Olympics: Gdt Canada vs Sweden

[Mehar]

Congratulations to Sweden. Canada never got it going in the tournament. The players tried their best, but the roster construction was terrible, and Julien did not do a great job as head coach. It is weird to see both Canada and USA eliminated in the QF, but understandable due to no NHL players. The Semifinals will still be great hockey. Look forward to watching them.

 

[Cloned]

Definitely possible.. lots of examples of recent guys I thought would take off quicker

Kakko
Lafrieniere

Both looked ready to me. Men amongst boys.

I really like both MacT and Power though. Time will tell.. Power is in Buffalo so that won't help at all.

I was always a little wary of Laf because of his skating.

The NHL is such a skating dependent league these days for forwards that if you draft one in the top 5 they better have either dynamic skating or insanely high skill+hockey IQ.

 

[Svedu]

Power has been fine. He’s also playing D on a team with Josh Ho Sang as it’s most dynamic skater, if he’s guilty of anything it’s of trying to do too much to give this lifeless team a jump

You have a point. But i still wanna give some props to Slafkovsky here. He's been better than Power and Berniers in this tournament. They are older and first and second picks overall.

 

[canuck2010]

I gotta say that I think the hype train on Owen Power needs to be toned way down. I don’t think his skating has been that impressive tbh.

He is 19 years old, 6 foot 5, 215 pounds, he 's still a puppy out there, yet he logged an awful lot of ice time, he's a horse

 

[Mainiac]

Double whammy. Not only did we lose but the most boring hockey game I've every seen. We (CAN) had nothing.

 

[johan f]

Congratulations to Sweden. Canada never got it going in the tournament. The players tried their best, but the roster construction was terrible, and Julien did not do a great job as head coach. It is weird to see both Canada and USA eliminated in the QF, but understandable due to no NHL players. The Semifinals will still be great hockey. Look forward to watching them.

Unlike the other countries who have NHL:ers or?

 

[MNRube]

You have a point. But i still wanna give some props to Slafkovsky here. He's been better than Power and Berniers in this tournament. They are older and first and second picks overall.

No doubt. He’s been a revelation. I was impressed by Beniers too though, he looks every bit the Top 6 C he was billed as.

Has to be said that North American and Scandinavian countries are hurt by this format as most of the teams likeSlovakia, Germany had a higher percentage of their national teams present and came into the tournament with more chemistry and familiarity

 

[Svedu]

Based on this tournament though the top end of the last draft might be the WOAT

In all seriousness though, I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by McTavish, Power and Johnson. McTavish had a pinching dman on the last possession to pass to but takes a bad shot instead.

To some point I have to agree on this. They have not been as good as earlier prospects and I think a younger guy in Slafkovsky has outshone them to say the very least.

 

[Summer Rose]

Congratulations, Sweden!

Always nice to see our rivals lose, too.

 

[canuck2010]

I’m more willing to accept mental flaws based on his age and inexperience, but I’m disappointed at his physical tools.

He hasn't caught up to his body yet. He hasn't played one NHL game.

 

[jonlin]

No doubt. He’s been a revelation.

Has to be said that North American and Scandinavian countries are hurt by this format as most of the teams likeSlovakia, Germany had a higher percentage of their national teams present and came into the tournament with more chemistry and familiarity

Yes, the 5 big countries Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden and Finland didnt have a single player, that would be on the team in a best-on-best.

 

[centipede2233]

Double whammy. Not only did we lose but the most boring hockey game I've every seen. We (CAN) had nothing.

Yeah it was a double whammy, like I mean it wasn’t even interesting, when Sweden scored it was over. Zero suspense

 

[Svedu]

Remember how Kakko>Hughes because of the world championships?

What was your point exactly? Have I said that Power will be a bad player? I just wrote that Slafkovsky clearly outshone both Power and Berniers. If you take the young Slovaks size and ability to consideration you have to wonder if he would have been even more hyped if he was from NA? I´m just wondering.

 

[MoeTheHobo]

Yes, the 5 big countries Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden and Finland didnt have a single player, that would be on the team in a best-on-best.

