Who Would Make Canada's Roster If There Was Olympics This Year?

[NordiquesForeva]

I just don't see how Canada still won't be the favourite. Perhaps the gap is narrowed from the years you are talking about, but I don't think any country would pass up trading their roster for ours. Today or in 2 years

Deficient goaltending at the best-on-best level is really the only reason why I would disagree with you on that. Our goaltending is in a bad place, historically speaking. While I would take our skaters over those of any other country, as we'd have McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar and Crosby in the lineup, when you factor in goaltending I think the U.S. has more or less closed the gap with us. They would have a very strong team in a best-on-best tournament scenario.

I think the U.S. and Canada go in as co-favourites for any best-on-best tourney over the next ~2 years. After that, hard to say. The pendulum could swing back to Canada being a clear favourite like we were from ~2010 to 2016 if even a near-elite goaltender emerges. I don't think we have that now.

I like it, but I would have

Mackinnon-McDavid-Marner
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Nuge-Point-Stone
Dubois-Horvat-Sheifele

Stamkos,Tavares

Toews-Makar
Pelech-Doughty
Thoedore-Hamilton

Morrissey,Pie

My personal preference would be to split up MacKinnon and McDavid and play them on separate lines. There is only one puck to go around. Let each of them be the primary offensive driver on separate lines, and play them with a center that can take care of business defensively (Crosby with McDavid, and Bergeron with MacKinnon) to allow them to focus on scoring. The opponent would most likely focus their best defensive line and D pairing on McDavid, allowing the MacKinnon (and Point, and whoever ends up on the 4th line) lines to take advantage of better matchup situations.

I'm not sold on Horvat as a center at the best-on-best level of competition; I think he's better suited to the wing. He's good along the boards and can take faceoffs on his strong (LHS) side, but I'd prefer another center to assume responsibility for the heavy lifting defensively; I think Horvat is overrated in that regard. He's also not an elite puck handler or distributor; Scheifele, Tavares or Dubois would be better in that regard (and better defensively too).

 

[WarriorofTime]

Probably not all that relevant since Centers can usually play Winger without issue in short tournaments, it's just interesting that Canada doesn't have a lot of natural goal-scoring wingers right now.

Highest goal scorers of last 5 seasons (Overall - Canada)

4) Connor McDavid (1) Center
7) Steven Stamkos (2) Center
8) Brayden Point (3) Center
11) Nathan MacKinnon (4) Center
13) Mark Scheifele (5) Center
17) John Tavares (6) Center
18) Brad Marchand (7) Left Wing
23) Sidney Crosby (8) Center
24) Patrice Bergeron (9) Center
25) Bo Horvat (10) Center

 

[Crosby2010]

Canada had a bunch of weak drafts in a row - we have no young players pushing out the old. When the average NHL career length is 4.5 years, even a few weak drafts will take its toll.

On the plus side, Canada is currently having a bunch of terrific drafts while other countries "lull" so, in a few years, Canada will widen the gap.... hopefully.

I am thinking that is the case. 2023 is going to be a wild one with probably 50% of the 1st rounders from Canada. A deep draft too. 2020 was supposed to be that, maybe it still will be, and there were 2/3 of 1st rounders from Canada.

Also, I still think McDavid, MacKinnon and Crosby down the middle amounts to a tantalizing attack that no one else can top. I do hate the defense and goaltending though, so yeah this is the weakest team perhaps ever right now. But even our weakest I think we are the favs.

 

[zar]

Point - MacKinnon - Marner
Scheifele - Horvat - McDavid
Marchand - Crosby - Burgeron
Doobie - Couture - McDavid 2

Couture does not make Team Canada. Stamkos or Nuge before him easily.

Unless you mean Horvat takes the face-offs… there is not a chance in hell anyone with any hockey intelligence puts McDavid on the wing.

 

[ORRFForever]

I am thinking that is the case. 2023 is going to be a wild one with probably 50% of the 1st rounders from Canada. A deep draft too. 2020 was supposed to be that, maybe it still will be, and there were 2/3 of 1st rounders from Canada.

