2024 WJC

[seventeen]

Canada defeated Switzerland in a friendly this morning, 6-3. I haven't watched the tape yet, but understand Celebrini was ejected from the game for some faux pas. Probably hitting from behind. The Swiss player did not return, which may or may not mean something. I hope this doesn't end up in a suspension. Celebrini is too important to the team.

The US is up next tomorrow, so that will be a bigger test, obviously. These games don't concern me all that much. The main result we want is for the guys to familiarize themselves with their linemates, pick up the system and work well together.

[Willie Dog]

Beck scores 2 goals, one was a nice breakaway shortie... nice to see

Saw the celebrini hit, should be suspended, hit right to the numbers, drove him into the boards

[NWTHabsFan]

Beck’s shortie. Beauty. 6-3 CAN over SUI exhibition.

[NWTHabsFan]

Mešár gets the “A” as do both Beck and Hutson.

[seventeen]

Dec 22, 2023 15:11:39 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Beck scores 2 goals, one was a nice breakaway shortie... nice to see

Saw the celebrini hit, should be suspended, hit right to the numbers, drove him into the boards

Agree, because you shouldn't hit people in the numbers. Now.....on the other side of the coin, Celebrini just checked him, if I can use that term, as compared to driving him into the boards. As well, the Swiss player starts off with his shoulders perpendicular to the boards and then turns 90 degrees so he is facing the boards. I think Celebrini could have eased off a bit at that point, but didn't. Not malicious anyway, and I hope that plays into just a one game suspension. You never know with IIHF guys though.

He looked really, really good up till then.

[Willie Dog]

Dec 22, 2023 15:42:42 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Dec 22, 2023 15:11:39 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Beck scores 2 goals, one was a nice breakaway shortie... nice to see

Saw the celebrini hit, should be suspended, hit right to the numbers, drove him into the boards

Agree, because you shouldn't hit people in the numbers. Now.....on the other side of the coin, Celebrini just checked him, if I can use that term, as compared to driving him into the boards. As well, the Swiss player starts off with his shoulders perpendicular to the boards and then turns 90 degrees so he is facing the boards. I think Celebrini could have eased off a bit at that point, but didn't. Not malicious anyway, and I hope that plays into just a one game suspension. You never know with IIHF guys though.

He looked really, really good up till then.

The problem is this is IIHF and the Swiss guy did not come back... I don't think the IIHF has the same type of clowns running their DopeS as the NHL does.

[seventeen]

Dec 22, 2023 15:50:39 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Dec 22, 2023 15:42:42 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Agree, because you shouldn't hit people in the numbers. Now.....on the other side of the coin, Celebrini just checked him, if I can use that term, as compared to driving him into the boards. As well, the Swiss player starts off with his shoulders perpendicular to the boards and then turns 90 degrees so he is facing the boards. I think Celebrini could have eased off a bit at that point, but didn't. Not malicious anyway, and I hope that plays into just a one game suspension. You never know with IIHF guys though.

He looked really, really good up till then.

The problem is this is IIHF and the Swiss guy did not come back... I don't think the IIHF has the same type of clowns running their DopeS as the NHL does.

And never think politics doesn't play into it. If Canada can be weakened substantially with a suspension, they may just do that. Celebrini may well be the best player in the entire tournament, even at his age.

[Willie Dog]

Dec 22, 2023 17:47:28 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Dec 22, 2023 15:50:39 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

The problem is this is IIHF and the Swiss guy did not come back... I don't think the IIHF has the same type of clowns running their DopeS as the NHL does.

And never think politics doesn't play into it. If Canada can be weakened substantially with a suspension, they may just do that. Celebrini may well be the best player in the entire tournament, even at his age.

True

[Willie Dog]

Wow, 2 minutes into the can-us pre comp game and lane hutson makes an amazing pass to spring a forward on a breakaway, goal for the US

[NWTHabsFan]

What. A. Pass. (The video evidence)

[Willie Dog]

Cannot wait to see Hutson as the PP QB for the Habs.

[Willie Dog]

Hutson snipes OT winner... steal puck from Beck, freezes the canada d man and goes bar down glove side... holy crap

www.tsn.ca/world-juniors/canada-falls-to-u-s-in-world-junior-pre-tournament-finale-1.2052677

[Cranky]

We need to get Beck and Hudson in Laval or on the team ASAP.

