Burns the best player on Team Canada?

Is it just me or does this guy look dominant to you?

I think it is just you :o)

I think it is just you :o)
Yeah it is.

Stewart, Richards, Carter, Phaneuf, Dawes, are a few names of players who have been better then Burns IMO.

Crosby has been the best player.

He has become a sparkplug who can should be scoring points at will if not for Mr. Tambelinni's hand-eye prblems.

Crosby is dominant with the puck, create great scoring chances for himself and for other, plus he backcheck very well. Also, he is the most spectacular player for team Canada, but IMO, he's not the best, yet.But it's clear that he is the most skilled junior player in the world. No body has that vision and that puck control skill that Sid has. Next year, he'll be pretty unstoppable. Durocher handles his situation well. He don't put any pression on Sid and let him play the way he likes to. If Mario was using him more, Sid would have more points, but instead the coach let him time to develop his game correctly, which is great because Crosby is not the heart and soul of this team this year, so we prepare him for next year. Great job by M. Durocher!

Burns is the MVP for team Canada. He maybe not the most skilled player out there but he brings everything to the table: offense, defense, physical presence and great leadership. This guy is simply awesome. We do not always notice him first, but he's always there doing the right thing. I'm very impressed by Brent Burns.

I'll give him credit- before the June draft I knew nothing about him, never saw him play. I can see why the Wild are excited about his potential, but he's got a ways to go to reach that level. He wouldn't have made the team if Staal and Horton were available, but he's earned his spot on the roster.

Still this year's experience can only help prepare for next year's tourney in Grand Forks. He could be quite the force in that tournament...

Mr. Tambelinni's hand-eye prblems.
:confused:

Huh? Please elaborate because from what I've seen Tambellini has been great. Used his speed and skill to score and create oppurtunities. He's made his fair share of mistakes but I've been satisfied with his performance.

:confused:

Huh? Please elaborate because from what I've seen Tambellini has been great. Used his speed and skill to score and create oppurtunities. He's made his fair share of mistakes but I've been satisfied with his performance.

I agree. the only thing Tambellini is lacking is ice time, same as Sid; You can't convert all your chances especially the high speed kind that are being created out of almost nothing.

:confused:

Huh? Please elaborate because from what I've seen Tambellini has been great. Used his speed and skill to score and create oppurtunities. He's made his fair share of mistakes but I've been satisfied with his performance.

It's just the hype train making up excuses. Tambellini has been very good. I'm not sure Crosby would rank as one of Canada's top 10 players right now.

I'm not sure Crosby would rank as one of Canada's top 10 players right now.

I think he would.. he's been a fixture on the PP and great with Tambellini. He creates a chance almost every time he's on the ice.

I think he would.. he's been a fixture on the PP and great with Tambellini. He creates a chance almost every time he's on the ice.

I'd have both the first and second lines, Paille, Fleury, Coburn, and Phaneuf ahead of him, so that's 10 guys right there.

I think Crosby is easily one of the best on this Canadian team. Everytime hes out there they get a good scoring chance or he makes a good play or whatever. If he was on the top line I truly believe he would have at least 10 pts already. Oh well we'll have to wait till next year when he'll be a veteran :)

Alright, to touch on both aspects of this debate.

1)I don't personally think Burns has been the best, but he has been one of the better in my opinion, behind Getzlaf, Phaneuf, Stewart, and Crosby I feel. However, this is hardly surprising when you consider that he's been playing against men recently in the NHL, against the BEST competition in the world, so it just makes sense that his game has been elevated.

2)Crosby has excelled. I was a doubter going into this tournament, but he possesses such an amazing skill set, I can't deny him now that I've watched him. He has great strength on the puck, is like a pitbull in the corners, has a great shot and the balls to aim for the tightest corners, the ability to shift gears, and is fairly consistent on the back check. He hasn't gotten tons of ice time because the top line has been incredible, and the second line has looked much better than it probably is becaue of the pure dominance of Stewart. As well, he's short probably 5 assists from people missing wide open nets that he has given them on nice passes. I believe Getzlaf missed a doozy of a wide open net today on the PP off of a Crosby pass from the side boards, and Tambellini has missed a few before as well.

