The ineptitude of Don Waddell [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:00 PM

If anyone is watching the USA vs Russia, you can see how out of place this American team truly is. We're being skated all over by the Russians, and we're left playing the type of game you'd see in the "old" NHL. Clutching, grabbing and clogging the Neutral Zone when we're not getting blown by by the quick Russian team.

How do you take so many slow and old players to the Olympics where you play on a bigger ice against faster more finese teams?

Ugh. I knew they wouldn't medal but come on, at least show us you're building for the future.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:04 PM

Dola - If the Russians weren't so bad defensivley I think they'd be legit gold medal contenders.

bbor

02-21-2006, 02:13 PM

Let's ask Ryan Miller what he thinks :D

st.cronin

02-21-2006, 02:13 PM

Who else should be on the team that isn't?

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:18 PM

Who else should be on the team that isn't?

Paul Mara and Ryan Miller immediatley jump to mind.

Plus young guys like even Kessel or Schremp. Yeah they're 18 or 19 in some cases but let's be honest, Evgeni Malkin has had a damn solid tournament for Russia and he's 19 and has yet to play in the NHL. You need speed and the ability to make plays and these kids have that.

This team was basically a stop gap with slim hopes of making the medal round. If they didn't realize it, they're morons. This should've been their rebuilding year getting younger kids acclumated with the Olympics for 2010. They dropped the ball in my opinion.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:19 PM

dola, Dustan Brown is another kid I forgot to say should be there, especially over the waste of space that is Bill Guerin.

Warhammer

02-21-2006, 02:22 PM

I'd rather get smoked using young players, than get smoked using old players.

Warhammer

02-21-2006, 02:23 PM

One other thing, I really wish they'd use the larger ice in the NHL.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:24 PM

I'd rather get smoked using young players, than get smoked using old players.

Exactly.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:24 PM

Two other names I forgot .. Mike York and Ryan Suter.

bbor

02-21-2006, 02:24 PM

st.cronin

02-21-2006, 02:25 PM

I'm not sure who's hurt and who's not, but guys like Mike York and Tyler Arnason come to mind as well.

st.cronin

02-21-2006, 02:27 PM

Malkin is the best player in the world NOT in the NHL.He is far ahead of Schremp and Kessels.While they are good players they are not ready for the olympics,which generally is of a higher calibre than the NHL.

I agree about Kessel. It would be one thing if he was dominating the NCAA, but he's not. He's been good, but not good enough to make an Olympic roster.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:27 PM

BBor - I totally agree with you. With that said however, the United States is better off letting these young guys play and get ready for 2010 then giving these old guys play who obviously are out of their element. As Warhammer said, it's better to lose with young guys who can develope then old guys who're wearing out their welcome.

Also .. Malkin and Crosby next year honestly could be the next Lemieux/Jagr.

I should note not next year specifically, but so long as they stay together, it'll be simply amazing.

st.cronin

02-21-2006, 02:29 PM

Who is the greatest US goaltender ever? (Not speaking only of the Olympics here.) Is it Richter?

bbor

02-21-2006, 02:30 PM

Would American hockey fans put up with a *rebuilding* process?

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:31 PM

Russia moves the puck so well in the American end. It's seriously sick how well this team plays together offensivley. You could put together a highlight reel of passes just from this team alone.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:33 PM

Would American hockey fans put up with a *rebuilding* process?

I think so because I think a lot of people knew this team wasn't that good. They could hype the fact they'd be putting out a team for the future, and play up the good things they accomplished and get ready for 2010.

This current team is so ugly to watch it's sad. They just have no continuity. It's Gomez and Gionta moving the puck as everyone else dumps and can't chase it down.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:33 PM

Who is the greatest US goaltender ever? (Not speaking only of the Olympics here.) Is it Richter?

Yeah it's Richter. He's accomplished more then any other American goalie.

EagleFan

02-21-2006, 02:34 PM

I'd rather get smoked using young players, than get smoked using old players.

Hmmm, can anyone else picture the thread....

Why the hell did the US go with young unproven players instead of veterans who have been there?

As the young US players get smoked and eliminated from the tournament.

:D

Sorry, just playing devil's advocate.

bbor

02-21-2006, 02:34 PM

Who is the greatest US goaltender ever? (Not speaking only of the Olympics here.) Is it Richter?

Barrasso?

cthomer5000

02-21-2006, 02:34 PM

This thread reminds me of Tom Waddle. I wonder what he's up to...

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:34 PM

Hmmm, can anyone else picture the thread....

Why the hell did the US go with young unproven players instead of veterans who have been there?

As the young US players get smoked and eliminated from the tournament.

:D

Sorry, just playing devil's advocate.

Ha, while I don't dispute we'd lose just the same, I still see a team with some younger kids mixed with the Gomez, Giontas, Rolstons of the world, with Ryan Miller in net, getting into the next round.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:36 PM

Barrasso?

