WC: Team Canada 2025

[1Gold Standard]

Nobody named to the 4 Nations Face will show up in May. (highly unlikely anyway) so an added wrinkle from the usual UFA/RFA/LTIR player omissions.

NY Rangers/Dallas and NJD early PO exits.

Fingers crossed that Celebrini lights it up post Christmas break and earns a top 6 role at C/or LW.

M MARCHMENT	N SUZUKI	D GUENTER
A LAFRENIERE	B HORVAT	C BEDARD
D HOLLOWAY	S MONAHAN	O TIPPETT
C SILLINGER	D MERCER	L STANKOVEN

M CELEBRINI J NEIGHBOURS

O POWER	B MONTOUR
B BYRAM	N DOBSON
T CHABOT	D HAMILTON
O ZELLWEGER	T HARLEY

C TALBOT

C INGRAM

S WEDGEWOOD

Click to read more...

 

[1Gold Standard]

Some movement in a potential WHC roster...thanks to the Rookie of the Year Macklin Celebrini.

Fingers still crossed that both L.A. and Dallas get bounced in the opening rd.

Enough firepower here to get to the GMG.

M MARCHMENT	N SUZUKI	D GUENTER
A LAFRENIERE	S MONAHAN	C BEDARD
K JOHNSON	M CELEBRINI	Q BYFIELD
D HOLLOWAY	D COZENS	L STANKOVEN

J NEIGHBOURS C SILLINGER

V DUNN	B MONTOUR
O POWER	N DOBSON
B BYRAM	B CLARKE
T CHABOT	T HARLEY

C TALBOT

C INGRAM

S WEDGEWOOD

 

[Mathieukferland]

thanks to the Rookie of the Year Macklin Celebrini.

It is even more hilarious in hindsight when you see how unbelievable he’s been in the NHL so far that they sent him home last year in order to keep Brandon Tanev, Michael Bunting, Greig etc

 

[1Gold Standard]

It is even more hilarious in hindsight when you see how unbelievable he’s been in the NHL so far that they sent him home last year in order to keep Brandon Tanev, Michael Bunting, Greig etc

I can't remember now...Did he play in any pre-tournament games or did he just participate in some practice sessions waiting for NHLers to show up?

I don't think Hockey Canada will ever take a 17 year old un-drafted player to the WHC. They are just too conservative in their mindset.

I would have given him definitely a couple of pre-tournament games. But anyway...hopefully he's there this May.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I can't remember now...Did he play in any pre-tournament games or did he just participate in some practice sessions waiting for NHLers to show up?

He played in the game in Austria and once Dubois and Tavares decided to come over they sent him and Fantilli back

 

[JackSlater]

It is even more hilarious in hindsight when you see how unbelievable he’s been in the NHL so far that they sent him home last year in order to keep Brandon Tanev, Michael Bunting, Greig etc

It was dumb at the time. Should have kept them. To be fair to Tanev though he had a good tournament. It was ever weirder in Fantilli's case since he had actually played in the previous tournament, and I recall he even had a big goal.

Anyway the goal for this tournament, in my eyes, is getting some good reps for Bedard and Celebrini. This means prominent spots for them but insulated with decent, if not great, players. Maybe Bedard, his old pal Kent Johnson, and a responsible centre between them. Celebrini with good quality wingers, maybe Guenther as a finisher and a responsible player who likes to play down low on the other wing. While Celebrini and Bedard are the main focus and will surely be available come spring if not injured, I'd also be happy to see some combination of Johnson, McTavish, Guenther etc. plus a few more experienced players. Dobson is my main "want" on defence.

Some movement in a potential WHC roster...thanks to the Rookie of the Year Macklin Celebrini.

Fingers still crossed that both L.A. and Dallas get bounced in the opening rd.

Enough firepower here to get to the GMG.

M MARCHMENT	N SUZUKI	D GUENTER
A LAFRENIERE	S MONAHAN	C BEDARD
K JOHNSON	M CELEBRINI	Q BYFIELD
D HOLLOWAY	D COZENS	L STANKOVEN

J NEIGHBOURS C SILLINGER

V DUNN	B MONTOUR
O POWER	N DOBSON
B BYRAM	B CLARKE
T CHABOT	T HARLEY

C TALBOT

C INGRAM

S WEDGEWOOD

That would be very nice, though I would dump Monahan. If New York misses the playoffs Lafreniere shoots up to number three on my most desired forwards list. It wouldn't be the best use of players but I would be ok with a number one pick line of Lafreniere Celebrini Bedard.

 

[crazynaiman]

I'd go with U-23 team:

Lafreniere Celebrini Bedard
Evangelista Wright Doan
Holloway McMichael Guenther
Zary Perfetti Johnston

Power Drysdale
Byram Schneider
Harley Clarke
Guhle

Cossa

 

[therealdeal]

Might be another lean year, a lot of guys will be mad about not making four nations roster.

 

[JackSlater]

Might be another lean year, a lot of guys will be mad about not making four nations roster.

I would think the other direction. Olympics coming next year with NHL participation. Anyone not at the four nations has basically been given notice.

 

[therealdeal]

I would think the other direction. Olympics coming next year with NHL participation. Anyone not at the four nations has basically been given notice.

