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Post by formerDevilsGM on Dec 16, 2008 10:50:56 GMT -5
Ha Ha.. It's so much fun getting Dave rattled up.. If we try to invade will England come to your aid this time too... LOL...
Team Canada has a lot of talent, but I do go to say they the softness concerns me a bit.
But USA has put togethere a nice looking team, Solid all around...
It's hard to go against Canada, But I have to go with Sweden on this one...
Gold - Sweden Silver - Canada Bronze - USA
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WildGM
Minor League Grinder
Posts: 210
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Post by WildGM on Dec 16, 2008 13:37:15 GMT -5
It is hard to go against Canada so I won't be able to this year, as much as I would love to see the boys from USA get the gold. However I can't overlook Russia. They have medaled 9 times in the last 11 years. So I will go.........
Gold - Canada Silver - USA Bronze - Russia
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 16, 2008 17:05:29 GMT -5
FINLAND
G Juha Metsola G Rasmus Rinne G Harri Sateri (San Jose)
D Ari Grondahl D Jesse Jyrkkio D Joonas Jarvinen D Tommi Kivisto D Ilari Melart D Jyri Niemi (NYIslanders) D Kristian Nakyva D Veli-Matti Vittasmaki
F Mikael Granlund F Teemu Hartikainen (Los Angeles) F Jani Helenius F Jani Lajunen (Los Angeles) F Niclas Lucenius (Columbus) F Nestori Lahde F Sami Lahteenmaki F Joonas Nattinen F Ilmari Pitkanen F Eetu Poysti F Toni Rajala F Joonas Rask F Antti Roppo F Tomi Sallinen
Good to see Granlund and Rajala make the team. I was wondering if the Fins would get really exciting and add Teemu Pulkkinen as well, but they did not. Probably a good idea. Still not the best team out there, but at least I have a reason to watch them now.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 16, 2008 17:12:56 GMT -5
GERMANY
G Timo Pielmeier (San Jose) G Philipp Grubauer
D Tim Schule D Sinan Akdag D Denis Reul (Florida) D Armin Wurm D Marco Nowak D Benedikt Bruckner D Florian Muller D Dominik Bielke
F Simon Fischhaber F Andre Huebscher F Jerome Flaake (Dallas) F David Wolf F Alexander Oblinger F Patrick Pohl F Toni Ritter F Gerrit Fauser F Daniel Weiss F Steven Rupprich F Maximilian Forster F Conor Morrison
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SJSharks
Minor League Grinder
Posts: 472
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Post by SJSharks on Dec 16, 2008 21:49:40 GMT -5
Canada all the way, baby!!! I know most of you guys are from the states, but the US team is going to shizznit the bed again. However, they are good enough to get a medal.
Gold - Canada Silver - Sweden Bronze - USA
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 16, 2008 22:29:17 GMT -5
Canada all the way, baby!!! I know most of you guys are from the states, but the US team is going to shizznit the bed again. However, they are good enough to get a medal. Gold - Canada Silver - Sweden Bronze - USA Haha...it just wouldn't be a WJC without the USA being a disappointment! I know I'm getting my hopes up (but hell, I am a Cub fan) but I really like this US team. We'll see how it plays out though.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 16, 2008 22:41:32 GMT -5
And it would appear that the Kings are going to allow Oscar Moller to play for Sweden. That's a pretty significant addition for the Swedes.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 19, 2008 19:53:39 GMT -5
Well since I'm poor and not really feeling all that great, I'm at home watching the Canada-Sweden game tonight. Thought I'd pass on some of my views, which you may or may not agree with if you're watching the game as well. FIRST PERIOD I know a lot of the focus on this game (and tournament) will be on Tavares and Hedman. Some of you know about my admiration for one Victor Hedman, but that doesn't mean I won't criticize what I see. First of all, Dana Tyrell CRUSHED Hedman early. Great hit by Tyrell. Hedman was also rather soft in his own end, which I still don't like. So for Hedman, it wasn't a very good period. Tavares, on the other, was quite good. He had a power play goal (someone needs to tell Owuya that it's easier to stop the puck when you're in the net instead of swimming around off to the side ), but his skating was really impressive. He looked faster than everyone else on the ice, at least to me. I thought Hodgson was great also. As for the other Swedes, Backlund looked dangerous. Didn't notice Paajarvi at all, which is disappointing, but it IS only one period. Tedenby looks fast, but he doesn't seem confident with the puck. Erik