Pat Quinn can't handle team Canada

[Narnia]

Iginla has done ... . Regher does the best impression of a pylon on Team Canada. How many gaffes did he have against Finland? Pronger has taken stupid penalties and gets out worked. The Foote-Redden pair routinely misses coverages and Redden constantly coughs up the puck. Poor Jbo gets turned inside out more than my shirt and the only players that fear Blakes shot are on Team Canada (and the boards).

As for McCabe he was th only guy who didn't make a gaffer against the Finns. Covered up for a boneheaded play by Redden and Pronger. He only tried the Hail Mary a couple of time and that was with just a little time left.

Oh yes and it is Hitchcock running the defence and changing the d-man.

Why does Hitchcock have Pronger and Blake on the ice half the game when it's clearly obvious that both players are injured, Pronger moreso than Blake. If Pronger was completely healthy, I don't think Koivu would have gotten past him.

 

[Big Mama*]

Why does Hitchcock have Pronger and Blake on the ice half the game when it's clearly obvious that both players are injured, Pronger moreso than Blake. If Pronger was completely healthy, I don't think Koivu would have gotten past him.

It's a mystery to me. Why would he not double shift the best offensive defenceman in the NHL in the 3rd period when your team is being shutout?

 

[NFITO]

It's a mystery to me. Why would he not double shift the best offensive defenceman in the NHL in the 3rd period when your team is being shutout?

maybe because of the greater fear of coming back from a 3-goal deficient instead of a 2-goal one, especially when the "best offensive defenceman in the NHL" hasn't been nearly as good offensively when he's not in the NHL?

 

[Narnia]

maybe because of the greater fear of coming back from a 3-goal deficient instead of a 2-goal one, especially when the "best offensive defenceman in the NHL" hasn't been nearly as good offensively when he's not in the NHL?

But still there isn't a need to play Blake and Pronger half the game. Pronger and Blake are playing injured and are playing half the game at the Olympics on the bigger ice surface. Playing half the game will make Pronger and Blake tired on top of playing injured. All the defensemen on Team Canada play over 20 minutes with their team.

 

[shakes]

maybe because of the greater fear of coming back from a 3-goal deficient instead of a 2-goal one, especially when the "best offensive defenceman in the NHL" hasn't been nearly as good offensively when he's not in the NHL?

1, 3, 5, 7 goals, whats the difference?.. it was the third period and they hadn't scored in 5 periods. Losing 3-0 or 2-0 is still losing. I guess they just wanted to have Chris Pronger get more cross checking practice.

 

[Jaysfanatic*]

I guess they just wanted to have Chris Pronger get more cross checking practice.

I wonder how many he has in this tourney alone.

 

[NFITO]

1, 3, 5, 7 goals, whats the difference?.. it was the third period and they hadn't scored in 5 periods. Losing 3-0 or 2-0 is still losing. I guess they just wanted to have Chris Pronger get more cross checking practice.

or maybe they were trying to get their key defenders going?

McCabe hasn't been good at all so far... and he's not bringing any offense in this tournament anyways... so why play him because he's putting up points in the NHL?? Regehr hasn't been good either... I'd say that the only dman on Canada that has played well overall is JBo - although he's not getting a huge role, and isn't matching up against the top forwards, so it's hard to compare.

I'm guessing that the strategy behind playing Pronger and Blake so much is that they are Canada's top dmen, and maybe giving them more icetime is in hopes of getting them out of their slumps?

It's not like this strategy isn't used in the NHL - where teams will play their best players more, even when they are struggling, to get them out of their slumps.

 

[shakes]

I wonder how many he has in this tourney alone.

Its not even that really.. twice I believe he has taken a cross checking penalty to put the Canadians two men down. twice!!

 

[Narnia]

or maybe they were trying to get their key defenders going?

McCabe hasn't been good at all so far... and he's not bringing any offense in this tournament anyways... so why play him because he's putting up points in the NHL?? Regehr hasn't been good either... I'd say that the only dman on Canada that has played well overall is JBo - although he's not getting a huge role, and isn't matching up against the top forwards, so it's hard to compare.

I'm guessing that the strategy behind playing Pronger and Blake so much is that they are Canada's top dmen, and maybe giving them more icetime is in hopes of getting them out of their slumps?

It's not like this strategy isn't used in the NHL - where teams will play their best players more, even when they are struggling, to get them out of their slumps.

Oveplaying Pronger and Blake to get them out of slumps isn't going to help. By playing both players for half the game is only going to make them tired and take useless penalties. Under no circumstances should Pronger and Blake be playng half the game on a larger ice surface playing 4 games in 5 nights. On top of that, you can tell that the two of them are playing hurt. If Pronger wasn't hurt, do you really think Koivu would have been able to beat him?

