GDT: Group A • Dec. 26 • Canada vs. Slovakia • Part II

[CanuckistanFlyerfan]

He had an average game. Not good.

ONE player out of the 8 teams that played yesterday had more shots on net than McDavid. Just sayin...

 

[GroundskeeperWillie*]

How did Gautheir make this team?

Virtanen looked sick last night. That's the Virtanen we need. Not the one running guys with 5 seconds left in a game.

 

[ps241]

It is an opinion board. You can bet that the team and the coaching staff do not think it meant nothing. I do agree with you if your point was that some of the negative conclusions about the roster or more specifically Connor McDavid's performance are off base.

You made a fair comment on the previous thread in regards to me taking a shot at the fan base for their teeth gnashing and being pretty negative after this win. although I agree with you that coach's will continue to line juggle a bit as the tourney goes on I was more disappointed in the negative overreaction by too large a portion of our fan base to a small sample size. Anyways I realize most fans have an agenda around their prospects (not saying you do) so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. Its the same thing every year.

 

[Rodzilla]

I agree. Lazar better start worrying more about his own game instead of worrying about how McDavid is or isn't coping with the pressure. wipe the silly goofy grin off his face and find his game face. It's getting annoying.

I agree with these posts, but the grin is Lazar's game face pal, will never have it off. Lazar has been really disappointing since the pre-tournament and this game, I expected him to light it up with McDavid. He has to get back to basics and play his game, last year he was one of the top forwards because he was playing around te net working hard and crashing and banging. This year it looks like he's trying to play skilled like McDavid but he doesn't have his skill. Also on the PP last year he was around the net on rebounds this year he's in the high slot I don't get that set up. Anyway I expect people to like him as the tournament goes on he has always been a big game player and it's only been a 8-0 win in the tourny, still lots of hockey left. I would remove Ritchie from that line and put Virtanen up there, Ritchie is slow almost as slow as Gauthier and he has absolutely no creativity, enters the ozone the pucks dies along the boards everytime or he chips it deep. Couple of times last night he had a 3rd man coming in as the trailer and didn't even look. Don't know why they sat Paul after his goal, some posters mentionned it and it will come as a homer from me but I thought he played really good and made a lot of the dirty work for more skilled players like Fabri and Petan to play. On his goal he broke down the zone exit and Fabri Petan took care of the rest, in the game he went into corners to take the puck for them too, good line IMO.

Gauthier is not a good hockey player, really not, doesn't do anything good.


One player I didn't like before yesterday was Bowey, last night though wow he was good, will be interesting to see if he can keep it up or will get back to being in the box versus good teams.


Overall I really like the team, Reinhart Duclair Domi have been sick. Domi the most impressive for me. We have a pretty good team and if the McDavid line can get going boy watch out, btw it's a hockey forum, based on critics and discussions, even if CAN won 8-0 we can discuss what we liked and what we didn't, the HF police is annoying. We're looking good !!!

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Mcdavid hype is ridiclous. Canada plays good and wins 8-0 and yet people wants to break up succesful lines just to satiesfy mcdavid. He didnt look like a crosby talent to me.

Sounds like the talk when Crosby was looking human at the Olympic games.

Which is great, because it means McDavid will score when it counts!

 

[Stats01]

Basing judgments on McDavid on one game (his first big game in 6 weeks) and saying he isn't a generational talent is hilariously misguided. Go on youtube and see for yourself, this kid is the real deal and he's the next superstar in the NHL.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I agree with these posts, but the grin is Lazar's game face pal, will never have it off. Lazar has been really disappointing since the pre-tournament and this game, I expected him to light it up with McDavid. He has to get back to basics and play his game, last year he was one of the top forwards because he was playing around te net working hard and crashing and banging. This year it looks like he's trying to play skilled like McDavid but he doesn't have his skill. Also on the PP last year he was around the net on rebounds this year he's in the high slot I don't get that set up. Anyway I expect people to like him as the tournament goes on he has always been a big game player and it's only been a 8-0 win in the tourny, still lots of hockey left. I would remove Ritchie from that line and put Virtanen up there, Ritchie is slow almost as slow as Gauthier and he has absolutely no creativity, enters the ozone the pucks dies along the boards everytime or he chips it deep. Couple of times last night he had a 3rd man coming in as the trailer and didn't even look. Don't know why they sat Paul after his goal, some posters mentionned it and it will come as a homer from me but I thought he played really good and made a lot of the dirty work for more skilled players like Fabri and Petan to play. On his goal he broke down the zone exit and Fabri Petan took care of the rest, in the game he went into corners to take the puck for them too, good line IMO.

