Commandant

He didn't roll the four lines today.

Canadian Defence is brutal.

I like Collberg, but more shots is usually better, even if its less goals in a short tournament like this.

How you can even compare a 4.25 million defenceman to one who was a cap hit of 7.142 million is insanity.

The NHLPA and NHL could have started the season with a one year agreement that there would be no strike. The NHL didn't even think to ask about pursuing this option. The NHL knew the only leverage they have is missed paycheques and a lockout, and thats the route they took.

The World has noticed the Tournament http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/31/the-world-has-noticed-the-world-junior-hockey-championships/ Max's Quick Review so far. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/31/2013-iihf-world-junion-hockey-championship-quick-review/

9 yards short but the Vikes make the playoffs.

Phil Housley is dumb. You can't give your four lines all equal ice time at Even Strength, you gotta play your stars more. Way too much Hartman and Pieleta and Vesey and those grinders.

Mitch with an rant on all the lockout coverage in the media. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/30/quiet-the-lockout-talk-im-trying-to-watch-hockey/

Pleks is out 1 week, per Raymond Lavoie

Galchenyuk with 1 assist today in the loss. Housley insists on rolling all 4 lines equally at ES, and not line matching at all. ... Its like house league, your turn, you go next. Unless he gets a PK or PP. Its kinda ridiculous coaching.

This young team can't compete with a Marlies team that features Keith Aucoin, Mike Kostka, Paul Ranger, Ryan Hamilton, Mike Zigomanis, etc.... The only true prospects on the Marlies who are having good games right now are Kadri and Frattin.... the rest of the guys who are killing Hamilton are all AHL journeymen and vets (something Hamilton didn't sign enough of).

Baseball players get 47% of revenue. And 9 different teams have won the last 12 world series, with no team winning more than 2. Not exactly the non-competitive, salaries out of control league you paint it as.

Last but not least…. Team Canada http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/24/wjc-preview-who-to-watch-team-canada/

A Big WJHC Preview Games to Watch http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/22/2013-iihf-u20-world-championship-the-must-see-games-of-the-preliminary-round/ Pool A Previews Czechs, Swiss, Latvia http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/23/wjhc-who-to-watch-czech-republic-germany-and-latvia/ Sweden http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/23/wjhc-who-to-watch-team-sweden/ Finland http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/23/wjhc-who-to-watch-team-finland/ Team USA http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/24/wjhc-who-to-watch-team-usa/ Team Russia, Slovakia and Germany http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/24/who-to-watch-wjc-russia-slovakia-and-germany/

Reffing at the World Juniors, and how to deal with it. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/21/iihf-refereeing-same-as-it-ever-was-so-deal-with-it/

McGowan will probably never be "healthy"

People can whine about penalties all they want... but this is the way IIHF hockey is called, always has been. You either learn to be disciplined, or you end up in the box... simple as that. Canada will have to learn some discipline.

Hudon was among Canada's top 2-3 forwards today. Canada as a whole took WAY TOO MANY penalties. Malcolm Subban looked weak on at least 1, maybe 2 of the goals. Galchenyuk is WOW vs Sweden in the 2nd period... no points... but WOW on the chances. Collberg no points either, looking good too.... not like Galchenyuk, but still looking good.

Collberg had a great performances compared to all other 17 year olds in the tourney. He didn't have a great performance compared to all players in the tourney. Yes 7 points in 6 games is good and compares well with those guys. Drouin MIGHT be a better NHL player than Strome/Schiefele once he gets stronger and gains experience. He's not better than them RIGHT NOW. Just like Crosby was not as good as Jeff Carter, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Patrice Bergeron in 2005. He's the best NHLer, but wasn't better than them in December 2004/January 2005. I think if Yakupov isn't among the best players in this tournament, it will be seen as a disappointment for him. Nothing that should impede his NHL career, but it will be a disappointment.

7 points in 6 games is a great tournament FOR AN UNDERAGED kid at the World Juniors. 7 points in 6 games is not a great tournament at the World Juniors. He was 4 points behind his team's scoring leader, and 6 points behind the tournament scoring leader. One thing to remember about the WJC. You've got a short tournament... ie 6 or 7 games, plus at least 2 of those games are against terrible opponents where good teams run up the score. Being a PPG player in the WJC is good, but its not as outstanding as it sounds. Especially when he scored 4 points in the two games vs Latvia and Switzerland. This means a mere 3 points in the other 4 games. Good numbers but thats not domination. Thats not leading your team. Thats being a good 2nd line player. Again Great result when measured against underage kids. Merely slightly above average when measured against the 18 and 19 year olds in a tournament. First lets remember that Yakupov is one of those late birthdays I talked about as well. He had his 18th birthday before the tournament began. And this is his last year of eligibility for the tourney. Yakupov had 0 goals and 9 assists in 7 games. Again, Great Numbers for an 18 year old undrafted But not great numbers for the tournament as a whole. Oiler Fans and Prospect Analysts will FREAK OUT if he has 0 goals this year as a 19 year old. It is very rare the underage, undrafted player is talked about for things like Tournament MVP awards, Tournament All-Star Teams, or even Team MVP awards. Tavares, Lindros, and Gretzky seem to be the three exceptions. Drouin, MacKinnon, etc... are good, but they are not in the category with those guys. I don't expect monster tournaments from them. Nor will that be a bad thing either. I don't see Drouin as the #2 playmaker on this team.... Not with guys like Huberdeau, Strome, and Schiefele all from the 2011 draft and all 2 years older than him.

What to expect from Big Name 2013 Draft Eligible Players at the World Juniors http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/12/19/top-shelf-prospects-what-to-expect-from-big-name-draft-eligibles-at-the-wjc/

3-3 late Chaput has two goals, Gallagher the other.

The Galchenyuk first half Goal Show

https://twitter.com/chrismpeters Chris Peters reporting that while Galchenyuk was a LW yesterday, the US put him at Centre today. Playing with Jon Gaudreau and Riley Barber