Hey Oiler fans, remember how Katz was jerking everyone around, first hinting towards Winnipeg in '09 and then Seattle last year? He's a economic genius, he's well educated and has a networth of 2.0 Billion (and rising). He's an owner, he calls the shots. He called the shots during the lockout and now he has the Conservative government by the vice, and is slowly turning the purple nurple driving machine. His son, who doesn't know how great his hair is (Cool Fro, Bro) is living the life of luxury. That kid could take Gary Busy crazy pills and still inherit every bit of the fortune.
Daryl Katz's last hurrah (before a cup) will be winning this giant flustercluck of a battle in the heart of Edmonton. The homeless driven, business selling, and frustratingly painful traffic jammed part that is downtown. The Bacarat is sitting there wondering when the hammer is going to strike them silly up side the head and force them out of there.
Like most owners in the NHL, Daryl Katz is a lawyer/was a lawyer. He understands the constitution and will make you look dumber than the dudes on wheel of fortune who can't pronounce Kelly Ripa. (youtube 'wheel of fortune kelly ripa and regis philbin' and laugh). He will get what he wants. the 400 Million LRT expansions and lord knows what other great hemorrhaging ideas our city has is only showing him that they have the money. Daryl Katz is awaiting crunch time, when the Oilers are truly in jeopardy and the execs in Seattle and salivating like me looking at Selma Hayek. The Oilers being at risk of moving is probably the worst thing to happen to Edmonton since..... Since.... okay. 'We' are the City of Champions, the heart of gold, what others shitty made up phrase they want to shove down our throats to go spend money we don't have.
Right now, we have a lot of that; with our ridiculously high rate of jobs available. (another thing that plays in his favor) Prices of material rise, and the city is waiting to see if it will fall. It won't. In fact if they had signed the dotted line from the beginning they would've paid only 12-17% of the cost of what it is now. That's a lot of keesh. As I last read about it the cost has been well over 600 million, and steadily increasing.
The arena's possibilities aren't really limited either. With the real estate they will get they could hold 17 monster truck jams at once, or something.
They can put hotels, concerts (multiple), restaurants, William Shatner, Art Garfunkel... Well maybe not those last 2. The biggest thing they can do? have a transportation hub inside or just outside of it, as to satisfy another LRT expansion and work with the city further. They can provide parking to surrounding businesses and help put back into the city's economy.
If Daryl Katz wants to at the end of the day. He probably won't, he shouldn't have to. It is only a matter of time before he makes them look silly for wasting time. Another glaring factor is looking at Phoenix, who lost $40 million dollars as soon as the CBA was ratified. In costs in equipment, management, maintaining and continuing the Coyotes dreadful existence. The city will not want to look at Rexall and watch it remain vacant when they can upgrade and continue to build our city (and surrounding areas such as: terwilliger and windermere)
They are just wasting time and playing a shot for shot game of politics, it is leaving a sour taste in the mouth of both sides. All the while people are opinionated on who is who again...Sound familiar?
Regards,
Devon (view from the west)
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Your team: The Montreal Canadiens
This is going to be the most unbiased view I could have for them.
Montreal flat out stunk last year, no chemistry, no heart, no jam from the get go. They got pushed around, scored on, walked through, got waxed for a majority of their games. Even the games they won, they just squeezed them out by one goal.
Plekanec had a very strange year, but sadly it was business as usual. Kostitsyn hasn't played well since Kovalev played for the Habs, he had about 10 different wingers throughout the year. He could never develop chemistry. He felt he needed to do more, he felt like he needed to be Ovi. He played alright in his own end, and didn't have much in the O zone. Kosty gone, good riddance. Gomez played...? I don't honestly remember I blacked out. Gomez will be riding pine, in either the NHL or AHL until they can buy him out July 1st. A very strange year organized by Pierre Gauthier and company.