Hutson is at another level with his vision and I don't think Beck has to go far to match and then over-run Newhook. Come to think of it, Beck may control the fate of Monahan. If he's NHL ready for next season AND we get back an intact Dach, we got the center issue solved. Having said that, a 3 million Monahan is team friendly even on the third or fourth line.

As for Hutson, I'm concerned about his size but there is no doubt he has vision to control the 1st PP at the NHL level.

I wonder, would we trade Hutson for Celebrini? Or an elite young forward in the making? While it's great to have a 60 point defenseman, I love to have an extra 60 point BIG center even more. Hutsons value will be the greatest if he dominates in the Juniors. The risk is that he will wilt when he gets crushed in the NHL, so now would be better then later.

Just random misfiring thoughts...

[Willie Dog]

Dec 23, 2023 16:26:47 GMT -5 Cranky said:

We need to get Beck and Hudson in Laval or on the team ASAP.

Hutson is at another level with his vision and I don't think Beck has to go far to match and then over-run Newhook. Come to think of it, Beck may control the fate of Monahan. If he's NHL ready for next season AND we get back an intact Dach, we got the center issue solved. Having said that, a 3 million Monahan is team friendly even on the third or fourth line.

As for Hutson, I'm concerned about his size but there is no doubt he has vision to control the 1st PP at the NHL level.

I wonder, would we trade Hutson for Celebrini? Or an elite young forward in the making? While it's great to have a 60 point defenseman, I love to have an extra 60 point BIG center even more. Hutsons value will be the greatest if he dominates in the Juniors. The risk is that he will wilt when he gets crushed in the NHL, so now would be better then later.

Just random misfiring thoughts...

We haven't had a proper PP QB since Markov... I think Hutson can be that. If you watched the game, he is super quick and reads plays well, his gap control and aggressiveness helps him in the D zone... he's a pretty slippery guy... if we trade him we might very well regret it it... he's proven people wrong wherever he has gone... Also supposedly X and the Mailman are bringing it in Laval

Hutson, guhle, mailloux, Xhekaj, struble, reinbacher... that looks like a killer D... biggest D the Habs have ever had I think

[Cranky]

Dec 23, 2023 16:50:41 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Dec 23, 2023 16:26:47 GMT -5 Cranky said:

We need to get Beck and Hudson in Laval or on the team ASAP.

Hutson is at another level with his vision and I don't think Beck has to go far to match and then over-run Newhook. Come to think of it, Beck may control the fate of Monahan. If he's NHL ready for next season AND we get back an intact Dach, we got the center issue solved. Having said that, a 3 million Monahan is team friendly even on the third or fourth line.

As for Hutson, I'm concerned about his size but there is no doubt he has vision to control the 1st PP at the NHL level.

I wonder, would we trade Hutson for Celebrini? Or an elite young forward in the making? While it's great to have a 60 point defenseman, I love to have an extra 60 point BIG center even more. Hutsons value will be the greatest if he dominates in the Juniors. The risk is that he will wilt when he gets crushed in the NHL, so now would be better then later.

Just random misfiring thoughts...

We haven't had a proper PP QB since Markov... I think Hutson can be that. If you watched the game, he is super quick and reads plays well, his gap control and aggressiveness helps him in the D zone... he's a pretty slippery guy... if we trade him we might very well regret it it... he's proven people wrong wherever he has gone... Also supposedly X and the Mailman are bringing it in Laval

Hutson, guhle, mailloux, Xhekaj, struble, reinbacher... that looks like a killer D... biggest D the Habs have ever had I think

I buy into the biggest D since forever but I also think that we may be out of balance where we don't have enough contender level offense to make it to the Promised Land. For sure we will have a pile of middle six with an outside chance of a few making it to top 6, but a Zegras or equivalent can tip that balance to a serious contender level forward group. (That is also why I had dreams for what now appears to be a donkey.)

