They also picked Chris Kunitz, Jay Bouwmeester and Rick Nash over Taylor Hall, Kris Letang (may have been injured) and Claude Giroux to name a few. My point is, their picks often lean towards making "chemistry" picks over actually picking the best player. Not going to say they're wrong to do so, but it's wrong to suggest that they're better simply for being on Team Canada.
- MaximumBone

100%

It's the reason PK never gets picked. He is good enough, but he could very easily disrupt the chemistry on the team in a short period and the risk of that is just too high. Possibly the same thing with Hall, but not nearly as much as PK.

100%

It's the reason PK never gets picked. He is good enough, but he could very easily disrupt the chemistry on the team in a short period and the risk of that is just too high. Possibly the same thing with Hall, but not nearly as much as PK.
- JLO961

Yeah, they took Bouwmeester and Muzzin for the World Cup purely because Bouwmeester had familiarity with Pietrangelo and Muzzin had familiarity with Doughty. Anyone in his right mind would've taken Subban, instead. Fortunately for Team Canada, though, they're such a loaded team that they can afford to make mistakes like that. They probably could've taken Pittsburgh's current defense and still won the World Cup.

Good csll
- James_Tanner

You can't be saying you agree with him, right? I mean, he's right. But my confirmation bias is having a tough time processing the fact that you just agreed with someone that you missed an example of a player that got better in his late 20's. I'm freaking out!

Tanners writing is fools gold and needs to be stayed away from.

Yeah, they took Bouwmeester and Muzzin for the World Cup purely because Bouwmeester had familiarity with Pietrangelo and Muzzin had familiarity with Doughty. Anyone in his right mind would've taken Subban, instead. Fortunately for Team Canada, though, they're such a loaded team that they can afford to make mistakes like that. They probably could've taken Pittsburgh's current defense and still won the World Cup.
- Osprey

You're right, but I disagree that it was a mistake. In an 82 game season, PK is a very valuable player. In a 6-10 game elimination tournament, PK could lose the game for you. Meanwhile, Team Canada certainly does not need offense from their D corps. The 12th fwd can provide serious offense! The D need to play smart and simple hockey and move the puck to the wingers. There is no room for a hot dog on team Canada...hence no PK, and as I said probably the same explanation for no Taylor Hall.

Tanners writing is fools gold and needs to be stayed away from.
- Avsrchamps01

The big question is who's blog is full of more fools gold, Garth or Tanner's?

I would have said Garth's, but the last couple from Tanner are really making too close to call.

You're right, but I disagree that it was a mistake. In an 82 game season, PK is a very valuable player. In a 6-10 game elimination tournament, PK could lose the game for you. Meanwhile, Team Canada certainly does not need offense from their D corps. The 12th fwd can provide serious offense! The D need to play smart and simple hockey and move the puck to the wingers. There is no room for a hot dog on team Canada...hence no PK, and as I said probably the same explanation for no Taylor Hall.
- JLO961

Subban's defense is far better than Boewmeester's and Muzzin's. One look at this year's playoffs shows that and that he's not the hotdogger that he was. I suspect that, when he came to Nashville, he was asked to take on a more defensive role because the team already had scoring defensemen, and he's really owned that. Canada could've picked him for the World Cup and asked him to do the same thing.

Subban's defense is far better than Boewmeester's and Muzzin's. One look at this year's playoffs shows that and that he's not the hotdogger that he was. I suspect that, when he came to Nashville, he was asked to take on a more defensive role because the team already had scoring defensemen, and he's really owned that. Canada could've picked him for the World Cup and asked him to do the same thing.
- Osprey

Yeah, he has improved a lot in his own zone. I think for two reasons: 1. He is no longer under the microscope and he now has three other VERY good defensemen surrounding him, and 2. Phil Housley. Housley's influence will probably take PK's game to the next level. I think he might make team Canada next time. JayBo amd Muzzin are studs, PK still can't hold his own zone like those two but he's got age on his side. PLUS, Jaybo and Muzzin were there to make life easier for Doughty and Pietrangelo (who was left off of Tannerboy's top 10!!! lol)

Mike Knuble got better with age

I never understand when people use PIM as a positive stat.

I hope the avs dont pay this James Tanner to write articles. I can see he is not the sharpest pencil in the box.
Or, he likes Duchene that much that he is throwing trash out there to discourage teams. Either way it goes back to my first 2 sentences.

I love the fact that a player who sucks at defence and has hit 70 points only once is so beloved that no one will even consider the alternative.

This is the most accurate least controversial thing I've ever written.

The big question is who's blog is full of more fools gold, Garth or Tanner's?

I would have said Garth's, but the last couple from Tanner are really making too close to call.
- VT001

Well, they're both very very talented. I'd say Garth but Tanner is gaining quickly. They are both wonderful writers who have a vast degree of knowledge about hockey and can write a wonderful blog without any kind of bias.

I hope the avs dont pay this James Tanner to write articles. I can see he is not the sharpest pencil in the box.
Or, he likes Duchene that much that he is throwing trash out there to discourage teams. Either way it goes back to my first 2 sentences.
- Flybynight88

Don't worry, thank God he's not ours. He just used our avatar

Don't worry, thank God he's not ours. He just used our avatar
- Avsrchamps01

Im not sure how he gets away with it?
Any other blogger tries to put up a blog about another team and it gets taken down.
I've asked why this Is many times and HB police say they tell him not to.

