The Swamp

Posted: **Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:43 pm**

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:22 pm Prague is unique among many Euro capitals in that it has never been bombed.

This is such a weird and depressing sentence.

I've always been fascinated by that part of the world. I would be out of my comfort zone in Prague*, and that just grows the farther east you go. Like, I would love to visit Moldova, but I never will. And there's no g-ddamn way I'll visit Chechnya or any of the former Soviet satellites. I'll just keep reading about those places.

*These days, I feel uncomfortable walking to my mailbox.

Posted: **Mon Dec 28, 2020 11:10 pm**

It's such a great place. Spent a semester there 21 years ago. Dying to go back.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:32 am**

Sweden is underdog against Russia tonight. That's easy money. Sweden haven't lost a round robin game in 13 years

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:58 am**

seriously one of the most amazing team sports feats that nobody cares about

degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:32 am Sweden is underdog against Russia tonight. That's easy money. Sweden haven't lost a round robin game in 13 years

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:24 am**

Perhaps but betting on Sweden at the beginning of an event and against at the end of one is a sound strategy, in any sport.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:09 pm**

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Mon Dec 28, 2020 11:10 pm It's such a great place. Spent a semester there 21 years ago. Dying to go back.

My best friend from high school lives outside of Prague. Lucky sod. He interned for some software company in college then got hired on. He's lived in New Delhi, Paris, and now Prague (and married a super hot local gal.) I need to get over to visit.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:36 pm**

Anybody watch yesterday? More lopsided games, as was expected, but still some highlights. Trevor Zegras looks like the best player in the tournament so far, along with Stutzle, but it's hard to tell against the weaker teams.

Byfield stood out more last night, at both ends. I noticed him a lot more, for mostly good reasons, even before the goals starting pouring in. And then he finished with 2 goals and 4 assists in 11 minutes. That's an efficient night.

Three games today: Finland/Slovakia, Switzerland/Germany, and the aforementioned Sweden/Russia. Should be better hockey today.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:12 pm**

Couldn't watch yesterday, and my internet just came back on today, so hopefully I can pay attention today.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:13 pm**

ya i've heard Zegras has been lights-out (i haven't been able to watch any games yet :( ...) but yeah the opening round is more a tune-up for the top teams. This is usually the day where things start getting serious - fun matchups etc. Please keep the reporting coming!

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 3:29 pm**

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:13 pm i haven't been able to watch any games yet

You're a poor excuse for a Canadian.

Please keep the reporting coming!

Meh. I'm already self-conscious about making half the posts in this thread. Even if you haven't watched any games, just make something up. Talk about how great Dylan Cozens has looked. (You wouldn't be wrong; he's been one of the best forwards in the tournament.)

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 4:09 pm**

I'll cover for Max. He's been busy catching up on This Is Us with his wife.

I watched the Slovakia/Germany game the other night. Stutzle looked good, though I'm sure he'll go to Ottawa to suck for a few years before being traded to Florida for nothing before blossoming into an all-star.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 4:27 pm**

Anyways, betting big on Sweden tonight. Cant pass up this opportunity. I know I'm a curse, let's see if I'm a 14 year curse.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:01 pm**

Slovakia hung tough with the Finns for a while, then they didn't. Finland looked really good in the last 30 or so minutes of the game.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:22 pm**

wow i just got slaughtered in this thread
:D

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:26 pm**

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:01 pm Slovakia hung tough with the Finns for a while, then they didn't. Finland looked really good in the last 30 or so minutes of the game.

Finland doesn't have the 'wow' factor this year, but they're still very good. I want to see more of Brad Lambert, who will be a top 2022 pick. Anton Lundell has been a nice surprise. (He was the #12 pick in the 2020 draft, so I don't know why I'm surprised.)

One of the bigger disappointments of the tournament for me is that Aatu Raty isn't playing for Finland. He played last year, and he was talked about as a potential first-overall pick in 2021. Sounds like scouts have really cooled on him, for whatever reason. I'm sure it's happened before, but I can't remember another player making the team as a 17-year-old, then getting skipped in his draft year. He'll still be a first-round pick, but people are finding reasons to pick apart his game. That has to really suck for an 18-year-old. Or for anybody, really.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:32 pm**

bapo! wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:26 pm
govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:01 pm Slovakia hung tough with the Finns for a while, then they didn't. Finland looked really good in the last 30 or so minutes of the game.
Finland doesn't have the 'wow' factor this year, but they're still very good. I want to see more of Brad Lambert, who will be a top 2022 pick. Anton Lundell has been a nice surprise. (He was the #12 pick in the 2020 draft, so I don't know why I'm surprised.)

