WC: 2017 Team Canada - Part II

[linusandvarlamov]

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.

Mackinnon was meshing well with Rantanen and Andrighetto at the end of the season. So he'll still have some line-mates that can feed him the cookie.

Also, the Avalanche have yet to try out a Mackinnon-Jost duo (assuming whoever the coach is gives it a shot at some point next year and puts Mack on the wing for a bit).

Just trying to stay positive. It's the only thing an Avs fan can do these days .

 

[El Travo]

MacKinnon's speed is fine as it is (could be faster, obviously). The problem is he can't utilize it with the Avalanche. He's the guy who gets stuck breaking the puck out of the zone and never gets a chance to be hit with a pass at full speed because our defense is **** at passing.

Besides, isn't his dad a farmer or something to do with heavy labour? He wasn't going to stay a lean kid forever with those genes.

 

[Leafed]

Fully loaded Canada?

Bergeron - Crosby - Marchand
Tavares - McDavid - MacKinnon
Duchene - Getzlaf - Carter
Stamkos - Toews - Marner
Stone

Keith - Doughty
Burns - Pietrangelo
Vlasic - Weber
Subban - Parayko

Price
Holtby

 

[WadeRedden]

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.

It's so obvious if you go back and watch that tournament that their head coach, Dave Lowry, completely **** that team over. In the last 15 mins of the Canada's last game when the players just said "screw the system we're doing it our way" Marner was brilliant.

 

[JackSlater]

It's so obvious if you go back and watch that tournament that their head coach, Dave Lowry, completely **** that team over. In the last 15 mins of the Canada's last game when the players just said "screw the system we're doing it our way" Marner was brilliant.

Oh absolutely Lowry deserves the bulk of the blame for that tournament and the result, no question, but Marner was a disappointment. Even Strome looked better that year. As I said though, cannot complain about how he has been at this tournament. Great player.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Fully loaded Canada?

Bergeron - Crosby - Marchand
Tavares - McDavid - MacKinnon
Duchene - Getzlaf - Carter
Stamkos - Toews - Marner
Stone

Keith - Doughty
Burns - Pietrangelo
Vlasic - Weber
Subban - Parayko

Price
Holtby

Bergeron - Crosby - Marchand
Benn - McDavid - Seguin
Stamkos - Getzlaf - Tavares
Carter - Toews - Stone

Keith - Doughty
Burns - Subban
Vlasic - Weber

Price
Holtby

 

[jj cale]

Any Canadian fans who have actually watched all, some or even one of Russias games here?

I didn't get to catch a single one and some heads up on weaknesses/strengths would be most appreciated.

After all, they are who we play next.

Very quiet around here, never really seen a TC board for the WHCS quite so dormant for such a long period of time after a quarters advance.

Semis are up and I'm going to miss them unfortunately, but some heads up on the opponent would be nice anyway.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Any Canadian fans who have actually watched all, some or even one of Russias games here?

I didn't get to catch a single one and some heads up on weaknesses/strengths would be most appreciated.

After all, they are who we play next.

Very quiet around here, never really seen a TC board for the WHCS quite so dormant for such a long period of time after a quarters advance.

Semis are up and I'm going to miss them unfortunately, but some heads up on the opponent would be nice anyway.

haven't seen any. too busy prepping for the move to give an eye to anything other than Team Canada games.
but from looking at the Russian roster, 2 good forward lines, a questionable defense (as is ours) and a good young goalie who, if he's on his game, can win it on his own.

these 2 teams could play 10 times and the record could very easily be 5-5.

so, it's a jump ball. game will probably be won the PP. so, I'd advise TC to stay out of the box.

 

[Yakushev72]

Any Canadian fans who have actually watched all, some or even one of Russias games here?

I didn't get to catch a single one and some heads up on weaknesses/strengths would be most appreciated.

After all, they are who we play next.

Very quiet around here, never really seen a TC board for the WHCS quite so dormant for such a long period of time after a quarters advance.

Semis are up and I'm going to miss them unfortunately, but some heads up on the opponent would be nice anyway.

The Russians are a small, predominantly KHL team that has a lot of inexperienced young guys, but if you give them room, they have the speed and skill to put on a show. They had a lot of trouble with the USA because of their size and bulk, so I suspect Canada will also sit back initially and plug up center ice, and then counterattack. Russia has a small defense that can be vulnerable in the crease. Canada has better players than the USA did, so there should be a heavy advantage there. Russia may try to turn it into a speed derby to make the big Canadian bodies work.

 

[JackSlater]

Any Canadian fans who have actually watched all, some or even one of Russias games here?

I didn't get to catch a single one and some heads up on weaknesses/strengths would be most appreciated.

After all, they are who we play next.

Very quiet around here, never really seen a TC board for the WHCS quite so dormant for such a long period of time after a quarters advance.

Semis are up and I'm going to miss them unfortunately, but some heads up on the opponent would be nice anyway.

I saw a lot of Russia's game against USA. They looked good in spurts but their defence was not good. I expect that they will be better in the next game. Didn't see any other games.

 

[Bear12Good]

Russian D very young.

Team Russia more young then Canada in this year)

 

[jj cale]

Thanks for all the replies gents!!

