[News] Draisatl back to WHL

[dammage79]

I thought the crowds were good in Finland last year. Russia has great crowds too when it's there. And Sweden I am sure will have great crowds as well.

Let's not pretend that MTL has had pretty dismal turn outs for this tournament either.

As far as the WJC goes, TSN was built on it. So of course they're going to stick with it and pump it's tires. I don't have a problem with it. I personally enjoy watching and cheering for other countries during it. I'm kind of over the sensationalism of the Canadian team. I still cheer for them #1 but the hype is too much.

Case in point the Eichel/McDavid hyping. No one cares about it except TSN trying to build some story up where there isn't one.


EDIT: Good for Draisaitl, glad he got sent back. Might be late but I'm a little surprised that Edmonton actually did the right thing for their asset.

[Vedder]

Foolish if Edmonton's only reason for not sending him to the WJC was because he didn't want to go. Since they knew junior was the endgame anyway, it was a good opportunity for him to face better competition than he'll see in the WHL, without being completely outclassed like he is in the NHL.

[getbak]

As hard as it is to believe, the Oilers have won more games since Boxing Day than Germany did at the WJCs.

[Table 5]

Even without the TSN hype, it's still the best tournament to gauge the best hockey players of a certain age...something you can't say about the Spengler Cup or World Championships.

Personally I watch the WJC's to check out any Flames prospects or upcoming potential draft picks. In years like this one where we have only 1 prospect, my interest goes down considerably. Cheering for a good Canadian outcome is kind of secondary. I typically only really care about the outcome if they are playing the Russians or Swedes or Americans...and even then I want to see Flames prospects, no matter the country, do well. I loved seeing Gaudreau ripping it up.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by getbak

As hard as it is to believe, the Oilers have won more games since Boxing Day than Germany did at the WJCs.

I imagine they might have fared better with their #1 center though.

[Vulcan]

I'd be watching it even if TSN wasn't hyping it. I like watching Team Canada and I like watching prospects. It's also good quality hockey where the kids are giving it all from every country.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I thought the crowds were good in Finland last year. Russia has great crowds too when it's there. And Sweden I am sure will have great crowds as well.

Other way around, Malmo was last year and Helsinki should be great next year

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

They need to send him down, he's looked pretty meh to me, and sure a lot of that has to do with his confidence. But they are going to have to figure out his skating.

Agree 100%

[sureLoss]

Kelowna Rockets @Kelowna_Rockets
It's official: The #Rockets have acquired F Leon Draisaitl from Prince Albert after #NHL's Oilers released to #WHL Sunday. Will play Wed.

Kelowna Rockets @Kelowna_Rockets
Kelowna sends Swiss import Kris Schmidli, D-man Dalton Yorke, 1st round #WHL bantam draft pick ('15) to Raiders in deal to acquire Draisaitl

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I thought the crowds were good in Finland last year. Russia has great crowds too when it's there. And Sweden I am sure will have great crowds as well.

Let's not pretend that MTL has had pretty dismal turn outs for this tournament either.

As far as the WJC goes, TSN was built on it. So of course they're going to stick with it and pump it's tires. I don't have a problem with it. I personally enjoy watching and cheering for other countries during it. I'm kind of over the sensationalism of the Canadian team. I still cheer for them #1 but the hype is too much.

Case in point the Eichel/McDavid hyping. No one cares about it except TSN trying to build some story up where there isn't one.


EDIT: Good for Draisaitl, glad he got sent back. Might be late but I'm a little surprised that Edmonton actually did the right thing for their asset.

Sweden was last year, Finland is next.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by codynw

Yea, but I'm sure if he had known they were going to send him back he would have liked to play.

So you think he'd opt to lose a lot of games for nothing over lose a lot games for a significant salary?

[Weitz]

Pretty easy call not to send him. He has played there twice and Germany most likely would have been relegated anyway. Its not like he would be going down to play for Canada and have a chance at winning.

He is now with Kelowna for what is likely a run at the Memorial cup. At the end, contrary to popular opinion, this will probably end up being a really good year of development for Leon.