WC: Team Canada Roster Thread 2021

[jj cale]

When I said "Canada is always weaker on Euro sized rink". Ok it's an exaggeration, because exceptions have happened. What I meant by the reference "Canada" there was Canada's team in a tournament vs the expectations of the roster. If there is a superior Canadian roster and they under perform, then I would think in my mind "Canada plays weaker".

I think that Canada can play weaker on Euro rink and overpower through with the superior players, despite of that disadvantage of not being used to Euro rink. I don't understand why you take that offensively. Most of the time it's not natural for Euro players who have played their childhood in Europe to get accustomed to NA rink and it's same vice versa. That's not a jab to Canadian players. It takes time to get used to, which Canada usually doesn't have as they don't play as many warm up games for Worlds as the top European countries have. Usually Canada improves the longer the tournament goes though, but sometimes it's too late when the improvement of the game would've happened and they are already out of the tournament at that point.

In the recent 3 golds that Canada won. If I can recall that includes that one time when Crosby was there. Maybe MacKinnon as well. That was good playing on Euro rink. Nobody had a chance against that and it was scary. That was an exception, but the roster was insanely good, so I can't say it's purely Canada being good on Euro rink in that tournament either, but it was good play on Euro rink nonetheless. Also the one where Canada beat Finland in the final 1-0 with McDavid's goal was good play on Euro rink. Rather solid tournament overall by Canada. So if these two tournaments, other with Crosby, other with McDavid were played on NA rink instead, those would've been even more clear wins for Canada.

I take it offensively because when a blanket statement is put out there regarding these things, if you had of explained it the way you did in this post I wouldn't have taken any issue. And remember, you don't always have to have taken home gold to have played good big ice hockey, you can't win every time. There was nothing wrong with Canada's play on big ice at many of these tournaments but there was just better teams like last worlds for example, what are you going to do? but you can win silver, bronze and I think you have played pretty good big ice hockey no? heck, you could have even finished out of the medals and still played good big ice hockey but the other team was just better that day or your goalie shit the bed.

This "they need stars" stuff and "always struggle" what team doesn't need good players to win? and how can you medal so often and always struggle? That's straight arrogant bullshit.

That's the issue I have, I am sure you can see why.

 

[Peiskos]

How is this the best roster we could put out this year? lol I suppose it was to be expected. No big names want to go overseas right now.

 

[Peiskos]

As a Finn I can say that Canada is always weaker in the Euro sized rink and it's very noticeable, but this time the biggest factor is indeed the no warm-up games factor. Finland had 3 practice games and it was said to be a small amount. During those practice games it was said that some of Sweden, Czech and Russia might have had as many as 6+ games. So that matters, but most important thing is to reach the playoffs and play properly then. Canada can still do that if they don't go losing vs Germany for example.

Lol except that simply isn't possible. Canada has already proven numerous times over that it can win on large ice in Europe. Where do you think we won the following?

1994 IIHF WC - Italy
1997 IIHF WC - Finland
2003 IIHF WC - Finland
2004 IIHF WC - Czechia
2007 IIHF WC - Russia
2015 IIHF WC - Czechia
2016 IIHF WC - Russia

2014 Sochi Olympics???

Was Canada noticeably weaker on the Euro sized ice in these tournaments?

Or what about all the World Junior golds Canada has won on Euro sized ice? '85, '88, '90, '93, '94, '97, '07, '08, '20? Did you forget Canada has won 9 of our 18 gold medals in Europe?

Or how 5 of our 9 Olympic Golds came in Europe?

Probably the worst take I have ever read on this site. Oof.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Lol except that simply isn't possible. Canada has already proven numerous times over that it can win on large ice in Europe.

They win because they have by far the best players in those tournaments. It looks like you just got interested in this WC one hour ago (since that is when you expressed your surprise about the roster even though it's been known for a week) so sorry but you really aren't someone who should be judging the takes when it comes to international tournaments.

NA teams struggle on the big ice, especially early in the tournaments. It's nothing new, it's obvious and it's natural.

 

[Peiskos]

They win because they have by far the best players in those tournaments. It looks like you just got interested in this WC one hour ago (since that is when you expressed your surprise about the roster even though it's been known for a week) so sorry but you really aren't someone who should be judging the takes when it comes to international tournaments.

NA teams struggle on the big ice, especially early in the tournaments. It's nothing new, it's obvious and it's natural.

I wasn't aware that I had to post on this site frequently enough for you to think I know what I'm talking about. I was aware it was a poor roster and saw it as soon as it was released. I was simply reminding people what it looked like as reference to my comment.

I can name nearly every single gold medal Canada has won throughout history off the top of my head, I'd wager I know more about international hockey than you do, but nice attempt to be condescending.

You keep missing the point though, by a statistical measure Canada has won more golds in Europe than most of these countries have ever won total, based on that overwhelming fact, how can you then proceed to suggest that Canada "struggles on the big ice"?

Our struggles = Winning more golds than even the Euros on their own ice? / Displaying that we can win at all levels on large ice?? like did you not see the list of tournaments Canada has won in Europe? ps that wasn't the full list.

