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4 Nations Face Off - Feb 12-20

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NJersey said:
How’s Jack been?
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It wasn't quite his A game but he was really good at times and he was pretty good overall. I'd go as far as to say he was one of the best US forwards in the first period. He did have one boneheaded play in the second period where he put McAvoy in a bad spot and was lucky it didn't result in a grade A chance against.
 
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I'm more into this tournament now. There's just something about countries bringing their A game that makes for uniquely great viewing. It's like club vs. international soccer.

Perhaps in Milan we'll be seeing an all Hughes and Tkachuk brothers scheme.
 
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Satans Hockey said:
The NHL really needs to get away from ESPN. TNT puts on almost an hour post game show last night meanwhile ESPN can't wait to get to the absolutely can't miss Gonzaga vs San Francisco college basketball game.
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The "extras" that ESPN added to the broadcast didn't help either. They had a massive ticker at the bottom of the screen for the 1st period that would show the players on the ice that would go haywire when there was a line change. The cameraman never adjusted for this mega graphic so play by the near boards was often blocked. Then you had the players names that appear on the powerplay when someone thinks they have the puck - I still can't wrap my head around why anyone would possibly think this is a good thing. I just want to be able to enjoy games with minimal other distractions.

As far as the action on ice, I came in not really caring about the tournament that much to really enjoying the game last night to being pumped for Saturday night. Not sure how in to it I'd be if Jack wasn't on Team USA and playing a prominent role, but it was fun watching him on a line with Matthews and Guentzel. Still a bit bummed that Quinn couldn't play as I would've really enjoyed watching him as well. I get some of the Tkachuk hate, but they were absolutely dominant with Eichel and we'll need another big game from them on Saturday night.
 
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HBK27 said:
The "extras" that ESPN added to the broadcast didn't help either. They had a massive ticker at the bottom of the screen for the 1st period that would show the players on the ice that would go haywire when there was a line change. The cameraman never adjusted for this mega graphic so play by the near boards was often blocked. Then you had the players names that appear on the powerplay when someone thinks they have the puck - I still can't wrap my head around why anyone would possibly think this is a good thing. I just want to be able to enjoy games with minimal other distractions.

As far as the action on ice, I came in not really caring about the tournament that much to really enjoying the game last night to being pumped for Saturday night. Not sure how in to it I'd be if Jack wasn't on Team USA and playing a prominent role, but it was fun watching him on a line with Matthews and Guentzel. Still a bit bummed that Quinn couldn't play as I would've really enjoyed watching him as well. I get some of the Tkachuk hate, but they were absolutely dominant with Eichel and we'll need another big game from them on Saturday night.
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ESPN blows. It's a clown show. The only redeeming quality is PK.
 
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HBK27 said:
The "extras" that ESPN added to the broadcast didn't help either. They had a massive ticker at the bottom of the screen for the 1st period that would show the players on the ice that would go haywire when there was a line change. The cameraman never adjusted for this mega graphic so play by the near boards was often blocked. Then you had the players names that appear on the powerplay when someone thinks they have the puck - I still can't wrap my head around why anyone would possibly think this is a good thing. I just want to be able to enjoy games with minimal other distractions.

As far as the action on ice, I came in not really caring about the tournament that much to really enjoying the game last night to being pumped for Saturday night. Not sure how in to it I'd be if Jack wasn't on Team USA and playing a prominent role, but it was fun watching him on a line with Matthews and Guentzel. Still a bit bummed that Quinn couldn't play as I would've really enjoyed watching him as well. I get some of the Tkachuk hate, but they were absolutely dominant with Eichel and we'll need another big game from them on Saturday night.
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I honestly liked knowing who was on the ice but it took up waaaaaay too much space.
 
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I’d like to see Hughes play in the middle as the second line center. He’s much better in the middle. Move Eichel, who I wasn’t impressed with as the first line right wing. How about Tkachuk- Hughes- Connor?
 
I can’t see Saros playing their next game.

He looked almost exactly like the Saros of the last month or two in Nashville, after his hot start where he was playing really well and they were still losing anyway. I’m sure you’ll see Lankinen in there on Saturday.

It will be interesting to see if Canada goes back to Binnington or tries Hill. I really doubt it will be Montembeault.
 
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Brooklyndevil said:
I’d like to see Hughes play in the middle as the second line center. He’s much better in the middle. Move Eichel, who I wasn’t impressed with as the first line right wing. How about Tkachuk- Hughes- Connor?
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Hughes Mathews guentzel line posted an above 70 percent xgf

Tkachuk x2 and eichel posted above a 90 percent xgf

Those two lines were absolutely dominant.

