GDT: Four Nations

[Jet]

If the NHL site didn’t tell me Kyle Conner has played this game, I wouldn’t believe it… he’s invisible out there

He looked like he was trying too hard to be fancy tbh.

I'm hoping this tourney will teach him a bit about the type of competition he'll face in the playoffs

 

[Jet]

This is what happens when you pick Matinpalo over Heinola...

Looooooool. Yes, pick a guy who can't even make the roster of his club team.

Might as well see what Niku is doing right now.

Annnyways... I've liked Jokijaru? so far

Yeah Binnington is ass, and not even Playboy Bunny ass. Would’ve been nice if we didn’t sabotage ourselves with our roster selection but McDavid, Mack, Crosby, Reinhart, Point, Marner, Stone … too many top-line players to overcome, I hope.

Could have had so many more.

I'm afraid we're not going to outscore the shitty bottom line/ goalie/ D selections, specifically Doughty and Paryako

 

[ps241]

Looooooool. Yes, pick a guy who can't even make the roster of his club team.

Might as well see what Niku is doing right now.

Annnyways... I've liked Jokijaru? so far


Could have had so many more.

I'm afraid we're not going to outscore the shitty bottom line/ goalie/ D selections, specifically Doughty and Paryako

It will be interesting to watch on Saturday. These teams have to come together pretty quickly and try to find chemistry. I was always a Doughty fan but he was brutal in game 1 vs Sweden. He is 35 years old and coming off a major injury??? He was having trouble standing up most of the time. Paryako has been bad for a while now. Really hurt to lose Theadore in the first game. He is solid.

 

[snowkiddin]

Looooooool. Yes, pick a guy who can't even make the roster of his club team.

Might as well see what Niku is doing right now.

Annnyways... I've liked Jokijaru? so far


Could have had so many more.

I'm afraid we're not going to outscore the shitty bottom line/ goalie/ D selections, specifically Doughty and Paryako

Matinpalo has only played two more games than Heinola on a team with shittier defence depth. Still, I didn't realize Finnish defensive depth was so thin.

Yeah, Parayko and Doughty shouldn't have been on this team — I'd go for Rielly, Dobson, Bouchard before any of those. Seems like they picked those two because they like their "style" of game.

Cirelli/Hagel seem like nepo picks to me (with Cooper behind the bench). Bennett was probably picked to counteract the Tkachuks. I will say I was impressed by Hagel the other night. He does all the little things right and is actually having a good season, too.

Still, I'd be taking Barzal and Scheifele for sure. Probably Bedard too. They could've done so much more to stack this team instead of trying to find guys to fit specific roles again.

Edit: Dobson and Barzal are hurt now I realize, but I don't think they were when the roster was announced.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

He looked like he was trying too hard to be fancy tbh.

I'm hoping this tourney will teach him a bit about the type of competition he'll face in the playoffs

Under rated comment.

I also thought this. Every time he had the puck he was stock handling as if he was playing an allstar game. Wasn’t respecting Finland IMO and it cost him.

Might be unpopular but he was right to be moved down. He was trying to do too much.

Matinpalo has only played two more games than Heinola on a team with shittier defence depth. Still, I didn't realize Finnish defensive depth was so thin.

Yeah, Parayko and Doughty shouldn't have been on this team — I'd go for Rielly, Dobson, Bouchard before any of those. Seems like they picked those two because they like their "style" of game.

Cirelli/Hagel seem like nepo picks to me (with Cooper behind the bench). Bennett was probably picked to counteract the Tkachuks. I will say I was impressed by Hagel the other night. He does all the little things right and is actually having a good season, too.

Still, I'd be taking Barzal and Scheifele for sure. Probably Bedard too. They could've done so much more to stack this team instead of trying to find guys to fit specific roles again.

Matinpalo is 6’3 older with more experience. The choice was easy IMO.

 

[Mooche]

I watched one team crumble in the 3rd and escape with a win in a 3 on 3 exhibition, and another team respond from a blah 2nd period with quickly putting the other team away in the 3rd. I also don't think much of any of the Canadian goalies this tournament either. I think Canada comes out strong in the first 10 minutes but the pressure gets to them after that.

Ah, gotcha.

The level of the respective competition in each game means nothing to you, I guess.

Sweden has a dynamic forward group and arguably (for some) has the best defense in the tournament. Finland is quite clearly the distant fourth participant in this equation. Again, their defense barring injury would be on speed dial to Ville Heinola. The only thing less than ideal would be the way Saros played. Woof.

Anyways, it's pretty silly to summize Canada, who still has Sidney Crosby, let alone the top three active players in the NHL, is going to get "crushed" by anybody in this tournament.

Tomorrow night should be a great game.

