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WC: 2015 — Team Canada II

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Team feels different than previous tournaments. Most of them are leaders on their teams and well respected players. Guys like Burns, Crosby, Giroux, Hamhuis, O'Reilly, Muzzin, Barrie, Eberle, Duchene, MacKinnon, Ekblad, Eakin, Ennis, Toffoli, Couturier are all good guys. They play hard, fair, aren't bad guys in the locker room. That's why this team is playing hard every night even in France, they had chances, probably weren't going 100% but they played really well.

And they've been dominant so far. They haven't really faced adversity other than the Sweden game which could be a bad thing but they haven't put themselves in bad situations. They know the task in hand and do the job without any problems. They are passing well, playing as a system and a team, everybody is producing.

I like our chances to beat Czech and USA/Russia for gold. Team has a really good feel to it, leadership, skill, belief is all there.
 
Ferrero Rocher said:
Team feels different than previous tournaments. Most of them are leaders on their teams and well respected players. Guys like Burns, Crosby, Giroux, Hamhuis, O'Reilly, Muzzin, Barrie, Eberle, Duchene, MacKinnon, Ekblad, Eakin, Ennis, Toffoli, Couturier are all good guys. They play hard, fair, aren't bad guys in the locker room. That's why this team is playing hard every night even in France, they had chances, probably weren't going 100% but they played really well.

And they've been dominant so far. They haven't really faced adversity other than the Sweden game which could be a bad thing but they haven't put themselves in bad situations. They know the task in hand and do the job without any problems. They are passing well, playing as a system and a team, everybody is producing.

I like our chances to beat Czech and USA/Russia for gold. Team has a really good feel to it, leadership, skill, belief is all there.
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and you got to think that McLennan would be the number 1 candidate to replace Babcock at future A team competitions, World Cup/Olympics if Babcock decides he's had enough. Remember he is a Babcock disciple, a former assistant in Detroit, so I like the continuity there. This team is a treat to watch...the next 2 games will be tough though and I hope the boys are up to the challenge. Beating the same team twice in any tournament is never easy. and in their home rink to boot? It's going to be tough.
 
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Mr Writer said:
and you got to think that McLennan would be the number 1 candidate to replace Babcock at future A team competitions, World Cup/Olympics if Babcock decides he's had enough. Remember he is a Babcock disciple, a former assistant in Detroit, so I like the continuity there. This team is a treat to watch...the next 2 games will be tough though and I hope the boys are up to the challenge. Beating the same team twice in any tournament is never easy. and in their home rink to boot? It's going to be tough.
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The Czechs are going to have a tough time keeping up with Canada's speed. The core of the Czech team - Voracek, Jagr, Hejda - are not speedy, whereas Canada's forwards can all move. The only way for the Czechs to win is for their goalie to make 45+ saves in a 3-2 victory.
Otherwise, I see this game going 5-2 for Canada.
 
MiamiHockey said:
The Czechs are going to have a tough time keeping up with Canada's speed. The core of the Czech team - Voracek, Jagr, Hejda - are not speedy, whereas Canada's forwards can all move. The only way for the Czechs to win is for their goalie to make 45+ saves in a 3-2 victory.
Otherwise, I see this game going 5-2 for Canada.
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either scenario I wouldn't call a "cruise" to victory. The outcome of tomorrow's game will be in doubt right to the very end....and 1 or 2 mistakes at the wrong time, or a bad penalty and the result could be something else.
 
Ferrero Rocher said:
Team feels different than previous tournaments. Most of them are leaders on their teams and well respected players. Guys like Burns, Crosby, Giroux, Hamhuis, O'Reilly, Muzzin, Barrie, Eberle, Duchene, MacKinnon, Ekblad, Eakin, Ennis, Toffoli, Couturier are all good guys. They play hard, fair, aren't bad guys in the locker room. That's why this team is playing hard every night even in France, they had chances, probably weren't going 100% but they played really well.

And they've been dominant so far. They haven't really faced adversity other than the Sweden game which could be a bad thing but they haven't put themselves in bad situations. They know the task in hand and do the job without any problems. They are passing well, playing as a system and a team, everybody is producing.

I like our chances to beat Czech and USA/Russia for gold. Team has a really good feel to it, leadership, skill, belief is all there.
Click to expand...

I think the whole "haven't gone through adversity" thing gets blown way out of proportion. Each one of these guys have been through long playoff runs or playoff defeats in their careers. They can draw from the experience and prepare for the medal games. I don't think them having so much success in this tournament is going to somehow catch them off guard if they get down by a goal or two. They know what it takes to get the job done and I expect them to come out strong tomorrow.
 
Mr Writer said:
and you got to think that McLennan would be the number 1 candidate to replace Babcock at future A team competitions, World Cup/Olympics if Babcock decides he's had enough. Remember he is a Babcock disciple, a former assistant in Detroit, so I like the continuity there. This team is a treat to watch...the next 2 games will be tough though and I hope the boys are up to the challenge. Beating the same team twice in any tournament is never easy. and in their home rink to boot? It's going to be tough.
Click to expand...

I doubt that. Hockey Canada always favours NHL performance for coaches and players. Andy Murray was always very successful coaching Canada at the WC, but was never a realistic candidate to coach Canada at the top level. I do think that a win here after a record breaking offensive performance could secure McLellan an assistant coaching position. He's done more than Ruff or Hitchcock did with a quality roster.

I'm also wondering if this team, along with the 2015 WJC team, indicates a slightly new, more offensively oriented direction for Hockey Canada.
 