Also, I still think McDavid, MacKinnon and Crosby down the middle amounts to a tantalizing attack that no one else can top. I do hate the defense and goaltending though, so yeah this is the weakest team perhaps ever right now. But even our weakest I think we are the favs.

Yup.

If there is one saving grace, it's that even with this WEAK team (for Canada), we are still the faves - thank you Connor McDavid.

 

[duul]

Stuart Skinner will likely be one of the three goalies in this.

 

[ORRFForever]

Stuart Skinner will likely be one of the three goalies in this.

He's not exactly Marty Brodeur but beggars cannot be choosers so...

 

[NVious]

Now that the season is done how has the lineup changed?

 

[Mike C]

Likely forgetting some guys but this would be a fun lineup. We need to develop more goalies, hopefully Cossa and Hart improve.


Crosby - Bergeron - Stone
PLD - McDavid - MacKinnon
Marner - Point - Stamkos
Huberdeau - Barzal - Scheifele

O'Reilly
Bedard

Toews - Makar
Morrissey - Ekblad
Theodore - Pietrangelo

Chabot

Jarry
Kuemper

Devon Levi

He's not exactly Marty Brodeur but beggars cannot be choosers so...

More like Marty Allen--only an oldtimer will get the reference!

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I'm making my assumptions based on how Team Canada might look at things rather than my own preferences.

Forwards (13)
McDavid
MacKinnon
Crosby
Marchand
Stone
Marner
Point
Stamkos
Killorn (think he gets selected on lack of jam in lineup)
Hyman
Tavares
Scheifele
Dubois

Defense (7)
Makar
Toews
Pietrangelo
Theodore
Burns
Nurse
Doughty

Goaltending (3)
Hart
Binnington
Fleury

 

[SOLR]

I'm making my assumptions based on how Team Canada might look at things rather than my own preferences.

Forwards (13)
McDavid
MacKinnon
Crosby
Marchand
Stone
Marner
Point
Stamkos
Killorn (think he gets selected on lack of jam in lineup)
Hyman
Tavares
Scheifele
Dubois

Defense (7)
Makar
Toews
Pietrangelo
Theodore
Burns
Nurse
Doughty

Goaltending (3)
Hart
Binnington
Fleury

1) Suzuki is better than Killorn, Stamkos, Tavares, Scheifele, Hyman and maybe Dubois in this type of hockey.

2) Wondering how fast Bedard enters the picture, I'm guessing fairly quickly with the amount of dead wood you mentioned. Your team is too old.

3) I don't think Kirby Dach is too far off to be mentioned if he's on a 70 pts pace this season.

4) To watch: Seth Jarvis and Alexis Lafreniere (given the lack of natural RWs - LWs)

5) At D, Bowen Byram is getting there, Doughty is getting old. And I doubt they pass on Ekblad...

Also Barzal, Huberdeau, etc., guys that are faster than the deadwood (Killorn, Stamkos, Tavares, Scheifele...are all out of this team for good, I hope).

McKinnon - McDavid - Stone
Marchand - Crosby - Suzuki
Dubois - Point - Marner
Huberdeau - Barzal - Jarvis
Bedard

Makar - Toews
PieTheo
Byram - Ekblad
Burns - Nurse

 

[peconcan]

1) Suzuki is better than Killorn, Stamkos, Tavares, Scheifele, Hyman and maybe Dubois in this type of hockey.

2) Wondering how fast Bedard enters the picture, I'm guessing fairly quickly with the amount of dead wood you mentioned. Your team is too old.

3) I don't think Kirby Dach is too far off to be mentioned if he's on a 70 pts pace this season.

4) To watch: Seth Jarvis and Alexis Lafreniere (given the lack of natural RWs - LWs)

5) At D, Bowen Byram is getting there, Doughty is getting old. And I doubt they pass on Ekblad...

