I think Lafreniere will make the team

Josh Brook too. leads whl d man in almost every category
edit: just saw that u added him. my bad

Robert Thomas played a great game Saturday and the Blues don’t really have a great option at 4th line center. I could be wrong, but I think he’ll stick

I definitely think he's good enough, but it all falls on returning players in Formenton and Thomas would likely be put on the wing too, plus Canada tends to avoid undrafted guys. With how commercial the world juniors are here, if it comes down to a close battle for final positions, they'll always take that guy who is a 1st or 2nd round pick since his name is better known to sell. Last year Steenbergen kinda broke the trend but his stats in the WHL were too good to not have, similar to how I've added Wolansky this year as that 13th forward.

I'd be very happy for the guy, I'm a Hamilton Bulldogs Season Ticket Holder, but with already struggling to fit him into the lineup with Thomas, Kyrou, Barbashev, Blais, Sundqvist, and Soshnikov all competing for a 4th line role, plus Robby Fabbri coming back into the lineup. It just seems like an easy decision to let Thomas go back to the OHL and retain his Entry Level status set back another year, even though the NHL would be best for his development. Team Canada would likely give him the C.

It’s definitely possible, but Blues management thinks he has nothing left to learn in juniors (1 mem cup, 2 OHL championships, WJC gold.) couple that with the fact that Sundqvist (who has 2 career goals and had a 44% fo percentage last year) would be the nightly 4th line center, and I think RT probably stays. They could also lend him for the tournament and then take him back afterwards. It might be fun to see what he could do for a full season in Hamilton with Kaliyev and Saigeon on his wings.

I know it seems off, but I could totally see Joel Teasdale taking a spot in the bottom 6. 19 years old at 203 Lbs. He can hold his own and is very hard to knock off of the puck.

There are quite a few stretch players already in my opinion. I came up with a short list of 24 forwards and had to cut that in half. (Teasdale wasn't even on that for me) There a few players in that who are more productive that bring that same element though in Alexis Lafreniere, Isaac Ratcliffe, Ben Jones, D'Artagnan Joly. Plus there's also Michael Rasmussen who I completely forgot about that I won't be surprised if he's sent back to the W.

Usually Canada rerfrains from using players that young simply because their talent is so wide. In order to make the team, chances are you have to outwork/outplay a 19 year old that was a 1st round pick in the NHL. The reason I say Teasdale has a chance is because his work ethic is among the best (judging from what I saw in rookie camp/tournament) He has size and weight so he can be an efficient 4th line energy guy on the team. Chances are he doesn't make it, but I have him as a Dark Horse

I believe he has a chance if none of Evan Bouchard/Alex Formenton/Jared Anderson Dolan/Robert Thomas/Michael Rasmussen/Maxime Comtois don't make the team. That is 5 guys who are locks in my mind if their team allows them to compete

Anderson Dolan's already been sent back.

All of the forwards I put on the team are 1999 (19) witht he exception of Akil Thomas, Barrett Hayton, as some 18 year olds need to be included and they have been great, plus the honourable mentions only included one who wasn't a 99, being Lafreniere for that reason. Teasdale doesn't have a shot.

You can say Teasdale doesn't have a shot, but there have been many instances where 19 Year old, late round picks make the team over 1st round prospects with lots of potiential. IE Batherson, Steenbergen over Suzuki last year. Every player gets a fair shot, something I like about team canada, what round you were drafted in, means nothing

I don't disagree with that, Steenbergen and Batherson were having exceptional years though, it's the reason why I put Stelio Matteos, Ian Scott, and Trey Fix-Wolansky on this team. Teasdale is having a great year overall at just under a PPG, but not enough that shows potential elite status needed for Canada. Steenbergen was pretty much double that and Batherson had over 1.5PPG through 25 games. I stand by Teasdale doesn't have a shot and may not even get an invite.