Final thoughts on WJC 06 for USA

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ish

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I can't even put in to words what I feel about this team. Some points.

Walt Kyle is an absolute clown. I will never root for team USA if he is anywhere near our bench again. Of all the times they showed him behind the bench on TV throughout the tournament, he was never talking to anyone (players or coaches). He was always just there with an expressionless look on his face, wearing his godawful suit. He was a joke in NHL with the Rangers. The guy doesn't belong in hockey above the college level.

I don't know if I've ever been more disappointed by a prospect than Bobby Ryan. For all the hype and ridiculous numbers at Owen Sound I can't believe what I saw from him. He plays as though he just slugged a 2 liter of Coke and killed a bag of Doritos every time he's out there. He is soooo slow. And I saw him get absolutely tossed like a rag doll numerous times. Kind of concerning for someone his size. I don't know if he was nervous or what. Despite all of this I would have liked to have seen him played more, to see if maybe he could have played his way out this.

Brian Lee is nothing, plain and simple. I don't know what anyone sees in him. Tough? No. Overly skilled? No. Particularly smart? Nope. Quick? No. What's there?

We did expect too much from our stars, Kessel, Jack Johnson, and Bourque. We didn't play anything resembling a team game.

To top it off is the treatment from Canada. I really don't get why Canadians get off on ripping Americans. Haha, our government is in a shambles and so is our junior hockey. Great. I love Canada (to the point that I get made fun of), but this really troubles me. Booing Jack Johnson for what he did? Fine. Chanting US sucks is the height of low class. Canadians, of all people, should know that international topics (for you guys it's hockey) are treated very seriously. So don't give me the "we're just jeering our rivals, like a Rangers fan would the Islanders". Two totally different things. Chanting against a particular NHL team is directed only at people who root for that team, while jeering a nation targets all of its people (as in millions of people, 90-95% of whom aren't even hockey fans). You want to jeer a player (like Ryan for sucking or if you want to break Kessels stones becaused he's hyped), that's fine but telling us our country (not just our hockey) sucks is too far in my opinion.

That said, I will probably be rooting for Canada on Thursday because the Russians are a classless team. I haven't forgotten Malkins rotten display from last year or the two brutal dives from tonight. This is not easy to do. Not when all you hear is how the Canadians have so much more heart than everyone else (get over yourselves, you're just good, not exponentially grittier than everybody). What makes me sick is that this year it's true in the sense that the US didn't want it bad enough this year. I'm sure we'll tank the bronze medal game, too.

Oh, and does anyone know why Nate Davis played so much?
 

NYR2

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ish said:
I can't even put in to words what I feel about this team. Some points.

Walt Kyle is an absolute clown. I will never root for team USA if he is anywhere near our bench again. Of all the times they showed him behind the bench on TV throughout the tournament, he was never talking to anyone (players or coaches). He was always just there with an expressionless look on his face, wearing his godawful suit. He was a joke in NHL with the Rangers. The guy doesn't belong in hockey above the college level.

Glad I wasn't the only one feeling this way about him. That is like my biggest peeve right now with the team - him.

They lost, hey fine it happens. They were overrated, lmao no doubt. But they are still playing for a medal and I'm happy about that. I wasn't expecting them to tear through the tournament and win the gold, I don't think that way ever about my teams, I just wanted them to play the best they could. And sadly that has disappointed me because I don't think they did.

Who would you guys have picked as coach?
 

Bryanbryoil

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Absolutely pathetic. With all of that talent they should've been much better. IMO 90+% falls on the coaching. I hope that they lose the Bronze game and that Schremp and Ryan goes after Kyle for their lack of PT!!!
 

Devonator

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Don't be too hard on your team guys........you were tired and you were playing the Co Favorites in the Russians tonight..........You have great individual talent and they will look good for future U.S. teams in the Olympics and other international tourney's too be sure............Just a lack of chemistry too be sure!!
 

Live in the Now

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There were two things that stuck out in my mind from this tournament.

1. Awful coaching.

2. No team chemistry, and it didn't seem like this team "wanted" it.
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NYR2

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Bryanbryoil said:
I hope that they lose the Bronze game and that Schremp and Ryan goes after Kyle for their lack of PT!!!

Hey come on! lol

Kyle really pissed me off though. I just don't like the guy as a coach, don't think he's anything special. Stick to coaching college and NEVER step behind a USA bench again, thanks.
 

Phanuthier*

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We don't know what is said and done behind the USA bench, so let's not judge him. For most teams, one assist coach runs the offense, the other the D. I'm guessing Walt Kyle was observing what was going on the ice.

Did Erik Johnson raise his stock over Phil Kessel? E Johnson was incredible out there, I'd take him with a No 1 pick.

And the downfall of this team... probalby beating a dead horse, but playing like individuals killed this team. Too many ego's. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple guys take their blal and go home against the Finns.
 

NYR2

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reidy said:
Here's to hoping a few years (try 4) of seasoning in the NHL will prep some of these guys for the Olympics in 2010.

I'm so excited for those games, aside from what I'm sure will be a lovely crowd. :rolleyes: I definitely want to try and make it there since Italy went out the window.
 

ryz

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Nice how you turned your thoughts on Team USA into a half assed dis on Canada part way through. USA was being booed for 2 reasons. They didn't come even close to living up to the hype and Jack Johnson. I'd even go so far as to say that if JJ hadn't leveled the cheap shot on Downie the crowd would have been pro-USA tonite.
 

ish

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NYR2 said:
Glad I wasn't the only one feeling this way about him. That is like my biggest peeve right now with the team - him.

