HF Article
Registered User
- Nov 16, 2005
- 12,507
- 3
This will be a slightly faster, better coached Team Canada, so I fully expect them to be the conversation for gold. That being said, it will be a "veteran", even faster U.S. team they could potentially face. To me, it will come down to Jack Campbell's play for the U.S. and the scoring ability of the Canadian forwards.
What other year(s) were the US team favoured to win. Am I right if I said they usually don't pull through when favoured and have pulled through multiple times as underdogs? Not knocking them...IIRC it does seem that way however.
The US has to be the overwhelming favourites - a ton of returnees, defending champs, and a good balance between speed, skill, and size. I don't see Canada being able to keep up with them.
I've been wrong about Team Canada before, but if they can manage a silver they should be happy.
I wouldn't be surprised if Canada won.
Last year's team was a trainwreck and they still came pretty close to winning gold again.
The US has to be the overwhelming favourites - a ton of returnees, defending champs, and a good balance between speed, skill, and size. I don't see Canada being able to keep up with them.
I've been wrong about Team Canada before, but if they can manage a silver they should be happy.
I think it's crazy to suggest a team that's won five golds and lost the gold medal game in OT the last six years should be happy with silver. The US return a lot of good players, but their leading offensive guy and most of their defense are gone. Canada's team top to bottom is deeper and our defense is much stronger. If Roy or Visentin can play better than Allen did (can't be that hard), Canada's gonna be very tough to beat. Dave Cameron built this team his way, just like he has done in Mississauga and look how that's working out this year.
Yeah, the U.S. has traditionally underachieved in this event. I would say they were in the conversation as favorites most years post 2003, in particular 2005 and 2008.
They won in 04 when I don't think they were expected to...and they won last year when they kind of came under the radar as a young team. And they narrowly lost last year in the Olympics despite being rated 4 or 5. Coming off a 1996 World Cup win in which they were an unlikely favourite behind Russia and Canada, they lost in the quarters in Nagano with the same guard. Hell, back in 1980 they pulled off one of the biggest underdog stories in modern sports history.
The cockyness, bravado and satisfaction I saw from the American team at the conclusion of last years event appeared highly motivating for anyone on the oppositions side, especially a perennial tournament favourite in Canada. It had USA Hockey written all over it. I think those 8 returnees in particular are in for a world of butthurt if they make it far enough. Canada's lucky enough to make decisions on how they build their teams...and they built it to wipe the ice with the rest of the field with speed and physicality this year in response to last.
The best junior eligible player in college hockey right now is Jaden Schwartz...but because we've turned names like Eberle into folk heroes in recent years he's just another no-namer on this "blue-collared" team. Call me crazy but I'll eat crow if this team isn't the best one in the tournament.
Most outside Canadians won't like this post, even some Canadians. Quote it if I'm wrong....if history repeats itself I don't think I will be.
Well, the only problem with that is the U.S. team as a whole can skate just as well (if not better) and will be just as physical. Canada might be abl to punk the other teams, but it's not going to happen against the U.S.
I think it's crazy to suggest a team that's won five golds and lost the gold medal game in OT the last six years should be happy with silver. The US return a lot of good players, but their leading offensive guy and most of their defense are gone. Canada's team top to bottom is deeper and our defense is much stronger. If Roy or Visentin can play better than Allen did (can't be that hard), Canada's gonna be very tough to beat. Dave Cameron built this team his way, just like he has done in Mississauga and look how that's working out this year.
To be fair, you should use country instead of team, because this year's Team Canada is very much differant than the squad last year. On the flip side, the U.S. bringing back eight returnees, which includes the top six forwards, three of which have split time between the AHL and NHL this year. That is an advantage.
Its hard to say who is to say even canada and the states will meet this year.
A fair point, which is why I think it's a mistake for any team's brass to tailor it's squad to the strengths of one country, especially in Canada's case as they have a much tougher pool than the U.S.
Some times it is some time its not an advantage.
Well, the only problem with that is the U.S. team as a whole can skate just as well (if not better) and will be just as physical. Canada might be abl to punk the other teams, but it's not going to happen against the U.S.
Again, you're right but I think it will be this time since you're not talking about a bunch of random players sprinkled throughout a line-up. We're talking about an entire forward group (the top six). Another thing that doesn't get much pub is the fact that most of the d that will likely be named to the team came up through the USNTDP and has has success at the U18 level. So the familiarity is already there.
Yes but how will the states play with the presure playing at home in the past they have not played to great.
Who is going to score the goals? Visentin can stand on his head and the defense can be outstanding, but if you can't score, you're not going to win a lot of games.
Cameron has built a team that is very defensively focused. Hopefully not too much.
Well, that hasn't happened too often has it? Boston, Grand Forks, and now Buffalo. Grand Forks was a fiasco die to questionable player selection and coaching. I don't see that happening this year.