Everyones overall thoughts about team Canada?

[drewstar]

Arguably the best olympic team Canada has had. Great team defense, and they controlled every game. They only allowed 3 goals whole tourny and only 1 in elimination? That's ridiculous. They were so good at controlling the game they didn't have to score 4 goals to win, and hats off to the goalies facing team Canada, Canada created a lot of scoring opportunities they really should of had more goals, I can't say they had any flaws really.

The main flaw was primarily finishing our chances consistently against defensive-minded (when facing Team Canada) teams.

In this regard, it is easy to say that Steven Stamkos was the type of unique talent we do not have an abundance of even though other players like Giroux/Hall/Seguin/Neal/Thornton are great players in their own right, which is a world class sniper. Stammer imo has the best pair of hands since perhaps Super Mario and Mike Bossy.

 

[nowhereman]

They were the perfect TEAM. No one player, not even Sidney Crosby, was bigger than the sum of it's parts. They all played together tremendously, as a unit.

 

[CanadienShark]

We suck. If Price starts, we have no chance.

 

[Bullseyes]

They were bar-none the best team in the tournament.

 

[Big Phil]

They were a well oiled machine. They epitomized the team concept. Not one forward played exceptional but not one played anything but good either.

Look, as Canadians we don't usually brag unless we are painted in a corner and are forced to defend ourselves. I don't want to be a bad sport because it was great hockey and a few tense moments.

However, will this tournament FINALLY teach people that the gold medal is not handed out after the 3rd or 4th game? After the Latvian game there was hand wringing and I didn't join at all. I thought we'd beat the Americans and win the gold. I saw a very, very dominant team against the Latvians that ran into a once in a century performance by an opposing goalie. I tried to remind people that not only had Canada not lost yet, they hadn't TRAILED yet. It seemed to be drowned out by Americans already claiming victory, and Canadians jumping off a cliff as well as the media like TSN analyst Mike Johnson predicting an American win. It was insane. Everyone seemed to remember the end results of 2002 and 2010, not the nerves that we went through to get there. I tried pointing out that 2014 was a team in the exact same situation except we haven't even been trailing.

Ah well, social media, you got to love it.

 

[Scotty B]

No doubt filled with quite a few all-time greats, but there are some weaknesses. Like Orr being past-prime at the time. This 2014's defense may be better because of that. And there are some '76 forwards that may be physically dominated by the 2014 team. Still, that '76 team looks STACKED.

What would be very interesting to me is to see a Bowman/Babcock duel. The all-time master vs this generations' best.

Past his prime ( at age 28! )or not, Orr played great ( on one knee ) + was Team Canada's MVP...pretty much ended his career though...and NO 2014 D was NOT better...NOT EVEN CLOSE...After Orr still had Denis Potvin, Serve Savard, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe

 

[CertainAffinity*]

The most dominant Team Canada I've ever seen.

A machine.

Yzerman and the coaching staff should be proud.

 

[Courty]

Cool, calm, collected.

The team had a game plan from the beginning and stuck to it the whole tournament. Quietly dominated this tournament on all levels (well despite scoring, but they didn't need to).

This also stood out in Price's interview, I think its a big reason they can play as a team and win despite being a team full of NHL stars ...

“Canadian hockey players always find a way to get along."

 

[MikeK]

Arguably the best Canadian team ever. The reason I say this is because the level of talent the other nations have has increased significantly and Canada was able to dominate every one they faced. We have seen some great teams in the past but not sure there has ever been such a dominating performance over such a high level of opposition before.

 

[fireworks]

We suck. If Price starts, we have no chance.

I wasn't that strong on my opinion of Price. But, I was a little concerned with our goalies before the Tournament started. But, as I stated in my earlier post Price was awesome and incredibly solid and poised and this is from a die hard Bruin Fan!!

 

[Borlag]

According to resident experts here in the forums, you're in the same category as switzerland when you don't win gold so... I guess you're this much |--| better than switzerland now. Congratulations I guess.

Seriously though, I was surprised that Canada's offence couldn't produce at the level one would expect when looking at the impressive roster. On every other front they delivered though, and that's what mattered this time.

 

[Scotty B]

Arguably the best Canadian team ever. The reason I say this is because the level of talent the other nations have has increased significantly and Canada was able to dominate every one they faced. We have seen some great teams in the past but not sure there has ever been such a dominating performance over such a high level of opposition before.

I don't think the talent is better now...just the equipment ( and for Canadians the fitness level too ) is better, Russians had guys like Kharlamov , Czechoslovakia had the Stastny brothers . Swedes had Salming... In all honesty I'd say Canada, CCCP and Czechoslovakia too were more talented back then

 

[nowhereman]

I don't think the talent is better now...just the equipment is better, Russians had guys like Kharlamov , Czechoslovakia had the Stastny brothers . Swedes had Salming... In all honesty I'd say Canada, CCCP and Czechoslovakia too were better back then

There's really no real way of proving that. The game has changed a lot, since then. I honestly feel that because of today's modern training, nutrition, coaching, systems, goaltending, etc., it's harder for great players to stand out. Today's game is incredible competitive, from top to bottom.

 

[MikeK]

I don't think the talent is better now...just the equipment ( and for Canadians the fitness level too ) is better, Russians had guys like Kharlamov , Czechoslovakia had the Stastny brothers . Swedes had Salming... In all honesty I'd say Canada, CCCP and Czechoslovakia too were more talented back then

No chance. The depth of talent these nations have nowadays is unmatched. You have guys on the 3rd and 4th lines that could have been top players "back then". To say that it is all equipment and Canadian conditioning is ridiculous.