[Willie Dog]

Dec 23, 2023 16:59:14 GMT -5 Cranky said:

Dec 23, 2023 16:50:41 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

We haven't had a proper PP QB since Markov... I think Hutson can be that. If you watched the game, he is super quick and reads plays well, his gap control and aggressiveness helps him in the D zone... he's a pretty slippery guy... if we trade him we might very well regret it it... he's proven people wrong wherever he has gone... Also supposedly X and the Mailman are bringing it in Laval

Hutson, guhle, mailloux, Xhekaj, struble, reinbacher... that looks like a killer D... biggest D the Habs have ever had I think

I buy into the biggest D since forever but I also think that we may be out of balance where we don't have enough contender level offense to make it to the Promised Land. For sure we will have a pile of middle six with an outside chance of a few making it to top 6, but a Zegras or equivalent can tip that balance to a serious contender level forward group. (That is also why I had dreams for what now appears to be a donkey.)

I love the PLDonkey reference... I agree, we need another to 5 pick/another Dach... we may have to give up a top 4 D to get him though which is fine because we are well stocked on D.

[Willie Dog]

Dec 23, 2023 16:26:47 GMT -5 Cranky said:

We need to get Beck and Hudson in Laval or on the team ASAP.

Hutson is at another level with his vision and I don't think Beck has to go far to match and then over-run Newhook. Come to think of it, Beck may control the fate of Monahan. If he's NHL ready for next season AND we get back an intact Dach, we got the center issue solved. Having said that, a 3 million Monahan is team friendly even on the third or fourth line.

As for Hutson, I'm concerned about his size but there is no doubt he has vision to control the 1st PP at the NHL level.

I wonder, would we trade Hutson for Celebrini? Or an elite young forward in the making? While it's great to have a 60 point defenseman, I love to have an extra 60 point BIG center even more. Hutsons value will be the greatest if he dominates in the Juniors. The risk is that he will wilt when he gets crushed in the NHL, so now would be better then later.

Just random misfiring thoughts...

Ideally what we need is for Lane's body to turn into A Frankie Boullion build but maintain the skills he had... a fire hydrant that can play like that would be soooo fun to watch...

We need to have him board with a Mediterranean mom to help him fill out... lol

[seventeen]

One other observation which I wonder if any others agree with. When the Bruins 'lent' Matthew Poitras to the Canadian team, I was pleased, expecting a real boost to the team's offense and defense. I haven't really noticed that in the pre-tournament games. He's made a couple of nice moves, but also had some turnovers and missed completing some passes. Perhaps he was still acclimating to the time difference, bigger ice, etc. Given how well he has played for the Bruins, I do expect more, once he's comfortable. We need that strength down the middle.

[Willie Dog]

[NWTHabsFan]

Beck with his official “A” announcement. A darn Leaf prospect got the “C”. 🤮 (All kidding aside, that was a very astute second round pick for the Leafs. Not Lane Hutson noteworthy, but still very good)

[franko]

ESSO logo? reminds me of the (ulp) early 70s stickers.

[NWTHabsFan]

Mešár was buzzing and had two primary assists in a big 6-2 win over Czechia. #10

This was quite the move and pass.

[seventeen]

I value my beauty sleep too much to get up at 5:30 to watch the game. Now that we’re beating Finland 3-1 so far, thate are some guys who have impressed me. These aren’t necessarily the flashiest guys. The plays that impress me is when a player makes good possession plays, like completing or receiving a difficult pass: holding onto a puck until a good play presents itself, exits the defensive zone well and so on. These aren’t in order: Celebrini, Mateychuk, Lamoureux, Beck, Dumais, Danielson. There msy be one or two others I haven’t paid enough attention to.

Man, how i wish we can finish bottom 10 to have a chance at Celebrini. That kid is really good. Beck did nothing flashy but completed passes, won faceoffs and contributed to 2 goals without getting an assist.

Outside of the 2 D I mentioned, I’m not impressed with the other D. I didn’t see enough of Nelson or Warren but the other guys seemed to have possession issues. I’m bery worried about those other guys. A team like the US can feast on poor possession defenders.

[Willie Dog]

Dec 26, 2023 15:45:51 GMT -5 seventeen said:

I value my beauty sleep too much to get up at 5:30 to watch the game. Now that we’re beating Finland 3-1 so far, thate are some guys who have impressed me. These aren’t necessarily the flashiest guys. The plays that impress me is when a player makes good possession plays, like completing or receiving a difficult pass: holding onto a puck until a good play presents itself, exits the defensive zone well and so on. These aren’t in order: Celebrini, Mateychuk, Lamoureux, Beck, Dumais, Danielson. There msy be one or two others I haven’t paid enough attention to.

