Confirmed with Link: TBL players at the IIHF World Championships

[Brie]

Here are the players that looks like they'll be playing at the WC this year:

Team Canada:
Jon Cooper (HC)
Braydon Point

Team Russia:
Nikita Kucherov
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Team Sweden:
Victor Hedman

Click to read more...

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

I'd be surprised if Drouin isn't going.

 

[LightningStrikes]

What about Point?

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

What about Point?

Apparently neither him or Drouin have been invited, but Canada has a lot of players on the fence at the moment (Seguin, Giroux, Simmonds, Benn, etc).

 

[HoseEmDown]

Yzerman needs to pull some strings. Since they didn't have Point go to Syracuse for the playoffs the WC would've been a good consolation to get more high level playing time. Unless the plan is for him to just go right to the gym and hit the weights hard.

I hope Drouin doesn't go. The big ice will just have him dangle more and do dumb **** that he'll think he can do in the NHL and definitely not play any defense. He needs film study bad.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

Strålman said in his exit interview he was considering going to Worlds, but had to do a medical check. I found this in the #tblightning feed. Something about his left hand??

 

[Brie]

Strålman said in his exit interview he was considering going to Worlds, but had to do a medical check. I found this in the #tblightning feed. Something about his left hand??

Thank for this, it says that he needs to do an x-ray on his back and left hand before knowing if he can go.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Yzerman needs to pull some strings. Since they didn't have Point go to Syracuse for the playoffs the WC would've been a good consolation to get more high level playing time. Unless the plan is for him to just go right to the gym and hit the weights hard.

I hope Drouin doesn't go. The big ice will just have him dangle more and do dumb **** that he'll think he can do in the NHL and definitely not play any defense. He needs film study bad.

Or, alternatively, Drouin's the second or third best player on the line he plays on and doesn't have to try and carry the line. He had such a rough stretch 5v5 towards the end of the year that I think he could benefit from a tournament like this. It would be a good learning experience for him, being surrounded by players who have made that next step to becoming a star.

 

[Stormbreaker]

I'd like if Stralman didn't go, he's earned some R&R given how much he's played with not only the Lightning, but the Rangers as well.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Or, alternatively, Drouin's the second or third best player on the line he plays on and doesn't have to try and carry the line. He had such a rough stretch 5v5 towards the end of the year that I think he could benefit from a tournament like this. It would be a good learning experience for him, being surrounded by players who have made that next step to becoming a star.

If he wants to be a star he needs to carry a line. He wasn't drafted 3rd overall to be a passenger. The last 3 years he's watched Kucherov become a star while carrying a team, he also improved his two way play along the way. Drouin should've watched Point to see what a young kids needs to do to keep getting additional ice time and responsibilities.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

If he wants to be a star he needs to carry a line. He wasn't drafted 3rd overall to be a passenger. The last 3 years he's watched Kucherov become a star while carrying a team, he also improved his two way play along the way. Drouin should've watched Point to see what a young kids needs to do to keep getting additional ice time and responsibilities.

He's not there yet, but it's hard to develop when you're playing with Killorn and Gourde. Kucherov had the opportunity playing with competent players, and Point thrived when he got put on a line with Kucherov/Palat. I'd like to see Drouin's splits this year, because there was a point when Kucherov got injured and he actually had success 5v5.

His biggest flaw is impatience, he still gets frustrated and resorts to deking/taking risks. He isn't going to just develop a new approach to the game if he's playing with players who can't complement his game. The talent is clearly there, and I'd say the effort it there too. He's just learning the wrong way. Playing with established stars can leave a lasting impression.


EDIT: I am wrong, I checked the splits.
His best stretch came in December, when he played with Paquette, Vermin, Boyle, Filppula the most. Only played with Johnson for 3 games.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

I'd like if Stralman didn't go, he's earned some R&R given how much he's played with not only the Lightning, but the Rangers as well.

He said in his exit interview that he couldn't remember not being in the playoffs because it only happened his first four years of his career. I was curious because someone else in a thread earlier this season had said he had some of the most playoff games of anyone aside from Boyle or Cally and that plus the WC and recovering broken leg could explain his less than normal first half of the year.

2011-12 Rangers ECF
2012-13 Rangers 2nd Round
2013-14 Rangers SCF
2014-15 Lightning SCF
2015-16 Lightning ECF (missed some due to leg)
2016 World Cup

That is a hell of a lot of post season games. I think I see your point.

 

[The Macho King]

WC isn't super long or intense, so I don't really care if anyone goes. But I would prefer for (most) of the players to rest up. A couple of guys (Point, Drouin, Kucherov, Vasi) are fine, but especially for Veteran players, or guys with a tendency to start slow (PALAT), take the time off and recover.

 

[Brie]

Cooper will coach Team Canada at the WC, good for him.

 

[JoVel]

Cooper will coach Team Canada at the WC, good for him.

So I guess Drouin is not going.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

Here's confirmation.

 

[The Macho King]

Here's confirmation.

Isn't he American?

Edit: Dual-citizen. Learn something new everyday.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

Article on Cooper's background/loyalties from when he was assistant coach of WC NA team.

LINK

 

[Steazy Doo]

Drouin declined invite per Joe Smith

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Drouin declined invite per Joe Smith

QUICK - lets all read way too much into this.

 

[The Macho King]

QUICK - lets all read way too much into this.

Said he's never playing for Cooper ever again.

 

[Steazy Doo]

Said he's never playing for Cooper ever again.

Never ever.... ever?

 

[Sky04]

QUICK - lets all read way too much into this.

Clearly he doesn't want to risk an injury because him and his agent are going for bank this summer.

or he's nursing an injury from the last couple weeks.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Clearly he doesn't want to risk an injury because him and his agent are going for bank this summer.

or he's nursing an injury from the last couple weeks.

Honestly, this seems likely to me. Something was different about his game (for the worse) the past few days of the season.

 

[Brie]

Point is playing for Team Canada: