WJC: Time for McDavid to step up against a top team

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

A lot of interesting tangents for tonight's GMG - which should be great. The one I am most interested in...

I want to see McDavid step up tonight against a TOP team and not just beat up on the bottom dwellers - see Phil Kessel. I have heard endless projections about what a great player he will be. Well, great players prove themselves against strong teams when their countries needs them most. We need him tonight.

A lot of players can run up the points in a 8 - 0 win. Obviously, I would prefer a game winning goal / assist in a GMG to all the points against Slovakia and Denmark. Hopefully, Mr. McDavid can prove something tonight and show the world he is going to be something special.

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[LongWayDown37]

A lot of interesting tangents for tonight's GMG - which should be great. The one I am most interested in...

I want to see McDavid step up tonight against a TOP team and not just beat up on the bottom dwellers - see Phil Kessel. I have heard endless projections about what a great player he will be. Well, great players prove themselves against strong teams when their countries needs them most. We need him tonight.

A lot of players can run up the points in a 8 - 0 win. Obviously, I would prefer a game winning goal / assist in a GMG to all the points against Slovakia and Denmark. Hopefully, Mr. McDavid can prove something tonight and show the world he is going to be something special.

Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that this thread is going to quickly turn into a leaf fan debacle that will probably get locked when the Kessel/Kane debate shows its ugly face again....

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that this thread is going to quickly turn into a leaf fan debacle that will probably get locked when the Kessel/Kane debate shows its ugly face again....

I hope not. I am tired of reading the endless McDavid/Eichel projections. Time for McDavid to prove himself. If he disappears tonight, that cannot be discounted.

 

[NyQuil]

I hope not. I am tired of reading the endless McDavid/Eichel projections. Time for McDavid to prove himself. If he disappears tonight, that cannot be discounted.

Personally, I think the emphasis on a couple of games in a Junior tournament is vastly overblown.

That goes for Eichel and McDavid.

Pat Falloon and Cody Hodgson would be superstars today if WJC hype translated seamlessly into the real world.

If McDavid disappears tonight, I'm perfectly capable of discounting it.

Russia is a good team. It's one game. And hockey is a team sport.

 

[Cellee]

I think he will have a great game tonight. It is clear that, coming back off injury, the absurd pressure and focus on him, and finding some chemistry, he has gotten better every game.

I wonder if the cage took some time to get used to as well. Regardless, he has shown throughout this tournament why he has been tearing up the CHL, and getting the attention he has.

He is going to be a superstar. I hope he just goes in free and easy, knowing this tournament means little.

If he does, he will be the best player on the ice. If he doesn't, Meh,

 

[Cellee]

Personally, I think the emphasis on a couple of games in a Junior tournament is vastly overblown.

That goes for Eichel and McDavid.

Pat Falloon and Cody Hodgson would be superstars today if WJC hype translated seamlessly into the real world.

If McDavid disappears tonight, I'm perfectly capable of discounting it.

Russia is a good team. It's one game. And hockey is a team sport.

Agreed!

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

I keep hearing McDavid=Crosby. Fine. Crosby was great in his 2nd World Juniors - albeit on a team loaded like never before or since. He was also great in big games. Again, time for McDavid to step up. We need him to have a big game tonight.

Let's hope he does.

 

[BobDobolina]

Personally, I think the emphasis on a couple of games in a Junior tournament is vastly overblown.

That goes for Eichel and McDavid.

Pat Falloon and Cody Hodgson would be superstars today if WJC hype translated seamlessly into the real world.

If McDavid disappears tonight, I'm perfectly capable of discounting it.

Russia is a good team. It's one game. And hockey is a team sport.

So true. I get why fans get all high or low on a player based on their tournament performance but I don't get professional scouting services doing the same thing.

 

[Cellee]

Be nice if he did, more so for himself, and I like watching exceptional, gifted, players play their best.

