Alex Galchenyuk Thread 8.0 - "Time on Ice" Edition
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Subban has been really solid though 36 shots from the US is not an indication as to how dangerous they really were. But it's great to see Subban finally having a solid outing.
I pulled an all-nighter just to see Galchenyuk play with a bunch of idiots who can't cycle or do anything creative with the puck. Team USA is filled with a bunch of meatheads, take runs at guys in the last 5 mins of a 2-1 game? Like really, way to go you moron. Galchenyuk was the best player for USA by FAR. He was doing the smart plays for his linemates instead of just rushing everything and you could tell that team Canada put a lot of focus on covering Galchenyuk because he always had 2 people covering him so he wouldn't be able to get that filthy wrister through. Oh and Phil Housley is a dumbass. If he first of all would have stopped rolling his lines like he was winning 5-0 and stopped playing les Tyler Biggs de ce monde and actually given ice time to his players who were playing good. Second of all, why the hell is JT Miller the 1st line center? He was HORRIBLE. If Housley had a brain he would have given that ice time to Galchenyuk who was actually creating something whenever he was actually on the ice 
I don't even care if I sound like a homer right now, USA dominated them and if Housley had just a glimpse of knowing how to coach properly, USA would have won.
I don't even care if I sound like a homer right now, USA dominated them and if Housley had just a glimpse of knowing how to coach properly, USA would have won.He did make 3-4 big saves. Both him and Gibson were the best players on their team.
The top line on the US is not doing much, and the canadian PP missed a ton of chances to ice the game.
3rd period:
5 shifts - 5:00 TOI
ES - 1:47
PP - 3:13
Totals:
18 shifts - 17:38 TOI
ES - 10:20
PP - 7:18
5 shifts - 5:00 TOI
ES - 1:47
PP - 3:13
Totals:
18 shifts - 17:38 TOI
ES - 10:20
PP - 7:18
USA dominated? What game did you watch, Chris?
US' formula all day long was, "Pass, pass, turnover."
US' formula all day long was, "Pass, pass, turnover."
If it wasn't for the bad start for USA's defense where they kept coughing up the puck at the blue line and couldn't do a breakout to save their life and the fact that Housley wasn't giving minutes to his top players. They dominated the game in terms of possession but they were just shooting it at Subban. It was a very Hamilton Bulldogs-esque game where USA didn't get dominated but they just couldn't finish at all. And very questionnable coaching too just like with the Bulldogs
Speaking just for myself, I think Galchenyuk has been very good and would acknowledge as much if he was Leaf or Bruin property.
Like I said earlier, there is a serious lack of hockey IQ and creativity on that team. It is only compounded by peewee style breakouts and structure. Galchenyuk is in a system that simply isn't conducive to enabling skilled players to carry the puck as there is almost no puck support and skaters are easily funnelled into traps.
The only knock on Galchenyuk is that he is deferring too much to his teammates instead of forcing the play. Unfortunately this is a short tournament and it sometimes takes a while for players to understand their respective roles on the team. It will be interesting to see if he takes things into his control with the tournament on the line against the Slovaks. In Sarnia he knows that he is the star player and when he acknowledges as much with this team I believe he will bring his play to another level.
See, I don't get your last paragraph. If the idea is to acknowledge that the system played or the players he play with totally annihilates the way he is supposed to play or can't show his elite talent, and I'm not saying you are wrong by the way, it is a good analysis....why would it against Slovakia? Why would you now expect him to "takes things into his control"? 'Cause the opposition is much weaker? Well for me, it's not a sign of a player shining when it counts the most even if that game will probably mean life or death for them. The real games to be played was to get some points against Russia and Canada. To actually not have to play the Slovakia game like if it was a gold medal game. Even if the Slovaks aren't slouch, everyboyd expects a team like the US to have more than 1 goal. But that doesn't make them suddenly a great offensive powerhouse. Wouldn't make Housley a great coach either. And bringing his play to another level....well you do hope it happens against the best of them. Like Subban did today. Not saying Subban needed to be incredible, US shots weren't that great. But he was at his best today. Gally being at his best against Germany and the Slovaks will not mean that he ended up playing a superb tournament. Unless he builds from this and has a terrific quarterfinal and so on. But because of how weak this US team is....I don't expect him to have a longer time than the quarterfinal game but we never know.....
