World Juniors Hockey

[Mikkel_K]

Who will Canada's opponent be?

Those damn, dirty Swedes. The most hated nation on the face of the earth.

Words spoken like a true Dane!

However, I watched yesterday's semi against Slovakia on Swedish tv (only thing I've watched of this tourney), and not only was it a good game, the Swedes looked real good _and_ entertaining. They could win tonight.

[Sidenote: Exactly how much do you hate Mats Sundin?]

[wesrman]

We would have won easier if our goalie could make a fucking save.

I wonder if Quinn is thinking about starting Pickard in the gold medal game.

Thinking about it?? LOL he should have started Pickard last game after the other guy shit the bed against the USA.

[wesrman]

I missread what he said.

Sundin will be good for the Canucks. Hes a class guy and a great player.

[CFH]

Who will Canada's opponent be?

Those damn, dirty Swedes. The most hated nation on the face of the earth.

Words spoken like a true Dane!

However, I watched yesterday's semi against Slovakia on Swedish tv (only thing I've watched of this tourney), and not only was it a good game, the Swedes looked real good _and_ entertaining. They could win tonight.

[Sidenote: Exactly how much do you hate Mats Sundin?]

I don't hate the Swedes at all, I was trying to think of something specific they were disliked for before posting that, but I came up with nothing. I will be cheering against them on Monday though. Their weakest link seems to be Markstrom (sp?). His rebound control is very questionable and a team like Canada should make him pay for it. Hedman hasn't impressed me either from what I've seen. However, as discussed, the Canadian goaltending (and defense) has not been world class either. Should be a good game.

I'm very glad Sundin signed with the Canucks, but how much effect he will have at his age and after such a long lay-off remains to be seen. I'm cautiously optimistic that he will have an impact, but getting Luongo back is going to be much for important for the success of the team.

[CFH]

[Sidenote: Exactly how much do you hate Mats Sundin?]

Not that much. We werent making the playoffs with him on the team anyway so why pay him that kind of money just to be mediocre??

We need to rebuild imo.

The Leafs would've been beyond stupid to resign Sundin. On a related note, do you think Kaberle will wave his NTC to go to a place like Vancouver? What kind of return do you think he'll bring?

[Mikkel_K]

I don't hate the Swedes at all, I was trying to think of something specific they were disliked for before posting that, but I came up with nothing. I will be cheering against them on Monday though. Their weakest link seems to be Markstrom (sp?).

Well, we certainly have a love and hate relationship with them, going back many centuries. It's not quite in Finland though, where it is purely a hate relationship towards the Swedes (especially in, but not limited to, hockey). But I guess to the rest of the world they seem pretty nice and classy etc (which, incidentally, may fuel an inferior complex in the neighbouring countries). In terms of sports, this is probably the highpoint (lowpoint?) of Danish-Swedish rivalry of the last couple of decades. Haven't been so furious after a football match since, well, never.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XT0W...eature=related
[Not sure if the link really do justice, compared to the feeling of standing among 100,000 people, including 40-50,000 Swedes, just outside the stadium watching the team you want to beat the most in a game that you really cannot afford to lose]

It's funny that you single out Markström as the weakest link. I see a bit of SEL hockey, and he is generally considered to be not only the best young goalie, but the best goalie period. Hell, you have Swedish people discussing whether there has ever been a goalie who was better at his age (and no, I am not kidding - they seriosly do this). I haven't seen enough WJC hockey to really have an opinion, but he did pretty well against Slovakia, I think.

As for Sundin, it was just too obvious to not comment it. Could mention the Sedins or Ohlund as well... Quite a few in Vancouver

Good luck tmr!

[CFH]

I don't hate the Swedes at all, I was trying to think of something specific they were disliked for before posting that, but I came up with nothing. I will be cheering against them on Monday though. Their weakest link seems to be Markstrom (sp?).

Well, we certainly have a love and hate relationship with them, going back many centuries. It's not quite in Finland though, where it is purely a hate relationship towards the Swedes (especially in, but not limited to, hockey). But I guess to the rest of the world they seem pretty nice and classy etc (which, incidentally, may fuel an inferior complex in the neighbouring countries). In terms of sports, this is probably the highpoint (lowpoint?) of Danish-Swedish rivalry of the last couple of decades. Haven't been so furious after a football match since, well, never.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XT0W...eature=related[Not sure if the link really do justice, compared to the feeling of standing among 100,000 people, including 40-50,000 Swedes, just outside the stadium watching the team you want to beat the most in a game that you really cannot afford to lose]

It's funny that you single out Markström as the weakest link. I see a bit of SEL hockey, and he is generally considered to be not only the best young goalie, but the best goalie period. Hell, you have Swedish people discussing whether there has ever been a goalie who was better at his age (and no, I am not kidding - they seriosly do this). I haven't seen enough WJC hockey to really have an opinion, but he did pretty well against Slovakia, I think.

As for Sundin, it was just too obvious to not comment it. Could mention the Sedins or Ohlund as well... Quite a few in Vancouver

Good luck tmr!

