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

[will1066]

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.

Guentzel was really good. Sadly all of the Tri State players were mediocre.

 

[FUZfan]

It's funny to me how EVERYONE was shitting on Binnington for how bad he was and how Canada was stupid for making him their #1 and he ends up basically winning the tournament for them. Absolutely stoned the best scorer on the ice multiple times in OT. He's a proven big game performer.

 

[leetch99]

Bedard will likely look how Hughes looked for the USA

I doubt it...but...who knows ? Canada had a few young guys in to get them ready for the next one.....take their virginity kind of . Sanheim and Harley both young and with another year even better .

 

[leetch99]

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.

Colchicine 6 MG twice a day ....works for me ....now I only take one a day . Avoid eating Grapefruit or drinking it's juice . I'm not sure if that rules out Grapefruit ice cream or not which is absolutely the best kind .

 

[McRanger92]

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.

The extremists on both sides of the Fox argument suck. People going out of there way to shoehorn narratives. It's OK to say he was sub-par in that tournament and this year overall and also not think the rangers should trade him for anything or that we have some existential crisis having him on the roster lol. Its all very tiresome.

 

[Leonardo87]

I couldn’t watch the game, had band stuff going on last night. Wonder if the sever hamsters went on another pizza break last night, lol.

Rangers are back tomorrow to start a back to back this weekend. I’m gonna have the GDT up later tonight since it’s a slightly earlier game, 5:30 start. This thread will the be locked later tonight. Fair warning.

As a mod , glad this tournament is over. It’s been brutal the moderation. Thanks to everyone here for keeping a lot of the political crap at bay. Others on other said forums can’t control themselves.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I felt that JT was annoyed/pissed/frustrated with Fox on like 15-20 occasions during the tournament.

They just couldn't connect. Especially last night. At least 5 times.

Fox really struggled last night.

 

[McRanger92]

I felt that JT was annoyed/pissed/frustrated with Fox on like 15-20 occasions during the tournament.

They just couldn't connect. Especially last night. At least 5 times.

Fox really struggled last night.

JT is here to speak his mind so I hope he does to Fox and Laf in particular.

 

[Daves a mess]

I disagree with the use of "sub par" and "mediocre" in my evaluation of our players last night.

I think the Rangers that played last night kinda sucked ballz tbh.

My solution is, as soon as a star Ranger gets married, I notify the other teams that I'm open to offers. As soon as said players wife gets prego, I work the phones until until I feel a petite mal seizure come on.
And in the ambulance, i make the trade.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

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 .

Celebrini is more likely at this point.

 

[leetch99]

Celebrini is more likely at this point.

I forgot about him to be honest....LOL....do we have any more young Bluenosers close to being ready ? I doubt Marchand makes the trip next time .

 

[SA16]

I hope USA Hockey realizes that they need to take things more seriously before the Olympics or they are just going to get the same results. How could they have expected to win running things like a country club? Is Mike Sullivan the coach or Matthew Tkachuk? Kyle Connor, a 30 goal scorer already, was left sitting in the press box to watch the game so Matthew Tkachuk could try and play injured. Obviously, he couldn't do that and that selfish act forced his team to play shorthanded the entire game. Even Quinn Hughes - supposed to be one of the captains and best players on this team - drops out of the tournament and then doesn't even fly out to support the rest of the players in the room even if he couldn't be on the ice?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I hope USA Hockey realizes that they need to take things more seriously before the Olympics or they are just going to get the same results. How could they have expected to win running things like a country club? Is Mike Sullivan the coach or Matthew Tkachuk? Kyle Connor, a 30 goal scorer already, was left sitting in the press box to watch the game so Matthew Tkachuk could try and play injured. Obviously, he couldn't do that and that selfish act forced his team to play shorthanded the entire game. Even Quinn Hughes - supposed to be one of the captains and best players on this team - drops out of the tournament and then doesn't even fly out to support the rest of the players in the room even if he couldn't be on the ice?

I mean, they easily could have won last night, i thought they were the better team, aside ffrom the 2nd period. If they get a bounce they win in OT and everything is good with USA Hockey.

 

[TheWrongWay]

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 !!!!

Thank you. But I want it to be clear my post was not meant as a personal dig toward MH, nor did I worry he or anyone would be stung by what I said.

I am from NYC. I expect and am used to NYers having pretty thick skin. I felt comfortable saying what I said, but did so from a perspective that I expected intelligent discourse, and also expected myself to genuinely listen and be open to whatever responses came my way.

I chose him for this because (1) I have been here since my initial account started in 2006 or so and I know MH can dish and take, (2) I am genuinely curious about his reply because I know he is a bright guy who has the courage to explain his viewpoints, and (3) we took it to private messaging (to avoid possible misreads or forum disruption) where he gave me a fabulous, detailed, and thoughtful reply. His last private response was superb to the extent that I will not respond to it until I have the time to give it the attention it deserves.

In short, I selected this engagement with someone I knew was bright, could go at this with a level head, and never hid from explaining his viewpoints.

