4 Nations Face-Off

[Hongbit]

So it doesn’t get lost in the catch all thread.    Tourney starts on February 12th and will replace the All-Star game this year.

Swedes and Finns named their stacked rosters today.     

 

[Hongbit]

Sweden looks amazing.  They may be the favorite.    Canada without a reliable goalie may only be the 3rd best team.     US & Canada will release later tonight.

Edited December 4, 2024 by Hongbit

[buddha]

too bad the russians cant play.

[lordstanley]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

too bad the russians cant play.

Yep, to me it’s not an international tournament without the Russians. I have little interest in this. 

[Hongbit]

Canada roster looking old. 

[Hongbit]

How and why Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson are on this roster and Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, and Cole Caufield at home.  

Still a strong enough roster to scare Canadians into pretending not to care.   

[Hongbit]

17 hours ago, lordstanley said:

Yep, to me it’s not an international tournament without the Russians. I have little interest in this. 

I absolutely understand your sentiment.  

In a fantasy world, the Russians need to be involved for a true best of best tournament.     

In our current world,  the Russians are not accepted on the global stage for various political reasons.    

I’d rather have a very competitive international tournament in place of a boring all-star game.  I’d especially hate that reason we would be deprived is due to anything having to do with the Russian leader. 

[lordstanley]

Where have you gone, Yvan Cournoyer? Tidbit of note from the article: "The top Canadian goalie in the NHL so far this year is Detroit’s Cam Talbot, 37, of Caledonia, Ontario, who has a .915 save percentage in 15 games"

https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/politics-factored-into-quebec-goalie-getting-picked-for-team-canada-nhl-insider-says

Politics factored into Quebec goalie getting picked for Team Canada, NHL insider says

Edited December 5, 2024 by lordstanley

[lordstanley]

28 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

I absolutely understand your sentiment.  

In a fantasy world, the Russians need to be involved for a true best of best tournament.     

In our current world,  the Russians are not accepted on the global stage for various political reasons.    

I’d rather have a very competitive international tournament in place of a boring all-star game.  I’d especially hate that reason we would be deprived is due to anything having to do with the Russian leader. 

My daughter is in her freshman year at McGill in Montreal. I'll visit her at some point between January-March. Tickets for the Wednesday Canada-Sweden opener are somewhat reasonable, around C$250 to get in the door. Canada-U.S. on the Saturday less so. I think I'd rather one of those games over a regular season Habs game.

[buddha]

anything beats the all star game.