They lost, hey fine it happens. They were overrated, lmao no doubt. But they are still playing for a medal and I'm happy about that. I wasn't expecting them to tear through the tournament and win the gold, I don't think that way ever about my teams, I just wanted them to play the best they could. And sadly that has disappointed me because I don't think they did.

Who would you guys have picked as coach?

I wish I had a good answer for this. Mike Eaves, obviously won two years ago, but he might not have wanted to miss his schools games again. Don Lucia should know a thing or two about managing talent. Constantine knows the CHL well and how the Canadians manage to have success playing the way they do (I would assume).
 

Randall Graves*

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How can we pass much judgement on Ryan, I know alot of people are disappointed with his tournament but he barely played! he was just basically a PP specialist. For all of the faults people keep pointing out he put points on the board in his limited time!

but it's not just him. Blake Wheeler AND Robbie Schremp, two talented players also were on the backburner so we could watch Kessell go 1 on 3 10 times a game!

Bright spot...OSHIE, the guy is a talent, he EARNED all the ice time he got. But i'm not sure why team USA is so in love with Chris Bourque, yes a scrappy, pretty talented little guy, but outside the Norway game he wasn't THAT great.
 

NYR2

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ryz said:
I'd even go so far as to say that if JJ hadn't leveled the cheap shot on Downie the crowd would have been pro-USA tonite.

I doubt it.

ish said:
I wish I had a good answer for this. Mike Eaves, obviously won two years ago, but he might not have wanted to miss his schools games again.

I would have liked him back. Is that why he didn't come back, he didn't want to miss the other games? I can understand that but damn I would have LOVED him over Kyle lol.
 

Randall Graves*

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Phanuthier said:
We don't know what is said and done behind the USA bench, so let's not judge him. For most teams, one assist coach runs the offense, the other the D. I'm guessing Walt Kyle was observing what was going on the ice.

Did Erik Johnson raise his stock over Phil Kessel? E Johnson was incredible out there, I'd take him with a No 1 pick.

And the downfall of this team... probalby beating a dead horse, but playing like individuals killed this team. Too many ego's. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple guys take their blal and go home against the Finns.
Agreed.

The lack of teamwork prior to tonights game(haven't seen it yet) is reflective of the coaching, and personal agendas of players IMO.
 

Towelie*

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After these WJC's, I think I can conclude that Bourdon > Lee.
 

NYR2

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RallyKiller said:
How can we pass much judgement on Ryan, I know alot of people are disappointed with his tournament but he barely played! he was just basically a PP specialist. For all of the faults people keep pointing out he put points on the board in his limited time!

but it's not just him. Blake Wheeler AND Robbie Schremp, two talented players also were on the backburner so we could watch Kessell go 1 on 3 10 times a game!

Bright spot...OSHIE, the guy is a talent, he EARNED all the ice time he got. But i'm not sure why team USA is so in love with Chris Bourque, yes a scrappy, pretty talented little guy, but outside the Norway game he wasn't THAT great.

I could care less about anything Kessel right now, I'm more interested in JJ, EJ, Oshie who's name I've heard over and over in all three games I watched. Kessel didn't really prove much to me, at times kinda seemed like a puck hog.
 

canucksfan

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Just to comment on some of the things you said.

First, Kyle didn't do too bad. His suits are awful. He doesn't even wear a tie. Second, I thought that chemistry was a big issue for the US. They had no chemistry between the players. Moreover, players like Ryan and Schremp should have stepped up but they didn't. Why the Ducks took Ryan over Johnson I have no idea. I shouldn't be surprized because Bruke is their G.M. and he was known for drafting great in Vancouver. :sarcasm:

The fans were disgusting. I don't want to get a discussion on the fans again beacause this is about the American team but I'm embrassed to be from the Vancouver area. Booing an 18 year old kid is awful. Heckling and jeering the American team and chanting USA sucks is classless. I can't believe they were cheering for the Russians. Speaking of the Russians, do those teams hate one another. I thought it was going to get our of hand but I'm glad it didn't. I thin something might happen down the road between those two countries.

If the US doesn't tie Switzerland it would be a whole differnet tournaemnt for the Americans. I hope they win the Bronze because they deserve to win something after the treatment they got here.
 

ish

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ryz said:
Nice how you turned your thoughts on Team USA into a half assed dis on Canada part way through. USA was being booed for 2 reasons. They didn't come even close to living up to the hype and Jack Johnson. I'd even go so far as to say that if JJ hadn't leveled the cheap shot on Downie the crowd would have been pro-USA tonite.

I'm only dissing your dissing of us, otherwise you have a fabulous country up there. I defended the booing of Johnson. I think it's both deserved and funny. But come on, you weren't booing us for not living up to the hype. You were booing us from the drop of the puck against Norway. I don't believe for a second that you would have rooted for us if Johnson played nice against you.
 

Randall Graves*

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NYR2 said:
I doubt it.



I would have liked him back. Is that why he didn't come back, he didn't want to miss the other games? I can understand that but damn I would have LOVED him over Kyle lol.
Bowman :sarcasm:
 

reidy

@reidjjackson
I wonder how many of these guys will be there in 2010?

I'm thinking;

Kessel
Bourque
J. Johnson
E. Johnson

Possibly Schneider, Schremp if he can play even-strength and Ryan if he learns how to skate. Who am I missing?

I really like the 2010 defense, though. Imagine choosing from the Johnsons, Suter, Stuart, Leopold, Whitney? That'd be nice.
 

Kaizer

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Kessel and Oshie were the best players for team USA by far (I dislike this word, but it is what it is), especially Oshie who wasn't hyped that much and that's why I was more than just suprised with his performance, very good pick up by Blues.
 
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