Olympic Hockey Thread Part III

[McSauer]

People! People! Please. You are forgetting what the Olympics are all about. Giving out medals of beautiful gold, so-so silver and shameful bronze...

 

[Machinehead]

So you're saying we shouldn't play an Olympic medal game because there's an off chance it might hurt our little club in New York?

 

[aufheben]

So, a Bronze against the Finns, + Women's Silver = Gold? Right? RIGHT?!

 

[BwayBshirt]

You know how big brother takes the toy from li'l bro, does a stiff arm to the head, and grins playing with the toy while li'l bro just runs in place no matter how hard he tries to get it back?

That's what this game felt like to me.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

A lot of people on here are really underselling how well Canada's D played.

They essentially rolled Suter-McD for 60 min.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Carlson was fantastic in this game. Everyone just wants to suck off McDonagh because he's a Ranger. The defenders played fine, including Orpik. Everyone just had a preconceived notion that Orpik is a "pylon" and would cost the US. He was fine and people still refuse to admit it.

Carlson played well today. I agree about that, but I was talking about his play during the whole tournament. It was shaky.

Orpik played like **** today. I'm sorry, but the dude lost the puck right in front of the USA goal and gifted the Canadians a chance that Quick stopped. That was one of the worst giveaways that I have seen of the tournament for the USA. He also contributes nothing offensively.

 

[AHB*]

The only player that had no business being in a team USA jersey is Brooks Orpik.

Lol, ok. Dustin Brown? I mean there are certainly guys left off that are likely more deserving. I thought Callahan had a great tournament, but I still don't like the choice of bringing him.

The USA needed more speed and more offense. Their D, outside of McD could not get anything going. Where is the accountability for Brown's countless, awful games. You're going to tell me Ryan can't spell intense, or Okposo can't, when Brown is running around, taking knee shots, stupid penalties and can't generate anything outside of a few useless hits.

Questionable choices left and right. A moot point now. I agree though, Orpik was easily the worst of them. He looked like Wade Redden out there.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

I have to question some of the roster selection. Throughout the tournament, the decision to take guys like Callahan and Brown instead of Okposo and Ryan looked like a good decision, but at the end of the day when it mattered against Canada in the semi's, we were missing offense. Taking Orpik over someone like Yandle was a head scratcher when it happened and it is now that we lost. The US team was bereft of offense in that game. Watching Callahan, Brown and Orpik in that game skate around like talentless idiots in an all-star game was hard to watch as an American.

Careful or your logical thought process will lead to you being accused of just being a biased schill for a few players. When the roster was picked several moves were questioned and those were the moves that were chief among them. They all cost us offense and offense is what caused the loss. It's wrong to dismiss this as unimportant

 

[AHB*]

So you're saying we shouldn't play an Olympic medal game because there's an off chance it might hurt our little club in New York?

Yes. No one cares about Bronze. I wanted Gold. Are you really going to be proud of a Bronze medal?

All of team USA has said, it's gold or bust. Well, it was gold or bust for some of the fans also. That's how i feel. And I don't think it's an issue.

Are you pleased when the Rangers don't win the cup but do decent in the playoffs? I'm not. A losing season is a losing season, the only thing is, we have to wait four years for the next one with this team.

And no, WJC's and World Championships are not the same.

 

[ArPanet]

Canada got what, 7 goals from defenders? US needed more firepower from back end. Erik Johnson could have helped. Also have to start selecting guys based upon how they contribute on offense only. As somebody said here recently, this team needed more tangibles. If NHL goes again, which I doubt and I'm fine with.

Going to be interesting seeing how Okposo produces rest of the season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Lol, ok. Dustin Brown? I mean there are certainly guys left off that are likely more deserving. I thought Callahan had a great tournament, but I still don't like the choice of bringing him.

And what kind of team were they going for here. there was no continuity.

We were pegged as a speed team, so why not choose Keith Yandle. We were pegged as a blue collar team, so why not choose Okposo. We ended up being a mix of that, and not being able to score enough.

The USA needed more speed and more offense. Their D, outside of McD could not get anything going. Where is the accountability for Brown's countless, awful games. You're going to tell me Ryan can't spell intense, or Okposo can't, when Brown is running around, taking knee shots, stupid penalties and can't generate anything outside of a few useless hits.