I suspect they will roll those lines into the ground against Canada
 
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Better Call Sal said:
Don't forget Bob Wischusen. He calls a great game.
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I remember when he was like the guy who reads sports updates when he's not getting coffee on WFAN during Fatso and Fruit loops shows

I like watching the trajectory of done of these announcers. Like Adrian Woj writing three line articles in the Bergen Record before becoming the basketball insider.
 
Brooklyndevil said:
I’d like to see Hughes play in the middle as the second line center. He’s much better in the middle. Move Eichel, who I wasn’t impressed with as the first line right wing. How about Tkachuk- Hughes- Connor?
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Omg no.
He and Matthews are going to destroy this tournament. I'm realizing that I really don't appreciate a players talent until I actually watch and root for them.

Matthews and Jack are on another plane. Eichel+Tkachuks is like a prototypical playoff line. The frigging hockey Gods' version of the Hanson Brothers.

Conner (and much of the rest of the team) are good but looked like warmed over leftovers in comparison.

It's the two top lines and whatever else the coaches put together
 
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⁰
devilsblood said:
There was a bit of a debate here that Brady wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Palat on the Hughes Bratt line because those guys will make anyone good.

I think Brady would be at a bit of an upgrade.


Didn't watch it but I kind of remember that.
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Brady wouldn't be an upgrade over Palat??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
That's Hilarious
 
devilsblood said:
There was a bit of a debate here that Brady wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Palat on the Hughes Bratt line because those guys will make anyone good.

I think Brady would be at a bit of an upgrade.
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Brady debates flared up a few times.

It came up after Bratt signed his 1 year deal in August 2022.

This dumb clip also led to discussion.



And the deal talk mostly centered on Bratt, though the SC clip led to debates on trading Nemec for Brady.

I’ll need to see proof before I believe anyone was arguing that Palat and Brady were equivalent players.
 
Bleedred said:
I can’t see Saros playing their next game.

He looked almost exactly like the Saros of the last month or two in Nashville, after his hot start where he was playing really well and they were still losing anyway. I’m sure you’ll see Lankinen in there on Saturday.

It will be interesting to see if Canada goes back to Binnington or tries Hill. I really doubt it will be Montembeault.
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That Saros extension was already a bit iffy when signed and really not looking so good right now. Always scary signing a goalie to an 8 year extension - particularly when it's through their 30's and during a down year. Crazy it hasn't even kicked in yet. Will be even worse if he becomes an anchor and Askarov becomes a top goalie in this league. Fortunately we won't have to worry about that when we sign Yegorov to and 8 year extension following his ELC.

I think Canada goes back to Binnington on Saturday - you don't just dump your starter after 1 game, especially since they won. But if he looks shaky again I think Hill gets the nod versus the Finns and can steal the starting spot in the championship game with a solid performance.
 
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Clam Jensen said:
I went from not caring about this tournament to wanting to obliterate Canada on Saturday. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
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Same here, i didn’t realize how much i miss genuine best on best international competition.

Also in terms of hitting/physicality, initially i thought there would be none. The fact that these guys are going all out (maybe except on their own NhL teammates) is a very cool thing and i didn’t expect it.
 
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HBK27 said:
That Saros extension was already a bit iffy when signed and really not looking so good right now. Always scary signing a goalie to an 8 year extension - particularly when it's through their 30's and during a down year. Crazy it hasn't even kicked in yet. Will be even worse if he becomes an anchor and Askarov becomes a top goalie in this league. Fortunately we won't have to worry about that when we sign Yegorov to and 8 year extension following his ELC.

I think Canada goes back to Binnington on Saturday - you don't just dump your starter after 1 game, especially since they won. But if he looks shaky again I think Hill gets the nod versus the Finns and can steal the starting spot in the championship game with a solid performance.
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I thought Saros would probably get a deal like that if he went to UFA or by whatever team Nashville traded him to if they hadn't re-signed him.

The problem is that Nashville is a team really in decline, and they went and signed two 34 year olds this past offseason who instead of being support pieces are both key pieces on the same team.

Unless Trotz thinks he can pull off something like Washington just did this past offseason to keep them afloat for another year or several more, I think the whole org is going to shit if they don't just blow it up.

Saros is the probably the only difference maker on that team that I can think of who is under 30 and he turns 30 in April. Forsberg just turned 30 about a month before camp started.

Now they're stuck with Saros because I don't think anyone wants to take that deal with that many years left. I wonder if that will turn into the new John Gibson contract where they're talking about trading him every year and it just doesn't happen until the last year or two of it.
 
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