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Team Canada 2026

ORRFForever said:
Wilson on the team. We don't lose anything offense wise, assuming he doesn't do anything stupid, and we gain size / nastiness.
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I think there are better players to take and I'm assuming it's international refs, I'd rather not have a guy like Wilson there but would prefer more skilled players.
 
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Ever since Monahan’s injury Fantilli has looked gréât centring the top line with Voronkov and Marchenko clicking at nearly a point a game. If he keeps it up his type of presence (burner with skill and size) is desperately needed and would solve a lot of problems in the bottom 6
 
Mathieukferland said:


Ever since Monahan’s injury Fantilli has looked gréât centring the top line with Voronkov and Marchenko clicking at nearly a point a game. If he keeps it up his type of presence (burner with skill and size) is desperately needed and would solve a lot of problems in the bottom 6
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Fantilli, Laf and Byfield need to start producing more. Yes, they’re more obvious options than PLD and Wilson skill-wise, but until they start becoming the “big boys” on their teams, they won’t be taken seriously.
 
Nucks2001 said:
Fantilli, Laf and Byfield need to start producing more. Yes, they’re more obvious options than PLD and Wilson skill-wise, but until they start becoming the “big boys” on their teams, they won’t be taken seriously.
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Fantilli is just 20 years old and is showing signs already that he will be that big #1 C that the others haven't really. Next year might be a touch early for him, but I feel like he is one that a strong WC run in the spring could do wonders for his chances.
 
Mathieukferland said:


Ever since Monahan’s injury Fantilli has looked gréât centring the top line with Voronkov and Marchenko clicking at nearly a point a game. If he keeps it up his type of presence (burner with skill and size) is desperately needed and would solve a lot of problems in the bottom 6
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Canada could really use another Marleau/Carter/Nash (or more) internationally, and he's one guy who could fit that profile. Big, fast, (maybe later) defensively responsible, brings a lot to the table and takes nothing off. Those utility guys are invaluable as complementary pieces internationally. He needs more time but the signs of life are encouraging.
 
JackSlater said:
Canada could really use another Marleau/Carter/Nash (or more) internationally, and he's one guy who could fit that profile. Big, fast, (maybe later) defensively responsible, brings a lot to the table and takes nothing off. Those utility guys are invaluable as complementary pieces internationally. He needs more time but the signs of life are encouraging.
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Granted it’s a different level but the way he took over that semifinal (both physically and on the scoresheet) against the USA in Halifax is such the player type that Canada was lacking at the 4 nations. I think he’s closer than Lafrenière and Byfield at this point based on what he’s shown when he’s been given top line minutes
 
Mathieukferland said:
I think he’s closer than Lafrenière and Byfield at this point based on what he’s shown when he’s been given top line minutes
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^^ That's disappointing. ^^

Fantilli had a hat trick tonight. I feel his ceiling is much higher than LAF or Byfield at this moment.
 
Mathieukferland said:
Granted it’s a different level but the way he took over that semifinal (both physically and on the scoresheet) against the USA in Halifax is such the player type that Canada was lacking at the 4 nations. I think he’s closer than Lafrenière and Byfield at this point based on what he’s shown when he’s been given top line minutes
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He's been a little weird internationally. He was a good soldier at the 2023 WJC but you'd hope for a bit more given his profile as an 18 year old. He had a big goal at the iihf world championship a few years ago (and like Celebrini, he shouldn't have been sent home before the tournament last year) but I don't think he did much else, could be wrong. He's unquestionably shown more than Byfield, who has never really shown that he can make good on what people hoped for. Lafreniere is a disappointment this year, you'd hope for more and the way the Rangers have used him can't really be blamed this season.

If Fantilli can finish this season strong I'd like to see him attend an Olympic summer camp, even though he's likely an extreme longshot to make the team.
 
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ORRFForever said:
I have NO idea what I DISLIKE(!) Suzuki so I'll bow to you on this.
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Probably leaves you on your appetite if you watch small amount of game footage, but he's always there when it counts and his tools are advancing rapidly (passing, shooting). He's an ironman, doesn't place himself in weird situations, and I don't remember the last time he missed a game. Perfect kind of player to be on the bottom 6 for team Canada, he'll score a few big ones, take some faceoffs when needed and if someone is hurt up the lineup he can play there as well while looking good.
 
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SOLR said:
Probably leaves you on your appetite if you watch small amount of game footage, but he's always there when it counts and his tools are advancing rapidly (passing, shooting). He's an ironman, doesn't place himself in weird situations, and I don't remember the last time he missed a game. Perfect kind of player to be on the bottom 6 for team Canada, he'll score a few big ones, take some faceoffs when needed and if someone is hurt up the lineup he can play there as well while looking good.
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It also doesn't help that I'm a Leaf fan. :)
 
Nucks2001 said:
My Analysis of Forwards at 4-Nations:

McDavid: McDavid’s McDavid. Played well and got Canada back into the game multiple times. Started off the tournament slow and I think it was partly because he was playing with Marner. They were able to mesh better in the final game, but I think having 2 puck dominant players on his line is a no-no. I wouldn’t mind Marner in spurts on McDavid’s line, but not as his full-time linemate.

Point: He’s a must on the 1st line. The moment he was on McDavid’s wing, it changed the whole dynamic of that line. Unlike, Stone he has both IQ AND speed/skill to be able to anticipate McDavid’s plays.

MacKinnon: there’s a Reason he was the MVP. Only complaint you can really make about him is that he may have been selfish at times, but Canada needed it and I’d live with a MacKinnon snapshot/wrister over a McDavid and Marner failed tic-tac-toe.

