BlackDogg
There is nothing to do in Mockingbird Heights
- Oct 3, 2015
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People comparing Peters to McLellan, who actually won the Worlds, is a bit harsh on Todd right now I think.
That’s just kind of funny because that’s not an easy choice at all haha.Todd won the the world championship in 2015 with an absolute juggernaut team Crosby, Seguin, Burns etc. Bill Peters won in 2016 with McDavid, Talbot, Hall, Scheifle etc.
Watching Aho gives me mixed feelings. Not only did we trade away our opportunity to draft one of Boeser, Barzal, Chabot. Then we went ahead and traded away our second too, giving up our chance to draft Aho lol. Still stings.
I think if our staff could judge talent just a little better we’d have scouted the pure sniper lighting up the USHL. Was Aho that big of a surprise? A small, underweight kid putting up solid numbers (13p in 30games) in a men’s league doesn’t seem like that much of a surprise to me at #35. That’s just me though.I don't think you can really look at it that way. The Barzal/Connor/Chabot picks would've been no brainers but Aho at #35 was a pretty huge surprise to most people. I had him rated much lower than that as did many of the scouting services. Don't think McKenzie even had him on his list. HockeyProspect had him #127, FC had him #110 and ISS #61. So he was far from a consensus early 2nd round pick. With that being it would've been way more likely that we'd have picked someone like Brandon Carlo or Paul Bittner.
I think if our staff could judge talent just a little better we’d have scouted the pure sniper lighting up UND. Was Aho that big of a surprise? A small, underweight kid putting up solid numbers (13p in 30games) in a men’s league doesn’t seem like that much of a surprise to me at #35. That’s just me though.
Our roster is pretty weak. I think the USA is suffering from what usually happens to us at every level... underestimating opponents from torching “weak” countries, then start playing like they’re skating in mud, taking penalties when facing adversity. USA can still come back lol thoughThis Jekyll & Hyde Finnish team up 3 - 0 vs USA ....
Lose vs Denmark
Win 5-1 vs Canada
Lose vs Germany
Up 3-0 vs USA
Motivation issues?
Maybe it is better if they lose today so that they get to face one of Russia or Sweden, because with their record I'd worry about playing Switzerland...
I think Finland is pretty strong, on paper it may not look as strong as the most stacked teams, but they have a good system. That helps a lot and add to that a few top end players like Aho and Rantanen and you really have everything you need to go far. If they manage to play their game of course.Our roster is pretty weak. I think the USA is suffering from what usually happens to us at every level... underestimating opponents from torching “weak” countries, then start playing like they’re skating in mud, taking penalties when facing adversity. USA can still come back lol though
Oh I meant no disrespect to Finland, they’ve got a great team. I’m not sure who they’re missing apart from Koivu, Barkov, Saros/Rinne and the butcher Laine. I was just pointing out the similarities between Canada and the USAI think Finland is pretty strong, on paper it may not look as strong as the most stacked teams, but they have a good system. That helps a lot and add to that a few top end players like Aho and Rantanen and you really have everything you need to go far. If they manage to play their game of course.
Oh I meant no disrespect to Finland, they’ve got a great team. I’m not sure who they’re missing apart from Koivu, Barkov, Saros/Rinne and the butcher Laine. I was just pointing out the similarities between Canada and the USA
I was making them seem weaker... for future reasonsThere's still quite a few NHL players outside the Finnish team. Barkov, Laine, Haula, Koivu, Ristolainen, Filppula, Donskoi, Vatanen, Armia, Määttä, Lindell, Lehkonen, Puljujärvi, Ristolainen, Saros, Rask, Rinne, Raanta...
Still this team is a pretty good combination of NHL players and players who play in the KHL/European leagues, with solid goaltending as always.
FIN - USA 6 - 2
SUI - FRA 5 - 1
McDavid & Co vs Drai starts in about 1 hour. I will miss the first period but I'll watch the rest, and hoping for some 'friendly' scrumming between Drai and the Oilers on team Canada.
Quarter Finals
Finland vs Switzerland
USA vs Czech Rep
Canada vs loser in Russia/Sweden game
(unless Canada loses against Germany, but I don't think that will happen)
winner in Denmark/Latvia game vs winner in Russia/Sweden game
I think if our staff could judge talent just a little better we’d have scouted the pure sniper lighting up the USHL. Was Aho that big of a surprise? A small, underweight kid putting up solid numbers (13p in 30games) in a men’s league doesn’t seem like that much of a surprise to me at #35. That’s just me though.
Edit: USHL
No worries, I took the day off and was planning a full immersion in hockey today.... But when the wife saw that I was home she made other plans for me .Thanks for the regular updates! Appreciate it as someone who can't watch at work almost at all.
How has Nurse looked? I heard he wasn't too good against the US, was that a one off?