Canadian WJ Selection Camp Roster Predictions

It's being announced Monday, so I think it's about time we start predicting who is going to be invited and who isn't. I'm going to post my entire predicted roster, plus many other guys who might be invited to get us started, but let's try to focus on debating those last few spots rather than everyone posting entire rosters. We all know most of the obvious choices anyway. I'm assuming the breakdown is going to be 4+10+18=32.

G
Price (WHL)
Dubnyk (WHL)
Ellis (QMJHL)
Pogge (WHL)

The only other guy I can imagine getting invited would be Pelletier, but I think the above 4 are much more likely.


D
Barker (WHL)
Bourdon (QMJHL)
Staal (OHL)
Parent (OHL)
Fistric (WHL)
Jackson (WHL)
Russel (WHL)
Rogers (WHL)
Funk (WHL)
Schultz (WHL)

Others who could be invited include Kohn (WHL), Stephenson (WHL), Letang (QMJHL), Gragnani (QMJHL), Vlasic (QMJHL), and Pokoluk (NCAA). Mikkelson (WHL) would have certainly been invited, and I think would have likely made the team, but he tore his MCL and won't be healthy until mid December at the very earliest.


F
Chipchura (WHL)
Bolland (OHL)
Pouliot (OHL)
Boyd (WHL)
Wolski (OHL)
Latendresse (QMJHL)
Comeau (WHL)
Cogliano (NCAA)
McCardle (WHL)
Little (OHL)
Bourret (QMJHL)
Downie (OHL)
Bass (OHL)
O'Marra (OHL)
Setoguchi (WHL)
McGrath (OHL)
Chucko (NCAA)
Toews (NCAA)

Other possibilities include Bertram (NCAA), Brassard (QMJHL), Reddox (OHL), Kennedy (OHL), Blunden (OHL), Pyatt (OHL), Cabana (QMJHL), and Esposito (QMJHL) although I think he's unlikely. Too bad Brule got hurt again.

Have I forgotten anyone? Who do you think are going to fill out those last few spots?

Ryan Russel, Forward (WHL). Kris Russel's brother.

Pouliot isn't eligible - too old. My hunch pick is Gragnani, although I'm not sure he'll make the final roster. He's been awesome for PEI this year. I also think Cabana could surprise. He's done well in previous Team Canada appearances and he plays a Sutter type of game.

Maybe some of you OHL guys can tell me if Patrick McNeill has any chance. I look at the D candidates and picture an opening for a PP guy. McNeill's second in the O in D scoring so maybe he'd be a guy to slot in there.

Pouliot isn't eligible - too old. My hunch pick is Gragnani, although I'm not sure he'll make the final roster. He's been awesome for PEI this year. I also think Cabana could surprise. He's done well in previous Team Canada appearances and he plays a Sutter type of game.

Maybe some of you OHL guys can tell me if Patrick McNeill has any chance. I look at the D candidates and picture an opening for a PP guy. McNeill's second in the O in D scoring so maybe he'd be a guy to slot in there.
Benoit, not MA.

Ryan Russel, Forward (WHL). Kris Russel's brother.
I thought of Russel, and I just don't think there's room for him. Who does he bump off? I had enough difficulty finding a space for Toews, who I think will be invited.

That's basically my list as well. I think Bertram will get invited though. It's a shame that Mikkelson won't be invited and won't make the team because he probably would have made it.

Not to be picky but Pouliot is from the OHL not the Q.

I can't wait until Monday when we will see who gets invited.

That's basically my list as well. I think Bertram will get invited though. It's a shame that Mikkelson won't be invited and won't make the team because he probably would have made it.

Not to be picky but Pouliot is from the OHL not the Q.

I can't wait until Monday when we will see who gets invited.
Edited, thanks. Sudbury, I know, just wasn't thinking.

I'd love to see Price to start for team Canada... Hopefully Sheppard, Brassard and Towes will be there too, they're very interesting for the 2006 draft.

I think you will see Esposito there and possibly make the team...he is super good now and will be a great player to build the team around for another year. I really think you will see Chad Denny and Kristopher Letang both get invited or Marc-Andre Gragnani.

brassard i hope falls into our laps

I'd like to know opinions from people who follow the WHL closely: what type of role can we expect Kyle Chipchura for Team Canada? He's a very good two-way forward who plays hard on every shift, but does he have an outside chance at being able to center one of the top two lines the way he's been playing in the dub? This Prince Albert team can't score goals it seems. Therefore Chippy doesn't have good offensive numbers.

