GDT: Sochi Part 2: Dis Gon Be Gud

[tomdundo]

I went back through and edited the post on the previous page to show a general representation of the "effectiveness" of defensemen.

There may be errors, but I just went through quickly.

 

[What the Faulk]

Parise was on the ice for 2 goals for. I forgot he was on the team for half the time.

http://www.extraskater.com/olympics/players?country=united-states&gender=men

EDIT: Team USA quotes are...yikes.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/sto...i-olympics-usa-vs-finland-hockey-bronze-medal

 

[nobuddy]

Looking back on the original Olympic thread and reactions when the rosters were announced.

Originally Posted by Me
Where will Kunitz be used when he inevitably doesn't score like he's expected to? The penalty kill? Over Toews, Bergeron, Benn, Perry, and Sharp? Doubtful. You can never have enough goals in these international tournaments. This is the mistake Hockey Canada repeatedly makes. They take grinders and "two way players" over skill guys way way way too often. It's the second biggest reason behind goaltending they haven't won gold at the World Juniors in five years (and the biggest this particular year). It's the reason they nearly lose to teams like Switzerland and a similarly undermanned USA team at the Vancouver Olympics when they should be squashing their way to gold with the talent they have.

Kunitz in 5GP has 0G, 0A, 4PIM. Canada has nearly lost to inferior teams like Norway, Latvia, Finland, and the USA.

Again I am right in my analysis.

 

[Brock Anton]

Canada is in the Gold Medal game, no? While you may be 'right' (like everyone else who thought Kunitz was a horrible selection) selecting Kunitz hasn't cost them anything.

 

[nobuddy]

Canada is in the Gold Medal game, no? While you may be 'right' (like everyone else who thought Kunitz was a horrible selection) selecting Kunitz hasn't cost them anything.

What I said was

A. Kunitz will inevitably not score
B. Canada's selection process will cause them to nearly lose games to teams they should beat with ease.

I said they should win the gold medal with ease every time, but they nearly lose to teams like Switzerland and USA in 2010, and now Norway, Latvia, Finland, USA this year. The fact that they are in the gold medal game does not make me wrong. Their path to get to the gold medal game proves me right.

 

[nobuddy]

Also not "everyone" thought Kunitz was a horrible selection. In fact, it was only me and What the Faulk arguing that in the thread. There were more arguing in favor of his inclusion because he and Crosby are a known lethal duo, apparently.

 

[What the Faulk]

To add, Kunitz has not be on the ice for any goals for or against, has averaged under 14:00 of ice time, and the lowest shots/60 of anyone on the team other than Toews. Basically, he was brought in to have chemistry with Crosby and has done literally nothing. Because Canada is winning does not mean he was a good selection. You can win games while having a less than optimal roster. See USA's first four and Orpik, Brooks.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

If you want to see America win a game, Mighty Ducks 2 is on ABC Family

 

[Wolfpuck]

I'm bummed.

Good thing the Carolina Hurricanes will be playing again soon. That should cheer me right up.

Oh well. I'm happy for Ruutu and Selanne.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Finland was able to do quite well in this tournament without the skill level of the US team (and arguably without a couple of their top players as well, Koivu for instance). They played an excellent team/defensive game, Rask played outstanding and the couple of scorers they do have came through when it mattered. They played a conservative, defensive game and waited for the other team to make a mistake and then capitalized on it and finished the chances they had.

People are focused on who wasn't on the team when really, the issue is that the key "skill" guys like Kane, Kessel, Oshie, JVR, Parise, Pacioretti, Pavelski, Fowler, JVR, Shattenkirk, Suter, Backes, and McDonagh all came up empty when it mattered. Kane sinks even one of those penalty shots and it's a different game.

Would a guy like Ryan have helped? Maybe, but when those top guys I listed aren't coming through in the clutch, it's hard for me to say that the guys who weren't here are the reason the US lost.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

No idea where the "stats" are, how did Semin fair in this olympics in terms of On ice for GF/GA and overall points, etc..?

 

[DaveG]

Ideally I would have wanted to see a team built much more like this:

JVR - Pavelski - Kessel
Ryan - Backes - Kane
Saad - Stastny - Okposo
Parise - Kesler - Oshie
Pominville, Legwand

Suter - Shattenkirk
McDonagh - Yandle
Martin - Faulk
Fowler - Byfuglien (PP specialists)

Quick
Miller
Bishop

not like the goaltending would have made a difference in outcome though with the team abjectly failing to put the puck in the net.

