4 Nations Cup Discussion

[MSZ]

Ultimately yes but I will watch it nonetheless.
It is a relatively entertaining spectacle but in the scheme of things it has very little meaning.
Maybe if it sticks around for a number of years, expands and creates some history but limited to only 4 teams kind of reduces its relevance

They're expanding this to 8 teams starting 2028, like this one it will be an in-season tournament because this is what the PA demanded.

 

[Zybalto]

Has marners production of 1 pt been good enough to pretend he has delivered for you?

We see Mackinnon has 1G (PP goal with little effort needed) and hes getting it on the main boards.

Marner is the 3rd best Canadian forward based on NHL production after Mack and Mcdavid.

He has not been close to the 3rd best forward this tournment. The difference between him and Marchand is negligible so far despite Marner clearly deserving to be here based on his NHL play and Marchand not.

Marner needs to start generating looks and make better puck decisions. If he cant play better hell end with only the 1G in 3 or 4 games and be an afterthought for the team.

As for game winner for team Canada, we have seen Crosby in 2010 get huge praise for the winner despite a poor tourney overall for his caliber of player.

The timing of his goal eased the heat he was catching. If marner scores only one more goal/pt this tourney and its the Final winning OT goal no one will be bad mouthing him just due to him being a leaf. He will get heaps of praise.

He has 1 guaranteed game to show his worth

Now thats a different level from Marner but Crosby clutched it out in the end for sure. Would be absolutely pathetic and delusional to criticize him after that and nobody dared bitch and moan about how he had some rough moments before that. Hell, he didnt even take that much heat when he was having his rough moments. You just supported him and the team and, like Marchand, a lot of us HATED Crosby at the time. What kind of moron would spend all their time tearing him down when he was going through a rough patch? This is team Canada. Who wants to be like those POS Canadian fans Espo criticized all those years ago.

Maybe its a modern age thing but its actually insane to see a player be the hero but portrayed the villian to this extent. Its one thing to not come through and take heat.....ok I understand that.....but to actually go out there and win it and STILL take the heat. Where does that come from?

The collective delusion is very real. If Marner doesnt clutch it out in game 1, this team might be finished. He's the hero on this team. He came through when he had to and no one else could. Thats just a fact.

It did happen......even if so many here are trying their hardest to pretend it doesnt matter.

We can get onto talking about how the team can fix things before next game but you have to at least admit that. Marner clutched it out.

Marner has been fine, not great, not horrible if we’re being honest.

The over the top froth isn’t a good look and really highlights the lack of understanding of the game.

Carry on.

Pretty much been fine overall and got the big goal for the team in game 1. A credit to his team.

Just saying that is going to trigger people into the stratosphere for some reason.

 

[Confucius]

The timing of his goal eased the heat he was catching. If marner scores only one more goal/pt this tourney and its the Final winning OT goal no one will be bad mouthing him just due to him being a leaf. He will get heaps of praise.

He has 1 guaranteed game to show his worth

I wouldn’t bet on that. lol!

 

[LaPlante94]

We could have chose those 3 goalies but let’s remember Kuemper was ok in his run. Thompson doesn’t have big experience. He was hurt in Vegas cup run. Blackwood until this year hasn’t been this good. I don’t think it matters who we take there would be question marks with any goalie. 4 out of the bottom 6 had some pretty good chances probably more than the top 6. Bennett play a very good game had a couple of good chances. The Tampa line was fine. Canadas issue we have no size up front. We have guys with a lot of heart but that can’t make up 20 lbs and 4 inches.

Thompson wasn't picked because of an assistant coaches grudge against him. Cassidy may have cost himself another chance at being an assistant coach for Team Canada for a while because of it now. Blackwood wasn't really on anyone's radar going into the season but he played himself on it by putting up good numbers on a bad San Jose team. A lot of players also went on runs after the teams were picked and locked in but idk why they left off guys like Scheifele and even Wilson for the 4th line. Bennett surprised me tbh. I didn't think he belonged on the team but he looked good and played physical like you'd want a 4th line guy to do to bring some energy. Top 9 should have enough skill and 2 way guys that we could've easily put together a bigger physical 4th line. At the end of the day it's not like we've been dominated this tournament and could still easily win it.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Wouldnt it be weird to celebrate making the championship game after the tournament is over?

