Pre-Game Talk: World cup of hockey 2016 thread

[Trxjw]

It starts with Burke and his "truculent" brand of hockey. Tortorella is only a part of the bigger picture. I'm sure things will change as the '18 Olympics approach. Too many excellent young players and no "team North America" to stick them on.

 

[silverfish]

It starts with Burke and his "truculent" brand of hockey. Tortorella is only a part of the bigger picture. I'm sure things will change as the '18 Olympics approach. Too many excellent young players and no "team North America" to stick them on.

If NHL players even go. Thus far, this tournament is not hyping me up like the Olympics do.

In fact, even if there aren't NHL players at the Olympics, I think I'd still be more hype for USA hockey at that tournament.

Even ignoring the insane marketing the Olympics do for the NHL, I can't imagine how they think that would be a good idea

Also, where is my player tracking data?

 

[SA16]

Honestly I prefer this tournament to the Olympics for a few reasons:

1. It doesn't cause a two week break during the season at an important time.

2. The Europe and NA teams are much more competitive than whatever horrible teams would be 7th/8th in the Olympics. The Europe team is one of the weakest in this thing...if you split them up into just Switzerland (despite their past success) or Norway you would just get really uncompetitive games.

3. Since the games are all in Toronto they are on at reasonable times and not like 3 in the morning.

4. Continuous OT in the "medal round" instead of games decided by a shootout.

5. It's a nice warmup just before the season to get ready for NHL hockey.

 

[Irishguy42]

If NHL players even go. Thus far, this tournament is not hyping me up like the Olympics do.

In fact, even if there aren't NHL players at the Olympics, I think I'd still be more hype for USA hockey at that tournament.

Even ignoring the insane marketing the Olympics do for the NHL, I can't imagine how they think that would be a good idea

Also, where is my player tracking data?

I believe they said they'd release it at the end. Or something like that.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This would've been my team

Patches-Pavelski-Kane
Parise-Johnson-Kessel
Kreider-Stepan-Wheeler
JVR-Dubinsky-Okposo

McD-Carlson
Suter-Faulk
Yandle-Niskanen
Byfuglien

Schneider
Quick
Bishop

 

[NYR2007]

Can't believe how flat USA was ... I'm actually mad I invested 3 hours of my Saturday to watch that garbage

Feel bad for people that paid

 

[TheDirtyH]

This Canada/Czech broadcast is so uncomfortable. Too much studied use of hockey slang and compliments the cameras.

Also, ESPN hates Brett Hull for saying USA's done lol.

 

[Chaels Arms]

They probably would have taken guys like Backes over Eichel even if we didn't have the NA/USA thing going on.

USA needs to wake up. The grinder, blue collar hockey stuff doesn't need to be the mantra at these tournaments anywhere. Just send the best team you can.

 

[silverfish]

Honestly I prefer this tournament to the Olympics for a few reasons:

1. It doesn't cause a two week break during the season at an important time.

2. The Europe and NA teams are much more competitive than whatever horrible teams would be 7th/8th in the Olympics. The Europe team is one of the weakest in this thing...if you split them up into just Switzerland (despite their past success) or Norway you would just get really uncompetitive games.

3. Since the games are all in Toronto they are on at reasonable times and not like 3 in the morning.

4. Continuous OT in the "medal round" instead of games decided by a shootout.

5. It's a nice warmup just before the season to get ready for NHL hockey.

All good points. This tournament just doesn't really resonate with me. I'd wake up at 3am to watch the US in the Olympics. I don't know if I'd wake up at 3am for this (not that I'd ever have to, just as a comparison).

I believe they said they'd release it at the end. Or something like that.

Weak.

 

[SA16]

I was in Vegas last olympics and ended up sitting by myself or with a few people in the casino at like 3-4 AM to watch all the games. Watching them at normal times is much nicer than that.

 

[TheDirtyH]

I hope Canada doesn't blow through everybody like the Olympics.

Says so much about Tort's that he says this is a 'sprint not a marathon,' but takes a bunch of slower, less talented players to run with.

 

[Irishguy42]

I don't blame the NHL for what it's doing with the 2018 Olympics.

 

[aufheben]

Honestly I prefer this tournament to the Olympics for a few reasons:

1. It doesn't cause a two week break during the season at an important time.

2. The Europe and NA teams are much more competitive than whatever horrible teams would be 7th/8th in the Olympics. The Europe team is one of the weakest in this thing...if you split them up into just Switzerland (despite their past success) or Norway you would just get really uncompetitive games.

3. Since the games are all in Toronto they are on at reasonable times and not like 3 in the morning.

4. Continuous OT in the "medal round" instead of games decided by a shootout.

5. It's a nice warmup just before the season to get ready for NHL hockey.

All very valid points.

 

[Ola]

Honestly I prefer this tournament to the Olympics for a few reasons:

1. It doesn't cause a two week break during the season at an important time.

2. The Europe and NA teams are much more competitive than whatever horrible teams would be 7th/8th in the Olympics. The Europe team is one of the weakest in this thing...if you split them up into just Switzerland (despite their past success) or Norway you would just get really uncompetitive games.

3. Since the games are all in Toronto they are on at reasonable times and not like 3 in the morning.

4. Continuous OT in the "medal round" instead of games decided by a shootout.

5. It's a nice warmup just before the season to get ready for NHL hockey.

Why have one instead of both? Are you afraid the game will get too much attention?

 

[BBKers]

Buff stood during the anthem so he got to sit during the game. Torts logic

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Wonder how the best of 3 championship plays out.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Say what you want about Torts' style of play, but the most important element is buy-in from his players. I read all week about how team USA was going to be one of those grind it out/in your face/difficult to play against teams. They were anything but yesterday afternoon.

On that note, when is USA hockey going to step in and strip Brian Burke of any decision making ability?

 

[NickyFotiu]

It starts with Burke and his "truculent" brand of hockey. Tortorella is only a part of the bigger picture. I'm sure things will change as the '18 Olympics approach. Too many excellent young players and no "team North America" to stick them on.

If Torts was not the coach does Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callaghan get picked for this team in March 2016? Maybe they would in 2012 but in 2016?

 

[Ori]

Nino Nirderreiter so strong - wish Ranger could get him in a trade.

https://www.nhl.com/player/nino-niederreiter-8475799

 

[SA16]

Why have one instead of both? Are you afraid the game will get too much attention?

While I enjoy watching the olympics I do not really like it at all. It's too much sitting and watching and hoping someone doesn't get hurt. If a player gets hurt in the WC and they miss a few months that's bad but if they get the same injury in the Olympics and miss a few months now you're talking about out a couple of rounds in the playoffs.

 

[Fitzy]

Based on that performance, I'd say Sweden is the only team with a real shot of stopping Canada this tournament.

 

[Irishguy42]

Miller will not be playing for Team North America today.

 

[Ori]

Miller will not be playing for Team North America today.

I wish he could get that experience - hopefully he will get a match later in the tournament.

 

[silverfish]

Miller will not be playing for Team North America today.

Not surprising. Never really did anything to stand out in the prelim.

Obviously would be better if he was playing, but who in that top-12 should he take out?

 

[Irishguy42]

Not surprising. Never really did anything to stand out in the prelim.

Obviously would be better if he was playing, but who in that top-12 should he take out?

Trocheck/Miller has seemed to be the swap during exhibitions. They play relatively the same, and swapping one for another isn't really a huge difference.