The Stalin thing is cultural. Bryzgalov grew up in the Soviet Union, where Stalin was portrayed as a hero, who singlehandedly won WWII. The horrible things he did are painted over as necessary to save the nation.

Sort of like how America idolizes Thomas Jefferson & George Washington, who were slave holders. Or Andrew Jackson, hose face is on the $20 bill despite having massacred American Indians during his time in the militia. Or Woodrow Wilson, who is praised for his efforts at creating a world wide negotiation body to prevent wars while his deep racism is overlooked.

I'm still not sure how bad the translation was. It was done by a Russian journalist who has done several other translation jobs and I've never heard anyone say that those were badly done.

All that said, I don't really care about the comments. I do think that they send a clear signal that he'd happily take a CBO, but my concern is more on ice than anything else.
- Jsaquella

Like I said in my original post, my family lived under a dictator for a time too. None of them saw that guy as a hero. Say what you want about the founding fathers etc. a nobody is perfect and B their work set in motion the liberation of slaves and as far as the native Americans this could go back and forth all night but like I said every country in the world has been formed by taking someone else's land.

As far as the welfare comments. That to me is all relative. If he thinks that there are way more people in this area that live off the government as opposed to other places he's lived. Like Phoenix or Russia. I don't have a problem if he thinks along those lines. Not going to fault someone who doesn't exactly like the city of Philadelphia and thinks its dirty. Hell he's coming from Phoenix and Anaheim. I don't doubt their cleaner

Like I said in my original post, my family lived under a dictator for a time too. None of them saw that guy as a hero. Say what you want about the founding fathers etc. a nobody is perfect and B their work set in motion the liberation of slaves and as far as the native Americans this could go back and forth all night but like I said every country in the world has been formed by taking someone else's land.
- JoeRussomanno

The Italian people didn't see Mussolini as a hero because he ended up on the losing side. Stalin's side won the war, and generations of Russians grew up being taught that he singlehanded won the war and was a great hero.

As for the atrocities committed by each, the difference is Stalin killed other Russians and the US killed dark skinned Indians, enslaved dark skinned Africans and subjugated other races and ethnicities for decades, if not centuries.

Hell, we still celebrate Columbus day, and that maniac was a mass murderer. To me, killing people is killing people. I don't see shades of gray in it. I don't see how a man can write that all men are created equal, and then go forth owning slaves.

I mean, are you really saying that the US massacre of millions of American Indians is not as bad as Stalin killing his political opponents? You actually want to use "Nobody's perfect" as a defense?

goalies are hat cases, not head cases.
- wilsonecho91

you make an excellent distinction.

Lehner wow...

Like I said in my original post, my family lived under a dictator for a time too. None of them saw that guy as a hero. Say what you want about the founding fathers etc. a nobody is perfect and B their work set in motion the liberation of slaves and as far as the native Americans this could go back and forth all night but like I said every country in the world has been formed by taking someone else's land.
- JoeRussomanno

We're all supposed to hold hands and sing it's a small world. If it makes people feel even better Michael Jackson's "heal the world". That covers most of the politically correct angles

The Italian people didn't see Mussolini as a hero because he ended up on the losing side. Stalin's side won the war, and generations of Russians grew up being taught that he singlehanded won the war and was a great hero.

As for the atrocities committed by each, the difference is Stalin killed other Russians and the US killed dark skinned Indians, enslaved dark skinned Africans and subjugated other races and ethnicities for decades, if not centuries.

Hell, we still celebrate Columbus day, and that maniac was a mass murderer. To me, killing people is killing people. I don't see shades of gray in it. I don't see how a man can write that all men are created equal, and then go forth owning slaves.

I mean, are you really saying that the US massacre of millions of American Indians is not as bad as Stalin killing his political opponents? You actually want to use "Nobody's perfect" as a defense?
- Jsaquella

I'm not using nobody's perfect as a defense but its being shortsighted if you think everyone is without some flaw. You're using how people were taught that Stalin was a hero and its ok for them to think that way while overlooking that the founding fathers and people like Columbus grew up in an even more wild world. Difference is the founding fathers laid the foundation for undoing those wrongs. People like Bryzgalov grew up with an opportunity to see how things really were and didn't have to break the norm for themselves instead he's embracing the 17th century atrocities committed in the 20th century by his "hero". As for no shades of gray in killing people I guess self defense isn't acceptable either?

I'm not using nobody's perfect as a defense but its being shortsighted if you think everyone is without some flaw. You're using how people were taught that Stalin was a hero and its ok for them to think that way while overlooking that the founding fathers and people like Columbus grew up in an even more wild world. Difference is the founding fathers laid the foundation for undoing those wrongs. People like Bryzgalov grew up with an opportunity to see how things really were and didn't have to break the norm for themselves instead he's embracing the 17th century atrocities committed in the 20th century by his "hero". As for no shades of gray in killing people I guess self defense isn't acceptable either?
- JoeRussomanno

But not one of the cases we are talking about has to do with self defense. My point is, not growing up in a Russian culture I'm not gonna judge him for wanting to interview a historical figure in his culture. I'd rather judge him by his play on the ice, which is more of an issue than what he says to a Russian reporter.