One of the bigger disappointments of the tournament for me is that Aatu Raty isn't playing for Finland. He played last year, and he was talked about as a potential first-overall pick in 2021. Sounds like scouts have really cooled on him, for whatever reason. I'm sure it's happened before, but I can't remember another player making the team as a 17-year-old, then getting skipped in his draft year. He'll still be a first-round pick, but people are finding reasons to pick apart his game. That has to really suck for an 18-year-old. Or for anybody, really.

The Athletic did a thing a week or two ago where they drafted one each of team location, player, coach, GM, owner, and one of the writers took Raty with the first pick of the second round. I'd never heard of him prior to that, so it seemed Taro Tsuimotoesque to me.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:54 pm**

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:32 pm The Athletic did a thing a week or two ago where they drafted one each of team location, player, coach, GM, owner, and one of the writers took Raty with the first pick of the second round. I'd never heard of him prior to that, so it seemed Taro Tsuimotoesque to me.

Just clicked on the article. Of course it was Rob Rossi who made that pick. I'm guessing he hasn't read any of Pronman or Wheeler's articles since last January. (I wasn't sure if I would want to read that, but I see that McIndoe is a contributor. That's enough for me. Bookmarked for later.)

Off topic, but I never get the chance to talk to anybody about Finnish hockey: does the rest of the Swamp love Miro Heiskanen as much as I do? I think he's surpassed Drew Doughty and Ryan Ellis as my favorite defenseman. I was pretty thrilled to see him play as well as he did during Dallas' run last summer. Have you ever seen the video of his first NHL shift? Imagine having the confidence to do that kind of stuff as 19-year-old in your first game. He's a breathtaking player.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:01 pm**

bapo! wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:54 pm
govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:32 pm The Athletic did a thing a week or two ago where they drafted one each of team location, player, coach, GM, owner, and one of the writers took Raty with the first pick of the second round. I'd never heard of him prior to that, so it seemed Taro Tsuimotoesque to me.
Just clicked on the article. Of course it was Rob Rossi who made that pick. I'm guessing he hasn't read any of Pronman or Wheeler's articles since last January. (I wasn't sure if I would want to read that, but I see that McIndoe is a contributor. That's enough for me. Bookmarked for later.)

Off topic, but I never get the chance to talk to anybody about Finnish hockey: does the rest of the Swamp love Miro Heiskanen as much as I do? I think he's surpassed Drew Doughty and Ryan Ellis as my favorite defenseman. I was pretty thrilled to see him play as well as he did during Dallas' run last summer. Have you ever seen the video of his first NHL shift? Imagine having the confidence to do that kind of stuff as 19-year-old in your first game. He's a breathtaking player.

Heiskanen is an excellent player. He, John Klingberg, and Esa Lindell can all really move the puck for Dallas.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:15 pm**

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:01 pm Heiskanen is an excellent player. He, John Klingberg, and Esa Lindell can all really move the puck for Dallas.

Yeah, that defense is fantastic. I don't think there's another team with a top three even close to that. Thomas Harley, who is playing for Canada in this tournament, will be there soon, too. (He played one game during the playoffs a few months ago.)

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:24 pm**

bapo! wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:15 pm
sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:01 pm Heiskanen is an excellent player. He, John Klingberg, and Esa Lindell can all really move the puck for Dallas.
Yeah, that defense is fantastic. I don't think there's another team with a top three even close to that. Thomas Harley, who is playing for Canada in this tournament, will be there soon, too. (He played one game during the playoffs a few months ago.)

I'm really more of a Lightning fan than an NHL fan,so I can't really compare all D corps, but Hedman, McDonagh, and Sergachev would like a word with you, Bapo.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:12 pm**

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:24 pm I'm really more of a Lightning fan than an NHL fan,so I can't really compare all D corps, but Hedman, McDonagh, and Sergachev would like a word with you, Bapo.

Well...okay. That's one team that's close. And they were both in the Finals. Think there's a connection? (I'm sure you're still savoring that championship.)

In other news, I think I love Tim Stutzle. I knew going in that he was good, but I wasn't expecting this. He and Thomas Chabot are going to make me an Ottawa Senators fan.

Speaking of, my other favorite players in this tournament are Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. They're both Anaheim prospects. Anaheim is the only team, in any sport, that I dislike. I'm going to have to rethink that going forward. This is probably good, because I've been trying to let go of my anger and hatred. As soon as those two are in the NHL, I will be pure unadulterated love.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:59 pm**

Ive always disliked Anaheim, too. But less so after Corey Perry left them.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:42 pm**

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:59 pm Ive always disliked Anaheim, too. But less so after Corey Perry left them.

