[GT] Canada VS Sweden - Four Nations Face-Off - Feb 12, 2025

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Mackinnon plays the game with such aggression. He wants to be the guy that ends it. I like that. And every chance was a good one. He's a bull out there.

100%. A bull is a great way to describe him and it's what separates him from others. Some whine about him being a puck hog, but I want him to be a puck hog in OT.

[CroFlames]

I think puck hog is a great way to describe the NHL's assist leader.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Kidder

I’ve been curious if this tournament ignites a fire in Crosby and he reassesses his decision to just stay in Pittsburgh to wind down his career.

It’s clear that if he jumped on a cup contender he still has it in him to be a difference maker and elevate a team.

It would help out Pittsburgh too, returning a slew of picks and prospects to set them up for the nearer future.

Does Crosby get swooned by the crowds and praise and decides he wants to play meaningful hockey with a chance at another cup again?

I could see the Avs but that's about it and probably not this season

[Calgary]

Crosby would look great in Colorado. He said he has no interest in leaving the Pens.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I think puck hog is a great way to describe the NHL's assist leader.

Kadri led the Flames (a team that has Jonathan Huberdeau on it) in assists last season, is second this year, and led the Avalanche in assists the year they won the cup, but none of that has stopped people from calling him a puck hog.

[White Out 403]

I was watching some highlights of the opening game, and people were rightfully praising Sidney Crosby. Crosby may go down as the greatest Team Canada hockey player ever, alongside Wayne Gretzky.

... But it did make me think about Jarome Iginla. Iggy won two Olympic gold medals before hanging up his skates, which is pretty rare. But he was also an excellent player in both tournaments and a key contributor. I wonder if his legacy isn't talked about enough.

The man was absolutely dominant, a great leader, and robbed of a Hart Trophy. One of the great Canadians to ever lace up the skates.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Your 2nd point kinda invalidates your argument because Canada was a disaster in 1998 AND 1996, and for 50 straight years before that.

No, it doesn't at all; if Canada had lost in 2002, it would have been the continuation of the drought, and the narrative would have been that the US were extra determined to win on home ice. On the other hand, Canada losing on 2010 home ice would have been extra crushing because of the way 2006 went down (too many legacy picks on that team while snubbing Crosby and others). While 2002 lifted our spirits as Canadian hockey fans, a loss in 2010 may have put a huge damper on all that, and signaled a return to mediocrity on the world stage. In other words, we wouldn't be able to say that 2006 was a one-off. We wouldn't be able to say that Canada is truly back as a dominant hockey world power in best-on-best hockey.

Crosby's OT winner against the US was an extremely important goal for this country.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I was watching some highlights of the opening game, and people were rightfully praising Sidney Crosby. Crosby may go down as the greatest Team Canada hockey player ever, alongside Wayne Gretzky.

... But it did make me think about Jarome Iginla. Iggy won two Olympic gold medals before hanging up his skates, which is pretty rare. But he was also an excellent player in both tournaments and a key contributor. I wonder if his legacy isn't talked about enough.

The man was absolutely dominant, a great leader, and robbed of a Hart Trophy. One of the great Canadians to ever lace up the skates.

Absolutely. And he rarely gets mentioned on the golden goal of 2010. Iggy won a battle against two players in the corner to get the puck to Crosby. One of the biggest moments in Canadian sports history and Iggy was the beast in the corner that made it happen. Crosby should praise him every time he’s ever asked about that gold medal for the rest of his life. All of us should.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I was watching some highlights of the opening game, and people were rightfully praising Sidney Crosby. Crosby may go down as the greatest Team Canada hockey player ever, alongside Wayne Gretzky.

... But it did make me think about Jarome Iginla. Iggy won two Olympic gold medals before hanging up his skates, which is pretty rare. But he was also an excellent player in both tournaments and a key contributor. I wonder if his legacy isn't talked about enough.

The man was absolutely dominant, a great leader, and robbed of a Hart Trophy and a Stanley Cup. One of the great Canadians to ever lace up the skates.

Fixed your post.

[dino7c]

50 straight years without gold is kinda irrelevant when you don't send your best players anyway. Canada has won the vast majority of best on best tournaments

[bluejays]

Oiler dislike aside, McDavid is the most talented player we've ever witnessed. It's a sample of one game now in a pro team Canada uniform so obviously he wasn't the standout player. Let's see how the careers end, but for my money if there was one player who I'd start my team with, age ignored, it would be him. That doesn't mean any ill will to Crosby, or MacKinnon. I just love that skating and stickhandling. Crosby's low centre of gravity and backhand passing are amazing to see as well, while MacKinnon's relentless drive and fast dekes are fun too. It really is a shame for years we didn't see a true international tournament with all of them.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by activeStick

100%. A bull is a great way to describe him and it's what separates him from others. Some whine about him being a puck hog, but I want him to be a puck hog in OT.

The only play where he probably should have passed was the 3-1

But the defender played the pass very well and the other players on the rush with him didn't really move in a way that opened up a passing lane either.

So he took what the dman gave him and took it to the net.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Oiler dislike aside, McDavid is the most talented player we've ever witnessed. It's a sample of one game now in a pro team Canada uniform so obviously he wasn't the standout player. Let's see how the careers end, but for my money if there was one player who I'd start my team with, age ignored, it would be him. That doesn't mean any ill will to Crosby, or MacKinnon. I just love that skating and stickhandling. Crosby's low centre of gravity and backhand passing are amazing to see as well, while MacKinnon's relentless drive and fast dekes are fun too. It really is a shame for years we didn't see a true international tournament with all of them.

Nah. It’s Crosby. Proved it last night. Best player on the ice even having lost a step.

[White Out 403]

I thought McDavid was mostly bull#### in that game

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I think the main point is that points are great, but championships are better. Crosby knows how to play when the chips are down. He makes people around him better.

It's this.

There's a cerebral element to the game that separates Crosby and McDavid, as well as perhaps an ability to execute in pressure when the chips are down, and that why Sid has three championships and McDavid will be fortunate to secure one as he begins his decline.

Also E=NG.

[Wastedyouth]

I mean, let's be honest, McDavid was really good. He was just outshined by Crosby on a bunch of scoring plays.

McDavid was making high end plays with speed the entire game. At 5v5 he and his line generated 19(!) shot attempts for.

Crosby's line only generated 9 and were underwater possession wise.

Crosby is the goat, obviously. But Connor McDavid (and his linemates) were ridiculously good every time they were on the ice at even strength.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by dino7c

50 straight years without gold is kinda irrelevant when you don't send your best players anyway. Canada has won the vast majority of best on best tournaments

Anyone who was around in 2002 would know that didn’t mean #### to the country, the fans, the media or the players. The drought was a huge deal, NHLers or not.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Anyone who was around in 2002 would know that didn’t mean #### to the country, the fans, the media or the players. The drought was a huge deal, NHLers or not.

98 Nagano was the same thing. Unreal pain.

[Nadal Fan]

Fun fact since 98 when NHLers went to the Olympics, no Canadian has more Olympic points than Iginla. Iginla has 14 across 3 Olympics including 2 Golds. Sakic is 2nd with 13 points.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Sid and Iggy have been the best for Canada in the last 25 years. It's fitting that they would combine for the golden goal.

I believe Iggy was purposely buried on that 2010 line up too. Babcock wasn't a fan going in (or so it was rumoured).