Flames prospects at the 2021 WJC: Pelletier, Zary (CAN), Wolf (USA), Kuznetzov (RUS)

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Why? It's the best hockey played all year.

Originally Posted by codynw

Other than the shootouts in important games, the World Juniors are easily the most entertaining hockey of the year, every year. Gary Bettman wishes the Stanley Cup finals were this fun to watch.

I don't get this at all. In terms of the quality of hockey played the juniours do not come anywhere close to the NHL playoffs. I suspect this sentiment is fuelled heavily by the nostalgia and nationalism that envelopes this tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Agreed with this. As I get older, I have less time to watch hockey so Flames games always wins against WJC. I'd rather the Flames win a regular season game in Dec/Jan than Canada win gold (except if a Flame prospect plays a prominent role on the team).

If Zary and Pelletier didn't make the team and Wolf was somehow the starter for the US, I'd be rooting for the US no question

Still remember the year the US team had Johnny, who played against Nuge and Canada. I was Team USA all the way that year.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by BarDown

Mcdonald, Hunter, Peplinski. Hunter and Peplinski are in track pants because they were scratched.

Wow, thanks for answering that question! I can't imagine anybody on this board would have gotten that right.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Agreed with this. As I get older, I have less time to watch hockey so Flames games always wins against WJC. I'd rather the Flames win a regular season game in Dec/Jan than Canada win gold (except if a Flame prospect plays a prominent role on the team).



If Zary and Pelletier didn't make the team and Wolf was somehow the starter for the US, I'd be rooting for the US no question

I remember being considerably more invested in the WJC back when the Flames were a perennially bottom-third NHL team in a non-capped League. It was always a nice break to root for a powerhouse.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I remember being considerably more invested in the WJC back when the Flames were a perennially bottom-third NHL team in a non-capped League. It was always a nice break to root for a powerhouse.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Yeah. And those years were also before TSN started pumping up the tournament like crazy. Kind of annoying nowadays to be honest.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't get this at all. In terms of the quality of hockey played the juniours do not come anywhere close to the NHL playoffs. I suspect this sentiment is fuelled heavily by the nostalgia and nationalism that envelopes this tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

It's not just about the "quality" of the hockey. It's about the give a #### meter, and the style of hockey. It's less coached to death, games are faster, and every player on the team looks like nothing matters but winning. Can't say that about the NHL these days. World Juniors are usually more entertaining than Olympic hockey with NHL players to me (the Canadian 2014 men's team was borderline boring), so it's definitely not nationalism or nostalgia. It's just fun to watch.

[BarDown]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Wow, thanks for answering that question! I can't imagine anybody on this board would have gotten that right.

There are multiple generations of flames fans on this board. Some who weren't even born in 89, nevermind fans. I thought it might be of interest to some who maybe didn't see it...

Thanks for the snark though.

[MrMike]

Exactly what Codynw said. Passionate and less over coached with some pretty fun outcomes.

Completely different from NHL speed and skill but such a blast to watch.

[MoneyGuy]

If Canada has only players from rival NHL organizations and none from my team and they’re playing against the U.S. with players from my own team, I cheer for Canada. This is for nationalism, not for NHL allegiances.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Wow, thanks for answering that question! I can't imagine anybody on this board would have gotten that right.

I didn't know. Some of us were born after the glory days of Flames hockey. I for one appreciate learning things like that from this board!

No need to be condescending.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't get this at all. In terms of the quality of hockey played the juniours do not come anywhere close to the NHL playoffs. I suspect this sentiment is fuelled heavily by the nostalgia and nationalism that envelopes this tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

This. A lot of offense and fun plays to be enjoyed, as well as being highly competitive, but it does not feel like hockey executed at the highest level.

I love the chess match and war of attrition that the NHL can become deeper into the playoffs. I don't really get that from the WJC. But it is an entertaining sprint with international rivalry playing in.

Zary, Pelletier and Wolf are most of the reason I am tuning in. And that is enough to intrigue me greatly.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Why? It's the best hockey played all year.

Not really. Most games are blow outs and Canada is in a terrible division. Terrible in that they're in a division with weak teams so most games will be 8-1 or worse. At least the Flames prospects will keep my interest this year.

[topfiverecords]

Hockey executed mistake free at the highest level by both teams for a full 60 sometimes leads to some of the most boring hockey played.

It's the high chance opportunities both ways, mixed with the high skill and full effort that makes it exciting.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Fire

Not really. Most games are blow outs and Canada is in a terrible division. Terrible in that they're in a division with weak teams so most games will be 8-1 or worse. At least the Flames prospects will keep my interest this year.

I guess I should have said to watch, not played.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Wow, thanks for answering that question! I can't imagine anybody on this board would have gotten that right.

I didn’t know... that was pretty rude.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't get this at all. In terms of the quality of hockey played the juniours do not come anywhere close to the NHL playoffs. I suspect this sentiment is fuelled heavily by the nostalgia and nationalism that envelopes this tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Spoken like the true bitter Russian hockey fan you are! No amount of sour grapes will put them back on top of the gold medal rankings!

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't get this at all. In terms of the quality of hockey played the juniours do not come anywhere close to the NHL playoffs. I suspect this sentiment is fuelled heavily by the nostalgia and nationalism that envelopes this tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

That’s one take.

But a lot of people love hockey, and love junior hockey and that it is different from the pros. It’s not nostalgia IMO. Nationalism for sure. But the youth and exuberance is a big deal. And the stakes are high.

College football and basketball are immensely popular for some of the same reasons.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't get this at all. In terms of the quality of hockey played the juniours do not come anywhere close to the NHL playoffs. I suspect this sentiment is fuelled heavily by the nostalgia and nationalism that envelopes this tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Its almost as if the NHL implemented a system where every single playoff game was an elimination game, things might be more intense and "Gary Bettman" would get his wish.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by codynw

It's not just about the "quality" of the hockey. It's about the give a #### meter, and the style of hockey. It's less coached to death, games are faster, and every player on the team looks like nothing matters but winning. Can't say that about the NHL these days. World Juniors are usually more entertaining than Olympic hockey with NHL players to me (the Canadian 2014 men's team was borderline boring), so it's definitely not nationalism or nostalgia. It's just fun to watch.

Its a 2 week tournament............literally nothing DOES matter but winning. Kind of the point of the whole thing.

And to suggest that any WJC game is faster than NHL hockey... is preposterous.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Spoken like the true bitter Russian hockey fan you are! No amount of sour grapes will put them back on top of the gold medal rankings!

Comrade Detective.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk