Which players raised their stock? Which players hurt their stock?

[Joe Sakic]

The next time I see Auston Matthews I am not going to leave him until he personally apologizes to me.

The clip of the goal (while great for McJesus and Canadian fans) will also show one of the absolute worst defensive plays and decisions ever made by a player. He is an idiot.

 

[The Podium]

The next time I see Auston Matthews I am not going to leave him until he personally apologizes to me.

The clip of the goal (while great for McJesus and Canadian fans) will also show one of the absolute worst defensive plays and decisions ever made by a player. He is an idiot.

Fox lost his man, took the long way around the net rather than covering the slot. Matthews was trying to cover the defensive breakdown by pressuring Marner who had all the time and space in the corner. He assumed his D would slide into the slot to cover his man rather than follow him into the corner.

Wasn’t the safe play and bit them in the ass, but as far as structured hockey goes it was the right play.

Mcdavid says it himself

 

[DEVILS130]

Even as a Devils fan I will admit that this was not the best showing from Jack Hughes

 

[Joe Sakic]

Fox lost his man, took the long way around the net rather than covering the slot. Matthews was trying to cover the defensive breakdown by pressuring Marner who had all the time and space in the corner. He assumed his D would slide into the slot to cover his man rather than follow him into the corner.

Wasn’t the safe play and bit them in the ass, but as far as structured hockey goes it was the right play.

Mcdavid says it himself

There's no way bro. McDavid btw says "the center and the D can get mixed up". No way he's referring to the D. The defensive breakdown is 100% from Matthews here.

He LEAVES his guy in the middle of the ice to go to the corner. Why not wait until Fox gets over there to pressure. How would Fox slide to the cover the slot from here? He is behind the net.

It makes zero sense to leave the center of the ice (high danger) to attack a guy in the corner behind the goal line (minimal danger).

 

[Bruins4Lifer]

Raised:
Binnington - turned out to be the difference maker, in the good way
Harley - seen very little of him previously, he looked far better than I expected for a call-up
Slavin - against the best, was a defensive standout
B. Tkachuk - power forward menace out there
Bennett - clutch and a much needed physical presence for Canada

Lowered:
Hughes - soft, perimeter game.
Fox - didn't stand out as a top d-man like he's generally been considered


other thoughts:
call me biased, but I thought Marchand was fine out there. His tenacity and ability to win puck battles was apparent. Paired with Bennett, I thought those two generated a pretty decent amount of chances compared to Canada's other bottom 6 line.

 

[fsanford]

Doughty played good last night, him getting back into game shape can only help Kings.

Early in tourney it showed all that time off had an effect

He is not younger Doughty, but he still can be solid against great competition

 

[dirtydanglez]

granlund did great under pressure. he looks like he'll be a great pickup for dallas

 

[The Podium]

There's no way bro. McDavid btw says "the center and the D can get mixed up". No way he's referring to the D. The defensive breakdown is 100% from Matthews here.

He LEAVES his guy in the middle of the ice to go to the corner. Why not wait until Fox gets over there to pressure. How would Fox slide to the cover the slot from here? He is behind the net.

It makes zero sense to leave the center of the ice (high danger) to attack a guy in the corner behind the goal line (minimal danger).

View attachment 980272

Back it up literally 1 frame. Fox had already lost his man before the puck gets to Makar, then follows the puck that was rung around the boards instead of heading for Marner in the corner.

The fact that both US D are on the same post in your screen shot, one (Hanifin) with his guy, the other (Fox) with no one proves that he wasn’t in position.

Matthews saw Marner all alone and committed to recover the defensive breakdown expecting his D to back him up.

 

[Divine]

There's no way bro. McDavid btw says "the center and the D can get mixed up". No way he's referring to the D. The defensive breakdown is 100% from Matthews here.

He LEAVES his guy in the middle of the ice to go to the corner. Why not wait until Fox gets over there to pressure. How would Fox slide to the cover the slot from here? He is behind the net.

It makes zero sense to leave the center of the ice (high danger) to attack a guy in the corner behind the goal line (minimal danger).

View attachment 980272

You realize the player with the puck can skate? He's literally wide open. You're acting like he has to shoot it from there.

 

[thefutures]

Larkin, eichel, slavin, matthews, and marner played well. Hughes, fox, toews, k. Connor underwhelming/bad

 

[eramosat]

Slavin 10/10.
Sam Ersson 8/10, which for a relative unknown is pretty good.
Wereniski 9/10
Marner finally some big stage play.