We traded our best piece, for a below average (at the time) Rene Bourque. He came with a chip on his shoulder, he truly loved Calgary. Cammalleri will find a home there, and hopefully he sold the one in Montreal he built the day before he was traded.
Gionta fell flat, Gionta fell a lot, Gionta got hurt, Gionta was a non-factor for most of last season. Gionta should be ready and come out flying in the first game.
Plekky will have Galchenyuk and maybe Gallagher (that's who I would put him with). He shines with speedy wingers. Cole Patches and David Desharnais will have another good year. We have Prust, Bouillon, Moen to fight now. We will not be pushed over.
And we have gritty Ryan White, Injury prone Colby Armstrong and Eller wherever he fits in. We have to tolerate a very thin backend. Unless they actually utilize them this year. With Diaz and Emelin coming off of huge debut campaigns, I would expect a lot more form and tempo. Now they know how the game is on North American Ice. When they sign PK expect him to prove the analysts wrong that it wasn't more than just a Sophomore slump. A healthy Markov to play with Yannick Weber and help show him the ropes, help refine his game. Kaberle will be used as a powerplay defenseman, as that is all he is good for.
Where this season lies, is in the depth. Defensively we are great for depth. No stand-outs. Beaulieau is having a below average season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Nash is a solid call-up and Tinordi would almost be a walk in my opinion, if they can find a way to ship out Weber or Kaberle.
Depth forwards: Leblanc, Bournival, Gallagher, Fortier, Palushaj, Dumont, Geoffrion, and Zach Stortini for those tough-guy games.
Finally, Carey Price is coming off of one of his weirder campaigns. He was fatigued from overplaying, he got concussed, never really found his footing. Expect him to come out and win a chunk of games, as he is going to have to with the team in front of him. It might be the year he competes for a Vezina. Budaj will play limited games, I predict Price plays 44 games.
For my prediction: They battle for a spot, the squeak in.
Regards,
Devon
Montreal flat out stunk last year, no chemistry, no heart, no jam from the get go. They got pushed around, scored on, walked through, got waxed for a majority of their games. Even the games they won, they just squeezed them out by one goal.
Plekanec had a very strange year, but sadly it was business as usual. Kostitsyn hasn't played well since Kovalev played for the Habs, he had about 10 different wingers throughout the year. He could never develop chemistry. He felt he needed to do more, he felt like he needed to be Ovi. He played alright in his own end, and didn't have much in the O zone. Kosty gone, good riddance. Gomez played...? I don't honestly remember I blacked out. Gomez will be riding pine, in either the NHL or AHL until they can buy him out July 1st. A very strange year organized by Pierre Gauthier and company.
We traded our best piece, for a below average (at the time) Rene Bourque. He came with a chip on his shoulder, he truly loved Calgary. Cammalleri will find a home there, and hopefully he sold the one in Montreal he built the day before he was traded.
Gionta fell flat, Gionta fell a lot, Gionta got hurt, Gionta was a non-factor for most of last season. Gionta should be ready and come out flying in the first game.
Plekky will have Galchenyuk and maybe Gallagher (that's who I would put him with). He shines with speedy wingers. Cole Patches and David Desharnais will have another good year. We have Prust, Bouillon, Moen to fight now. We will not be pushed over.
And we have gritty Ryan White, Injury prone Colby Armstrong and Eller wherever he fits in. We have to tolerate a very thin backend. Unless they actually utilize them this year. With Diaz and Emelin coming off of huge debut campaigns, I would expect a lot more form and tempo. Now they know how the game is on North American Ice. When they sign PK expect him to prove the analysts wrong that it wasn't more than just a Sophomore slump. A healthy Markov to play with Yannick Weber and help show him the ropes, help refine his game. Kaberle will be used as a powerplay defenseman, as that is all he is good for.
Where this season lies, is in the depth. Defensively we are great for depth. No stand-outs. Beaulieau is having a below average season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Nash is a solid call-up and Tinordi would almost be a walk in my opinion, if they can find a way to ship out Weber or Kaberle.
