World Cup of Hockey '04

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Richelieu


Mario just plays this game better than anyone else i've seen.
Gretzky was playing his own game. I remember watching him sometimes and getting the impression that the other players on the ice were playing a different sport, like they weren't seeing what he was.

What you said about Gretzky is dead on. The fact that Mario is no where near Gretzky's level, of course, doesn't mean that he's over-rated.

I still remember seeing Mario going between two Leaf defencemen, they trip him and as he's going through the air with one hand on the stick, he scores a goal. Absolutely amazing.

But Mario and Gretzky are part of the past, the old guard.

Which of the new guard will become the next great one?

Will it be:
St. Louis
Richards
Lacavalier
Thornton, or
Iginla

[Asher]

It sure as hell won't be Thorton.

Lecavalier is too much of an ass. Mario and Wayne are both class guys, the new guard needs to be class as well.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Tingkai


Which of the new guard will become the next great one?

Will it be:
St. Louis
Richards
Lacavalier
Thornton, or
Iginla

Interesting question. I see Iginla in the Mark Messier power forward mold and doubt he will transcend into the super-elite.

Thornton appears to have the tools but injuries have already hobbled him at key times so his durability is suspect. Lecavalier might have the best shot at greatness .. . he does some amazing things already and is still pretty young IIRC

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Flubber
Interesting question. I see Iginla in the Mark Messier power forward mold and doubt he will transcend into the super-elite.

Messier was in the super elite, but he was over-shadowed by Gretzky and Gretzky wouldn't have got the points that he did without Messier.

I'd say Richards is the most likely candidate.

St. Louis is fantastic, but he's small and plays hard so that's going to take a toll on his body.

LeCavalier has all the potential, but is missing a bit of hockey smarts.

Thornton has the skill and the hockey smarts, but he's crazy. I can easily see him pulling a Bertuzzi.

Iginla has everything, except for a team. If the Flames can do what Tampa did in terms of scouting and management then Iginla could be next great star. Imagine how good he would look playing with Richards, St Louis or Lacavalier.

[KrazyHorse]

I watched the teamwork between Iginla and Mario last night. Great stuff. Some amazing passing.

[KrazyHorse]

Gretzky was probably the smartest hockey player in the last 30 years. Nobody could touch him on seeing opportunities where everybody else saw nothing.

I think in a lot of the skills departments Mario could outperform Wayne though. Especially stickhandling. The man has the softest hands I've ever seen.

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by Tuberski
Close, but no cigar, Gretsky won 5 Cups, Mario 2.

I dunno who "Gretsky" is, but Wayne Gretzky only won 4 Stanley Cups . He never won one after leaving Edmonton; the closest he came was losing in the 1993 final to Montreal.

[Pekka]

Well, we won Germany 3-0... Kipper shut down again! 120 minutes, no one has been able to pass Kipper.

However.. that's the only positive thing about our game. We looked VERY bad. Our team was playing totally with lower gears. I'm glad it happened now, so there's no problems against Sweden day over tomorrow, when we decide who wins the Euro Group.. Maybe Kipper can shut down the Tre Kronor too? No? Well, I hope so, but Sweden will be the first one to really bring it to us. So I hope we'll do good. It's in our home arena, so that's a plus, and also we already have made our mistakes we can afford in this tournament, so the attitude will be good against Sweden. It'll be a THRILLER! Our games are always good, this one will be no exception.

So.. tonight US vs Russia? I'll watch it.. I hope Russia can play as good as they are able to, so it will be an interesting game.

[Flubber]

I predict no shutout against Sweden. Kipper is due to let one or two get by.

I'll actually predict that Sweden scores 3 and the teams battle to a 3-3 tie. Finland takes 1st on goal differential ( is that the first tiebreak) and is rewarded with hosting Germany and what should be a free trip to the semis

Are the semis crossover? If so then ist in the euro group gets to avoid the 1st place NA team until the finals-- an added small bonus but again not that big a deal when there are a lot of equivalent teams

[Pekka]

Not sure if semis are crossover or not. Yeah, it seems highly unlikely for Kipper to shutout Sweden. Their offensive is in whole new level, and have such skilled individuals as well as team play, that they should be scoring. I just hope they don't score too much and we'd be able to answer. This game will the undoubtetly the BEST game in the whole Euro Group, so it's the best game in here out of all, so if you have time, tune in.

