U18: TEAM CANADA '22

[Back in Black]

Should have pulled Dyck after 4 goals. Not blaming him for the 8 goals, but you want to keep his numbers down and his confidence up!

Who's in nets today?????????

 

[EichelFan15]

All due respect, you guys looked really bad. May be in for a rough tournament, but with the Russians out I feel like it’s a lot easier for everyone this year. There are only four real contenders. Possible the important games go your way and then you’re winning the tournament with a weak team. Can happen, but I see a lot of passengers on this Canadian team and it’s usually a lot of drivers.

On the bright side, I thought the goalie did well. Once the game got out of hand, he let in too many, but those weren’t easy saves and he kept it close when it was a real contest. He could be big for Canada in this tournament.

I thought you deleted your account after all your awful takes about Bedard

 

[wetcoast]

All due respect, you guys looked really bad. May be in for a rough tournament, but with the Russians out I feel like it’s a lot easier for everyone this year. There are only four real contenders. Possible the important games go your way and then you’re winning the tournament with a weak team. Can happen, but I see a lot of passengers on this Canadian team and it’s usually a lot of drivers.

On the bright side, I thought the goalie did well. Once the game got out of hand, he let in too many, but those weren’t easy saves and he kept it close when it was a real contest. He could be big for Canada in this tournament.

I think the largest difference here is there is a team that has played together for a very long time and the best U-18s are available to them due to different league formats from the CHL and the US team that clears time for this tournament.

That being said the US team also ahs more skill but it's also hard to assess how much the playing together influences the results.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I thought you deleted your account after all your awful takes about Bedard

I tell the truth and then you get mad and start whining that I hate your favorite player. If you want to be generational, you have to produce. Excuses don't apply if thats what you are proclaiming a player. I'm glad that Bedard is playing better recently. Maybe you won't have to start making incessant excuses that we hate your favorite player for setting a pretty basic standard.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think the largest difference here is there is a team that has played together for a very long time and the best U-18s are available to them due to different league formats from the CHL and the US team that clears time for this tournament.

That being said the US team also ahs more skill but it's also hard to assess how much the playing together influences the results.

I think it's two things. This is not a tournament Canada takes as seriously as the Hlinka. It makes little sense. It's the official World Championships for the age group. Hlinka is merely the tournament more convenient for CHL teams. I don't know why they couldn't upend the CHL playoffs. The USHL upends their playoffs with a full team missing, and I'm pretty sure there are also players missing playoff games in the top junior leagues in Finland, Russia, and Sweden every year, but I don't think it's changing.

Normally Canada may not send their best, but they at least have the second best roster based on pure talent. I remember some of those Canada teams that weren't even that good with players like Cozens, Smith, Drysdale, Laffy. The reason as you say is the players don't play together as often as the USA and some of the other countries. This year, I don't even know that you guys have the second best team. There are a few big talents like Bedard and Fantilli, but it looks like a team with numerous guys that aren't going to get drafted first time around. You almost never see that from a Canadian team. I think Hockey Canada was put in a very difficult position with constructing a team entirely without one of the three leagues, and then even less options from the O and W than usual. Still possible Canada can win this thing, but it's an uphill battle. For once you guys may play the role of underdog.

 

[Dominance]

I think it's two things. This is not a tournament Canada takes as seriously as the Hlinka. It makes little sense. It's the official World Championships for the age group. Hlinka is merely the tournament more convenient for CHL teams. I don't know why they couldn't upend the CHL playoffs. The USHL upends their playoffs with a full team missing, and I'm pretty sure there are also players missing playoff games in the top junior leagues in Finland, Russia, and Sweden every year, but I don't think it's changing.

Normally Canada may not send their best, but they at least have the second best roster based on pure talent. I remember some of those Canada teams that weren't even that good with players like Cozens, Smith, Drysdale, Laffy. The reason as you say is the players don't play together as often as the USA and some of the other countries. This year, I don't even know that you guys have the second best team. There are a few big talents like Bedard and Fantilli, but I think Hockey Canada was put in a very difficult position with constructing a team entirely without one of the three leagues, and then even less options from the O and W than usual. Still possible Canada can win this thing, but it's an uphill battle. For once you guys may play the role of underdog.

Personally, this is one of my favourite tournaments of the year because I never come in with expectations - outside of last year, for obvious reasons - and just see it as a chance to watch some young guns flash their stuff.

 

[prongertheman9]

I tell the truth and then you get mad and start whining that I hate your favorite player. If you want to be generational, you have to produce. Excuses don't apply if thats what you are proclaiming a player. I'm glad that Bedard is playing better recently. Maybe you won't have to start making incessant excuses that we hate your favorite player for setting a pretty basic standard.

His production still isn’t enough for you? It’s okay to admit you were wrong man

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

His production still isn’t enough for you? It’s okay to admit you were wrong man

Where did I say his production still isn't enough?

I don't think he's generational either way. Just as I didn't think Hughes or Lafreniere or Wright were generational.

The point is that if you are going to be declaring a player generational, they cannot be missing the statistical production. Excuses cannot apply if someone is declared generational. That doesn't mean everyone is going to subjectively agree though that a player has generational talent.

 

[Dominance]

Where did I say his production still isn't enough?

I don't think he's generational either way. Just as I didn't think Hughes or Lafreniere or Wright were generational.

The point is that if you are going to be declaring a player generational, they cannot be missing the statistical production. Excuses cannot apply if someone is declared generational. That doesn't mean everyone is going to subjectively agree though that a player has generational talent.