It's just the hype train making up excuses. Tambellini has been very good. I'm not sure Crosby would rank as one of Canada's top 10 players right now.

Ah, here we go. Always gotta' have one guy trying to bring Crosby down...

See, Tambellinni has been good but the point I am making, which cannot be disputed is that he has failed to convert on several opportunities from Crosby. That's not to say he hasn't played well though, because many others have also missed opportunities but if Tambellinni could convert a couple more, Crosby would have 10 points by now. I wasn't trying to knock Tambellinni.

Burns has been great. Lots of guys have stepped it up, I just feel Crosby has been the catalyst to so much. Even something as trivial as forcing the other team to take penalties.

Ah, here we go. Always gotta' have one guy trying to bring Crosby down...

See, Tambellinni has been good but the point I am making, which cannot be disputed is that he has failed to convert on several opportunities from Crosby. That's not to say he hasn't played well though, because many others have also missed opportunities but if Tambellinni could convert a couple more, Crosby would have 10 points by now. I wasn't trying to knock Tambellinni.

Burns has been great. Lots of guys have stepped it up, I just feel Crosby has been the catalyst to so much. Even something as trivial as forcing the other team to take penalties.

You can do these if if ifs for just about any decent offensive player you want to pick. Funny how pointing out what has actually happened rather than hyping up hypothetical scenarios to justify out-of-whack predictions is "bringing a guy down". But I shouldn't expect anything less from someone who claimed that Crosby is "twice the player" that the NHL's number 2 scorer is.

Best player for Canada has either been Stewart, Richards or Phaneuf. Stewart has been dominant on the forcheck and he has 4 goals and 4 assists. Richards has played great at both end of the rink and has been a great PKer. Phaneuf has been Canada's best defenceman.

Best player for Canada has either been Stewart, Richards or Phaneuf. Stewart has been dominant on the forcheck and he has 4 goals and 4 assists. Richards has played great at both end of the rink and has been a great PKer. Phaneuf has been Canada's best defenceman.

You pretty much nailed it here. I would say that Burns and Dawes probably round out the top 5.

I think he would.. he's been a fixture on the PP and great with Tambellini. He creates a chance almost every time he's on the ice.

For someone getting PP time, with two fine wingers, and creating chances "almost every time", he has actually accomplished much less than either predicted or hoped for.

The poster who noted he would have a hard time making the "top ten" on this squad has it right - and that is NOT a knock on Crosby. But to pretend he is up there right now is just wishful thinking.

The kid has at least a year of maturing before he leads Canada - and the only reason I don't think it is 2 years is that there is a gap in the 86's that he will fill.

For someone getting PP time, with two fine wingers, and creating chances "almost every time", he has actually accomplished much less than either predicted or hoped for.

The poster who noted he would have a hard time making the "top ten" on this squad has it right - and that is NOT a knock on Crosby. But to pretend he is up there right now is just wishful thinking.

The kid has at least a year of maturing before he leads Canada - and the only reason I don't think it is 2 years is that there is a gap in the 86's that he will fill.

Thank you :handclap: . Some people seem to think you are trashing a guy because you actually have the nerve to observe that other players on this very good team are contributing more (at both ends of the ice). What I find sad is that this team is definitely a favorite for the finals as is and yet people want to change it up for the sole purpose of getting more personal stats for Crosby.

TO me this is how i see it.

Stewart>>Burns


And is it just me or has Brayden Coburn relatively quiet, and unproductive?

TO me this is how i see it.

Stewart>>Burns


And is it just me or has Brayden Coburn relatively quiet, and unproductive?

I think he's been good, not a ton of production (which is surprising) but one of the better defensive presences on Canada's blueline. He's been the 2nd best d-man behind Phaneuf.

Thank you :handclap: . Some people seem to think you are trashing a guy because you actually have the nerve to observe that other players on this very good team are contributing more (at both ends of the ice). What I find sad is that this team is definitely a favorite for the finals as is and yet people want to change it up for the sole purpose of getting more personal stats for Crosby.

