GDT: Exhibition • Dec. 21 • Canada vs. Sweden • 7:00 PM ET

[Pgust]

if this was on big ice Sweden would have won

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

if this was on big ice Sweden would have won

LOL. Not tonight, my friend, not tonight.

 

[Pgust]

Just trying to be funny because these comments tend to show up when any European team play agains any N.A, but I think you got that

I didn't watch the game but heard people say that Ward sucks and Kylington didn't do *****. I still hope Sweden can turn this around and still do a good tournament even though this is not a very impressive team.

This is probably Canadas year with a great squad and on home ice, feels like they're the ones most pumped to get things done.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Just trying to be funny because these comments tend to show up when any European team play agains any N.A, but I think you got that

I didn't watch the game but heard people say that Ward sucks and Kylington didn't do *****. I still hope Sweden can turn this around and still do a good tournament even though this is not a very impressive team.

This is probably Canadas year with a great squad and on home ice, feels like they're the ones most pumped to get things done.

Check out TSN.ca tomorrow. I am sure they will have a video of the game if you can't get it in Sweden. However, from your point of view, you didn't miss much.

Have a nice Christmas, Pgust.

 

[Pgust]

Thanks, will do, just working til lunch time and then I'm finally on my christmas holiday so I will have plenty of time to catch up the game merry xmas to you too and a happy new year.

 

[Quinning]

Gauthier is so bad that line isn't even trusted with a regular shift. Brutal.

 

[StIllmatic]

Agreed. Good little piece on Reinhart that says what you're saying:

That skate pass reminds me of Henrik Sedin. Amazing play.

 

[StIllmatic]

I don't know why HC insists on building the team like an NHL team for an international tournament.

Crouse, Gauthier, Morin and Ritchie would all be solid NHL additions to a team, but this is a tournament based on speed and skill, not size and physicality where if you even come close to a player you get a penalty.

Ritchie on the top line is simply a black hole offensively. McDavid and Lazar are basically the only options here. Crouse looks like a big lumbering lumberjack who potentially might be Lucic type guy, but for the IIHF it's simply not needed. Morin handles the puck like a hand grenade and Gauthier skates like he has cement boots on. Absolutely no reason that Fleury and Dal Colle got passed over.

Don't even get me started on Fucale who to me is a complete bum.

If one of our offensive guys gets hurt, there really is nobody to move up to take those top minutes. Maybe Virtanen but that's it.

I don't understand. Ritchie is anything, but a blackhole offensively. The guy has talent, tons of it. I see what you mean for Gauthier and Morin, and I like Crouse, but he isn't ready quiet yet.

 

[Esse]

Is there any way to watch the game? Missed the last period and would like to see it.

 

[Phil McKraken]

Didn't watch the game but don't we always lose in these pre-tournament exhibition games?

 

[1Gold Standard]

I don't know why HC insists on building the team like an NHL team for an international tournament.

Crouse, Gauthier, Morin and Ritchie would all be solid NHL additions to a team, but this is a tournament based on speed and skill, not size and physicality where if you even come close to a player you get a penalty.

Ritchie on the top line is simply a black hole offensively. McDavid and Lazar are basically the only options here. Crouse looks like a big lumbering lumberjack who potentially might be Lucic type guy, but for the IIHF it's simply not needed. Morin handles the puck like a hand grenade and Gauthier skates like he has cement boots on. Absolutely no reason that Fleury and Dal Colle got passed over.

Don't even get me started on Fucale who to me is a complete bum.

If one of our offensive guys gets hurt, there really is nobody to move up to take those top minutes. Maybe Virtanen but that's it.

I share your concerns and indeed, HC loves to dumb it down a little (or in this case dumb it up). They are infatuated with a heavy L.A. type of grind you down pro game that is designed and best suited to win a best of 7 NHL PO series and not a 1 game elimination international tournament. That's because there are certain bureaucrats at Hockey Canada (one in particular) who has NHL ambitions that far exceed this or any other international tournament. Now that there are a few ex-Hockey Canada guys currently holding down NHL jobs, perhaps they'll do all of us a favor and reach back and pluck this bureaucratic idiot, this Lloyd Christmas of Hockey Canada, out from behind his desk at Hockey Canada and to an NHL arena. And if he manages to con his way into an NHL gig, then my sympathies to the fans of that particular NHL team.

