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

[1Gold Standard]

Off a rebound too if I remember correctly.

I should, I was there.

aha, Sid took the shot coming down the wing, big rebound Perry over to Bergy. Sid gets an assist.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

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.



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

I remember the tournament just fine, thanks.

I was there.

Good for you. Wish I was.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

In reality he gotten better as the tournament has gone on...

Good. He should better tonight then.

Guys, I have no reason to root against the kid. Nothing would make me happier than to see him have a hat trick - or another 3 assist night. Let's just see him do it.

 

[1Gold Standard]

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



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.

I think you are just trying too hard to prove a non-bias. "I can be equally as harsh on a Canadian kid as an American kid. So don't accuse me of a Canadian bias when I give an opinion on some other player who carries another passport." Just my opinion.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

aha, Sid took the shot coming down the wing, big rebound Perry over to Bergy. Sid gets an assist.

He also back checked like a fiend and was credited for knocking OV out of the game. Again, I am not rooting against McDavid. I just want to see him live up to the hype when we need him most.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

I think you are just trying too hard to prove a non-bias. "I can be equally as harsh on a Canadian kid as an American kid. So don't accuse me of a Canadian bias when I give an opinion on some other player who carries another passport." Just my opinion.

Well, your opinion is wrong. I have seen this kid shoot the lights out, in international tournaments, against weaker teams for too long. Time to do it against a top team when it matters. Tonight it matters.

 

[hototogisu]

He also back checked like a fiend and was credited for knocking OV out of the game. Again, I am not rooting against McDavid. I just want to see him live up to the hype when we need him most.

You seem to be setting two different standards. This mythical Crosby one (which has already been refuted) and this fantasy for McDavid. But now you're saying that if McDavid backchecks hard and maybe throws a good hit and picks up a relatively meaningless assist he'll have lived up to the hype? After all, that's what Crosby did.

 

[NyQuil]

Guys, I have no reason to root against the kid. Nothing would make me happier than to see him have a hat trick - or another 3 assist night. Let's just see him do it.

Something that Crosby failed to do in his WJC finals.

As long as you understand that Crosby did not live up to the standard that you've established for McDavid, we're good.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Well, your opinion is wrong. I have seen this kid shoot the lights out, in international tournaments, against weaker teams for too long. Time to do it against a top team when it matters. Tonight it matters.

For too long????? He's playing in his 3rd international tournament since the spring of 2013. A full year and a half.... Oh my...way too long. (I don't count U17 Team Ontario)

 

[NyQuil]

He also back checked like a fiend and was credited for knocking OV out of the game. Again, I am not rooting against McDavid. I just want to see him live up to the hype when we need him most.

I'm pretty sure Bergeron knocked OV out of the game.

And Phaneuf rocked him earlier.

I remember the tournament just fine, thanks.

I'm not so sure.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

You seem to be setting two different standards. This mythical Crosby one (which has already been refuted) and this fantasy for McDavid. But now you're saying that if McDavid backchecks hard and maybe throws a good hit and picks up a relatively meaningless assist he'll have lived up to the hype? After all, that's what Crosby did.

This is turning into a Crosby debate. My point is, McDavid a disappeared in big international games over the years.

So, prove me wrong. Have a big game tonight and prove that he is as great as everyone says. Otherwise, the naysayers will rightly say that he shot the lights out against the weak team and disappeared against the good ones.

Something that Crosby failed to do in his WJC finals.

As long as you understand that Crosby did not live up to the standard that you've established for McDavid, we're good.

Again, I just want McDavid to live up to the standard everyone is attributing to him based on the last 2 games. Do I expect 3 points? No. Just make a difference in a positive way. Do NOT disappear.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

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.

Well put

 

[1Gold Standard]

This is turning into a Crosby debate. My point is, McDavid a disappeared in big international games over the years.

So, prove me wrong. Have a big game tonight and prove that he is as great as everyone says. Otherwise, the naysayers will rightly say that he shot the lights out against the weak team and disappeared against the good ones.



Again, I just want McDavid to live up to the standard everyone is attributing to him based on the last 2 games. Do I expect 3 points? No. Just make a difference in a positive way. Do NOT disappear.

what I say to the naysayers.... who gives a ****.

 

[Sentinel]

This thread reminds me of "We have Ryan Nugent Hopkins, we'll make you all our *****es!"

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

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.

Sigh.