By the way....this tournament is not the end of the world as far as what's next for this or that player. I do expect Dougie Hamilton to be a really good player for the Bruins and yet...he looks rather ordinairy. And everybody remembers that great thread on the main board about "Who's better than Justin Pogge"...and so on. So it is not always a sign of what's next.
I think this USA team has some serious flaws. They have alot of speed between the forwards and backline, but they have lots of problems generating scoring chances. They can create some good zone times, but when they get into the oppossing zone, they don't do enough to create good scoring chances. We can blame this on chemistry or just bad line pairings, but I think some people have hit on what is wrong with the USA team.
The lack of creativity upfront is hurting the team. JT Miller, Gaudreau and Grimaldi are more of a checking line then a scoring line to me. Good speed, able to create some turn overs, but other then that, this line has problems good creating scoring chances.
Alex Galchenyuk should be centering his line. He is by far their best skilled player on this line, but Housley insists on using Galchenyuk as a winger and thereby reduces his time with the puck. As a centerman he can hold onto the puck longer, set up plays by either moving from the blueline or moving up to the middle or switching places with a winger. As a winger he is locked into his side of the boards and really wastes his potential as a playmaker. So in the USA game, we see Galchenyuk taking many shots instead of trying to distribute, because that really is all he can do.
Its quite disappointing to see how Galchenyuk is being used. People have noted on the game threads that Galchenyuk has disappeared for long stretches and yes he has, but as a winger, he is totally reliant on his centerman to make plays and at the moment, he isn't paired with a centerman that can be a playmaker. He needs to be switched back to his more natural position and help his team be better by playmaking for his line and on the PP. Even though Galchenyuk picked up an assist in the Canada game and has a 3 game point streak, the abysmal USA offense isn't going anywhere.
I seriously hope Phil Housley makes some serious line up chances, but the after game interview, he talked about taking bad penalties, so I don't know if he thinks the lack of creativity is a problem.
The lack of creativity upfront is hurting the team. JT Miller, Gaudreau and Grimaldi are more of a checking line then a scoring line to me. Good speed, able to create some turn overs, but other then that, this line has problems good creating scoring chances.
Alex Galchenyuk should be centering his line. He is by far their best skilled player on this line, but Housley insists on using Galchenyuk as a winger and thereby reduces his time with the puck. As a centerman he can hold onto the puck longer, set up plays by either moving from the blueline or moving up to the middle or switching places with a winger. As a winger he is locked into his side of the boards and really wastes his potential as a playmaker. So in the USA game, we see Galchenyuk taking many shots instead of trying to distribute, because that really is all he can do.
Its quite disappointing to see how Galchenyuk is being used. People have noted on the game threads that Galchenyuk has disappeared for long stretches and yes he has, but as a winger, he is totally reliant on his centerman to make plays and at the moment, he isn't paired with a centerman that can be a playmaker. He needs to be switched back to his more natural position and help his team be better by playmaking for his line and on the PP. Even though Galchenyuk picked up an assist in the Canada game and has a 3 game point streak, the abysmal USA offense isn't going anywhere.
I seriously hope Phil Housley makes some serious line up chances, but the after game interview, he talked about taking bad penalties, so I don't know if he thinks the lack of creativity is a problem.
Like I said and was said a lot...US doesn't have Canada depth. So add Noesen, Kerdiles who would have been there and add Boucher and you are not talking about the exact same team. Matteau, well I was not a fan of his game lately so not too encline to bash the US team for not bringing him on board though he would not have done worst so far than pluggers like Vesey and Biggs....
