GDT: Four Nations Tournament - Part 3 - Championship Game: USA vs Canada , Feb 20th @ 8pm ET (ESPN, ESPN+)

[80shockeywasbuns]

It was game 7 against the Lightning in 2015,

McDonagh literally had a broken foot and couldn't stand up straight, and naturally the Rangers were just like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ like Team USA was with Matt Tkachuk tonight.

But AV had this great idea. He would scratch a forward and have Matt Hunwick on the bench in case McDonagh couldn't go, which he absolutely couldn't, but he did anyway, and Hunwick played 0:00.

So AV played 11 forwards and 5 able-bodied defensemen in a game 7. And I'm not allowed to criticize coaches because I never coached.

Ohhh haha yeah I remember that team was running on fumes. Weren’t there multiple D with frozen broken feet playing? Lol

 

[Guyute]

Oh man you really wanted the last word on your hate porn. Yes, yes every Ranger ever sucks.

Sorry for having a life and not being able to analyze every play as it happens.

Let me guess, you’re like Machinehead and love the Patrik Nemeth signing.

 

[Machinehead]

Also, here's the thing about coaching -- certain aspects of it are extremely hard. I couldn't put together a system at any level, let alone the NHL. I could never manage the egos. I could never develop skills. Those things are hard.

Usage is easy. It takes 20 f***ing minutes on Google to figure out who's good on a team and you play those guys more than the guys who aren't. A f***in six year old could figure out that part of the job.

And that's the part they f*** up because they have massive egos, they have weird biases, and this sport shits itself over intangibles unlike any other sport in the world.

Everyone does it. Travis Sanheim shouldn't be on Canada's third team but somebody in a position of power probably had him in junior or whatever the f*** and said "hey I like this guy."

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Most of the worst hockey takes I’ve ever heard come from the people I played with growing up. The rest come from mark messier who is like the best NYR ever

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Fox looked awful

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Fox looked awful

only one who looked worse was Hughes

 

[Alluckks]

Fox certainly had a pedestrian tournament but Hughes lost the check on McDavid. He was brutal all tournament.

Hughes was pretty useless. Brock Nelson looked like Rangers version Brett Howden out there. He was more horrendous than any of Kreider/Zib/etc. have looked this year. Dude couldn't even receive a pass right.

 

[mike14]

at least we don't have to worry about injuries at the olympics next season then

 

[Alluckks]

Slavin was being gushed over for his defensive efforts the same way Lindgren would get gushed over on national television in previous playoffs. Particularly during the 2022. All the talk then of how amazing Trouba and Lindgren were as defensive stalwarts by the brilliant tv minds. Truth us they both just hemorrhaged chances against. Slavin was no different in this tournament.

 

[Mike in Houston]

The US would have won if Sullivan played Kreider more than 6:25. Fire Sully!

 

[RangerBoy]

Fox looked awful

Awful is an understatement. The Rangers have a major problem with Fox. Nobody outside of a few people want to mention it.

The US would have won if Sullivan played Kreider more than 6:25. Fire Sully!

When Sullivan gets fired in Pittsburgh sometime in the next few years, Drury will run to hire him in NY assuming Drury will still have a job in NY.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Awful is an understatement. The Rangers have a major problem with Fox. Nobody outside of a few people want to mention it.

It's all Ryan Lindgren's fault.

 

[94leetch]

When you get on your fairly consistent self-righteous high horse of thinking you know more than NHL coaches, I am curious to know what exactly you are basing that on?

Is it all the Stanley Cups and exceptional seasons you've coached in the NHL? Seriously, have you coached any hockey team to any actual real world success?

We watched a game tonight where the two head coaches won, I believe, 4 of the last 9 Cups.

Do the actuaries, office managers, IT guys, (insert whatever other non-hockey job title here) seriously believe they know more about coaching an NHL team than the two guys who won 4 of the last 9 Stanley Cups?

