GDT: Game 4: Canada Vs USA | 1PM EST 7PM CET | Can 6 - 4 USA

[NorCalhockey]

Exactly. People say he has great tools, but I don't even see tools. Being big, hitting hard, being a great skater and having a good wrist shot from the back-end is not all the tools. He doesn't defend well, his puck skills are average, as is his puck-moving. He has a low hockey IQ, as well.

I say that as a fan of the team that drafted him. I've seen him play plenty before we drafted him and after we drafted him. Never rated his game. I hope he comes good for us and I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

Yep you 100% said everything I’ve thought about him as well based on watching him in past tournaments.

 

[NorCalhockey]

Our coach has no idea what he's doing sorry. All he knows is how to coach grind it out hockey.

I don’t watch college hockey so don’t know what the US coach’s style is, but if what you say is correct- yikes! When is the last time the World Junior Gold was won by a grinding team!?!? US has skilled players yo. Be dumb of the coach not to make use of them and instead, either 1) play the hard working grinders more than the skill guys or 2) try to turn skill guys into grinders.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Him and Wahlstrom stood out for me.

Does Wahlstrom realize he has teammates and can pass them the puck?

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Him and Wahlstrom stood out for me.

I was more looking for opinions outside our fanbase tbh. But I appreciate it nonetheless.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Pretty fun game to watch. Hopefully Sandelin figures his shit out in time for when the games really matter. Having Drury and Ford play that much while benching Turcotte and Kaliyev is nothing short of pathetic. Gave me serious Mike Babcock vibes.

 

[Belhammer16]

Lafreniere is also a draft-eligible player that just turned 18. There are some players in this tournament that are near 20 years old. I wouldn't even be sure Lafreniere is the best player on his own team, although he played the best today. Smith and Hayton are nearly 20 years old, and probably should be playing regular roles in the NHL this season. Look how Hughes and Kakko are struggling in the NHL this season. Not everyone comes into the NHL immediately and is as good as McDavid.

This is a bad look, Lafreniere is on a different level than anyone at this tourney. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to natural talent.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

How could these guys possibly lose?

By allowing 6 goals, apparently.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Couldnt watch the game. How did Nick Robertson look?

Good wheels, wicked shot. One of the more noticeable Americans.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Good wheels, wicked shot. One of the more noticeable Americans.

Thanks.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Yawn easy win for Canada, not surprised USA is lead by an undersized European style player in Caufield.

Weird comment - how is the US lead by Caufield? He wasn't even really used today.

Him and Wahlstrom stood out for me.

I don't normally make these types of comments but Wahlstrom stood out in his distinct and blatant lack of vision by not passing the puck back to Caufield to open up space with a man up in the dying seconds. I was amazed at how easy and obvious a play it would have been for anyone on a powerplay in the NHL - instead he took the puck deeper into the middle of the ice then passed it to no one in an area Canada had covered. It ended the game. While anecdotal, the guy is lacking vision, he doesn't seem to be a playmaker in any way.

Pretty fun game to watch. Hopefully Sandelin figures his **** out in time for when the games really matter. Having Drury and Ford play that much while benching Turcotte and Kaliyev is nothing short of pathetic. Gave me serious Mike Babcock vibes.

Especially considering Turcotte should be playing with Caufield...

Plenty of USA bashing at its finest. Nice

You're right it's heinous, especially considering Americans (as shown by your leader) are known to have such thick skin.

 

[Mario le Magnifique]

I thought the game was pretty even the first half of the first period. The Canadians missed the net with 6 or 7 shots but had some good chances. The States just capitalized on their PP opportunities. But this shift was definitely the turning point. Lafreniere the teams best player came out and threw 2 big hits, McIsaac smoked someone behind the net and Bahl crushed Brink. I think that Canada was and is the better team, but that shift seemed to fire them up and make them think they can impose their will on this game. Thats the only team that can come close physically with Canada too. If I'm any of the Euopean teams, I'm pretty worried about what I saw out there today physically.



I think talent wise, Lafreniere is close with guys like Matthews and Eichel and I would say is the same tier of prospect as them. But I put him above just becaus of his motor. Eichel and Matthews you wont notice for whole games at a time (they might have a couple points but look like theyre floating out there) but Lafreniere is always doing something. If he isnt scoring hes setting someone up, if he isnt setting someone up hes killing someone on the forecheck.

