WC: 2017 Team Canada - Part II

[Hinterland]

Got to wonder if Barrie's absence is hurting the team more than it should. We were looking pretty good before Barrie's absence and now it's like we've lost a few steps.

It does. I mentioned it earlier. He's been the catalyst of this team. 5vs5 they look really shabby despite Parayko and Lee coming in and actually doing a pretty good job. They're shooting from everywhere but they fail to create some real chances in bunches. They may have 2 or 3 per period which just isn't quite enough against most teams. It may be against Norway but they better find another gear for the quarterfinal, presumably against a strong Latvian squad.

 

[jj cale]

Well, Parayko looked fine to me today.

 

[Hinterland]

Well, Parayko looked fine to me today.

He was the best Canadian vs Switzerland already...

 

[jj cale]

He was the best Canadian vs Switzerland already...

I know, but there was some questions about him from Slater going into this tournament.

I think they have been answered.

 

[JackSlater]

Got to wonder if Barrie's absence is hurting the team more than it should. We were looking pretty good before Barrie's absence and now it's like we've lost a few steps.

It does seem like they really do miss Barrie. He was the best skater among the defencemen and made the quickest decisions.

I know, but there was some questions about him from Slater going into this tournament.

I think they have been answered.

My issues aren't really answered with Parayko, but he was good today int he two periods I saw. Two goal and a nice play down by the goal line. Need to see what he does against legitimate competition though, as Norway looked done after the first period. I would like him to make decisions quicker offensively (obviously not a problem with his second goal today) and I don't really like his defensive positioning, but no one on Norway or Switzerland is capable of hurting him with speed/skill. I certainly hope that he plays well and gains some valuable international experience.

The game against Finland should be a useful gauge for this team. Unfortunately I will miss almost all of it. Scheifele really needs to get going. He should be the offensive leader on this team. I know that he scored today, but he still didn't look right. Still good in front of the net though. Duchene isn't scoring but that is less concerning to me because he is still playing decently and contributing with his speed. I am curious about Point... not taking faceoffs and losing some playing time to Schenn makes me wonder if his hand or wrist are hurt. Perhaps from grappling. Killorn is predictably not playing well in a tournament he was never suited to, but I doubt that Cooper will drop his own NHL player to 13th forward. The defencemen collectively have been okay, but I don't like how most of them are playing defensively in one on one battles. Having Vlasic helps there obviously.

 

[jj cale]

It does seem like they really do miss Barrie. He was the best skater among the defencemen and made the quickest decisions.



My issues aren't really answered with Parayko, but he was good today int he two periods I saw. Two goal and a nice play down by the goal line. Need to see what he does against legitimate competition though, as Norway looked done after the first period. I would like him to make decisions quicker offensively (obviously not a problem with his second goal today) and I don't really like his defensive positioning, but no one on Norway or Switzerland is capable of hurting him with speed/skill. I certainly hope that he plays well and gains some valuable international experience.

The game against Finland should be a useful gauge for this team. Unfortunately I will miss almost all of it. Scheifele really needs to get going. He should be the offensive leader on this team. I know that he scored today, but he still didn't look right. Still good in front of the net though. Duchene isn't scoring but that is less concerning to me because he is still playing decently and contributing with his speed. I am curious about Point... not taking faceoffs and losing some playing time to Schenn makes me wonder if his hand or wrist are hurt. Perhaps from grappling. Killorn is predictably not playing well in a tournament he was never suited to, but I doubt that Cooper will drop his own NHL player to 13th forward. The defencemen collectively have been okay, but I don't like how most of them are playing defensively in one on one battles. Having Vlasic helps there obviously.

Well the Swiss were legitimate enough to beat us but i agree, let's see what he can do when the games get bigger.

 

[Hinterland]

Parayko was easily the best player in both games he played but I agree with Slater that he's no replacement for Barrie. I don't even think he's capable of replacing him. Different kind of player. Parayko doesn't quite have the skillset and offensive mindset of Barrie but he's the much better defender overall. It's not his problem if his fellow defenders fail to support the offense.
PP looks great but 5vs5, Canada needs other players to step up and help carry the load. Parayko has been fantastic and he surely isn't the one to blame.

 

[carter333167]

^^Blues fan who watches a lot of Parayko weighing in....really appreciate the comments and agree that Parayko needs to think faster with his passes and his shot. It's the one area that I would really like to see him improve over the next year.

He really is an exceptional defense-first defender...good instincts, great with his reach, great on the boards, incredible recovery on mistakes/turnovers, good at fast solo zone exits when he commits to skating the puck himself.