However I was really impressed with his play in the 1st WHL-Russia game. I've heard he's been even better in Game 2. He seems to have untapped offensive upside.

How are Luc Bourdon's chances to make the team?

I'd like to know opinions from people who follow the WHL closely: what type of role can we expect Kyle Chipchura for Team Canada? He's a very good two-way forward who plays hard on every shift, but does he have an outside chance at being able to center one of the top two lines the way he's been playing in the dub? This Prince Albert team can't score goals it seems. Therefore Chippy doesn't have good offensive numbers.

However I was really impressed with his play in the 1st WHL-Russia game. I've heard he's been even better in Game 2. He seems to have untapped offensive upside.
I think he will be on the third or fourth line. There really isn't any room for him on the top two lines. Bolland and Cogliano will most likely center the top two lines. I was impressed with him in both of the Russian games.

How are Luc Bourdon's chances to make the team?
Bourdon is a lock. I would be in shock if he didn't make it. Outside of Barker, I believe he is Canada's best defenceman.

Bourdon is a lock. I would be in shock if he didn't make it. Outside of Barker, I believe he is Canada's best defenceman.

:rolleyes: saids the Nuck fan.

:rolleyes: saids the Nuck fan.

Just get it over with and say you think Staal is better. Then he can reply with one of those smilies of his own.

Any comments on these forward lines for Team Canada?

Pouliot - Cogliano - Latendresse
Wolski - Bolland - McGrath
McArdle - Chipchura - Setoguchi
Chucko - O'Marra - Comeau

Weak year for QJMHL

:rolleyes: saids the Nuck fan.
Who do you think is better than Bourdon? Instead of attacking me as a homer maybe write something useful. I have said even before Bourdon was Canucks property that he was the best defenceman in the 2005 draft, not including Johnson of course.

Any comments on these forward lines for Team Canada?

Pouliot - Cogliano - Latendresse
Wolski - Bolland - McGrath
McArdle - Chipchura - Setoguchi
Chucko - O'Marra - Comeau

I have think Bourret will make the team...

I am sure Sigalet will be considered, he's playing in the AHL.

I think you will see Esposito there and possibly make the team...he is super good now and will be a great player to build the team around for another year. I really think you will see Chad Denny and Kristopher Letang both get invited or Marc-Andre Gragnani.
Denny stood out as awful at the summer camp; by far the worst player on the ice and looked completely out of his league. Espo I just don't think is likely to be good enough at 16 to make the team, although I admit I've never seen him. It just takes an absolutely phenomenal 16 year old to make the Canadian WJ team, and those kinds of phenoms are rare. Canada never builds for the future at the WJs, they take the team that will give them the best chance to win, which is absolutely the correct philosophy in my opinion.

Bolland will not be centring, he'll play right wing. The lines are difficult to predict. I still don't think they'll keep the Cogliano Pouliot Latendresse line together because for one thing, Pouliot is better suited to wing (I still am a bit unusre why they had Cogliano playing out of position at left wing and Pouliot at centre when he more often plays wing; I can only assume that Sutter felt Cogliano wasn't strong enough defensively and down low for centre, but from what I saw he was better than Pouliot in those areas), and also because I think that line has a little too much risk and inconsistency issues. I could be wrong though.

There are plenty of centres who will be there, and some of them have to play out of position which makes it even more difficult to predict. Boyd, Pouliot, Little, Brule, McGrath, Gagnon, O'Marra and Bass were the centres at the summer camp, and on top of those guys at least Cogliano, Bertram, Chipchura and Toews all play centre. Predicting lines is especially difficult until we at least see who Sutter wants to play out of position. Once selection camp starts we should have a better idea of what the plans for the lines might look like, or at least what position guys are slotted to be playing.

Who do you think is better than Bourdon? Instead of attacking me as a homer maybe write something useful. I have said even before Bourdon was Canucks property that he was the best defenceman in the 2005 draft, not including Johnson of course.

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better

You've done a survey, have you?