What people here are relying on are stats (which are inherintly flawed because no one stat covers all scenarios and situations well) and eye test (which is likewise flawed, because individual viewers can only see so much at a live game and only see small parts of the game on TV based on what the TV cameras allow them to see).

Coaches have all the same stats. They have real world experience in the actual job. Most of them have experience playing at that level or close to it. They have all the home ice TV footage at their disposal to pour over. They have multiple sets of eyes which can focus on different parts of the ice to collaborate with for further and more in-depth eye test, video review, and cross-comparison.

I grasp it is a message board and people are gonna sling shit. But for any random person who has never coached at that level or any level close to it to think they are superior or know more than the people actually doing it is utterly comical.

I played pickup into my 30s with mostly 20-35 year old div 1, div 2 and career minor leaguers. One pickup game, a mid-50s very over-weight hall of fame NHL player showed at one of our pickup games. He destroyed all of us. Maybe that put some humility and reality into me. But the NHL is the absolute most elite level of hockey. For anyone with no coaching experience at that level (or close to that level) thinking they have shit on the people doing it in real life... you're deluding yourselves.

Post of the year right there.

 

[leetch99]

Been surprised how good Dougherty has played. I didn't even know he was still in the NHL this season.

Surprised me too....he took the hits to make the plays when needed . Young Harley looked good as well......Fox OTOH...not so well . I think he was on for 2 of the 3 against ? Bad timing maybe because guys like McDavid are going to score eventually ......Good game overall and either club could easily have won it . Too bad there had to be a loser .

I wonder how player selection will go on the big ice for the Olympics ? I expect it will be different for both clubs . I think it will a fast game on larger ice . I wonder about Fox ..I think he would suffer on his D coverage defending the rush but I am curious on the O side of things and if he would be better for the PP this time with extra maneuver room ....but no shot to speak of .

As Ranger fans....maybe we get very lucky and a guy like Miller has stepped up by then and is a solid NHL Dman ....the big ice might make him a better selection than Fox for the future Olympics .

I'd love it if a Ranger got the winning goal.

Future Ranger maybe ?

 

[leetch99]

I like Fox... I really do...

But against this competition he looks like he's skating with a full diaper.

Bless his little heart for trying though . Maybe on the big ice he will at least be efficient on the PP....maybe . I guess it depends on how he performs being even older by then and if they take him....as I have said it would bode well for NY if it was Miller on the big ice if he can take the next step . Reach and skating ability will be important and if he decides to use his size....even better .

Great pass by Toews

Imagine if we had of signed Toews when he left Isles ???? Or was he traded ? I can't remember ....

 

[McRanger92]

Lots of miserable folks here who can't just enjoy that great tournament the league put on. Congrats to Canada, youve gained another year of sovereignty until the Olympic rematch lol jk. Binnington was the only reason they stayed in it late. Matthews is going to be thinking about that OT for awhile. Couldnt finish 3 Grade A's and then lost Mcdavid on the game winner. He was one of the few generating offense for the USA all game though. Tough. Laughing seeing people say Slavin "hemorrhaged chances", was he supposed to dominate shot attempts matched up against the 3 greatest centers in the game right now? Would it have been better if he didnt make 3-4 game saving defensive plays? Can't win around here.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Lots of miserable folks here who can't just enjoy that great tournament the league put on. Congrats to Canada, youve gained another year of sovereignty until the Olympic rematch lol jk. Binnington was the only reason they stayed in it late. Matthews is going to be thinking about that OT for awhile. Couldnt finish 3 Grade A's and then lost Mcdavid on the game winner. He was one of the few generating offense for the USA all game though. Tough. Laughing seeing people say Slavin "hemorrhaged chances", was he supposed to dominate shot attempts matched up against the 3 greatest centers in the game right now? Would it have been better if he didnt make 3-4 game saving defensive plays? Can't win around here.

Par for the course. Shit on the Rangers. Shit on Team USA. Expecting anything to change is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Fox definitely needs some sort of reset, if he's hurt he shouldn't have been there.

