WC: Team Canada Roster

[Bear12Good]

"We’re still not sure if Dougie Hamilton has been invited by Team Canada yet or not, but if not, that’s… odd… If Brodie and Hamonic were both invited over Dougie, that’s just weird"
Calgary Flames World Championship update: Who’s going, who’s invited

 

[bert]

If Jake Allen is one of those Blues players referred to as 'others', then it will be a decent day.

RNH	C MCDAVID	??????
J SCHWARTZ	R O’REILLY	?????
??????	M BARZAL	J EBERLE
?????	B HORVAT	J-G PAGEAU

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

A BEAUVILLIER

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

?????	??????
??????	C PARAYKO
T CHABOT	A EKBLAD
V DUNN	R PULOCK

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

???????????

????????????

The Olympic Goalie KEVIN POULIN

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

How are Ekblad and Chabot a third pair?... Chabot scored at a 33 point pace on an absolutely terrible team and Ekblad is already a top pairing D man.

 

[scotian1]

Are we still expecting the team to be announced tonight or are they getting turned down to much to fill out a tentative roster.

 

[snipes]

Not a huge fan of the blue line. Still no true #1.

Maybe we'll get one after the 1st round of the playoffs. Even a guy like Burns would be a massive addition, I like his game on the big ice.

 

[Bear12Good]

 

[Bear12Good]

"Forward Jonathan Huberdeau, Canada: “Actually, they haven’t asked me. Thinking I might get the invitation, but we’ll see. There’s a lot of good players out there. If I get it, I’m thinking about it.”"
"Defenseman Mike Matheson, Canada: “I haven’t talked to anyone about it.”"

Which Panthers are playing in next month's IIHF World Championship?

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Can anyone explain why Canadian NHL (star) players are so keen on going to WHC nowadays? It seems like only a few years back most of them didn't care that much? What changed?

 

[Bear12Good]

Can anyone explain why Canadian NHL (star) players are so keen on going to WHC nowadays? It seems like only a few years back most of them didn't care that much? What changed?

Play for Canada big honor for many canadian players.

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Play for Canada big honor for many canadian players.

I know, of course it is. But a few years back you didn't see superstars like Crosby and McDavid in WHC.

 

[1Gold Standard]

How are Ekblad and Chabot a third pair?... Chabot scored at a 33 point pace on an absolutely terrible team and Ekblad is already a top pairing D man.

ya, I wouldn't give us much of a chance at winning a 1/4 final game if that's the top pairing. If winning it is the goal, then I can think of a few LD (Vlasic/Rielly/Matheson) and a few RD (Burns/Pietrangelo or Hamilton) I'd rank before Chabot/Ekblad that would make it a pretty decent group for this tournament. Hopefully we can land 1 or 2, or even 3 if all the stars align, of those names and make a run to a 4th. consecutive GMG.

 

[JackSlater]

Can anyone explain why Canadian NHL (star) players are so keen on going to WHC nowadays? It seems like only a few years back most of them didn't care that much? What changed?

There does seem to be a culture change. I think part of it is the passage of time, where the bad taste that the IIHF left in Canadian mouths from the 1970s dissipates. The appetite for international hockey in Canada is just bigger as well, mainly due to TSN coverage and the WJC. Another probably bigger factor is how well Hockey Canada seems to treat the players and especially their families. Great accommodations, organized trips and outings and so on. Players often rave about how well they and their families were treated. I don't recall hearing this in the past. If Hockey Canada can make the tournament into both a tournament and a fun vacation for the players and their families then more people will go.

 

[1Gold Standard]

There does seem to be a culture change. I think part of it is the passage of time, where the bad taste that the IIHF left in Canadian mouths from the 1970s dissipates. The appetite for international hockey in Canada is just bigger as well, mainly due to TSN coverage and the WJC. Another probably bigger factor is how well Hockey Canada seems to treat the players and especially their families. Great accommodations, organized trips and outings and so on. Players often rave about how well they and their families were treated. I don't recall hearing this in the past. If Hockey Canada can make the tournament into both a tournament and a fun vacation for the players and their families then more people will go.

all valid points. and true.

and perhaps I'm wrong here, but weren't young, emerging stars always more open to playing at this tournament than the older established stars were, but were not given much of an opportunity as Hockey Canada's philosophy was age and experience trumps youth and talent...now as the NHL skews ever younger, Hockey Canada seems more willing to build teams with a bunch of 18-22 year olds.