1 or 2 Finnish D's would definitely make the team

 

[NMacrules]

Called it. In the other thread I said they would not get a medal and people freaked out at me thinking it was a gold medal team. It was a bunch of has beens and over aged ex nhl'ers.

 

[Svedu]

In order of Development to NHL level

Wingers
Centres
D
Goalies

Slaf is playing wing here to my knowledge. I absolutely love Slaf but I'd take Power.

You have a point but... That's not always the case. Just look at Heiskanen. I´m sure Jiricek and Niemelä can manage pretty well early on in their careers.

 

[Czechboy]

You ave a point but... That's not always the case. Just look at Heiskanen. I´m sure Jiricek and Niemelä can manage pretty well early on in their careers.

Jiricek looks like no other Czech D in 15 years but I fully expect and hope that they

A; get him out of Extraliga
B: to AHL or Sweden in first year
C: then slowly in NHL

Same sort of thing... big and tall amongst teenagers and plays in a lower pro leaugue on big ice. Need to build slowly and be patient with him.

 

[Tmu84]

Congrats, team Sweden! Does this mean repeat of 2006 Final (with hopefully the opposite result) ?

Kinda what i expected for the result. Who would have thought both North American teams are out by now and we are playing in NHL sized rinks.

 

[jonlin]

1 or 2 Finnish D's would definitely make the team

Heiskanen, Lindell, Hakanpää, Ristolainen are locks. Then Vaakanainen, Jokiharju, Välimäki, Riikola, Mikkola, Heinola, Määttä. Not so sure they fit any of the D:s from this tournament in.

 

[Svedu]

Jiricek looks like no other Czech D in 15 years but I fully expect and hope that they

A; get him out of Extraliga
B: to AHL or Sweden in first year
C: then slowly in NHL

Same sort of thing... big and tall amongst teenagers and plays in a lower pro leaugue on big ice. Need to build slowly and be patient with him.

Well I do believe there will be more than one good D from "CzechoSlovakia" these coming years. Jiricek is not the only one with big potential. There is Svozil, Nemec, Strbak, Knazko, Spacek etc. Good for hockey.

I also believe the organization does it's thing on prospects as well. I always liked Vaakanainen, Jokiharju and Laaksonen but they are struggling a bit even if I see big potential in them.
Thomson is a player I don't believe so much in, but he will get his chances in the Senators organization.
I´m a Philly fan and I really hope they will draft Jiricek or Slafkovsky. That says quite much when there are two promising finns in this draft.

 

[wacko2]

Canadians as always will whine and bring up the lack of NHLers, but reality is, Sweden played a hell of game.

Congrats Sweden.

 

[Svedu]

Heiskanen, Lindell, Hakanpää, Ristolainen are locks. Then Vaakanainen, Jokiharju, Välimäki, Riikola, Mikkola, Heinola, Määttä. Not so sure they fit any of the D:s from this tournament in.

Agreed. I think I would leave Ristolainen outside the roster as well. Perhaps one, defensive minded D could make it from this roster but I wouldn't count on it.

Heiskanen, Lindell and Hakanpää would be locks. Vaakanainen, Välimäki, Jokiharju and Heinola have a lot more potential then people tend to recognize. Mikkola would probably make it. Who knows if Juolevi pans out, the panthers fans have praised him? Niemelä is really upcoming. Then there is both Salo and Laaksonen, underrated as well.

 

[ORRFForever]

suck it Don Cherry

Classy.

 

[NMacrules]

Canadians as always will whine and bring up the lack of NHLers, but reality is, Sweden played a hell of game.

Congrats Sweden.

I'd rather be a Canadian than an arrogant, condescending American. And best on best its not even close. Canada's B team could beat most. McDavid, Mackinnon, Crosby, Tavares say hello. What other team can start with those 4 down the middle? Go away.

 

[jonlin]

I'd rather be a Canadian than an arrogant, condescending American. And best on best its not even close. Canada's B team could beat most. McDavid, Mackinnon, Crosby, Tavares say hello. What other team can start with those 4 down the middle? Go away.

Offensively they are very good. 2-way I say Finland is quite impressive with Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Granlund, Lundell