Just get it over with and say you think Staal is better. Then he can reply with one of those smilies of his own.

Im not a homer like that and havn't seen any of the defensman play im not except staal in one game Im not going to say "STAAL IS THE BEST".

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better
What? That is a joke.

We don't know what the other guys were thinking, they didn't have a chance to grab either. How the hell can you make such a boneheaded claim?

I think all are good predictions . But I also think we should be ready for a few surprises. Some are definate locks, or easy predictions. Remember that this is a new year and the make- up of the team this year isnt super star status. Hard working and heart will be the motto of this years team Canada.

from what i saw from Dubnyk i wasnt impressed, hes shaky. To tell you the truth Pogge impressed me a lot he was very calm and cool and very square to the shooter. Also Carey Price is very composed and calm too, im sure Sutter will look into those qualities the most.

I have a gut feeling that Steve Downie will make the team and be the Jordin Tootoo type player this team always has. Steve also has good hands and can contribute offensively. Having his head straightened out in Peterborough has been a blessing for him. He's a Sutter player through and through.

I have a gut feeling that Steve Downie will make the team and be the Jordin Tootoo type player this team always has. Steve also has good hands and can contribute offensively. Having his head straightened out in Peterborough has been a blessing for him. He's a Sutter player through and through.
I agree. Prior to the incident in Windsor I thought he was going to make the team almost for sure, and now I feel like with him having turned it around with a new organization that Sutter, who obviously liked him at the summer camp, will be willing to give him a chance. I think the selection camp will be key for him; he has to show that he really has turned over a new leaf and that he can control his temper. If he shows signs of being a risk at camp, I don't think he'll be chosen, even if Sutter wants him. We'll see how he responds, but as of now I have him tentatively pencilled in to my predicted lineup.

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better
Do you mind posting where you got that from.

The Toronto Star had these players on the roster if they were picking:
Devan Dubny
Julien Ellis
Justin Pogge
Carey Price

Cam Barker
Luc Bourdon
Mark Fistric
Michael Funk
Scott Jackson
Patrick McNeil
Sasha Pokulok
Andy Rogers
Marc Staal
Logan Stevenson

Michael Blunden
David Bolland
Dustin Boyd
Alex Bourret
Kyle Chipchura
Kris Chucko
Andrew Cogliano
Blake Comeau
Steve Downie
Anthony Esposito
G.latendresse
Bryan Little
Evan McGrath
Ryan O'Marra
Benoit Pouliot
Devin Setoguchi
Jonathan Toews
Wojtek Wolski

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better
:biglaugh:

Any comments on these forward lines for Team Canada?

Pouliot - Cogliano - Latendresse
Wolski - Bolland - McGrath
McArdle - Chipchura - Setoguchi
Chucko - O'Marra - Comeau

Sounds good :)

Boyd, Downie, Esposito, Bourret or Toews can be the extra man...

i hope funk makes the final cut... i'd love to watch this guy work the powerplay and skate with the puck..

i wouldn't mind at all seeing him and barker together...

I have a gut feeling that Steve Downie will make the team and be the Jordin Tootoo type player this team always has. Steve also has good hands and can contribute offensively. Having his head straightened out in Peterborough has been a blessing for him. He's a Sutter player through and through.

It's possible, but I think Bourret could play that role, too.

the goalie position is the hardest for sutter to pick

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better

According to 29 NHL head coaches, Bourdon is better.

hey guys when is the team going to be announced?

I haven't been able to see Andy Rogers play...

I see you guys have him listed as a possible D man... What do you guys think his chances are of actually making the team? I would love to see him play over the WJC. :)

4 out of 5 dentists say Staal has nicer teeth.

Sounds good :)

Boyd, Downie, Esposito, Bourret or Toews can be the extra man...


I am pretty sure that Bryan Little will be there. It just doesnt make sense to not have him there. Is a pure offensive talent.

I will be very surprised if Rogers makes Team Canada. Maybe its been the games I have seen but his footspeed has been pretty slow and I wouldnt want him out there in a tournament like this. I would like to see Funk make it though.

As for the goalie situation I would take Pogge over Price and Dubnyk. Dubnyk lets in far too many weak goals and has been on a losing team for so long. The thing about Sutter is he doesnt seem to be influenced by where a guy was drafted so hopefully Pogge is in and first rounders, Price and Dubnyk are not.