 

[Jet]

It will be interesting to watch on Saturday. These teams have to come together pretty quickly and try to find chemistry. I was always a Doughty fan but he was brutal in game 1 vs Sweden. He is 35 years old and coming off a major injury??? He was having trouble standing up most of the time. Paryako has been bad for a while now. Really hurt to lose Theadore in the first game. He is solid.

Yeah I just think that Team Canada has to have a seismic shift in how they select players. They're getting too cute with the construct. Just do BPA - these guys can adapt to different roles and at least you have injury protection and guys who can produce up and down the lineup.

Doughty was a beyond stupid selection. I wonder if teams were influenced to select players from teams that might be underrepresented so that those fans would be invested?

 

[snowkiddin]

Yeah I just think that Team Canada has to have a seismic shift in how they select players. They're getting too cute with the construct. Just do BPA - these guys can adapt to different roles and at least you have injury protection and guys who can produce up and down the lineup.

Doughty was a beyond stupid selection. I wonder if teams were influenced to select players from teams that might be underrepresented so that those fans would be invested?

Yup, our greatest performance ever in the Olympics was in 2014 and we just stacked that team as much as we could. No role players or nepotism.

Doughty is one of my favourite non-Jet players in the league but he looks completely cooked.

 

[Gm0ney]

Looooooool. Yes, pick a guy who can't even make the roster of his club team.

Might as well see what Niku is doing right now.

Annnyways... I've liked Jokijaru? so far


Could have had so many more.

I'm afraid we're not going to outscore the shitty bottom line/ goalie/ D selections, specifically Doughty and Paryako

I thought the was implicit in the when the Finns were down 6-1

Niku's in the Swiss league this season. Better money than Liiga maybe?

 

[Mooche]

Yup, our greatest performance ever in the Olympics was in 2014 and we just stacked that team as much as we could. No role players or nepotism.

Doughty is one of my favourite non-Jet players in the league but he looks completely cooked.

Agreed, yet even still, Chris Kunitz was selected and a lot of people were pissed about that. We all know why he was taken, but my point is it does happen every tournament in differing capacities.

The large difference has always been between the pipes. When you are trotting out prime Carey Price, it can eliminate a lot of worry you do have about any issues from a skater/system perspective.

That Sweden final was one of the most controlling, thorough ass kickings I think I have ever seen in a big final.

Was a very special group of players in 14.

 

[ps241]

Under rated comment.

I also thought this. Every time he had the puck he was stock handling as if he was playing an allstar game. Wasn’t respecting Finland IMO and it cost him.

Might be unpopular but he was right to be moved down. He was trying to do too much.


Matinpalo is 6’3 older with more experience. The choice was easy IMO.

It’s only one game and I think some guys were struggling to find their game and Connor was exhibit A. He needs to watch the film and work with the coaches and his linemates. One thing is for sure he can’t have another game like that.

 

[Jet]

Yup, our greatest performance ever in the Olympics was in 2014 and we just stacked that team as much as we could. No role players or nepotism.

Doughty is one of my favourite non-Jet players in the league but he looks completely cooked.

It's really not fair to Doughty either. The guy is 36 and coming off significant injury. As an older guy I can attest it takes longer to get up to a respectable speed after a significant break.

 

[Gm0ney]

Yeah I just think that Team Canada has to have a seismic shift in how they select players. They're getting too cute with the construct. Just do BPA - these guys can adapt to different roles and at least you have injury protection and guys who can produce up and down the lineup.

Doughty was a beyond stupid selection. I wonder if teams were influenced to select players from teams that might be underrepresented so that those fans would be invested?

Even that 2014 team didn't have Joe Thornton, Giroux, Seguin, Hall. Thornton's son was sick and didn't want to go, but those other guys were all Top 10 players. Brent Burns didn't make that team either.

Canadian goaltending has really fallen off a cliff though...so we can't really afford to f around.

 

[Gm0ney]

It’s only one game and I think some guys were struggling to find their game and Connor was exhibit A. He needs to watch the film and work with the coaches and his linemates. One thing is for sure he can’t have another game like that.

Yeah it's only been one game and Connor's been playing beside the same C for two years straight, so it might take him a bit to dial in.

He's also used to more like 20 minutes a night and PP1. He got just 14:22 at all strengths and 49 seconds on PP2...not his typical deployment.

 

[surixon]

Agreed, yet even still, Chris Kunitz was selected and a lot of people were pissed about that. We all know why he was taken, but my point is it does happen every tournament in differing capacities.

The large difference has always been between the pipes. When you are trotting out prime Carey Price, it can eliminate a lot of worry you do have about any issues from a skater/system perspective.

That Sweden final was one of the most controlling, thorough ass kickings I think I have ever seen in a big final.

Was a very special group of players in 14.

Yup and when we didn't have Price we had Brodour or Luongo as our goalies.

 

[surixon]

Yeah I just think that Team Canada has to have a seismic shift in how they select players. They're getting too cute with the construct. Just do BPA - these guys can adapt to different roles and at least you have injury protection and guys who can produce up and down the lineup.

