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
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