According to 29 other GM's Staal is better

There is something you are not understanding about an nhl draft. When 1 guy is picked before another one, it doesnt mean the other 29 gms had the same order as the 1 who picked the first of the 2.

Your sentence should be readed:

''According to 1 GM, Staal is better.''

We have no way to know about the opinion of the 29 others...

Quick question...i'm really not try to start a big bashing fest between drafted defensman, but..does Bourdon play any defense at all? I know hes an offensive defensman and all but he is a -59 in 164 games. He could be on a horrible team for all i know, just would like some info. Thanks

Again not trying to be disrespectful, not comparing him with any other drafted player considering I havn't see any of them yet on the TV.

Assuming that RDS is correct about the 7 guys invited from the Q (Latendresse, Esposito, Brassard, Bourdon, Vlasic, Letang, Ellis), this means a few guys are probably out. Obviously Bourret, which I'm a little surprised about but I guess he's had a poor start to the year, maybe Cody Bass, which is disappointing for me because I really liked his summer camp, Jeff Schultz, which is great news to me because I really didn't think he should be there anyway, and one of either Michael Funk or Andy Rogers. Of those two, I hope it's Rogers on the outside before Funk.

That leaves me thinking the selection camp will look like this now:

Price
Dubnyk
Ellis
Pogge


Barker
Bourdon
Staal
Parent
Fistric
Jackson
Russel
Vlasic
Letang
Funk

Pokoluk, Stephenson, Kohn are a few others who still might go in place of maybe Funk or maybe even Fistric, who I previously thought was a lock for the team, but I haven't been overly impressed with his play this year. I'd be pretty surprised if Stephenson or Kohn end up being named though.


Chipchura
Bolland
Pouliot
Boyd
Latendresse
Cogliano
Comeau
McCardle (unless he is hurt, how bad was his injury from the WHL Russia game?)
Wolski
Little
Downie
O'Marra
Setoguchi
McGrath
Chucko
Toews
Brassard
Esposito

Bertram, Blunden, Reddox, Kennedy, and Pyatt could still go, particularly Bertram and Blunden, but I really have no idea who to bump off for any of those guys. Maybe Hockey Canada still isn't thrilled with Setoguchi despite his great season so far? He was very surprisingly not at summer camp. Maybe McCardle is hurt? Maybe Toews is considered too young still? I would have thought he'd be ahead of Esposito in any case, but who knows.

We'll find out tomorrow.

Quick question...i'm really not try to start a big bashing fest between drafted defensman, but..does Bourdon play any defense at all? I know hes an offensive defensman and all but he is a -59 in 164 games. He could be on a horrible team for all i know, just would like some info. Thanks

Again not trying to be disrespectful, not comparing him with any other drafted player considering I havn't see any of them yet on the TV.
He is on an awful team. From what I hear he runs around the ice trying to do too much, which might contribute as well. From Canucks camp and the summer WJ camp, he is somewhat erratic defensively, but for the most part effective. He throws some huge hits, but he also takes himself out of the play doing it sometimes. He's quite good 1 on 1 and stands guys up at the blueline well, but he also can lose track of his man and run around in his own zone a bit at times. Overall, in the context of the WJs and with a good partner and team, he should be good defensively.

My Predictions for the Selection Camp Roster:

Goalies

Julien Ellis-Plante
Devan Dubnyk
Carey Price
Justin Pogge

Defence

Marc Staal
Luc Bourdon
Cam Barker
Ryan Parent
Mark Fistric
Kris Letang
Kris Russell
Jeff Schultz
Scott Jackson
Patrick McNeil

Forwards

Dustin Boyd
Dave Bolland
Benoit Pouliot
Ryan O'Marra
Guillaume Latendresse
Kyle Chipchura
Wojtek Wolski
Bryan Little
Alex Bourret
Andrew Cogliano
Blake Comeau
Kenndal McArdle
Evan McGrath
Devin Setoguchi
Daniel Bertram
Michael Blunden
Johnathan Toews
Kris Chucko


That was pretty tough... guys like Rogers, Downie, Funk, Esposito are real close to being on that list for me.

I think Alex Bourret is not even invited to the camp so he won't be on the U20 team.

