Prediction Contest: The Sprint to the 4 Nations

[ITM]

What's too much of a distraction?

4 Nations, Matthews health and the apprehension that he might exacerbate something dormant, thereby compromising club goals for personal goals.

 

[Maple Leaf]

boycott this tournament

 

[Nogatco Rd]

7-3-1

 

[ULF_55]

So how is this going?

Recap?

 

[ULF_55]

Really tough 11 game stretch coming up before the highly anticipated 4 Nations break.

5 at home, 6 on the road against some pretty good teams.
Need to at worse tread water to remain near the top.

Any predictions?

View attachment 960326

Jan 14 - L
Jan 16 - W
Jan 8 - W
Jan 20 - W
Jan 22 - L
Jan 25 - L
Jan 29 - L
Feb 1 -
Feb 4 -
Feb 6 -
Feb 8 -

 

[ULF_55]

Not liking the odds on winning these games:
I'll go L-L-W-L

 

[wingman75]

3-4 so far.

I had said 5-6. 2-2 road trip makes that happen.

Hoping they can go 3-1 and ease the pain. Not sure I am confident in that though.

All options are on the table.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I am going to try to change up the narrative a bit.

I know the main group is incredibly easy to dump on for mediocre post-season showings.

This will be the first time 88, Matthews and Marner are going to get to do real best on best. The World Hockey Championship is fairly watered down.

I do wonder if these guys take away a lot being in an actual competitive environment with Crosby, Tkachuk, Hedman, McDavid and MacKinnon types. Guys that are super competitive or play to win. I don't think it's a matter of effort with them but sometimes it is learning how to win, and the players in this tournament are some of the best in the world.

 

[ULF_55]

I am going to try to change up the narrative a bit.

I know the main group is incredibly easy to dump on for mediocre post-season showings.

This will be the first time 88, Matthews and Marner are going to get to do real best on best. The World Hockey Championship is fairly watered down.

I do wonder if these guys take away a lot being in an actual competitive environment with Crosby, Tkachuk, Hedman, McDavid and MacKinnon types. Guys that are super competitive or play to win. I don't think it's a matter of effort with them but sometimes it is learning how to win, and the players in this tournament are some of the best in the world.

So they might learn how a team prepares for big games?

They've already experienced how winners play because they face them every year.

 

[WTFMAN99]

So they might learn how a team prepares for big games?

They've already experienced how winners play because they face them every year.

Sometimes being on the opposite side of that and seeing how elite guys game plan for it or how they execute might be an eye opener.

Just decided it would be nice to change it up from the usual doom and gloom, it's way too easy.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Willy should have an 'A' for the Leafs like he does for team Sweden. No reason he can't rotate with Rielly, Tavares, and Marner.

 

[Stephen]

Willy should have an 'A' for the Leafs like he does for team Sweden. No reason he can't rotate with Rielly, Tavares, and Marner.

Feels like Willie never gets the extra special treatment the others get.

 

[Nineteen67]

Get 4 points or more before the break and they’re in great shape. Win one and three OTL is fine playing western conference teams

 

[GoonieFace]

I am going to try to change up the narrative a bit.

I know the main group is incredibly easy to dump on for mediocre post-season showings.

This will be the first time 88, Matthews and Marner are going to get to do real best on best. The World Hockey Championship is fairly watered down.

I do wonder if these guys take away a lot being in an actual competitive environment with Crosby, Tkachuk, Hedman, McDavid and MacKinnon types. Guys that are super competitive or play to win. I don't think it's a matter of effort with them but sometimes it is learning how to win, and the players in this tournament are some of the best in the world.

If they don’t know how to win after being in the league for 10 years, some gimmicky tournament isn’t going to change that.

 

[ACC1224]

Feels like Willie never gets the extra special treatment the others get.

What’s the extra special treatment?

 

[Stephen]

What’s the extra special treatment?

Captaincy, assistant, double digit second contracts, never demoted from PP1, players who play well usually promoted up to the other unit, stuck with Tavares unless Matthews is out.

 

[ACC1224]

Captaincy, assistant, double digit second contracts, never demoted from PP1, players who play well usually promoted up to the other unit, stuck with Tavares unless Matthews is out.

none of that seems to be any more special than what any team would do.

 

[Stephen]

none of that seems to be any more special than what any team would do.

When you consider Mitch Marner is a playmaker, and the team avoids putting him with less productive players to spread out offense and spark someone even when the team is dying for offense, it says a lot about preferential treatment and the pecking order in the country club.

If Willie, Auston and Mitch were spread out on three lines and utilized in a way for them to carry their own teammates the way Willie is, you could guarantee an $11 million forward for nearly 60 minutes of play. They'd never dream of it.

 

[Leafblooded]

I don't think anyone even knows what this is

 

[ACC1224]

When you consider Mitch Marner is a playmaker, and the team avoids putting him with less productive players to spread out offense and spark someone even when the team is dying for offense, it says a lot about preferential treatment and the pecking order in the country club.

If Willie, Auston and Mitch were spread out on three lines and utilized in a way for them to carry their own teammates the way Willie is, you could guarantee an $11 million forward for nearly 60 minutes of play. They'd never dream of it.

Because you don’t agree with how players are deployed that doesn’t mean they are getting special treatment. Is Nylander given special treatment by being on both PP units?
Is Knies getting special treatment because he gets PK time?

 

[Madap]

Congrats to Auston and Willy. Tough that Marner gets overlooked while his teammates are shown respect and selected for leadership roles on a global scale, but hopefully he uses it as motivation to continue a solid season and continue it into the playoffs.

 

[Nineteen67]

Congrats to Auston and Willy. Tough that Marner gets overlooked while his teammates are shown respect and selected for leadership roles on a global scale, but hopefully he uses it as motivation to continue a solid season and continue it into the playoffs.

Marner is playing for team Canada, the USA or SwedA don’t have a Sid or McDavid.

 

[ACC1224]

Marner is playing for team Canada, the USA or SwedA don’t have a Sid or McDavid.

They’re just baiting. No one would post anything so silly, at least I hope they don't believe it.

 

[Confucius]

3 and 8, I think we continue to dominate the pacific and lose to everyone else. Our record is better than what we are, time for a balancing of the books so we will play a little worse than we are.

 

[Dekes For Days]

When you consider Mitch Marner is a playmaker, and the team avoids putting him with less productive players to spread out offense and spark someone even when the team is dying for offense, it says a lot about preferential treatment and the pecking order in the country club.

If Willie, Auston and Mitch were spread out on three lines and utilized in a way for them to carry their own teammates the way Willie is, you could guarantee an $11 million forward for nearly 60 minutes of play. They'd never dream of it.

NHL coaches disagree with your deployment strategy because it's not a good strategy, not because of "preferential treatment" or " country club" nonsense.

If your team is struggling for offense, you don't want to take your best playmaker away from players that can best take advantage of his plays. Nylander gets an elite player most of the time too, but if you need to separate somebody, he makes the most sense, as his playstyle doesn't utilize his linemates as much anyway, and he already needs to be somewhat sheltered.