Depth forwards: Leblanc, Bournival, Gallagher, Fortier, Palushaj, Dumont, Geoffrion, and Zach Stortini for those tough-guy games.
Finally, Carey Price is coming off of one of his weirder campaigns. He was fatigued from overplaying, he got concussed, never really found his footing. Expect him to come out and win a chunk of games, as he is going to have to with the team in front of him. It might be the year he competes for a Vezina. Budaj will play limited games, I predict Price plays 44 games.
For my prediction: They battle for a spot, the squeak in.
Regards,
Devon
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Your Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Firing Burke might be the best thing to happen to the leafs since Bil Barilko.
The truckulance, tagnacity, turniposity and assorted other T words he made up weren't doing anything.
He was fired before the Ratification, which leads me to believe he was either going to offer too much for Luongo, or not make the trade at all. Nonis (a Former Canuck employee) steps in. So, it is hard to predict anything... Wait no it is not.
The economic dynasty of the Leafs will continue to pump out mediocre seasons and still be worth 1 billion. If people keep going, why change?
Phil Kessel is one man, Lupul will not put up the same points. Whomever their goalie is has a very shaky defense. They have great prospects... If they would let go of Kadri for once.
Dave Nonis is an intelligent man, he can turn the leafs into....something. It will not be this year though, regardless if they get Luongo.
The Leafs will not make the playoffs,
Regards,
Devon
The truckulance, tagnacity, turniposity and assorted other T words he made up weren't doing anything.
He was fired before the Ratification, which leads me to believe he was either going to offer too much for Luongo, or not make the trade at all. Nonis (a Former Canuck employee) steps in. So, it is hard to predict anything... Wait no it is not.
The economic dynasty of the Leafs will continue to pump out mediocre seasons and still be worth 1 billion. If people keep going, why change?
Phil Kessel is one man, Lupul will not put up the same points. Whomever their goalie is has a very shaky defense. They have great prospects... If they would let go of Kadri for once.
Dave Nonis is an intelligent man, he can turn the leafs into....something. It will not be this year though, regardless if they get Luongo.
The Leafs will not make the playoffs,
Regards,
Devon
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Your Team: The Calgary Flames
Coming off of a Jay Feaster guarantee to make a playoff spot and falling out of contention in the final 2 weeks. Calgary is the worst off of all the teams. Feaster should keep an eye on his job, Calgary has not made the playoffs since 08-09, haven't had success in the playoffs since the Martin Gelinas kicked in goal of the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the 1989 cup win before that. Calgary is a much maligned team because of the poor management decisions of years past. They are a 2 person team, more or less.
How well they do, dictates how much they can change that before next season. Kiprusoff is an elite goaltending. Former holder of the least GAA ever put up in a season (2004) split between San Jose and Calgary.
Iginla is an enigma, he's a man who can hit the corners from anywhere on the ice. He's top 5 captains in the league. I often wonder how he puts up the points he does. He needs a big season by Cammalleri and Glencross on his wing, if he doesn't get that. He's not going to thrive like he can. Doesn't have much help after that though. If they do poorly, expect Iginla to be shipped out for prospects.
Last years draft proved to be the strangest for Calgary. With their 21st pick, Calgary picked Mark Jankowski.. Who? He's a high schooler with no junior level hockey under his belt, and a highly touted pick for many teams, but at 21, there was better picks out there. Goalies Vasilevski and Subban would've been a very nice pick-up for them, but I digress.
Calgary has a few prospects that will come up to training camp and should be a walk from there. Sven Baertschi is one of those people. I would be shocked if he doesn't make the team come January 19th. Expect Mikael Backlund to get 2nd line minutes in hopes of sparking his offensive flow.Expect Roman Horak to continue his role in the 3rd line centre to fine tune his game. In the minors this year, the flames have had 2 surprises with the Abbotsford Heat. Ben Street (25P in 34G) and Ben Walter (22P in 29G). If those 2 make it, expect a solid 3rd line put out.
