Neo

Hedman, holding, two minutes ..

You’ve had an edge since you got married ... it happens, it happens ...

Take two aspirin ... and ...

I was skeptical (see my posts), but I think this assessment is right ...

I think Jack handcuffed him, there ...

Ooops.... and with all my World Juniors love, too. I just “imagine” him as a big ol’ western Canadian kid

I wish Garth Snow was in net.

THAT was a statement.

McCabe may have his Canadian citizenship revoked ...

Sergechev an ANIMAL! Tampa tv crew doesn't know if he’s ever fought. This one could get nastier.

Next goal wins ...

I know ... But wouldn’t he think “the team believes it’s better with him at forward, at some forward cost, than it is with me as 7D, with the cost being who ever I’d replace?” Not as obvious as the same position, but still. I’d think “I’m done”. In other words, rather than dress Bogo, they call up someone like Smith .... musings.

It occurs to me. Assuming he’s a healthy scratch, Bogo’s done, here. Imagine having his skill set and being benched for a marginal AHLer because of “grit”.

I’m a neanderthal, too, in many hockey senses. Oh, I quit on fights because of head trauma in young men, but I still love a grinding, physical, game. My lack of enthusiasm for Dalton is that this “sign a bruiser” approach to physicality is just “so Buffalo” since the end of the 1970s. The twenty guys in the room have the ability. Only culture (there’s that word, again) brings it out. Nineteen guys standing around watching Dalton doesn’t thrill me.

I just can’t help but feel that I’ve seen this movie, before. Slap Shot is on the NHL Network, tonight, at 10:30. Camaraderie and toughness aren’t events, call ups or signings.

Habit ...

Watched a tremendous game, today. What an atmosphere with the home town Czechs chanting, drumming and jumping up and down, in unison. The game was contested and went to overtime. As a result, the fans were in it, beginning to end. Czech had a tying goal overturned for goaltender interference. It was interference, as that penalty’s called today, but oh, what a screaming crowd. I wish I had an interpreter for the chant that followed. Vaclav Vrada, the Czech coach, was irate. I loved ol’ Vaclav as a Sabre. What irony: watching him scream in outrage over the goaltender interference call. “Um, Vaclav .....”. Just when I started to murmur “what’s all the Cole Caufield hype ...”. Mattias Samuelsson ... I’m not feeling it. Good kid, not out of place among the best in the world in his age group, but not a top prospect. His feet take a while to get moving in different directions, I don’t think he’s stay at home “style wise”. I think he’s stay at home “talent wise”. Example, early third period penalty kill. He got to a puck, flat footed, in his own corner, slowly rotated without beginning to skate, and sent a wrist-shot clearing attempt up the boards to ... a speeding Czech who kept the puck in the zone. I’ve not seen Sweden or Finland. I think the USA is the strongest Group B team. That said, the margin over Canada is very narrow. Penalties will determine who advances out of the Group.

You memorialized my “spell-oh”!

As usual, penalties are playing a big role in these games. Special teams success is important. The willingness and ability of young men to do dumb things are large.

You can assess. You can dream. You can write about both. No one said or believes lower level anything necessarily translates to upper level anything. It suggests. It guides. When it excites, all the better ... just like everyone’s said about any sports draft, try out, recital, rehearsal, practice session ... ever. You’re creating a point no one made, attributing it to many, and arguing against it.

USA just stayed with it. The team’s methodical. The second goal, six seconds after the face off for goal one, was nearly identical to the game loser surrendered to Canada eight seconds after tying that game at four.

I thought you missed the point during this conversation months ago. I think you still do. What “reality” did we miss at the draft? Nothing, nada, zero, zip, zilch about evaluating a young player, projecting and being wildly excited, suggests you’ve proven he’s a HOFer, that you KNOW he’s a HOFer, etc. “He’s going to be a great one” and “He’s not there, yet” arent mutually exclusive. Hell, if he NEVER arrives, the hype was still justified. It’s just hype that dissapoints on the downside. If the dippsy doodle video didn’t thrill you, well .... One can recognize the reality in “he may not” while saying “I expect he will”. What about the HomoSapiens, and upper level thinking skills allowing man to see forward, upsets you? I’m trying to imagine a world where I could react only to reality as it exists in this moment. It’s not dull, it’s impossible. LeBron James and Tony Mandarich. Both were hyped because they did things that were hype-able. For God’s sake, man, are’t we all here to talk about yesterday, today and tomorrow. The “Dahlin” bugaboo is yours. Imagine everyone here saying “you cant know that for certain” after every sentence addressing tomorrow. I buy groceries a week at a time. I’m not sure, positive, certain that I’ll be alive tomorrow. Evaluating the best evidence I have today, I believe I will be. If you tell me to pump the brakes at the checkout line, I’ll smile and say “you know me, a wild optimist!” Dahlin’s career and tape going into the draft suggested greatness. It was sure fun to see and talk about. He’s not yet been anointed “the greatest” 16 months in. Yawn .... I still think he will be. Oh, allow me my own astute grasp of the obvious .... he may not ever be, just like every tomorrow may not be. Now, I have to run. I’m going to buy Christmas cards and tinsel on sale, to use next year ... in the future I believe most likely coming.

Zero Zero end of one. USA had the better of it early and late, with a 4 minute double minor handing Russia momentum mid period. Russia showing the snarl it’s shown for the last decade, or so, in this tournament. Life’s funny ... when I was a boy, Canadians and Americans threw snarl at the ultra skilled Soviets. The North Americans changed their game and raised their skill level while the disintegration of the Soviet sports machine deprived the Soviets of this advantage. Now, ultra skilled North Americans meet snarly Russians. I remember a few years back .. the Russians were thuggish punks, hardly playing like a team. I expected camera shots of them grabbing cigarettes and booze between periods. Today’s team is a real team.

USA - Russia, kicking off. USA lost to Canada, and Canada lost to Russia. The round robin among the three finishes today. Russia with a six goal shellacking of Canada in a tourney where goal differential matters. Highlights of Canada - Russia and the phrase “five in the frame” describing Russian puck support and team defense. Will we see Cole Caufield emerge? I like the size, speed and aggressiveness of Shane Pinto, an early tourney “fave” of mine.