2024 WJC

[Willie Dog]

Jan 2, 2024 18:07:07 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Dec 31, 2023 17:18:47 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Yup, it is not a great matchup for Canada.

Not unexpected. I usually tape the games to watch later and didn't bother with this one. Premonition?

There were a couple of glaring weaknesses to this year's crop and it's going to sound stupidly simple...our defense wasn't very good and we weren't strong up the middle. A good post mortem would look at who we chose (Minten and Poitras) and who we may have left behind. Those two were our top centres and both were there because of perceived success vs NHL players. But we have seen some guys have great camps and then recede. I'm still trying to understand how Poitras is putting up points with Boston. He seems to move the puck reasonably well, but it didn't translate into points at the WJC. Minten just didn't look that dangerous, period.

Did we have worse centres in the rest of the country? Did we misplay some of the guys we had. Danielson, for example, looked pretty good to me, but he was on the wing on the 4th line much of the time. Is he not a centre? Could Minten not have been moved to wing? Anyway, just one of those years. A lot of good players are 17, and the guys picking really like to have 19 year olds. We certainly need better age balance on the club. A few guys have to be repeat attendees and that was not the case this year. Beck was technically the only guy and he was a 3 game replacement. Were there any 18 year olds on our team, guys who might be back next year? Danielson, Cowan, Yager. Any more?

The defense should be better next year, with several players being highly touted.

Minten actually sucked, 1 goal and 2 assists in 4 games on the top line with celebrini and on the 1st PP unit... Celebrini had 4 goals and 4 assists

[folatre]

Celebrini is a serious talent, but unfortunately Canada lacked difference makers up front. But what can you do since guys like Bedard and Fantilli are already NHL stars as rookies.

The play in net was okay but not what you need for a deep run in the lose and go home stage.

The kids worked hard and it was easy to see how much they cared.

[IamCanadiens]

Jan 2, 2024 16:52:00 GMT -5 jkr said:

I have seen a lot of comments saying the Swiss were screwed by the refs in their game against Sweden.

What happened?

Towards the end of the 3rd a Swiss player took a major penalty behind the net when the play was essentially dead. They reviewed the play and changed it to a minor. I have no idea what the Swiss player was doing or thinking guiding the Swede with his stick but it certainly wasn't spearing. To that point the ref had put away the whistle and many actual penalties were ignored yet he called this silliness a penalty. Later on, the OT power player (a legit call this time) winner  had a Swede with his skate in the crease (barely) and it wasn't reviewed. It was a strange game to watch. Sweden looked like they were going to run away with it early but the Swiss held firm. The Swedes played not to lose in the third and the Swiss took advantage and got 2 goals. The crowd was on edge, pissy and whiny. Good thing they weren't reffing. After the 2nd Swiss goal it got quiet...... Both teams had their chances to win it 3 on 3. The Swiss goalie played well and kept them in it. Oddly entertaining. 

[Willie Dog]

Jan 2, 2024 20:09:32 GMT -5 IamCanadiens said:

Jan 2, 2024 16:52:00 GMT -5 jkr said:

I have seen a lot of comments saying the Swiss were screwed by the refs in their game against Sweden.

What happened?

Towards the end of the 3rd a Swiss player took a major penalty behind the net when the play was essentially dead. They reviewed the play and changed it to a minor. I have no idea what the Swiss player was doing or thinking guiding the Swede with his stick but it certainly wasn't spearing. To that point the ref had put away the whistle and many actual penalties were ignored yet he called this silliness a penalty. Later on, the OT power player (a legit call this time) winner  had a Swede with his skate in the crease (barely) and it wasn't reviewed. It was a strange game to watch. Sweden looked like they were going to run away with it early but the Swiss held firm. The Swedes played not to lose in the third and the Swiss took advantage and got 2 goals. The crowd was on edge, pissy and whiny. Good thing they weren't reffing. After the 2nd Swiss goal it got quiet...... Both teams had their chances to win it 3 on 3. The Swiss goalie played well and kept them in it. Oddly entertaining. 