Gauthier is not a good hockey player, really not, doesn't do anything good.


One player I didn't like before yesterday was Bowey, last night though wow he was good, will be interesting to see if he can keep it up or will get back to being in the box versus good teams.


Overall I really like the team, Reinhart Duclair Domi have been sick. Domi the most impressive for me. We have a pretty good team and if the McDavid line can get going boy watch out, btw it's a hockey forum, based on critics and discussions, even if CAN won 8-0 we can discuss what we liked and what we didn't, the HF police is annoying. We're looking good !!!

Then he should go make silly grins at the opposition...and let McDavid worry about McDavid. He's a 19 year old returnee and wearing the C... his role should not be to hold McDavid's hand. It is annoying every time I see it, but I'm not overly concerned. There are things which concern me more (Gauthier being the biggest concern) but all your other points, agree 100%

 

[Icelevel]

Agree that......
Lazar has not looked good and should maybe be dropped down in the lineup where he'd probably be more effective. I will give him this though, he is smart enough to realize that there are more important games coming up. Not sure if he's trying to pace himself.
Ritchie should be dropped down as well.
Virtanen should play with mcdavid.
Crouse looked good
Bowey looks awesome.
Paul def better at wing.
Gauthier could be useful later on in limited mins.
We have a shot.

 

[MsMeow]

To continue the McDavid discussion:

Sometimes players just don't get pucks in the right spot in a given game. He made some great plays early in the first, didn't really see the puck at all in the second and made some more great plays in the third. He probably individually created more chances than anyone else. Nearly every time he got the puck with space, a chance was created. Criticism of him in a game like this reminds me so much of criticisms that Crosby would get in the Olympics.

As for his play, one thing that's really impressed me is his puck-stealing ability. He's so good at keeping his feet moving while hunting a puck carrier and then lifting his stick at just the right moment.

I saw someone on a friend's FB page say he was invisible and I wasn't sure we were watching the same game. I thought he was terrific early on, he was all over the place creating chances, they just didn't result in goals.

 

[xxxx]

He had an average game. Not good.

Not true. He was still impressive but the other 2 lines (Reinhart, Petan) were better in that game. Expect his line to be much better as the tournament goes on. It's just one game and he could've easily had one goal and an assist with a bit of a luck and everyone would say "yeah, 1+1, good game". I'm pretty sure that he will start to dominate soon.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

To continue the McDavid discussion:

Sometimes players just don't get pucks in the right spot in a given game. He made some great plays early in the first, didn't really see the puck at all in the second and made some more great plays in the third. He probably individually created more chances than anyone else. Nearly every time he got the puck with space, a chance was created. Criticism of him in a game like this reminds me so much of criticisms that Crosby would get in the Olympics.

As for his play, one thing that's really impressed me is his puck-stealing ability. He's so good at keeping his feet moving while hunting a puck carrier and then lifting his stick at just the right moment.

Probably the most astute critique of his game that I have read. Well done.

 

[CpatainCanuck]

I saw someone on a friend's FB page say he was invisible and I wasn't sure we were watching the same game. I thought he was terrific early on, he was all over the place creating chances, they just didn't result in goals.

I thought McDavid was good too. I think he had or created about a half dozen good scoring chances. A little puck luck and he could have had 3-4 points easy.