Karlsson played pretty well also. Would like to see more of Josefson, as I liked his effort in this period. Overall, good energy on both sides. Pretty good flow. SECOND PERIOD More of the same. Canada looks much quicker than the Swedes, as you would expect with the small ice and this being the first exhibition game. Tavares created a few more chances, and is really flying around tonight. Hodgson was great, again. Scored a goal on a nice deflection of a Pietrangelo shot from the point. Mark Owuya is playing well in net for Sweden, and he's been tested. Dustin Tokarski only faced 8 shots, and Chet Pickard (who came in halfway through the period) wasn't really tested either. Oscar Moller scored on a nice backhand shot on a late power play. The play should have been blown dead as Pickard was hit in the mask with a shot (which is an IIHF rule), but it wasn't. It's interesting that the Swedes use Hedman in front of the net on the man advantage, especially considering his offensive abilities. His shot still isn't as accurate as you would like, so maybe that's a good idea. Overall, Canada has controlled much of the play. They aren't big up front, but they are not bashful out there. Tavares and Hodgson have been amazing. Remember how I mentioned Canada didn't scare me offensively unless they were on the power play? MAN...that power play is fierce. Ryan Ellis has been great on the point. One thing is for certain...if you're playing Canada, you better stay out of the box. And, sadly, I'm not going to get to see the third period. If anyone happens to catch it, you can throw some thoughts on here. If not, meh...it's just an exhibition game.
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Post by Carolina GM on Dec 19, 2008 21:10:08 GMT -5
yes Canada looks terrific and I totally agree that Hodgson and Tavares have been splendid.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 23, 2008 22:24:33 GMT -5
Jordan Schroeder-Colin Wilson-James Van Riemsdyk
You see that Canada? That's called DOMINANCE! It's ok that you don't have a line that can match up. It's only hockey.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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Post by CalgaryGM on Dec 23, 2008 23:06:15 GMT -5
Impressive Roger, they really are.
But they will have to take 2nd place to
Cody Hodgson-Zach Boychuk-Jordan Eberle
and don't forget John Taveres-Angelo Esposito-(and whoever)
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 23, 2008 23:41:55 GMT -5
Andrew, as much as I love Hodgson (and I do), the Americans have the best line in the tournament. While I give Hodgson a slight edge over Wilson, Boychuk and Eberle just don't measure up to the skill of Jordan Schroeder and JVR. It's not their fault...Schroeder and JVR are just really, really good. And I'm sorry, but any line's value is brought down by the presence of Angelo Esposito.
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Post by CalgaryGM on Dec 24, 2008 10:02:09 GMT -5
We'll see buddy.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 24, 2008 12:40:23 GMT -5
We will SO see! Actually, I'm rather happy to see Angelo make the team this year. And, as I have said in this thread (and probably will a few more times) Tavares and Hodgson are great. I think, speaking strictly in terms of US v Canada games this year, the US will have a small advantage 5 on 5. However, Canada's power play is incredible, and the US isn't exactly known for discipline in these matchups. These teams are pretty evenly matched in my view, but the power play for the Canadians will be the difference maker. Canada's dmen (Ellis and Hickey especially, maybe Pietrangelo as well) just run things so well. The Americans have Blum, but they aren't as skilled on the back end as the Canadians. And I know it's just exhibition, but I wasn't high on Finland coming into the tournament...and a 2-1 OT loss to Kazakhstan last night doesn't bode well for the Fins. Their older players in this tournament just aren't very good. They have some younger kids to get excited about (Granlund, Rajala, Nattinen, Hartikainen, Kivisto, Jyrkkio to name a few), but they are going to have to battle this year just to avoid being relegated. I would think they would be ok in that regard, but you never know. Anyway...back to the US v Canada thing...it should be fun.
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 24, 2008 17:08:10 GMT -5
Okay let's be honest here.
Canada wins theit FIFTH consecutive World Junior Title!
Have fun singing Oh Canada! at the end Gorbs!
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