Man, how i wish we can finish bottom 10 to have a chance at Celebrini. That kid is really good. Beck did nothing flashy but completed passes, won faceoffs and contributed to 2 goals without getting an assist.

Outside of the 2 D I mentioned, I’m not impressed with the other D. I didn’t see enough of Nelson or Warren but the other guys seemed to have possession issues. I’m bery worried about those other guys. A team like the US can feast on poor possession defenders.

Yes, the Americans play an aggressive forecheck and D that struggle will get exposed...

[drkcloud]

USA beats Switzerland 11 to 3. Hutson somehow manages to fail to register a point and was mostly invisible. He has one single secondary assist in the first 15 goals scored by the Americans. Maybe he's been asked to concentrate on defense, who knows.

Fowler looked average as well. Allowed 3 goals to an outmatched Swiss team.

Americans are definitely a juggernaut this year

[seventeen]

Dec 28, 2023 13:33:00 GMT -5 drkcloud said:

USA beats Switzerland 11 to 3. Hutson somehow manages to fail to register a point and was mostly invisible. He has one single secondary assist in the first 15 goals scored by the Americans. Maybe he's been asked to concentrate on defense, who knows.

Fowler looked average as well. Allowed 3 goals to an outmatched Swiss team.

Americans are definitely a juggernaut this year

The fact he was invisible doesn't bother me. Beck wasn't noticeable vs Latvia either. My theory is that the guys who can make a difference don't often play well against weak opposition. They know they're going to win somehow and that their best isn't needed. In fact, I'm suspicious of guys who put up a lot of points against a lower team. (Kulich did that yesterday, while Mesar didn't). Why does a guy pile up points against a weak team?

Oddly, Celebrini did that against Latvia, but some of his points were kind of inconsequential. He made a pass anyone could have to Rehkopf, who makes a nice play and scores. Assist to Celebrini, but not due to him. He assisted on an early goal with a good play. I'm also suspicious of guys who score late in a 10-0 game. Maybe I'm being too hard on Poitras, but I haven't seen what everyone is so impressed with. He has decent puck control and sees the ice well, but man, he fails to complete that pass that goes to a dangerous area, or gets stick checked a lot from behind and causes a turnover, etc. That adage of mine (what happens to the puck after he touches it) isn't doing him any favours. He's been ok, but my expectations were higher.

To show what I mean by a comparison, Celebrini had the puck deep in the Latvian zone, with no plays available. He holds onto the puck. Latvia is covering everyone, and Celebrini is about to be pressured. He fakes and waits a moment longer and someone breaks in from the right corner of the rink into the slot and Celebrini hits him with a perfect pass through 2 Latvia players. The Canadian kid shot wide, but had a super dangerous chance from right in the slot. I haven't seen Poitras do much of that. I wonder if Boston's system is well suited to him and is helping him look better than he is. Minten has looked much the same to me. The two centres who should be our best are not exactly setting the world on fire. But...maybe when we play better teams, their game will go up too. We need their A game if we're going to have a chance.

[IamCanadiens]

Fowler playing against Czechia. Saving Augustine for the Slovaks. Settling in to watch the rest of the game.

[NWTHabsFan]

Dec 29, 2023 11:54:04 GMT -5 IamCanadiens said:

Fowler playing against Czechia. Saving Augustine for the Slovaks. Settling in to watch the rest of the game.

Augustine is a bit sick, so Fowler keeps the net. Hutson with a really nice play and primary assist on the third USA goal to tie it up at 3. Czechia taking to the USA defense a fair bit in the second period. Still weird that the USA coach does not put Hutson on his PP but plays him as a PK defender. Odd choices and not how I would have written it up.

[NWTHabsFan]

Hutson’s primary assist today.

[NWTHabsFan]

Mešár was a hound on the puck and ended up with three more assists in a big 8-4 win over Norway. Don’t look now, but Slovakia are now 3-0 and awaiting a big NYE game against the USA. Mešár is #10.