The Defense should be able to perform, I would hope. Jay Bouwmeester, Giordano, and Cory Sarich are going to share a bulk of the minutes. Newly signed, and very expensively signed Dennis Wideman better put up All-star numbers or he is going to be scrutinized all year. I do believe he will underachieve this year. They better put him in a shootout.
Where Calgary ends up? I want to say they battle for a playoff spot, but I do not believe they have the depth to make it to the playoffs. I do not think it will be a good season, we will see the end of the Jarome Iginla era.
Regards,
Devon
How well they do, dictates how much they can change that before next season. Kiprusoff is an elite goaltending. Former holder of the least GAA ever put up in a season (2004) split between San Jose and Calgary.
Iginla is an enigma, he's a man who can hit the corners from anywhere on the ice. He's top 5 captains in the league. I often wonder how he puts up the points he does. He needs a big season by Cammalleri and Glencross on his wing, if he doesn't get that. He's not going to thrive like he can. Doesn't have much help after that though. If they do poorly, expect Iginla to be shipped out for prospects.
Last years draft proved to be the strangest for Calgary. With their 21st pick, Calgary picked Mark Jankowski.. Who? He's a high schooler with no junior level hockey under his belt, and a highly touted pick for many teams, but at 21, there was better picks out there. Goalies Vasilevski and Subban would've been a very nice pick-up for them, but I digress.
Calgary has a few prospects that will come up to training camp and should be a walk from there. Sven Baertschi is one of those people. I would be shocked if he doesn't make the team come January 19th. Expect Mikael Backlund to get 2nd line minutes in hopes of sparking his offensive flow.Expect Roman Horak to continue his role in the 3rd line centre to fine tune his game. In the minors this year, the flames have had 2 surprises with the Abbotsford Heat. Ben Street (25P in 34G) and Ben Walter (22P in 29G). If those 2 make it, expect a solid 3rd line put out.
The Defense should be able to perform, I would hope. Jay Bouwmeester, Giordano, and Cory Sarich are going to share a bulk of the minutes. Newly signed, and very expensively signed Dennis Wideman better put up All-star numbers or he is going to be scrutinized all year. I do believe he will underachieve this year. They better put him in a shootout.
Where Calgary ends up? I want to say they battle for a playoff spot, but I do not believe they have the depth to make it to the playoffs. I do not think it will be a good season, we will see the end of the Jarome Iginla era.
Regards,
Devon
Monday, 7 January 2013
Your Team: The Edmonton Oilers UPDATED
On paper, the Oil should have the best 3 lines in the league. With Eberle coming off a 76 point campaign and Hall coming back from his Frankenstein cut and ankle/shoulder injuries, they should be primed to put up numbers. Yakupov is a wild card, a man who has never truly played a team game. With Galchenyuk (in Sarnia) he was getting set up, but he lacks the big league vision to make those thread the needle passes. Lander has slowed down his potential, Omark wants out and may stay in the Swiss league and the clock is ticking on Magnus Pajaarvi Svensson. Devan Dubnyk is coming off a shaky campaign. However, his last 10 games of last season he truly looked like a number 1 goaltender. With Khabby willing to take a back seat role and help his odds and ends. He could materialize into the 14th round pick that the Oilers thought he would be in 2004.
Ebs in the minors put up 51 points in 34 games. Of those games, they dismantled the teams as one unit. They truly put up team performances. Which is rare.
Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins (coming off of the 15 point MVP WJHC) are all in midseason form. If teams in the west aren't scared by the amount of goal potential they have now. They should be
The 2013 oilers are not going to be the 80's Oilers and successfully outscore everyone all the way to the Stanley Cup. Which raises the question? Dubnyk may be a number 1... He doesn't have 6 solid NHL calibre defensemen in front of him.