He doesnt have the same shot as Matthews or the skating of Eichel but I think he has the best combo of the bunch because of his drive and motor

I think you're judging just from what you're seeing in the WJC. In his regular Q team, he seems to float a bit like Laine although he's just as lethal if not more, 'cause Lafrenière is a true playmaker who thinks pass first, his style is mostly getting fed the puck on the sideboards in the offensive zone and then he does hie magic, but you rarely see him actually all out forecheck and taking guys out with big hits, he's not that type, he's cerebral and that's how he gets so many points and creates so many chances, he's always where the plays is gonna go, Q is visibly too weak for him. There's literally no need for him in the Q to start running around for loose pucks. In big tournies let's see if he keeps playing like he did in this game, but I havent seen him this fired up this season, and he's having a tremendous one.

 

[SabresSharks]

Did they award these pompous shit heads gold yet, or we gonna bother with the rest of the tournament?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Thanks.

Trying to think of what current NHLer he reminded me of darting around out there and taking those shots. Maybe Cam Atkinson? A less gritty Arvidsson?

Not that I'm saying he'll have that kind of career. Just kind of reminds me of that sort of smallish, fleet of foot skater who is nifty with the puck and with a nice release.

 

[bsu]

Robertson plays like Gallagher to me.

 

[DanM]

Robertson plays like Gallagher to me.

I see him as a more skilled Gally, and I LOVE Gally.

I see a mix between Marchand and Gally.

But style wise, yes very similar

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Trying to think of what current NHLer he reminded me of darting around out there and taking those shots. Maybe Cam Atkinson? A less gritty Arvidsson?

Not that I'm saying he'll have that kind of career. Just kind of reminds me of that sort of smallish, fleet of foot skater who is nifty with the puck and with a nice release.

Havent watched him much myself tbh. Sounded a bit like Debrincat but I could be way off on that one. I'd be happy with an Atkinson or a top 6 winger given where he was drafted. I'm buying into the hype, which I usually avoid.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Robertson plays like Gallagher to me.

Sign me up. Hard enough to find those prospects in the 1st round meanwhile, the 2nd.

 

[Devonator]

Weird comment - how is the US lead by Caufield? He wasn't even really used today.



I don't normally make these types of comments but Wahlstrom stood out in his distinct and blatant lack of vision by not passing the puck back to Caufield to open up space with a man up in the dying seconds. I was amazed at how easy and obvious a play it would have been for anyone on a powerplay in the NHL - instead he took the puck deeper into the middle of the ice then passed it to no one in an area Canada had covered. It ended the game. While anecdotal, the guy is lacking vision, he doesn't seem to be a playmaker in any way.



Especially considering Turcotte should be playing with Caufield...



You're right it's heinous, especially considering Americans (as shown by your leader) are known to have such thick skin.

As opposed to our dangerously dimwitted leader here in Canada......anyways, good first game for Canada though I do not understand what the Americans were doing with Caulfield? And York only got like 2 minutes of Ice time?? Very odd....

 

[PG Canuck]

Russia will beat both...

how are things going

 

[PG Canuck]

You don't know what u are talking about. That exact same clear happened to Boston against Columbus in
the PO. Ut was called a penalty. If the puck clears the
glass before the bench IT DOESN' MATTER WHERE IT LANDS.

didn’t realize this was the nhl. Besides, never went over the glass. So what are you mad about

 

[kilowatt]

As opposed to our dangerously dimwitted leader here in Canada......anyways, good first game for Canada though I do not understand what the Americans were doing with Caulfield? And York only got like 2 minutes of Ice time?? Very odd....

Nobody knows. Our best players didn’t see the ice too much. Not exactly the recipe for success. Jack Drury got as much ice time as Kaliyev and Turcotte combined. Zegras got even fewer minutes. USA has a really talented team, but the lines don’t make sense.

 

[Kshahdoo]

how are things going

You'll see it tomorrow.

 

[snowkiddin]

Not sure if the Americans were crappy or if Canada is just that good. In theory, the Americans have a bunch of future superstars on their team, but they didn’t look like it today. Final score flattered USA

Also, Laf >>>>> Byfield

 

[snowkiddin]

Laf going to look good beside McDavid

If NHL players go to the Olympics, sure.

 

[snowkiddin]

Not sure why people feel the need to **** on Byfield.

That guy is going to be a franchise player for someone

Imo it’s not so much that people are shitting on Byfield as it that people are saying how much better Laf is. Byfield is great but Laf is next level. Laf is the clear number one but people want to try to debate that Byfield is better ... why? Because he’s younger? Because C > W? Laf is just way way better