Yeah, it's a different team now. The lack of Corey Perry certainly helps. (My first memory of 2020 is Perry, with Dallas, concussing Ryan Ellis in the Winter Classic.) I could grow to like them. Being out of the Oilers' division this season will help.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:08 pm**

bapo! wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:42 pm
sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:59 pm Ive always disliked Anaheim, too. But less so after Corey Perry left them.
Yeah, it's a different team now. The lack of Corey Perry certainly helps. (My first memory of 2020 is Perry, with Dallas, concussing Ryan Ellis in the Winter Classic.) I could grow to like them. Being out of the Oilers' division this season will help.

Err Perry just signed with Montreal, in Edmonton's division.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:09 pm**

Mukhamadullin is going to be a beast in the NHL.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:22 am**

i applaud you, sir.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:32 pm The Athletic did a thing a week or two ago where they drafted one each of team location, player, coach, GM, owner, and one of the writers took Raty with the first pick of the second round. I'd never heard of him prior to that, so it seemed Taro Tsuimotoesque to me.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:25 am**

i had never seen this clip until now - 100% looks like a #1 in-his-prime defenceman in every facet right there alone.

yeah i had had no rooting interest either way in the finals last summer (hope to make that phrase a rarity...) but the D on both sides was great to watch. I really liked Esa Lindell.

bapo! wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:54 pm Off topic, but I never get the chance to talk to anybody about Finnish hockey: does the rest of the Swamp love Miro Heiskanen as much as I do? I think he's surpassed Drew Doughty and Ryan Ellis as my favorite defenseman. I was pretty thrilled to see him play as well as he did during Dallas' run last summer. Have you ever seen the video of his first NHL shift? Imagine having the confidence to do that kind of stuff as 19-year-old in your first game. He's a breathtaking player.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:48 am**

Julius Honka?

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:28 am**

degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:08 pm Err Perry just signed with Montreal, in Edmonton's division.

Yeah, but there's enough good in Montreal to counteract the bad. Jonathan Drouin, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ken Dryden, Larry Robinson, the aviary, Tim Raines, etc.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:46 pm**

bapo! wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:28 am
degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:08 pm Err Perry just signed with Montreal, in Edmonton's division.
Yeah, but there's enough good in Montreal to counteract the bad. Jonathan Drouin, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ken Dryden, Larry Robinson, the aviary, Tim Raines, etc.

Adding Perry will offset the loss of Max Domi, in Montreal's jerk quota.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:57 pm**

I, for one, love Max Domi. I've been waiting for several years for him to end up on the Penguins. (They've tried to acquire him a couple of times. And Lemieux and Tie Domi are reportedly close friends, which seems like an odd pairing.)

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:07 pm**

I'll never forgive Tie Domi for that horrific cheap shot on Scott Niedermayer. I can't understand why you like Max Domi. I've seen him interviewed and he really comes across as a cement-head (at least, to me.)

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:11 pm**

I'm not asking my favorite players to split the atom. I just want them to backcheck and score a few goals.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:20 pm**

bapo! wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:11 pm I'm not asking my favorite players to split the atom. I just want them to backcheck and score a few goals.

I get you. A few of my favorites have politics I hate. So, it's not like I have a purity test, either.

But, I'll always hate Tie Domi.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:31 pm**

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:20 pm A few of my favorites have politics I hate. So, it's not like I have a purity test, either.

It's okay to like people even if you disagree with them. Or at least to admire their talents.

But, I'll always hate Tie Domi.

This is an acceptable opinion. MaxWebster saw Max Domi as a 16-year-old in juniors. His takeaway: 'Must have been adopted.'

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:37 pm**

Really wish the NHL would pay attention to the scoring/standings work in this tourney. RELEASE THE THREE POINT GAME!

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:49 pm**

Who do we need to talk to about this. Afreakingmen.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:37 pm Really wish the NHL would pay attention to the scoring/standings work in this tourney. RELEASE THE THREE POINT GAME!

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:47 pm**

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:49 pm Who do we need to talk to about this. Afreakingmen.
govmentchedda wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:37 pm Really wish the NHL would pay attention to the scoring/standings work in this tourney. RELEASE THE THREE POINT GAME!

Literally no one gives a fuck about season points records. This ain't the home run record, asswipes.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:49 pm**

I've never been a New Year's Eve guy, so this tournament has been a good companion over the years. I miss that run of years when the USA and Canada were in the same group and would play on this night every year.

Two excellent match-ups tonight. Canada/Finland in a few minutes, and USA/Sweden at 9:30 EST. I think Gord Miller and Ryan Seacrest will be calling the game, with Dick Clark between the benches.

Posted: **Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:27 pm**

Byrum is so good. Colorado gets better and better.

The Swamp

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