 

[Joe Sakic]

Back it up literally 1 frame. Fox had already lost his man before the puck gets to Makar, then follows the puck that was rung around the boards instead of heading for Marner in the corner.

The fact that both US D are on the same post in your screen shot, one (Hanifin) with his guy, the other (Fox) with no one proves that he wasn’t in position.

Matthews saw Marner all alone and committed to recover the defensive breakdown expecting his D to back him up.

Are you talking about directly off the faceoff Fox loses his guy? If so you may be right, if not directly off the face-off I don't see it.

Even so, as a Center are you leaving the middle of the ice to attack a player behind the goal line in the corner? If so no worry but I'm done here. That is a terrible mistake made by Matthews. You can't leave your position there to attack a guy in the corner, that is simply terrible.

Tell me honestly you think 34 in Blue is making the correct decision here:

If so we can agree to disagree, cheers mate. And btw I appreciate this discussion between us without any personal attacks or sarcasm like so may on this board do.

 

[FMichael]

Hughes in and Connor out last night

 

[Peiskos]

I think Marner cemented himself as one of the premier passers in the game, just such a smooth set up guy.

 

[fsanford]

Slavin 10/10.
Sam Ersson 8/10, which for a relative unknown is pretty good.
Wereniski 9/10
Marner finally some big stage play.

Slavin was amazing..Best D man regardless of team in tourney

 

[Juxta Position]

“Matthews should be a force in a game like this, I know he was a force tonight when it matters but he wasn’t very good in the games that didn’t matter”

Playing injured he was USAs best player outside of Slavin. Don’t really know why the onus is solely on him when he showed up and produced in the biggest moment.

But that's just it....he didn't show up. I'm sure what you're quoting there because I never said he was a force in that game, far from it. minus a couple of shots in overtime, he was invisible, just like he was in the entire tournament

The NHL's, so then by extension, the world's best goal score (supposedly) didn't register a shot on goal THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT until the last game. That is flat-out unacceptable and really inexcusable.

He has proven he is not a big game player over and over and over again and the fans and media continually make excuses for him. He has 8 seasons of playoff mediocrity and now a no-show in a best-on-best tournament narrative that he needs to bust out of.

 

[The Podium]

Are you talking about directly off the faceoff Fox loses his guy? If so you may be right, if not directly off the face-off I don't see it.

Even so, as a Center are you leaving the middle of the ice to attack a player behind the goal line in the corner? If so no worry but I'm done here. That is a terrible mistake made by Matthews. You can't leave your position there to attack a guy in the corner, that is simply terrible.

Tell me honestly you think 34 in Blue is making the correct decision here:

View attachment 980285


If so we can agree to disagree, cheers mate. And btw I appreciate this discussion between us without any personal attacks or sarcasm like so may on this board do.

The breakdown starts at the faceoff where Fox loses Marner, it goes up to Makar at the point and Fox is in front of the net while Hanifin is covering Point at the R post. When Makar dumps it deep around the boards it’s Hanifins job to protect behind the net while still defending Point. Fox should have peeled left to Marner in the corner but instead chases the puck behind the net skating around the R post.

If Fox goes left he’s there when Marner gets possession and Matthews can stay with his man. But because he went the long way around the net Marner is left open with all kinds of time and space.

Now this is where Matthews gets involved in the defensive breakdown.

Matthews has to make a decision, pressure the puck carrier who is left wide open and has a direct lane to the net or stay with the threat in the slot. Now Matthews biggest mistake is not recognizing Fox is completely out of position and should have made the safe play sticking with McDavid.

However, in a fast paced game where decisions have to be made in a fraction of a second, Matthews instinctively pressures the puck carrier assuming Fox is just late to the play and will cover his man in the slot. Instead Fox was behind the net and never really had a chance to get to McDavid.

It’s on both of them, but it’s a huge defensive breakdown that starts with Fox.

 

[Forgot About Drai]

All I know is Mark Stone looked absolutely cooked, best on best. He'll be on the Olympic team but his role should be drastically reduced.

 

[ginomini]

The breakdown starts at the faceoff where Fox loses Marner, it goes up to Makar at the point and Fox is in front of the net while Hanifin is covering Point at the R post. When Makar dumps it deep around the boards it’s Hanifins job to protect behind the net while still defending Point. Fox should have peeled left to Marner in the corner but instead chases the puck behind the net skating around the R post.