I agree - what has actually impressed me as much as anything so far (and I am not sure how impressed we can be given that the competition has looked so weak - are we really that strong?) is the way the coaches set lines and d-pairings that really seem to take advantage of what the players bring to the game. The result has been that the hyped players look more average while the ones I did not know much about look better than expected. I really like Burns and Gorges for example, neither of whom I knew much about.

Having said that, I actually think the top Canadian is Phaneuf on D - but he may have to break a sweat as they move into the medal round.

I agree - what has actually impressed me as much as anything so far (and I am not sure how impressed we can be given that the competition has looked so weak - are we really that strong?) is the way the coaches set lines and d-pairings that really seem to take advantage of what the players bring to the game. The result has been that the hyped players look more average while the ones I did not know much about look better than expected. I really like Burns and Gorges for example, neither of whom I knew much about.

Having said that, I actually think the top Canadian is Phaneuf on D - but he may have to break a sweat as they move into the medal round.

In a pure measure of "power" I think this team isn't as good as last year's (as in, if they were to play against each other I'd bet on last year's team) but it is better relative to the rest of the competition (I think they are the best team by a bit over the USA, whereas last year I felt they were behind Russia and about even with the USA and Finland). I also agree that keeping the lines steady has helped with the team success.

Stewart's been better than Burns by a long shot. Dan Paille is the type of guy who quietly gets things done, I'd name him an MVP before Burns. The whole Crosby/Dixon/Tambellini line has been AMAZING.

~Canucklehead~

Two words.

PHA
NEUF

Phaneuf or Meech.

Phaneuf definately has been more talked about, but Meech controls the game when he is out there on both ends - quietly, efficiently; Ray Bourque-ish.

I'd have both the first and second lines, Paille, Fleury, Coburn, and Phaneuf ahead of him, so that's 10 guys right there.

Fleury? Give me a break; I'll give you the top two lines but outside of Stewart and Dawes, and certainly Carter today the rest are more due to icetime than anything else. The D to a man have to be ahead of Fleury. Paille deserves mention, but I think you can go down the list; NOBODY has played less than solid, (even Fleury has been OK). Sid's problem (if you can consider it a problem) is how well everyone has played, although no one is playing spectacular (head and shoulders better than everyone else)

But I will say Sid was the best player on the ice in the first period today.(Canada's best period to date although thats probably just coincidence) He may have had more icetime in the first than the second and third combined. He gets powerplay time then misses a regular shift, then they roll the lines playing the top 2 lines followed by the checking line etc.

This is not a complaint, just an observation. The top 2 lines are getting the most (though not excessive) icetime and the rest are getting noticably less. So they're noticed more, have more chances to score etc.
Talbot's playing great but how much icetime is he getting. Sid and Tambellini are creating as many or more scoring chances per minute played as anyone else and I can't remember a sequence where they've gotten bogged down defensively the way Canada was in the third period today.

Fleury? Give me a break; I'll give you the top two lines but outside of Stewart and Dawes, and certainly Carter today the rest are more due to icetime than anything else. The D to a man have to be ahead of Fleury. Paille deserves mention, but I think you can go down the list; NOBODY has played less than solid, (even Fleury has been OK). Sid's problem (if you can consider it a problem) is how well everyone has played, although no one is playing spectacular (head and shoulders better than everyone else)

But I will say Sid was the best player on the ice in the first period today.(Canada's best period to date although thats probably just coincidence) He may have had more icetime in the first than the second and third combined. He gets powerplay time then misses a regular shift, then they roll the lines playing the top 2 lines followed by the checking line etc.

This is not a complaint, just an observation. The top 2 lines are getting the most (though not excessive) icetime and the rest are getting noticably less. So they're noticed more, have more chances to score etc.
Talbot's playing great but how much icetime is he getting. Sid and Tambellini are creating as many or more scoring chances per minute played as anyone else and I can't remember a sequence where they've gotten bogged down defensively the way Canada was in the third period today.

Fleury shut out a pretty good team, Finland. People have been picking up a lot of little things he's been doing poorly, but the bottom line is his overall performance has been pretty good. Maybe people are just expecting too much given that he plays in the NHL and put up a better performance last year.