Let’s hope so!

How many spots are realistically open?

I have always loved Marchand when he plays for Canada, he’s just not a spring chicken anymore, so his spot is open in 2026.

 

[JackSlater]

Let’s hope so!

How many spots are realistically open?

I have always loved Marchand when he plays for Canada, he’s just not a spring chicken anymore, so his spot is open in 2026.

It will depend on how the team plays I imagine, but I honestly expect that plenty of spots are open for the 2026 Olympics. That would probably change if Canada stomps the opposition at every game in the four nations event, but that isn't exactly likely.

There really isn't a direct comparison for this. In my eyes th four nations event is sort of akin to Rendez-vous 87, with the 2026 Olympics as the 1987 Canada Cup. The NHL team at Rendez-vous 87 was mostly (not all) just team Canada, and some changes were made just months later for Canada Cup 1987.

In any event, I expect that players will want to show up to this tournament in order to get an invite to the summer camp (or whatever they end up doing) for the 2026 Olympics.

 

[1Gold Standard]

It was dumb at the time. Should have kept them. To be fair to Tanev though he had a good tournament. It was ever weirder in Fantilli's case since he had actually played in the previous tournament, and I recall he even had a big goal.

Anyway the goal for this tournament, in my eyes, is getting some good reps for Bedard and Celebrini. This means prominent spots for them but insulated with decent, if not great, players. Maybe Bedard, his old pal Kent Johnson, and a responsible centre between them. Celebrini with good quality wingers, maybe Guenther as a finisher and a responsible player who likes to play down low on the other wing. While Celebrini and Bedard are the main focus and will surely be available come spring if not injured, I'd also be happy to see some combination of Johnson, McTavish, Guenther etc. plus a few more experienced players. Dobson is my main "want" on defence.


That would be very nice, though I would dump Monahan. If New York misses the playoffs Lafreniere shoots up to number three on my most desired forwards list. It wouldn't be the best use of players but I would be ok with a number one pick line of Lafreniere Celebrini Bedard.

Sure! I would love to as well... I only have about as much use for Monahan as I do for Tom Pretty Boy Wilson...although, in this case, maybe a little bit more use... but can't come up with another top 20 center/or U25 player that is either A.) not a RFA. B.) not on the February team or C.) available. A legit play-off team going 2 rds or more.

My preference would be for McMichael, Jarvis or McTavish.

Fingers crossed for the Caps to get bounced opening rd. in 4 or 5 .

or maybe Barzal can recover from his injuries and get his head out of his ass in time to play a few meaningful games in May.

But please! pretty please...Hockey Canada, Do not name Roy to coach this team in May,

 

[JackSlater]

Sure! I would love to as well... I only have about as much use for Monahan as I do for Tom Pretty Boy Wilson...although, in this case, maybe a little bit more use... but can't come up with another top 20 center/or U25 player that is either A.) not a RFA. B.) not on the February team or C.) available. A legit play-off team going 2 rds or more.

My preference would be for McMichael, Jarvis or McTavish.

Fingers crossed for the Caps to get bounced opening rd. in 4 or 5 .

or maybe Barzal can recover from his injuries and get his head out of his ass in time to play a few meaningful games in May.

But please! pretty please...Hockey Canada, Do not name Roy to coach this team in May,

I do not see Monahan, at this point and skating ability, working here, and obviously he has no future at a higher level. Anyway the picture will be more clear in a few months. Barzal has been pretty loyal to Hockey Canada, he would have that second line looking very nice.

Never considered Roy. That's pretty funny actually. I'd be shocked in that I don't know that Roy ever cared for international hockey, and also I do not think Hockey Canada would want to risk him ripping them.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I do not see Monahan, at this point and skating ability, working here, and obviously he has no future at a higher level. Anyway the picture will be more clear in a few months. Barzal has been pretty loyal to Hockey Canada, he would have that second line looking very nice.

Never considered Roy. That's pretty funny actually. I'd be shocked in that I don't know that Roy ever cared for international hockey, and also I do not think Hockey Canada would want to risk him ripping them.

He's been pretty loyal .... but not Thomas Chabot level committed,
If he shows up this year, then yes! 3 tournaments in 8 years (subtract a couple of years for team playoffs) can't really ask for much more than that. He will have earned every long extended summer for the rest of his pro career.

Good news. Dallas dropped out of a WC spot last night. so the probability of Stankoven and Harley making their first WHC appearance going up.

 

[JackSlater]

He's been pretty loyal .... but not Thomas Chabot level committed,
If he shows up this year, then yes! 3 tournaments in 8 years (subtract a couple of years for team playoffs) can't really ask for much more than that. He will have earned every long extended summer for the rest of his pro career.

Good news. Dallas dropped out of a WC spot last night. so the probability of Stankoven and Harley making their first WHC appearance going up.

I could have sworn that Barzal went three times, but I was wrong obviously. Dallas has some good pieces... Johnston too. Disappointing year for him so far.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I could have sworn that Barzal went three times, but I was wrong obviously. Dallas has some good pieces... Johnston too. Disappointing year for him so far.

A little disappointing season so far...I would have had him included on roster projections, but he an RFA at season's end. A bit of a fly in the ointment for the WHC.