Crosby: Great like always. Everyone saw how slow Crosby was in both games against the States. I don’t think he should be centering a line at this point as that would likely mean bottom-6 minutes (with less-skilled and slower players). He works better as a supplement to MacKinnon and working the cycle game from there.

Marner: I was thoroughly impressed with Marner. Yes, at times he was disappointing on the forecheck, but he was able to create plays on every line that he was moved to. He played well on the PK. Showed his versatility and I think Canada should use him in the bottom-6 more to generate offence as it was very stagnant at times. Can also be moved to the top-6 if needed.

Reinhart: Underwhelming. I do think Stone is expendable if you have Reinhart on your team. I would love to see Reinhart more on the PK as defensively, he was great the entire tournament. He seems to have found his place on the Crosby-MacKinnon line and I do want him there in 2026.

Stone: It’s not that Stone played bad, but we were missing that “pop” from him. Played well in the neutral zone and was able to get to scoring areas, but Point is the player that you want Stone to be and he just isn’t that anymore with age. Also, Canada barely used him on the PK, which takes a lot of his value away. I wouldn’t mind Stone on the Olympic Roster, but I believe there’s younger, healthier and more skilled players that deserve to be there.

Marchand: Respect the hustle and determination by Marchand all tournament. He was trying to create chances all by himself in that loss to the Americans, but it’s clear he does not belong on the best-on-best level any longer.

Cirelli: “meh”. Cirelli did what he needed to. The tide started to turn on him after the loss to the Americans because people were expecting him to generate offence, which is not his fault or his role at all. Unlike other people, I do think he has a good chance of making the 2026 team, but he’s not a lock by any means.

Hagel: Canada’s best pure winger. Forechecked, Backchecked, defended, fought. I think it was unlucky that he didn’t score more. I would to love a Hagel-McDavid-Point line. Probably a lock for 2026.

Konency: played well when he played. I think both Hagel and Jarvis outplayed him though and with Canada likely wanting to make some changes to their bottom 6, I think he’s the odd one out.

Bennett: I must admit, I was not big on Bennett when this tournament started. He proved me wrong. Showed a a lot of effort midway through that final game, when Canada’s big names did not. It’s important to note that Bennett is a similar player to Hyman when it comes to best-on-best. If he starts next year off slow, I don’t think he makes the Olympics. Similar players like Wilson, PLD, or even Hyman may edge him out. With that being said, If Bennett is able to keep up production, I think he takes the edge over those other guys because of what he did at 4-Nations and his ability to play center.

Jarvis: Jarvis showed that he’s a strong 13th or 14th forward selection. Not a lock, but I think Canada should take him and continue to grow his game at the best-on-best level.
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This is a fair assessment and I agree with most of it, along with your follow-on post. I'd like to see most of the 4 Nations forward group (and d-men) return, and I think the forward group as a whole has created a high hurdle that new players to the team will need to overcome to be selected. For example, unless their performance in the playoffs and at the start of next season plummets, I think Cirelli and Bennett are nearly locks to return, as their performance at the 4 Nations - particularly that of Bennett - justified their inclusion. Cirelli played ~14 minutes in the final; he's still a youngish player, has the trust of the Olympic coach, performed well in his role last month, and was never moved down the lineup or set aside/sheltered during the tournament like Jarvis and Konecny.

I honestly think Marchand is out, maybe Stone, and one of Konecny or Jarvis (probably TK).

If you assume the top-6 is locked-in, the issues with the bottom-6 are: (1) size, as the bottom-6 wasn't able to generate any sustained pressure (aside from maybe the Bennett line in the Finland game) or really dial-up the intensity on the forecheck like previous editions of Team Canada were able to; and (2) offensive ability, mostly focused on finishing ability, as some good dump-and-chase type work by Cirelli + Hagel typically didn't result in scoring opportunities. I'm not a huge Wilson fan in an Olympic context but he could certainly help with the size/forechecking issue. I think Johnston helps tremendously with the finishing ability in the bottom-6. And if we're taking 14 forwards, we take Celebrini as the all-around talent that can fill-in anywhere in the lineup in case of injury/poor performance.

Point - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - MacKinnon - Reinhart
Hagel - Cirelli - Johnston
Bennett - Thomas - Wilson/Jarvis
Celebrini

I think that would be a reasonable forward group for 2026 at this moment.
 
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This is my roster prediction, yellow is extras. I could see Tom Wilson getting in if Canada wanted to go for a gritty option. I pick Suzuki because I feel like if her to compete at the World Championships and performed well he could make it, but of course I'm not sure. I could see Bennett, but I feel as if there are players with much better skill. I choose Stone because I feel that he will continue to play a complete high level game next year. I picked Doughty cause of past Olympic experience and every team mostly needs a veteran option.
 
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newsportsfan123 said:
View attachment 994647

This is my roster prediction, yellow is extras. I could see Tom Wilson getting in if Canada wanted to go for a gritty option. I pick Suzuki because I feel like if her to compete at the World Championships and performed well he could make it, but of course I'm not sure. I could see Bennett, but I feel as if there are players with much better skill. I choose Stone because I feel that he will continue to play a complete high level game next year. I picked Doughty cause of past Olympic experience and every team mostly needs a veteran option.
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I don't like Stone or Marchand - too old and slow.
Bedard is not there yet - he may not be close.

I will hold my nose and live with with Suzuki.

Other than that, it looks good.
 
So sick of the “First 6”

McDavid doesn’t need to be “officially” named to the team to market the shit out of him in a Team Canada jersey. Obviously ditto for every other country’s top stars
 
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