Does Canada have an answer to the Tkachuk's?

[matsqq]

Nobody has an answer to the Tkatchuk:s , they are the absolute pinnacle of ice hockey players!

 

[Figgy44]

I think Canada's plan is to stay out of their own end so that they don't have to deal with those shenanigans.

As a Flames fan, I know that the best way to neutralize Matty is to only partially engage him. If you ignore him, he'll do some nastier stuff or he'll have the space to do some stuff in tight in front of the net. If you fully engage him, he'll turn off the pest and focus on skill and attempt to embarrass your player that way or draw a penalty.

Pair up someone with speed and elite skill to partially engage him so he's more on the skill side than pest side. Once he's in skill vs skill mode, disengage and win on your own terms. That's how I saw other teams neutralize him in the past. However, it's easier said than done.

Someone sorta mentioned it earlier, and TBH, matching Bennett against Matty isn't a bad plan.

TBH, even as a Canadian, I kinda envy the USA team. I like how they have those bold and pest-like characters. I miss Tkachuk. On paper, it seems like our guys are kinda boring. Don't get me wrong. You want different types of characters and players. The Flames had Tkachuk and Gaudreau (RIP). Having both loud character types (Tkacuk) with skill and quiet character types with skill (Gaudreau) ringing the horn was great. But IMO, every once in a while when things are quiet or not going your way, you want that loud guy with his heart on his sleeve to hype things up, so having guys like Matty in a tournament like this with his head up and laughing and jeering just amps up the entertainment level IMO. The Canadians kinda seem like they're going to put their head down and just work hard. They'll put up a fight, but not necessarily much of a vibe.

Seriously, it's the vibe they offer on the bench and in interviews, not just on the ice. Matthew was awesome at that. Perhaps I'm just a little bummed and being nostalgic because the Flames recently lost another of that type of character in Pelletier.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Brady is physical.
Matthew is a pest.

Very different players with different approaches.

Canada has Marchand as a pest and I imagine some physical players as well.

 

[ESH]

Bennett and Marchand can easily match the physicality of the Tkachuks. It will be wierd to see if Bennett and M. Tkachuk get physical with each other since they're buddies and linemates in FLA.

Marchand is 36 years old and weighs 180lbs. He cannot match up physically

 

[Sheppy]

Marchand is 36 years old and weighs 180lbs. He cannot match up physically

You're right.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Marchand is 36 years old and weighs 180lbs. He cannot match up physically

Brady is overrated. I'm more concerned about the physicalness from Miller, Kreider and trocheck than the Tkachuks.

 

[Coffee]

mackinnon. if he can't outmuscle he'll outwork. he's bigger and stronger than a lot of people think.

it’s at the stage I’m tuning into every Avs game I can watch. Makar and MacKinnon in their primes is enough for me to put the bias aside and just watch from a hockey fan standpoint

 

[Suntouchable13]

Marchand is 36 years old and weighs 180lbs. He cannot match up physically

I am so sick of the age argument. He is not 76. I am pretty sure a 36 year old guy can handle guys in their mid to late 20s just fine.

 

[NyQuil]

I am so sick of the age argument. He is not 76. I am pretty sure a 36 year old guy can handle guys in their mid to late 20s just fine.

He's been exercising his tongue.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Mitch Marner will handle the Tkachuks easily.

 

[HockeyVirus]

What is the implication? That no one can stop them? You'd expect they would be the top players in the world if that is the case.

I am sure Canada can stop them

 

[zar]

As a Canadian, the only thing that truly scares me about the US Team is their goaltending. It’s why I feel this is a 2 team tournament.

Fins are decimated with injuries and will likely struggle. . Swedes are 3rd best.

That being said it’s a short round robin and one game eliminations… truly anyone can win with a hot PP or goaltending.

 

[al secord]

Donuts, beer and poutine took their father out.

 

[wolfgaze]

If the Tkachuk's lean in on their physical/pestering games against Canada, who can counter them?

So you're expecting the players to hit eachother and be physical like these were regular season NHL games?

(I don't see that as likely at all)

 

[Golden_Jet]

So you're expecting the players to hit eachother and be physical like these were regular season NHL games?

Yes, that’s what I expect.

 

[wolfgaze]

Yes, that’s what I expect.

Prepare to be disappointed since your expectation doesn't align with past reality. NHL players simply do not treat exhibition games like they are regular season NHL games. Why would they in this tournament since it doesn't even count towards anything?

 

[Czechboy]

Should have brought Zack Kassian!

 

[Golden_Jet]

Prepare to be disappointed since your expectation doesn't align with past reality. NHL players simply do not treat exhibition games like they are regular season NHL games. Why would they in this tournament since it doesn't even count towards anything?

Well not disappointed, played out just like I said.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Prepare to be disappointed since your expectation doesn't align with past reality. NHL players simply do not treat exhibition games like they are regular season NHL games. Why would they in this tournament since it doesn't even count towards anything?

I mean Tkachuk said they were treating this like 4 game 7's. It is pretty obvious at this point that the players care about this tournament lol

 

[wolfgaze]

I mean Tkachuk said they were treating this like 4 game 7's. It is pretty obvious at this point that the players care about this tournament lol

First hockey season? This is the all-star game rebranded.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

First hockey season? This is the all-star game rebranded.

No it isn't. You are wrong.

 

[wolfgaze]

No it isn't. You are wrong.

So the NHL invited a bunch of 3rd/4th liners and 3rd pairing defensemen to compete in this non-all-star format then???

They invited the all-star level players because this is simply the all-star game re-branded into a different format, sorry.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

So the NHL invited a bunch of 3rd/4th liners and 3rd pairing defensemen to compete in this non-all-star format then???

They invited the all-star level players because this is simply the all-star game re-branded into a different format, sorry.

You are wrong.