James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Ovechkin Deserves Better + Trouba + Kessel
One of the single greatest blogs in the entire history of the world.
- James_Tanner

Disagree about ovi. He doesn't do anything other than shoot from top of circle in PP . Crosby made unreal play by pursuing puck and causing turnovers. Did sets up players on his team. Ovi is one dementional and doesn't make his teammates better. Not a winner. Unreal individual player but that's it

Disagree about ovi. He doesn't do anything other than shoot from top of circle in PP . Crosby made unreal play by pursuing puck and causing turnovers. Did sets up players on his team. Ovi is one dementional and doesn't make his teammates better. Not a winner. Unreal individual player but that's it
- rrentz

Ovi does far more than just tee off from the circle

So not one dimensional at all. He's a beast and is incredibly difficult to defend against. All over the ice


There might be some intangible negatives that we can't say for sure about. At least I think there is anyway.
But he's an all world talent and one of the very best players in the world.
To say anything less is silly

How are the Jets "choosing" buff and Myers over Trouba exactly?

You are aware that a trade demand was made?

He's RFA for what 3 more years'ish....how exactly are we not choosing Trouba?

Pretty lazy commentary

How many first and second round loses to the Pens, Rangers et does a 31 year old Ovi get before he's not a winning player, or at the very least acknowledged as a great goal scorer but not a great leader. Washington has won 2 president's trophies in the OVI era and nothing to show for it in the playoffs. If it were Crosby the talk would be stripping him of the "C". Its a complete double standard.

Had to pick him first overall, it was a keeper league with tons of Leafs fans and the best 52 players already protected.
- JTanner

Oh…well in that case, good pick

How many first and second round loses to the Pens, Rangers et does a 31 year old Ovi get before he's not a winning player, or at the very least acknowledged as a great goal scorer but not a great leader. Washington has won 2 president's trophies in the OVI era and nothing to show for it in the playoffs. If it were Crosby the talk would be stripping him of the "C". Its a complete double standard.
- Brianandr1

Great player but not a winner With very few exveptions,Russians dont seem to be good leaders or team guys.

How many first and second round loses to the Pens, Rangers et does a 31 year old Ovi get before he's not a winning player, or at the very least acknowledged as a great goal scorer but not a great leader. Washington has won 2 president's trophies in the OVI era and nothing to show for it in the playoffs. If it were Crosby the talk would be stripping him of the "C". Its a complete double standard.
- Brianandr1

this exactly.

it is the Canadian versus non-Canadian double standard - that exists because of the broadcasting/broadcasters in the US covering the teams in those markets.

just like the ESPN coverage (I think that was coverage) of the Canada Russia game last night... the moment the US lost... the negative spin about anything related to Canada ensues... and the positive spin grows around the other countries.

if you want the CLEAREST indication of the "differing standards"... look at the salaries of the top Canadian players and those of the top non-Canadians.

I loved Team North America, but it is kinda telling to see how the much older experienced team in the tournament advanced while the much more talented but less experienced and structured team looked amazing but did not. Yes, the tie breaker sucks but they all were under the same rules and knew beforehand. Obviously it doesn't mean older teams are better, but I think it makes a case for experience being a very valuable part of a winning team.

I loved Team North America, but it is kinda telling to see how the much older experienced team in the tournament advanced while the much more talented but less experienced and structured team looked amazing but did not. Yes, the tie breaker sucks but they all were under the same rules and knew beforehand. Obviously it doesn't mean older teams are better, but I think it makes a case for experience being a very valuable part of a winning team.
- 13sundin13

?????????

If you're going to complain about something, try and understand it.

Team North America was eliminated by the best tiebreaker there is. Head to head record. How else do you suggest breaking ties if head to head record doesn't do it for you?

The reason everyone said they had to win in regulation was to force a tiebreaker with Sweden. Loser points are dumb but so is making an overtime win worth the same as a regulation win. As we saw with NA-Sweden, it's far, far, far easier to get amazing scoring chances when it's 3 on 3. The NHL needs to change that already, but it makes sense to have an NHL run tournament use NHL rules.

If you're going to complain about something, try and understand it.

Team North America was eliminated by the best tiebreaker there is. Head to head record. How else do you suggest breaking ties if head to head record doesn't do it for you?

The reason everyone said they had to win in regulation was to force a tiebreaker with Sweden. Loser points are dumb but so is making an overtime win worth the same as a regulation win. As we saw with NA-Sweden, it's far, far, far easier to get amazing scoring chances when it's 3 on 3. The NHL needs to change that already, but it makes sense to have an NHL run tournament use NHL rules.
- Hunkulese

And that's a fact!!!

Disagree about ovi. He doesn't do anything other than shoot from top of circle in PP . Crosby made unreal play by pursuing puck and causing turnovers. Did sets up players on his team. Ovi is one dementional and doesn't make his teammates better. Not a winner. Unreal individual player but that's it
- rrentz

You're right all hr does is score goals. Since when did goals help teams win hockey games?

How are the Jets "choosing" buff and Myers over Trouba exactly?

You are aware that a trade demand was made?

He's RFA for what 3 more years'ish....how exactly are we not choosing Trouba?

