I would be happy with McLeod playing a bottom line role in the Olympics rather than the WJC. As a returning player McLeod should be given the benefit of the doubt and be used or at least tried in bigger situations with this team. He wasn't on the PP, he wasn't on the ice late, he wasn't out there last minute to hold the lead and he wasn't used till the last shift in overtime. This is the center who single handedly carried sauga to the OHL finals. It's clear he is going to be burried in the bottom 6 when he is probably the most explosive center this team has.
Well, let's be honest McLeod is a high risk player and can make big mistakes at this level. He tries to dipsy doodle around opponents a little too much and that's probably the only negative I have with him. Steel should be higher on the depth chart than McLeod IMO. He'll be a top 6 C on this team.
Posted this in the other thread but didn't get a reply, can you give me a comparison for what type of playing Girard is? Does he compare to Ryan Ellis?
Girard isn't a sturdy, physical defenceman like Ryan Ellis. He moves around the ice a lot more than Ellis and can take it end to end. Has a lot of skill and control with the puck like a Brian Campbell type of player.
It's Brad McEwen
I'll cut him a break for the 1st few tournaments, but I'm not expecting much of a change. His work with the Flames or in the WHL doesn't really give me much confidence that there'll be changes in the way Hockey Canada evaluates and selects U18-U20 teams.
The bigger problem has more to do with Scott Salmond, the bureaucrat who thinks he's a hockey guy and sticks his nose into player selection. As long as he continues in that role, we'll have problems. Our problems at this tournament can be traced back to when Al Murray was hired by Stevie Y to work in Tampa and Salmond was promoted into his current position at that time.
I like Brad McEwen's track record with the Tigers. Drafted a lot of good players in Shinkaruk, Etem, Vey, Pitlick, Shaw, Quenneville. They aren't solid NHL players yet, but he got a couple long playoff runs with the Tigers. Even with the Broncos, a few years before the Tigers, those were good teams as well.
Can't really judge him too much with his time with the Flames, but I think the Flames are a smart organization with a good GM and if they believe McEwan is a good hire, then I think it's fair to believe them. Assuming he was scouting over the WHL, then I think he did alright, Flames drafted Dube, Phillips from there and I'd those are good picks.
I don't think he's the best hire, but he's better than Janokowski IMO and something needed to be changed. Hopefully we see some better results this year.