I just don't understand how people say Esposito has a chance but they don't even mention Toews. They both played on the same Shattuck-St. Mary's team last year and Toews had almost double the points of esposito. Unless Esposito has drastically improved, I don't see how he can be mentioned without Toews.

He is on an awful team. From what I hear he runs around the ice trying to do too much, which might contribute as well. From Canucks camp and the summer WJ camp, he is somewhat erratic defensively, but for the most part effective. He throws some huge hits, but he also takes himself out of the play doing it sometimes. He's quite good 1 on 1 and stands guys up at the blueline well, but he also can lose track of his man and run around in his own zone a bit at times. Overall, in the context of the WJs and with a good partner and team, he should be good defensively.


Thanks for the good info.

There is something you are not understanding about an nhl draft. When 1 guy is picked before another one, it doesnt mean the other 29 gms had the same order as the 1 who picked the first of the 2.

Your sentence should be readed:

''According to 1 GM, Staal is better.''

We have no way to know about the opinion of the 29 others...

It still doesn't make sense that way.

According to one GM, Bourdon is better.

Vancouver took Bourdon over Staal, so not only does the original comment assume that all GM's think alike, but it's also factually wrong- Bourdon was selected before Staal.

Quick question...i'm really not try to start a big bashing fest between drafted defensman, but..does Bourdon play any defense at all? I know hes an offensive defensman and all but he is a -59 in 164 games. He could be on a horrible team for all i know, just would like some info. Thanks

Again not trying to be disrespectful, not comparing him with any other drafted player considering I havn't see any of them yet on the TV.


Exactly why +/- doesnt mean very much.

It still doesn't make sense that way.

According to one GM, Bourdon is better.

Vancouver took Bourdon over Staal, so not only does the original comment assume that all GM's think alike, but it's also factually wrong- Bourdon was selected before Staal.

Two picks before Staal

Carolina debated whether or not they should take Staal or Jack Johnson at #3

The Flyers wanted to trade up to select Staal and the Flyers know the OHL very well(Justin Williams,Jeff Carter,Mike Richards and Steve Downie)

How are Luc Bourdon's chances to make the team?

I think they're pretty high. Go Bourdon! :)

Something that was brought up about Esposito on another board, just wondering if this is indeed the case.

From a Bob McKenzie article back in October...

Esposito is too young to be considered for Canada's National Junior Team - there is a policy that says young players must play in the Under-18 program before the World Juniors - but if he's available in April he'll get that Under-18 opportunity.

TSN (http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp?id=139065)

Has TSN done anything predicting who they think will be invited tomorrow other than that little article from the CP on their website? I seem to remember that they usually go over the likely candidates to be invited and classify them as locks, likely, on the bubble etc. Maybe on tonight's SportsCentre or something?

Anybody want to give a quick analysis of Pogge's chances to make the team?

Anybody want to give a quick analysis of Pogge's chances to make the team?
I really think goalie is one of the toughest positions to pick. My personal order is Price Dubnyk Ellis Pogge, but I definitely believe the staff could have any permutation of those 4 as their order. I've only seen Pogge a few times since his not quite so good days in PG, so I'm having a hard time buying into his improvements being a great deal more than the team in front of him (obviously some is him, but I question how much), but it's hard to say without having seen a lot of him in a while, and none this season. Ultimately I think that's the toughest position to choose, and the toughest to predict who Mackasey and Sutter will choose. Maybe they have their guys in mind already, or maybe they're going to base it mostly on camp, who knows. In either case, I don't know who to give the edge to, I can only say that my own personal opinion is that Price is the best goaltender of the four (and I don't mean best prospect, although he is certainly also that, I mean best now).

I cant believe how nobody wants Blunden on this team. He has great chemistry and he has been better than Omarra this year he is huge physical can skate and hit I dont know what more you want then that. I will take him over Chucko any day of the week.

Two picks before Staal

Carolina debated whether or not they should take Staal or Jack Johnson at #3

The Flyers wanted to trade up to select Staal and the Flyers know the OHL very well(Justin Williams,Jeff Carter,Mike Richards and Steve Downie)


Now i don't know where your getting your information from what i heard from tsn watching their draft day show was this:

Crosby was going #1 - no doubt about that

Now if Johnson went 2 they were thinking wether or not to grab Stall at 3 or swap with some teams below them (one of them Vancouver who would grab BRULE) and hope that Stall falls to #10. But when Johnson fell to Carolina at 3 (burke :shakehead ) they went straight ahead and grabbed him without a second thought.

Also i heard that Philly wanted to move up and grab Bobby Ryan i didn't hear anything about Philly moving up to get Stall.


P.S. Bourdon got top dman at the U-18's last year did Stall :sarcasm: ?

don't flip out i don't even know if Stall was there so CALM DOWN

http://torontosun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2005/12/05/1338042-sun.html

Well here's a few suprises... from the article...

The pugnacious Steve Downie will be among the Ontario Hockey League players invited, but talented skaters Wojtek Wolski of the Brampton Battalion and Evan McGrath of the Kitchener Rangers will not, sources said last night.

CAMP ROSTER

A total of 32 players are expected today to be invited to Canada's selection camp for the 2006 world junior tournament. Here's a look at how the roster might shape up:

GOALIES (4)

Justin Pogge, Calgary, WHL; Devan Dubnyk, Kamloops, WHL; Carey Price, Tri-City, WHL; Julien Ellis-Plante, Shawinigan, QMJHL

DEFENCEMEN (10)

Cam Barker, M. Hat, WHL; Kris Russell, Medicine Hat, WHL; Luc Bourdon, Val D'Or, QMJHL; Marc Staal, Sudbury, OHL; Ryan Parent, Guelph, OHL; Kris Letang, Val D'Or, QMJHL; Mark Fistric, Vanc., WHL; Michael Funk, Portland, WHL; Andy Rogers, P. George, WHL; L. Stevenson, Tri-City, WHL

FORWARDS (18)

Michael Blunden, Erie, OHL; David Bolland, London, OHL; Steve Downie, Peterborugh, OHL; Ryan O'Marra, Erie, OHL; Tom Pyatt, Saginaw, OHL; Benoit Pouliot, Sudbury, OHL; Bryan Little, Barrie, OHL; Alex Bourret, Lewiston, QMJHL; Dustin Boyd, Moose Jaw, WHL; Kyle Chipchura, Prince Albert, WHL; Andrew Cogliano, Michigan NCAA; Blake Comeau, Kelowna, WHL; Angelo Esposito, Quebec, QMJHL; Guillaume Latendresse, Drummondville, QMJHL; Devin Setoguchi, Saskatoon, WHL; Jonathan Toews, North Dakota, NCAA; Kris Chucko, Minnesota, NCAA; Kenndal McArdle, Moose Jaw, WHL



If correct it would be interesting to learn why Wolski and McGrath were excluded... not that those attending aren't worthy in their own right's but...

Now i don't know where your getting your information from what i heard from tsn watching their draft day show was this:

Crosby was going #1 - no doubt about that

Now if Johnson went 2 they were thinking wether or not to grab Stall at 3 or swap with some teams below them (one of them Vancouver who would grab BRULE) and hope that Stall falls to #10. But when Johnson fell to Carolina at 3 (burke :shakehead ) they went straight ahead and grabbed him without a second thought.

Also i heard that Philly wanted to move up and grab Bobby Ryan i didn't hear anything about Philly moving up to get Stall.


P.S. Bourdon got top dman at the U-18's last year did Stall :sarcasm: ?

don't flip out i don't even know if Stall was there so CALM DOWN

Calm down?Was my response disrespectful? :shakehead

This is why you shouldn't just rely on TSN

The Flyers tried to get Anaheim's second pick so they could select Cherry Hill winger Bobby Ryan. Then they tried to get Sudbury defenseman Marc Staal, younger brother of Eric Staal, a center for the Carolina Hurricanes

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12268121.htm

Carolina debated whether or not they should select Staal or Jack Johnson.You must have missed that part on the TSN broadcast

Tom Pyatt :)

The hockey analyst Pierre McGuire, a former coach for the Hartford Whalers who is now with the Canadian sports cable channel TSN, said the Rangers' fourth-round pick, 18-year-old Tom Pyatt, could become known as the steal of the draft

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/sports/hockey/31nhl.html?ex=1133845200&en=1e4d99e125dce961&ei=5070

According to the Toronto Sun, Wolski and McGrath won't be invited!

http://torontosun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2005/12/05/1338042-sun.html

Hard-nosed hockey is Brent Sutter's way, and that philosophy will have a direct effect on the 32-player roster that will be named today for Canada's world junior selection camp.