 

[Big Mama*]

maybe because of the greater fear of coming back from a 3-goal deficient instead of a 2-goal one, especially when the "best offensive defenceman in the NHL" hasn't been nearly as good offensively when he's not in the NHL?

In the last two losses he hasn't been the guy coughing up the puck or missing his check. Even the best offensive defencman in the NHL can't score from the bench. But he should be out on the ice if your losing in the 3rd. Especially with so many games to play.

 

[NFITO]

Oveplaying Pronger and Blake to get them out of slumps isn't going to help. By playing both players for half the game is only going to make them tired and take useless penalties. Under no circumstances should Pronger and Blake be playng half the game on a larger ice surface playing 4 games in 5 nights. On top of that, you can tell that the two of them are playing hurt. If Pronger wasn't hurt, do you really think Koivu would have been able to beat him?

are you saying that Pronger doesn't ever get beat when he's healthy?

we're also not talking about Jarkko Ruutu here beating him, but a very skilled player overall... I know you've said this a few times, but you must think that Pronger never gets beat by anyone if he's healthy?

As far as how much those guys played, it was a coaching decision here (and in this case, you can point fingers at Hitchcock here since he does most of the work with the defense)... my guess is that they wanted their two best guys out as much as possible.

In that game, as much as Pronger and Blake may have been hurt, they were still among the top Canadian dmen, and Koivu beating Pronger on one play doesn't change that... McCabe and Regehr were both not that good, and haven't been in the tournament... Foote was okay, but when you're looking for offense, Blake and Pronger are better options... I'm surprised JBo hasn't played more, and IMO should have, but maybe they didn't want to go with a less experienced guy in a critical situation... and Redden wasn't exactly good in that game either, throwing away the puck a few times, and icing it several times.

And I don't by the tired excuse either... these guys are used to playing 30 mins a game, and Team Canada knew they had Monday off as well, giving them time to rest.

 

[HellsBells]

I was disscusing the Finnish game. Against the Finns McCabe was the only d-man who didn't make a gaffe.

Lots of forwards are playing poorly but Iginla was once one of the best.

Hard to make a gaffe when you get almost strictly PP time. He wasn't put in a defensive situation all game.

Iginla was once one of the best? What about the guys who are one of the best right now? Thornton, Heatley, Gagne, Nash, Lecavalier, Richards etc....

 

[NFITO]

In the last two losses he hasn't been the guy coughing up the puck or missing his check. Even the best offensive defencman in the NHL can't score from the bench. But he should be out on the ice if your losing in the 3rd. Especially with so many games to play.

I don't see why... McCabe has not had a good tournament at all... he didn't play well for Canada in the past either... and when he played on the big ice during the lockout, he was ineffective in the few games he played before heading back home.

Down a couple goals, I'd take Blake and Pronger (and even JBo and Redden) over McCabe.

McCabe's offense just isn't there in this tournament... and he's been getting PP time as well (and Canada had like 7 or 8 PP against the Swiss, where McCabe saw time on all PPs and didn't do anything).

 

[HellsBells]

Too much complaining about the D and not enough about the O.

Blake, Regehr, J-Bo & Redden have been decent IMO. Pronger & McCabe have been brutal but Pronger is hurtin' and McCabe is McCabe.

As far as forwards go, they all suck.

 

[Big Mama*]

Hard to make a gaffe when you get almost strictly PP time. He wasn't put in a defensive situation all game.

Iginla was once one of the best? What about the guys who are one of the best right now? Thornton, Heatley, Gagne, Nash, Lecavalier, Richards etc....

Actually he has had very little PP time. The finns only took 3 penalties.Thats' 3 shifts. Try watching the game.

 

[Big Mama*]

I don't see why... McCabe has not had a good tournament at all... he didn't play well for Canada in the past either... and when he played on the big ice during the lockout, he was ineffective in the few games he played before heading back home.

Down a couple goals, I'd take Blake and Pronger (and even JBo and Redden) over McCabe.

McCabe's offense just isn't there in this tournament... and he's been getting PP time as well (and Canada had like 7 or 8 PP against the Swiss, where McCabe saw time on all PPs and didn't do anything).

They were 0-13 on the PP during that game and McCabe-Redden started just one of those PP. McCabe hasn't made a gaffe in two games. But so what. You need to get on the ice to score.

Hitchcock followed your advice and played Blake and Pronger and Team Canada was shutout. So we know your coaching advice didn't work.

As for scoring goals McCabe has as many goals as Blake, JBo and Pronger together, 17, and has played 10 less games. As for clutch scoring McCabe has 6 GWG this year the rest of Team Canada's defence has 6 total, Blake and Pronger 3.