The point that I am trying to make is that there is a big difference between playing for his OHL team where he is expected to lead because he is the undisputed star on the team. This enables him to take chances and be more creative in the offensive zone because he HAS to be the one to create chances. There is a different dynamic on a national team as all of his teammates are the top scorers on their respective teams. He feels too comftorable in deferring to them as they have the credentials that he respects in the o-zone. Over time his confidence will grow and realize that he is far better than any of his teammates.......he just hasn't played with them long enough to establish in his own mind where he actually fits in the hierarchy of the team. It is almost a case of being too respectfull of his line mates.
Maybe with the tournament on the line he will acknowledge his superiority and say **** it and play balls out.
You can **** it all you want....but the only chance it happens, based on your analysis, it's if he takes the puck behind his own net and shifts all 6 players on the other team every single time. Or finds Trouba for the other chances. 'Cause a team with no chemistry, doesn't find it the next day. And it's too late to make changes or clearly too late for Housley. 'Cause I'd be playing Galchenyuk with Grimaldi and Lucia, who is also underwhelmed but believe he's also not in his right role. Kuraly and Barber aren't doing it. But keep Miller with Gaudreau and add Hartman or you can still try Kuraly for the lack of choices. Other players you could play with are Bardreau who did show some nice wheels, just maybe needs the right players. Or Pietila. The only other option is to live and die with Trocheck. He was supposed to provide the offense. He is not doing it....well put him with Gally and see what it does. The team isn't going nowwhere so try them....So they have a few choices....but they are just not trying it. Not saying it will solve everything. But at least try them.
Oh and Adam Erne would look better than most of those players....And Brady Vail says hello though would not have been able to contribute offensively, I agree.
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I don't know why they just didn't try bringing in Galchenyuk's linemate Reid Boucher and pair both of them up, they both have great chemistry together.
On a bright spot, Galy is tied for 3rd in scoring and ahead of Yakopov even though the US has 2 goals in their last 2 games. Not bad. Wonder why Housley isn't loading up Galy's line? Strange coaching decision in most people's opinions.
'Cause he thinks there's not a lot of other things to do. I don't agree, but true that there are no Noesen and Kerdiles in that bunch. Noesen and Gally would have been a dream....Add Boucher on their wings and you have a REAL #1 line. I am absolutely convinced that Boucher would have been their D'Amigo....but I know it's easy to say.
Gibson was the best US player today.
Gally was great at times and invisible at other times. When was he visible you ask? When he got to carry the damn puck. When he didn't, he did nothing, because his linemates do nothing.
Trouba is pretty awesome though. May be the second best defenseman drafted this year after Murray (who I think is the second best player in the draft still).
Also, for Canada, still not sure why we took Murphy over Ceci. Terrible decision.
Gally was great at times and invisible at other times. When was he visible you ask? When he got to carry the damn puck. When he didn't, he did nothing, because his linemates do nothing.
Trouba is pretty awesome though. May be the second best defenseman drafted this year after Murray (who I think is the second best player in the draft still).
Also, for Canada, still not sure why we took Murphy over Ceci. Terrible decision.
Myron Gaines*
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You could see that Gally was frustrated 'cause no one ever seemed to pass him the puck. At some points he tried to do too much with the puck in order to get into the game.
Galchenyuk is a puck possesion player with a team full of forward grinders. In fact, the two best offensive players after him in the USA roster are defenceman.
I hope the habs realize that it's ultra important to surround him properly.
Galchenyuk is a puck possesion player with a team full of forward grinders. In fact, the two best offensive players after him in the USA roster are defenceman.
I hope the habs realize that it's ultra important to surround him properly.
You could see from multiple games that he had to go take the puck behind his own net on the pp so USA could finally set up in the offensive zone.. It must suck to play with bad linemates and bad coaching when youre this good of a player
The only way I see USA getting far in this tournament is if they play:
Gaudreau-Galchenyuk-Grimaldi
3 shutdown lines and only play two of them
Gaudreau-Galchenyuk-Grimaldi
3 shutdown lines and only play two of them
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