 

[Rob Brown]

Fully loaded Canada?

Bergeron - Crosby - Marchand
Tavares - McDavid - MacKinnon
Duchene - Getzlaf - Carter
Stamkos - Toews - Marner
Stone

Keith - Doughty
Burns - Pietrangelo
Vlasic - Weber
Subban - Parayko

Price
Holtby

How do you not have Benn?

 

[1Gold Standard]

How do you not have Benn?

ya, I'd drop Marner for now. dynamic player, but not yet ready for the BIG team just yet. close, but just not yet...

also, I wouldn't be gifting any spots to Stamkos due to injuries + at the LW spot Jamie Benn is the better choice, Benn-McDavid Seguin (not MacKinnon) In addition, ROR is probably a better pick in that role on the 4th line with Towes with either Mark Stone or Scheifele.

 

[Bear12Good]

My version

Marchand- Crosby - Bergeron
Tavares -McDavid - Scheifele
Benn-Getzlaf-Seguin
Stamkos-Toews -Сarter
O'Reilly

extra
Johansen--Stone



Doughty-Weber
Burns - Vlasic
Keith-Pietrangelo
Subban



Price
Dubnyk
Holtby

 

[SaltNPeca]

Any Canadian fans who have actually watched all, some or even one of Russias games here?

I didn't get to catch a single one and some heads up on weaknesses/strengths would be most appreciated.

After all, they are who we play next.

Very quiet around here, never really seen a TC board for the WHCS quite so dormant for such a long period of time after a quarters advance.

Semis are up and I'm going to miss them unfortunately, but some heads up on the opponent would be nice anyway.

I've watched a bunch live.

Panarin is the hot hand, especially on the PP when he sets up on the left side for a one timer. Fantastic player.
I've been impressed with Belov also. Some good hard clappers and reliable.
Kuznetsov is hurting his team with penalties. He's able to control the puck in the offensive zone (typical Russian puck possession), but doesn't seem to have found someone to play with.

Unfortunately I saw them dominate Italy and Slovakia. They ran the score up on Italy to 10 and with Slovakia were on cruise control after 3. Not much to evaluate there, but they did show 0 signs of loosing to lesser opponents. It tells me their preparation is good. I can tell you they are the most serious team overall. (Canada is by far the most relaxed)

In the US game they let the US come back after each goal, then run away with it in the 3rd.

I think the way to beat this Russian team is to avoid penalties, play very physical, draw some penalties, roll the lines, and just stick with the system regardless of the score.

 

[Pi]

How do you not have Benn?

Seguin is missing too.

I'd drop Duchene, add Seguin. Drop Marner, add Benn. I like Marner but he won't play long term for Canada till some of the older players go away, he can definitely make the team though. Babcock and Team Canada like having centres play wing so for Marner to make the team, he would have to beat out the few wingers that Team Canada selects, not likely at the moment because Marchand is a pest even when he's not producing.

Stone? There isn't a chance he ever plays for Team Canada at a best on best tournament. The guy is invisible right now in the playoffs and looks like the 5th or 6th best forward on Ottawa.

 

[Leafed]

The Stars duo slipped my mind after reinserting a couple players

Bergeron - Crosby - Marchand
Benn - McDavid - MacKinnon
Duchene - Getzlaf - Tavares
Stamkos - Toews - Seguin
Stone - ROR - Marner

 

[sanitysrequiem]

Someone convince me that Travis Konecny is not going to be a star in the NHL. That guy is a stud.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

MacKinnon has been the MVP. Hopefully he gets out of the tire fire that is Colorado, and doesn't waste his prime years on a bottom feeder, for his sake.

 

[tucker3434]

MacKinnon has been the MVP. Hopefully he gets out of the tire fire that is Colorado, and doesn't waste his prime years on a bottom feeder, for his sake.

Most great players have played on a tire fire of a team. Thats just kind of how the draft works. He'll be fine.

 

[NyQuil]

Guys who have stepped up:
-O'Reilly
-MacKinnon
-Scheifele
-Marner
-Point
-Parayko
-De Haan

Guys I haven't been that impressed with:
-Duchene
-Simmonds
-Giroux
-Skinner

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Most great players have played on a tire fire of a team. Thats just kind of how the draft works. He'll be fine.

Not if Sakic does not fire himself. Lets be real here Kroenke is not going to do it.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Most great players have played on a tire fire of a team. Thats just kind of how the draft works. He'll be fine.

Thanks chief. He was drafted 1OA because they were a tire fire back then then. Four years later, still a tire fire.

Most great players don't spend their prime years on a tire fire, which MacKinnon is about to do.

Even Buffalo is ahead of Colorado atm, and their epic tank came after Nate was already in the NHL.

 

[tucker3434]

Not if Sakic does not fire himself. Lets be real here Kroenke is not going to do it.

This season had much more to do with Bednar than Sakic. The roster wasn't all that different from the one that finished 21st the season before. Bednar couldn't adapt to the team he was given.

But regardless, I'm glad people are recognizing that MacKinnon is still very good. He was catching a lot of heat here after the season for only putting up 53. He's. A lot better than his stat line with the Avs shows.