[GDT] 2016 WJC: Round Robin Day 1. Tournament starts at 5AM. Canada vs USA 11AM. TSN

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think interest is growing for sure in those countries but it's not like it's front page news like it is in Canada.

It is pretty big in Sweden now. A few of their online papers have this tournament as the lead story for their sports sections.

Apparently it is also gets huge TV ratings in Sweden too.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by New Era

I think it might be pretty easy to look like garbage behind this team. Worst Canadian team I've seen in at least a decade. Zero team play. None. That kills a goaltender.

I like Lowry but you have to point some of this at the feet of the coach for not getting the players to play more of a team game. That said this team is lacking star talent compared to past Team Canada's for sure.

[greentree]

Too early to be second guessing this team, probably. But I've never been impressed by Dave Lowry as a coach.

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I agree but it has to be said this organization has really sucked at drafting goaltenders over the years. We have to hope that's changed recently as the organization really needs to develop a goaltender from within the organization.

The only real successful pick of a goalie by the Flames might be Mike Vernon.

[cofias]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

It is pretty big in Sweden now. A few of their online papers have this tournament as the lead story for their sports sections.

Apparently it is also gets huge TV ratings in Sweden too.

Can confirm that it is huge in Sweden, arguably more coverage than the regular WC which used to be the big thing in Europe. WJC interest grew explosively after Sweden hosted it in Leksand/Mora and simultaneously started icing more competitive rosters.

[CaptainCrunch]

Way to much a meat and potatoes team, and not a lot of offensive creativity or vision out there.

They just don't look like they're on the same page on the ice, and you can't fix lack of chemistry in a short period of time.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

It is pretty big in Sweden now. A few of their online papers have this tournament as the lead story for their sports sections.

Apparently it is also gets huge TV ratings in Sweden too.

Come on. We know hockey is just a sport invented by Canadians, only played in Canada, the IIHF put together this tournament for Canadians, and call the champions World Champions, so we Canadians can feel superior!

Now excuse me, I have to go get hyped up for the NFL tomorrow!!!

[getbak]

This is the downside of starting the tournament with a big game rather than the usual warm-up matches against the lower tier teams.

Oh well, since they changed the format so the top team in each pool no longer gets a bye to the semifinal, the value of winning the pool isn't what it used to be.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Didn't generate enough offence there. Seemed like Point and Strome were the only ones generating offence. I did like a bit of what I saw from Barzal at points. Strome looks like a franchise centre. Matthews looked as good or better than any of our players and he's not even drafted yet. That Tkachuk is really doing stuff as a draft eligible too. Let's not forget a guy like Nate MacKinnon was a grinder on Team Canada in his draft year. When guys are leading their team's offence at the World Juniors before they're drafted it's worth nothing. Top end of this draft looking promising.

Marner didn't impress me at all. Virtanen looks like the flaws in his scouting reports in his draft year.

McDonald didn't have the greatest game but I don't think it hangs on him. The 4th goal looked bad at first but after watching the replays that deflection really handcuffed him. I'd still like to see him with his back straighter when he's butterflied and maybe a touch deeper in net which would've helped on that bang, bang rebound off the boards and into the net goal.

Hickey looked fine to me, the defense is a little underwhelming overall compared to past years.

Tough matchup to start. Obviously lines and chemistry will continue to develop. Hopefully McDonald has a better outing next time but again I don't think we should be blaming him for those goals.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Oh come on. We all know that decision can't be evaluated for years.

You are right.

Mcdonald hasn't stood out to me thus far. Am going strictly by his numbers this year and the small sample size of the prep games and today.

Hopefully I'm wrong on this. It was intriguing that the flames chose him over demkho who was ranked as the top keeper that draft.

[flamesfever]

US goaltending was much superior.

[Rejean31]

C'mon folks!! He is a Flames pick, can we at least spell his name properly? It is Mason McDonald.

[dammage79]

I'm thinking that Canada-Sweden game is going to be a must win to at least tie with one of the U.S or SWE for the next round. Cannot let this loss sink in at all. They're going to need to go out and decimate the Swiss and Denmark to get that swagger back into their game.

[bax]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

You are right.



Macdonald hasn't stood out to me thus far. Am going strictly by his numbers this year and the small sample size of the prep games and today.



Hopefully I'm wrong on this. It was intriguing that the flames chose him over demkho who was ranked as the top keeper that draft.

Hasn't stood out to you based stat watching, 2 meaningless pre tournament games, and one game against some of the best competition in the world?

Regardless of how absurd that is, it's still a very small sample size.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by bax

Hasn't stood out to you based stat watching, 2 meaningless pre tournament games, and one game against some of the best competition in the world?

Regardless of how absurd that is, it's still a very small sample size.

I have no rebuttal. Absolutely, too small a sample size. Am looking or him to stand out given how well demkho has played this year.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I have no rebuttal. Absolutely, too small a sample size. Am looking or him to stand out given how well demkho has played this year.

I agree with you that they made the wrong pick there but that won't be officially determined for quite a few years from now.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

US goaltending was much superior.

Why, because he let in fewer goals?

Canada had worse chances, with no traffic in front.

Hard to beat a goalie clean these days.


The Americans played a lot better, Canada played like garbage.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Why, because he let in fewer goals?

Canada had worse chances, with no traffic in front.

Hard to beat a goalie clean these days.


The Americans played a lot better, Canada played like garbage.

I disagree, the American goalie made bigger saves during the course of the game.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I disagree, the American goalie made bigger saves during the course of the game.

I agree he did too, but I think it had more to do with being able to see the shots and didn't have defenceman tipping pucks in front of him.

McDonald didn't play great, but I think if you switched goalies the result would have been the same.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its interesting, I liked Virtanen in his draft year, but I was pretty adamant that he was a guy that would be a better late first round second round player because there were real concerns about his hockey IQ and discipline.

He's going to be a good physical player, but I doubt that he's ever going to be a consistent top 6 player in the NHL.

He really didn't look good in this game.