He sometimes is a bit methodical on his zone exits when thinking pass instead of skate...seems to be looking for the ultra-hard stretch pass. I wonder at times whether it's the Blues system, which is a bit methodical (painfully methodical at times) no matter who is on the ice, that exacerbates this quality in him...wonder if he would learn to move the puck faster if he played on a faster transition team. He also can be a bit hesitant on the point once the O-Zone is gained. Ironically, he is less hesitant when he decides to carry the puck deep into the o-zone himself...that is when his abilities really shine.

In any case, sorry for the diatribe...go TC!

 

[ChesterNimitz]

It does seem like they really do miss Barrie. He was the best skater among the defencemen and made the quickest decisions.



My issues aren't really answered with Parayko, but he was good today int he two periods I saw. Two goal and a nice play down by the goal line. Need to see what he does against legitimate competition though, as Norway looked done after the first period. I would like him to make decisions quicker offensively (obviously not a problem with his second goal today) and I don't really like his defensive positioning, but no one on Norway or Switzerland is capable of hurting him with speed/skill. I certainly hope that he plays well and gains some valuable international experience.

The game against Finland should be a useful gauge for this team. Unfortunately I will miss almost all of it. Scheifele really needs to get going. He should be the offensive leader on this team. I know that he scored today, but he still didn't look right. Still good in front of the net though. Duchene isn't scoring but that is less concerning to me because he is still playing decently and contributing with his speed. I am curious about Point... not taking faceoffs and losing some playing time to Schenn makes me wonder if his hand or wrist are hurt. Perhaps from grappling. Killorn is predictably not playing well in a tournament he was never suited to, but I doubt that Cooper will drop his own NHL player to 13th forward. The defencemen collectively have been okay, but I don't like how most of them are playing defensively in one on one battles. Having Vlasic helps there obviously.

This year's team is nowhere near as dynamic as the past two year's teams were. On defence, Demers, for one, will be exposed against the superior teams that stand in Canada's way to a third consecutive championship. Barrie's loss will be felt. And felt badly.

 

[sooni]

After couple games now... How many can see Chris Lee playing in NHL? I think he might be a Joker Ufa card?

 

[Bear12Good]

After couple games now... How many can see Chris Lee playing in NHL? I think he might be a Joker Ufa card?

I think LEE nhl level player.

Best defensmen in KHL

 

[JackSlater]

This year's team is nowhere near as dynamic as the past two year's teams were. On defence, Demers, for one, will be exposed against the superior teams that stand in Canada's way to a third consecutive championship. Barrie's loss will be felt. And felt badly.

I mostly agree. I wasn't a big fan of adding Demers, but he has been adequate thus far. I don't expect much out of him against stronger opposition. Morrissey started off rough but he's been better recently. De Haan gets caught in his own zone too much but has been otherwise adequate. Barrie's puck rushing and passing will be missed.

After couple games now... How many can see Chris Lee playing in NHL? I think he might be a Joker Ufa card?

Difficult to gauge because of the level of opposition and the different playing styles. His puck skills are clearly good enough. There have been a few times when his one on one defending skills appeared lacking. He is good for this team in general, and in the NHL I could see him at least as a third pairing guy getting easy minutes. Wouldn't want him on a top pairing.

 

[Bear12Good]

LEE better then Bieksa or Girardi or Manning?)

 

[JackSlater]

LEE better then Bieksa or Girardi or Manning?)

He's at least better than Girardi and Manning. It's not like he would be the worst defenceman in the NHL.

 

[tony d]

Good win by the team yesterday, albeit vs. Norway. Still we got 1st in the group and an easier matchup than say if we had finished 2nd to 4th in the pool.

 

[Bear12Good]

He's at least better than Girardi and Manning. It's not like he would be the worst defenceman in the NHL.

Agree.
Lee very skilled player.
He play very good in PP.

 

[JackSlater]

Agree.
Lee very skilled player.
He play very good in PP.

Yes, he does look good in the offensive zone. My only question with him is, as those who watch him in the KHL have said, how he defends, particularly one on one. He looks like he could be a useful player in the NHL with the right partner and in the right system.

Watching most of the US-Russia game may cause some recency bias, but honestly USA looks like the biggest threat going forward. I don't like the thought of this Canadian defence going against the top two American lines.

 

[TDK67]

In a stacked forward group like this did anyone expect Marner to be #2 in points? Really pleasant surprise so far.

 

[Hinterland]

I missed the game but would be interested if the Giroux PP-line still had Lee on the point or if they went back to Matheson?

 

[JackSlater]

I saw very little of the game, but it looks like a good result for Canada. The real test will likely come in the semi finals, but I'm pleased with the way things have gone. Canada's young guys have looked quite good, and that's what I like to see above all else. I'm glad to say that I was wrong about Marner and that I may be wrong about Parayko as well. Very nice to see MacKinnon remind everyone that he's still around as well.