Perhaps I should spend a Saturday morning working out team average age in the 80s -90s compared to the last 10-15 years.

I'm sure in 3 or 4 years once McDavid gets hitched and is busy with the wife and kids thing, he'll be more likely to take a pass.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

Schwartz, Parayko, Dunn, Allen, Edmunson, Berglund, Sobotka, maybe Husso, Barbashev, Jaskin?

Barbashev is unlikely. Of course Tarasenko would have been a lock if it wasn't for his surgery.

 

[boredmale]

Can anyone explain why Canadian NHL (star) players are so keen on going to WHC nowadays? It seems like only a few years back most of them didn't care that much? What changed?

I think it's basically a case this is a single guys tournament. When you have family and kids your priorities change so if you notice generally younger guys like playing in these.

 

[JackSlater]

all valid points. and true.

and perhaps I'm wrong here, but weren't young, emerging stars always more open to playing at this tournament than the older established stars were, but were not given much of an opportunity as Hockey Canada's philosophy was age and experience trumps youth and talent...now as the NHL skews ever younger, Hockey Canada seems more willing to build teams with a bunch of 18-22 year olds.

Perhaps I should spend a Saturday morning working out team average age in the 80s -90s compared to the last 10-15 years.

I'm sure in 3 or 4 years once McDavid gets hitched and is busy with the wife and kids thing, he'll be more likely to take a pass.

It certainly skews young but roster composition changed a lot over time. Historically Canada might get a few attempts from young guys, but once they hit their mid 20s that was it often. You would also sometimes get older stars to try it in their 30s for the first time. Canada/World Cups and Olympics incentivized players back in the early 90s and 80s too.

You're right that once McDavid settles down he will be much less likely to go. That's perfectly understandable though and something that Hockey Canada will always have to deal with.

 

[jj cale]

We really should not be complaining about the roster this year so far, you see Canadian and U.S fans moaning about what players they have or are not accepting but just take a look at the response Finland is getting from their better players in the N.H.L and you know we are not doing half bad, even the U.S is having far better luck then the Finns this year, the swedes aren't exactly having their guys jumping at the opportunity either these days most years.


The Canadian roster so far is not bad at all, when I see comments like "don't have much hope of getting out of the quarters with this group" I think to myself.........."have you taken a look at the rosters of the other teams?"

This team will obviously not be as star studded and strong as the Prague powerhouse but that was just a freak year where the stars aligned, we can't expect that most years for this tournament. But it's still a fairly solid group of guys signed on and matches up to any of the other teams here very well, heck, just having the best and most dangerous player in the world leading the charge is a heck of a centre peice to build around.

 

[Bear12Good]

Agree. Team Canada have very strong roster. Very young,but strong.

 

[JackSlater]

We really should not be complaining about the roster this year so far, you see Canadian and U.S fans moaning about what players they have or are not accepting but just take a look at the response Finland is getting from their better players in the N.H.L and you know we are not doing half bad, even the U.S is having far better luck then the Finns this year, the swedes aren't exactly having their guys jumping at the opportunity either these days most years.


The Canadian roster so far is not bad at all, when I see comments like "don't have much hope of getting out of the quarters with this group" I think to myself.........."have you taken a look at the rosters of the other teams?"

This team will obviously not be as star studded and strong as the Prague powerhouse but that was just a freak year where the stars aligned, we can't expect that most years for this tournament. But it's still a fairly solid group of guys signed on and matches up to any of the other teams here very well, heck, just having the best and most dangerous player in the world leading the charge is a heck of a centre peice to build around.

Outside of best on best Canadians always underrate Canada's rosters. I'm perfectly content with this roster right now other than two picks, and even then it isn't a big deal. I want to see Canada's young players getting reps in a positive environment, so basically having McDavid and Barzal there is enough for me. The rest is gravy.

 

[Retroglyphs]

We really should not be complaining about the roster this year so far, you see Canadian and U.S fans moaning about what players they have or are not accepting but just take a look at the response Finland is getting from their better players in the N.H.L and you know we are not doing half bad, even the U.S is having far better luck then the Finns this year, the swedes aren't exactly having their guys jumping at the opportunity either these days most years.