If Fox goes left he’s there when Marner gets possession and Matthews can stay with his man. But because he went the long way around the net Marner is left open with all kinds of time and space.

Now this is where Matthews gets involved in the defensive breakdown.

Matthews has to make a decision, pressure the puck carrier who is left wide open and has a direct lane to the net or stay with the threat in the slot. Now Matthews biggest mistake is not recognizing Fox is completely out of position and should have made the safe play sticking with McDavid.

However, in a fast paced game where decisions have to be made in a fraction of a second, Matthews instinctively pressures the puck carrier assuming Fox is just late to the play and will cover his man in the slot. Instead Fox was behind the net and never really had a chance to get to McDavid.

It’s on both of them, but it’s a huge defensive breakdown that starts with Fox.

What you described is what anyone would call a low defensive IQ play from Matthews. Defensive IQ is recognizing where your teammates are and where they are going to adapt your own positionning. Matthews here exhibits a poor defensive cover up. Fox makes a low impact mistake (despite what you say, Marner is behind the net. He does not have a direct lane to the net.). And Matthews follows up with a high impact mistake.

They both play it poorly, but ultimately its Matthews who makes the final, most impactful, bad play.

 

[robertmac43]

Bennet had a great tournament heading into a UFA summer.

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

I think #34 for Leafs, deserves a medal.

"I'll let you wear it in the showers back in Toronto buddy"

 

[David Suzuki]

Matthews has been playing injured all year and had two assists in the finals.

Some of the takes on this website tonight are incredibly moronic. Eichel scored 0 goals in the tournament. Did his stock drop? What about Matthew Tkachuk?

he was responsible for the overtime goal it’s hard to not see that he just doesn’t perform when pressure is on

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Fox lost his man, took the long way around the net rather than covering the slot. Matthews was trying to cover the defensive breakdown by pressuring Marner who had all the time and space in the corner. He assumed his D would slide into the slot to cover his man rather than follow him into the corner.

Wasn’t the safe play and bit them in the ass, but as far as structured hockey goes it was the right play.

Mcdavid says it himself

Wrong.

Awful puck knowledge if you think that is the right play.

First… Hughes(#86) and Nelson(#29) are correctly covering their points.

Hanifin(#15) is correctly covering the front of the net as he’s the LHD and the puck is in the USA right corner. He’s got Point wrapped up in front.

Fox(#23), the RHD, regardless of the path he took, is going to close down Marner in the USA right corner. Marner is standing completely still and is no threat to score from that position. All he can do is pass. Fox is going to close him down.

Matthews(#34) is the center and the slot threat where his opposing center, McDavid, finds himself is 100% his responsibility. Look at the path. Look at the dots. That’s simple coverage.

Matthews got caught puck watching Marner who, again, is zero threat to score from there or even drive the net as Fox is closing him down.

Matthews’ responsibility on that play is to take Marner’s pass away to the obvious man he is supposed to be covering, McDavid.

There's no way bro. McDavid btw says "the center and the D can get mixed up". No way he's referring to the D. The defensive breakdown is 100% from Matthews here.

He LEAVES his guy in the middle of the ice to go to the corner. Why not wait until Fox gets over there to pressure. How would Fox slide to the cover the slot from here? He is behind the net.

It makes zero sense to leave the center of the ice (high danger) to attack a guy in the corner behind the goal line (minimal danger).

View attachment 980272

Correct.

Obvious stuff.

 

[Joe Sakic]

You realize the player with the puck can skate? He's literally wide open. You're acting like he has to shoot it from there.

I'm not acting like anything. We can hypothesize about hypotheticals all day. I'm talking about what DID happen.

Sure he can skate, everyone can. He would be able to skate maybe 2-3 feet toward a better shooting angle at best before the defenseman gets to him (pictured below). That is far, far less dangerous than a shot from the middle of the slot. Surely you do not disagree with that?

Being wide open in the corner is not the same as being wide open in the middle of the slot.

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

Binnington went from the weak link to the presumptive game 1 starter for Team Canada.

Marner and Bennett won a lot of fans.

I think the lesson here might be to take an extra skill D if you’re Canada - the dropoff from Makar to Morrissey was sharp, and Morrissey to everyone else was even more precipitous.

And overall just more speed - they played fast, but they lacked speed outside of a few notable individuals.

What really stood out was Canada’s lack of familiarity with one another. They looked like a group that has only played 4 games together over the last decade - chemistry should be better in the Olympics.