Watching the Canada-Finland, Canada-Ukraine and Canada-Czech games, the players who impressed me the most were Phaneuf and Carter, they look like the best pro prospects, other than Fleury and Burns who are already there, but Burns hasn't impressed me

Watching the Canada-Finland, Canada-Ukraine and Canada-Czech games, the players who impressed me the most were Phaneuf and Carter, they look like the best pro prospects, other than Fleury and Burns who are already there, but Burns hasn't impressed me

Carter has looked good, but I'd say Stewart and Richards have both put in better performances. Stewart in particular has looked really dominating.

Fleury shut out a pretty good team, Finland. People have been picking up a lot of little things he's been doing poorly, but the bottom line is his overall performance has been pretty good. Maybe people are just expecting too much given that he plays in the NHL and put up a better performance last year.

And he's been robbed of a lot of saves by a pretty solid defensive team in front of him. Hard to be a star when you're sitting on the bench OR (for goaltenders) the play's in the other end. A lot of these guys would get more icetime on any other team (Americans included although I absolutely won't count them, or any of the other teams left for that matter in a "one game and your out" situation).

I think Carter has been the best. Don't forget that has been given the assignment of going against the opponent's top line, so that was his priority. When you add the job he has done doing that with the insane % on faceoffs he has and his 5 points so far, I think he has done the most overall towards Canada's success.

I think Carter has been the best. Don't forget that has been given the assignment of going against the opponent's top line, so that was his priority. When you add the job he has done doing that with the insane % on faceoffs he has and his 5 points so far, I think he has done the most overall towards Canada's success.

96 percent? Where did you get the stats?

Carter has looked good, but I'd say Stewart and Richards have both put in better performances. Stewart in particular has looked really dominating.
Carter scored two goals against Czech and earned player of the game, Stewart has 8 points, They are definetly both playing great but as far as Richards he hasn't stood out as much, I have really noticed Carter and Stewart

96 percent? Where did you get the stats?

Huh? Why are you quoting me with the number 96? LOL! Unless you forgot your glasses and thought the percent sign(%) was the number 96.....????

Carter scored two goals against Czech and earned player of the game, Stewart has 8 points, They are definetly both playing great but as far as Richards he hasn't stood out as much, I have really noticed Carter and Stewart

Richards has been doing all the little things really well everywhere on the ice. I definitely seem him and Carter as the future #2 and #1 centers on the Flyers, respectively.

Huh? Why are you quoting me with the number 96? LOL! Unless you forgot your glasses and thought the percent sign(%) was the number 96.....????

I thought it seemed odd. It must have been the brain 'cause I had the glasses on and even double checked before I posted. Any stats on FO available? The "Q" site has excellent stats and fast updates during games so I'm spoilt

My top three Team Canada players have been Stewart, Burns, and Phaneuf.

I feel Stewart has been the best overall, followed by Phaneuf, then Burns. However, I think Phaneuf will be the best NHL'er of the bunch, Burns the 2nd best, and Stewart rounding out the group.

I do feel Burns in terms of what he brings to the package is Team Canada's most valuable player, outside of Marc-Andre Fleury and maybe Phaneuf.

I wish they had stats on faceoffs. I read on one of the hockey boards I visit that Carter was 18 for 24 in the game against Finland and although I don't know if those were official stats, they seem to be reasonable. The closest I came to finding official stats on the tournament was at www.iihf.com and just followed a few links, but none about faceoffs.

If I were to guess, I bet Carter is somewhere between 70 and 80 % on faceoffs, which is the reason he seems to be out there for any important faceoffs.

Is it just me or does this guy look dominant to you?

I don't think it gives really a go-to-guy. I believe the TEAM CANADA is the STAR!

They stick all together! I like it!

You can do these if if ifs for just about any decent offensive player you want to pick. Funny how pointing out what has actually happened rather than hyping up hypothetical scenarios to justify out-of-whack predictions is "bringing a guy down". But I shouldn't expect anything less from someone who claimed that Crosby is "twice the player" that the NHL's number 2 scorer is.

