There's always debate about a team Canada roster because they could ice two teams and both would be competitive.

Brandon Hagel was the Saskatchewan DEI hire.

Hockey Canada likes to get as many provinces as they can "represented".
- Rare_Jewel

Hagel deserves his spot. I've watched a lot of Hagel and he is a transformed player this year. I wish the Leafs had him. Skill, work ethic, great shot, a little bit of an ego (you need that sometimes). Kid has it all and is hitting his prime. Take a look at his stats.

Honestly, based on stat sheet alone, I think he's more deserving than Cirelli.

Mark my words. I will go out on a limb here and (GS5) this - Hagel will steal the show when his line is on the ice. He won't be the MVP, but he is gonna raise his profile during this tournament.

The Lightning won that Hagel deal ten times over - almost makes you forget about the later Jeannot fiasco, but not quite.

Dude it's just a fact of nature, British Royals love dark meat
- Zezel

the darker the berry the sweeter the juice 👊🏿

the darker the berry the sweeter the juice 👊🏿
- Skalapy

There's always debate about a team Canada roster because they could ice two teams and both would be competitive.
- Zezel

This. 100% this.

Except goalies this time.

But yeah, Canada could roll 10 lines.

This. 100% this.

Except goalies this time.

But yeah, Canada could roll 10 lines.
- GalacticStone

Yeah we gotta get some goalies, but otherwise Canada is as sick as ever. The US roster is deeply disturbing too.

Hagel deserves his spot. I've watched a lot of Hagel and he is a transformed player this year. I wish the Leafs had him. Skill, work ethic, great shot, a little bit of an ego (you need that sometimes). Kid has it all and is hitting his prime. Take a look at his stats.

Honestly, based on stat sheet alone, I think he's more deserving than Cirelli.

Mark my words. I will go out on a limb here and (GS5) this - Hagel will steal the show when his line is on the ice. He won't be the MVP, but he is gonna raise his profile during this tournament.

The Lightning won that Hagel deal ten times over - almost makes you forget about the later Jeannot fiasco, but not quite.
- GalacticStone

He would not be on the team if Cooper wasn't the coach.

Scheifele has as many goals as any Canadian this year. Hyman had 70 total goals last year and automatic chemistry with the best player in the world, McDavid. Tom Wilson is a destructive force of nature if utilized correctly.

I'd say Hagel isn't even the "worst" pick because Seth Jarvis is there too.

Every Canadian on the list is a very good if not great hockey player. He's not Reaves. But that doesn't make him the best possible choice.

Same is true of Sanheim and the goaltending.

This won't be an easy tournament but because it's a short, one game elimination style, so many things can go wrong, very quickly and it's over.

Yeah we gotta get some goalies, but otherwise Canada is as sick as ever. The US roster is deeply disturbing too.
- Zezel

Hughes - Matthews - Guentzel should be illegal.

Page after page of you not being able to talk.
- Canada Cup

Right!?!?

(frank) me, every (frank)ing day.

He would not be on the team if Cooper wasn't the coach.

Scheifele has as many goals as any Canadian this year. Hyman had 70 total goals last year and automatic chemistry with the best player in the world, McDavid. Tom Wilson is a destructive force of nature if utilized correctly.

I'd say Hagel isn't even the "worst" pick because Seth Jarvis is there too.

Every Canadian on the list is a very good if not great hockey player. He's not Reaves. But that doesn't make him the best possible choice.

Same is true of Sanheim and the goaltending.

This won't be an easy tournament but because it's a short, one game elimination style, so many things can go wrong, very quickly and it's over.
- Rare_Jewel

I'm not convinced he doesn't get picked at all if Cooper isn't coach. Now, I do think Cirelli is stapled to Hagel in Cooper's mind, so Cirelli probably wouldn't be there if Hagel wasn't.

Like Zezel said, Canada has an embarassment of riches at forward. You could make a good argument for many of the guys who got left out.

Hughes - Matthews - Guentzel should be illegal.
- GalacticStone

Yeah that's (frank)ed up.

While Canada having McD, McK and Marner in the same forward group is some deadly chocolate.

I'm not convinced he doesn't get picked at all if Cooper isn't coach. Now, I do think Cirelli is stapled to Hagel in Cooper's mind, so Cirelli probably wouldn't be there if Hagel wasn't.

Like Zezel said, Canada has an embarassment of riches at forward. You could make a good argument for many of the guys who got left out.
- GalacticStone

You could put Tavares on the team and it wouldn't be crazy.

I'm not convinced he doesn't get picked at all if Cooper isn't coach. Now, I do think Cirelli is stapled to Hagel in Cooper's mind, so Cirelli probably wouldn't be there if Hagel wasn't.

Like Zezel said, Canada has an embarassment of riches at forward. You could make a good argument for many of the guys who got left out.
- GalacticStone

Cirelli is a lock either way because he plays C and his playoff resume is strong. Also, as a 4th line C, his job is very clear; shut guys down, don't make mistakes, kill PKs etc.

Hagel is the one with no Cups, no strong playoff runs and is a winger. Between the two, Cirelli is a way more useful and proven big game player.

Yeah that's (frank)ed up.

While Canada having McD, McK and Marner in the same forward group is some deadly chocolate.
- Zezel

It's insane that Hughes, Matthews, Guentzel is the second line.