 

[MikeK]

There's really no real way of proving that. The game has changed a lot, since then. I honestly feel that because of today's modern training, nutrition, coaching, systems, goaltending, etc., it's harder for great players to stand out. Today's game is incredible competitive, from top to bottom.

Agreed. The separation from top end talent to bottom back in the past was huge. Today it is so very, very small. This is just my opinion but I think most nations have more depth all the way down the lineup, the gap between top and bottom talent has been significantly decreased.

 

[Scotty B]

There's really no real way of proving that. The game has changed a lot, since then. I honestly feel that because of today's modern training, nutrition, coaching, systems, goaltending, etc., it's harder for great players to stand out. Today's game is incredible competitive, from top to bottom.

And yet guys in there forties like Selanne and Jagr are still standing out, way past their prime, and if u asked Jagr who the best guy he ever played with ( lets leave goalies out of this ) he'd doubtless say Mario Lemieux...

Gordie Howe played till age 51, he played with Gretzky ( who was certainly on a par with Super Mario ) yet when Mr hockey was asked who the best player he ever played with / or against was ...he always answered Orr without a moments hesitation...

Kinda shoots holes in ur Newer is Better Thesis eh ?

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

Just because Canada won and played absolutely amazing doesn't mean it iced the best roster possible.

It's scary that without some injuries and better player selection, Team Canada could have been EVEN BETTER.

 

[Hadoop]

One of the best defensive teams, ever. Their ability to deny the opposition 'quality scoring chances', be it through puck possession/pursuit, gap control, back-checking, positioning/play without the puck, and elimination of time and space was as close to perfect as any team I've ever watched in International hockey.

 

[Mehar]

Just because Canada won and played absolutely amazing doesn't mean it iced the best roster possible.

It's scary that without some injuries and better player selection, Team Canada could have been EVEN BETTER.

It will be with guys like Stamkos, Neal, Tavares (healthy), Giroux, Hall, and Seguin in, and guys like Kunitz, MSL, Sharp, and Marleau out the next go around. They will be even better.

 

[CanadienShark]

Superbly selected and coached.

Not sure why Canadians got up in arms over the initial player selection as well as the lineups when the result was dominating every game.

Very glad Kunitz sniped one in the final game. Said, 'Shut up, haters!' very loudly.

And Rick Nash? Defensive stud? Who knew.

Just a complete team buy-in. There wasn't even a legit tournament MVP for Canada. Price faced like one bad situation all tourney long. Nobody lit it up a lot. Doughty was a 3rd pairing guy. No egos. No prima donna stuff. They just did their job, listened to the coach, and simply overwhelmed every other team. This may be the best 'Total Team' ever assembled for a tournament.

Oh, and they did it with class and grace too. No over the top crap in any celebration. No panicking at any time. They knew they were the best and just went out there and got it done.

Overall your post is solid, but Vlasic - Doughty was not the third pairing. JayBo - Petro was the third pairing, and it showed. Both were very solid defensively, but one shined offensively. Very happy with this team, despite the fact that Subban was effectively snubbed. Still love his upbeat attitude at the end though.

 

[MikeK]

And yet guys in there forties like Selanne and Jagr are still standing out, way past their prime, and if u asked Jagr who the best guy he ever played with ( lets leave goalies out of this ) he'd doubtless say Mario Lemieux...

Gordie Howe played till age 51, he played with Gretzky ( who was certainly on a par with Super Mario ) yet when Mr hockey was asked who the best player he ever played with / or against was ...he always answered Orr without a moments hesitation...

Kinda shoots holes in ur Newer is Better Thesis eh ?

You are using players who played in an era where the gap between top and bottom end talent was huge. Even Gretzky has said openly that had he played in today's game with the level of talent that exists he would never have put up the same kind of numbers. Nobody is saying there weren't great players back in the day. What is being said is the gap between top and bottom talent has shrunk so much so that today's teams are deeper, faster, stronger and more talented all the way through the lineup. I have seen the past teams and there is no question about it. Today's teams are far better.

 

[djboos22]

Their defensive performance is one to be remembered for a long time. Best I have seen in that span of games.

 

[CanadienShark]

I wasn't that strong on my opinion of Price. But, I was a little concerned with our goalies before the Tournament started. But, as I stated in my earlier post Price was awesome and incredibly solid and poised and this is from a die hard Bruin Fan!!

I was just joking, man.

I've been a huge Price defender all along - he's my 3rd favourite NHLer, not far behind Subban and Couture, respectively.

 

[Mehar]

The team was great. I let them down by losing faith but they did our country proud.

I was too after their failure to score more than two goals against a team like Latvia. In the end- they were one of the most dominant teams ever assembled in terms of the way they defended. I am so proud of these guys and what they have done this whole tournament. For the past year- all we heard from the posters of other countries is that Canada could not win on "big ice", their goaltending was "shaky", etc. In the end- Canada showed the world that those comments were not true, played great hockey and absolutely shut down the opposition when needed. Great team assembled overall. Great day in Canada. Not so much for the haters of Team Canada, who wanted so much for this team to fail. We are Number 1. Deal with it!

 

[TL]

With Kunitz scoring today, Benn being arguably as good as any forward in the tourney, and Carter being lights out, Yzerman is looking like a genius.

This Olympics could not have gone better for Team Canada aside from Tavares' injury and Stamkos not being able to play.

Looking at the age of the core of this team, it's clear that Canada will be dynamite again in 2018, with most of these guys being 30 or younger at that point!