Doughty was a beyond stupid selection. I wonder if teams were influenced to select players from teams that might be underrepresented so that those fans would be invested?

I don't know Jet, I feel for the most part they did take the BPA. Every single one of those gold medal teams had a couple of role players.

By my count I see three on this team on forward in Cirelli, Jarvis and Bennett. Everyone else up front is having a fantastic offensive year.

On defense they had originally only taken one role guy with Paryako. Pietro pulling out lead to the bad Doughty pick.

 

[Jets 31]

Canada and the US are pretty even overall talent wise but Binghamton isn't even close to Helly talent wise. If i had to put money down i would put it on the US just because of that. Having said that it will be a good game and guaranteed the Tkachuk brothers are going to do something to piss us off .

 

[Jets 31]

I don't know Jet, I feel for the most part they did take the BPA. Every single one of those gold medal teams had a couple of role players.

By my count I see three on this team on forward in Cirelli, Jarvis and Bennett. Everyone else up front is having a fantastic offensive year.

On defense they had originally only taken one role guy with Paryako. Pietro pulling out lead to the bad Doughty pick.

Scheifele should have been on the team no if's and's or frigg's .

 

[Romang67]

Some 5 head level thinking about benching Hellebuyck after he gets beaten once on a deflection in the 1st period.

Great motivation to stay off the main boards through this tournament. People see what they want to see to hype up their NHL team's players and trash their perceived rivals'.

 

[Jet]

I don't know Jet, I feel for the most part they did take the BPA. Every single one of those gold medal teams had a couple of role players.

By my count I see three on this team on forward in Cirelli, Jarvis and Bennett. Everyone else up front is having a fantastic offensive year.

On defense they had originally only taken one role guy with Paryako. Pietro pulling out lead to the bad Doughty pick.

I think the main difference is back in the day Canada was the world leader in talent. Many other nations have caught up, and I'd argue that USA has actually overtaken them.

Not having Thompson as one of the 3 goalies is borderline criminal, especially when you consider we selected Jordan Binnington.

There were so many other defensemen to select as a replacement than DD - and Paryako should have never been considered.

I'm not as bothered by the forward selection other than leaving Scheifele off the roster.

 

[surixon]

I think the main difference is back in the day Canada was the world leader in talent. Many other nations have caught up, and I'd argue that USA has actually overtaken them.

Not having Thompson as one of the 3 goalies is borderline criminal, especially when you consider we selected Jordan Binnington.

There were so many other defensemen to select as a replacement than DD - and Paryako should have never been considered.

I'm not as bothered by the forward selection other than leaving Scheifele off the roster.

Yeah, the goaltending is my biggest issue with the team. Also agree they could have done better with their d picks. I'd have had Dobson there over Doughty and Paryko. It's really only the Paryako pick that really pisses me off. Just a stupid pick to a washed up player. Doughty atleast had a terrific year last year.

 

[ps241]

Yeah it's only been one game and Connor's been playing beside the same C for two years straight, so it might take him a bit to dial in.

He's also used to more like 20 minutes a night and PP1. He got just 14:22 at all strengths and 49 seconds on PP2...not his typical deployment.

KC getting the Nik Ehlers treatment

In all seriousness that is the nature of the beast with these tourney's. Stars on their respective teams have to adapt to different roles than they are use to. Kyle will need to get it together fast or those minutes will be dropping.


Had Scheifele been added late to team Canada for Cooper he would be playing bottom six, maybe 4th line, but either way I would guess 10:00-13:00 minutes.

Some 5 head level thinking about benching Hellebuyck after he gets beaten once on a deflection in the 1st period.

Great motivation to stay off the main boards through this tournament. People see what they want to see to hype up their NHL team's players and trash their perceived rivals'.

Nothing good can come from the main boards. Most are going to have an agenda.

 

[raideralex99]

He looked like he was trying too hard to be fancy tbh.

I'm hoping this tourney will teach him a bit about the type of competition he'll face in the playoffs

Yup plus it seem like everytime he touched the puck there was a player on him just look at the assist he chipped the puck to Faber with a player on him. Fins are a good checking team Connor should do better against Canada and Sweden.

 

[Huffer]

Yeah, the goaltending is my biggest issue with the team. Also agree they could have done better with their d picks. I'd have had Dobson there over Doughty and Paryko. It's really only the Paryako pick that really pisses me off. Just a stupid pick to a washed up player. Doughty atleast had a terrific year last year.

I'd have Weegar there myself.

 

[surixon]

He looked like he was trying too hard to be fancy tbh.

I'm hoping this tourney will teach him a bit about the type of competition he'll face in the playoffs

He wasn't alone in that. A lot of these first time players to best on best tried to do too much. I expect KC like the others will settle into their games.