If Canada has a solid elite goalie I'd just call it and send everybody else home.

Cirelli is a lock either way because he plays C and his playoff resume is strong. Also, as a 4th line C, his job is very clear; shut guys down, don't make mistakes, kill PKs etc.

Hagel is the one with no Cups, no strong playoff runs and is a winger. Between the two, Cirelli is a way more useful and proven big game player.
- Rare_Jewel

I've always liked Cirelli. He reminds me of Mike Ricci. I just figure Canada is so deep at center that a defensive center wouldn't be a priority. But, maybe it's a shrewd move given the less-than-elite goaltending.

You're not wrong about the facts about Hagel (winger, minimal resume), but I think he might be having a career year and the timing might be good for Canada. He's cocky and just might surprise you. We'll see.

I've always liked Cirelli. He reminds me of Mike Ricci. I just figure Canada is so deep at center that a defensive center wouldn't be a priority. But, maybe it's a shrewd move given the less-than-elite goaltending.

You're not wrong about the facts about Hagel (winger, minimal resume), but I think he might be having a career year and the timing might be good for Canada. He's cocky and just might surprise you. We'll see.
- GalacticStone

Canada has 2 goalies who, on paper, are not elite but have both caught lightning in a bottle and gone on strong playoff runs and won a Cup each.

If Canada doesn't rely on their goalies to win the game for them, they should be fine.

But any one game situation could go sideways with one bad performance.

There's always debate about a team Canada roster because they could ice two teams and both would be competitive.
- Zezel

Except the goalie depth these days

Except the goalie depth these days
- Aaron_85

Matt Murray can’t hear you
💍 💍

He would not be on the team if Cooper wasn't the coach.

Scheifele has as many goals as any Canadian this year. Hyman had 70 total goals last year and automatic chemistry with the best player in the world, McDavid. Tom Wilson is a destructive force of nature if utilized correctly.

I'd say Hagel isn't even the "worst" pick because Seth Jarvis is there too.

Every Canadian on the list is a very good if not great hockey player. He's not Reaves. But that doesn't make him the best possible choice.

Same is true of Sanheim and the goaltending.

This won't be an easy tournament but because it's a short, one game elimination style, so many things can go wrong, very quickly and it's over.
- Rare_Jewel

From Bingo:


Seth Jarvis - 45 points in 49 games, 89 PK minutes
Brandon Hagel - 62 points in 55 games, 110 PK minutes
Anthony Cirelli - 42 points in 53 games, 113 PK minutes

John Tavares - 45 points in 48 games, 1 PK minute
Mark Scheifele - 63 points in 56 games, 7 PK minutes
Zach Hyman - 32 points in 50 games, 0 PK minutes

First group has 68 goals and features three penalty killers.

Second group has 71 goals and no penalty killers.

This is not the huge gap you think it is. A team needs Pkers.

From Bingo:


Seth Jarvis - 45 points in 49 games, 89 PK minutes
Brandon Hagel - 62 points in 55 games, 110 PK minutes
Anthony Cirelli - 42 points in 53 games, 113 PK minutes

John Tavares - 45 points in 48 games, 1 PK minute
Mark Scheifele - 63 points in 56 games, 7 PK minutes
Zach Hyman - 32 points in 50 games, 0 PK minutes

First group has 68 goals and features three penalty killers.

Second group has 71 goals and no penalty killers.

This is not the huge gap you think it is. A team needs Pkers.
- TurdFergeson

Canada has plenty of PKers and two-way players. Hyman has and can play the PK. So could Stone, Marchand, Crosby, Konecny and Marner. That's 6 guys right off the top of my head.

I'd agree with Cirelli over Tavares but Scheifele and Hyman would be better than Jarvis and Hagel.

One game knockouts also mean that the PP is important and the more weapons they bring also could be a big difference maker, not just the PK.

Canada has plenty of PKers and two-way players. Hyman has and can play the PK. So could Stone, Marchand, Crosby, Konecny and Marner. That's 6 guys right off the top of my head.

I'd agree with Cirelli over Tavares but Scheifele and Hyman would be better than Jarvis and Hagel.

One game knockouts also mean that the PP is important and the more weapons they bring also could be a big difference maker, not just the PK.
- Rare_Jewel

Hyman is incredibly over rated. I’d have liked to see Scheifle but whatever.

Except the goalie depth these days
- Aaron_85

Sadly this is accurate, everyone else caught up (or passed) Canada when it comes to goaltending development.

Hyman is incredibly over rated. I’d have liked to see Scheifle but whatever.
- TurdFergeson

70 goals last season was not an accident. Even if you want to say it's all McDavid, obviously that chemistry works. If Kunitz made a Team Canada for Crosby, surely Hyman could have made this one. And he played with Marner too. Short tournament, instant chemistry goes a long way.

70 goals last season was not an accident. Even if you want to say it's all McDavid, obviously that chemistry works. If Kunitz made a Team Canada for Crosby, surely Hyman could have made this one. And he played with Marner too. Short tournament, instant chemistry goes a long way.
- Rare_Jewel

54 goals. Adding his playoff stats is extreme cherry picking of stats.

54 goals. Adding his playoff stats is extreme cherry picking of stats.
- TurdFergeson

Oh sorry, playoff goals are meaningless, of course. Who cares if a player can score in the most difficult hockey tournament? Totally irrelevant!