GDT: Finland Vs Canada | 7:30PM ET | Group A - Canadian Tire Centre

[Jukurit]

Positives for Finland: Rimpinen, Helenius

 

[Joe Zanussi]

Both deserved picks as well.

It happened in the Czech game also. Currently, in this tourney, the last 4 players of the game have all been goalies.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Snoozefest , wish there was more than 2 countries that can compete with us out there

This tournament is diminished by Russia's absence.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Canada found seams that I’d assume the US will have covered. The PP will get ironed out, and it’s good to see a sturdy Canadian goalie back there. I’ll take a 4-0 win on Finland , all day, even if their countryman downplay their team.

That top, polished and familiar with each other USA line - will need to be ISO’d on when we meet up. Hope they have some real prickly defensive forwards to cover the load

 

[tade]

This tournament is diminished by Russia's absence.

Agreed, Russia's absence hurts this tournament much more than, for example, WHC in May.

 

[Slimmy]

This tournament is diminished by Russia's absence.

Buu f***ing huu you're not entertained enough because Russia has been universally banned from all big sporting events in the world. Tell that to the Ukrainians and lets see how much sympathy you get.

Agreed, Russia's absence hurts this tournament much more than, for example, WHC in May.

I'm tired of reading this. Russia has been rightfully banned from the tournament and they're not coming back. Deal with it.

 

[Sideline]

Buu f***ing huu you're not entertained enough because Russia has been universally banned from all big sporting events in the world. Tell that to the Ukrainians and lets see how much sympathy you get.


I'm tired of reading this. Russia has been rightfully banned from the tournament and they're not coming back. Deal with it.

You can have whatever opinion you want on the political stuff, but it's completely reasonable to say a "best on best" tournament is diminished when one of the best teams isn't participating.

 

[tade]

Buu f***ing huu you're not entertained enough because Russia has been universally banned from all big sporting events in the world. Tell that to the Ukrainians and lets see how much sympathy you get.


I'm tired of reading this. Russia has been rightfully banned from the tournament and they're not coming back. Deal with it.

Don't get me wrong, I am on the same page, I agree that Russia's ban from the participation is right decision when everything is taken into consideration.

I am just saying that from the sports/entertainment perspective it hurts this event (WJC) more than some other.

 

[Slimmy]

You can have whatever opinion you want on the political stuff, but it's completely reasonable to say a "best on best" tournament is diminished when one of the best teams isn't participating.

A pretty petty thing to get hung up on, all things considered, wouldn't you agree? Since whining about it won't change anything, maybe time to move on and enjoy the tournament for what it is instead of what it isn't?

 

[JackSlater]

You can have whatever opinion you want on the political stuff, but it's completely reasonable to say a "best on best" tournament is diminished when one of the best teams isn't participating.

This is totally an aside but obviously a junior tournament can never be a best on best tournament since the best players in the world are generally not junior aged. I blame TSN, and Craig Button in particular, for starting to call basically any tournament a best on best.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

After watching the first day of tournament, I’m confident usa gunna big brother Canada

 

[waitin425]

This is totally an aside but obviously a junior tournament can never be a best on best tournament since the best players in the world are generally not junior aged. I blame TSN, and Craig Button in particular, for starting to call basically any tournament a best on best.

I was thinking this last night. Imagine thus tournament with Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson etc. The other best 05s

 

[JackSlater]

I was thinking this last night. Imagine thus tournament with Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson etc. The other best 05s

Fantilli and Carlsson are too old for this tournament but that isn't what I meant. It's a junior tournament. A junior tournament can't be a best on best tournament because the age limit bans almost every one of the actual best players.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Buu f***ing huu you're not entertained enough because Russia has been universally banned from all big sporting events in the world. Tell that to the Ukrainians and lets see how much sympathy you get.


I'm tired of reading this. Russia has been rightfully banned from the tournament and they're not coming back. Deal with it.

honestly they should have suspended Team Canada too

 

[NyQuil]

Fantilli and Carlsson are too old for this tournament but that isn't what I meant. It's a junior tournament. A junior tournament can't be a best on best tournament because the age limit bans almost every one of the actual best players.

