WJC: 2014 — Canada Roster Talk (Pt. IV)

[Canada4Gold]

Mike Gillis (quoted on TSN.ca) said the injury is a partially torn labrum. It happened on October 27th. The plan was for surgery all along but they delayed surgery to allow him a chance to make the WJC team.

and I assume Hockey Canada knew about this?

I wouldn't have even invited him to camp knowing he had an injury like that he was planning on having surgery on that was going to hamper his game

 

[CanaFan]

Reinhart looked great out there. He is going to be a wonderful pro for Buffalo/Edmonton. I also liked Lazar and Anderson's games.

Petan, McDavid, Horvat and Leier need to be better. They are relied upon to be scorers. They didn't look at all dangerous in this game.

I agree that Horvat can and needs to play much better. Didn't move his feet enough and spent too much time watching. It pains me to say, as I'm a big fan of his but other than a couple of nice passes to Reinhart he was quite invisible. Petan was more involved but nothing seemed to be generated when he had the puck. Best Canadian forwards were Lazar and Laughton in part because both skated hard and attacked the Czech defenders. Need more of that from the rest of the forward core next game.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I didn't think Paterson earned the start over Fucale in the pre-tournament games. He's definitely showing a propensity for weak and early goals. Fucale against Slovakia and if he plays well, you ride him the rest of the way.

I am pulling for Fucale as a fellow Habs fan, but I have a funny bone in my body telling me Sutter rides Patterson unless he pulls an Olivier Roy.

 

[YNWA14]

Lazar - Drouin - Mantha
McDavid - Horvat - Reinhart

The Q line of Hudon - Drouin - Mantha can also be used effectively when Sutter is juggling lines around. Whenever they're together a chance is created and Hudon is strong on the puck for his size.

That top 6 is fine by me, the bottom 7 is juggled by Sutter a lot so I didn't bother throwing anything together. It'll be interesting to see if McDavid gets demoted to 13th forward after today or if Sutter has faith in him. I think he'll stay on the second line but if he has another bad game against Slovakia his role will be filled by someone else.

i've wanted hudon there since their play at subway series but lazar could be even better fit. RH shot too.

how is lazar at LW?

I actually think that they should do Drouin - Lazar - Mantha. Lazar is a two way beast and a natural centre. Drouin has spent most of his junior career playing at LW (even though they're trying to convert him to centre). In pre-tournament, IIRC, they had Petan as the centre for Druin and Lazar.

Have Lazar down the middle to win draws, and take up the defensive responsibility and allow Mantha and Drouin to create. He'll also drive the net and create a ton of space for those two to do their thing.

 

[chaosrevolver]

Lazar - Drouin - Mantha
McDavid - Horvat - Reinhart

The Q line of Hudon - Drouin - Mantha can also be used effectively when Sutter is juggling lines around. Whenever they're together a chance is created and Hudon is strong on the puck for his size.

That top 6 is fine by me, the bottom 7 is juggled by Sutter a lot so I didn't bother throwing anything together. It'll be interesting to see if McDavid gets demoted to 13th forward after today or if Sutter has faith in him. I think he'll stay on the second line but if he has another bad game against Slovakia his role will be filled by someone else.

Curtis Lazar - Jonathan Drouin - Anthony Mantha
Connor McDavid - Bo Horvat - Sam Reinhart
Kerby Rychel - Nic Petan - Charles Hudon
Scott Laughton - Frederik Gauthier - Josh Anderson
Taylor Leier

What about something like that? Perhaps Hudon's speed and energy can get that Petan line going.

 

[JamieG]

I am pulling for Fucale as a fellow Habs fan, but I have a funny bone in my body telling me Sutter rides Patterson unless he pulls an Olivier Roy.

No way. Not after seeing Sutter's interview with TSN. Read between the lines and keep in mind yesterday he was all about riding one goalie. Now he all but said he's making the change.

Before the game he was "I don't believe in alternating goalies in this tournament." Now he was asked about Paterson's performance "He was....ok"...and wouldn't give an answer about who is starting.

He's making the change. Bank on it.

 

[Crosbyfan]

No way. Not after seeing Sutter's interview with TSN. Read between the lines and keep in mind yesterday he was all about riding one goalie. Now he all but said he's making the change.

Before the game he was "I don't believe in alternating goalies in this tournament." Now he was asked about Paterson's performance "He was....ok"...and wouldn't give an answer about who is starting.

He's making the change. Bank on it.