 

[McRanger92]

Fox definitely needs some sort of reset, if he's hurt he shouldn't have been there.

I think he's just having a down year like a lot of Rangers. Frankly outside of a few bright spots, I didnt think many players on any teams had great individual performances. Brady T, Larkin, Slavin were the only real standouts for Team USA off the top of my head.

 

[leetch99]

Seriously? I used to have it. Really tough. If you need any suggestions message me.

Save yourself some misery and take a daily pill to prevent it from flaring up . My Dad had it bad and he was skinny as a rake and not much of a drinker....some of us just cannot escape it . It is so painful in that big toe....you feel like cutting it right off . Good luck . Anyways....the daily pill works for me .

 

[McRanger92]

Never thought this would be my takeaway but I bet the USA takes a long look at bringing K'Andre to the Olympics. If he can continue the consistency we've seen from him since the calendar flipped he's got the speed the USA D lacks. Maybe playing on that team will get him to up the physicality as well.

 

[leetch99]

Crosby is great tbh.

I have nothing bad to say about him. I'm over it.

He was also likely playing while nursing a serious injury as probably some others did too . The Olympic selections will be interest for both clubs . Bedard likely will be there for this .

 

[McRanger92]

He was also likely playing while nursing a serious injury as probably some others did too . The Olympic selections will be interest for both clubs . Bedard likely will be there for this .

Bedard will likely look how Hughes looked for the USA

 

[will1066]

The decision on who is on whose level is not based on a 4 game all star tournament. Unless you think Brady Tkachuk is the best player in the NHL. No Fox was not on the level of many players in this tournament. Fortunately this is a Rangers board and not a team USA board. Do you seriously believe what you're writing? We're fans of an NHL team not the team USA team thrown together over night. Treating this tournament as defining players' legacies is just completely lacking in all logic and is just hate porn for the most pathetic fanbase in all sports.

Where was i defining a legacy in my posts? I commented on what I saw. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I also expect some to agree with me. That's all there is to my posts. You're overreacting.

 

[leetch99]

When you get on your fairly consistent self-righteous high horse of thinking you know more than NHL coaches, I am curious to know what exactly you are basing that on?

Is it all the Stanley Cups and exceptional seasons you've coached in the NHL? Seriously, have you coached any hockey team to any actual real world success?

We watched a game tonight where the two head coaches won, I believe, 4 of the last 9 Cups.

Do the actuaries, office managers, IT guys, (insert whatever other non-hockey job title here) seriously believe they know more about coaching an NHL team than the two guys who won 4 of the last 9 Stanley Cups?

What people here are relying on are stats (which are inherintly flawed because no one stat covers all scenarios and situations well) and eye test (which is likewise flawed, because individual viewers can only see so much at a live game and only see small parts of the game on TV based on what the TV cameras allow them to see).

Coaches have all the same stats. They have real world experience in the actual job. Most of them have experience playing at that level or close to it. They have all the home ice TV footage at their disposal to pour over. They have multiple sets of eyes which can focus on different parts of the ice to collaborate with for further and more in-depth eye test, video review, and cross-comparison.

I grasp it is a message board and people are gonna sling shit. But for any random person who has never coached at that level or any level close to it to think they are superior or know more than the people actually doing it is utterly comical.

I played pickup into my 30s with mostly 20-35 year old div 1, div 2 and career minor leaguers. One pickup game, a mid-50s very over-weight hall of fame NHL player showed at one of our pickup games. He destroyed all of us. Maybe that put some humility and reality into me. But the NHL is the absolute most elite level of hockey. For anyone with no coaching experience at that level (or close to that level) thinking they have shit on the people doing it in real life... you're deluding yourselves.

That might be the best take I have read here in like my 15 + years of being here . It is going to sting though . It could and should apply to a whole bunch of other people as well . We all can learn a bit from it . Great post...post more !!!!