He was good, but I still think Richter was the guy you'd want in net in a big game as far as American goalies go.

bbor

02-21-2006, 02:36 PM

Russia moves the puck so well in the American end. It's seriously sick how well this team plays together offensivley. You could put together a highlight reel of passes just from this team alone.

I could watch Ovechkin play all day.I think he *may* be better than Crosby.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:37 PM

Gionta, Gomez and Rolston is the one American line I like. They've played well, so of course Tkachuck gets run out there on the PP.

BuffaloHuskey

02-21-2006, 02:37 PM

It is frustrating to know that the best American goalie available is not even suited up. It's a joke that Miller is not starting for the US.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:38 PM

I could watch Ovechkin play all day.I think he *may* be better than Crosby.

Yeah. I agree. I think this will be a debate we can't settle for a long time though. Crosby will have the advantage early on with Malkin coming over next year, plus the other young guns like Whitney, Fleury and such.

If the Alexander Semin/Capitals drama ever ended I could see he and Ovechkin being pure dynamite for the Caps though.

The sick thing is Pittsburgh could still add Kessel, as could Washington.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:39 PM

It is frustrating to know that the best American goalie available is not even suited up. It's a joke that Miller is not starting for the US.

Exactly. It's so early but when it's all said in done, I honestly think Ryan Miller and Mike Richter will be mentioned in the same breath.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:42 PM

I am impressed with how well Malkin plays defensivley. This kid is gunna' be awesome. He and Ovechkin are the new Bure and Fedorov.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:45 PM

There's no way this US team scores 3 more goals to win. That is assuming we shut the Russians out too.

Sublime 2

02-21-2006, 02:47 PM

Before that goal it looked like the US could tie this game...I thought they've played pretty well in this second period but that was a back breaker by markov.

bbor

02-21-2006, 02:49 PM

I am impressed with how well Malkin plays defensivley. This kid is gunna' be awesome. He and Ovechkin are the new Bure and Fedorov.

Hopefully they will have better attitudes than those 2.:D

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:50 PM

Hopefully they will have better attitudes than those 2.:D

Haha yeah, but I get the feeling Ovechkin is gonna' be demanding close to the max (7 mil [Unless it gets raised]) when his contracts up, and he won't take no for an answer.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 02:53 PM

About f'ing time.

I have so much respect for Gionta. A kid who's 5'9", 175 who battles in front of the net every night. Never backs down. Definetly one of my favorite players in the NHL. But again, Gionta and Gomez back in on the goal.

ISiddiqui

02-21-2006, 03:04 PM

It's great that 4 players on the US team started their careers with the NJ Devils :D. Gomez, Gionta, Guerin, and Rolston all began with the Devils in the mid 90s to present. Lou knows how to pick 'em.

EagleFan

02-21-2006, 03:10 PM

Ha, while I don't dispute we'd lose just the same, I still see a team with some younger kids mixed with the Gomez, Giontas, Rolstons of the world, with Ryan Miller in net, getting into the next round.

I don't disagree. I'm just so programmed to hearing Philly fans complain no matter what decisionsa re made that ended up being the first thing that popped inhto my head.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:24 PM

I don't disagree. I'm just so programmed to hearing Philly fans complain no matter what decisionsa re made that ended up being the first thing that popped inhto my head.

Hey, don't worry. I'm a die hard Lions and Tigers fan.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:25 PM

Perhaps I'll eat crowe with us tied at 3-3. I'd be glad to, because at the end of the day obviously I want USA to win, but I'm still a skeptic.

bbor

02-21-2006, 03:26 PM

Hey, don't worry. I'm a die hard Lions and Tigers fan.

My condolences :D

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:31 PM

Malkin and Ovechkin. God damn. So good.

NoSkillz

02-21-2006, 03:32 PM

I think that Tim Connolly from Buffalo would have been a good choice as well, although his subsequent injury just before the break would have forced him to the sidelines anyway.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:34 PM

I think that Tim Connolly from Buffalo would have been a good choice as well, although his subsequent injury just before the break would have forced him to the sidelines anyway.

Agreed.

Wow. Bad goal given up by the Russians, but good effort by Drury and Cole cycling the puck.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:36 PM

This is turning into a helluva interesting game. Nice shot by Kovalev. Pretty tough to stop.

Coder

02-21-2006, 03:38 PM

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:39 PM

Goaltending sure seems to be an issue for the US...

I think Russia will win it all.. Canada, no matter how much they've "masked" their form until now, won't beat a Russia who really wants to win.. Russia aren't even going at 80% in this game.

While I think Russia may beat the Canadians, I'm gonna have to say that Finland is the most complete team going right now. If Selanne keeps it up, they'll take it all.

bbor

02-21-2006, 03:39 PM

Goaltending sure seems to be an issue for the US...