Pretty lazy commentary
- jjonah

It was reported he wants to be traded bc he is behind those 2 on the depth chart and woukd have to play out of position in order to play top pairing.

How many first and second round loses to the Pens, Rangers et does a 31 year old Ovi get before he's not a winning player, or at the very least acknowledged as a great goal scorer but not a great leader. Washington has won 2 president's trophies in the OVI era and nothing to show for it in the playoffs. If it were Crosby the talk would be stripping him of the "C". Its a complete double standard.
- Brianandr1

What you are saying is what a lot of people say. I think it's wrong. That's why I wrote what I wrote.

I loved Team North America, but it is kinda telling to see how the much older experienced team in the tournament advanced while the much more talented but less experienced and structured team looked amazing but did not. Yes, the tie breaker sucks but they all were under the same rules and knew beforehand. Obviously it doesn't mean older teams are better, but I think it makes a case for experience being a very valuable part of a winning team.
- 13sundin13

Making the case that they didn't move on due to experience is ridiculous . They lost on a technicality that has nothing to do with their play.

I'd say on pure talent and depth- caps for sure

Winning a cup takes a ton of luck, getting hot at the right time etc.
Matt Murray !??


Play that series again a few more times and the caps could absolutely win

Not trying to take anything away from the pens cup. Just sayin
- HB77

I'd say they're fairly equal in talent and depth overall. Caps may have the edge in defensive talent and depth though.

The caps are a crazy good team and yes, if you play that series again I could totally see that ending differently, but you could say that about plenty of series every year.

Pens were the better team this time around. Their depth shined.

He's been giving top pairing position on left side. No good enough , next will be dictating who is partner is.... Agent is known to be one of the weaker ones and puts players in a bad light.

Trouba is not dedicated in the off season and would probably love to live with Bogosian again.

Trouba has had 3 different chaperones if you will in 3 years. His folks, Copp (rushed to NHL and moved in with Trouba), and this year his brother living with him.

Worth keeping yes, but needs to mature and care...and avoid some temptations

Semi agree that his shot isn't all world, but the rest is nonsense.

It's easy to identify the speed factor. Cause it's always electric when he wheels.
But he's already incredibly adept while stationary and the small things he does to make plays in tight areas and to create space. Simmons is an idiot. Still probably pissed that the oilers got him so he's looking for flaws. The stuff he said after the 2015 draft about small market Edmonton was transparent and deplorable. Super Douche

It's a problem when east coast writers try to pontificate in depth about guys they see a handful of times a year. Same goes vice versa.

I'll be shouting mcdavid > Matthews forever. But I'll have only seen Matthews 5-10 times max per while watching Connor 50+ games annually depending on how much studying I choose to slack off on
- HB77

Don't worry, there aren't any Leaf fans that think Matthews is better than McDavid.

Just happy to have the second best player under the age of 22.

Personally I was thrilled to see NA eliminated. Nothing highlighted the obnoxiousness of the Canadian hockey media like this team. They could do no wrong, despite giving up too many goals to Russia/Sweden and not knowing the tiebreaker rules. They were infinitely more talented top to bottom than the teams they played but every time they rushed the puck it was OMG IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING??? Time to get over it.

Making the case that they didn't move on due to experience is ridiculous . They lost on a technicality that has nothing to do with their play.
- James_Tanner

What? They tied Russia. The were eliminated because they lost to Russia. Did them losing have nothing to do with their play?

It was reported he wants to be traded bc he is behind those 2 on the depth chart and woukd have to play out of position in order to play top pairing.
- James_Tanner

They should have moved Buff. That contract is horrid for a 31 year old.

First off, player for player nurse for Trouba is debatable. Trouba isn't miles ahead in development and lots of potential left for both. But arm chair gm tanner thinks it's a no brainer. But when you put it in a real hockey situation called reality it becomes clear that oilers simply could not do that trade. They traded from a position of strength to acquire Larson and help fill a weakness. Have to do the same here if there's any chance for Trouba. Would it make sense to trade Hall for Gaudreau, no it wouldn't so no different with nurse and Trouba. Secondly, totally agree about NAT. Most exciting team to watch and deserved to be in the semi's. But what I can't understand is how the "most exciting team in the tourney" be constructed by the "the dumbest and worst gm" in the NHL?...#JT?

I don't buy the excuse that it was easy to pick that team or a bunch of drunk monkeys could have picked it because we've seen what a poorly constructed or coached team can do (team USA).

lol

Ovi does far more than just tee off from the circle

So not one dimensional at all. He's a beast and is incredibly difficult to defend against. All over the ice


There might be some intangible negatives that we can't say for sure about. At least I think there is anyway.
But he's an all world talent and one of the very best players in the world.
To say anything less is silly
- HB77

It's actually kind of the opposite. Ovi isn't really that great of a hockey player. He does a few things well, and has one of the best wristers/one-timers ever. But, he does a lot of things..not well..at all. The criticism aimed at him about leadership, intangibles...just inane ramblings. But he has plenty to work on in regards to his actual game, but we're way past that point now.

They should have moved Buff. That contract is horrid for a 31 year old.
- sbroads24

Agreed.