Agree

Just to add: he pretty much indicated that he already knew what he wanted to do, but was unwilling to let it known at that time...presumably in fairness to Paterson who had just lost a game and because he wanted a positive focus for everyone going forward

 

[Alerion]

Curtis Lazar - Jonathan Drouin - Anthony Mantha
Connor McDavid - Bo Horvat - Sam Reinhart
Kerby Rychel - Nic Petan - Charles Hudon
Scott Laughton - Frederik Gauthier - Josh Anderson
Taylor Leier

What about something like that? Perhaps Hudon's speed and energy can get that Petan line going.

Looks good to me. I liked Leier's game more than Rychel's today but I don't really know either player very well. I assume they could be swapped around if one was having an off game.

 

[AimForTopCheddar]

Curtis Lazar - Jonathan Drouin - Anthony Mantha
Connor McDavid - Bo Horvat - Sam Reinhart
Kerby Rychel - Nic Petan - Charles Hudon
Scott Laughton - Frederik Gauthier - Josh Anderson
Taylor Leier

What about something like that? Perhaps Hudon's speed and energy can get that Petan line going.

I'd put Mantha on the LW since he's a lefty and Lazar is a righty.

Anthony Mantha- Jonathan Drouin -Curtis Lazar

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

I like Fucale better than Paterson but I don't know if it's a good idea to ride an 18-year-old starter. IIRC, the only non-19 year old goaltender in the last 12 years to win a gold medal game was Jack Campbell in 2010 and even then he was replaced midway through the gold medal game and did not see much action during the tournament.

 

[Statsy]

I like Fucale better than Paterson but I don't know if it's a good idea to ride an 18-year-old starter. IIRC, the only non-19 year old goaltender in the last 12 years to win a gold medal game was Jack Campbell in 2010 and even then he was replaced midway through the gold medal game and did not see much action during the tournament.

True, but how many 18 year old goalies on contending teams have gotten the chance the last dozen years?

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

True, but how many 18 year old goalies on contending teams have gotten the chance the last dozen years?

Off the top of my head, Vasilevski nearly melted down in 2012, Visentin melted down in the gold medal game in 2011 and Fleury couldn't pull through in 2003 (though he was pretty good).

 

[tyratoku]

So by the look of it, Dumba has improved his play the last few games?

Anybody care to give a decent scouting report of how he's playing overall?

 

[AimForTopCheddar]

So by the look of it, Dumba has improved his play the last few games?

Anybody care to give a decent scouting report of how he's playing overall?

He looked poor at first, but after a couple pre season games, he definitely improved his play and showed off his skating ability and his wicked slap shot on the powerplay as well.

In the first game vs Germany, he played well and set up a goal with his awesome skating but later in the first he and Pelech turned over the puck which lead to a goal. Today he looked average at best, but he was sick. He played overall pretty good defense with the exception of a great deke by a Czech player at the end of the game.

Overall, he has a lot to bring to Team Canada especially with his smooth skating which allows him to move the puck up the ice so well but he is also prone to having mental lapse in his own end. He's also not very good at running the powerplay, and he tends to just shoot it a lot and it doesn't always get to the net which turns into shorthanded breaks. His hockey IQ isn't very high, but his skating and offense skills make up for it. A true definition of high risk and reward player.

Third best defensemen on Team Canada right after Derek Pouliot and Aaron Ekblad. Dumba and Bigras doesn't work well together but I like the pairing of Dumba and Pelech.

Who else has been improved by how solid Pelech is in his own zone?

 

[NuxFan09]

I'd like to see Drouin return to his natural position at LW and give Petan a chance to centre the top line. I know he's not one of the best players on the team but he's one of the most skilled. He was noticeable in the game against the Czechs today and deserves a look.

Drouin - Petan - Mantha
McDavid - Horvat - Reinhart
Rychel - Laughton - Lazar
Leier - Gauthier - Anderson

^ That's what I'd like to see for the next game.

 

[tv14]

0.900 SV% 3.64 GAA 11-9-2

I almost spat out my coffee this morning when TSN showed a clip of this on air. How does a goalie with those stats make Team Canada, let alone be he starter? Now I obviously don't watch the OHL or Paterson, but still those stats are pretty ugly. Think there could have ben something better out there.

 

[Icebreakers]

Has Nic Petan even put up a single point from the subway super series to now? Pretty underwhelming if he hasn't considering his only job is to score. Leier has also been bad offensively , even though that wasn't his role he was playing with Drouin and Mantha.