I cannot really post more, though. I don't tend to post unless something humorous or interesting is in my mind, which is not often in the limited time I use my phone and PC.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Guentzel was really good. Sadly all of the Tri State players were mediocre.

Nelson was completely useless.
Trochek was pretty useless.
Miller had a couple of moments but didn't really make any skilled plays.
Hughes looked dangerous at times but made the wrong decision at every turn, also fell down like 5 times every shift.
Kreider looked like Kreider (washed)
Fox was whack.

 

[kovazub94]

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.

I feel like I'm forced to periodically make the same point when certain posters heads start getting too big even for this place. They think that NHL coaching is the easiest job in town (maybe second easiest after NHL GMs ) and use the fact that the average span of a head-coaching position between firings is about 2-3 years is an indicator of how they are all idiots. God forbid you try to understand thought process behind certain coaching decisions that didn't work out as intended - nope these decisions are being attacked relentlessly with a benefit of a hindsight and support that another team out of 33 won SC - everything else is by default then a failure.

 

[hardnosed]

The extremists on both sides of the Fox argument suck. People going out of there way to shoehorn narratives. It's OK to say he was sub-par in that tournament and this year overall and also not think the rangers should trade him for anything or that we have some existential crisis having him on the roster lol. Its all very tiresome.

I love Fox. But it's quite clear that he's at his best when he has the puck. His best defensive asset is his ability to move the puck out of our end. The problem is when McDavid and Crosby etc are on the other team and rushing at you 3 on 2, they aren't allowing you to get the puck out quickly because they not giving the puck up before getting several chances. You have to defend. That's why Slavin played so much. The good news for Ranger fans is that in the playoffs, no opponent has 18 stars. There's plenty of chances for Fox to move the puck, create chances, etc. He never had the puck last night.

 

[JimmyG89]

Fox went to the guy Hanifin was already covering off of the faceoff, leaving Marner totally alone in the corner.

Matthews skated towards Marner because he was alone, thanks to Fox, leaving McDavid open in the slot.

Anyone who’s ever played hockey knows what it feels like when somebody botches his coverage. It’s a confused scramble. That goal was definitely Fox’s fault.

Yeah that's not true. They clearly had an effort to have two guys on McDavid there. After the initial shot off the faceoff, you see Hanafin fronting Point (also letting him keep McDavid in his vision if he gets a pass) and Fox ready to clean up if a shot comes through as the puck gets to Makar.

The one mistake Fox made was circling the net, but he went to go into his corner to cover his winger in a normal rotation.

Again it's two elite players, Marner getting lost in coverage, and McDavid creating the passing lane, that make the play.

 

[Lion Hound]

Dissapointing result, but I think overall the tournament was a win for the NHL. There was a buzz around it, and the question was answered. Is this a glorified All -Star game or are these guys going to really compete. I think the Answer is these guys really took it serious.

Ratings for the All Star game = 1.4 Million Viewers.
Ratings for the 1st USA VS CANADA Game Over 10Million Viewers in North America alone.

Not sure what last nights game looks like for Viewers. I would imagine more, but that is significant and really good for the NHL.

 

[Row I Goon]

As an Aussie my interest was variable to say the least - the political crap across social media was a hoot, though.

Just get the season back on track now, and enough with the distractions.

 

[will1066]

As an Aussie my interest was variable to say the least - the political crap across social media was a hoot, though.

Just get the season back on track now, and enough with the distractions.

Well, there's gonna/gotta be some fallout from the injuries caused by the tournament even though on the whole it was a success.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I forgot about him to be honest....LOL....do we have any more young Bluenosers close to being ready ? I doubt Marchand makes the trip next time .

Be tough to keep him off but I agree. Hoping Stone doesn't either. In terms of Rangers though, maybe Schneider is of interest then, possibly Lafreniere if he picks it up. No more Scotians though lol

 

[Guyute]

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

Also if you really think Fox is blameless on that goal, you're clearly watching a different game.

Bad play by Matthews to leave McDavid. But Matthews never would have done that if Fox didn't botch his assignment in the first place.

Again, I'm not for trading Fox, but he was unambiguously horrendous in this tournament.

 

[will1066]

I felt that JT was annoyed/pissed/frustrated with Fox on like 15-20 occasions during the tournament.

They just couldn't connect. Especially last night. At least 5 times.

Fox really struggled last night.

I remember just last night distinctly Miller was in the neutral zone waiting for Fox to make an outlet pass to him and his body language was "c'mon c'mon". And then late in the game, both of them were on the wall and Miller had the puck in the zone and shoveled the puck to the blue line and Fox couldn't get there in time to keep the puck in the zone.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Also if you really think Fox is blameless on that goal, you're clearly watching a different game.

Bad play by Matthews to leave McDavid. But Matthews never would have done that if Fox didn't botch his assignment in the first place.

Again, I'm not for trading Fox, but he was unambiguously horrendous in this tournament.

Who cares that he was "horrendous" in an all star tournament playing with players that he never played with before, playing a role he has never before. The amount of hand wringing over something completely irrelevant to the Rangers is mind boggling.