So, now what? After watching 11 days of the World Junior Hockey Championship, I now have to go back to the NHL...you'd assume that its a good thing to watch higher quality athletes playing a high paced skill game...boy was I wrong. In case anyone cared, the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the city of Brotherly Love, to watch, errrr play the Philadelphia Flyers. Well lets just say, this wasn't a very good game to watch at all. It looked like I was watching little kids on the ice...literally. There was absolutely no flow to the game, and the Leafs looked like they were playing positional hockey. Only problem with the Leafs style of positional hockey, is that they were out of position about 2 seconds too late. Sometimes I do wish I actually lived in Saskatchewan, your hometown hero's are the junior players who play for Regina Pats, or the Brandon Wheat Kings...at least you can say, they are kids, they're still learning the game. Plus in Saskatchewan, its the only place in the country where you can see your dog for three days after it has ran away...
The Leafs lost tonight, the bigger story out of the whole game was probably the fact that Dan Carcillo thinks he attends University of Texas...the guy keeps putting up the Texas Long Horns sign any chance he gets...I think he got knocked in the head one too many times. My opinion, take it if you well...I've heard him speak, he's not very good at speaking...he makes a brown immigrant from Calcutta (yeah Kev, I had to big up my Bengali people) sound like an English Scholar....Of note, I think there was a fight at the Wacovia Centre...I wonder if they have a jail in the basement like Old Veterans Stadium did....
So after a bunch of positive notes about the World Juniors, let me mention this...in the final 8 minutes of the game, Canada looked very out of sync. Players were trying to do too much individually and weren't playing the true team game. I like the way Kadri plays, its hard nosed and it gets the job done. But he tried doing toe drags and in between the legs deeks that were not necessary. We do have to remember, these players are all under 20, and they are after all boys, and still learning the game. Of note as well, I think Hockey Canada should take it as a huge compliment as the coach of the USA team mentioned that he molded the team and in fact the Junior U.S. Program after Canada's Program of Excellence, because well look how well Canada is doing, they must be doing something right. The drive for 5 starts again, but its going to be a tough road ahead that's for sure. Some of the brighter spots in the tournament was the play of Swiss Hockey. It was good to see that program finally come out of the Relegation Round and start cementing themselves as a Pool A or B regular in the tournament. The sport will never be as big as skiing or tennis, but hey its a start. It was weird to see the Slovaks and the Czechs and the Russians and Fins not even play for a medal. Your going to have to think, if Russia doesn't perform well in Vancouver, Russian Hockey will have a huge Summit (similar to what Canada had done in 1998 after the World Juniors placed 8th and the Olympic shocker of finishing fourth and not even a medal).
I am definitely looking forward to the Vancouver Olympics, more so to see the enjoyment in the eyes of the players who dreamed of playing for their country in the Olympics. Just think, Sydney Crosby was just 10 years old the first time the NHL sent their players to the Olympics, and it has in all honesty been the absolute best thing for the sport. If basketball can do it and promote the game world wide (look at the Raps international team), then the same benefit will be had by going to Nagano, Salt Lake City, Torino, Vancouver and hopefully Sochi, Russia in 2014.
Thanks for everyone whose enjoyed the blog, and given me a medium to field my thoughts. I've always been known as sports guy to my friends, so this is quite a thrill for me to do this!
Going with the theme of what Big Kev did, I plan on doing a prediction on Friday for Saturday's games in the NHL...who knows when the Frozen Four happens I might even blog about that!!!
Dentists must love hockey players, they get their teeth knocked out, and then after the player retires, he gets new ones put in...its like reverse osmosis...
Remember, if a puck hits you in the face, don't cry...its only rubber...
