Four Nations-cup

[bucks_oil]

With Theodore out the bottom 4 defence is a concern. Doughty struggled at this level, and Parayko and Morrissey weren't much better if you could say they were better at all. After watching that game I don't know if it's out of left field to say that Nurse and Bouchard in for really any of those 3 would be an upgrade. Might need to think about splitting Toews and Makar to spread the wealth around.

The game on Saturday feels like it's going to be incredibly high paced, intense and emotional. I think Bennett needs to come in for one of Konecny or Hagel (probably Konecny IMO) to add the rat, dirty element to our side. Hill should start, but likely won't.

I think the Americans are likely to play a very Florida Panthers style of game. Heavy on the forecheck, physical, attempt to push you out of the game. We have the horses up front to counter it catching them too deep in the O zone chasing hits, only question is if the defence will be able to get the puck up quick enough on the bottom 2 pairs.

I'm kinda expecting them to play Hill... none of these goalies have claimed the throne by default, and so you'd sorta expect the coaching to give them each a chance and then choose the starter for the champ (assuming we make it) based on their one-game audition.

Binnington did ~ok last night. Not great, not terrible, some timely saves... the type of performance we routinely string-up goalies for around here.

 

[bucks_oil]

He went 1v3 like 5 times in OT. It wasn't looking off McDavid one time...
He buried into the goalie's chest 5 consecutive outside shots in a 3v3, where you should be looking for higher quality shots, especially if playing with other world-class players. Cmon. Just low IQ plays.

They should play McD with Crosby. He's a much better fit.

Let MacKinnon play 1v3 with two other net crasher types. Like Marchand and Stone.

I found myself missing Leon something awful last night. We are so spoiled.

 

[bucks_oil]

McDavid is insane wow

I don’t watch a lot of your games , incredible talent

I feel like we are going to be hearing a lot of this type of thing.

The thing with McDavid is that he wows you even when he has an "off" game, like last night. Shift after shift after shift... the ice just tilts and he's still zipping past 3 guys even when the 4th guy knocks the puck off.

 

[iCanada]

Marner on that play had me fuming. All he had to do was get open while three guys were shitting themselves puck watching McDavid and he managed to slide into triple coverage instead of being literally anywhere else where it's a free goal.

It's alright I guess he redeemed himself in ot, but man.

Any other forward on team Canada has a tap in there.

 

[Canovin]

The teams should be allowed to add one bonus player from Russia, Czech, Germany, etc. Would make it more interesting.

 

[iCanada]

Bouchard is way better than Parayko and the reanimated corpse of Doughty lol.

But he's just not the type of player Hockey Canada ever really considers.

Tbh I thought parayko was our best defenseman last night.

 

[K1984]

I'm kinda expecting them to play Hill... none of these goalies have claimed the throne by default, and so you'd sorta expect the coaching to give them each a chance and then choose the starter for the champ (assuming we make it) based on their one-game audition.

Binnington did ~ok last night. Not great, not terrible, some timely saves... the type of performance we routinely string-up goalies for around here.

Cooper decided to box himself in by anointing Bennington the starter for every game pre-tournament. What would have been a "starting Hill in this one to see how he does makes sense" before is now "do they doubt Bennington!? Controversy!"

Just an incredibly stupid decision IMO. Especially when all of them are C+ at best quality in the context of a best on best tournament.

 

[frag2]

They should play McD with Crosby. He's a much better fit.

Let MacKinnon play 1v3 with two other net crasher types. Like Marchand and Stone.

I found myself missing Leon something awful last night. We are so spoiled.

I doubt McD will get a sniff with Crosby unless its PP. Hockey Canada and media are really pushing the 'Cole Harbor boys" narrative so I'm guessing they'll keep pushing this stupid storyline

 

[bucks_oil]

Cooper decided to box himself in by anointing Bennington the starter for every game pre-tournament. What would have been a "starting Hill in this one to see how he does makes sense" before is now "do they doubt Bennington!? Controversy!"

Just an incredibly stupid decision IMO. Especially when all of them are C+ at best quality in the context of a best on best tournament.

Ah... I hadn't heard that. I'm way down here in Beantown... we don't get too much Canada coverage. Agree that was dumb... I'm not a huge fan of Cooper so far.

 

[ujju2]

This is most Euros

Euros care more about this stuff and the Olympics than the Cup. They don't grow up idolizing the cup

I personally would have a team with the least Euros you can. Just have a couple max complimentary players.

You wouldn't want Drai and Ekholm on your team? Odd take. Not that you're wrong about the cultural importance of international hockey in Europe.

 

[CanadasTeam99]

You wouldn't want Drai and Ekholm on your team? Odd take. Not that you're wrong about the cultural importance of international hockey in Europe.

I said "not all"

 

[ujju2]

Tbh I thought parayko was our best defenseman last night.

On a related note, I absolutely respect Makar as the best defenceman of the current generation, but last night I was definitely getting frustrated with how much he was looking like Shinpad Assassin Sekera. Just tons of wristers from the point into traffic that had no chance of getting through. Never noticed that in his game before, not sure why that was so obvious last night.

I said "not all"

You also said "I personally would have a team with the least Euros you can. Just have a couple max complimentary players." That literally means you wouldn't have a single Euro in more than a complementary role.

They should play McD with Crosby. He's a much better fit.

Let MacKinnon play 1v3 with two other net crasher types. Like Marchand and Stone.

I found myself missing Leon something awful last night. We are so spoiled.

Yeah I was missing Leon big time as well.

 

[LeonDraisaitl29]

The teams should be allowed to add one bonus player from Russia, Czech, Germany, etc. Would make it more interesting.

That's a good idea, they had a team Europe and North America for the world cup, would make it more interesting to see how the extra player does on a team he doesn't have a connection to.

 

[Canovin]

That's a good idea, they had a team Europe and North America for the world cup, would make it more interesting to see how the extra player does on a team he doesn't have a connection to.

I forgot about that. Team Europe for Russia/Germany/Czech etc for the 5th team would spice up the tourney

 

[tardigrade81]

Mackinnon probably placed a bet on himself with the GWG with those multiple failed attempts

Truth

 

[McHelpus]

The teams should be allowed to add one bonus player from Russia, Czech, Germany, etc. Would make it more interesting.

Armstrong would probably pick Buchnevich over Draisaitl.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

So there's a non-zero chance that Esa Lindell plays well over 30 minutes tonight.

 

[Fourier]

Marner on that play had me fuming. All he had to do was get open while three guys were shitting themselves puck watching McDavid and he managed to slide into triple coverage instead of being literally anywhere else where it's a free goal.

It's alright I guess he redeemed himself in ot, but man.

Any other forward on team Canada has a tap in there.

Marner is usually the guy with the puck waiting for someone else (ie Matthews) to get open. He is absolutely not the guy I would play with McDavid.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

This is pretty fun, Marchand looks like he's fun to play with.

 

[mcdingdong]

Marner on that play had me fuming. All he had to do was get open while three guys were shitting themselves puck watching McDavid and he managed to slide into triple coverage instead of being literally anywhere else where it's a free goal.

It's alright I guess he redeemed himself in ot, but man.

Any other forward on team Canada has a tap in there.

He's just such a bad fit with McDavid. Soft, no won battles, puck focused like McDavid is. If he doesn't have the puck he's a nothing player. Him and Reinhart were invisible for 60 mins of that game.

Tbh I thought parayko was our best defenseman last night.

???
Looked like Nurse. Giveaways, icings, no brain. Nurse probably looks better tbh. I struggle to undertstand viewpoints like this sometimes. What did he actually do well?