[GT] WJC: Bronze Medal - FIN vs RUS (3:30pm MT). Gold Medal - CAN vs USA (7:30 pm MT)

[3rd liner]

Next time Canada beats the US let’s bring a dumpster out on the ice with the US logo on it. No, no disrespect, it’s actually a recycling bin and we respect recycling. Come on US, seriously? Beat a rival and do this in plain view of media?

[Manhattanboy]

Cancel Team USA!

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/1346702907891011587

I love this.

Exactly what you want to see in a leader. Silver lining in this tournament is just how well he performed. Cant wait to see what he can do in the future

[N-E-B]

I have no issues with the barrel thing, and I do believe them when they say that’s what it was. Putting it in the picture is in poor taste though. I’m surprised nobody thought of the optics with that one.

Not a huge deal though. It’s their thing. They earned the right to celebrate and take that photo, so even though I wouldn’t have done the same thing all the power to them.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I have no issues with the barrel thing, and I do believe them when they say that’s what it was. Putting it in the picture is in poor taste though. I’m surprised nobody thought of the optics with that one.

Not a huge deal though. It’s their thing. They earned the right to celebrate and take that photo, so even though I wouldn’t have done the same thing all the power to them.

I don't think it's a big deal either.

Canada is always the team to beat. To the rest of the hockey world, we're the baddies and hog the attention. If international hockey was the NHL, Canada is basically the Leafs, but with an actual reputation for winning.

Other countries want to beat us into the ground and feel good when they do.

[combustiblefuel]

Meh ... I feel this year isn't really a great showing from any team to be honest. Usually when players show up they have been at the grind for almost 4 months. This year alot of leagues haven't even started. This is pre season for most players as they haven't actually played a game till the round Robin. It was a mediocre tournament overall due to plague times.

[indes]

Really looked like team Canada bought into their own hype.

Right off the bat you could see the Americans adjusted their game to beat the Canadians,

Ultra aggressive forecheck, D activated from the get go, hard on pucks.

Canada didn't adjust whatsoever, just stuck to the plan as if they were the 2010 Olympic team and were going to grind out a win. I couldn't believe the hesitation to activate the D when down 2-0. It was a very perimeter game for Canada, waiting for the US to make a mistake, instead of imposing their will.

Very disappointed in the coaching staff and the systems they employed. You could tell who wanted it more and when the Americans showed that aggression, the Canadians fell apart.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I think there is very little to read in to this

Canada had no adversity coming in, the US were scared by Finland. Canada had not trailed in the tournament and the US hadn’t let in an even strength goal.

Some puck luck for the US, some iron for Canada. Typical Junior play with big momentum swings. Young kids unable to really lock things down from a momentum perspective on the US side, holding on for dear life while Canada puts on some good pressure and yet Canada still makes a bunch of individual / bad decisions that would likely be frustrating to watch if they weren’t kids thrown together for a quick tourney

Great to see Pelletier, I think he will be good one day soon. And that Holloway will be no good one day soon

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I love this.

Exactly what you want to see in a leader. Silver lining in this tournament is just how well he performed. Cant wait to see what he can do in the future

Alex Lafreniere agrees

https://twitter.com/user/status/1346817310787391493

[Fire]

I believe I voted Zary over Pelletier in the prospect ranking, but I would definitely reverse that if the voting was done after this tournament. Pelletier had a very solid tournament and looks like he could be ready for the NHL in 2021-22. Zary had a below average tournament. He doesn't seem like he has much skill handling the puck or the skating to be an impactful player in the top-6. He does look like a hard-nosed player with a lot of passion in his play. I doubt you see him see significant NHL games until 2023-24.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Fire

I believe I voted Zary over Pelletier in the prospect ranking, but I would definitely reverse that if the voting was done after this tournament. Pelletier had a very solid tournament and looks like he could be ready for the NHL in 2021-22. Zary had a below average tournament. He doesn't seem like he has much skill handling the puck or the skating to be an impactful player in the top-6. He does look like a hard-nosed player with a lot of passion in his play. I doubt you see him see significant NHL games until 2023-24.