Sounds like a homer reffing

[IamCanadiens]

Jan 2, 2024 18:09:31 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Jan 2, 2024 18:07:07 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Not unexpected. I usually tape the games to watch later and didn't bother with this one. Premonition?

There were a couple of glaring weaknesses to this year's crop and it's going to sound stupidly simple...our defense wasn't very good and we weren't strong up the middle. A good post mortem would look at who we chose (Minten and Poitras) and who we may have left behind. Those two were our top centres and both were there because of perceived success vs NHL players. But we have seen some guys have great camps and then recede. I'm still trying to understand how Poitras is putting up points with Boston. He seems to move the puck reasonably well, but it didn't translate into points at the WJC. Minten just didn't look that dangerous, period.

Did we have worse centres in the rest of the country? Did we misplay some of the guys we had. Danielson, for example, looked pretty good to me, but he was on the wing on the 4th line much of the time. Is he not a centre? Could Minten not have been moved to wing? Anyway, just one of those years. A lot of good players are 17, and the guys picking really like to have 19 year olds. We certainly need better age balance on the club. A few guys have to be repeat attendees and that was not the case this year. Beck was technically the only guy and he was a 3 game replacement. Were there any 18 year olds on our team, guys who might be back next year? Danielson, Cowan, Yager. Any more?

The defense should be better next year, with several players being highly touted.

Minten actually sucked, 1 goal and 2 assists in 4 games on the top line with celebrini and on the 1st PP unit... Celebrini had 4 goals and 4 assists

I thought this was a better team effort from Canada today. Each line seemed to be working together better. Minten had his best game but was still underwhelming. I wish he and Celebrini were split up. Poitras had his best game too and was creating chances finally. I liked his game today......  I thought the first 2 Czech goals were weak, or at least the kind of stops a team needs to stay in a tight game. Rousseau didn't lose the game for them but he wasn't a rock whereas Hrabel played a steady controlled game and was the better of the two keepers. Canada carried the play from the 2nd on but reverted back to looking for the perfect pass too much for my liking. But Hrabel can force that with his size and positioning. Never got the impression this team would medal. Oh well.

[seventeen]

Jan 2, 2024 18:07:28 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Jan 2, 2024 17:02:02 GMT -5 Cranky said:

I wonder how much more "promise" there is Mesar, Hutson and Beck after their WJ.

I want all of them in the AHL or trying on the big club ASAP.

The season is getting closer and closer to another bottom 5 finish so might as well go into overdrive on development

You feel very strongly about this... lol

Twice as much as the rest of us.

[Willie Dog]

Wow the Finns have high sticked the US players in the face twice and no calls... hmmmm...

Edit: the is up to 6 now

[NWTHabsFan]

He had the primary assist on the GWG today to book the USA into the gold medal game on Friday, and was named one of the USA’s top three players of the tournament. Another day at the office for the kid.

[HABsurd]

Jan 4, 2024 17:00:26 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

He had the primary assist on the GWG today to book the USA into the gold medal game on Friday, and was named one of the USA’s top three players of the tournament. Another day at the office for the kid.

Interesting that Lane Hutson appears to be taller than Gavin Brindley who is listed at 5' 9"

[Willie Dog]

Jan 4, 2024 17:54:43 GMT -5 HABsurd said:

Jan 4, 2024 17:00:26 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

He had the primary assist on the GWG today to book the USA into the gold medal game on Friday, and was named one of the USA’s top three players of the tournament. Another day at the office for the kid.