Questionable choices left and right. A moot point now. I agree though, Orpik was easily the worst of them. He looked like Wade Redden out there.

I agree. We were missing offense in that game. We needed Okposo, Ryan and Yandle and didn't need Callahan, Brown and Orpik.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Callahan's poor play on Canada's goal probably cost the team a chance in OT.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Yes. No one cares about Bronze. I wanted Gold. Are you really going to be proud of a Bronze medal?

All of team USA has said, it's gold or bust. Well, it was gold or bust for some of the fans also. That's how i feel. And I don't think it's an issue.

Are you pleased when the Rangers don't win the cup but do decent in the playoffs? I'm not. A losing season is a losing season, the only thing is, we have to wait four years for the next one with this team.

And no, WJC's and World Championships are not the same.

On a stage like this, knowing which team was actually better and the chances going in I just can't sob about accomplishments that I have no part in. Not that every pissed off person is sobbing I shouldn't imply that. Plenty are though. Too many

 

[Machinehead]

Yes. No one cares about Bronze. I wanted Gold. Are you really going to be proud of a Bronze medal?

All of team USA has said, it's gold or bust. Well, it was gold or bust for some of the fans also. That's how i feel. And I don't think it's an issue.

Are you pleased when the Rangers don't win the cup but do decent in the playoffs? I'm not. A losing season is a losing season, the only thing is, we have to wait four years for the next one with this team.

And no, WJC's and World Championships are not the same.

It's still an Olympic medal, it's going to be alot more significant than anything the Rangers will do this year.

Funny that people in here will thump their chest and shout "gold or bust" but will scoff at a bronze medal game because it hurts the Rangers chances of losing in the 2nd round again instead of the 1st. The irony is delicious.

 

[stan the caddy]

Carlson played well today. I agree about that, but I was talking about his play during the whole tournament. It was shaky.

Orpik played like **** today. I'm sorry, but the dude lost the puck right in front of the USA goal and gifted the Canadians a chance that Quick stopped. That was one of the worst giveaways that I have seen of the tournament for the USA. He also contributes nothing offensively.

Yea, and McDonagh banged one into the US net against the Czechs but he'll never take any criticism around here. Orpik was fine.

 

[Machinehead]

Callahan's poor play on Canada's goal probably cost the team a chance in OT.

Callahan only had to come over because Brown was 20 feet out of position.

 

[AHB*]

Callahan's poor play on Canada's goal probably cost the team a chance in OT.

Cally was great this tournament. Surprisingly so, in my opinion.

Regardless, that play was overblown by the announcers. He abandoned his post, because no one was guarding the player who came out right in the slot. You can't let a point blank shot be taken from there. In my opinion, it was Backes who completely blew the coverage on that play.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yea, and McDonagh banged one into the US net against the Czechs but he'll never take any criticism around here. Orpik was fine.

I can't believe someone is actually trying to compare Orpik and McDonagh. McDonagh must have played 30 minutes against the best players in the world, and he shut them down for the most part. He made one mistake. Orpik played like **** all tournament against all types of competition. Sorry, but he sucks. I don't know how someone could even argue this.

 

[AHB*]

It's still an Olympic medal, it's going to be alot more significant than anything the Rangers will do this year.

Funny that people in here will thump their chest and shout "gold or bust" but will scoff at a bronze medal game because it hurts the Rangers chances of losing in the 2nd round again instead of the 1st. The irony is delicious.

How is that irony haha. Do you like third place? I bet you were happy when we lost in the ECF to the devils also....

The only people who remember third place are fans of the team.

I'm not thumping my chest either. This team was built and meant to win it all. A third place finish is underwhelming. And based on what the players have said, they agree.

It's funny, because I find you rather ironic. You complain about the Rangers more than almost any poster (which is fine) and then you come out and are happy with a third place finish, from a team that should have not only won it all, but also shown a much better effort in the semi-final game.

No criticisms from you though. Everything is hunky Dorey if we get a bronze!

 

[NernieBichols]

I have to question some of the roster selection. Throughout the tournament, the decision to take guys like Callahan and Brown instead of Okposo and Ryan looked like a good decision, but at the end of the day when it mattered against Canada in the semi's, we were missing offense. Taking Orpik over someone like Yandle was a head scratcher when it happened and it is now that we lost. The US team was bereft of offense in that game. Watching Callahan, Brown and Orpik in that game skate around like talentless idiots in an all-star game was hard to watch as an American.