Sorry, I don't understand this bizarre logic

 

[SoundAndFury]

Our struggles = Winning more golds than even the Euros on their own ice?

Struggles = have a really tough time against teams who should have no business hanging in games with them. Even the Sochi QF against Latvia is a fairly good example of that. And yes, Canada did win the game and did win the gold.

 

[Peiskos]

Struggles = have a really tough time against teams who should have no business hanging in games with them. Even the Sochi QF against Latvia is a fairly good example of that. And yes, Canada did win the game and did win the gold.

This take kind of exposes you though, if you actually noticed Canada's 2014 Sochi team was a defensive monster unlike anything the hockey world had seen in generations. You will notice Canada scored very little goals all tournament, against ALL competition.

Canada scored just 17 goals in Sochi, on the flip side they surrendered just 3..and it was by DESIGN. It was on purpose for Canada to put on a masterclass in defensive dominance.

You conveniently ignore that these were the score lines in other games against good teams.

Canada 2, Finland 1
Canada 1, USA 0
Canada 3, Sweden 0

2014 Canada wasn't an offensive juggernaut, I mean it could have, it could have been like the 2015 IIHF Canada, the team that utterly steamrolled everyone the very next year during that wondering spring in Prague where Canada ran the table went undefeated and out scored the opposition 66-15..once again capturing gold..in Europe..on large ice.

You've yet to prove how Canada "struggles on big ice" every argument you suggest always hits a brick wall to the fact that Canada still has won more in Europe than the Europeans themselves.

 

[jj cale]

Struggles = have a really tough time against teams who should have no business hanging in games with them. Even the Sochi QF against Latvia is a fairly good example of that. And yes, Canada did win the game and did win the gold.

And no other team has struggles with inferior opponents? what about Sweden with Belarus? Or Russia with Finland last worlds? I could name every single top country that has had difficulties with inferior opponents in the past. If we went back over every single game from every tournament the past 30 years where on paper superior teams had problems with on paper inferior teams it would be a pretty damn long list.

I can't take this seriously anymore, it's a clear troll attempt and it's in our section, if you want to persist in this take it somewhere else where it will be appreciated and you will get tons of backers and pats on the back, they love this sort of stuff and they will only be too happy to say it's true when they know damn well it's not. It's a rubbish take and has no business being here, no other teams fans would stand for stuff like this in their team threads.

 

[SoundAndFury]

oh boy you guys are triggered. Canada has won the WC twice out of the last 12 events despite being undeniably the leading hockey nation but how dare anyone say they struggle

And then crying over "troll attempt". Pathetic.

You lost to France in the opener of 2014, for Pete's sake. France. The team that is D1A now. But how dare anyone say you struggle. Cool beans.

 

[jj cale]

oh boy you guys are triggered. Canada has won the WC twice out of the last 12 events despite being undeniably the leading hockey nation but how dare anyone say they struggle

And then crying over "troll attempt". Pathetic.

You've just proved we were right.

Beat it kid. Your teams thread is that way.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Beat it kid. Your teams thread is that way.

You see I'm not as much of a homer as you are so I feel free to post wherever I want.

 

[Peiskos]

oh boy you guys are triggered. Canada has won the WC twice out of the last 12 events despite being undeniably the leading hockey nation but how dare anyone say they struggle

And then crying over "troll attempt". Pathetic.

You lost to France in the opener of 2014, for Pete's sake. France. The team that is D1A now. But how dare anyone say you struggle. Cool beans.

There have been 14 best vs best tournaments in the history of the sport, Canada has won a staggering 10 of them, no other country has won more than 1, this is a known fact. There is no point in attempting to deny it.

List of Best vs Best hockey tournaments throughout history.

1972 Summit Series - Canada (1)
1976 Canada Cup - Canada (2)
1981 Canada Cup - USSR (1)
1984 Canada Cup - Canada (3)
1987 Canada Cup - Canada (4)
1991 Canada Cup - Canada (5)
1996 World Cup of Hockey - USA (1)
1998 Olympics - Czech Republic (1)
2002 Olympics - Canada (6)
2004 World Cup of Hockey - Canada (7)
2006 Olympics - Sweden (1)
2010 Olympics - Canada (8)
2014 Olympics - Canada (9)
2016 World Cup of Hockey - Canada (10)

Canada has utterly dominated hockey at the highest level (best vs best) since the 1970's. It really hasn't even been close.

For someone to openly attempt to debate this in 2021...classifies you as a troll. Sorry.

 

[jj cale]

You see I'm not as much of a homer as you are so I feel free to post wherever I want.

Trolls tend to think this way, they don't have any problems with spewing nonsense, that's their whole point of being here, and that's why you so naturally feel free to post whatever silliness you want.

You're not telling us anything we don't already know

 

[SoundAndFury]

For someone to openly attempt to debate this in 2021...classifies you as a troll. Sorry.

Oh my god, can you really not read? No one is talking about best on best tournaments. No one is debating Canada isn't the strongest hockey nation. The whole point is that they struggle in games they were expected to win easily BECAUSE they are the strongest hockey nation.

