In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman unpack Canada’s disastrous World Junior tournament showing, the public sentiment, and the social media impact on player morale.
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0.00 – Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman unpack Canada’s disastrous World Junior tournament showing.
22:01 – Elliotte speaks on the turmoil in Vancouver following GM Patrik Allvin’s candid interview (https://tinyurl.com/fuvxxcw3) with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre.
39:03 – A conversation about Zach Benson’s controversial goal against the Avs on Thursday and the fallout.
50:52 – Jonathan Toews interest in making an NHL comeback.
54:07 – The NHL is leaning towards two outdoor games in the state of Florida in 2025-26.
56:04 – The Final Thought focuses on our time in Chicago for the Winter Classic and how the league can build upon the successes of the event to make it better in future iterations.
1:10:59 – Kyle and Elliotte answer your questions and respond to your voicemails in the Thought Line.
1:29:47 – In the final segment Kyle and Elliotte are joined by Hockey Hall of Famer and St. Louis Blues legend Bernie Federko.
Email the podcast at [email protected] or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail
This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.
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Czechmate – Canada Eliminated From World Juniors | 32 Thoughts
#NHL #Hockey #Podcast
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A big reason Canada played poorly in this tournament was the "noise" that the Canadian fans and media brought as a result of the selection process. The pressure that group put on the coaches and players was unbelievable. No matter what anyone says, hockey is much more important to Canada than any other country and it's not close. The pressure to succeed is tremendous at the best of times, but this year? Oh my goodness! The naysayers are a big reason that this team did not perform as well as they could have. Regardless of who was left off this team, Canada had enough talent to win the whole thing. No question. The reason they didn't was their support system was pathetic. The Canadian "pundits" (both media and "fans") let the boys down. Shame on you. Do better next year.
I think Scott Salmond and Brad Pascal need to be moved on. Some of the other Management group might need to go as well. I'd like to see Junior GM's and coaches that bring a fresh perspective. That or hire guys with NHL experience. Scouting staff need some upgrades as well. Not sure its a clean house but it's time to tidy-up going into Minnesota.
I hope ABC and TNT get to broadcast WJC games in the states. I also hope that more American markets host the U20 WJC. The states has hosted lots of tournaments at the U18 tournament.
Great pod
Canada can always cheer for the USA, since they’re going to be the 51st state anyways
The team was chosen by Ontarian analysts, Ontarian coaches, OHL and there's the result. The corruption and snobbism is there for everyone to see. I agree with @KennethFrinskie – Hockey Canada needs a complete house clean.
It was Scott Wedgwood 😂
The reality is that the rest of the world is catching up to (or caught up with) Canada in terms of developing hockey players. Just look at the 4-nations tournament, and the goalies Canada has penciled in…
I tell you what I saw. Bunch of dumb undisciplined conceited kids who think they are better than any other teams. They deserved to lose. The coaches are to blame. I would never allow my kid to be coached by these dumb adults. Watch, they will do the same next game and do the dumbest thing and lose. They need serious mental health support and better parenting. I've never seen a bunch of conceited kids so dumb as that team this year. Bad parenting is also plainly obvious. Better players were left off the roster as we all know. $ and influence has corrupted Hockey Canada and i see a fallout from fans, viewerships and broadcast revenue in the horizon. Im ashamed of my country for showing the wrong side of what true young great canadian kids are like to the rest of the world. Shame is on you Hockey Canada.
Yahoo fantasy auto draft could do a better job picking a better roster…
Cowen and Dickinson might be the most overrated players I’ve seen.
Coaching was a complete disaster. Bonk should’ve been in the bumper from the start.
And honestly Luchanko was their most consistent forward the entire tourney. Pretty good in all 3 zones. Should’ve got way more ice time. That Latvia game he scores on a breakaway and you don’t use him in the shootout!? Let alone being one of your faster skaters and you don’t use him in OT? Makes zero sense. There’s a reason why Dave Cameron isn’t coaching in the nhl still. What a moron.
Also don’t get me started on the undisciplined penalties… yikes just embarrassing.
It’s also not best on best if Russia isn’t there.
I’d rather lose on my feet than win on my belly. Embellish your way to a championship Europe. Nobody respects your cowardly style of play.
Sad that the Canadian identity has been so severely damaged and watered down over the last decade. The hope that there is still hockey to celebrate makes this team and the loss that more disappointing. Just another erosion of the not so Great White North.
