WC: Semifinal Pre-Game Talk

[RandV]

The Canadians getting annoyed by the term "dream team" and pointing out all the guys they'd have on the Olympic roster, have obviously not taken a look at other countries' rosters in this tournament. Canada's roster is so superior on paper it's not even funny. All this whining sounds like a rich dude going "Hey, this Porsche is not that special, I have way better cars in my garage".

Only thing I'd say is Canada's roster in terms of NHL caliber players is typically this good every year, this is just the first time in a long while they're actually playing like it... or at least didn't somehow get bounced in the quarter finals.

 

[Nakawick]

The Canadians getting annoyed by the term "dream team" and pointing out all the guys they'd have on the Olympic roster, have obviously not taken a look at other countries' rosters in this tournament. Canada's roster is so superior on paper it's not even funny. All this whining sounds like a rich dude going "Hey, this Porsche is not that special, I have way better cars in my garage".

Whining? Really? You should not declare a team a "Dream Team" or an Olympic team when you know that is factually incorrect.

This model has a lot of horsepower under the hood but it is only a two wheel drive and the tires are not that good. Surely a Finn can appreciate what makes a good winter vehicle.

 

[Ilyeu]

Yawn...... tell me when 3 pages stops crying about "dream team" and we can get back on topic.

 

[Nakawick]

I wonder how Ovie will feel physically in the semi's after 14 playoff games and a trip across the pond. It could be too late for him to make a big impact.

 

[ForumNamePending]

The context of that user saying "dream team" couldn't be more obvious. It's, according to him, a "dream team" for the World Championships. How much better the Olympic team was is irrelevant. Every country's Olympic team was better.

Ya, that's the way I read it as well. Like I said, outside of the trolliest of trolls I think everyone agrees that Canada's "A" team isn't in Prague. On a player for player bases Canada is probably further away from their "A" team than most but talent level wise, at least among the forwards, they are probably closer than most... Canada is replacing first line NHL talent with first line NHL talent while the likes of say Denmark is replacing decent NHL talent with dudes from the Danish league.

Anyway, back on topic... I have my thumbs and first born child riding on the following...

Canada over the Czech Rep
Russia over USA

Canada over Russia
Czech Rep over USA

 

[tigervixxxen]

"Best roster" doesn't always mean "best team". Yeah Canada could have sent more or "higher quality" stars but that doesn't mean they'd win more games or have a better goal differential. Sometimes a team just works, maybe they have a good mix with what they have.

 

[boris4c]

There is no "Dream Team" in hockey.

 

[illpucks]

Like I said, outside of the trolliest of trolls I think everyone agrees that Canada's "A" team isn't in Prague. On a player for player bases Canada is probably further away from their "A" team than most but talent level wise, at least among the forwards, they are probably closer than most...

Canada might not be submitting their best possible players at every position, but neither are most other teams. The teams that are like Belarus are at a much lower talent level.

The Olympics has each team submit their best possible players at each position. This tournament has never been like that.

However to brush off some chosen players as not 'A' level just shows how much high end talent Canada has.

The players that you are referring to would be on the Olympic Roster as starters for almost every other country.

 

[Mehar]

Canada's defense crushes everyone. And their forwards are the best. Goalies have been good as well. As an overall package D+F+G there is no one even close.

Not sillyness. This is the 2014 TC Olympic Team in WC format.

1994 when Canada won Gold at the WC was more of TC Olympic Team in WC format. This team is nowhere as close. Mike Smith has looked shaky throughout this tournament at times and is not an Olympic level goaltender. The Defense and Forwards on the whole are nowhere near Olympic level as well, missing many key pieces. Let's see how this team Canada performs in these two next games since the competition will be a whole lot tougher now.

 

[illpucks]

1994 when Canada won Gold at the WC was more of TC Olympic Team in WC format. This team is nowhere as close. Mike Smith has looked shaky throughout this tournament at times, and the Defense and Forwards on the whole are nowhere near Olympic level, missing many key pieces. Let's see how this team Canada performs in these two next games since the competition is a whole lot tougher now.