I should let this go, but I won't, as it's completely unfair to Kessel. Phil Kessel led the 2014 Olympic hockey tournament in both goals and points. Kessel showed up in the quarters with a goal, but like the rest of his U.S. squad, was shutout agains a dominant Canada team, and absolutely no one showed up against Finland in the bronze medal game. Many players didn't show up for the States, or for other teams in similar situations. Singling him out his utter crap.

And if we're going to look at playoffs, Kessel is close to a PPG going back to his Boston days, with 21 points in 22 games in the playoffs. He elevates his game in the playoffs.

I know he's not the focal point of this thread, but when I see an unfounded attack against his character without looking at facts, I'm sorry but I have to step up and defend him.

 

[Cellee]

What is the point of reference? Last year as a 16 year old?

 

[NyQuil]

What's funny is that Crosby has a knack for disappearing for huge stretches of Team Canada games only to score the key goal of the tournament.

Whatever works!

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

For too long????? He's playing in his 3rd international tournament since the spring of 2013. A full year and a half.... Oh my...way too long. (I don't count U17 Team Ontario)

Not sure why you are getting upset. I seem to be the only one who is looking at this objectively. Let's see him step up in a big game - and prove the hype is accurate. That is all I am saying.

I'm pretty sure Bergeron knocked OV out of the game.

And Phaneuf rocked him earlier.



I'm not so sure.

A lot of people have said Crosby's hit was a main contributor in OV being taken out of the game. You can believe what you want.

Again, I would love to see the McDavid make a big difference tonight. Based on past experience, it hasn't happened. Hope I am wrong.

 

[Beesfan]

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.

Wow, I didn't even realize that if McDavid picks up another assist, he can tie Phil Kessel's draft-year WJC point total. That's pretty good!

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

What's funny is that Crosby has a knack for disappearing for huge stretches of Team Canada games only to score the key goal of the tournament.

Whatever works!

I can live with a key (Golden) goal. I would prefer that to 3 points against Denmark.

 

[Cellee]

Not sure why you are getting upset. I seem to be the only one who is looking at this objectively. Let's see him step up in a big game - and prove the hype is accurate. That is all I am saying.



A lot of people have said Crosby's hit was a main contributor in OV being taken out of the game. You can believe what you want.

Again, I would love to see the McDavid make a big difference tonight. Based on past experience, it hasn't happened. Hope I am wrong.

I think it is extremely unfair to place that on a kid. Any of them.

I also consider this tournament irrelevant for the most part. Entertaining, I like it, but largely irrelevant , and people put too much importance on it.

That's my issue.

 

[PBandJ]

He's already stepped up and lived up to the hype.

 

[NyQuil]

Not sure why you are getting upset. I seem to be the only one who is looking at this objectively. Let's see him step up in a big game - and prove the hype is accurate. That is all I am saying.

No, you're the only one applying different standards to different players.

You want to see Canada's top prospect play well in the final game.

Great, no problem there, we all do.

The difference being that, in many cases in the past, the top prospect does not play well in the final game (in terms of MVP performance) and yet still goes on to "prove the hype" in their professional career.

Which is why I find you singling McDavid out by comparing him against middling performances in the past a real head-scratcher.

You've got Tavares and Lindros who were MVPs and you've got Crosby and Toews who weren't.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Not sure why you are getting upset. I seem to be the only one who is looking at this objectively. Let's see him step up in a big game - and prove the hype is accurate. That is all I am saying.



A lot of people have said Crosby's hit was a main contributor in OV being taken out of the game. You can believe what you want.

Again, I would love to see the McDavid make a big difference tonight. Based on past experience, it hasn't happened. Hope I am wrong.

I only get upset when my wings are not spicy enough and my beer is warm...other than that, I'm cool.

 

[ORYX]

I don't get it...

McDavid has 10 points in the tournament so far, having only started playing post injury not even a week before the tournament started, and if he isnt lights out tonight, it was all for not...

Good thing you arent a scout. If the Tournament has proven anything in the McDavid Vs. Eichel category, its that McDavids 10 points >>>>> Eichels 3. And then if you'd like to consider that McDavid missed 4-5 weeks RIGHT before the tournament started, you can add that.

I don't care if he scored 1, 0 or 10, he has already proven to be the cream of the draft crop, and it isnt too often draft eligible players have much success, to which he has only gotten better as the games wore on.

I'm glad you aren't my teams head scout, but you sure do sound like Edmonton's.