Assuming they keep Theo Peckham to opening day, they have a grit defenseman. A slow grit defenseman at that. One who takes stupid penalties and gives up chances to make the big hit,
Corey Potter, Jeff Petry and Schultz will come in with a lot of weight on their shoulders. It is quite pertinent that you watch Jeff Petry closely, as they will likely try to pair him with N. Schultz and load him up on the powerplay when they can.. This season means something to the Oilers, and of all the teams. The Oilers may benefit the most (youth+more games= not as many injuries as other teams). Corey Potter comes in as a wild card, he can slide from 3-6th defenseman and even lower if Klefbom (now injured) has a stellar camp. Where Teubert fits in, maybe as a quick fix until Sutton finds his way back from injury.Where does Justin Schultz come in? Powerplay only? can they afford his big plays to give up scoring chances? I am unaware if they plan to play Cam Barker (or sign him) or sit him again.
Ladislav Smid comes in as the Veteran next to Nick Schultz, likely to play a shutdown in big game situations. That makes one solid defensive pairing. The rest can have a very off season because of the timing, the youth, and the fact they never went through the last lockout.
At the time of writing this I had forgotten about long injury-plagued Ryan Whitney, I don't know where he fits in, or how long he will remain healthy. I see him as top pair with Smid/Schultz, Peckham seems most logical to be moved, as he has no defensive hole to fill. Defensive specialist Smid is a tight fit and a very good one with Petry again. There is a solid 4 defenseman.
The biggest question for Edmonton is Defense and the health of defense. Assuming the defense plays well enough, Dubnyk shouldn't let in more than he should, and should gain confidence (which he lacked last season)
How Yakupov plays in the Edmonton system will be interesting to watch
BOLD PREDICTION: Oilers make the playoffs.
Regards, Devon
I don't want to write out Schultz anymore.
Ebs in the minors put up 51 points in 34 games. Of those games, they dismantled the teams as one unit. They truly put up team performances. Which is rare.
Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins (coming off of the 15 point MVP WJHC) are all in midseason form. If teams in the west aren't scared by the amount of goal potential they have now. They should be
The 2013 oilers are not going to be the 80's Oilers and successfully outscore everyone all the way to the Stanley Cup. Which raises the question? Dubnyk may be a number 1... He doesn't have 6 solid NHL calibre defensemen in front of him.
Assuming they keep Theo Peckham to opening day, they have a grit defenseman. A slow grit defenseman at that. One who takes stupid penalties and gives up chances to make the big hit,
Corey Potter, Jeff Petry and Schultz will come in with a lot of weight on their shoulders. It is quite pertinent that you watch Jeff Petry closely, as they will likely try to pair him with N. Schultz and load him up on the powerplay when they can.. This season means something to the Oilers, and of all the teams. The Oilers may benefit the most (youth+more games= not as many injuries as other teams). Corey Potter comes in as a wild card, he can slide from 3-6th defenseman and even lower if Klefbom (now injured) has a stellar camp. Where Teubert fits in, maybe as a quick fix until Sutton finds his way back from injury.Where does Justin Schultz come in? Powerplay only? can they afford his big plays to give up scoring chances? I am unaware if they plan to play Cam Barker (or sign him) or sit him again.
Ladislav Smid comes in as the Veteran next to Nick Schultz, likely to play a shutdown in big game situations. That makes one solid defensive pairing. The rest can have a very off season because of the timing, the youth, and the fact they never went through the last lockout.
At the time of writing this I had forgotten about long injury-plagued Ryan Whitney, I don't know where he fits in, or how long he will remain healthy. I see him as top pair with Smid/Schultz, Peckham seems most logical to be moved, as he has no defensive hole to fill. Defensive specialist Smid is a tight fit and a very good one with Petry again. There is a solid 4 defenseman.
The biggest question for Edmonton is Defense and the health of defense. Assuming the defense plays well enough, Dubnyk shouldn't let in more than he should, and should gain confidence (which he lacked last season)
How Yakupov plays in the Edmonton system will be interesting to watch
BOLD PREDICTION: Oilers make the playoffs.