Ok fine. Let's talk about what he has done.

Every time he sets foot on the ice, he has been a terror for opposing defences and he has been creating chance after chance. He has been drawing penalties and exciting his team and the fans when they seem down.

His impact has been huge, with or without the numbers.

You can continue trying to bring him down though. All the great ones have guys like you doing the same thing.

I do feel Burns in terms of what he brings to the package is Team Canada's most valuable player, outside of Marc-Andre Fleury and maybe Phaneuf.

I agree Mizral

I think people who seem to be unimpressed by Burns, really need to watch the games a little more closely. He IMO has been one of Canada's best players so far and IMO could be an MVP candidate. Sure he hasn't scored goals, but the reason Getzlaf and Carter have been is because of the work Brent Burns has been doing. He's also been very solid in every aspect of the game, defensively, physically. I personally believe that Burns offensive potential in the NHL is a lot higher than people are giving him credit for. He's a big guy, but he's a very good skater and hes one of the best stickhandlers on this team IMO. Not to mention that he's as strong as a bull on the puck, which is surprising for a guy who looks as lanky as Burns.

The contributions Brent Burns has been making far exceed that of what you have seen on the scoresheet, much like Mike Richards.

I'll give him credit- before the June draft I knew nothing about him, never saw him play. I can see why the Wild are excited about his potential, but he's got a ways to go to reach that level. He wouldn't have made the team if Staal and Horton were available, but he's earned his spot on the roster.

Still this year's experience can only help prepare for next year's tourney in Grand Forks. He could be quite the force in that tournament...

If Staal and Horton were made available, he still would have made the team and it's likely that the three would have formed a NHL line.

If a player is good enough to make the NHL, he's certainly good enough to play in the WJC's.

Barring the fact that the player doesn't come in with the attitude that he's better than everyone else and therefore doesnt need to try to make the team like Dan Cleary did before.

Carter has looked good, but I'd say Stewart and Richards have both put in better performances. Stewart in particular has looked really dominating.
Well Stewart is basically a man amongst boys in the sense he's alot bigger then most guys his age and I think he's going to be one of the best NHL players in the future from this team.

Richards has been doing all the little things really well everywhere on the ice. I definitely seem him and Carter as the future #2 and #1 centers on the Flyers, respectively.
Comrie?

Comrie?

Hah wasn't even thinking about that. :p Nice catch.

OK then, either one moves to wing, gets traded (always a possibility), or they end up Carter #1, Comrie #2, Richards #3 (just a quick guess that order could always change). Nice stockpile of centers at any rate.

Hah wasn't even thinking about that. :p Nice catch.

OK then, either one moves to wing, gets traded (always a possibility), or they end up Carter #1, Comrie #2, Richards #3 (just a quick guess that order could always change). Nice stockpile of centers at any rate.
Not a bad problem to have!

I agree Mizral

I think people who seem to be unimpressed by Burns, really need to watch the games a little more closely. He IMO has been one of Canada's best players so far and IMO could be an MVP candidate. Sure he hasn't scored goals, but the reason Getzlaf and Carter have been is because of the work Brent Burns has been doing. He's also been very solid in every aspect of the game, defensively, physically. I personally believe that Burns offensive potential in the NHL is a lot higher than people are giving him credit for. He's a big guy, but he's a very good skater and hes one of the best stickhandlers on this team IMO. Not to mention that he's as strong as a bull on the puck, which is surprising for a guy who looks as lanky as Burns.

The contributions Brent Burns has been making far exceed that of what you have seen on the scoresheet, much like Mike Richards.

You know, it's funny you say that, because while reading this thread again, and your posts, it came to me what I was going to post. Then I saw you post it, but I'm going to post it again:

Brent Burns is an astonishingly good stickhandler for a big man.

And I don't give this kind of comparison out often, but of any young guy in this league, Brent Burns to me looks to be the most similar to a Todd Bertuzzi. He's not quite as mean, angry, and punishing as Bertuzzi was, but he is just as skilled, and has the size.

Burns looks to be a bloody awesome pick by the Wild. I am amazingly jealous.

