[GDT] 2015 IIHF WJC Finals: Da Da Canada

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Yeah Nurse looks good unfortunately. And once he fills out...damn.

Reminds me of Pronger, which is no good.

don't worry ... they'll #### it up

[ExiledFlamesFan]

They rolled through the tournament then faced a huge challenge against the Russians. Well deserved champs

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Helluva game by Nurse. It was the first time I've ever seen him play. If the Oilers can develop him properly, he'll be one heck of a defenseman.

Eberle looked like a superstar in this tournament as well and we know how that turned out. If anyone can wreck a promising young player it's definitely the Oilers

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Eberle looked like a superstar in this tournament as well and we know how that turned out. If anyone can wreck a promising young player it's definitely the Oilers

For where he was picked he turned into a pretty damn good player.

[Red John]

A few thoughts.

-Didn't like Canada switching to a 1-4 in the third, it was a lot of standing back but it actually worked as the Russians weren't used to it and couldn't adjust. Credit to Groulx he won the coaching battle in the 3rd and got the team to settle down a bit

-Nurse was good but have no fear Flames fans. He lacks hockey IQ which can't be taught so while his physical skills were on full display tonight its easy for him to do that here surrounded by a team that will insulate his mistakes and reads. He won't have that on the Oilers

-Huge Madison Bowey fan here but he had a rough tournament (not just tonight). Seemed to struggle with decision-making and was guilty of trying to do too much.

-Frederik Gauthier will not be a NHLer. Guy is super slow. Like really slow.

-Zach Fucale still seemed to fight the puck in the 3rd a bit - has decent skills but not sure he has the mental makeup to be a starter in the NHL. Projects as a backup

-Hopefully Canada learned from getting it right this year. You don't take a team of pluggers - you take the best players (minus Gauthier who clearly was on this team for PKs and faceoffs) and get them to buy into the roles coaching staff asks them to fill. The difference between this years team and last years abomination is absolute night and day in terms of skill

-Always nice to see Canada beat Russia at anything. Why do Russians have to be such sore sports? Already down 2-0 early on and the D-man who scores immediately goes over to the Canadian bench and taunts. You're still losing and taunting? Unbelievable. Looks good on that loser.

-Nice little tournament for Domi - guy sure likes the drag and shot something that won't be available to him at the next level - can probably carve out a career as a pseudo-agitator though as he has a bit of that quality to him

-Virtanen has great speed, shot and truculence but my goodness is his hockey IQ low. Possibly the lowest we've seen since Rene Bourque

-Petan has a lot of skill - million dollar question is whether he'll be able to translate the kind of game he plays to the next level. Probably works better as a winger in the NHL than a centre and a PP specialist.

-Tough act to follow next year. This was one of the best teams put together in recent memory - right blend of high end skill, smarts and willingness to buy in. Never trailed in the tournament. Not as good as the 2005 team but probably better than the 2006-09 versions or at the very least, on par (06 excluded).

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Fun game to watch. Thought for sure Russia would tie it up early in the 3rd.
Reinhart would be a superstar if he had an extra gear or two. Still should be a really great player, very smart.
Nurse played well in this tourney, a couple stupid plays and penalties but he looked good.
Raifikov was quietly good. Could be a steal of a pick.

[dammage79]

@ Red John, I think the Russians weren't being poor sports, they were trying to bait Canada into taking penalties of their own and it worked. It was no coincidence that they made it 5-4 after all the shenanigans.

I also thought the Russians going over to congratulate the Canadians after the game was also a very non poor sport thing to do. They could've pouted like the Swedes earlier today.

I agree with you Virtanen comments. Kid can Skates and Shoot with the best of them. But I don't think I saw a good pass from him all tourney. Not much IQ needed when you can rush the puck up the ice like that. Just needs a Tanguay type for a line mate.

[Red Menace]

Wonder if these tournaments would have any drama if they were true best-on-best U20 events. Add MacKinnon, Ekblad, Drouin, Bennett, Horvat., and imagine the result....and it's the same every year...

[N-E-B]

Now I can stop cheering for Domi and Nurse... Domi bugs me, and Nurse unfortunately is a greaser. Not his fault.

[IamNotKenKing]

I actually was not impressed with Petan at all. Expected more from Ritchie, too. Loved Lazar though. Best attitude I've ever seen, and looks like a nice player, too.
Agree on Nurse and Rafikov comments.
Nurse may be a solid #3, while Rafikov could surprise to a #4.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Wonder if these tournaments would have any drama if they were true best-on-best U20 events. Add MacKinnon, Ekblad, Drouin, Bennett, Horvat., and imagine the result....and it's the same every year...