The pugnacious Steve Downie will be among the Ontario Hockey League players invited, but talented skaters Wojtek Wolski of the Brampton Battalion and Evan McGrath of the Kitchener Rangers will not, sources said last night.

According to the Toronto Sun, Wolski and McGrath won't be invited!

http://torontosun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2005/12/05/1338042-sun.html

Hard-nosed hockey is Brent Sutter's way, and that philosophy will have a direct effect on the 32-player roster that will be named today for Canada's world junior selection camp.

The pugnacious Steve Downie will be among the Ontario Hockey League players invited, but talented skaters Wojtek Wolski of the Brampton Battalion and Evan McGrath of the Kitchener Rangers will not, sources said last night.

It's funny how they mention Steve Downie as "pugnacious", but they fail to mention that he is also gifted offensively. He currently has 21 points in 11 games. It works out to something like 1.91 PPG. Evan McGrath has 54 points in 26 games, something like 2.07 points a game. If Downie played in 26 games, his season totals based on his PPG would be 49 points, a five point difference. Not much in the face of things. Add to it that Downie is a better skater, an agitator, and isn't afraid to play very physical, it's easy to see why he is invited to Sutter's camp.

People are going to mention that he shouldn't make the team because of what happened in Windsor, but you go with your best players. If Downie is playing great hockey, then there's no reason to not invite him. I hope Steve makes the WJC team and I hope he has one hell of a good tourney. If he turns out to be a Tootoo, but with an offensive game to boot, I don't think anyone on here will complain.

Now i don't know where your getting your information from what i heard from tsn watching their draft day show was this:

Crosby was going #1 - no doubt about that

Now if Johnson went 2 they were thinking wether or not to grab Stall at 3 or swap with some teams below them (one of them Vancouver who would grab BRULE) and hope that Stall falls to #10. But when Johnson fell to Carolina at 3 (burke :shakehead ) they went straight ahead and grabbed him without a second thought.

Also i heard that Philly wanted to move up and grab Bobby Ryan i didn't hear anything about Philly moving up to get Stall.


P.S. Bourdon got top dman at the U-18's last year did Stall :sarcasm: ?

don't flip out i don't even know if Stall was there so CALM DOWN

I dont know why your shaking your head about Burke selecting Bobby Ryan 2nd. Obvisouly Jack JOhnson would have been a great pick there also, but Ryan is incredible. Absolute best player in the OHL this year, incredible hands and vision, and his skating isnt as bad as people make it out to be. Think Bertuzzi with heart.

Think Bertuzzi with heart.

I must have missed Bertuzzi losing the heart.

According to the Toronto Sun, Wolski and McGrath won't be invited!

http://torontosun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2005/12/05/1338042-sun.html

Hard-nosed hockey is Brent Sutter's way, and that philosophy will have a direct effect on the 32-player roster that will be named today for Canada's world junior selection camp.

The pugnacious Steve Downie will be among the Ontario Hockey League players invited, but talented skaters Wojtek Wolski of the Brampton Battalion and Evan McGrath of the Kitchener Rangers will not, sources said last night.

That would be interesting to say the least. I'm not a huge Wolski fan, but you can't argue how well the guy has played this year, making the Avs and all. So what if he didn't have a great summer camp. He certainly had a good NHL camp. Why can't Sutter give him another look.

We are looking at two of the best offensive talents in the CHL being left off here. If they come to the selection camp and suck it up, fine cut them. But I have a serious problem with fully leaving these guys off. The Americans are going to have such a fantastic team (especially offensively) this year, we are going to need all the firepower we can get.

The thing that's really bugged me about the Canadian selection process for the past little while is our obsession with simply choosing "checkers" for the sake of filling the role of shutdown third line. But we choose just as many candidates for that line as we do our scoring lines. It's rediculous. Why can't we just bring the best players this country has to offer at the junior level, and let them fill in roles. Offensive stars like Alex Bourret or Ryan O Marra or Kris Chucko, the list goes on, are also capable of playing on a defensive checking line, while being able to supply just as much offense as the other lines.

