GDT: World Cup of Hockey talk

[Vagrant]

Ristolainen is a damn stud also. I can see Ristolainen and Eichel anchoring the Sabres similar to how Hedman and Stamkos did/do in Tampa. Not saying they'll be as good as those 2, but they won't be far off IMO.

He's the defense version of Aho. Just a guy who will always be beloved in Finland for his contributions at the U20 scoring the golden goal a few years back. He's the real deal too.

 

[A Star is Burns]

I went to the Sweden/Europe game last night. Not a great atmosphere, and Sweden wasn't too great, but it was still pretty fun. It was nice to get a little hockey action the last few days to hold me over til at least pre-season.

 

[Vagrant]

If you were every curious what hockey would look like if training camp didn't exist and we just jumped into meaningful hockey games without preseason, this is your tournament. Half these guys probably started skating a few weeks ago.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Yep. Also, since up until this point, these were all just exhibition games, you can tell there are periods of "don't care" going on. I watch Russia and Canada last night and until later in the game, I didn't see Ovie lay 1 hit. You know that's not going to be the case when the games mean something.

 

[bleedgreen]

As much as I love anything at this point of the off season, I don't know if televising the exhibition games helps the cause. Clearly the guys are just shaking off rust and trying to not get hurt before it even begins.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

As much as I love anything at this point of the off season, I don't know if televising the exhibition games helps the cause. Clearly the guys are just shaking off rust and trying to not get hurt before it even begins.

Yeah. I can't imagine anyone but hockey fans (ie....people already hooked) even tune into these games. I enjoyed it, as long as you take it in the right light. Even Levy and Melrose are taking it lightly as most of the broadcast is them joking around and taking funny jabs at guys.

 

[Vagrant]

As much as I love anything at this point of the off season, I don't know if televising the exhibition games helps the cause. Clearly the guys are just shaking off rust and trying to not get hurt before it even begins.

Which is part of the reason the kids look considerably better than their peers. They aren't mailing anything in. Laine was just doing whatever he wanted the other night.

 

[raynman]

Yeah. I can't imagine anyone but hockey fans (ie....people already hooked) even tune into these games. I enjoyed it, as long as you take it in the right light. Even Levy and Melrose are taking it lightly as most of the broadcast is them joking around and taking funny jabs at guys.

Listening to Barry Melrose makes me miss Tripp Tracy.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I don't mind Melrose. He's not a great announcer by any means, but he doesn't take himself too seriously, which IMO is a good thing.

 

[geehaad]

There just aren't enough good color guys to warrant taking shots at Melrose, especially from a bunch of yahoos who are exposed to Tripp friggin Tracy 80 games a year.

 

[bleedgreen]

Sounded like Barry and Steve were shaking the rust off too, or maybe just not caring very much. It wasn't like they were calling the games as much as just watching them with us and throwing out some comments. Wouldn't surprise me if they sound different during the real games.

I always liked these two as a pair. Thorne/Clemente and John Davidson/Sam Rosen are the ones I think I miss the most.

 

[bleedgreen]

Which is part of the reason the kids look considerably better than their peers. They aren't mailing anything in. Laine was just doing whatever he wanted the other night.

Probably a spot on idea. I'm really curious to see the kids defend against the nhl'ers during the tourney. Extended grinding and cycling against the big boys will break them down quicker than other teams I would suspect. Picking up the late trailers consistently might be an issue as well. Speed is fun to watch, but it's easy to speed right past where you need to be or not be patient enough defensively.

 

[RodTheBawd]

Melrose being defended by Carolina fans, alllrighty then...

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

in 2006 prior to the start of the playoffs, melrose picked carolina and dallas to reach the finals


i saw it on sportscenter 10 years ago, and i trust my memory

 

[HisIceness]

in 2006 prior to the start of the playoffs, melrose picked carolina and dallas to reach the finals


i saw it on sportscenter 10 years ago, and i trust my memory

God imagine the ******** had that actually been the matchup that year. Would traditional fans have been upset had JWillie been pushed into Marty Turco forcing Dallas to play whoever the backup was? I doubt it.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Damn, USA looks bad.

 

[DaveG]

Damn, USA looks bad.

Good. Torts is likely the worst coach in the league right now and the player selections to fit him were beyond questionable. Maybe USA Hockey will get their heads out of their ***** if they are a complete flop here.

 

[Jerk Newton]

I didn't notice if this was happening during those exhibition games, but they must be superimposing ads around the boards. Weird seeing Sportscenter wrap around the ice.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Good. Torts is likely the worst coach in the league right now and the player selections to fit him were beyond questionable. Maybe USA Hockey will get their heads out of their ***** if they are a complete flop here.

Yeah, that would probably be the best thing for USA.

 

[DaveG]

Yeah, that would probably be the best thing for USA.

Yep. Torts over Laviolette as coach for this is inexplicable.

Abdelkader and Dubinsky over far more talented, faster players like Kessel and Johnson is inexplicable.

the Johnsons and Niskanen over Shattenkirk and Faulk is inexplicable

benching Buf today in favor of Jack Johnson is beyond inexplicable

USA Hockey needs to clean house and bring in forward-thinking minds like Canada did when Yzerman named GM.

 

[Wolfpuck]

Oh look, the U.S. underperformed in an international tournament again...

 

[DaveG]

Oh look, the U.S. underperformed in an international tournament again...

Rinse and repeat as long as we keep the same braintrust and the same braindead coaches.

 

[cptjeff]

Sounded like Barry and Steve were shaking the rust off too, or maybe just not caring very much. It wasn't like they were calling the games as much as just watching them with us and throwing out some comments. Wouldn't surprise me if they sound different during the real games.

I always liked these two as a pair. Thorne/Clemente and John Davidson/Sam Rosen are the ones I think I miss the most.

I know the players hated Gary Thorne because he pronounced a lot of names wrong and refused to learn, but whatever happened to Bill Clement? I always enjoyed his commentary, and he survived the ESPN to OLN/Versus transition.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

we got shut out by halak

i refuse to watch the highlite pack of that game

 

[TheOllieC]

I will probably just root for the young guns.

Team USA is garbage and unlikable. Faulk, Kessel, Shattenkirk, Johnson should be there over players that are actually bad.