I don't think anyone would do that so it would be weird, sure

Marner has been fine, not great, not horrible if we’re being honest.

The over the top froth isn’t a good look and really highlights the lack of understanding of the game.

Carry on.

Your consistent frothing in Marner threads highlights how you're a Marner fan first and a Leaf fan second (at best).

Now thats a different level from Marner but Crosby clutched it out in the end for sure. Would be absolutely pathetic and delusional to criticize him after that and nobody dared bitch and moan about how he had some rough moments before that. Hell, he didnt even take that much heat when he was having his rough moments. You just supported him and the team and, like Marchand, a lot of us HATED Crosby at the time. What kind of moron would spend all their time tearing him down when he was going through a rough patch? This is team Canada. Who wants to be like those POS Canadian fans Espo criticized all those years ago.

Maybe its a modern age thing but its actually insane to see a player be the hero but portrayed the villian to this extent. Its one thing to not come through and take heat.....ok I understand that.....but to actually go out there and win it and STILL take the heat. Where does that come from?

The collective delusion is very real. If Marner doesnt clutch it out in game 1, this team might be finished. He's the hero on this team. He came through when he had to and no one else could. Thats just a fact.

It did happen......even if so many here are trying their hardest to pretend it doesnt matter.

We can get onto talking about how the team can fix things before next game but you have to at least admit that. Marner clutched it out.

Pretty much been fine overall and got the big goal for the team in game 1. A credit to his team.

Just saying that is going to trigger people into the stratosphere for some reason.

That goal Marner scored was indeed a big one! I don't care much about this tournament but still, it is Team Canada, it's a team that hardly ever plays and when it does, IMO all Canadian hockey fans should support the team, and that means supporting all our players.

 

[Zybalto]

Canada in the combined 2 games so far:

Shots: 54-49 Canada
Scoring Chances: 66-48 Canada
High Danger Chances: 27-17 Canada

Leafs on ice numbers after 2 games:

Matthews:
Shot Differential: 15-8
Scoring chance Differential: 16-10
High Danger Chance Differential: 5-6

Marner:
Shot Differential: 11-14
Scoring chance Differential: 14-9
High Danger Chance Differential: 8-4

Nylander:
Shot Differential: 16-12
Scoring chance Differential: 13-16
High Danger Chance Differential: 2-2


Fun to look at but the Canada numbers do highlight the fact their shooters need to wake up soon. No finish

 

[Nineteen67]

I don't think anyone would do that so it would be weird, sure

That makes more sense than when you said they should have waited to post their congratulatory message.

 

[1specter]

Losing isn't a huge deal, in hockey at this level it's anyone's game and Canada isn't going to win it all every time. That being said, losing to the US sucks more than losing to other nations because of their asshole fans and country and the nonsense 51st state stuff being regurgitated right now. Many people who don't even care about the sport and belittle it and then take potshots at Canadians, it's just shitty. Anybody but the f***ing U.S.

 

[thewave]

Losing isn't a huge deal, in hockey at this level it's anyone's game and Canada isn't going to win it all every time. That being said, losing to the US sucks more than losing to other nations because of their asshole fans and country and the nonsense 51st state stuff being regurgitated right now. Many people who don't even care about the sport and belittle it and then take potshots at Canadians, it's just shitty. Anybody but the f***ing U.S.

We lost at home and got trolled by the Whitehouse. I think the country is about dissolve. Existential loss right there. The US us taunting us with becoming a state but you know they are aiming for North American Union.

Crushing defeat

 

[Squiffy]

Been enjoying the tourney so far. First chance my kids, and they aren’t exactly wee ones anymore, they both play rep, have gotten to see a best on best competition and they are riveted. Sure, wait’ll they get a taste of the Olympics, but this is long overdue and fun to watch.

 

[Jojalu]

Losing isn't a huge deal, in hockey at this level it's anyone's game and Canada isn't going to win it all every time. That being said, losing to the US sucks more than losing to other nations because of their asshole fans and country and the nonsense 51st state stuff being regurgitated right now. Many people who don't even care about the sport and belittle it and then take potshots at Canadians, it's just shitty. Anybody but the f***ing U.S.

Looking at numbers of how many players are in NHL and the gap has closed considerably.

There are more registered hockey players in the US now than in Canada and it seems like just a matter of time before the US surpasses us.