Interesting that Lane Hutson appears to be taller than Gavin Brindley who is listed at 5' 9"

View Attachment

Lane has lifts in his skates... lol

He's 5'10 now

[Willie Dog]

US win the WJCs, 6-2

Good for Lane and Jacob... US has a bunch of these guys returning next year

Lane gets into a fight with a giant Swede and he was game for it , love his tenacity... he played a complete game and did what was asked of him, play smart defensively... and he did

Lane was selected as an all star D man

[seventeen]

Jan 4, 2024 17:00:26 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

He had the primary assist on the GWG today to book the USA into the gold medal game on Friday, and was named one of the USA’s top three players of the tournament. Another day at the office for the kid.

I'll play devil's advocate. Move over Skilly.

I haven't finished watching the US/Fin game...just 2 periods in. While Hutson wasn't directly responsible for the 2nd Finnish goal, he failed to be on task enough to foil the goal scorer. He didn't tie up the scorer's stick which pointed out a key improvement area for him....strength and better anticipation. The rest of the period was ok, but he didn't stand out.

He assisted on the winning goal, but the pass was one than any PP point man could make (except Mike Matheson because the puck went to the guy on the right boards. Gauthier made the play on that goal all on his own, so the assist was Meh. OTOH, he had a spectacular zone entry where he stickhandled over the blue line and there were 3 Finns around him. Somehow he made a little move, turned left slightly and put a backhand pass, straight ahead through 2 guys to a bursting winger who was able to cut in all alone on goal, but didn't score. That was an absolutely elite play very few players can make. When he does stuff like that, you can see why there's excitement around him. He was also being used on a PK and I saw in a highlight that he was on the ice in the final minutes when the Finns were trying to tie. The coach obviously trusts him in all situations. But, Man, he's small compared to some other kids. I think the size will keep him from starting with the Habs later this year. One or two games and then it'll be Laval, where he can take some time getting stronger and maybe even growing another inch. Feed him a ton of poutine.

[Willie Dog]

Jan 5, 2024 16:49:04 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Jan 4, 2024 17:00:26 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

He had the primary assist on the GWG today to book the USA into the gold medal game on Friday, and was named one of the USA’s top three players of the tournament. Another day at the office for the kid.

I'll play devil's advocate. Move over Skilly.

I haven't finished watching the US/Fin game...just 2 periods in. While Hutson wasn't directly responsible for the 2nd Finnish goal, he failed to be on task enough to foil the goal scorer. He didn't tie up the scorer's stick which pointed out a key improvement area for him....strength and better anticipation. The rest of the period was ok, but he didn't stand out.

He assisted on the winning goal, but the pass was one than any PP point man could make (except Mike Matheson because the puck went to the guy on the right boards. Gauthier made the play on that goal all on his own, so the assist was Meh. OTOH, he had a spectacular zone entry where he stickhandled over the blue line and there were 3 Finns around him. Somehow he made a little move, turned left slightly and put a backhand pass, straight ahead through 2 guys to a bursting winger who was able to cut in all alone on goal, but didn't score. That was an absolutely elite play very few players can make. When he does stuff like that, you can see why there's excitement around him. He was also being used on a PK and I saw in a highlight that he was on the ice in the final minutes when the Finns were trying to tie. The coach obviously trusts him in all situations. But, Man, he's small compared to some other kids. I think the size will keep him from starting with the Habs later this year. One or two games and then it'll be Laval, where he can take some time getting stronger and maybe even growing another inch. Feed him a ton of poutine.

Will Lane stay in school or sign with the Habs... can he play with the habs/laval and maintain his ncaa eligibility?

[Disgruntled70sHab]

[Willie Dog]

Jan 5, 2024 17:42:07 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

The kid has some stones...

[NWTHabsFan]

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Jan 5, 2024 17:53:57 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Jan 5, 2024 17:42:07 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

The kid has some stones...

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain

[Willie Dog]

Jan 5, 2024 19:09:18 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

Jan 5, 2024 17:53:57 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

The kid has some stones...

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain

And he's smart, he kept his gloves on so he doesn't get any sort of suspension that might carry over.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

[Willie Dog]

Jan 5, 2024 23:33:46 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

That might carry over to the NHL