I’ve always interpreted it as the scheduling and format of the tournament allows for all eligible players to attend within a given age group or class.

The most stringent best on best interpretation would be violated if McDavid were injured or something, which is taking it too far IMO.

Non best on best tournaments are those where the format or schedule prevents eligible players from playing, regardless of any individual decisions, health status or club team obligations.

I guess you could argue that holding the WJCs during the NHL season inherently means that it isn’t best on best.

But those tend to be a small complement of individuals as opposed to 16 NHL teams worth of players a la WCs.

 

[wingman75]

This is totally an aside but obviously a junior tournament can never be a best on best tournament since the best players in the world are generally not junior aged. I blame TSN, and Craig Button in particular, for starting to call basically any tournament a best on best.

All international tournaments are age-centric best-on-best. These are the best under-20 players in the world? What is not best-on-best about that?

 

[NyQuil]

All international tournaments are age-centric best-on-best. These are the best under-20 players in the world? What is not best-on-best about that?

If the NHL teams had to release all Junior aged players it would be a bit closer to that perfect ideal of best on best.

I am sure that most club teams in soccer despise the fact that their players are routinely injured playing international matches but they don’t have a choice.

I agree with you though that you can have an age specific best on best tournament if that tournament is clearly designated as a Junior tournament.

Anyway, this is just a lot of semantics around a definition that ultimately doesn’t matter all that much.

 

[wingman75]

If the NHL teams had to release all Junior aged players it would be a bit closer to that perfect ideal of best on best.

I am sure that most club teams in soccer despise the fact that their players are routinely injured playing international matches but they don’t have a choice.

Sure, your point is valid. But it's the best best-on-best we can have. Regardless of which professional players are not present. Everything can be argued with a technicality. Man, glad I don't live my life like that.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

After watching the first day of tournament, I’m confident usa gunna big brother Canada

The US giving up 4 goals to Germany made you more confident in them?

 

[Sideline]

A pretty petty thing to get hung up on, all things considered, wouldn't you agree? Since whining about it won't change anything, maybe time to move on and enjoy the tournament for what it is instead of what it isn't?

I mean it's not really petty in the context of this tournament. This isn't the Olympics or the men's worlds where 6 or 7 teams can win on any given night. The nature of age level national program sizes means there are only 3 legitimate contenders, 3 or 4 darkhorse candidates for a medal, and 3 or 4 teams severing as glorified Washington Generals.

I don't really enjoy watching Canada, USA, and Sweden put up touchdowns on half the teams in this tournament.

 

[ORRFForever]

I mean it's not really petty in the context of this tournament. This isn't the Olympics or the men's worlds where 6 or 7 teams can win on any given night. The nature of age level national program sizes means there are only 3 legitimate contenders, 3 or 4 darkhorse candidates for a medal, and 3 or 4 teams severing as glorified Washington Generals.

I don't really enjoy watching Canada, USA, and Sweden put up touchdowns on half the teams in this tournament.

Then don't watch.

**********************************************

This thread has gotten ugly / nasty.

Not sure why it had to go in that direction.

People at HF will argue about anything.

 

[Coffey]

People at HF will argue about anything.

That's the internet world now, brother.
This place is still 100x better than Twitter, Facebook or any other social media.

 

[ORRFForever]

This is totally an aside but obviously a junior tournament can never be a best on best tournament since the best players in the world are generally not junior aged.

If you look at it from that perspective, you could never call a female tournament "best on best" because the best players are generally not women - see men.

 

[Sideline]

Then don't watch.

**********************************************

This thread has gotten ugly / nasty.

Not sure why it had to go in that direction.

People at HF will argue about anything.

I'm not watching as much as I have in years past. I've watched hundreds of these games on TV and seen dozens of them live. This tournament is less fun with fewer good teams in it.

I don't see how a fan explaining why they don't enjoy something as much as they used to is ugly or nasty. Either way, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.

 

[ORRFForever]

That's the internet world now, brother.
This place is still 100x better than Twitter, Facebook or any other social media.

I'll take your word for it. It's still a shame but, then again, I am guilty of it myself so...

I am going to (TRY and) bow out.