Also, I'm not thrilled with how powerplay dependent this team is offensively. Of course a good powerplay is preferable to a bad one, but it would be better if they scored more at even strength.

 

[Bear12Good]

how he defends, particularly one on one. defence .

Not ideal.
Like Burns in past seasons.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I saw very little of the game, but it looks like a good result for Canada. The real test will likely come in the semi finals, but I'm pleased with the way things have gone. Canada's young guys have looked quite good, and that's what I like to see above all else. I'm glad to say that I was wrong about Marner and that I may be wrong about Parayko as well. Very nice to see MacKinnon remind everyone that he's still around as well.

Also, I'm not thrilled with how powerplay dependent this team is offensively. Of course a good powerplay is preferable to a bad one, but it would be better if they scored more at even strength.

All 3 positives. for sure. Mackinnon has lost a little bit of his skating. hope he works on getting that back this summer. remind him for me when you bump into him at the pub.

Marner has been terrific. what bothered you about Marner? leftover from the Helsinki fiasco or just that he looked gassed at the end of the season?

Lee could be an effective 3rd. pairing d-man for a bad team without any championship aspirations. (Vegas) I think it would be cool story if he got to end his career at home (sort of) on an expansion team in Vegas. Along with all those SJ Sharks games I plan on attending, I may even make a few weekend excursions to Vegas to check it all out. It certainly won't be for the casinos. I've never wasted a $ in a casino in my life.

 

[JackSlater]

Not ideal.
Like Burns in past seasons.

Sure, but Burns is huge and fast and as a result can mitigate a lot of his mistakes.

All 3 positives. for sure. Mackinnon has lost a little bit of his skating. hope he works on getting that back this summer. remind him for me when you bump into him at the pub.

Marner has been terrific. what bothered you about Marner? leftover from the Helsinki fiasco or just that he looked gassed at the end of the season?

Lee could be an effective 3rd. pairing d-man for a bad team without any championship aspirations. (Vegas) I think it would be cool story if he got to end his career at home (sort of) on an expansion team in Vegas. Along with all those SJ Sharks games I plan on attending, I may even make a few weekend excursions to Vegas to check it all out. It certainly won't be for the casinos. I've never wasted a $ in a casino in my life.

Seeing MacKinnon in person, it is kind of jarring how big he is. It seems to me that he is trying to go down the Crosby route physically, which I think would be a mistake. Crosby traded some speed and agility for better size to help him in the corners. MacKinnon plays a different game and could use the extra speed. It's a balance. When Crosby and MacKinnon were in town for a wedding two summers ago people were talking about how similar they looked body wise and specifically how big MacKinnon was, and MacKinnon is certainly bigger now than he was then.

With Marner it was a few things. One, wasn't impressed with his WJC play, though lots of guys improve from that. Two, a lot of rookies who are heavily leaned on tire out by the end of the season and Marner looked tired in the playoffs. Three, playmaking wingers have a sketchy history for Canada internationally. I was clearly off base with Marner though, which is a good thing.

Casinos are filled with games that you or anyone else will lose in the long term, other than poker I guess. No one should go in expecting to play games and increase or even keep level their amount of money.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Sure, but Burns is huge and fast and as a result can mitigate a lot of his mistakes.



Seeing MacKinnon in person, it is kind of jarring how big he is. It seems to me that he is trying to go down the Crosby route physically, which I think would be a mistake. Crosby traded some speed and agility for better size to help him in the corners. MacKinnon plays a different game and could use the extra speed. It's a balance. When Crosby and MacKinnon were in town for a wedding two summers ago people were talking about how similar they looked body wise and specifically how big MacKinnon was, and MacKinnon is certainly bigger now than he was then.

With Marner it was a few things. One, wasn't impressed with his WJC play, though lots of guys improve from that. Two, a lot of rookies who are heavily leaned on tire out by the end of the season and Marner looked tired in the playoffs. Three, playmaking wingers have a sketchy history for Canada internationally. I was clearly off base with Marner though, which is a good thing.

Casinos are filled with games that you or anyone else will lose in the long term, other than poker I guess. No one should go in expecting to play games and increase or even keep level their amount of money.

perhaps it would be better to give the message to O'Brien.

I do hope Nate recognizes it and makes the adjustment in his summer training. I don't think he'll have much help in Denver over the next few years. Most likely Matt gets moved.

 

[JackSlater]

perhaps it would be better to give the message to O'Brien.

I do hope Nate recognizes it and makes the adjustment in his summer training. I don't think he'll have much help in Denver over the next few years. Most likely Matt gets moved.

Well, not that I am an expert on what physique MacKinnon needs, but I will say that I am less concerned after his performance at this tournament. He looks good out there. If Colorado can get some stable, quality leadership he should be fine.