Vlad The Impaler
Registered User
Some random WJC thoughts. Feel free to comment, challenge or add yours!
1-That team Canada was unbelievable. We witnessed something special when we combined an unbelievable 2003 draft crop with a NHL lockout, thus ensuring we stuffed this team with NHL level talent.
2-I was fairly confident in our chance because for the first time in many years, I actually respected the coaching and selection process. Brent Sutter had an almost NHL-like roster to work with, and he molded this team to play NHL level hockey. Somewhere down the road, this guy will be a NHL coach. If Darryl takes a liking to management, I wouldn't be surprised if he made room for Brent in Calgary.
3-TSN's coverage was ok. I didn't like the overly dramatic Crosby special. Pierre McGuire did a better job than usual checking his bias at the door but just couldn't anymore in the final game. He was very biased in the final game and made it sound like Canada was rolling over the Russians by keeping very quiet when the Russians knocked a few players on their asses. A glowing example is when Shafigulin made Anthony Stewart look like a little schoolgirl and sent him down. Not a word from Pierre. A little later in the game, Stewart overpowers his man and Pierre jumps up and down about how Stewart is dominating physically
4-I'm still not completely sold on Malkin but I like him a lot and see much upside. There is work to do there and people who say he is better than Ovechkin are on drugs.
5-As I said in a thread when the Russians taunted USA, taunting and bad sportsmanship does not need to be punished by another team. When you showboat overly like that, you hurt YOURSELF. The Russians were overconfident for this game and simply put, tried to beat NHL-calibre defensemen with junior moves. Needless to say, it rarely worked.
6-Ovechkin tried to do way too much in the final game. The kid is awesome but he tried to play alone. Maybe that has to do with playing with that hack Pestunov, a player I really don't like at all. I can't understand why some clowns are blaming Ovechkin for leaving the game. He was getting pounded all night and took it like a big boy. Phaneuf slammed him fair and square and the kid stayed up. Very impressive physically as far as I'm concerned.
7-Russian needs to clean their hockey a bit and come up with team efforts. Against inferior teams, their individual plays can be pulled off but against a good team, it doesn't work. This roster could and should have provided more opposition to Canada but you just knew how it was going to end. I also question not playing Malkin and Ovechkin together, with a line of Volochenko-Yunkov-Radulov to supplement the offense. In other words, I still think management and coaching in Russia is horrible and needs work.
8-Nashville fans, stop the embarassing and undeserved Ryan Suter chant and start noticing Shafigulin. He may be one of the players least recognized this year as a standout. He was really on another level. Physically up to the challenge, defensively effective, offensively promising. Lots of great moves, very mature. Somewhere between Frolov and Svitov. Kickass find for the Preds. So is Shea Weber for that matter but that is already well known.
9-People, say it with me. Phaneuf is much better than Suter. He's a special prospect. That being said, it was fun to see Panin rock Dion on his ass. How odd that Pierre didn't have anything to say about that
10-Team Canada was dangerous on so many levels. When players like Bergeron or Crosby didn't provide offense, others became stars and those two became solid two-way players. Many of the forwards were effective taking turns. The defense was unreal. What's even more unreal is Canada could have likely iced another whole D squad better than ANY other country. Scary stuff. This team was on another level.
11-One of the things I have said a couple of times is that I do not like how much weight NHL potential usually plays on Canada selections. I was very happy that they selected the goalies they thought were best and eventually, it paid off. Good move. I hope future years will be even more wide open. I think there are outstanding junior players with little chance to make it in the NHL who would be outstanding for that type of tournament.
12-Mike Richards isn't one of the top 10 prospects in the 2003 draft but when all is said and done, at the end of his career, will be recognized as a top 10 player out of this draft. Philly has to feel great about him and Carter.
13-The 2006 draft looks like it's going to have very interesting top end. And if (highly unprobable) they "mix" together the 2005 and 2006 draft, could rival 2003. Kessel, Frolik... that's nice talent!
14-Why all the Ladd hate? He was quietly effective the whole tournament, and lives up to what I expect of him: an excellent complement player who doesn't leech but instead helps great talents. I think he will be perfect with Staal and hope this combination is tried for a while. He is solid as a rock in the corners and has good vision.
15-Shawn Belle is underrated as a player and a prospect. Was very good last year too and as far as I'm concerned, is progressing very nicely. Very underrated, even by Dallas Star fans. Very high potential, IMO.
16-Volochenko needs a lot of space to work. Looks great when he has room but disappears otherwise. Not sold on him.
17-Was really happy for the Belarus upset! Who doesn't like a good upset? After Canada's gold, this is the event of the tournament for me! Ak-47 played really well and I like his brother.
18-Every year, there's a sad soul to say the Sens "stole" a player. They envision pure ****e like Klepis as the next Martin Havlat. Well, this year it's real. Meszaros is an awesome package of skill with decent physical presence.
19-Teams should think carefully before they draft a goalie in the first round, and even moreso when they draft top 10. Montoya was a huge disappointment. I still like the raw talent but he's got a lot of work ahead of him.
20-Despite being young, Finland was a disappointment for me. Collectively, I thought they often looked lifeless. USA has a whole dropped the ball except for a few players. Fritsche is awesome. Complete player, gives his all and very skilled.
21-USA the second hockey nation in the world right now according to some here? Hmmm... no.
