GDT: Exhibition • North America vs. Europe • 9/11/16 • 6PM ET

[BoredBrandonPridham]

OP says 8pm ET. I'm missing it

 

[ijuka]

IMO Gaudreau should be centered by Scheifele. They'd be a solid duo IMO.

You could be correct, Gaudreau already played with him during his 10min shift and got a goal.

 

[Liminality]

The entire team took their foot off the gas in that game because of the score, wouldn't surprise me if that happens again today.

That's a good point, I just love the peddle to the metal mentality they have and get taken back when they're not forcefully driving the play.

 

[Nordic*]

Wait, so.. One group includes Russia, Sweden, Finland and Team NA? That is a brutal group.

NHL desperately wants Kanada and USA to move on and then not face eachother in the semis.

It's rigged.

 

[jj cale]

Czechs.

That will be way better, the czechs have pride and will play hard and after watching them against russia last game they are not only playing hard but well.

 

[BackhandToeyJoey]

I think this is why you can't put McDavid and Gaudreau together one puck too little time.

I think they realized that after the 12 min mark. McDavid started slowing down into the offensive zone, and feeding Gaudreau the puck more. Johnny had more shots on goal after the halfway point of the 1st easily.

EDIT: I agree w/ the post above. Scheifele seems to be a good fit with Gaudreau.

 

[Kelly]

Well let's be honest here, the assist was him getting the puck poked out of his stick by the defenseman and it happening to bounce to Ekblad.

After him deking directly into the slot, can't believe he found that room.

Surprised you don't mention that.

 

[Sorey*]

Wait, so.. One group includes Russia, Sweden, Finland and Team NA? That is a brutal group.

Totally unfair imo

 

[Patmac40]

Well let's be honest here, the assist was him getting the puck poked out of his stick by the defenseman and it happening to bounce to Ekblad.

The assist was him making a really slick move to the middle, showing really good hands to get there, ultimately losing the puck but creating the opportunity.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

What a complete waste of time this is.

I'd hate to be playing for Team "hey go out and get crushed by all the young stars so you can make the League look good" Europe.

The person or persons who thought Team Europe was a good idea ought to be fired.

What a farce: this is meant to be the highest level of competition and the organisers come up with a team who's sole purpose is make everybody else look good.

This is embarassing.

 

[jason2020]

So far both games have been glorified pick up hockey, wait till Kesler and Perry get on these guys.

You can bet both coaches are going to tell there players be smart don't make dirty plays or even boarder line ones as it could cost us the game.

 

[jason2020]

What a complete waste of time this is.

I'd hate to be playing for Team "hey go out and get crushed by all the young stars so you can make the League look good" Europe.

The person or persons who thought Team Europe was a good idea ought to be fired.

What a farce: this is meant to be the highest level of competition and the organisers come up with a team who's sole purpose is make everybody else look good.

This is embarassing.

You do know it was this or go with a 6 team tournament.

 

[Hemsky001]

After seeing this Team Europe and being as this tournament was going to use gimmicks you know what i wish they wold have done instead?.

Gone full retro and made a re-united Czechoslovakian team.

That would have been interesting.

There would be like 3-4 Slovaks at most anyway. Currently doesn't make sense... soccer, that's a whole different story tho.

 

[Kelly]

What a complete waste of time this is.

I'd hate to be playing for Team "hey go out and get crushed by all the young stars so you can make the League look good" Europe.

The person or persons who thought Team Europe was a good idea ought to be fired.

What a farce: this is meant to be the highest level of competition and the organisers come up with a team who's sole purpose is make everybody else look good.

This is embarassing.

Which nation would you use as the 8th team? This was probably the best option, get all the good players that otherwise would be left off.

 

[Liminality]

The assist was him making a really slick move to the middle, showing really good hands to get there, ultimately losing the puck but creating the opportunity.

Exactly, he's powering his way through and making those plays happen because of his work. You constantly put yourself in good positions and good things and scoring chances are bound to happen.

 

[Ace]

What a weird time to criticize north American lines. Ever consider some success is based on focus on others?

 

[TedLundy]

What a nice story about Kopitar. Any one else watches it?

 

[Seanaconda]

What a complete waste of time this is.

I'd hate to be playing for Team "hey go out and get crushed by all the young stars so you can make the League look good" Europe.

The person or persons who thought Team Europe was a good idea ought to be fired.

What a farce: this is meant to be the highest level of competition and the organisers come up with a team who's sole purpose is make everybody else look good.

This is embarassing.

You think one of the teams it took its players from would be an improvement??

 

[BWDude]

The assist was him making a really slick move to the middle, showing really good hands to get there, ultimately losing the puck but creating the opportunity.

Don't worry about it, I'm just glad we even have a player or two for them to dig at this point.

Nothing is gonna change that we really have this guy. Looking pretty good there.

 

[Sojourn]

So far both games have been glorified pick up hockey, wait till Kesler and Perry get on these guys.

It's actually the defenses that, I think, will really make the difference. Team Europe looks slow all-around, but nowhere is this more apparent than with their blue liners. And I don't just mean skating, but moving the puck too. Teams like Sweden, the US, and Canada have much, much better blue lines(especially Sweden and Canada), and they are much better equipped at dealing with that speed and forecheck.

Team Europe just doesn't look World Cup caliber, and one of their weaknesses(mobility) is being exploited in a huge way by the much faster Team NA.

I also think the forwards that those teams can throw at the Team NA blue line, will expose them a bit. Those are a bunch of currently #2, or even #3 guys, and Ekblad, and they are going to be seeing star and superstar talents against them every shift. Not to mention the physical edge some of those forwards will have.

 

[ijuka]

After him deking directly into the slot, can't believe he found that room.

Surprised you don't mention that.

Yes, that's true. The earlier part of that assist play was good. I guess that assist sums up his period pretty well - Flashes of brilliance but some inconsistency with the puck.

 

[jj cale]

There would be like 3-4 Slovaks at most anyway. Currently doesn't make sense... soccer, that's a whole different story tho.

Yeah I guess so, but it would have still added solid talent to the czech team and would have been nice to have seen both those countries playing as a unit again.

I have great memories of them here in Canada as a kid growing up.

I would have really enjoyed that from a sentimental point of view and also because that team would be way better then this Team europe.

 

[McTrashBoat]

What a nice story about Kopitar. Any one else watches it?

yep, his Grandma was kind of a dream crusher though

 

[Sorey*]

Look at it this was Sweden tied with North America going into the last game i would not count on Sweden winning.

Team NA will skate circles around the old swedish forwards.

 

[ijuka]

Which nation would you use as the 8th team? This was probably the best option, get all the good players that otherwise would be left off.

Slovakia and Switzerland would have been my 2 choices.