As a flyer fan im glad giroux didnt get picked. Frankly i hate putting pros in the olympics to begin with. But it gives him an advantage in staying healthy and coming out when the season resumes with a chip on his shoulder. He wasnt himself earlier in the season and imo he hasnt been this guy we're seeing for sometime before this season. Hopefully now this is where he takes a big step forward.
- JoeRussomanno

There is no correlation between players playing in the Olympics and a team's success in the playoffs. 4 years ago Chicago had all of their best players at the Olympics and still won the Cup. The Flyers have Kimmo, Pronger and Richards (There 3 best players) at the Olympics and still got to the finals.

Team Canada must think they need size on the wing is important or I don't think they take Nash or Carter.

And I do get the decision to take Kunitz. I just don't like it or agree with it.
- johndewar

Giroux plays bigger than carter. Nash will be good for at least one amazing goal then will go silent in the biggest games.

I don't understand how a coach could have lost a team that is one of the best in the conference. The Canadiens have overachieved IMO. Their roster has some serious flaws.
- PhillySportsGuy

Price has been playing great so that covers up some of those flaws.

There is no correlation between players playing in the Olympics and a team's success in the playoffs. 4 years ago Chicago had all of their best players at the Olympics and still won the Cup. The Flyers have Kimmo, Pronger and Richards (There 3 best players) at the Olympics and still got to the finals.
- PhillySportsGuy

By the time the finals rolled around pronger was beat.

this is absolute insanity to me.

- FlyerGuy

its a ridiculous comment. I mean, I don't care if you have zero shots on goal the whole period, when you are 2 goals down with 2 to go you pull the goalie.

the selections for the Olympic teams are all about personal preference, nothing else.
Seriously, Kunitz??
does Kunitz make it if he's not playing with Crosby?
what has Callahan done to go this year (for USA), over Okposo?
It is what it is, personal preference only

I hope the media just leaves it alone from here on, he's better off with the rest anyway.
- puckhead17

I would abolutely take Callahan. I do think Ryan and Okposo should go as well but not at Callahan's expense

By the time the finals rolled around pronger was beat.
- twotoekenn

Because he played 30 minutes every night against top competition in the playoffs. It was the wear of the playoffs that made him tired, not the olympic break. He, also, managed to play pretty well while tired.

I would abolutely take Callahan. I do think Ryan and Okposo should go as well but not at Callahan's expense
- nastyflyergirl

+1

All three Philadelphia goals came after Budaj made a save and he was asked how much responsibility he shouldered for not controlling the puck.

“The first priority is to stop the puck,” he said. “The first puck was in the corner and the second one was in front and I’ll tell you it was a lucky goal. (Zac Rinaldo) took the puck out of the air. You can give him 20 pucks like that and he’s not going to pick the corner like that again. I don’t want to say we were unlucky, but sometimes when things aren’t going right, you don’t get the bounces.”

Yikes, not much respect for Rinaldo from Budaj -- but it's kind of true, lol.

Because he played 30 minutes every night against top competition in the playoffs. It was the wear of the playoffs that made him tired, not the olympic break. He, also, managed to play pretty well while tired.
- PhillySportsGuy

Absolutely, but he might've been able to hold up in the last 2-3 games of the finals. He didn't play very well in game 5 and 6, it started in game 4 when quenville switched up his lines.

At the time of the team selection, Giroux was the leading Canadian born scorer in the NHL over the past three years. He's been passed since by John Tavares, who has a 1 point edge.

Giroux is also third in PPG among Canadian born players over that time span, behind Crosby and Stamkos.

Finally, since the 2010 Olympics, Giroux is third in scoring among Canadian forwards, behind only Stamkos & Marty St Louis.

Taking him should have been a no brainer.

I don't care, especially, because I don't really care about the Olympics. However, it's obvious Giroux wanted to go pretty badly, so I'm disappointed for him.
- Jsaquella

+1

Better Birthday serenade?

Marilyn Monroe to JFK

Or

Dennis Rodman to Kim Jong-un

Better Birthday serenade?

Marilyn Monroe to JFK

Or

Dennis Rodman to Kim Jong-un
- PLindbergh31

Hands down the worm.

+1
- BulliesPhan87

I know he is a hated Ranger but I love Callahan and would take him on the Flyers any day of the week. just my opinion

Absolutely, but he might've been able to hold up in the last 2-3 games of the finals. He didn't play very well in game 5 and 6, it started in game 4 when quenville switched up his lines.
- twotoekenn

I think he was more exhausted from chasing around one of the most talented teams in recent NHL history for 30+ minutes per night. I don't think the Olympics put much wear and tear on him. There are maybe 3 or 4 Olympic games where Canada needs to really bear down and play a tough game.

I know he is a hated Ranger but I love Callahan and would take him on the Flyers any day of the week. just my opinion
- nastyflyergirl

Who would you give up for him?

Chalk it up to fans finding ways to entertain themselves... at the United Center, the crowd favorite chant is "Red Wings Suck!", even when they're not playing the Wings, and even after realignment.
- Tomahawk

Can guarantee there were 8-10 "Crosby Sucks!" chants last night.

I think he was more exhausted from chasing around one of the most talented teams in recent NHL history for 30+ minutes per night. I don't think the Olympics put much wear and tear on him. There are maybe 3 or 4 Olympic games where Canada needs to really bear down and play a tough game.
- PhillySportsGuy

I can't say definitively either way. Thats why I'm against the Olympic participation, I want my teams players playing for my team. Do I think the flyers would've won if pronger didn't play in the olympics? Its a question I don't like to think about.

Who would you give up for him?
- twotoekenn

Rinaldo, Rosehill, Gervais, 4th

Who would you give up for him?
- twotoekenn

free agency

No idea. just saying he is one of my fave non Flyers

Yikes, not much respect for Rinaldo from Budaj -- but it's kind of true, lol.
- Tomahawk

You sure he isnt speaking of the Raffl goal?

Rinaldo scored off of a deflection 5-hole.

Rinaldo, Rosehill, Gervais, 4th
- jmatchett383

But rinaldos hot you've got to get mcdonaugh in that deal.

FWIW, what would be my Canadian Olympic roster for 2014

Goal:
I'm ok with the 3 goalies already selected; Luongo, Price and Smith.

D:
Weber, Keith, Doughty, Subban, and Pietrangelo are no brainers for me.
I would also have: Bouwmeester, Seabrooke and Vlasic. I can't see taking Hamhuis over Seabrooke. My pairings would be as follows:
Pietrangelo-JayBo
Seabrooke-Keith
Weber-Doughty
and my spares would be Subban and Vlasic

Forwards:
1st the no brainers:
Patrice Bergeron
Sidney Crosby
Ryan Getzlaf
Corey Perry
Patrick Sharp
Steven Stamkos (If he's healthy, he has to be there)
John Tavares
Jonathan Toews
and the other 6:
Jamie Benn
Claude Giroux
Logan Couture
Martin St. Louis
Rick Nash
Matt Duchesne
Lines:
Perry-Getzlaf-Giroux
Stamkos-Crosby-St. Louis
Nash-Tavares-Benn
Toews-Bergeron-Sharp
spares: Duchesne & Couture

my pk pairs would be Bergeron and Giroux along with Toews and Sharp
my pp units would be:
Crosby, Nash, Stamkos with Weber and Doughty on the points and
Getzlaf, Perry, St. Louis with Keith and Pietrangelo on the points

thoughts?

I know he is a hated Ranger but I love Callahan and would take him on the Flyers any day of the week. just my opinion
- nastyflyergirl

Totally agree.

I really hope Canada gets knocked out in the quarterfinals.