Mackenzie says it best....

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/bob_mckenzie/

Here's a segment from the article by Bob. I think he sums up this year's Canadian squad perfectly, which is why right now i'd have to put us behind the Swedes and U.S.A when it comes to being favoured for goal. Great article, the entire read, so make sure you check it out.

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It would be foolish to suggest that Canada can't win the gold medal based on how they've played thus far, but I think it would be reasonable to suggest - in fact, it's absolutely essential to say this - that they have to play much better if they are going to win the gold medal.

The team doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders offensively. They really seem to be struggling to finish their chances, and they seem to require a lot of chances to score a few goals. That's a bit of a concern.

The other thing, and maybe this is related to the lack of offensive firepower, is that there is a lack of physical punch on Team Canada. I don't recall a Canadian team in the last five years that has played as passively from a physical perspective. There just are not a lot of big hits, and there is not a physical approach being taken by this team.

Maybe you can look at the personnel and say, this guy is not suited to that, and that guy is not suited to that, but I recall that during the Super Series, even guys like Claude Giroux and Brad Marchand were much more physical than they've been in this tournament. Sutter and Legein don't seem to be exerting themselves to the same degree as they did before. Colton Gillies is the most consistent physical presence, but beyond that…

As a result, Canada is not creating turnovers, and they are not giving other teams a lot to think about in their own zone. There just doesn't seem to be that fore-checking presence. It's to be expected to some degree on the larger ice, that's understood, but this team just doesn't seem to have the physical pop that other national teams have had in recent years.

Nice read, as usual.

He have always been the best TSN expert. Always very calm and observant. Great read.

He have always been the best TSN expert. Always very calm and observant. Great read.

Agreed, IMO he knows his stuff more than anything, and tries his best to stay neutral and bias-free. Classy guy who again, knows his stuff.

Good points by Bob Mckenzie.
What I found interesting is that both Legein and Sutter played a very strong physical game against the Czechs but not so much in the games that followed. On the other hand Colton Gillies started the Denmark game on this line and went out to hit everything in sight (like usual) and as a result Hartsburg replaces him again with Boychuk halfway through the game. This is one coaching decision that I don't get.
It almost looks like Hartsburg doesn't want this physical play (and I know that he will tell you different ;)).

Good points by Bob Mckenzie.
What I found interesting is that both Legein and Sutter played a very strong physical game against the Czechs but not so much in the games that followed. On the other hand Colton Gillies started the Denmark game on this line and went out to hit everything in sight (like usual) and as a result Hartsburg replaces him again with Boychuk halfway through the game. This is one coaching decision that I don't get.
It almost looks like Hartsburg doesn't want this physical play (and I know that he will tell you different ;)).

Maybe he wishes to reward Gillies for his play and have him play with players which he is more likely to score with or have his physical presence on a different line.

Maybe he wishes to reward Gillies for his play and have him play with players which he is more likely to score with or have his physical presence on a different line.

Yes I think 1 or 2 shifts on the fourth line alternating with Simmonds as the 13th forward is a reward. :sarcasm:
I'm not saying that he should play with Sutter or Legein, but Bob Mckenzie criticizes (rightly IMO) that the team doesn't play physical enough and Hartsburg plays his most physical player very sparely (how many shifts did he get in the second half of the Denmark game?)

Oops, I Mis-read your post.....

I think part of Canada's physical game 'problem' (if you can consider it one) is that other teams have learned from the past 3 WJC and are actually starting to stand up to the Canadians physically.
I suspect many of the Canadian kids were expecting that other teams were just going to cower physically like the Russians did in the Summit Series and they're currently suprised it's not happening.

Canada was able to wear down the Czechs pretty easily (they injured Kveton, and the game turning point was Sutter's? hit on Frolik). However, the Swedes and even the Slovaks really stood their ground physically.....actually the most physical I've seen European teams play at WJC in quite some time. It was almost if the Canadians were shocked by this and even seemed a bit deflated once they realized they didn't have much of a physical advantage (see Sweden game).

Canada was able to wear down the Czechs pretty easily (they injured Kveton, and the game turning point was Sutter's? hit on Frolik). However, the Swedes and even the Slovaks really stood their ground physically.....actually the most physical I've seen European teams play at WJC in quite some time. It was almost if the Canadians were shocked by this and even seemed a bit deflated once they realized they didn't have much of a physical advantage (see Sweden game).

Certainly physical play played a part, but I think the main reason we lost was because our players forgot that it was not a good thing for you to deflect the opponents shots with your skates into your net.

He have always been the best TSN expert. Always very calm and observant. Great read.

Agree

If there is a broacaster that deserves to be in the HHOF, it is Bob Mckenzie.
His opinion is usually right on target and not fluffed. He doesn't need to be flashy, exuberant, irrational and to ramble on....to get people to listen to him.
Bob is an institution.
When I think of the two biggest media forces in Canadian hockey, HNIC is one and the other is Bob Mckenzie.