Also Barzal, Huberdeau, etc. guys that are faster than the deadwood (Killorn, Stamkos, Tavares, Scheifele...are all out of this team for good, I hope).

Bedard enters the picture a lot faster than 39 point career high Lafreniere, so do a lot of other guys IMO

 

[SOLR]

Bedard enters the picture a lot faster than 39 point career high Lafreniere, so do a lot of other guys IMO

Every player is on their own clock; we've suddenly seen weirder things than 21 years old progress.

 

[Gold Standard]

Every player is on their own clock; we've suddenly seen weirder things than 21 years old progress.

Let's assume there is a best on best tournament (NHL Olympics 2026)

chances of 20 year old Bedard being on that team 90%

chances of 24 year old Lafreniere being on that team. 10%. I would say 0% but I don't discount a minor miracle happening in his development. Let's just say 10%.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

I have pretty much the same names.

I am amazed by the level of Canadian goalkeepers.

Canada is no longer a dream team in my eyes. Still the best but no longer the best in all positions.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

Every player is on their own clock; we've suddenly seen weirder things than 21 years old progress.

He wouldn't need to just progress though. Right now he's a mid to bottom tier 3rd line forward.

To make Team Canada he will have to become a near elite level player.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I would put together the following team for a World Cup in late summer/fall of 2023:

McDavid - Crosby - Marchessault
Marchand - MacKinnon - Marner
Dubois - Point - Stamkos
Cirelli - Stephenson - Stone

Toews - Makar
Theodore - Pietrangelo
Byram - Doughty

Hart
Kuemper

Extras
Cozens (R)
Suzuki (R)
Mercer (R)
Hamilton (R)
Power (L)
Jarry/Skinner

Horvat and Scheifele are guys I would have had on my team back in the spring, but neither has really impressed me since. Marchessault isn't a guy I would normally put on a best-on-best team, but I liked his finishing ability throughout the playoffs and his ability to play off of superstars; he's a guy who would not be confused about his role on his team. I'm not the biggest Stamkos fan, particularly his play in the playoffs, but he would fulfill a veteran leadership role on this team, take key faceoffs on his strong side, and be the triggerman on one of the PP units. I like the chemistry between Stephenson and Stone, and think someone like Cirelli would make that 4th line a pain in the ass to play against. Personally, I think playoff experience - particularly conference finals and Stanley Cup finals experience - is really worth its weight in gold and I'd over-index on guys that have recently performed well in those situations.

We're thin on the left side at forward; even guys who could potentially be in contention for roster spots on this team or the next Olympic cycle are largely RHS (think Suzuki, Mercer, Cozens, Suzuki, Thomas, Kyrou, Barzal).

Goaltending is very weak, obviously. Maybe Levi can take a step forward this year and secure a top-2 spot for the next Olympic cycle.

As far as the extras are concerned, Morrissey is a tough guy to leave out of the defensive group, but I wanted Power as an extra on this roster for future best-on-best cycles. Up-front, I felt like Cozens and Suzuki were more or less no-brainers, with Mercer adding a different dimension to the group and the proven ability to play wing. I also considered Konecny, Barzal, Thomas and Kyrou.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Weak team compared to the 2010s at the moment, mainly due to goaltending. If the the tournament were tomorrow


For me


Hyman-McDavid-Bedard
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Marner-MacKinnon-Stone
Cirelli-Point-Stamkos
Thomas
Kyrou

Notes:

1st line: has an elite corner puck retrieval guy, the best player in the world, and a top 10 (despite having not played in the NHL) shooter in the world

2nd line: Until Bergeron retires or anyone’s production drops off this line stays intact

3rd line: Line meant to overwhelm other teams; teams can line match against McDavid and Crosby but would be hard to stop this line

4th line: Matchup line, all Tampa line meant to play against the other teams’ top lines


Toews-Makar
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Power- Doughty
Bryam
Bouchard

1st pair is the top pair in the league

2nd pair features two defenseman from the top 4 of the Stanley Cup Champions

3rd pair a good mix of power’s stay at home possesion style and Doughty’s physical more chaotic style