I think Russia will win it all.. Canada, no matter how much they've "masked" their form until now, won't beat a Russia who really wants to win.. Russia aren't even going at 80% in this game.

I won't say Canada won't win,but i would'nt be surprised if they did'nt.

bbor

02-21-2006, 03:41 PM

Dola...being a Swede i imagine you know all about goaltending woes...eh Coder?

Although the Swedes seem to have fixed that problem now.

Coder

02-21-2006, 03:44 PM

Dola...being a Swede i imagine you know all about goaltending woes...eh Coder?

Although the Swedes seem to have fixed that problem now.

Hehe.. Belarussia.. :P

Lundqvist rocks though.. I've had the benefit of seeing him live for many years, having followed him from juniors to the Elite league for my hometeam..

Sweden today was abysmal though.. I'm ashamed to be a Swede.. their aim was obvious today.. lose and face Switzerland in the quarter finals.. pathetic.. I hope they lose tomorrow.

Coder

02-21-2006, 03:46 PM

Dola:

For what it's worth bbor, Tellqvist was the ONLY Swede who I want to give credit to today.. he wanted to win.. he was furious with his teammates.

DeToxRox

02-21-2006, 03:49 PM

Amazing last minute. Good game. USA showed me something with how they battled but they need to be perfect to beat the Fins who just don't let up goals.

bbor

02-21-2006, 03:50 PM

I'm am still unsure about Tellqvist.I havent seen him prove himself enough yet.Lundqvist is definatly the best Swedish goalie to come along in awhile.

Is Alexander Steen on the Swedish team?

JonInMiddleGA

02-21-2006, 03:54 PM

Would American hockey fans put up with a *rebuilding* process?

Nope.

Coder

02-21-2006, 04:02 PM

I'm am still unsure about Tellqvist.I havent seen him prove himself enough yet.Lundqvist is definatly the best Swedish goalie to come along in awhile.

Is Alexander Steen on the Swedish team?

Tellqvist proved to me that he's worthy of the second string job on Team Sweden tonight, something which I had my doubts about before.

Steen is not on the team, our forwards are:

Forsberg
Sundin
Pahlsson (Anaheim)
Zetterberg
Alfredsson
Modin
Axelsson
Jonsson (ex Anaheim/Islanders)
Holmstrom
Hannula (AHL/Minnesota at best, now back in SEL)
Sedin
Sedin
Samuelsson

Personally I would have preferred Nylander and Naslund instead of Hannula and Jonsson.. Naslund said no and we got Holmstrom instead (obvious), but Nylander wasn't selected (coach says he's too much offense and we already had Sundin and Forsberg for that center role, blah I say)

BuffaloHuskey

02-21-2006, 04:29 PM

Did Maxim Afinegenov play at all for the Russians. He is amazingly quick but often times can't finish. He really opens the game up and will be a ket to the Sabres success in the playoffs

mckerney

02-21-2006, 05:08 PM

Malkin is the best player in the world NOT in the NHL.He is far ahead of Schremp and Kessels.While they are good players they are not ready for the olympics,which generally is of a higher calibre than the NHL.

Plus Kessel has much more important things to be doing right now.

Draft Dodger

02-21-2006, 05:33 PM

Did Maxim Afinegenov play at all for the Russians. He is amazingly quick but often times can't finish. He really opens the game up and will be a ket to the Sabres success in the playoffs

he was playing the other day when I flipped to the game.

st.cronin

02-21-2006, 05:35 PM

Plus Kessel has much more important things to be doing right now.

He would miss his girlfriend too much if he had to play in the Olympics. Or did they break up yet?

sovereignstar

02-21-2006, 05:42 PM

He would miss his girlfriend too much if he had to play in the Olympics. Or did they break up yet?

THE HEADLINE
Superstar goalie allows four goals to Michigan Tech

st.cronin

02-21-2006, 05:48 PM

THE HEADLINE
Superstar goalie allows four goals to Michigan Tech

touche

Honolulu_Blue

02-21-2006, 07:49 PM

I think the US were in a bit of a pinch when it came to choosing a team. Many of their best players are past their primes (Chelios, Tkachuk, Modano, Guerin, etc.) and their younger guys are just too young to throw into the tournament. Ryan Miller is an obvious oversight, a huge one. I think Dustin Brown would have been a good choice too. Other than those two, there isn't anyone out there I think would have made a huge difference.

Going into the tournament the big problems looked to be goalscoring and lack of stability in net and both those have plagued the team.

They rallied pretty well today, but gave up too many two on ones against a very dangerous Russian squad. Too many misques.

Tomorrow's games, other than this Sweden/Swiss game look to be excellent.

I will be watching all 3.

DeToxRox

02-22-2006, 12:26 PM

The USA cannot capitalize on any chances. And it took two periods to get Rolston/Gionta/Gomez back together. I don't understand why they wouldn't do that to start the game.