Really? Duchene played on the worst non tank team we've seen in some time. I'd hardly hold that against him. Toronto scored 85 more goals as a team. Of course guys on the Leafs are going to have more points. $6M is a good deal for him. Kadri makes less because he never played up to his potential. Why? Because the Leafs sucked.

Is this a Duchene blog, or Kadri blog?

Im not sure how he gets away with it?
Any other blogger tries to put up a blog about another team and it gets taken down.
I've asked why this Is many times and HB police say they tell him not to.
- Iggysbff

Absolute lie. No one's blog gets taken down, and no one tells me what to write. (They occasionally ask me not to tone down my references to the Lorax, but that's it).


Why would you even care?

Really? Duchene played on the worst non tank team we've seen in some time. I'd hardly hold that against him. Toronto scored 85 more goals as a team. Of course guys on the Leafs are going to have more points. $6M is a good deal for him. Kadri makes less because he never played up to his potential. Why? Because the Leafs sucked.
- Wetbandit1

The facts are as follows:

For Duchene's entire career, his team has allowed significantly more shot-attempts, shots, scoring chances and goals when he's been on the ice than they've gotten.

He is an offense only, one dimensional player who is terrible defensively.

His career high is 30 goals and 70 points.

In eight seasons, he's been over 60 points just twice.

Matt Duchene's closest comparable is probably Mike Ribiero, who has six 60 point seasons and a career high of 83. (Career high 27 goals).

Both are fine players, but I think we can agree that Ribiero has never been treated or considered as big a star as Duchene.

Again, if I'm under selling him, anyone is free to offer a counter-analysis that doesn't include him being named to Team Canada, or offers the excuse his team is bad.

Lots of players excel on bad teams. Sidney Crosby once scored 100 points and then his team drafted Malkin.

HOLY SH!T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you completely out of your mind?

Now, don't get me wrong, I disagree with 95% of the bile that is sprayed onto your keyboard, but this one....wow.

I do believe that is the record for the fastest time I have read a sentence and proceeded to go to the comment section.

To quote Lars, Kirk, Jason, and James...after this one "Nothing Else Matters" with you.

wow.
- JLO961

This is the best. Why even go online and read anything if you already know everything and your mind can't be changed? Matt Duchene is - at best - a decent second line player. He's overpaid and overrated and that is backed up 100% by facts.

This is the best. Why even go online and read anything if you already know everything and your mind can't be changed? Matt Duchene is - at best - a decent second line player. He's overpaid and overrated and that is backed up 100% by facts.
- james_tanner1

Advanced stats are not facts. Not yet anyway.

Is this a Duchene blog, or Kadri blog?
- sbroads24

It's an agenda blog.

The facts are as follows:

For Duchene's entire career, his team has allowed significantly more shot-attempts, shots, scoring chances and goals when he's been on the ice than they've gotten.

He is an offense only, one dimensional player who is terrible defensively.

His career high is 30 goals and 70 points.

In eight seasons, he's been over 60 points just twice.

Matt Duchene's closest comparable is probably Mike Ribiero, who has six 60 point seasons and a career high of 83. (Career high 27 goals).

Both are fine players, but I think we can agree that Ribiero has never been treated or considered as big a star as Duchene.

Again, if I'm under selling him, anyone is free to offer a counter-analysis that doesn't include him being named to Team Canada, or offers the excuse his team is bad.

Lots of players excel on bad teams. Sidney Crosby once scored 100 points and then his team drafted Malkin.
- james_tanner1

I'm not saying he's great or anything. I didn't say $6M was a steal. It's a solid deal for him and what he brings. And maybe he is "overrated" but he's not overrated to the extent you say he is. It seems like you have it 1)Toews(I somewhat agree with that) and 2) Duchene(I definitely do not)

Not every player has to be a shutdown defender.

Sydney Crosby is Sydney Crosby. The 2 aren't anywhere near each other. I don't know why you brought him up. The best player in the game today was great on a bad team? You don't say!

And Kadri is on a great deal. But again it's different circumstances. Every team would love to add a 30 goal or damn near it guy for $6M. Full stop. Drouin has attitude issues that's why his name is thrown out there whether they're a thing of the past or not is irrelevant. Galchenyuk is younger. Ok what else is he that Duchene isn't? Glachenyuk will likely be more expensive too. Maybe not this year and if he was smart he'd sign a short term deal based on his down season. But if he gets it back to his 30 goal year he'll be closer to $7M.

This is the best. Why even go online and read anything if you already know everything and your mind can't be changed? Matt Duchene is - at best - a decent second line player. He's overpaid and overrated and that is backed up 100% by facts.
- james_tanner1

Ok to boil everything I just said down. Is he a first line player on an elite team? No. But he's also not paid like it either. But he is a 1C on probably 15-18 teams in the league. At $6M.

He's overpaid compared to Kadri, sure, but he's underpaid. So that's not a good comparison to make.

Let's also be honest about Kadri:

First off, let me say I've actually always been a fan of his. He's always shown the potential to be a better player and I love his compete.

Now, before we start over-valuing him. There should also be the realization that this year could potentially be a blip and he goes back to his normal production next year. For leafs fans sake, I hope not.

He's also gotten a boost with having better line-mates. He could have totally different results playing in COL.