And yes, leaving Wheeler off despite where he is in scoring right now. He was always a suspect addition to me.

No idea where the "stats" are, how did Semin fair in this olympics in terms of On ice for GF/GA and overall points, etc..?

Not sure for total GF/GA numbers but here we go:

Semin: 1A, +2
Ruutu: 1G, 4A, +6
Sekera: 2A, -1
Faulk: LOL, FU Bylsma

 

[What the Faulk]

Semin
2GF/0GA (Total and even strength)
7.7 shots/60
15:35 per game
0 goals, 1 assist

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Thanks for the stats info on Semin.

Interesting, who would have predicted that Ruutu would have the best Olympics of all the Canes players.

 

[What the Faulk]

For reference, here's Ruutu's

Ruutu
8GF/3GA (1GA on PK)
4.4 shots/60
15:47 TOI per game
1 goals, 4 assists

To me, Sekera was the biggest letdown. I thought he would make great shutdown pairing with Chara.

Sekera
4GF/7GA (1GF on PP, 3GA on PK)
4.4 shots/60
24:05 TOI per game
0 goals, 2 assists


Faulk and Sekera have played 867 ES minutes together, 150 apart for Faulk, 86 apart for Sekera. Sekera has seen his stats climb the most, but they've both been better when paired together, and those aren't enough minutes apart to draw a meaningful conclusion.

 

[Brock Anton]

To be fair to Sekera, Slovakia as a whole was a huge disappointment.

 

[TheOllieC]

Yeah hard to expect a lot from Sekera with the way that whole team played.

It was even funnier to see salty Buffablow fans on Twitter making witty jokes about his "bad" play which wasn't even bad.

 

[rocky7]

Semin and Sekera played just fine considering the circumstances surrounding their respective teams.
happy for Ruutu and Jussi. what a nice story Selanne's career is.

 

[bleedgreen]

I still think Kunitz is a good choice for Canada, he has at times been one of their better players. More to the game than points, he has fit well.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

I still think Kunitz is a good choice for Canada, he has at times been one of their better players. More to the game than points, he has fit well.

Correct. He, Crosby, and Bergeron were especially dangerous in the US game. He did have a noticeably bad game, I believe against Norway (resulting in the demotion to the "4th" line). But really he's been just fine. Plenty of guys haven't scored yet. Putting the focus on him is pretty disingenuous IMO.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

And by the way...I love the reactions now that Canada is in the gold medal game. "Of course they are, they are the best team/have the best players."
Imagine if one of myself or Cardiac Canes made that comment pre-tournament. We would have been called the typical arrogant Canadian hockey fan that thinks we are and always will be the best. Jesus. The revisionist history is absolutely mind-boggling.

 

[nobuddy]

And by the way...I love the reactions now that Canada is in the gold medal game. "Of course they are, they are the best team/have the best players."
Imagine if one of myself or Cardiac Canes made that comment pre-tournament. We would have been called the typical arrogant Canadian hockey fan that thinks we are and always will be the best. Jesus. The revisionist history is absolutely mind-boggling.

Lol nice try

Originally Posted by Me
they should be squashing their way to gold with the talent they have.

No one's ever questioned that Canada has the most talent.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Well I just hope there's not going to be any sort of nuclear meltdown in the states due to your disappointing showing.

Anyway, Backstrom out with a migraine for the finals. Couple chances on each side so far. Pretty fast pace.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

I love how on the main olympics board a lot of Americans are complaining that it's not fair to make them play for bronze a day after losing an intense game to their rivals. Funny because Finland was in the exact same position but they actually bothered to show up. Just laughable, really.

1-0 Canada on a Toews goal.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

I love how on the main olympics board a lot of Americans are complaining that it's not fair to make them play for bronze a day after losing an intense game to their rivals. Funny because Finland was in the exact same position but they actually bothered to show up. Just laughable, really.
1-0 Canada on a Toews goal.

Well there's your first problem, visiting the main board. A collection of children and emotionally stunted adults!

I get the US not "showing up." As much as you think they're professionals, they're playing for country, etc. - they lost to their bitter rival after dominating for the first four games. The Finns adore international play and probably appreciated the game as an "opportunity for bronze" rather than lamenting their loss to Sweden. From what I saw the Americans played well early, but at the first sign of adversity kind of crumbled. Which usually signifies a kind of emotional letdown.