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 Skookum Jim
Messages: 6158
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
6 Cups
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| Adam wrote on Sun, 28 December 2025 00:38 |
..I just don't understand the thinking. If you have four lines that could be first lines in any other league, then if you're matching lines with a team like Latvia or Germany or the Czechs or even Sweden or the US, your depth should be able to outscore their depth. You remain a threat at every point of the game.
Does it mean you need good players to PK? Yes - but surely there's 6 guys on the team that do that on a regular basis for their teams. And it means you can counter-punch even short-handed.
Who needs energy guys? These are a bunch of 18 and 19-year olds playing on the biggest stage of their lives. They're going to come out like they've been shot out of a cannon. In a lot of the WJHCs, the issue is more keeping the energy controlled and smart so they don't get a lot of dumb penalties. I don't think grind lines are a great idea for international play.
Other teams would kill for the ability to pick so many great scoring forwards and Team Canada so regularly shoots itself in the foot on this. And then we'll point to the one goal the grinder contributed in the whole tournament and claim that was the spark the team needed...
Just think, in the next week we're likely to get to roll our eyes about the couple grinders that Canada felt it needed on its Olympic roster too.
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The guys that have been un-noticable, and disappointing to me as forwards IMHO are;
Cole Beaudoin (drafted 24th overall by Utah.. non factor)
Caleb Desnoyers (drafted 4th overall by Utah.. non factor)
Porter Martone (drafted 6th overall by Flyers.. non factor)
Cole Reschny (drafted 18th overall by Flames.. non factor)
Jett Luchanko (drafted 13th overall by Flyers.. non factor)
Braeden Cootes (drafted 15th overall by Canucks.. nada)
Michael Misa (drafted 2nd overall by SJ .. ineffective.. has moments of skill displayed but not a driver)
All of these guys were drafted first round.. and some very high.. I don't see the required speed or skill sets you'd expect for 1st rounders.. these picks may come back to haunt their respective NHL teams.. but hopefully not Team Canada..
IMHO the only forwards playing effective hockey are;
McKenna
Hage
Martin
Iginla
Thats one line (McKenna, Hage, Martin) .. and a spare (Iginla) .. Iginla is the only guy driving his line..
[Updated on: Sun, 28 December 2025 16:02]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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