[QBC]

I don't think the problem was Quinn, this years team just didn't have the chemistry that they did in 2002. This team never jelled as a unit like past teams did and I have to say I didn't really see a true leader on the ice that brought the team together as Mario did in 02.

[canucker]

But these guys know each other so well by now, they play with/against each other all the time and they all seem to get along okay. Sure they didn't gel as a team, but I think that having a coach like Sutter lead them, with his strong work ethics, they would of had no choice but to play together.

[QBC]

I don't think so, you can't just tell guys to play like a unit and you don't get that feel by playing against each other in the NHL. Sutter has built a team in Calgary and those who didn't go with his system aren't there anymore. Hard to do that in a half dozen practices before you go to the Olympics. The mix of guys this time might have been the problem, add or subract a couple of players and the whole tournament might have been different.

[canucker]

QBC QBC:

The mix of guys this time might have been the problem, add or subract a couple of players and the whole tournament might have been different.

Who would you add or subtract?

[QBC]

I think we needed a couple of Matt Cooke kind of players on the team, guys that would go out and just giv'er. Like Ruttu did for the Finns. Look at the guys that were going well, Gagne, Smyth, Doan and yes Bertuzzi. McCabe wouldn't have been there I would of had Dion Phaneuf instead.

[QBC]

I think Spezza would have been in the line up too, not watching from a hotel room in Italy.

[canucker]

True, maybe different players in the mix would have made a difference. But I still like a Sutter as any Team Canada coach. He doesn't favor any particular player, even if they are used to it, and he works them hard. Sure it's difficult to get team chemistry in a few practices, but that could be said for most of the teams that played.

[QBC]

Sutter might have been better this time around, but Quinn and the rest of the coaching staff sure did a good job in 02 and it's hard to mess with a good thing. hindsight is always 20/20.......

[QBC]

Plus the fact, I don't think you can pin the poor performance of team Canada on just one thing. People always blame the coach when a team isn't going well, but that is rarely the whole problem and replacing the coach really isn't the cure all people seem to think it is. There was a lot of factors that played into this year tournament.

[IkeaMan]

the guys can pack their bags now and head for home.....it's all over!

[QBC]

People seem to have forgoten that there is some great hockey being played at the Olympics this year, Canada isn't going to win every gold medal from now till the end of time. The Finns are playing fantastic, the Czech / Slovak game today was awesome and as much as it's a disappointment, Russia played great today. I'm looking forward to watching some great games in the semi's and final game. For those of us that are fans of the game, enjoy the rest of the tournament for what it is, great hockey!!!!

[Ruxpercnd]

Wow... break out the black arm bands... My analysis, Canadians can play hockey, but had a problem assembling a team. The coaches should have been better. I think the Canadian women had some strong coaching and those gals played like a pack of wolves.


Some interesting items:

From the AP: http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/5352872

$1:

....Canada's latest Olympic failure will raise considerable questions about Gretzky's personnel decisions. Rather than bringing in Canada's new collection of fresh young scorers, such as Jason Spezza, Eric Staal and Sidney Crosby, Gretzky and coach Pat Quinn stayed with the old reliables such as Joe Sakic, Kris Draper and Shane Doan.....

http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/5352546

$1:

.........The Canadians abandoned their physical, dump-and-chase nature in attempts to hit the home-run passes that are such a big part of the international game.

Team Canada thought it was stretching the ice, but it was just stretching itself thin. Tactically the Canadians were guilty of establishing too much space between the forwards and the defensemen, effectively quashing any effort to generate an effective transition game. Figuratively, the team stretched itself too far one final time Wednesday night and snapped for good in the tournament-ending loss to Russia........

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/o ... index.html

$1:

Gretzky couldn't stand to watch any more after Kovalev scored, abandoning his private box with wife Janet Jones and hastily leaving.

[PostManPat]

It just wasn't ours to win. Personally i don't think they wanted it bad enough, but hopefully in 2010 they can get some young blood in the line up and try again

[canucker]

I congratulate them on their hard effort.

[Ruxpercnd]

We Americans are putting together our next team... see you in 2010, well... maybe 2014. This kid looks like he will eat Canadians for breakfast!