The other teams have youngsters in the NHL too. You don't think Russia would've been better with Valeri Nichushkin or Finland with Alexander Barkov?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Red John

-Tough act to follow next year. This was one of the best teams put together in recent memory - right blend of high end skill, smarts and willingness to buy in. Never trailed in the tournament. Not as good as the 2005 team but probably better than the 2006-09 versions or at the very least, on par (06 excluded).

Just have to slightly disagree with this one statement. It may have been a very good team, but the competition this year was putrid leading up to the gold medal match. The round robin was pinning the best vs the worst, and most of the other teams simply just played flat. Russia dominated Sweden who looked like 13 year olds playing against 15 year olds. The quality of the other teams I'd argue, was simply not there, as were the round robin matchups, which is why Canada looked good. When we look back on this, I think there will be 5 Canada players who will carve out a regular NHL spot, with maybe 2 being stars. A lot of this flash and dash simply wouldn't work in the NHL game when the bigger and smarter guys would just lean on you or take away the angle to do much. Not every undersized guy can be a Gaudreau!

On a side note, the hyping of McDavid has begun, but despite his points I was far more impressed with Crosby's skill at a young age then McDavid's. Sure he'll be good, but I'm personally skeptical so far that he's up to Crosby's standard.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Wonder if these tournaments would have any drama if they were true best-on-best U20 events. Add MacKinnon, Ekblad, Drouin, Bennett, Horvat., and imagine the result....and it's the same every year...

You probably end up with 2005 style "Dream Team" domination more often than not.

Originally Posted by Geeoff

The other teams have youngsters in the NHL too. You don't think Russia would've been better with Valeri Nichushkin or Finland with Alexander Barkov?

Yes, but usually year after year it's the Canadians missing out on better talent, and more of it, because of NHL obligations.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

The other teams have youngsters in the NHL too. You don't think Russia would've been better with Valeri Nichushkin or Finland with Alexander Barkov?

So one player for each team?

Yea, Canada would be way better with the above mentioned.

[troutman]

I agree with fleury - I have not seen a lot of McDavid, but it seems to me he is not on Crosby's level.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by troutman

I agree with fleury - I have not seen a lot of McDavid, but it seems to me he is not on Crosby's level.

I'd agree. I liked both he and Eichel at times in this tourney, but they both look like they'll be really good hockey players, not generational talents. Teams would still be lucky to add either one, but I was expecting a bit more.

[OzSome]

Very impressed with Max Domi and Sam Reinhart in this tournament. I actually thought Fabbri(before injury), Petan, Lazar, Gauthier and even Point was pretty good. McDavid did well too but I was expecting more from him like dominate this tournament. Besides he might turn out to be a Greasers the way the Oilers are playing right now so it's better to learn to hate him now. For defensemen, they are all pretty equal to me nobody really stand out ahead of anyone.
For the other teams. I thought Rafikov was smooth skaters and defenseman for Russia. Looking forward in seeing this guy in Flames uniform someday. Eichel from US looks good too. I didn't really see Sweden or Czech or Finland play much. That Slovakian goalie Godla was pretty good. He's the only reason Canada didn't killed them in the game.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by OzSome

That Slovakian goalie Godla was pretty good. He's the only reason Canada didn't killed them in the game.

Good in WJC doesn't always translate to NHL... Ask Justin Pogge

[Red John]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'd agree. I liked both he and Eichel at times in this tourney, but they both look like they'll be really good hockey players, not generational talents. Teams would still be lucky to add either one, but I was expecting a bit more.

It's still a 19-year olds tournament. Even Crosby didn't dominate in it.

McDavid made some plays that normal hockey players don't see. Haven't seen a player since Crosby make them. He has elite acceleration and awareness.

He's going to be the best player since Crosby but not as good as Crosby. Better than MacKinnon for sure but time will tell if he overtakes guys like Stamkos and Tavares (though he is completely a different type of player than either of those two).

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Red John

It's still a 19-year olds tournament. Even Crosby didn't dominate in it.

McDavid made some plays that normal hockey players don't see. Haven't seen a player since Crosby make them. He has elite acceleration and awareness.

He's going to be the best player since Crosby but not as good as Crosby. Better than MacKinnon for sure but time will tell if he overtakes guys like Stamkos and Tavares (though he is completely a different type of player than either of those two).

I wasn't expecting him to dominate. He was just 'meh' in the first few games but got stronger as the tourney went on, so that's a positive. He's also coming off an injury so I'll cut him some slack for that too.

I actually thought Eichel looked much better earlier in the tourney, but faded slightly. And don't get me wrong, I like both players. I was just expecting a bit more. Maybe my expectations were a bit out of whack given all the hype surrounding both players over the past year or so.