Regards, Devon
I don't want to write out Schultz anymore.
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Hockey is back, you will like it!
Hey, hockey is back. The greed is over...Kind of. Players get less than they wanted... Actually way less. I'm not sure this deal was better than the one the NHL offered in the beginning of december. Everyone pull out your shirts, your tuques, your sweaters and jerseys. It is hockey time.
January 19th starts the season off. Teams will only play within their conference,
You boycotting the NHL? Hypocrite. The staff of the buildings, the buildings themselves and the other fans need your viewership, your money. Or they form a work stoppage and then really put you in your place. They need you to spend to get paycheques, they need you to view to have jobs selling you and me fatty foods.
You have your NHL merchandise, what are you going to do burn it? You get free tickets, you aren't going to go? How far do you go? Don't buy skates for your family? no sticks? Gonna bankrupt the forzani group? Don't even look at a jersey or sticks?
Don't be a knob about it. Legacy and viewership is what makes sports. Same thing was said about the NBA, they had record sales in merchandise last year (half season) after the lockout. Baseball staggered for 2 years in 94, 95. They now have some of their highest viewership numbers ever.
It is politics, that's all it was. They weren't trying to screw the fans out of watching the game they love. It is about the deal and where they go from here. For 8 years, they have employees who work their asses off for minimum wage (or slightly above) and you are going to go out and be just as selfish as what Donald Fehr and the Owners were? what does that show for your character... Your moral norms and compass pointed out that if someone else wants to keep their ship running smoothly you refuse to talk to them or acknowledge their resistance.
You live in Canada, and hockey towns in America, you are going to hear about stories, plays, or scores in the NHL. You will view it, you will like it, and you will mend your way back to viewing every day.
Sincerely,
A former angry hockey fan, now feels apathy for everyone who is bitter about this still.
January 19th starts the season off. Teams will only play within their conference,
You boycotting the NHL? Hypocrite. The staff of the buildings, the buildings themselves and the other fans need your viewership, your money. Or they form a work stoppage and then really put you in your place. They need you to spend to get paycheques, they need you to view to have jobs selling you and me fatty foods.
You have your NHL merchandise, what are you going to do burn it? You get free tickets, you aren't going to go? How far do you go? Don't buy skates for your family? no sticks? Gonna bankrupt the forzani group? Don't even look at a jersey or sticks?
Don't be a knob about it. Legacy and viewership is what makes sports. Same thing was said about the NBA, they had record sales in merchandise last year (half season) after the lockout. Baseball staggered for 2 years in 94, 95. They now have some of their highest viewership numbers ever.
It is politics, that's all it was. They weren't trying to screw the fans out of watching the game they love. It is about the deal and where they go from here. For 8 years, they have employees who work their asses off for minimum wage (or slightly above) and you are going to go out and be just as selfish as what Donald Fehr and the Owners were? what does that show for your character... Your moral norms and compass pointed out that if someone else wants to keep their ship running smoothly you refuse to talk to them or acknowledge their resistance.
You live in Canada, and hockey towns in America, you are going to hear about stories, plays, or scores in the NHL. You will view it, you will like it, and you will mend your way back to viewing every day.
Sincerely,
A former angry hockey fan, now feels apathy for everyone who is bitter about this still.
Friday, 4 January 2013
Team Canada World Junior, and why it won't change soon
It is a bronze age in Canada, and even that is enough in the great depression that we are in without an NHL season. Cynicism and pessimism is widespread heading into next week, as it is the final deadline. People have waiting a long while for some hockey. The World Juniors helped rescue some bored and allowed us all to throw our sleep cycle out the window. I didn't care, and most of Canada didn't care what time it was. There was hockey, and for the first time, elite NHL's and top 10 draft picks from years past.
