USA Clobbers Canada, NHLPA To Vote Again on Disclaimer, More...

T.G.I.F. HabsAddicts

In their most lopsided defeat since the 1981 World Junior Hockey Championships, Team Canada lost to an inspired American team 5-1 in semi-final action early Thursday morning.

Team USA, lead by a pair of goals by Captain Jake McCabe and John Gaudreau, stifled the Canadian squad. A strong forecheck by the Americans kept Team Canada on their heels for the majority of the 1st period, leading to multiple turnovers, quality scoring chances, and an early lead.

While Twitter was ablaze with criticism of Canadian goaltender Malcolm Subban, the Bruins' prospect wasn't to blame for the early goals scored against him.

Although Subban was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots, the Canadian defence didn't make stopping pucks easy for the young netminder. On the first three Team USA goals, Subban could hardly see the puck, as his defensemen had a difficult time clearing his view of incoming shots.

With the loss, there a many questions floating around about the Canadian Program of Excellence, and the quality of the teams they are put together for major competitions. Canada is set to face the host team Russia early Saturday morning in the Bronze medal game. While Team Canada coach Steve Spott says, "We owe Canada a medal,", the Russians will certainly have something to say about that. Jordan Binnington will start in place of Subban in the Bronze medal game. 

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- With the ongoing NHL CBA negotiations at a critical stage, the NHLPA has again started the process of voting on filing a "Disclaimer of Interest". Although the players' association could have filed the disclaimer by Wednesday at midnight, Executive Director Donald Fehr chose not to, as a show of good faith in this latest round of negotiations.

However, after the league floated the idea of amending Article 50 of the previous CBA, which assessed stiff penalties to teams who attempted to mask any hockey related revenue, the union decided to once again attain the right to disclaim from its membership. The NHL has since withdrawn the amendment to Article 50.

- Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com wonder whether the length of player contracts and the $60 Million salary cap that the NHL wants for 2013-2014 will be the reason the NHL season may be lost.

- After his excellent showing at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship, the Hockey News explores the possibility of Team Canada and Halifax Mooseheads' forward Jonathan Drouin being selected first overall in the next National Hockey League Entry Draft. 

(Photos courtesy: TSN.ca, Reuters)

Posted in: donald fehr,jake mccabe,john gaudreau,jonathan drouin,malcolm subban,NHL cba negotiations,Pierre LeBrun,scott burn,Steve Spott,team canada,team usa