Aside from the defensive miscue on the canadian goal, Callahan played a good game, played an important role the entire olympics. Orpik was fine.

You say taking Orpik over Yandle was the mistake, I say taking Faulk who they wouldn't even play today over Yandle or Andy Greene, was the mistake. You have shattenkirk, carlson, fawlor , and Mac who are young players, maybe the USA should have went with another veteran defensiveman.

I didn't read through much of todays posts in this thread. But has anyone mentioned how much the injury to Paul Martin destabilized the USA game. The D was shaky and Canada spent the majority of the game in the US's zone. Orpik held his own today, he wasn't the problem. Center ice was a problem, Canada controlled the ice, So Center and D cost the US today. Wheeler should have played more, Kane was playing on his own team the entire tournament.

I take from the tournament this. Mac is as good as any US defensive man there is. And Callahan once showed what he does and how important he is.

Doesn't surprise Ranger fans on this board are so lost. I see people comparing Havlat to Callahan. Jokes, jokesters, jesters, putzes. But I love you all regardless, unconditionally.


But, could you imagine Mac having torn his meniscus during this tournament, I had my ACL and meniscus fixed. The meniscus is a ***** to fix, tends to get damaged again and again, and the 6 weeks non-weight baring blows. I love watching Tavares, that's a major blow to the Isles and the NHL.

 

[Vickers8]

Callahan's poor play on Canada's goal probably cost the team a chance in OT.

Orpik lost his check, Cally had a good game and it seemed like he was the only American trying in the 3rd period, not to mention the shot blocks

 

[I Eat Crow]

Price just played the easiest 1-0 shutout of his life. The US didn't even have one scoring chance that had me on the edge of my seat. This looked like one of those November games against Anaheim and LA where the Rangers couldn't generate any offense. Canada's D just suffocated us in their zone and got the puck out quickly. They had the book on how to beat the US. Quick is team MVP for the tournament for me. Kessel scored all his goals on weak teams.

Fortunately, the US will be back. In 2018, they will still have the goalie depth, and the roster as a whole is going to be younger, faster, and more skilled. Too many slow skating passengers on this team (Orpik, I'm looking at you).

For my money, the 2018 Korea team looks something like

Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Kessel
JVR-Kesler-Kane
Kreider-Stepan-Pavelski
Parise-Backes-Brown
Eichel has a shot of making it as an extra, with Oshie, Callahan, and Ryan also fighting for spots

McDonagh-Faulk
Fowler-Shattenkirk
Suter-Jones
Carlson and Yandle the extras

Quick
Howard
Gibson

 

[stan the caddy]

I can't believe someone is actually trying to compare Orpik and McDonagh. McDonagh must have played 30 minutes against the best players in the world, and he shut them down for the most part. He made one mistake. Orpik played like **** all tournament against all types of competition. Sorry, but he sucks. I don't know how someone could even argue this.

I'm not comparing Orpik to McDonagh, I'm poking a hole in your argument.

"Blah blah blah Orpik sucks because he made that one mistake."

 

[Machinehead]

How is that irony haha. Do you like third place? I bet you were happy when we lost in the ECF to the devils also....

The only people who remember third place are fans of the team.

I'm not thumping my chest either. This team was built and meant to win it all. A third place finish is underwhelming. And based on what the players have said, they agree.

It's funny, because I find you rather ironic. You complain about the Rangers more than almost any poster (which is fine) and then you come out and are happy with a third place finish, from a team that should have not only won it all, but also shown a much better effort in the semi-final game.

No criticisms from you though. Everything is hunky Dorey if we get a bronze!

I'm very disappointed in not winning the gold. It doesn't the Bronze meaningless. Yeah it's 3rd best. That kinda sucks right now. It still beats 4th by alot.

It's just funny that people are willing to throw that game away because McDonagh might get hurt playing in a "meaningless game". And for what? For our team that's at best 3rd best in their own conference? Gee I thought things that were 3rd best didn't matter at all...

 

[AHB*]

I'm not comparing Orpik to McDonagh, I'm poking a hole in your argument.

"Blah blah blah Orpik sucks because he made that one mistake."

Orpik was underwhelming all game.

McD was arguably the best American in the Olympics, outside of Quick.