PGT: 9/19 - Russia vs North America - Russia 4 North America 3 F

[Soundwave]

I'm not saying McDavid and Matthews aren't/weren't good, but what exactly justifies them(~45 games of NHL experience combined) to have nearly 4 minutes more ice than any other forward.

Because they converted a tap in after Russian's working off a hangover gave them a 2-0?

Also poor Sean Couturier.. Forever 3C.

They were the best players on the ice for either team for the first half of the game, coach chose to ride them in the second half.

It's not that shocking. McDavid was also 63% in the face off dot and drew a PP late in the game.

Eichel and Drouin had poor games (they are both better than that) which threw off the chemistry of the 2nd and 3rd lines, which didn't really click again until Gaudreau got paired with Nugent Hopkins and MacKinnon.

Agreed that maybe Gaudreau needs to be on the 1st unit PP, but then that leaves the second unit a little thin.

 

[Thai jet*]

PP

I didn't watch the game - how did Trouba do?

He had a good game causing penalties.

 

[McFlyingV]

I'm not saying McDavid and Matthews aren't/weren't good, but what exactly justifies them(~45 games of NHL experience combined) to have nearly 4 minutes more ice than any other forward.

Because they converted a tap in after Russian's working off a hangover gave them a 2-0?

Also poor Sean Couturier.. Forever 3C.

Because they carried the play, created offensive chances all night, and were easily NA's best line. That would be my guess.

 

[ViD]

People crying about McDavid playing too much is hilarious, the guy is a top 5 forward in the world and he's the best player on team North America.

top 5 player in the world based on what? 40 games of a regular season?

he had 0 points in the 3 pre season games.

 

[leafsfuture]

Mackinnon was great tonight I dont know what game you were watching.

I never said he was bad. He just played a very straightforward game.... get the puck, move forward, try and get it to the net.

A few times when he held up the play and tried to get creative, it didnt work out so well. Still think his hands are a lot better than what he has showed.

But I like his constant energy on the ice. He forces turnovers and at least from the eye test, seems to be a positive possession player. I just want to see more from him with the puck

 

[McFlyingV]

I'm not sure it was the 5 on 3. In the last minute, Gaudreau had a rebound that was almost an open net and he shot it wide. I think that may have frustrated him. I guess they didn't make him available for interviews.

I can almost guarantee this is the reason. He's a competitive guy that doesn't like to lose, people are making way too much out of this.

 

[TKB21]

top 5 player in the world based on what? 40 games of a regular season?

he had 0 points in the 3 pre season games.

I didn't realize pre season games counted for anything?

 

[McFlyingV]

top 5 player in the world based on what? 40 games of a regular season?

he had 0 points in the 3 pre season games.

Read the bolded over about 10 times and if you still think this was a good post then I feel pretty bad for you.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Because they carried the play, created offensive chances all night, and were easily Canada's best line. That would be my guess.

Woah dude. This is Team North American Television Stations. Easy with that Canada stuff.

 

[JarvisFunk]

he had 0 points in the 3 pre season games.

Oh my god youre right. What a bust.

 

[McFlyingV]

Woah dude. This is Team North American Television Stations. Easy with that Canada stuff.

Edit lol I realized my mistake whoops. Just habit haha.

 

[Soundwave]

So what line up changes does NAT make?

Schiefle McDavid Matthews
Gaudreau RNH MacKinnon
Drouin Eichel Larkin
Saad Couturier Trochek

Maybe the bolded three guys can get it going. Maybe it's better for Eich to also have a line where's he's the defacto go to guy, I dunno why but he seems to want to do too much when he's with McDavid or Gaudreau.

 

[KGL]

So what line up changes does NAT make?

Schiefle McDavid Matthews
Gaudreau RNH MacKinnon
Drouin Eichel Larkin
Saad Couturier Trochek

Maybe the bolded three guys can get it going. Maybe it's better for Eich to also have a line where's he's the defacto go to guy, I dunno why but he seems to want to do too much when he's with McDavid or Gaudreau.

I'd be surprised to see Larkin in the lineup for the next game.

 

[ViD]

Read the bolded over about 10 times and if you still think this was a good post then I feel pretty bad for you.

The point is, you are ranking him top 5 in the world based on a 40 game sample size.

 

[McFlyingV]

So what line up changes does NAT make?

Schiefle McDavid Matthews
Gaudreau RNH MacKinnon
Drouin Eichel Larkin
Saad Couturier Trochek

Maybe the bolded three guys can get it going. Maybe it's better for Eich to also have a line where's he's the defacto go to guy, I dunno why but he seems to want to do too much when he's with McDavid or Gaudreau.

That's what I'd run. That top line was great and the 2nd line looked great when assembled. I also liked the 4th line as the checking line.

 

[McFlyingV]

The point is, you are ranking him top 5 in the world based on a 40 game sample size.

I didn't rank him anywhere, I'm not the original poster. I was just point out how strange it was to use 3 pre-tournament games as your reasoning. But yes if I had to rank McDavid solely on watching him I would say he's already a top 5 forward in the NHL and I don't think a lot of people would disagree, including actual hockey executives.

 

[TheMule93]

I'd be surprised to see Larkin in the lineup for the next game.

Why? What did he do to get benched? I only tuned in midway thru the 2nd

 

[kevy999]

McDavid could actually be one of the best players in the world if he learned how to score goals.

He already is one of the best players in the world and he can score goals lol

 

[nerblet]

The point is, you are ranking him top 5 in the world based on a 40 game sample size.

For all the years I've watched hockey, ive never seen a faster or more talented player than mcdavid. The 40 games is more than enough to prove that

 

[BrendanGallagher11]

Am I the only one that though mcdavid had a bad second half of the game?

 

[major major]

I didn't watch the game - how did Trouba do?

One really bad bounce, D pairings shifted constantly, some bad D reads, overall probably okay. Honestly he got put in in a rough spot and the luck was not with him tonight.

 

[Tom Brady]

top 5 player in the world based on what? 40 games of a regular season?

he had 0 points in the 3 pre season games.

48 games is enough for me to judge a player, 2nd in the league in PPG is the reason, right now other than Kane,Crosby, Benn and maybe Ovechkin i don't see a player better.

 

[ViD]

48 games is enough for me to judge a player, 2nd in the league in PPG is the reason, right now other than Kane,Crosby, Benn and maybe Ovechkin i don't see a player better.

you do know that Daigle was also amazing his first year?

Give it a bit of time, guys.

 

[Soundwave]

you do know that Daigle was also amazing his first year?

Give it a bit of time, guys.

Daigle was a pretty damn good player actually. The problem?

He didn't actually really enjoy playing hockey. He wanted to be a movie actor or get into show business, lol.

There are people like that believe it or not, incredibly gifted at something, but they just don't really have the love for it.

McDavid is absolutely not that, kid lives and breathes hockey.

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

you do know that Daigle was also amazing his first year?

Give it a bit of time, guys.

Wtf. Daigle had 51 points in his first year, pretty much the same total McDavid had in almost half the games.

51 points for a generational talent in 1994 is not amazing; it's mediocre and basically a failure.