24th overall, Malcolm Subban was chosen. He came into the tournament riding coattails whether he liked it or not. PK Subban lit up the juniors, added character and excitement. For the most part him and Eberle got Canadians excited about the tournament in the first place. Malcolm is quieter, plays for Bellville (a team that plays on big ice). He had all the trust of the Canadian coaches (without bronze game now). 6 foot 1 Malcolm looks small in the net. He has great movement but once you start zinging him at his head he turns into Jose Theodore. The USA game represented Canada's problem for the past 4 years. Goaltending has been an issue ever since Carey Price became too old to compete. Scott Wedgewood, Mark Visentin, Chet/Calvin Pickard, and a few others. No absolute number 1's and certainly no goalies who have promise to make the NHL. Russia, Sweden, Finland (until 2013) and especially Switzerland have stalwarts and sneaky goalies.
This year for Canada was uneasy, we had Nugent Hopkins, Schiefle, Huberdeau; but, after that we had a mix of people with decent goal totals and a lot more grinding gritty forwards. It was a different feel, it was almost a smoke and mirrors act. Subban gave up 3 to Germany, it was a very rough game played. He played stellar against Russia. It was a game where he showed promise. It showed he can keep up in high tempo games. Or did it? A game where Valeri Nichushkin took a nasty 5 minute major for boarding, and Canada's anemic powerplay took advantage of the Russian coaches trying to steal the tempo of the powerplay by having Yakupov out there. 2 goals before the 2nd sunk the Russian sails. From there on out the Russians played a trap and did what Canada did against the US in the Semis. Walk in and shoot (no traffic, no follow up). Subban had a great game, but nothing that was going to prepare him for a 5 man rushing US team
Subban was victimized by his own players trying to block a shot on his first goal (glove high). He got plainly beat (glove high) on the second one. Third one, let in a rocket (glove high) and the 4th one was a dogs breakfast that ended up in the net.
Don't expect them to beat Russia. Don't expect a medal. With no Canadian goalies on the rise, don't expect them to compete for gold next year either.
Regards,
Devon
24th overall, Malcolm Subban was chosen. He came into the tournament riding coattails whether he liked it or not. PK Subban lit up the juniors, added character and excitement. For the most part him and Eberle got Canadians excited about the tournament in the first place. Malcolm is quieter, plays for Bellville (a team that plays on big ice). He had all the trust of the Canadian coaches (without bronze game now). 6 foot 1 Malcolm looks small in the net. He has great movement but once you start zinging him at his head he turns into Jose Theodore. The USA game represented Canada's problem for the past 4 years. Goaltending has been an issue ever since Carey Price became too old to compete. Scott Wedgewood, Mark Visentin, Chet/Calvin Pickard, and a few others. No absolute number 1's and certainly no goalies who have promise to make the NHL. Russia, Sweden, Finland (until 2013) and especially Switzerland have stalwarts and sneaky goalies.
This year for Canada was uneasy, we had Nugent Hopkins, Schiefle, Huberdeau; but, after that we had a mix of people with decent goal totals and a lot more grinding gritty forwards. It was a different feel, it was almost a smoke and mirrors act. Subban gave up 3 to Germany, it was a very rough game played. He played stellar against Russia. It was a game where he showed promise. It showed he can keep up in high tempo games. Or did it? A game where Valeri Nichushkin took a nasty 5 minute major for boarding, and Canada's anemic powerplay took advantage of the Russian coaches trying to steal the tempo of the powerplay by having Yakupov out there. 2 goals before the 2nd sunk the Russian sails. From there on out the Russians played a trap and did what Canada did against the US in the Semis. Walk in and shoot (no traffic, no follow up). Subban had a great game, but nothing that was going to prepare him for a 5 man rushing US team
Subban was victimized by his own players trying to block a shot on his first goal (glove high). He got plainly beat (glove high) on the second one. Third one, let in a rocket (glove high) and the 4th one was a dogs breakfast that ended up in the net.
Don't expect them to beat Russia. Don't expect a medal. With no Canadian goalies on the rise, don't expect them to compete for gold next year either.
Regards,
Devon
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