After 2

London - 2
Saskatoon - 2

Stolarz with 17 saves

I don't know if Bryz will be bought out, but there will be plenty of inexpensive options out there this year. I really expect the free agent goalie market to be a buyer's market. I believe the Flyers can get a very serviceable veteran goalie (Lu (if bought out), Theodore, Emery, or Backstrom) for $3.5 million or under. I think a guy like Mike Smith is kidding himself if he thinks there is a market for him to get a contract similiar to what Jimmy Howard got.

Other then the Flyers jumping the gun and bidding against themselves with Bryz, the last two free agency goalie periods, guys just didn't get paid. With the cap going down, I definitely see this trend contuining.

Gentleman let this go

Stolarz has played very well for London so far
Both goalies playing very well. No chance on any of the 4 goals for the goalies

But not one of the cases you are talking about has to do with self defense.
- GirouxForTheShow

Over your head then

Over your head then
- JoeRussomanno

Ok

Gentleman let this go
- ob18

Last thing and I'm done, look what country the founding fathers created, look what Stalin created, big difference.

Man karlsson looks terrible. He's at 50% out there

Man karlsson looks terrible. He's at 50% out there
- Just5

Still a close game.

To me, a turning point was the non-call when Malkin high-sticked, Karlsson, then seconds later Malkin pulls a penalty...and then during the pp Malkin gets away with a hook on Greening's breakaway (that kid played good) that Karlsson got called on early in the period.

I hate that poop.

I'm not using nobody's perfect as a defense but its being shortsighted if you think everyone is without some flaw. You're using how people were taught that Stalin was a hero and its ok for them to think that way while overlooking that the founding fathers and people like Columbus grew up in an even more wild world. Difference is the founding fathers laid the foundation for undoing those wrongs. People like Bryzgalov grew up with an opportunity to see how things really were and didn't have to break the norm for themselves instead he's embracing the 17th century atrocities committed in the 20th century by his "hero". As for no shades of gray in killing people I guess self defense isn't acceptable either?
- JoeRussomanno

I'm not saying that there's anybody without flaws. I'm simply saying that one culture's hero is another culture's demon.

To say that people like Bryzgalov grew up with an opportunity to see how things really were make me wonder if you understand how restrictive the USSR was. It was hardly a free society, where information could be exchanged and one could learn an alternative history.

Your own reaction to my criticisms of the founding fathers and Columbus is shows how one can be conditioned. You pardon it by saying nobody is perfect, then talk about them growing up in a more "wild world".

The Russian revolution of 1917 came in the midst of the first world war, a time of massive slaughter and human misery. It was hardly a tame world. Even as the twentieth century progressed, the world stayed full of strife-the Japanese rape of Nanking, the Holocaust, Stalin and Hitler's blood purges, the Ku Klux Klan's emergence as a viable power in the United States in the 1920's and their reign of terror over African-Americans from then up into the 1960 and 70's.

Even bringing up self defense as an excuse for the sins of American Imperialism is weak. White settlers from Europe came and took the land that native tribes had lives on for generations, often time by force. As the settlers expanded their land grab, they consistently made and then broke treaties with the various tribes and herded them into reservations.

If a tribe or an alliance of tribes tried to resist, the white settlers generally annihilated them. If gold, or oil or anything that could be turned into profit was found on a reservation, the Indians were shoved off the land yet again.

But, Bryzgalov is wrong to hold a positive view of Stalin and your dismissal of the sins of the founders of this country is OK, because they had good intentions?

Still a close game.

To me, a turning point was the non-call when Malkin high-sticked, Karlsson, then seconds later Malkin pulls a penalty...and then during the pp Malkin gets away with a hook on Greening's breakaway (that kid played good) that Karlsson got called on early in the period.

I hate that poop.
- wolfhounds

Poor officiation has been a theme the last few playoff years.

Gentleman let this go
- ob18

I blame Bo Horvat...one stinking goal

Poor officiation has been a theme the last few playoff years.
- Jsaquella

Seems to be getting worse. I want to go back to penalties in the playoffs being the exception, not the rule.

Seems to be getting worse. I want to go back to penalties in the playoffs being the exception, not the rule.
- wolfhounds

The problem is, guys like Chris Lee get playoff assignments now. Before, guys like that-for instance-Blaine Angus-never sniffed the playoffs.

I blame Bo Horvat...one stinking goal
- Jsaquella

Well Zadorov just scored on the power play

Well Zadorov just scored on the power play
- ob18

I was just about to chime in with that. He's looked good in the playoffs.

I was just about to chime in with that. He's looked good in the playoffs.
- Jsaquella

Yup, Saskatoon has tried to get him to fight which was known going into the game. He's played well tonight.