2026 Olympic Hockey

[STEVEHOLT]

This was awesome but tough at the same time.

 

[jncuse]

Analyzing the final goal (not that any of you care)

This guy seems to want to blame Makar, but I blame Mackinnon. Makar turned it over That happens on 3 on 3.

But what he heck if Mackinnon doing? Why is he going to the puck so meekly. He just had to take a whack at the puck to knock it back out, as he could have won the race to the puck or at worst at same time as the American. But he just did whatever he did.

A bad game overall for Mackinnon... missed the empty net, bad D, and I thought on the PP he was ineffective as the board man.

 

[OburgOrange]

Sure is

 

[JarHeadJim]

 

[jncuse]

Sure is

Watch Mackinnon's D on the winning goal. Just as baffling.

 

[tbonezone]

tough loss for canada. totally out skated team usa today. but no reason to hang your heads. stand and clap for the victors instead of sulking on the bench. and be proud of your performance in the games and of your country.

 

[orange79]

Good game. I just hate the OT

Just like with the women, the two best teams going at it. Shame one had to lose.

 

[jncuse]

It will be interesting to see what happens to the next 8-12 years. I think these two teams are closely matched right now.

Gives me something to analyze, so as to not think how we could not pull it off.

- Over the next 8-12 years, it should stay fairly even. The US has great talent from the 2015-2020 drafts (better than Canada), but since 2022 it is going through a relatively weak draft period (while Canada is crushing the draft). Canada might be a tad ahead on paper, due to developing elite forward depth, but the D and goalies are significant concerns. They need to take care of those and by 2034 they probably will - by 2030?. They will have the same concerns in 2030 unless Schaeffer is a 25+ minute stud in international play by then,

- From 2015-2019, I'd say the US had more more top line talent draftec than it ever did, and more than Canada. Eichel, Hughes (2), Tkachuk (2), Matthews and more. Lots of top 5 talent.

- But from 2022-2026 US draft classes have been weaker than that above period in both elite talent and the amount drafted. And Canada has really being banging out elite talent the last 3 drafts (Bedard, Celebrini, Schaeffer... and perhaps the first pick in the next 2 drafts as well in Mckenna and Dupont).

- For 2030 all those US guys drafted from 2015-2020 will still be in their prime. And their doing better in those age groups than Canada will help them... but there will some young elite talent coming in from Canada.

- By 2034, US weaker performance in recent drafts compared to Canada will hurt them as your current core ages out.

- 2038 who knows?

- From Canada's side there are two factors:
1) Can we find an elite international goalie - where are the Roy, Brodeur, Luongo and Price who took care of things for 25 years.
2) As "elite" as our top end forwards are, our defence is not at that level. Right now I like the US Olympic D compared to the Canadian team by a good amount, and that US D core is still going to be mostly in their prime in 2030.

If I'm looking at the US, I have happily already penciled in Hughes, McAvoy, Werenski, Sanderson Faber for my 2030 team.

If I'm looking at Canada, I have happily penciled in Makar and Schaeffer for my 2030 team. So basically 1 defenceman off the 2026 team. If you look at the rest of our D I'm not sure many are top end guys in 2030 - Doughty, Morrissey, Parayko, Toews will all be over 35. Others in Sanheim, Harley are maybe's but nowhere near like the US D I have noted abvoe.

For Canada it will be essential that Schaeffer becomes the star we expect, and that Dupont (the projected 2027 top pick), and Vearhoff (projected top 4 this year) also hit. I think this is one area we need some upgrades in as well, and it might be coming.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Analyzing the final goal (not that any of you care)

This guy seems to want to blame Makar, but I blame Mackinnon. Makar turned it over That happens on 3 on 3.

But what he heck if Mackinnon doing? Why is he going to the puck so meekly. He just had to take a whack at the puck to knock it back out, as he could have won the race to the puck or at worst at same time as the American. But he just did whatever he did.

A bad game overall for Mackinnon... missed the empty net, bad D, and I thought on the PP he was ineffective as the board man.

Apparently he’s injured and has a noticeably altered gait off ice

 

[jncuse]

Apparently he’s injured and has a noticeably altered gait off ice

Could have been the reason he was a bit hesitant in making up his mind.
But it should have been a simple reaction to make. He would have got to the puck first if he just made that call right away.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Connor McDavid won tournament MVP because , get this, the votes had to be in before the end of the first period. Now he has a playoff MVP and Olympic MVP and won neither championship

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Could have been the reason he was a bit hesitant in making up his mind.
But it should have been a simple reaction to make. He would have got to the puck first if he just made that call right away.

They were unnecessarily risky plays. 3 on 3 would tend to favor Canada. Just play solid and wait till you have better than a coin flip attempt at possession

 

[jncuse]

They were unnecessarily risky plays. 3 on 3 would tend to favor Canada. Just play solid and wait till you have better than a coin flip attempt at possession

They also double shifted McDavid and Makar immediately which may have been a mistake. Celebrini started with the two of them, a few other guys came in for like 20-30 seconds, and they came back with McDavid, Makar. No wonder Makar was gassed after the turnover.

Part of the problem with the Canadian team is we didn't have a great 2nd or 3rd D option for 3-3. We went with Toews for about 30 seconds before going to Maker. Not sure if Schaeffer would have been ready for the situation

 

[jncuse]

Connor McDavid won tournament MVP because , get this, the votes had to be in before the end of the first period. Now he has a playoff MVP and Olympic MVP and won neither championship

He deserved the Conn Smythe playoff MVP - this MVP should have went to Helly no doubt.