I actually put in the time so that you maybe understand it: 2019 WC: opener loss to Finish C squad with 1 NHL player (and then again in the Finals); 2018 WC: loss to Finland 5-1, going to OT against Latvia; 2017 WC: loss to Switzerland; 2014 WC: shocking loss to France in the opener; 2013 WC: loss to Switzerland, going to OT against Slovenia (Slovenia finished the tournament with 2 points in 7 games).

That's the kind of games people are talking about and remember. Struggles = drop points against France, Latvia, Slovenia. Ones they are expected to absolutely demolish.

Furthermore, considering initially you were replying to the Finnish guy it's no wonder he has that opinion, Finns actually have an overwhelmingly positive record over that timeframe against Canada which is, you know, somewhat unexpected and seen as a weakness. Meanwhile, you can keep missing the point and talking about best-on-best golds in 1972.

 

[Mainiac]

If you've followed this tournament for a while you know Canada always struggles in the first game regardless of the roster. This year is even worse because of the lack of any warmup games. Maybe it's due to big ice, rag tag thrown together roster, let-lag, whatever, they always struggle early. No biggie.

 

[LKI]

Team Canada cancelled their practice that was scheduled on 20th. Yesterday's game might be one of the first times the whole team was on ice together.
And yes Canada tend to struggle on opening games regardless of the roster and opponent.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Team Canada cancelled their practice that was scheduled on 20th. Yesterday's game might be one of the first times the whole team was on ice together.

Exactly. If they had a star roster with Crosby, Getzlaf and similar caliber of players, this might be no major problem: Those guys are such masters of hockey they would talk briefly about how to play certain situations before the game and then materialize it. But with this young roster, they really need to work on in through the tournament. I would say, they have shown yesterday the skill is there, they just need to warm up a bit and adjust some patterns. It will be OK, they are going to make the QF and be a tough opponent to anybody there.

 

[Namejs]

Team Canada cancelled their practice that was scheduled on 20th. Yesterday's game might be one of the first times the whole team was on ice together.

We'll see how they match up against the US. Both teams are in a very similar situation. And the quality on both rosters is pretty much the same.

 

[Mestaruus]

I take it offensively because when a blanket statement is put out there regarding these things, if you had of explained it the way you did in this post I wouldn't have taken any issue. And remember, you don't always have to have taken home gold to have played good big ice hockey, you can't win every time. There was nothing wrong with Canada's play on big ice at many of these tournaments but there was just better teams like last worlds for example, what are you going to do? but you can win silver, bronze and I think you have played pretty good big ice hockey no? heck, you could have even finished out of the medals and still played good big ice hockey but the other team was just better that day or your goalie shit the bed.

This "they need stars" stuff and "always struggle" what team doesn't need good players to win? and how can you medal so often and always struggle? That's straight arrogant bullshit.

That's the issue I have, I am sure you can see why.

If I write that long thing about everything what I mean, I might as well write a book lol. You just interpreted it bit differently what I meant but of course you can't read my mind so it is what it is.

About the playing well = gold. Well I just used Canada's gold tournaments as an example cause those are the ones that I best remember. I just think these things like Canada taking less warm up games for each of these tournaments feels a bit cocky approach and it affects on my view of Canada playing worse vs roster expectations on big ice. Perhaps that affects my judgement.

 

[Mestaruus]

I mostly agree with what SoundAndFury said there. I think that emotions are running a bit high after the Latvia loss, so I should've probably stayed away from the Canada thread at this time. Lesson learned lol.

I don't think that many here think that this current Canadian team is bad. Most are aware that it's weaker Canada than we are used to, so I and probably many others watch this Canadian team with interest how Canada will do with this kind of team. They might do well. It wouldn't surprise me. No practice games is a path Canada chose and that affects the outcome. Luckily Canada just need to get to playoffs and then win that QF game. So there is time to use these group stage games as warm up games, which Canada didn't play.

 

[A Bundy]

Trolls are Norwegain btw, and we take offense when people use it as slur. Be constructive.

 

[JackSlater]

Good god, it's pretty obvious that Canada is weaker on the larger ice. It's not as if people in Canada aren't largely aware of it. Whether Canada has won on larger ice, which obviously has happened many times, has nothing to do with whether Canada is weaker (a relative term and not the same thing as "putrid" or "terrible" or "weak") on the larger ice.

 

[Lambo]

How often do the other nations win it without some star players? You don't think Finlands win without nhl players is a regular thing do you?

Wrong! Yes european Top-Nations can win without Stars. But Canada need Superstars and US win nothing, whatever how good they are on paper. Don t missunderstand me. Without Stars on big Ice European Top-Nations Yes. NA-Teams No.

 

[tade]

I don't think that yesterday's game was too bad for Canada, to be honest, especially given the quality of Canada roster. Canada still dominated and had plenty of missed chances. It was first game against motivated and experienced Latvia team, with hardly any practice. They should be a lot better as the tournament progresses, this team still looks okay for this level.

I would like to see some 2-3 major additions, but it's probably not happening this year given the circumstances.

 

[Lauro]

Everybody knows that Canada is weaker on the larger ice in Europe. Weaker than on the smaller ice, not weaker than the other teams.