Sutter also had the worst choices in the shootout besides Drouin. Mcdavid and Petan? those two have been snakebitten all tournament missing tons of chances. Who would expect them to score.

 

[biturbo19]

I'm still really worried about the 'dead weight' on this team like Gauthier. We bring a 'defensive and PK specialist' who doesn't add much of anything else...and he hasn't really impressed my defensively, or on the PK. He's just been...very average at it. That's not good enough for a one-dimensional defensive player (relative to a tournament like this at least). If you're going to bring a defensive 'specialist' to a tourny like this, they'd darned well better be next to unbeatable in that role.

Then there's the guys like Leier and Rychel who to me, really haven't contributed a whole lot of anything in particular other than some hustle here and there. There were better options.

 

[Habsawce]

0.900 SV% 3.64 GAA 11-9-2

I almost spat out my coffee this morning when TSN showed a clip of this on air. How does a goalie with those stats make Team Canada, let alone be he starter? Now I obviously don't watch the OHL or Paterson, but still those stats are pretty ugly. Think there could have ben something better out there.

They only invited 2 goalies as well not even having a competition to make the team. Odd decision making

 

[Habsawce]

I'm still really worried about the 'dead weight' on this team like Gauthier. We bring a 'defensive and PK specialist' who doesn't add much of anything else...and he hasn't really impressed my defensively, or on the PK. He's just been...very average at it. That's not good enough for a one-dimensional defensive player (relative to a tournament like this at least). If you're going to bring a defensive 'specialist' to a tourny like this, they'd darned well better be next to unbeatable in that role.

Then there's the guys like Leier and Rychel who to me, really haven't contributed a whole lot of anything in particular other than some hustle here and there. There were better options.

The problem I have with Gauthier is that he does not use his frame and he is incredibly slow on his feet. He's incredibly light on the puck but If he threw his weight around and leaned on people he would be a much more effective player. Maybe he'll turn it around and Leier and Rychel I agree have been inconsistent and awful with and iwhtout the puck

 

[Jesus Christ Horburn]

The following players have been invisible, useless or just awful:

Bigras
Anderson
Gauthier
Petan (I say this as a Jets fan)
Hudon
Rychel

and possibly Paterson

 

[MyNameIsNobody*]

The following players have been invisible, useless or just awful:

Bigras
Anderson
Gauthier
Petan (I say this as a Jets fan)
Hudon
Rychel

and possibly Paterson

Anderson has played well..he goes to the corners, is fast

Hudon actually played well for the amount of ice he is getting...

Petan is just horrible, and he is due to be back on the team next year!!!! YIKES i hope they cut him

Bigras is just bad seems almost always out of position...i dont get it...

Gauthier job is not to score goals....he hasn't done anything horrible...im not worried about him

 

[BiggestLeafsFanEVER*]

They only invited 2 goalies as well not even having a competition to make the team. Odd decision making

i thought it was a big mistake to just handle paterson and fucale the spots, especially when it looked like there are other goalies who were playing better.

 

[MyNameIsNobody*]

The problem I have with Gauthier is that he does not use his frame and he is incredibly slow on his feet. He's incredibly light on the puck but If he threw his weight around and leaned on people he would be a much more effective player. Maybe he'll turn it around and Leier and Rychel I agree have been inconsistent and awful with and iwhtout the puck

Why all the hate for Gauthier...there was a sequence where 2 or 3 czechs were unable to get the puck of him in the corner, he is very strong and that is his game, the corners...I dont have any issues with him...

The people that need to be benched are Petan (Who is suppose to be back next year, i HOPE NOT, i hope he gets cut next year, he was a huge mistake this year) and Leier (At least he wont be back next year)

 

[MyNameIsNobody*]

I'm still really worried about the 'dead weight' on this team like Gauthier. We bring a 'defensive and PK specialist' who doesn't add much of anything else...and he hasn't really impressed my defensively, or on the PK. He's just been...very average at it. That's not good enough for a one-dimensional defensive player (relative to a tournament like this at least). If you're going to bring a defensive 'specialist' to a tourny like this, they'd darned well better be next to unbeatable in that role.

Then there's the guys like Leier and Rychel who to me, really haven't contributed a whole lot of anything in particular other than some hustle here and there. There were better options.

Everyone here is *****ing about Gauthier, you all need to understand that this is a SMALL team, hardly anyone goes to the net, hardly anyone goes to the corner, you need to get the puck out of the corners, even on international ice...

I thought early on during the czech game they were being bumped of the puck rather easily....the only guy dishing out some is Anderson and sometimes Laughton