Follow me on twitter... @jollybenjabi
How can anyone actually go back to watching the NHL after watching the WJ tournament? I can't remember watching hockey and being so into the game like I was when the Canadians played the Americans in both games. Its wide open, fast pace hockey; what more could you ask for. Just a few comments about the team in general. Eberle was a stud; bar none the best player in the tourny. Kadri did not look impressive at all, while Hall had some flashes of brilliance, and should be a future stud. Ryan Ellis was probably the worst defenseman in Team Canada HISTORY. God awful to watch, while Pertangelo was good. But when you live by the sword, you die by it, and in his case, he got caught in the end when he jumped up into the play...yet again. Scandella (with a little bias because I know him) was probably the best shut down D they had. Finally, next to Ellis, Canada couldn't have sent a worse dual in net. They were god awful as well. Anyways, the Americans deserved the win, and hopefully after this, hockey popularity my grow more down there. I guess we will find out next year in Buffalo.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Elis and the goaltending...really really bad...lets not make the popularity of Hockey in the states be measured by Buffalo, because we all know southern ontario will be there...but 5 players from non traditional hockey markets is a good step...thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to comment on one other issue. Team Canada's picks for the olympics. I want to know what you guys think about the selection. I just wanted to say that all in all, I was happy with their picks aside from about 3-4, starting with defense. Someone explain to me why they picked Neidemeyer and Pronger? I hope no one says it's for their experience and/or leadership. Neidemeyer is probably the slowest defenseman we have (has lost a few steps in the past several years) and Pronger falls into the same category. If anything, they both will be prone to penalties. Just watch. Someone may argue that it won't be a problem because its not going to be on an international ice surface, but that will not change anything. Pronger = clutch and grab. Solution: Boewmister and Green. Yes, they may not have the best plus minuses but they can skate with the other teams, not to mention, score... which one our big problem in Turin.
ReplyDeleteAs for the forwards, there was only one questionable pick there, and that was Patrice Bergeron.. I would of def. had Carter on that team way before Bergeron. And what about Lecavlier or Savard? They are much better all around players than Bergeron. Marc Savard makes him look great, just like he did Kessel.
Who do you think gets the starters job in nets? They better give it to Luongo (by far the best goalie in the league now) but by the way team Canada plays it, they will start Brodeur....because of "experience"... Look what happened when they picked Smyth, Draper, etc etc etc in 2006... Experience only gets you so far. You need speed and skill when it comes playing against the best in the world.. Anyways, tell me what you guys think.
The Niedermyer and Pronger picks, agreed however they bring a lil toughness into the mix...I don't see either of them being paired of together. Here is the way I see the defensive pairs : Weber and Neidermyer, Pronger and Boyle, Keith and Seabrook...if Pronger is prone to his old ways...then watch for Doughty to go right into the mix.
ReplyDeleteForwards I love the Bergeron pick! Reason being...2005 World Juniors in Grand Forks, Crosby and Bergeron were on the same line and tore the tournament up...they will be line mates with Iginla on the other wing!
Lots of ifs ands or buts...but with stevie y and babcock at the helm, you have to feel confidence with them...
I think if Canada was concerned about toughness on the point, they would have choose Phaneuf, who is more skilled and faster than both Pronger and Meyer combined. I would agree and hope your predictions are correct on defense, otherwise, we are in trouble if those two are paired. Any word on if Canada will/can chose a potential replacement for Bergeron if his injury does not heal in time for the Olympics? And how severe is this injury? I think I heard 2-3 weeks... Anyways, like you said, I hope Stevie Y knows what he is doing; I never questioned his ability on the ice. Love Babcock as the coach as well; seems like he has the ability to gel great players on a team and make them work best as a team.
ReplyDeleteI heard Bergeron's injury won't be going into the Olympics, and no reserves have been officially named but I think Stevie Y called a couple of players (Carter and Bouwmeester would be my guess) mentioning they are the reserves in case Canada needs them. You think Luongo will take over the starting job or will Marty keep it?
ReplyDeleteBobby,
ReplyDeleteI may be wrong but I would say that Brodeur will get the nod, even though I think the torch should be passed to Bobby Lu. Like most other countries, Canada seems to stick with tradition and pick the more 'experienced' player for that particular position (Pronger/Neidemeyer). How would the Canadian fans react if they play Luongo, end up losing, and through out this time, have arguably the greatest goalie who ever played the game, sitting on the bench? People would then critique the coaching staff.. and blah blah blah..... One way they may select the goalie is to have each play off and on, rotating between each other. The one who performs best through group stage will eventually get the nod in the crossovers. The first one to have a bad game will then probably get the backup role. But, as I have said and will continue to say, Luongo is the better of the two now and should get the start. What do you think?