22-Where are all the whiners who complained that team Canada had screwed up by selecting this team? It was a great lineup. Personally, I had no problem with it although I really think Stone should have been there. But it was close enough that I didn't complain about it. This team is really the best I have ever seen at a U20
1-That team Canada was unbelievable. We witnessed something special when we combined an unbelievable 2003 draft crop with a NHL lockout, thus ensuring we stuffed this team with NHL level talent.
2-I was fairly confident in our chance because for the first time in many years, I actually respected the coaching and selection process. Brent Sutter had an almost NHL-like roster to work with, and he molded this team to play NHL level hockey. Somewhere down the road, this guy will be a NHL coach. If Darryl takes a liking to management, I wouldn't be surprised if he made room for Brent in Calgary.
3-TSN's coverage was ok. I didn't like the overly dramatic Crosby special. Pierre McGuire did a better job than usual checking his bias at the door but just couldn't anymore in the final game. He was very biased in the final game and made it sound like Canada was rolling over the Russians by keeping very quiet when the Russians knocked a few players on their asses. A glowing example is when Shafigulin made Anthony Stewart look like a little schoolgirl and sent him down. Not a word from Pierre. A little later in the game, Stewart overpowers his man and Pierre jumps up and down about how Stewart is dominating physically
4-I'm still not completely sold on Malkin but I like him a lot and see much upside. There is work to do there and people who say he is better than Ovechkin are on drugs.
5-As I said in a thread when the Russians taunted USA, taunting and bad sportsmanship does not need to be punished by another team. When you showboat overly like that, you hurt YOURSELF. The Russians were overconfident for this game and simply put, tried to beat NHL-calibre defensemen with junior moves. Needless to say, it rarely worked.
6-Ovechkin tried to do way too much in the final game. The kid is awesome but he tried to play alone. Maybe that has to do with playing with that hack Pestunov, a player I really don't like at all. I can't understand why some clowns are blaming Ovechkin for leaving the game. He was getting pounded all night and took it like a big boy. Phaneuf slammed him fair and square and the kid stayed up. Very impressive physically as far as I'm concerned.
7-Russian needs to clean their hockey a bit and come up with team efforts. Against inferior teams, their individual plays can be pulled off but against a good team, it doesn't work. This roster could and should have provided more opposition to Canada but you just knew how it was going to end. I also question not playing Malkin and Ovechkin together, with a line of Volochenko-Yunkov-Radulov to supplement the offense. In other words, I still think management and coaching in Russia is horrible and needs work.
8-Nashville fans, stop the embarassing and undeserved Ryan Suter chant and start noticing Shafigulin. He may be one of the players least recognized this year as a standout. He was really on another level. Physically up to the challenge, defensively effective, offensively promising. Lots of great moves, very mature. Somewhere between Frolov and Svitov. Kickass find for the Preds. So is Shea Weber for that matter but that is already well known.
9-People, say it with me. Phaneuf is much better than Suter. He's a special prospect. That being said, it was fun to see Panin rock Dion on his ass. How odd that Pierre didn't have anything to say about that
10-Team Canada was dangerous on so many levels. When players like Bergeron or Crosby didn't provide offense, others became stars and those two became solid two-way players. Many of the forwards were effective taking turns. The defense was unreal. What's even more unreal is Canada could have likely iced another whole D squad better than ANY other country. Scary stuff. This team was on another level.
11-One of the things I have said a couple of times is that I do not like how much weight NHL potential usually plays on Canada selections. I was very happy that they selected the goalies they thought were best and eventually, it paid off. Good move. I hope future years will be even more wide open. I think there are outstanding junior players with little chance to make it in the NHL who would be outstanding for that type of tournament.
12-Mike Richards isn't one of the top 10 prospects in the 2003 draft but when all is said and done, at the end of his career, will be recognized as a top 10 player out of this draft. Philly has to feel great about him and Carter.
13-The 2006 draft looks like it's going to have very interesting top end. And if (highly unprobable) they "mix" together the 2005 and 2006 draft, could rival 2003. Kessel, Frolik... that's nice talent!
14-Why all the Ladd hate? He was quietly effective the whole tournament, and lives up to what I expect of him: an excellent complement player who doesn't leech but instead helps great talents. I think he will be perfect with Staal and hope this combination is tried for a while. He is solid as a rock in the corners and has good vision.
15-Shawn Belle is underrated as a player and a prospect. Was very good last year too and as far as I'm concerned, is progressing very nicely. Very underrated, even by Dallas Star fans. Very high potential, IMO.
16-Volochenko needs a lot of space to work. Looks great when he has room but disappears otherwise. Not sold on him.
17-Was really happy for the Belarus upset! Who doesn't like a good upset? After Canada's gold, this is the event of the tournament for me! Ak-47 played really well and I like his brother.
18-Every year, there's a sad soul to say the Sens "stole" a player. They envision pure ****e like Klepis as the next Martin Havlat. Well, this year it's real. Meszaros is an awesome package of skill with decent physical presence.
19-Teams should think carefully before they draft a goalie in the first round, and even moreso when they draft top 10. Montoya was a huge disappointment. I still like the raw talent but he's got a lot of work ahead of him.
20-Despite being young, Finland was a disappointment for me. Collectively, I thought they often looked lifeless. USA has a whole dropped the ball except for a few players. Fritsche is awesome. Complete player, gives his all and very skilled.
21-USA the second hockey nation in the world right now according to some here? Hmmm... no.
22-Where are all the whiners who complained that team Canada had screwed up by selecting this team? It was a great lineup. Personally, I had no problem with it although I really think Stone should have been there. But it was close enough that I didn't complain about it. This team is really the best I have ever seen at a U20