McCabe is the only d-man averaging over a point per game. This on a team that is 27th in 5 on 5 socring. It is silly to suggest he can't score playing with NHL allstars.

 

[BMOK33]

No sh*t Quinn cant handle a team...his Leafs up until Atlanta stole the honor this season were the dirtiest team in the NHL and he couldn't sit down Domi or Tucker and tell them to zip it for a total of 30 seconds in the last 8 years so what makes any difference for a team being coached for 3 weeks.

 

[Scoogs]

I find it funny how everyone looks at the #7 d-man in McCabe for Canada's downfall, and not the guys actually responsible. Makes you look oh-so clever.

 

[NFITO]

They were 0-13 on the PP during that game and McCabe-Redden started just one of those PP. McCabe hasn't made a gaffe in two games. But so what. You need to get on the ice to score.

Hitchcock followed your advice and played Blake and Pronger and Team Canada was shutout. So we know your coaching advice didn't work.

As for scoring goals McCabe has as many goals as Blake, JBo and Pronger together, 17, and has played 10 less games. As for clutch scoring McCabe has 6 GWG this year the rest of Team Canada's defence has 6 total, Blake and Pronger 3.

McCabe is the only d-man averaging over a point per game. This on a team that is 27th in 5 on 5 socring. It is silly to suggest he can't score playing with NHL allstars.

so then you're assuming that if Hitchcock decided to give McCabe more icetime the results would be different?

All those stats don't mean much... this is a different game, on international ice, and McCabe has proven over and over again he hasn't been good in such games... he hasn't played well during the minutes he's gotten... offensively, he's been on every PP, whether it's first unit or 2nd unit, he's always out there on PPs, and has been totally ineffective... he hasn't been able to get his shots through, hasn't been able to setup scoring chances and really has been pretty much useless as a PP QB.

from all the games I've seen *in the Olympics* I see no reason why McCabe should be getting more icetime than he has.

 

[NFITO]

I find it funny how everyone looks at the #7 d-man in McCabe for Canada's downfall, and not the guys actually responsible. Makes you look oh-so clever.

I'm not looking at McCabe as the reason why Canada lost... read the actually thread before you make such comments.

McCabe is what he is - a #7 dman, and PP specialist for this team... he's been ineffective though in his role... so has the rest of Team Canada in their roles...

McCabe's not the reason why they're not playing well... but he won't be the reason that the team all of sudden is much better if he gets more icetime at the expense of the other defenders.

 

[Scoogs]

I'm not looking at McCabe as the reason why Canada lost... read the actually thread before you make such comments.

McCabe is what he is - a #7 dman, and PP specialist for this team... he's been ineffective though in his role... so has the rest of Team Canada in their roles...

McCabe's not the reason why they're not playing well... but he won't be the reason that the team all of sudden is much better if he gets more icetime at the expense of the other defenders.

I'm talking about the fact that he is getting so much attention. McCabe should be the last thing on peoples minds.

In almost every single Canadian thread I've read, McCabe has been put down and what not.

While the guys that are actually making the back-breaking mistakes are being let off too-easily. Not completely, though.

 

[HellsBells]

I find it funny how everyone looks at the #7 d-man in McCabe for Canada's downfall, and not the guys actually responsible. Makes you look oh-so clever.

But the Leafs fans sticking up for him at no end look so clever as well.

 

[Big Mama*]

so then you're assuming that if Hitchcock decided to give McCabe more icetime the results would be different?

All those stats don't mean much... this is a different game, on international ice, and McCabe has proven over and over again he hasn't been good in such games... he hasn't played well during the minutes he's gotten... offensively, he's been on every PP, whether it's first unit or 2nd unit, he's always out there on PPs, and has been totally ineffective... he hasn't been able to get his shots through, hasn't been able to setup scoring chances and really has been pretty much useless as a PP QB.

from all the games I've seen *in the Olympics* I see no reason why McCabe should be getting more icetime than he has.

He has been on the 2nd PP mostly. He has had little PP time compared to Pronger and Blake. But without definitive stats we won't know who is correct.

I understand they have a game plan. All the d-men except McCabe have played together and attended the training camp so they have some chemistry and the coaches want to further that chemistry. But I think Hitch should have had him out more in the third down by 2 goals. No harm in trying when you are down and give Blake and Pronger a rest. These games are not of the utmost importance.Plus no one on the d corp has impressed.

 

[Scoogs]

But the Leafs fans sticking up for him at no end look so clever as well.

Who is sticking up for him? I understand he isn't great defensively...

But he is hardly one to get as much attention as he does.

He's doing what's asked of him as a 7th d-man. If he was on the first pairing, I could understand everyones gripe.

 

[Crossroads*]

McCabe is Canada's number one D-man. Go MCCABE Go!