None of their "big bodies" impressed me at all.

but there were some positives last night, just not enough of them to move the confidence needle in the direction it needs to go.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Is there a VOD of the game?

 

[Leviathan899]

They do it all the time. If we did it to them, they would have a fit.

And they like to praise their players to unrealistic levels. Then, when the players don't play to that level, they take a "Who Me?" attitude and claim they never thought the player would be that good to begin with.

Haha oh man, YOU were the one who originally said Nurse will be better than Jones, he just defended Jones.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Haha oh man, YOU were the one who originally said Nurse will be better than Jones, he just defended Jones.

I don't think there's anything too controversial about that opinion. I think there can be a valid case made for Nurse over Jones... + a few other 1994/95/96 d-men of various nationalities.

 

[Chimpradamus]

No injuries? Victory.

Pretty much. Everybody's happy.

 

[Leafidelity]

Gauthier is so bad that line isn't even trusted with a regular shift. Brutal.

Only one Canadian player has been glued to the bench for both games, and it's unfortunate Gauthier got stuck playing with him tonight.

 

[wishywashy19]

Only one Canadian player has been glued to the bench for both games, and it's unfortunate Gauthier got stuck playing with him tonight.

i want to stick with Petan but i am really waiting two years for him to do something special other than miss the top corner. To me he is most frustrating. Not a Gauthier fan but that is a HC political one.
I thought Fabbri was most disappointing last night but i think he is going to be heard from when things get rolling.
They should also consider moving Ritchie down the line up.
Otherwise, should be a good tournament.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Haha oh man, YOU were the one who originally said Nurse will be better than Jones, he just defended Jones.

I have no problem with the "Nurse over Jones" statement but I laughed out loud at the dismay over Americans coming into a Canadian thread and objecting to comparisons. Have you skimmed the Eichel thread?

 

[m4tt145]

Pretty much. Everybody's happy.

Yep. Canada had already played a game and shaked off the rust a bit, so it was good for our guys to go straight into the fire. Hopefully Grönborg now knows what to focus on.

 

[xxxx]

Fun fact: Ritchie DID NOT take a dumb penalty.

I was laughing when, at their first shift I think, Ritchie could hit a player hard, but just barely touched him, then 4 second after McDavid finished his player like Getzlaf would, lol. I wasn't sure if my eyes were ok Well, good for both I guess

 

[Matte99]

Yep. Canada had already played a game and shaked off the rust a bit, so it was good for our guys to go straight into the fire. Hopefully Grönborg now knows what to focus on.

Yeah, Grönborg can now be certain he needs to focus on playing hockey not just running players with big Leafs on their chests... Cant remember seeing such a poor and unfocused showing from a Swedish WHJ team in recent history.

 

[biturbo19]

The thing that really gets me, is the bench management. Not just in that a favourite player didn't get enough ice time...

But in the idiocy of that PK goal against off Gauthier's self. I mean, i dislike Gauthier being on this team as much as anyone. I think it is stupid. But if he is going to be on the team (as they've selected it, for some reason)...play him. Let him play (along with his linemates).

Just irritated the hell out of me that Gauthier+Crouse very first shift of the period was a PK shift halfway in to the 20 minute frame. How on earth is a guy supposed to jump straight out there after sitting for 10 minutes (game time) and slide right in as an "elite PK specialist"? It's just literally not possible.

If you're going to put key special-teams players on the 4th line, play that line a regular shift or they're not going to be in a groove to fulfill their specialist roles.


I'm really hoping this was just a pre-tourny example of...trying to get the top-2 lines some chemistry and familiarity by overplaying them. If that sort of bench management and minute distribution continues on into the real deal tournament...this team is probably sunk.

 

[JackSlater]

Not bad overall for Canada... top two lines look like they can be dangerous. Need to see more from the bottom lines, as nobody other than Paul stood out. Bowey stood out in a bad way. He really needs to reign it in. I like the way the defence is pushing forward when reasonable, it could make for some entertaining hockey, as Nurse demonstrated. We haven't really seen enough, but Comrie looked more composed to me.

 

[Back in Black]

This is probably Canadas year with a great squad and on home ice, feels like they're the ones most pumped to get things done.

Man, I hope your right, 'cause 5 years without a win is a heck of a drought for Canada's Talent, every year, not just this year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[vippe]

I thought this game was to tonight. Doooh