Won't mean anything professionally for him, but I'd like to see him have a good game, as well as the rest of those kids.

 

[NyQuil]

I keep hearing McDavid=Crosby. Fine. Crosby was great in his 2nd World Juniors - albeit on a team loaded like never before or since. He was also great in big games. Again, time for McDavid to step up. We need him to have a big game tonight.

Let's hope he does.

First, Crosby lost his first WJC final.

Secondly, Crosby wasn't even the best player on his gold-medal winning WJC team.

Anyone watching the games will remember that Patrice Bergeron (who had already won a World Championship and played in the NHL playoffs prior to his WJC) was the leading scorer, was Crosby's linemate and looked like a man among boys.

I was as surprised as anyone but Bergeron was the best player in the tournament.

So I'm not sure what you're trying to prove here.

 

[Cellee]

First, Crosby lost his first WJC final.

Secondly, Crosby wasn't even the best player on his gold-medal winning WJC team.

Anyone watching the games will remember that Patrice Bergeron (who had already won a World Championship and played in the NHL playoffs prior to his WJC) was the leading scorer, was Crosby's linemate and looked like a man among boys.

So I'm not sure what you're trying to prove here.

Was that the year Carter set some record for goal scoring?

That happened, didn't it? 7 goals I want to say.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

First, Crosby lost his first WJC final.

Secondly, Crosby wasn't even the best player on his gold-medal winning WJC team.

Anyone watching the games will remember that Patrice Bergeron (who had already won a World Championship and played in the NHL playoffs prior to his WJC) was the leading scorer, was Crosby's linemate and looked like a man among boys.

So I'm not sure what you're trying to prove here.

First, I referenced Crosby's 2nd World Juniors.

Second, Crosby was not a man among boys on that WJR team. He was the 3rd(?) leading scorer and played great against the Russians in the GMG.

Last, I am saying he needs to step up tonight. We need him to. We need him to be more than someone who just scores (big) against Denmark and Slovakia. Let's see if he can live up to the challenge.

 

[Cellee]

So true. I get why fans get all high or low on a player based on their tournament performance but I don't get professional scouting services doing the same thing.

Agreed, if a scout gets swayed one way or another on a guy like Eichel or McDavid because of this tournament, they shouldn't be a scout.

This tournament may open your eyes to look closer at some lessor names, but the elite prospects this should mean basically nothing.

No matter what a TSN panel wants to say to the contrary.

 

[NyQuil]

Was that the year Carter set some record for goal scoring?

That happened, didn't it? 7 goals I want to say.

Yup.

Bergeron went 5-8-13. Getzlaf went 3-9-12. Carter went 7-3-10. Crosby went 6-3-9.

Ovechkin went 7-4-11.

Not sure what the record is for - maybe for Canada?

Most goals is:
13 - Markus Naslund, SWE. 1993 in Sweden
12 - Vladimir Ruzicka, CZE, 1983 in Leningrad
12 - Pavel Bure, USSR, 1991 in Canada

 

[NyQuil]

First, I referenced Crosby's 2nd World Juniors.

Second, Crosby was not a man among boys on that WJR team. He was the 3rd(?) leading scorer and played great against the Russians in the GMG.

Last, I am saying he needs to step up tonight. We need him to. We need him to be more than someone who just scores (big) against Denmark and Slovakia. Let's see if he can live up to the challenge.

What I'm saying is that the bar set by Crosby is essentially losing one final and being the fourth leading scorer on a winning Gold Medal team.

As far as I'm concerned, McDavid has already met that.

That's why I don't really put huge stock in WJC performances.

 

[Cellee]

Yup.

Bergeron went 5-8-13. Getzlaf went 3-9-12. Carter went 7-3-10. Crosby went 6-3-9.

Ovechkin went 7-4-11.

Not sure what the record is for - maybe for Canada?