How bout teuvo t and connor murphy for JT Miller? As a Hawks fan I'd love this.
Once Canada comes in last at the four nations then overhaul hockey Canada old boys club.
2 years in a row. Do you think that coddling players, having to beg them to show up because you can't yell at them anymore, and telling them "respect" and some guy writing rules on a peace of paper makes them safe is producing mature players like were produced for the entire history of Canada? Because what I saw were a pack of guys who have severe maturity issues and who couldn't Dig The F in until they yet again in big trouble. Coddle them some more, and Canada's days as a hockey power in these events, and World Cup, and Olympics' are over.
I'll post here what I posted on TSN YouTube today. This too often expressed notion of "the rest of the world is catching up to us", expressed by on screen, voice or print pundit, is nothing but extended denialism. The message reply I got today from a very proud but deluded Canadian Hockey fan was that "The CHL has been, is now and will forever be the best training ground for young hockey players in the world!". It's time to admit that the mainstays in the WJC have caught up to us. The evidence is there. This year was abundantly clear evidence. Last year was clear evidence. The last decade has been building this evidence. Our development system is broken, all the way down to local Minor Hockey affiliated with Hockey Canada. The USA with their NCAA (and USA Hockey) system has far surpassed development (both athletically and educationally, and absolutely monetarily) of the CHL (with the OHL marketing itself as the "Best development league in the world"- because they said so). The Finns and Swedes are on Par, and arguably better. The Czech's. are arguably knocking on that door as well. This is not just Anecdote. The empirical evidence is there at minimum the last two WJC. The numerical evidence is there as well. In This years rosters all but four of USA are NCAA, with the four being OHL. Sweden, all homegrown there but 1 in the WHL. Finland, only 6 in the CHL, remainder nationally or USA developed (including AHL). Czechia offers a good argument against my point with 12 being from CHL- however the bulk of those being outside the OHL (only 3 are OHL- remember they beat us twice now). For further Argument is Latvia, only 4 in CHL, with 2 in the OHL and 2 in the LQ- and yes, that is Feldbergs. they beat Canada. Germany. 3 in the CHL, and though we "beat them", that should have been a decisive victory from the 1st period. It wasn't. Team Canada roster- 24 CHL, of which 14 were OHL. And they lost. Closest argument for Czechia having success because of CHL, could only be that they had more CHL rostered players OUTSIDE of the OHL. Sweden and Finland are powerhouses of hockey. They are largely producing and developing their own talent nationally or in Europe, and clearly see no need to export them to the NA programs. Same with the USA, and Czechia is quickly following suit. Latvia and Germany will in time get more NCAA births, and have less interest in anything in Canada- we proved to them and anyone watching to avoid us the last two years. CHL as a whole, produced less than 40% of draft picks (88) in 2024. These are their own numbers. First round pics were 14 (5 of which WHL)of 32, with the top two pics being NCAA and the third CHL(WHL), and 9 from the US System. This number has been declining steadily over the last 20 years. The evidence is staring us in the face. Bottom line, Hockey Canada, and Hockey in Canada, is simply not attractive any longer to developing hockey players that are serious about representing their nation or going high level. I don't take pleasure in coming to these conclusions, but avoiding the reality will only prolong the suffering. Change, massively, with a full moral inventory of the failings that have led to this point, is needed.
Merci hockey Canada… USA Juniors.
Why don’t you guys put your podcast on video? It’s 2025, ffs 😜
What a load of garbage that comment is about speculating Miller has had enough of Canadian markets, this is on him and the Canucks dressing room and organization, dont be slagging Canadian markets because these millionaires are acting like children…….if he wants to win so badly he'll waive to go to a true cup contender , like many have done in free agency in the non palm tree markets
I do feel bad for the Canadian kids. That tournament has gotten so popular and it just feels weird as a 35 year old completely shitting on children via Twitter. Honestly another reason why we need a real best-on-best adult World Cup.
Hockey Canada has made it unaffordable in Canada to play hockey. How people support that clown show is crazy. I don’t blame the players at all. Blame the management for just picking mostly ohl kids, and not even the best ones. It’s all politics
Starting off the year with some sharp get it.
Put Brent Sutter in charge and stay out of his way. Result? Gold.
it was wedgewood who got hurt not blackwood
52:00 The Oilers an option for Toews? They could use another bottom six center, Bowman is there, Keith is a consultant…