JackSlater said:
I doubt that. Hockey Canada always favours NHL performance for coaches and players. Andy Murray was always very successful coaching Canada at the WC, but was never a realistic candidate to coach Canada at the top level. I do think that a win here after a record breaking offensive performance could secure McLellan an assistant coaching position. He's done more than Ruff or Hitchcock did with a quality roster.

I'm also wondering if this team, along with the 2015 WJC team, indicates a slightly new, more offensively oriented direction for Hockey Canada.
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I certainly hope so, but... (there's always a but) I will always have my reservations so long as Scott Salmond is involved.

Of course I think Salmond would hold less sway when it's NHL coaches and GMs making the decisions. When it's junior coaches however, I'm less confident...we'll see how it goes.

I'm all for the new direction though. giddy up!
 
Mr Writer said:
and you got to think that McLennan would be the number 1 candidate to replace Babcock at future A team competitions, World Cup/Olympics if Babcock decides he's had enough. Remember he is a Babcock disciple, a former assistant in Detroit, so I like the continuity there. This team is a treat to watch...the next 2 games will be tough though and I hope the boys are up to the challenge. Beating the same team twice in any tournament is never easy. and in their home rink to boot? It's going to be tough.
Click to expand...
Yeah I wouldn't mind McLellan for a quick skilled Olympic team. I think McLellan/Babcock/Vigneault are the coaches to go with if we're picking a more skilled team. He's definitely giving himself a good record with this WC. Done a great job with the defencemen who seemed like a weak point as well.
 
JackSlater said:
I doubt that. Hockey Canada always favours NHL performance for coaches and players. Andy Murray was always very successful coaching Canada at the WC, but was never a realistic candidate to coach Canada at the top level. I do think that a win here after a record breaking offensive performance could secure McLellan an assistant coaching position. He's done more than Ruff or Hitchcock did with a quality roster.

I'm also wondering if this team, along with the 2015 WJC team, indicates a slightly new, more offensively oriented direction for Hockey Canada.
Click to expand...

WHC record aside, Andy Murray, as much as I love him as an international coach, was never able to cement his reputation as the NHL "it" coach in high demand to the same degree as McLennan has. After Babcock, McLennan is the guy. It looks as though he's going to take the job in Edmonton, and if he's able to right the ship there and have any kind of playoff success in the next few years, win a rd. or 2... then my money is on him being the next coach in 2018 if the NHL goes and Babcock decides he's done.

I think for sure he will be named as an an assistant for the World Cup team. But hey, I still have no intention of watching that.
 
Mr Writer said:
WHC record aside, Andy Murray, as much as I love him as an international coach, was never able to cement his reputation as the NHL "it" coach in high demand to the same degree as McLennan has. After Babcock, McLennan is the guy. It looks as though he's going to take the job in Edmonton, and if he's able to right the ship there and have any kind of playoff success in the next few years, win a rd. or 2... then my money is on him being the next coach in 2018 if the NHL goes and Babcock decides he's done.

I think for sure he will be named as an an assistant for the World Cup team. But hey, I still have no intention of watching that.
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That goes against Hockey Canada's decision making in the past. I cannot imagine them picking a head coach who has never even coached a team in the Stanley Cup finals. Murray would have been fine as a coach in that role, but he didn't have the NHL resume. McLellan doesn't have that resume either at the moment. I guess he could before long if McDavid and Chiarelli are as advertised, but it won't happen in time for 2018.

No one should watch the 216 World Cup with two abominations taking part.
 
JackSlater said:
That goes against Hockey Canada's decision making in the past. I cannot imagine them picking a head coach who has never even coached a team in the Stanley Cup finals. Murray would have been fine as a coach in that role, but he didn't have the NHL resume. McLellan doesn't have that resume either at the moment. I guess he could before long if McDavid and Chiarelli are as advertised, but it won't happen in time for 2018.

No one should watch the 216 World Cup with two abominations taking part.
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Babcock is not going to coach the NT forever...sooner or later he'll be gone...and my guess it will be sooner and not later...Stanley Cup final or not, I'm much more inclined to give the gig to McLennan than one of the Olympic assistants with a SC final on their resume. Just my opinion.
 
Mr Writer said:
Babcock is not going to coach the NT forever...sooner or later he'll be gone...and my guess it will be sooner and not later...Stanley Cup final or not, I'm much more inclined to give the gig to McLennan than one of the Olympic assistants with a SC final on their resume. Just my opinion.
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You might pick McLellan, but I don't think Hockey Canada would. Babcock is the best coach for the job, but he might want to end on a high. I assumed he was done, but someone (Lebrun I think) said that it wasn't a given that Babcock was done coaching Canada. McLellan is a good prospect. Sutter is a good coach (I'm not sure how his style would translate internationally). Quenneville is a good coach. Vigneault is a good coach. There are plenty of options. Only issue is that those guys aren't particularly experienced internationally.
 
Easy win for Canada Tomorrow!


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Win-win opportunity with Canada facing Russia. Either Canada gets a bonus win in international hockey or Russia gets another example of why they don't need to reform their approach to the Olympics.
 
Frank the Tank said:
Win-win opportunity with Canada facing Russia. Either Canada gets a bonus win in international hockey or Russia gets another example of why they don't need to reform their approach to the Olympics.
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It's true. It will be proclaimed as a legendary victory over a Canadian dream team if Russia wins, and their aging forward core and porous defence will continue to be largely ignored. Though if they lose, what's the difference, they have some injuries and it was a Canadian dream team after all.

Given the variably commitment to the tournament demonstrated by different countries, I consider the results of this tournament pretty useless when looking at how a hockey program is performing.
 
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