I know he's considered a very good prospect, and I don't doubt that is the case or that he has tons of potential. It's just that, in the very limited amount I have seen, he hasn't been outstanding this tourny. I've heard several commentators mention the same thing. Odds are he's going to be a great goalie though.

As for the Sedin's and Ohlund, they might not be Canucks much longer. Though I will be genuinely pissed if they don't resign Ohlund (as long as it's for a resonable amount/term of course).

[CGM]

Canada seems to be the team these years in junior, but not at the adult level, where things are pretty much wide open between 4 or 5 teams.

[Youngblood]

Ahem...that is 5 straight. Just sayin'.

[wesrman]

And 8 of our guuys that should have been on the team werent cuz they're in the NHL.

[CGM]

Ahem...that is 5 straight. Just sayin'.

Right Youngblood, that's why I said these years, instead of this year.

CFH, as for Sundin, he's pretty good but I don't consider him a huge loss for Toronto. In my opinion he's not worth the 10 million/year prorated that the Canucks are paying him.

[CFH]

Ahem...that is 5 straight. Just sayin'.

Right Youngblood, that's why I said these years, instead of this year.

CFH, as for Sundin, he's pretty good but I don't consider him a huge loss for Toronto. In my opinion he's not worth the 10 million/year prorated that the Canucks are paying him.

He might be worth it if they were an upper echelon team who's goal was a deep playoff run. Given Toronto's situation, it would have been insanity to sign Sundin. Toronto is doing the right thing and rebuilding while the Canucks are attempting to compete with the San Jose's and Detroit's.

He's playing his first game with the 'Nucks tomorrow night, though I'm not expecting too much. I'll be happy if he manages to avoid a groin injury.

[CGM]

Ahem...that is 5 straight. Just sayin'.

Right Youngblood, that's why I said these years, instead of this year.

CFH, as for Sundin, he's pretty good but I don't consider him a huge loss for Toronto. In my opinion he's not worth the 10 million/year prorated that the Canucks are paying him.

He might be worth it if they were an upper echelon team who's goal was a deep playoff run. Given Toronto's situation, it would have been insanity to sign Sundin. Toronto is doing the right thing and rebuilding while the Canucks are attempting to compete with the San Jose's and Detroit's.

He's playing his first game with the 'Nucks tomorrow night, though I'm not expecting too much. I'll be happy if he manages to avoid a groin injury.

Well, if the Canucks are an upper echelon team with cup possibilities, then maybe you are paying closer attention than I am. I hope it's tru though, cause Vancouver is still my team, I'd cheer for them over Toronto any day.

[CFH]

Right Youngblood, that's why I said these years, instead of this year.

CFH, as for Sundin, he's pretty good but I don't consider him a huge loss for Toronto. In my opinion he's not worth the 10 million/year prorated that the Canucks are paying him.

He might be worth it if they were an upper echelon team who's goal was a deep playoff run. Given Toronto's situation, it would have been insanity to sign Sundin. Toronto is doing the right thing and rebuilding while the Canucks are attempting to compete with the San Jose's and Detroit's.

He's playing his first game with the 'Nucks tomorrow night, though I'm not expecting too much. I'll be happy if he manages to avoid a groin injury.

Well, if the Canucks are an upper echelon team with cup possibilities, then maybe you are paying closer attention than I am. I hope it's tru though, cause Vancouver is still my team, I'd cheer for them over Toronto any day.

I don't think they are, but that is what they're aspiring to, and with Luongo in net, anything is possible. I've never seen a playoff performance like the one he put on a few years back. If that team had had any kind of scoring (not to mention decent management) it could've done serious damage.

If Sundin can play like he has in the past, and if they are able to add another piece or two, they can make a deep run, but getting past San Jose or Detroit is a difficult task for any team.

[CGM]

He might be worth it if they were an upper echelon team who's goal was a deep playoff run. Given Toronto's situation, it would have been insanity to sign Sundin. Toronto is doing the right thing and rebuilding while the Canucks are attempting to compete with the San Jose's and Detroit's.

He's playing his first game with the 'Nucks tomorrow night, though I'm not expecting too much. I'll be happy if he manages to avoid a groin injury.

Well, if the Canucks are an upper echelon team with cup possibilities, then maybe you are paying closer attention than I am. I hope it's tru though, cause Vancouver is still my team, I'd cheer for them over Toronto any day.

I don't think they are, but that is what they're aspiring to, and with Luongo in net, anything is possible. I've never seen a playoff performance like the one he put on a few years back. If that team had had any kind of scoring (not to mention decent management) it could've done serious damage.

If Sundin can play like he has in the past, and if they are able to add another piece or two, they can make a deep run, but getting past San Jose or Detroit is a difficult task for any team.

I have, with Richard Brodeur between the pipes and Roger Neilson behind the bench, in 1982. Brodeur was amazing. Unfortunately, Canucks had to go up against a peak New York Islanders in the final. Interesting, Canucks were doing shit with Harry Neale as coach, Neale got fired 2/3 of the way through the season, Neilson took over, and they never looked back.