4 nations rosters

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Disagree. We have a full year last year of watching him play as an NHL regular, and the takeway from that was, "exceptionally talented". Now this year he's taken a major leap. You just have to watch him to see that, yeah, he's very, very good.

Again there is a depressing amount of caveman thinking going on here. I thought we were past this "100 hockey men" stuff.

It’s a four game tournament.

There’s no time for wild cards - William Eklund wasn’t going to be one of the their top-6 forwards, and there were guys better suited to bottom six roles against lineups unlike anything William Eklund has ever faced.

[Matty81]

Man Canada's goaltending looks terrible, Montembeault for me is one of the worst starters in the NHL, he's a career below average save percentage guy hovering around or below 900 all the time. Binnington is streaky and has some terrible stretches - Hill's probably the best one and he's at .900 on the season behind one of the best teams in the league.

Although neither is fantastic at least Thompson's been consistently good for a few years now, and Talbot is playing better than any of those 3 this season.

Probably the worst CDN goalie pool I've ever seen though compounded by some bad choices.

[Dion]

Strange…I don’t see Jesse Puljujarvi’s name on Team Finalnd

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I've been wondering the same thing. Feels like a media driven all-star game replacement. Something manufactured to give McDavid something to pad his Hall of Fame resume. "Well he never won the Stanley Cup, but he did win the Four Nations Cup!"

Does anyone care about World Cup in 1996, 2004, and 2016? Does anyone remember anything about those tournaments? This feels like an inferior version of that. I wish the entire Oilers team was playing, so they don't get any rest during the break.

All I remember from the first two is the ridiculous trophy that looked like it came straight out of the home decor clearance section in Ikea. "Congratulations on winning the World Cup, please accept this Nyalmer."

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by Royle9

No Backlund for Sweden?? Just a reserve... color me shocked.

How do you pick Arvidsson over Backlund….holy moly.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

All I remember from the first two is the ridiculous trophy that looked like it came straight out of the home decor clearance section in Ikea. "Congratulations on winning the World Cup, please accept this Nyalmer."

Yes, thanks, I'll take my whiskey neat thanks.

What? A trophy? Are you sure?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

I mean Lindholm is a fraud 3 goals and can’t carry a line. At least Backlund can carry his own down and play against top players. He also has 4 goals and 12 points.

Having a sulking bum like Elias Lindholm and Arvidson is embarrassing. Pretty on brand for this exhibition display.

Seems like it’s been fixed to give McDavid a big moment.

McDavids not even the best player on his team.

[dustygoon]

I don’t get Montembleau. If we are going with goalies on #### teams that have upside, then Blackwood seems like a better move.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Parayako and Sanheim over Weegar is interesting. Just hope Rasmus doesn't get hurt.

And man, has Canada's goaltending ever fallen off a cliff over the decades. Used to be a strength. Not anymore.

[Locke]

They should have a 5th team. Like the Island of Misfit Toys.

Get a fan-vote going and have write-in ballots and see what some AHL coach can do!

Oh! Team Babcock! That'd be great! Initiate a little chaos!

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Parayako and Sanheim over Weegar is interesting. Just hope Rasmus doesn't get hurt.

And man, has Canada's goaltending ever fallen off a cliff over the decades. Used to be a strength. Not anymore.

I get Sanheim but I do scratch my head at Parayko over Weegs. But Weegs has also had a rougher than normal half a month to a month which may have been a red flag.

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

That team looks like an absolute nightmare to play against.

How many games are they gonna play? Max 6, 7?

You don’t have time to throw a bunch of all stars together and hope they develop timing.

Marchand, Crosby and MacKinnon have insane chemistry.

McDavid with the highest-IQ sniper in the league, and a guy to go get pucks for them.

Hagel-Point-Marner sees Brayden Point and Mitch Marner on the third line. And Brandon Hagel is a top-30 player in my fantasy league, with cup experience.

Bennett-Cirelli-Stone on small ice with nowhere to hide, in a short tournament, might not be on the ice for a goal against.

As for the blue line.

The best Defenseman in the world plays with his everyday partner. Obviously.

The two-time cup winning D and member of the 14 and 16 teams plays with his cup winning partner.

Morrissey was the answer Nathan MacKinnon gave when asked who he would’ve drafted first overall if not himself. He plays with another Stanley Cup winning D with the ability to punish players physically and keep the net clear.

Jordan Binnington is a championship goalie.

Aiden Hill is a championship goalie.

Montembault plays for the Habs.

In a short sprint like this, you want guys you can rely on, who you trust, who you have seen in high leverage situations, who will do their jobs.

In this sense, the only true head scratcher is Montembeault. They should’ve brought Fleury as the 3rd goalie for all he’ll play - I can’t remember the last time Canada actually played three goalies at a best on best international tournament. It would have to be a Canada Cup.

Of the skaters, only Morrissey and Sanheim don’t have rings.

You don’t need everyone trying to win the game themselves - this team is going to almost always have the puck. Just play smart hockey, and it’ll work itself out.

Now that I’ve said all this, my godlike ability to reverse uno reality will doubtless see us finish fourth, but that’s my assessment.

Hagel doesn't have a ring.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Hagel doesn't have a ring.

Nor does McDavid. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Or Marner. Smaller laugh.

Or Konecny

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Hagel doesn't have a ring.

He did say Cup experience - Hagel did play in the 2022 Cup Final, although he wasn't the player he is now.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

I mean Lindholm is a fraud 3 goals and can’t carry a line. At least Backlund can carry his own down and play against top players. He also has 4 goals and 12 points.

Having a sulking bum like Elias Lindholm and Arvidson is embarrassing. Pretty on brand for this exhibition display.

Seems like it’s been fixed to give McDavid a big moment.

Still living off Johnny after all these years.

[Bubba17]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

They made better decisions than the yahoos who picked the WJ selection camp roster, for sure.

With that being said... Parayko?

The GM is his GM in St. Louis so he probably doesn't want the Yzerman/St. Louis grief when the tourney is over.

But this does remind me of the 2002 Olympics when they took Eric Brewer because Kevin Lowe was his GM in Edmonton. Parayko may not be the best choice but he is still wayyyy better than Eric Brewer ever was.

[monkeyman]

Happy for Bennett. It's amazing how things turned around for him in Florida. It's also crazy to think about the team we could've had here if things had gone differently.

[icarus]

I can't really get excited for this made-up tournament that excludes some important hockey nations. I'll cheer for Canada of course but I also want to see Ras do well (and not get injured).

Sure it's got the biggest names, but my GAF level for this is about on par with the annual World Championships.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Ped

He did say Cup experience - Hagel did play in the 2022 Cup Final, although he wasn't the player he is now.

Later he said all but two skaters had rings.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

They should have a 5th team. Like the Island of Misfit Toys.

Get a fan-vote going and have write-in ballots and see what some AHL coach can do!

Oh! Team Babcock! That'd be great! Initiate a little chaos!

Canada II