Not a bad problem to have!
Indeed,not only have the Flyers stockpiled good centers but they are young...consider that in 2-3 years Handzus will be 29 and perhaps their fourth line center.

Its a great problem to have and if for whatever reason one of the three doesn't pan out you can say to yourself that you(Bobby Clarke) prepared for it very well.

Not a bad problem to have!
Someone mentioned on the Flyers board that in a few years the team may have to be renamed the Philadelphia Helicopters (strength down the middle, no wings).

Stewart, Richards, Carter, Phaneuf, Dawes, are a few names of players who have been better then Burns IMO.
Phaneuf & Dawes!! :lol:
They are ok but nothing special ...
phaneuf positional play worry me a bit .. he try too much the big hit while he should keep it more simple .. and i'll get bashed for this but he's not very creative with the puck he always try to shoot on the net while other options would be better ...
and dawes is basically pure offense and nothing more he really dispointed me defensively, he still has a real nice shot and good speed .. he needs to bulk up a little bit and work on his defense if he want to compete in the nhl in a nearly future..
anyway team canada is very good but Burns played very good and better than dawes and phaneuf IMO..

Phaneuf & Dawes!! :lol:
They are ok but nothing special ...
phaneuf positional play worry me a bit .. he try too much the big hit while he should keep it more simple .. and i'll get bashed for this but he's not very creative with the puck he always try to shoot on the net while other options would be better ...
and dawes is basically pure offense and nothing more he really dispointed me defensively, he still has a real nice shot and good speed .. he needs to bulk up a little bit and work on his defense if he want to compete in the nhl in a nearly future..
anyway team canada is very good but Burns played very good and better than dawes and phaneuf IMO..

"Pure offense"? No one on Team Canada has played anything but 2 way hockey, otherwise they would get no icetime. Were you watching the games or just the highlight reels.

"Pure offense"? No one on Team Canada has played anything but 2 way hockey, otherwise they would get no icetime. Were you watching the games or just the highlight reels.
ok so if you consider dawes a 2 way player .. maybe i'll consider Ribeiro a 2 way player **btw it's sarcastic ...
he's by far IMO the worst defensive player on team canada .. he just can't cover his opponent .. he was if i remember well directly responsible of 2 opponents goals on canada (on 7 goals they allowed!)

but on the other side of the ice he's one of the best !

ok so if you consider dawes a 2 way player .. maybe i'll consider Ribeiro a 2 way player **btw it's sarcastic ...
he's by far IMO the worst defensive player on team canada .. he just can't cover his opponent .. he was if i remember well directly responsible of 2 opponents goals on canada (on 7 goals they allowed!)

but on the other side of the ice he's one of the best !

Just a guess-was it two of your imaginary ones? Canada only gave up 4, or 5 if you include the Czechs third (disallowed) goal.

Edit; Dawes was not on the ice or in the penalty box for any of the 4 goals scored on Canada if I read the game reports correctly.

Just a guess-was it two of your imaginary ones? Canada only gave up 4, or 5 if you include the Czechs third (disallowed) goal.
you're right im on crack :p

Someone mentioned on the Flyers board that in a few years the team may have to be renamed the Philadelphia Helicopters (strength down the middle, no wings).

:lol: :lol:

Too Funny!

From what I've saw (all games beside today's game..), Carter, Phaneuf and Stewart were doing real great. (In fact most of the guys did well, but these 3 were more catching my eyes).

Also, for a guy drafted kinda late, Meech is doing a real great job. And after reading so much good about Coburn (and seeing him going so quick in last draft) I thought he would be more dominant than that. He is playing well, but... not what I thought it would be.

From what I've saw (all games beside today's game..), Carter, Phaneuf and Stewart were doing real great. (In fact most of the guys did well, but these 3 were more catching my eyes).

Also, for a guy drafted kinda late, Meech is doing a real great job. And after reading so much good about Coburn (and seeing him going so quick in last draft) I thought he would be more dominant than that. He is playing well, but... not what I thought it would be.
I think people really overrate Coburn's offensive potential. It is not on par with the other two of the 'big three' IMO.