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Making the Canadian World Junior Squad: Forwards and Full Squad |
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I hate picking forwards since there are so many variables. This one will have a lot of people against many picks, so if you have any suggestion go for it and tell me I’m a moron. This is built on a top-9, defensive-3 style since I really hate the top-6, bottom-6 which Canada has been doing recently and has been pretty shit.
Returnees:
Jonathan Huberdeau – One of the best prospects in the world and the face of this year’s Team Canada. He’ll be expected to do a lot of heavy lifting again this year on the top line. He’s shown that with other talented players he can elevate his game to an elite level and his two-way game is sublime. He needs to watch out with his anger though; Canada can’t afford another incident like in the SSS where he went berserk that kind of a move gets you suspended for one or more games with the IIHF rules.
Mark Scheifele – He’s having another strong campaign for the Colts. He was very solid in last year’s WJC and he’s even bigger and faster now. Like Huberdeau a lot will be expected from him.
Ryan Strome – Like the other two he’s going to have to carry a lot of the load offensively. He’s torching the OHL this year and his offensive prowess is off the charts. In last year’s WJC he was excellent with 9 points in 6 games playing on the top line. He leads the OHL in points, PPG and +/-.
Boone Jenner – Jenner is known for his tough, gritty defensive game which is what got him on the team last year. He’s improved his offensive game by leaps and bounds this year and is one of the top scorers in the OHL being tied for the league lead in goals with 20. He’ll be key in a shutdown role and bringing physicality.
New Faces:
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Well I don’t think I really need to say anything about this. No lockout and RNH will get to play for Canada. I remember the last time two 1st overall players would play in the same tournament, Ovechkin vs Crosby, oh man Yakupov vs RNH would be nuts. NHL and AHL star against kids, Canada couldn’t use the excuse of not having their best players in this case.
Ty Rattie – It was surprising that he didn’t make the squad last year. He’s having another phenomenal offensive year despite the loss of Bärtschi from the Winter Hawks. I can’t see him not making the squad; the Blues prospect has way too much talent.
Brett Ritchie – Ritchie has rocketed up the lists with his excellent play beside Ryan Strome. The talented finisher sits third in the league for points and tied for first in goals. He’s a player many compare to James Neal with their similar frame, talent and scoring prowess. He’ll make a fine complimentary player that can go to the net.
Nathan MacKinnon – MacKinnon is a candidate for first overall this year and the talented center is one of the best players in the QMJHL. He sits 5th for points of under 20 players and showed in the second SSS what he can do when he has talented linemates. He was a rockstar with Huberdeau and Drouin on his line. I hope the team takes him; I’m tired of them leaving off talented youngsters. I also think he needs to play center, doesn't look comfortable on the wing.
Jonathan Drouin – Speaking of talented youngsters…Drouin has the highest PPG average in the entire Q and is the only one in the league with one over 2. He’s MacKinnon’s Daniel to his Henrik, even though both are great goal scorers. If he hadn't been injured earlier in the league he would be the top point getter easily. You can’t leave him off; he’s just too good and meshes with Mac.
William Carrier – A name most aren't noticing, but the 17 year old is one of the best players in the Q and should go top-10. He’s tied for third in the league for points and is dragging the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles almost single-handedly. Playing on one of the crappiest teams in the CHL yet dominating as he has is extremely impressive. Add that to his solid two-way game and decent physicality and you have a perfect guy for the third line. Think about it, he's ahead of guys like Mac and Grigorenko so far, it's amazing how little press he gets.
Phillip Danault – Danault will be expected to be a core defensive forward and penalty kill specialist. His offensive game has taken a step in the right direction this year, but defense remains his strong suit. Every team needs a sparkplug speedster that can frustrate opponents with his hounding skills.
Tom Wilson – Wilson brings a unique mixture of defensive awareness and ass kicking violence. When Wilson hits he hits to hurt and his 6’4 214 man-child frame will do it. He’s willing to drop the gloves and has some offensive skills around the net. He’s hard as hell to play against and is the classic power forward.
Jonathan Huberdeau – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Ryan Strome
Ty Rattie – Mark Scheifele – Brett Ritchie
William Carrier – Nathan MacKinnon – Jonathan Drouin
Phillip Danault – Boone Jenner – Tom Wilson
Just Missing Out:
Nick Cousins (Flyers), Phil Di Giuseppe (Canes), Mark Jankowski (Flames), Sean Monahan (2013), Colton Sissons (Preds), Charles Hudon (Habs), Seth Griffith (Bruins), Connor McDavid (2015), Connor Brown (Leafs), Joshua Leivo (Leafs), Tyler Graovac (Wild), Lucas Lessio (Coyotes), Anthony Mantha (2013), Mark McNeill (BHawks), Nicolas Petan (2013) and Hunter Shinkaruk (2013).
I know that outside of MacKinnon the young players have less of a chance and that HC usually sends as old a team as they can, but I would love to just let them go and show what they have. Canada isn't defending Gold's anymore, time for a new direction.
Full Roster:
Jonathan Huberdeau (C) – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Ryan Strome
Ty Rattie – Mark Scheifele – Brett Ritchie
William Carrier – Nathan MacKinnon – Jonathan Drouin
Phillip Danault – Boone Jenner – Tom Wilson
Dougie Hamilton (A) – Ryan Murray
Cody Ceci – Xavier Ouellet
Scott Harrington (A) – Morgan Rielly
Ryan Pulock
If Murray needs surgery and can't play then
Dougie Hamilton (A) - Scott Harrington (A)
Cody Ceci - Xavier Ouellet
Adam Pelech - Morgan Rielly
Ryan Pulock
Pelech brings solid defense, decent offensive instincts but more importantly he brings the most physicality of any other of the top candidates like Reinhart or Corrado and Finn has mononucleosis currently so he's pretty much out of contention. Yet in the end any of these guys would be fine.
Jordan Binnington
Malcolm Subban
Split starts to see who is hotter as usual.
Thanks for reading. Team Finland next.
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