We need Quebec to produce somw elite goalies again.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I read in the Sun that the boo birds were out for the US national anthem. I heard a couple of boos, but not enough to be a story. Mathews was booed because he's a Leaf.

The Sun is owned by American republicans - I'm not sure we should believe anything beyond the game stars.

 

[Gary Nylund]

That makes more sense than when you said they should have waited to post their congratulatory message.

??

I have no idea what you're talking about, sorry.

 

[Evilhomer]

Looking at numbers of how many players are in NHL and the gap has closed considerably.

There are more registered hockey players in the US now than in Canada and it seems like just a matter of time before the US surpasses us.

We need Quebec to produce somw elite goalies again.

The US surpassed Canada a whlie ago. It's taken time for the old guard to be replaced. There is simply no way to compete with a country that is 10x your size if they put their resources behind it. Canada will always produce great players, but the US will simply produce more of them because of sheer numbers.

 

[leafsfan5]

We lost at home and got trolled by the Whitehouse. I think the country is about dissolve. Existential loss right there. The US us taunting us with becoming a state but you know they are aiming for North American Union.

Crushing defeat

We'll win on Thursday and it will be great

f*** the US

 

[Rude Dog]

Anyone who suggests 34 hasn’t been good is simply looking at goals and assists. I rewatched the game today. He was very good. He played a Barkov type game. Not flashy but effective. It was him who broke up a 2-1 where at the last minute he poke checked the puck to the corner.

16 has been disappointing. Just doesn’t mesh with 97. Hate Marchand. But he comes through in the clutch. Can’t end like this. Beat Finland and enjoy a big win in Boston of all places.

Gotta support the boys playing for our country not rip them down like we did to the junior team.

 

[Anthrax442]

I read in the Sun that the boo birds were out for the US national anthem. I heard a couple of boos, but not enough to be a story. Mathews was booed because he's a Leaf.

I was at the US-FIN game and it was definitely booed very loudly

 

[Nineteen67]

??

I have no idea what you're talking about, sorry.

Would've been smarter to wait and see if they win the tournament first. If I was Cooper, I'd be putting this up in the Team Canada dressing room.

I don’t think it would have been smarter to post the congratulatory tweet after the tournament.

 

[Nineteen67]

Anyone who suggests 34 hasn’t been good is simply looking at goals and assists. I rewatched the game today. He was very good. He played a Barkov type game. Not flashy but effective. It was him who broke up a 2-1 where at the last minute he poke checked the puck to the corner.

16 has been disappointing. Just doesn’t mesh with 97. Hate Marchand. But he comes through in the clutch. Can’t end like this. Beat Finland and enjoy a big win in Boston of all places.

Gotta support the boys playing for our country not rip them down like we did to the junior team.

He’s was very good defensively in that game, but he hasn’t been the guy for 7 playoffs, 1 play in and 6 periods and counting. Like Barkov he needs better players around him.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I don’t think it would have been smarter to post the congratulatory tweet after the tournament.

Wait to see if you win the tournament before bragging was the point I was trying to make.

 

[hoglund]

I was at the US-FIN game and it was definitely booed very loudly

The article was refering to the Canada vs USA game. The announcer asked for everyone to respect the anthems and I think that most did. I heard a few boos, but nothing to write about. The booing happened when Mathews touched the puck and I think that was mostly because he's a Leaf.

 

[Nineteen67]

Wait to see if you win the tournament before bragging was the point I was trying to make.

If they win I’m sure they’ll get a congratulatory message about that. That X post was congratulating them on making the final.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If they win I’m sure they’ll get a congratulatory message about that. That X post was congratulating them on making the final.

And as someone who supports Team Canada, I'm glad they did something so stupid.

 

[Anthrax442]

The article was refering to the Canada vs USA game. The announcer asked for everyone to respect the anthems and I think that most did. I heard a few boos, but nothing to write about. The booing happened when Mathews touched the puck and I think that was mostly because he's a Leaf.

Yeah, right. The TV people just turned down the volume. They asked for that respect before every game. Can't teach class to the Quebecois

 

[BallardEra]

Travis Yost: Three reasons Team USA is in the driver’s seat at 4 Nations | TSN

Team USA has already clinched a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final as they wrap up preliminary round play Monday against Sweden. Travis Yost takes a close look at how they've become the team to beat.

www.tsn.ca