Zary's skating needs a lot more work than advertised. Other attributes seem solid but the skating really needs to be fixed. He is fast in one direction but not quick to turn or make moves, and his balance (maybe core strength?) is poor, especially when challenged. He likes to do swooping moves over top of the circles too, I noticed it a few times last night and i think it's to build up speed for cuts in the slot, meaning he is not as confident in his burst speed compared to Pelletier for example. It threw off his linemates a couple times. He also struggled to elevate the puck in close throughout the tournament (notably on the shot last night before giving it to the ref) though that has seemingly been a strength in the past, so perhaps it was the spotlight that got to him a bit.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Zary's skating needs a lot more work than advertised. Other attributes seem solid but the skating really needs to be fixed. He is fast in one direction but not quick to turn or make moves, and his balance (maybe core strength?) is poor, especially when challenged. He likes to do swooping moves over top of the circles too, I noticed it a few times last night and i think it's to build up speed for cuts in the slot, meaning he is not as confident in his burst speed compared to Pelletier for example. It threw off his linemates a couple times. He also struggled to elevate the puck in close throughout the tournament (notably on the shot last night before giving it to the ref) though that has seemingly been a strength in the past, so perhaps it was the spotlight that got to him a bit.

This is 100% an accurate description.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I really wanted the Flames to grab Mercer, but they didn't have the opportunity. After watching most of the tournament, I wasn't very impressed with Mercer though. Anybody else have any input about him?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Zary's skating needs a lot more work than advertised...

If this is your takeaway, then maybe you weren't paying much attention during the draft? Zary's skating is definitely an issue and it will certainly need work, but this should not come as a surprise to anyone. He kind of skates like Tkachuk out there.


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[Nelson]

As other posters previously said, Pelletier definitely shows the way in his actions and words. I was very impressed with his play too.

From Pelletier:

What can I say? Really not the end we wanted. Not the outcome we were hoping for. Sad but at the same time really proud of that group. It has been a pleasure to play for our country. Thank you canada for your support ! All that said I am proud to be canadian❤️🇨🇦

https://twitter.com/jak_pelletier/st...142266881?s=21

[Manhattanboy]

They went one after the other in the draft - I guess after the tournament people are happy with Zary over Barron?

[TheIronMaiden]

Pelletier's puck support is excellent. I knew he had great habits ( hard starts and stops, back checking and forechecking hard), but when I have seen him play before he was the "star". This tourney he proved that he complements other players really well. He is the kind of guy who will get slotted higher in the lineup than his skill might suggest, just because he makes other players better.

I had a opposite reaction for Zary. Zary didn't look very sure away from the puck. It could be because he never played with the same players often enough, or it could be a function that he has made a career being a puck carrier. Either way cowboy puck carriers need to be damn good otherwise they struggle ( Czarnik comes to mind). Hopefully this tourny is only a step in his development and helps him get on the level away from the puck he needs.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Zary's skating needs a lot more work than advertised. Other attributes seem solid but the skating really needs to be fixed. He is fast in one direction but not quick to turn or make moves, and his balance (maybe core strength?) is poor, especially when challenged. He likes to do swooping moves over top of the circles too, I noticed it a few times last night and i think it's to build up speed for cuts in the slot, meaning he is not as confident in his burst speed compared to Pelletier for example. It threw off his linemates a couple times. He also struggled to elevate the puck in close throughout the tournament (notably on the shot last night before giving it to the ref) though that has seemingly been a strength in the past, so perhaps it was the spotlight that got to him a bit.

This is a good analysis. The “swooping moves” are not just skating IMO, and I think you’ve analyzed it well. There’s an element of strength, fitness or motor there.

No reason to believe he can’t improve in these areas. Hell Rasmus was Homer Simpson his first two NHL camps.

To me Tkachuk’s skating is a little different. He’s not a great skater, but seems he has no problem with quick starts and cuts.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

This is a good analysis. The “swooping moves” are not just skating IMO, and I think you’ve analyzed it well. There’s an element of strength, fitness or motor there.

No reason to believe he can’t improve in these areas. Hell Rasmus was Homer Simpson his first two NHL camps.

To me Tkachuk’s skating is a little different. He’s not a great skater, but seems he has no problem with quick starts and cuts.

Tkachuk is always in position too.

[Enoch Root]

I think a lot of it for Zary comes down to core strength - he hasn't filled out yet and really needs to build his core and leg strength, which will help his edges and balance.

One of the things about a tournament like this is that kids mature at different ages, and some 19 year olds are not as developed as others. There are men out there, and there are boys. I think Zary is still the latter.

The other thing to keep in mind is opportunity. He was used very sparingly, and often with different partners - very difficult to gain any confidence or momentum. Pretty tough situation for him, and I think it is premature to draw too much from that 7 game window.