Is Canada's talent pool drying up?

[CapsWolverinesUSA]

If there are really any conclusions to be drawn about national talent pools based on the last few WJCs, it's that other countries' talent pools are getting deeper, not that Canada's is getting shallower. And the diversity of hockey talent is a great thing for the game.

 

[wjhl2009fan]

If there are really any conclusions to be drawn about national talent pools based on the last few WJCs, it's that other countries' talent pools are getting deeper, not that Canada's is getting shallower. And the diversity of hockey talent is a great thing for the game.

While that is true to some point the thing with canada is the player pool is very deep and some of the picks the past few years have been odd.

 

[MOGiLNY]

any time you lose in the WJCs in the finals in overtime, that means your country is going downhill and there's no way back.

sorry, Canada.

 

[Charlie Milles*]

Seriously, though, I don't think that Canada produces the best goaltenders anymore.

 

[adsfan]

If anything, the only thing drying up in Canada is goaltending. Goaltending has been terrible in the past two tournaments.

I agree. Canada's pool looks like the Pacific Ocean.

 

[DuklaNation]

It comes down to selection.

Sub in Stefan Elliott for Olsen. That would make a major difference, trust me on that. If Connolly wasnt going to be used, go with a speedy playmaker. Ashton seems redundant on this team. Schenn has been incredible but he doesnt seem like a shootout specialist, neither does Ellis. If those are the top 2 choices, we are in trouble if a medal is decided in the shootout.

 

[Rob]

Back when Canada had its 7 year goldless drought the main concern was scoring.
Not true anymore. Now the concern seems to be goaltending. Canada lost the gold last year because of it. Canada won the gold two years ago in spite of it.

This year looks like another bad one for goalies. Not sure of the explanation.

 

[Taylorhall4EDM]

Any team can lose on any given night.

Combine Sweden/russia/USA and they still lose comfortably in a best of 7.

Hockey is our game. We have the heart, the will, the desire.

 

[eli J]

Oh my god, we weren't completely unstoppable, clearly Canada's run of hockey greatness is over.

Seriously man

 

[realgoodleafs]

Its getting too good, the 18 and 19 year olds are playing in the NHL.

 

[cupcrazyman]

Taylor Hall
Tyler Seguin
Jeff Skinner
Matt Duchene
Evander Kane

could have played for Canada this year.

 

[fireworks]

Stupid comment. It was just one game and they lost in a shootout??? Hats off to the sweden team they played a really good game. Although some of the comments before and after the game by the Swedes were classless and unprofessional. Sure, hope Canada can get to the semi finals and ultimately to the finals.

I still believe! Do you?


Go Canada Go!!

 

[Analyzer*]

If they lost 4-1 to Slovakia (no offense) then maybe.

Losing 6-5 in a shootout to a team that's very close to Canada (imo) is nothing to be worried about.

 

[Lugaid]

One game does not mean anything. The only thing is that Sweden/USA are closer to Canada than they've been in a very long time, maybe ever. That, in the end, is great for the sport. Canadas junior talent still adapts to the NHL way quicker than swedish talents for example. I think this has been going on for a long time though, it's just that in the juniors, the "ghost of Canada" is diminishing, you don't have the same strong mental advantage anymore. I mean look at 2008, if a canadian player would have pushed a guy like Klingberg on his way to a linechange, the 2008 team would have been all frustrated, but tonight, Klingberg just didn't care, neither did anyone else. So the only real difference to me is that you don't get under the other nations skins as much.

 

[HF007]

the rest of the world is just getting better

 

[Alpine]

No Canada should shut down it's 60 team Major Jr and about 130 team Jr A leagues.
Because not wining gold in OT last year and then losing in a SO in round robin simply isn't good enough,

 

[Ironslave]

Bolded players not on the team due to being in the NHL or injuries, but eligible to play

Hall- Duchene- LeBlanc
Kane- Seguin- Kassian
Skinner-Schenn- Johansen
Clifford- O'Reilly- Ashton
Foligno

Cowen- Ellis
de Hann- Gormley
Despres- Gudbranson
Barrie


Think Canada's talent pool is doing pretty good.

 

[Tavaresmagicalplay*]

Bolded players not on the team due to being in the NHL or injuries, but eligible to play

Hall- Duchene- LeBlanc
Kane- Seguin- Kassian
Skinner-Schenn- Johansen
Clifford- O'Reilly- Ashton
Foligno

Cowen- Ellis
de Hann- Gormley
Despres- Gudbranson
Barrie


Think Canada's talent pool is doing pretty good.

You can't use that as an excuse. Theres a ton of Americans that can't play for USA either and I believe quite a few swedes as well.

 

[Klaus]

You can't use that as an excuse. Theres a ton of Americans that can't play for USA either and I believe quite a few swedes as well.

I don't think he was trying to make an excuse, just pointing out the talent that Canada has away from the WJ this year, since the idea that Canada's talent is drying up is based on the fact that this year's WJC team is weaker.

 

[JackSlater]

Pejorative Slured thread. What possible reason could you find to start this?

Campbell stood on his head last year. Roy sucked it up today. Schwartz and Kassian are both out, and Seguin should be there right now aswell, not even mentioning all the other players they're missing in the NHL.

Seguin actually was there, but just watching instead of playing sadly. As far as the thread goes... other than mediocre goaltenders Canada's talent pool is quite strong. Six of the first seven picks in the 2010 draft were Canadian.

 

[New User Name]

You can't use that as an excuse. Theres a ton of Americans that can't play for USA either and I believe quite a few swedes as well.

I think there's one elite American that would have played and three Swedes. Hardly a ton.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

I think there's one elite American that would have played and three Swedes. Hardly a ton.

And that one elite American was born in Windsor Ontario.

 

[New User Name]

And that one elite American was born in Windsor Ontario.

Well to be fair. Four players on Canada were born in the states.

 

[JackSlater]

And that one elite American was born in Windsor Ontario.

He's clearly an American product though. It isn't as if Couturier's American birthplace is all that noteworthy either.

 

[nanzenkills]

A gold medal loss last year and a shootout loss in the prelims against Sweden has many convinced that Canada's superiority in the sport is in its last stages.

Wishful thinking or realistic fact?

Discuss.

A couple of close losses, and you're giving up on your country?

Please, Canada is still number one in hockey and will be for the foreseeable future, this should be obvious to anyone not blinded by homerism. A couple of close losses, one potentially inconsequential in the long run, in a junior tournament does nothing to diminish that fact.

Personally, I'd love to see the US become more competitive with them, but it's not going to happen until hockey becomes bigger than being the 6th or 7th most popular pro sport here.