The Canadian roster so far is not bad at all, when I see comments like "don't have much hope of getting out of the quarters with this group" I think to myself.........."have you taken a look at the rosters of the other teams?"

This team will obviously not be as star studded and strong as the Prague powerhouse but that was just a freak year where the stars aligned, we can't expect that most years for this tournament. But it's still a fairly solid group of guys signed on and matches up to any of the other teams here very well, heck, just having the best and most dangerous player in the world leading the charge is a heck of a centre peice to build around.

Right, and it still surprises me to see how having not been able to play at the Olympics seems to have had zero effect on NHL player's enthusiasm for the Skodas. How so? Last few tournaments have been pretty good competition IMHO.

 

[jj cale]

Right, and it still surprises me to see how having not been able to play at the Olympics seems to have had zero effect on NHL player's enthusiasm for the Skodas. How so? Last few tournaments have been pretty good competition IMHO.

The last few tournaments were quite good competition. Not sure what the explanation is for the lack of enthusiasm in a year when the players were locked out of playing in the olympics.

 

[1Gold Standard]

We really should not be complaining about the roster this year so far, you see Canadian and U.S fans moaning about what players they have or are not accepting but just take a look at the response Finland is getting from their better players in the N.H.L and you know we are not doing half bad, even the U.S is having far better luck then the Finns this year, the swedes aren't exactly having their guys jumping at the opportunity either these days most years.


The Canadian roster so far is not bad at all, when I see comments like "don't have much hope of getting out of the quarters with this group" I think to myself.........."have you taken a look at the rosters of the other teams?"

This team will obviously not be as star studded and strong as the Prague powerhouse but that was just a freak year where the stars aligned, we can't expect that most years for this tournament. But it's still a fairly solid group of guys signed on and matches up to any of the other teams here very well, heck, just having the best and most dangerous player in the world leading the charge is a heck of a centre peice to build around.

Are you ready? The tournament of all tournaments kicks off tonight. I got my seat reserved in my mancave for Jets v Wild.

 

[garbageteam]

Have to say the calibre of having McDavid and Barzal is incredible at this tournament, because from 2010-2014 we were fortunate to have a chance of having one player even near that level. It's not even mid-April, I'm convinced by the time quarters roll around and 1st round PO exits are cleared we'll have a very solid stable.

I think as of today (and just taking a cursory glance at Sweden, Finland, Russia & USA) we have on paper clearly the best roster. The alarmist responses are a bit of an overreaction... or have we gotten used to three back-to-back finals appearances now I'm still riding the low expectations of that lost half-decade where we were riding C teams out of the quarters every year.

 

[Bear12Good]

Have to say the calibre of having McDavid and Barzal is incredible at this tournament, because from 2010-2014 we were fortunate to have a chance of having one player even near that level. It's not even mid-April, I'm convinced by the time quarters roll around and 1st round PO exits are cleared we'll have a very solid stable.

I think as of today (and just taking a cursory glance at Sweden, Finland, Russia & USA) we have on paper clearly the best roster. The alarmist responses are a bit of an overreaction... or have we gotten used to three back-to-back finals appearances now I'm still riding the low expectations of that lost half-decade where we were riding C teams out of the quarters every year.

Agree. Canada will be 100% main favorite .

 

[jj cale]

Are you ready? The tournament of all tournaments kicks off tonight. I got my seat reserved in my mancave for Jets v Wild.

100% ready, really fired up for the Leafs-Bruins series and the Jets-Wild confrontation.

Flip a coin for me on who wins in the Leafs matchup and quite confident the Jets will advance but if Minny can just take that first game of the series in winnipeg they could flip that series on it's ear and make a go of it, that first game is key for the wild in that series IMO.

Looking forward to a real interesting playoff season.

 

[Mike Lowry]

Not a huge fan of the blue line. Still no true #1.

You should have watched some Panthers games this year. Ekblad is a stud

People really only care this year since there was no olympics with NHL players.

There won't be one next year either. Or the year after, or the year after that. There wasn't one the year before this. But before that year started, we had the World Cup, which had the best players in the league playing in it.