[Pekka]

I have to wish Czechs beat Germany, because if they don't, it'll be weird game between Sweden and Finland. The loser would get Germany in the quarter finals. They would play for win, but then again, there wouldn't be too big of a chase at the end of the game for the team about to lose.

Sweden will impose the biggest threat to us. Or should we say we impose the biggest threat to them, as they would be the better team, on paper.

But maybe now you believe that we do have pretty decent defense . The game today was pretty horrible from our side.. lot of mistakes, in defense too, and it just wasn't working, the game plan.

But the biggest question and obstacle in our success was and is the ability to score enough, as we lack the snipers and depth in offensive. It was good to see Selänne score tonight, and it was a great shot too. It is, I think, positive, that the scorers have been spread, and our guns havent' been yet even released. The most prominent scorers haven't have much success yet. So, we just calibrate those, keep the defense working, anything can happen day over tomorrow against the Swedes.

In tight games, it is often goalie vs. goalie like we know, and we should know by now that Kipper is on fire. Nay-sayers will of course continue to go 'well, the defense worked pretty good and Kipper hasn't been really tested yet', but that's bull. They are just haters, where as we are believers.

It's not a question if attitude will be on. You have to understand the hockey rivavlry between Sweden and Finland. Both teams are ALWAYS hot. It don't matter, it can be exhibition game played in mid-july. They fire up each other always. So that won't be a question even. Sweden will be on, and so will we. Our goalie IS on fire, Tellqvist for Sweden, little enigma now how he can hold up. Salo won't be playing, I'm sure. Say what you want, but Kipper has kept 120min clear. The puck stops here.

Plus, we're playing in front of the home crowd. So I'd say, it's absolutely 50-50 dead on tie right now, as we got that advantage and goalie advantage. Oh yeah, and against Germany, they were pretty much able to not miss too many scoring chances, so while it's not looking spectacular on that section, it is looking decent now.

Don't Blink!

[Pekka]

And we DO need changes! We need to get Aki Berg the hell away from the playing roster. He just is .. not suitable for this team. I don't see why Joni Pitkänen, having far less experience, but also far more talent, hunger and skill should sit on the bench. Berg made some horrible mistakes throughout the game. I say change Pitkänen for Berg.

Plus, Why we still sitting Nemo out? We need to get him to the game against Sweden! We need that aggressive forechecking example, the fire and effort of him. He can fire up our team. I'd say he should be in right now and I cant' believe they're sitting him out. Those are the two changes needed to be done right now.

Summanen of course has a logic of 'do not change the winning team', but I say right now Berg is not the one holding our team in the winning streak, on the contrary he puts it on line every time he steps to the ice! And we can NOT afford to NOT play aggressive forecheck against the Swedes. We need Nemo, simple as that.

[Pekka]

HOwever, if we are able to win Sweden, I'm telling you, we're going all the way to the finals. Unless we face Canada in semis. Whoever we would face in the semis, if we win sweden, we will be at finals with Canada.

[trickey]

Originally posted by Pekka
HOwever, if we are able to win Sweden, I'm telling you, we're going all the way to the finals. Unless we face Canada in semis. Whoever we would face in the semis, if we win sweden, we will be at finals with Canada.

Don't count the US out. I think they could beat Canada if we had a bad night. I can't see Russia posing much of a threat, but you never know.

[Pekka]

Say that again!

Did you see the opening period, US vs Russia? WHat a great period! Russia is playing great hockey right now.. blast from the past... Everything is up for grabs, they have all the talent and skill, but they always fail on the team part of the game, but now, it looks like they have all the ducks straight.. they're showing impressive hockey, I'm impressed! It's a great thing.. now the North American Group is battle grounds. I think.. that Russia might even take this one. Close one it will be.