more risk taking 5-4 shootouts with a team where a player out of position due to risk taking costs you the game.
Point - Mackinnon - MarnerWhatever they do, if they want to get the most of Mackinnon they’ll want to have one of his wingers being more of a playmaker he can work off of like he does with Rantanen.
Trotz is American, coached multiple team USA teams.I am thinking Trotz will probably be offered the coaching job.
TIL Dauphin Manitoba is in AmericaTrotz is American, coached multiple team USA teams.