I agree about the missing key pieces part. But one of the arguments on here is that TC 2014 was so good that Smith could have been in net and they would have won. They could have removed several superstars and it wouldn't have changed the outcome.

Also keep in mind that most teams are not submitting their best possible (Olympic) rosters.

So this team is not competing against Olympic Rosters. It is a scaled down team vs other scaled down teams.

And a scaled down TC is still way ahead.

 

[Acallabeth]

LOL, who cares? Give Canada the gold already, and I'm not being sarcastic or jinxing. There's no way any other team in the tournament stops them.

 

[Mehar]

I agree about the missing key pieces part. But one of the arguments on here is that TC 2014 was so good that Smith could have been in net and they would have won. They could have removed several superstars and it wouldn't have changed the outcome.

Also keep in mind that most teams are not submitting their best possible (Olympic) rosters.

So this team is not competing against Olympic Rosters. It is a scaled down team vs other scaled down teams.

And a scaled down TC is still way ahead.

Fair enough. This is Team Canada B team, vs. other nations A or B teams.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

As long as Smith doesn't mess it up, we should be okay for semi-finals.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

LOL, who cares? Give Canada the gold already, and I'm not being sarcastic or jinxing. There's no way any other team in the tournament stops them.

In single game eliminations, anything can happen. If it was a 7 game series, TC wins the tournament quite easily.

 

[Salavat Yulaev]

In single game eliminations, anything can happen. If it was a 7 game series, TC wins the tournament quite easily.

and dies, cause I doubt that anybody could survive two such playoffs (NHL+WC) in a raw

 

[ViD]

Before the beginning of the tourney, I said that the team USA roster is a disgrace to the WC, but look at them, they are already in the semis. If they beat this team Russia, I will have a lot of crow to eat.

 

[ViD]

I wonder how Ovie will feel physically in the semi's after 14 playoff games and a trip across the pond. It could be too late for him to make a big impact.

Ovie has a history of playing pretty mediocre for the national team, so I don't expect much other than a great PP blue line.

 

[ViD]

LOL, who cares? Give Canada the gold already, and I'm not being sarcastic or jinxing. There's no way any other team in the tournament stops them.

well, 2008 Canada had another "dream team", but we were able to beat them, so we will see.

 

[BobDobolina]

Before the beginning of the tourney, I said that the team USA roster is a disgrace to the WC, but look at them, they are already in the semis. If they beat this team Russia, I will have a lot of crow to eat.

Russia hasn't looked very convincing so there's a good chance of that happening.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Feels strange with Sweden and Finland not in the semifinals.....both teams often are in Semifinal.

 

[Jablkon]

Fair enough. This is Team Canada B team, vs. other nations A or B teams.[/QUOTE

Here we go again again and again.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Mehar


What are you talking about? What team in this tournament have a A-team?

Take a look at Sweden for exemple: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=102517561&postcount=381

We have our C-team. Czech, Finland, Russia have B-team. USA have D-team.

 

[Jablkon]

Mehar


What are you talking about? What team in this tournament have a A-team?

Take a look at Sweden for exemple: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=102517561&postcount=381

We have our C-team. Czech, Finland, Russia have B-team. USA have D-team.

Common, this is canadian thing. Be proud and dont continue. They have Tim Hortons, Price, best of best and A,B,C, D, E, F teams. You have Ikea, Globen, Forsberg and Finnland. I dont remember any european complaining about A,B,C teams....Some journalist should face Crosby with this question. We would finnally see how insulting is this evaluation......

 

[Salavat Yulaev]

You have Ikea, Globen, Forsberg and Finnlad.

 

[Pgust]

Common, this is canadian thing. Be proud and dont continue. They have Tim Hortons, Price, best of best and A,B,C, D, E, F teams. You have Ikea, Globen, Forsberg and Finnland. I dont remember any european complaining about A,B,C teams....Some journalist should face Crosby with this question. We would finnally see how insulting is this evaluation......

Since when did Sweden have Finland? Guess I should read the newspaper more often

There is nothing more Swedish than taking your Volvo V70 to IKEA and having a conversation how much our National teams suck and we would be this much better if we had all of our best players available over a fika.