Edited Oct. 29, 2020 at 1:41 p.m.
Quoting: Chapee44
I agree Wright could get cut but they will take the best players for what they want. They won't care about age and having "a chance to play in the future". If anything it's a guaranteed returning player for them for the next two seasons to include Wright and that benefits him at least to the healthy scratch slot.
I agree with your adjustments taking out Wright though.
I disagree on Power. I think he is something special and his solidity on the back end lets Drysdale open up his game and really create offense. Plus size and smart physicality is always a Canadian way to win.
Connor McDavid didn't make the U20 team as a 16 year-old, why should Wright? The physical maturity of a 19 year old surpasses that of a 16 or 17 year old, it's very simple. Any older player with equal or greater production comes with the additional strength and experience that Shane doesn't have yet. Let him gain the experience of the compete level the U20s requires then allow him to develop and dominate the U18s before he makes the jump up with the big boys. There's no real need to rush him into this tournament because of his exceptional status.
Now, if he blows the doors off in camp? Fine, fight with the decision. But he shouldn't be penciled in over older names that can perform just as well, if not better, in a best-on-best tournament. I'm generally not a big fan of undrafted prospects playing for Canada in this tournament: the sheer quantity of quality names drafted each year suggests that this team shouldn't ever have to dip into the "lesser-proven" bin for players unless there's a legitimate need (ex. blueline handedness, goaltenders).
Regarding Power, the USHL plays at about half of the strength that the OHL and WHL do: a name like Robertson has both the same size and style as Power, but produces better and comes with so many more games played. Again, it's a best-on-best tournament, and I think Matty's the better player right now than Power is. Power's going to be a mainstay on the Canadian U20 team for the next two years, but as of right now, there's better options for the tournament. I do however think Power could be brought on as a spare if he outperforms a guy like O'Rourke. He's close, but there should be a definable gap between him and the CHL players until we see what he does in the NCAA.
EDIT: and Dach was released by the Blackhawks to play for team Canada, so there's your Wright replacement.
Perfetti - Dach - Cozens
Newhook - Byfield - Quinn
Krebs - McMichael - Mercer
Poulin - Holloway - Bourque
Pelletier
Byram - Schneider
Robertson - Drysdale
Harley - Korczak
Guhle
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