Thompson
Hill
Levi


Honestly had no idea who to pick here, Carter Hart currently ineligible so I went with two goalies from the Stanley cup champion and a goaltender for the future

 

[ORRFForever]

Weak team compared to the 2010s at the moment, mainly due to goaltending. If the the tournament were tomorrow


For me


Hyman-McDavid-Bedard
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Marner-MacKinnon-Stone
Cirelli-Point-Stamkos
Thomas
Kyrou

Notes:

1st line: has an elite corner puck retrieval guy, the best player in the world, and a top 10 (despite having not played in the NHL) shooter in the world

2nd line: Until Bergeron retires or anyone’s production drops off this line stays intact

3rd line: Line meant to overwhelm other teams; teams can line match against McDavid and Crosby but would be hard to stop this line

4th line: Matchup line, all Tampa line meant to play against the other teams’ top lines


Toews-Makar
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Power- Doughty
Bryam
Bouchard

1st pair is the top pair in the league

2nd pair features two defenseman from the top 4 of the Stanley Cup Champions

3rd pair a good mix of power’s stay at home possesion style and Doughty’s physical more chaotic style

Thompson
Hill
Levi


Honestly had no idea who to pick here, Carter Hart currently ineligible so I went with two goalies from the Stanley cup champion and a goaltender for the future

I like it but... Hyman?

 

[Nucks2001]

Canada definitely won't be as strong as they were in the 2010s due to poor goaltending and a lack of just pure shutdown, defensive defensemen that allows Canada to play a gritty game. However, I think that most people on here are not taking into account skill and youth. Prioritising chemistry and role players are important, but when you start to leave off guys that would make the team faster and score more goals it becomes problematic (i.e 2006 Olympic Team). This would be my roster if there was a tournament this fall:

RNH-McDavid-Mackinnon
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Kyrou-Point-Marner
PLD-Thomas-Stone

Extras: Stamkos, Schiefele, Cozens
HM: Barzal, Suzuki, Horvat.

Toews-Makar
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Pelech-Morrisey

Extras: Byram, Power
HM: Dougie Hamilton, Mackenzie Weegar.

Hart
Jarry
Kuemper


1st line: RNH has instant chemistry with McDavid on the wing due to playing the PP with him. Him and Mack will help nullify any lapses that McDavid does have defensively and he can also kill penalties. Say what you want about him being a PP merchant, I'm sure he'll collect his when he's playing 5v5 with Mcdavid, Mack, Makar and Toews.

2nd line: This line will go until Bergeron and Marchand both retire. Only line that I made an exception to in age. Crosby is still the most complete player in the game, Bergeron is still the best two-way player in the game and though Marchand's game may be slightly declining, he's a natural left winger that can kill penalties, win puck battles, dominate puck possession and is still very speedy for his age.

3rd line: I went with Kyrou instead of Stammer here to provide more youth to the line, but you can swap them due to the chemistry with Point. Both Point and Marner provide reliable two-way games and Marner is the perfect set-up man for Kyrou's off-wing. I think that providing a pure offensive talent and goal scorer beside Marner will most optimise his playstyle.

4th line: PLD provides a relentless forecheck, rarely loses battles in the corners and plays a 200ft game. Thomas may be one of the underrated playmakers in the league on a Blues team that is horrendously bad, is a fantastic two-way player and can take face-offs.

I had a hard time leaving Barzal off this roster as I think the Islanders system limits his offensive game. Suzuki could eventually replace Stone on the fourth line, but as of now I think Stone is clearly the better player no debate about that.


Defensively, leaving off guys like Nurse, Ekblad, Chabot and Bouchard are easy when you already have better skilled offensive defensemen in Makar, Morrisey and Theodore. I think Pelech is an absolute must for this roster, as he provides the only real shutdown role aside from the Makar-Toews pairing. I chose to go with Byram and Power as scratches as I think both players show signs of better two-way games than the offensive defencemen that I mentioned and are younger and faster than Canada's other two-way defenders such as Letang and Doughty.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I like it but... Hyman?