In the end it's pretty trivial because either way we are going to end up with a pretty solid team. And if we win, it's because they picked the perfect team. If we lose it's because we can't score because we leave players like Wolski or Mcgrath off, or its because we don't have big name goaltender. If you lose, there can always be excuses to be made up by the media and us.

But to contradict myself a tiny bit, I still believe that if we do truly leave Wolski or Mcgrath off it will be a mistake.

Any comments on these forward lines for Team Canada?

Pouliot - Cogliano - Latendresse
Wolski - Bolland - McGrath
McArdle - Chipchura - Setoguchi
Chucko - O'Marra - ComeauYour 2nd line looks to be in jeopardy

McKenzie: Wolski won't be invited to camp
Bob McKenzie, TSN.ca Staff
12/5/2005 9:50:34 AM

When Hockey Canada announces today the 34 players who have been invited to the final evaluation camp for this year's national junior team, there are going to be some surprises.

Sources say that Colorado Avalanche 2004 first-round pick Wojtek Wolski, who scored two goals and six points in nine games with the Avalanche this season before being returned to Brampton of the OHL, will not be among the 18 forwards who will be in Vancouver when Team Canada takes to the ice for the final camp a week from today.

Sources suggest another notable omission is Kitchener Ranger forward Evan McGrath, a Detroit Red Wing draft pick who is amongst the OHL scoring leaders with 19 goals and 54 points in 26 games.

As with any edition of Team Canada, who’s not invited or named to the team is usually bigger news than those who are included.

http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/news_story.asp?ID=145812&hubName=world_jrs (http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/news_story.asp?ID=145812&hubName=world_jrs)

P.S. Bourdon got top dman at the U-18's last year did Stall :sarcasm: ?

don't flip out i don't even know if Stall was there so CALM DOWN

He wasn't just to be correct.

I am very surprised Wolski did not even get invited. Poor impression on Sutter at the summer camp?

Carolina debated whether or not they should select Staal or Jack Johnson.You must have missed that part on the TSN broadcast

I think the only reason they even considered taking Marc Staal over Jack Johnson is because of Eric Staal. If Eric played for some other team, there wouldn't have been consideration at all.

Even if Jack Johnson is better than Staal (he is), if the two are as close in talent as you would have us believe, if you're Carolina you take Marc for sure. But they didn't, so it obviously wasn't that close.

I am from Newfoundland but I can't believe that Daniel Ryder was left off the list. He's playing great.

I think the only reason they even considered taking Marc Staal over Jack Johnson is because of Eric Staal. If Eric played for some other team, there wouldn't have been consideration at all.

Even if Jack Johnson is better than Staal (he is), if the two are as close in talent as you would have us believe, if you're Carolina you take Marc for sure. But they didn't, so it obviously wasn't that close.

Exactly. There is no truth to Carolina debate over Staal VS Johnson.

I dont know why your shaking your head about Burke selecting Bobby Ryan 2nd. Absolute best player in the OHL this year, incredible hands and vision, and his skating isnt as bad as people make it out to be.

I am shaking my head cause while Ryan maybe doing great, Forwards like him aren't as rare as dmen like Johnson who is truly a great great prospect.

Calm down?Was my response disrespectful?

No i wasn't saying you were disrespectful i was joking about how everyone gets all rilled up about their teams prospects.

Guess i misplaced my smilie :sarcasm:

I dont know why your shaking your head about Burke selecting Bobby Ryan 2nd. Obvisouly Jack JOhnson would have been a great pick there also, but Ryan is incredible. Absolute best player in the OHL this year, incredible hands and vision, and his skating isnt as bad as people make it out to be. Think Bertuzzi with heart.

Ryan is one of the best in the OHL. But the "absolute best"? Any comparisons are a lot closer than that. When it comes to hands and vision, Ryan is not as good as Rob Schremp. Handling and shooting the puck are where Rob excels. Bolland's shot is just as good as Ryna's. Both Bolland and Schremp are better skaters than Ryan.

Ryan has size and strength as his primary weapons. His other good skills coupled with that make him a very good player. But no way the "absolute best".

PS: His skating is not good. Sorry, but that is a fact. But he could learn.