Bedard inarguably had a more impressive D-1 than McDavid, despite the slow start, so unless you’re basing your stance on not wanting to extend the generational prospect label based on his size - which I could’ve see but IMO isn’t fair based on the direction the NHL has been heading - it’s pretty weak.

 

[Gold Standard]

Bedard inarguably had a more impressive D-1 than McDavid, despite the slow start, so unless you’re basing your stance on not wanting to extend the generational prospect label based on his size - which I could’ve see but IMO isn’t fair based on the direction the NHL has been heading - it’s pretty weak.

He's having himself a generational game today.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Bedard inarguably had a more impressive D-1 than McDavid, despite the slow start, so unless you’re basing your stance on not wanting to extend the generational prospect label based on his size - which I could’ve see but IMO isn’t fair based on the direction the NHL has been heading - it’s pretty weak.

I don't think this needs to be a thread debating this topic. There are plenty of them. I won't derail this thread just because someone mindlessly attacked me after I made a post that had nothing to do with this topic.

However, yes, thats my opinion. Don't think Michkov is either. I regard a player's size, skating, and ability to stick at center as important parts of the equation. All are questions with Bedard IMO.

 

[Boonk]

I tell the truth and then you get mad and start whining that I hate your favorite player. If you want to be generational, you have to produce. Excuses don't apply if thats what you are proclaiming a player. I'm glad that Bedard is playing better recently. Maybe you won't have to start making incessant excuses that we hate your favorite player for setting a pretty basic standard.

51 goals and 100 points for a U17 player isn't producing or generational? lol terrible.

 

[Dominance]

He's having himself a generational game today.

Par for expectations, really. He’s the best player in this tournament - player, today, not just prospect - by a long shot.

 

[Bubbles]

Baumgartner showing exactly why he was fired from the Canucks.

 

[Guttersniped]

Where did I say his production still isn't enough?

I don't think he's generational either way. Just as I didn't think Hughes or Lafreniere or Wright were generational.

The point is that if you are going to be declaring a player generational, they cannot be missing the statistical production. Excuses cannot apply if someone is declared generational. That doesn't mean everyone is going to subjectively agree though that a player has generational talent.

People overall didn’t think any of those other players were generational, but congrats I guess?

 

[wetcoast]

People overall didn’t think any of those other players were generational, but congrats I guess?

to be fair there was some talk about Hughes and Wright trending that way early on and even a bit with Laf but not as high as he is a late birthday.

 

[Back in Black]

Canada has a lot of work to do in their defensive zone!

 

[peconcan]

What times the game today? Is it 9 local time or eastern

 

[Jimmy71]

What times the game today? Is it 9 local time or eastern

Today is an off day

 

[therealdeal]

Another player I think has looked great is Goyette.

 

[BigRangy]

Another player I think has looked great is Goyette.

He’s looked talented but he had a couple of controller disconnects. Still he’s probably been the most effective of the 2022 eligibles. Very good hands.

 

[therealdeal]

He’s looked talented but he had a couple of controller disconnects. Still he’s probably been the most effective of the 2022 eligibles. Very good hands.

Fair assessment. I think the whole team has looked like a bunch of teenagers thrown together, running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Hopefully a day off and some practices and someone to settle them down. I’m thought that Bedard looked frustrated in a couple moments and wasn’t playing smart against Germany and we were up, but that’s expected of a 16 year old. The team needs some competent leadership from the coaching staff and they should be okay.

 

[bert]

Baumgartner showing exactly why he was fired from the Canucks.

Some of these decisions are really strange he makes eh. Why isnt Goyette playing higher up he is clearly a top 3 forward on the team. His skill is blatantly obvious. Get him on the first pp.

 

[ijuka]

I tell the truth and then you get mad and start whining that I hate your favorite player. If you want to be generational, you have to produce. Excuses don't apply if thats what you are proclaiming a player. I'm glad that Bedard is playing better recently. Maybe you won't have to start making incessant excuses that we hate your favorite player for setting a pretty basic standard.

I'm curious about where you'd say he isn't producing? Since this is your so-called "truth". He scored 5 points in 2 games at u-20s, 5 points in 2 games at u-18s thus far. Last year, 14 points in 7 games at u-18s, same as McDavid while being half a year younger. This season, he plays on a godawful team. He has 100 points, over 30 points more than the #2 scorer on the team. His last 40 games, he scored 82 points.

In his first 20 games or so, this was a legitimate concern, but you're about half a year late with this take. Purely in terms of scoring, when we take teammates into account, his production's probably even more impressive than McDavid's, especially considering his goal-scoring.

 

[EichelFan15]

I'm curious about where you'd say he isn't producing? Since this is your so-called "truth". He scored 5 points in 2 games at u-20s, 5 points in 2 games at u-18s thus far. Last year, 14 points in 7 games at u-18s, same as McDavid while being half a year younger. This season, he plays on a godawful team. He has 100 points, over 30 points more than the #2 scorer on the team. His last 40 games, he scored 82 points.

In his first 20 games or so, this was a legitimate concern, but you're about half a year late with this take. Purely in terms of scoring, when we take teammates into account, his production's probably even more impressive than McDavid's, especially considering his goal-scoring.

This ^

It seems as if @Pavel Buchnevich had made his mind up after the slow start and is unwilling to concede that he may have jumped the gun on his assessment now that the production caught up with what those of us who watch him were seeing in terms of domination.

His other points about size, skating, and defensive prowess are perfectly fair but to criticize his production at this point is baffling to say the least.