Puck retrieval for McDavid

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Weak team compared to the 2010s at the moment, mainly due to goaltending. If the the tournament were tomorrow


For me


Hyman-McDavid-Bedard
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Marner-MacKinnon-Stone
Cirelli-Point-Stamkos
Thomas
Kyrou

Notes:

1st line: has an elite corner puck retrieval guy, the best player in the world, and a top 10 (despite having not played in the NHL) shooter in the world

2nd line: Until Bergeron retires or anyone’s production drops off this line stays intact

3rd line: Line meant to overwhelm other teams; teams can line match against McDavid and Crosby but would be hard to stop this line

4th line: Matchup line, all Tampa line meant to play against the other teams’ top lines


Toews-Makar
Theodore-Pietrangelo
Power- Doughty
Bryam
Bouchard

1st pair is the top pair in the league

2nd pair features two defenseman from the top 4 of the Stanley Cup Champions

3rd pair a good mix of power’s stay at home possesion style and Doughty’s physical more chaotic style

Thompson
Hill
Levi


Honestly had no idea who to pick here, Carter Hart currently ineligible so I went with two goalies from the Stanley cup champion and a goaltender for the future

I've always been a big Bergeron fan but I think at this point he's lost a step and personally I wouldn't want to see him in a top-6 role in a best-on-best. That's just my personal opinion though. Depending on how Canada configures its lines there is perhaps a role for him as a 4th line specialist.

I think Canada could potentially get more out of Crosby and McDavid if we had them on same line, with Crosby assuming the responsibilities of the centre position from a defensive perspective which would allow McDavid to play higher in the d-zone and enable a quicker transition. With Crosby's puck retrieval skills in the o-zone, it would also eliminate the need to bring a lesser talent like Hyman to a best-on-best. I'd put Marchessault on the right-side as a proven, high-stakes finisher who has demonstrated the ability to play with elite talent.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I've always been a big Bergeron fan but I think at this point he's lost a step and personally I wouldn't want to see him in a top-6 role in a best-on-best. That's just my personal opinion though. Depending on how Canada configures its lines there is perhaps a role for him as a 4th line specialist.

I think Canada could potentially get more out of Crosby and McDavid if we had them on same line, with Crosby assuming the responsibilities of the centre position from a defensive perspective which would allow McDavid to play higher in the d-zone and enable a quicker transition. With Crosby's puck retrieval skills in the o-zone, it would also eliminate the need to bring a lesser talent like Hyman to a best-on-best. I'd put Marchessault on the right-side as a proven, high-stakes finisher who has demonstrated the ability to play with elite talent.

That’s fair, I still bring him 100% for face offs and defensive play though. Pair him with two more rapid forwards and he will be fine. If I had to rearrange the forward lines based on your premise I think would go


McDavid-Crosby-Marchessault
Marchand-MacKinnon-Bédard
Stamkos-Point-Stone
Cirelli-Bergeron-Marner



Seeing a McDavid-Crosby-Bedard line would be jokes though, I’d be really tempted to do that; put the most elite playmaker, shooter, and puck retrieval guys on the same line.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

That’s fair, I still bring him 100% for face offs and defensive play though. Pair him with two more rapid forwards and he will be fine. If I had to rearrange the forward lines based on your premise I think would go


McDavid-Crosby-Marchessault
Marchand-MacKinnon-Bédard
Stamkos-Point-Stone
Cirelli-Bergeron-Marner



Seeing a McDavid-Crosby-Bedard line would be jokes though, I’d be really tempted to do that; put the most elite playmaker, shooter, and puck retrieval guys on the same line.

What in God's name is this lol

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Marchand Crosby Bergeron
Point Mcdavid Bedard
Stamkos Mackinnon Marner
Horvat Dubois Stone
Thomas

Toews Makar
Byram Pietrangelo
Power Doughty
Theodore Morrissey

Hart
Fleury
Jarry