Maybe, just maybe we have to realize that other countries have caught up to us in hockey. Maybe in the case of the U.S., have even passed us.
I would suggest that those who still believe that Canada can send multiple teams to these competitions and still walk away with multiple medals, are completely out to lunch. In these best on best competitions, even if we send our best, we will be strongly challenged.
Could you imagine the hand wringing and finger pointing if Canada fares poorly next month at the four nations tournament? And frankly, I don't like the defence that we are going with and I wouldn't be surprised if, like the recent WJC, we are again caught slow.
We never learn.
Could you imagine if Cowan was a Habs pick? Leafs fans were so smug hyping him up but got a real cold shower instead haha. Maybe first line duties were just too much for him.Probably Cowan. There's as many Leafs haters out there as Leafs fans. Some Leaf fans are probably turning on him, too. Just look at this board with Mesar last year. People were flipping out because he was only ppg. Every shift was diagnosed & analyzed to death, and became a reflection of his overall future.
I liked Cowan his draft year & wanted Montreal to select him with a 3rd round pick. Leafs really reached for him. A lot of things I valued him for, he seems to have moved away from. He was a possession monster, who could take pucks away on the forecheck by getting in underneath guys, he drove the net with or without the puck opening up ice for his teammates, he had enough skill level to score goals or set them up.
He was terrible in this tournament, though, and showed a real lack of on-ice awareness and IQ.
He was very, very badProbably Cowan. There's as many Leafs haters out there as Leafs fans. Some Leaf fans are probably turning on him, too. Just look at this board with Mesar last year. People were flipping out because he was only ppg. Every shift was diagnosed & analyzed to death, and became a reflection of his overall future.
I liked Cowan his draft year & wanted Montreal to select him with a 3rd round pick. Leafs really reached for him. A lot of things I valued him for, he seems to have moved away from. He was a possession monster, who could take pucks away on the forecheck by getting in underneath guys, he drove the net with or without the puck opening up ice for his teammates, he had enough skill level to score goals or set them up.
He was terrible in this tournament, though, and showed a real lack of on-ice awareness and IQ.
Maybe, just maybe we have to realize that other countries have caught up to us in hockey. Maybe in the case of the U.S., have even passed us.
I would suggest that those who still believe that Canada can send multiple teams to these competitions and still walk away with multiple medals, are completely out to lunch. In these best on best competitions, even if we send our best, we will be strongly challenged.
Could you imagine the hand wringing and finger pointing if Canada fares poorly next month at the four nations tournament? And frankly, I don't like the defence that we are going with and I wouldn't be surprised if, like the recent WJC, we are again caught slow.
We never learn.
Could you imagine if Cowan was a Habs pick? Leafs fans were so smug hyping him up but got a real cold shower instead haha. Maybe first line duties were just too much for him.
Yeah, that team was just weirdly built, I don't get it. Haven't been watching the fallout on TSN, but are they going after Team Canada's roster choices or blaming the refs?He would have been better further down the lineup on an energy line. Like Fraser Minten last year, Cowan is not a top line player & yet Hockey Canada has forced these two players onto the team as if they were. They were given #1 duties and leadership roles, and both completely failed to deliver on those expectations. TML must be paying HC expenses or something. Ultimately, in both cases, TC was eliminated in QF.
Minten now looks like a bottom 6 player for the Leafs. 3rd/4th liner along with pk duties. Beck is having a much more productive year.
Yeah, he would have been great on Canada's 3rd or 4th line. He's not a superstar, but still a good prospect and should have been put in the right position to contributeHe would have been better further down the lineup on an energy line. Like Fraser Minten last year, Cowan is not a top line player & yet Hockey Canada has forced these two players onto the team as if they were. They were given #1 duties and leadership roles, and both completely failed to deliver on those expectations. TML must be paying HC expenses or something. Ultimately, in both cases, TC was eliminated in QF.
Minten now looks like a bottom 6 player for the Leafs. 3rd/4th liner along with pk duties. Beck is having a much more productive year.
Between him and Cameron's stubbornness and ego, it's easy to see why things got so bad.
yupCould you imagine if Cowan was a Habs pick? Leafs fans were so smug hyping him up but got a real cold shower instead haha. Maybe first line duties were just too much for him.
And Jersey, Guernsey, Iles Of Wright, Iles Of Man...
They do all have their unofficial teams, but only the four constituent nations of the UK (so England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland) + Gibraltar compete in UEFA/FIFA-competitions as it's mostly for historic reasons as football originates from the UK and the first international matches were really just England v Scotland. In the Olympics they have to compete as team GB though, as the IOC only allows effectively sovereign nations (it's a bit murky) to join as membersDon't tell me that ALL have their own Soccer/Football team!
Between him and Cameron's stubbornness and ego, it's easy to see why things got so bad.
They do all have their unofficial teams, but only the four constituent nations of the UK (so England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland) + Gibraltar compete in UEFA/FIFA-competitions as it's mostly for historic reasons as football originates from the UK and the first international matches were really just England v Scotland. In the Olympics they have to compete as team GB though, as the IOC only allows effectively sovereign nations (it's a bit murky) to join as members
figs gmWho's dick are they sucking to be able to put up such a terrible team, say shit like this and not get canned on the spot?
it's strange because I really thought Cowan was one of the better prospect during pre-season. Thought he had a fantastic pre-season for the figsHe was very, very bad
He has the tools but unfortunately the guys a straight up boneheadit's strange because I really thought Cowan was one of the better prospect during pre-season. Thought he had a fantastic pre-season for the figs