Most goals is:
13 - Markus Naslund, SWE. 1993 in Sweden
12 - Vladimir Ruzicka, CZE, 1983 in Leningrad
12 - Pavel Bure, USSR, 1991 in Canada

Yeah I think it was a Team Canada record. I think Hodgson or Tavares tied or broke it since then.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

What I'm saying is that the bar set by Crosby is essentially losing one final and being the fourth leading scorer on a winning Gold Medal team.

As far as I'm concerned, McDavid has already met that.

That's why I don't really put huge stock in WJC performances.

What I am saying is, Crosby was more than a bunch of points against the lesser lights. He held his own against OV and the other top Canadian players in a big game. I want to see McDavid do the same tonight.

If McDavid doesn't, many people will see a bunch of points against the weak sisters and none in the games that mattered.

 

[Cellee]

What I'm saying is that the bar set by Crosby is essentially losing one final and being the fourth leading scorer on a winning Gold Medal team.

As far as I'm concerned, McDavid has already met that.

That's why I don't really put huge stock in WJC performances.

Not should anyone.

He is ridiculously talented and fun to watch. Win or lose, good game, or below average game, excited to see him at the next level.

I have ripped TSN, but it's great seeing the parents in the stands.

 

[canuck2010]

McDavid has already proven to me in this tournament that he is full value for the hype. He's played this season against the best junior players in the world at 17. The kid is explosive, only scratching the surface. Doubt he'll be playing in the WJC again.

 

[Cellee]

What I am saying is, Crosby was more than a bunch of points against the lesser lights. He held his own against OV and the other top Canadian players in a big game. I want to see McDavid do the same tonight.

If McDavid doesn't, many people will see a bunch of points against the weak sisters and none in the games that mattered.

So?

Means very little, and certainly not an indicator of how his pro career will go.

 

[1Gold Standard]

What I am saying is, Crosby was more than a bunch of points against the lesser lights. He held his own against OV and the other top Canadian players in a big game. I want to see McDavid do the same tonight.

If McDavid doesn't, many people will see a bunch of points against the weak sisters and none in the games that mattered.

sid had 1 assist in the GMG 2005. He was good, but he wasn't the driving force of that team that night.

and that helper was the 4-1 goal.

 

[NyQuil]

What I am saying is, Crosby was more than a bunch of points against the lesser lights. He held his own against OV and the other top Canadian players in a big game. I want to see McDavid do the same tonight.

Crosby got a PP assist on the 4-1 goal and that was it for the game.

It was Bergeron, Carter, Getzlaf and Ladd who stepped up in that game.

If McDavid doesn't, many people will see a bunch of points against the weak sisters and none in the games that mattered.

Well, if they remember the tournament like you remember 2005, he'll have nothing to worry about.

 

[Cellee]

sid had 1 assist in the GMG 2005. He was good, but he wasn't the driving force of that team that night.

Off a rebound too if I remember correctly.

I should, I was there.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

So?

Means very little, and certainly not an indicator of how his pro career will go.

All I am saying is I would love to see him step up against a strong team. He hasn't in the past.

sid had 1 assist in the GMG 2005. He was good, but he wasn't the driving force of that team that night.

and that helper was the 4-1 goal.

I know. I have watched the game many times. He was still terrific - as was the entire team. I want to see McDavid be terrific tonight and not disappear.

**

I'll make you and all the other posters a deal - this will give American posters an incentive to cheer for the kid and team Canada...

If McDavid has a great game, none of you will see my ugly face around HF (minus the Entertainment forum - movie and book review) until draft time. Now THAT is a reason to root for the good guys and this kid.

 

[KPower]

Op should become a HF partner with that dramatic title.

McDavid has played great and only the haters will say he only scored against weak teams.

Happens with all the greats, just go to the main board and look at the Crosby only has 2 goals blah blah blah garbage.

In reality he gotten better as the tournament has gone on and has been one of the best in the tourney despite being 2 years younger than some of the other kids.