Pre-Game Talk: WJC (26 Dec 2024 - 5 Jan 2025)

[Scoresberg]

Figured I'd get the thread going since they're already playing pre-tourney games.



Team Canada:

D Tanner Molendyk (A)
D Andrew Gibson

Team Sweden:

C David Edström
C/LW Felix Nilsson
D Viggo Gustafsson

Team USA:

LW Teddy Stiga
LW Joey Willis

Team Czech Republic:

G Jakub Milota

Good representation for us even though Wood got cut at the last moment. Molendyk and Gibson have been the top pair for Team Canada and Gibson actually scored a goal in their 1st pre-tourney game against Switzerland.

Edit: Added Willis to Team USA.

Click to read more...

 

[herzausstein]

I really hope Gibson/Molendyk can kindof turn into a weber/suter type pairing for the future. Really interested in Gus as well. He's a big boy

 

[Gnashville]

Nilsson quietly having a fantastic season so far.

 

[Scoresberg]

Gibson with one assist in Canada's 4-2 win over Sweden.

Stiga with one assist in USA's 6-2 win over Slovakia.

Edström was the 1C for Sweden. Gustafsson the 1LD.

Molendyk and Gibson once again the top pair for Canada.

Stiga on the 3rd line for USA.

 

[Soundgarden]

Looks like Nilsson had 1G 2A and Edström had a goal in an 11-2 exhibition vs Germany

 

[Scoresberg]

Looks like Nilsson had 1G 2A and Edström had a goal in an 11-2 exhibition vs Germany

Yeah, actually 1g 3a for Nilsson and 2g, 1a for Edström.

 

[Scoresberg]

Happy WJC starting day!

Four games on the schedule tonight:

Sweden vs. Slovakia 12pm ET (Edström, Nilsson, Gustafsson)
USA vs. Germany 2:30pm ET (Stiga, Willis)
Czech Republic vs. Switzerland 5pm ET (Milota)
Canada vs. Finland 7:30pm ET (Molendyk, Gibson)

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Nilsson quietly having a fantastic season so far.

He looked good today. Better than Edstrom to me in this game.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Gibson seems like one of those prospects who has so much going for him physically, it's hard to fathom him not having at least some NHL future.

 

[Gnashville]

Looks as if Molendyk and Gibson are the go to PK pairing. Bonk and Schaefer will get all the love from the TSN talking heads and fans with points and PP time but I would rather our guys be the ones who the coaches trust in critical situations.
Hopefully there are 4 or 5 future Predators on team Canada this year.

 

[Gnashville]

He looked good today. Better than Edstrom to me in this game.

I have been high on him since we drafted him. I thought he should have went in the late first round. He has the one attribute that is hard to find or evaluate high hockey IQ

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

The skating ability of this Canada D is insane.

 

[Kat Predator]

I really hope Gibson/Molendyk can kindof turn into a weber/suter type pairing for the future. Really interested in Gus as well. He's a big boy

Let's go Aragorn!

 

[braindead]

Great article about Molendyk in the Athletic. Rave quotes about him being a rare fantastic combo of defensive damn and offensive dman. They also discuss Preds saying essentially he would have made the team except for cap issues. Also that he and Gibson play well together and quote Gibson as saying the pair well and are friends and that Moelndyk is the best skater he has ever seen. Essentially backed up by scout quotes as well. The only downside to the article was a quote about Wood being cut from this year’s team, right around a section that talked about how last years team didn’t uphold standards of play, including a quote from Scott Walker. Oof.

 

[ShagDaddy]

Great article about Molendyk in the Athletic. Rave quotes about him being a rare fantastic combo of defensive damn and offensive dman. They also discuss Preds saying essentially he would have made the team except for cap issues. Also that he and Gibson play well together and quote Gibson as saying the pair well and are friends and that Moelndyk is the best skater he has ever seen. Essentially backed up by scout quotes as well. The only downside to the article was a quote about Wood being cut from this year’s team, right around a section that talked about how last years team didn’t uphold standards of play, including a quote from Scott Walker. Oof.

Josi’s replacement in a few years except with more defensive upside.

 

[PredsV82]

So Canada loses to Latvia. I guess this is kind of a thing for them. They always seem to lose unexpectedly in the round Robin and then end up winning gold. Looked like they could have used a guy with a good shot like Wood in the shootout

 

[herzausstein]

So Canada loses to Latvia. I guess this is kind of a thing for them. They always seem to lose unexpectedly in the round Robin and then end up winning gold. Looked like they could have used a guy with a good shot like Wood in the shootout

Gibson and Molendyk did their jobs atleast.

 

[Scoresberg]

Watching Gabe Perreault in this tournament and then thinking about our pick sitting at home makes me all the more think that our scouting staff really couldn't recognize offensive talent even if it walked down the street and smacked them on their faces...

 

[herzausstein]

Watching Gabe Perreault in this tournament and then thinking about our pick sitting at home makes me all the more think that our scouting staff really couldn't recognize offensive talent even if it walked down the street and smacked them on their faces...

Personally think ASP wouldve been a good choice there. Not a huge RHD but moves the puck really well. Also doing good at the WJC and has done great in the SHL

 

[Kat Predator]

[Ed: Got dates wrong] Wood looks like he's almost guaranteed to be a bust in Brunette's system. It'd be shocking if he ever got a chance...

Given what it appears Bruno wants to implement, why would we have drafted Wood? Same question applies to all the guys we re-signed and waived/traded just a few months later. What is going on?

Anyway, let's stay positive. What a stroke of luck. Things are coming together now.

 

[PredsV82]

Canada looks like shit. Kinda glad Wood isn't part of this, hope Molendyk and Gibson are the rare bright spots for Canada