That is true about Burke. He's not a bad manager, but he's definitely a guy that's not open to new ideas, unless they are his.

He does things his way. He's had some success, but I think that he's a tad overrated by some.
- Jsaquella

Agreed -- I don't mean to rip the guy, because he has built some good teams, made good trades, made good picks in drafts.

But at the same time, nobody's right all the time. And you were dead on earlier: SOMEBODY'S gotta pay the price for this weekend's debacle. Don't tell me that if the NHL goes to South Korea, you have the same guys putting the squad together.

Some Meltzer guy wrote about it:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...icials-Assigned/203/58144
- BulliesPhan87

This guy is a good writer....I gotta find more of his stuff it's really great. Thanks for the link!

Agreed -- I don't mean to rip the guy, because he has built some good teams, made good trades, made good picks in drafts.

But at the same time, nobody's right all the time. And you were dead on earlier: SOMEBODY'S gotta pay the price for this weekend's debacle. Don't tell me that if the NHL goes to South Korea, you have the same guys putting the squad together.
- AllInForFlyers

i wouldn't
those guys failed miserably this year and should be axed asap

After 2

Rimouski - 4
Sherbrooke - 1

No points for Morin

After 1

Oshawa - 2
Belleville - 0

No points for Laughton

Shame about Marc-Andre Bourdon. It may be time for him to consider stepping away.

Final

Rimouski - 6
Sherbrooke - 3

No points for Morin

After 2

Oshawa - 2
Belleville - 1

No points for Laughton

burke = idiot
poile = moron

both embarrassed the USA

I think he has a hard time admitting when he's wrong. When he was with the Ducks, they took Ryan even though he wanted Jack Johnson. Burke pushed hard for Team USA to take Johnson and did everything he could to have them leave Ryan. He feels a need a validate himself.
- PhillySportsGuy

What kind of idiot would still lament taking Ryan over JJ in the draft in hindsight??

Maybe Ryan is a distant second compared to Crosby, but JJ has been nothing short of terrible since the day he was drafted. The very fact that Team USA brass agonized over taking him instead of Yandle tells you all you need to know about that group, and what kind of chance they had to beat Canada and Sweden.

Final

Oshawa - 4
Belleville - 1

No points for Laughton

Looking forward to watching the Phantoms, Alt, Lauridsen and Cousins are 3 guys I'll be paying close attention to

The Phantoms game is on comcast right now and I they have a lot of guys I like. I personally think Lauridsen and Manning could be NHLers. Mark Alt is a solid prospect. Hopefully he develops nicely, because the Flyers could definitely use a big, physical, right handed defenseman.

What kind of idiot would still lament taking Ryan over JJ in the draft in hindsight??

Maybe Ryan is a distant second compared to Crosby, but JJ has been nothing short of terrible since the day he was drafted. The very fact that Team USA brass agonized over taking him instead of Yandle tells you all you need to know about that group, and what kind of chance they had to beat Canada and Sweden.
- Tomahawk

I know. They were so hell bent on focusing on the negatives of guys like Yandle and Ryan. They made them seem like they're the worst defensive players in the league.

Each of them has their problems, but there is no reason they couldn't have been spotted minutes in favorable situations.

What kind of idiot would still lament taking Ryan over JJ in the draft in hindsight??

Maybe Ryan is a distant second compared to Crosby, but JJ has been nothing short of terrible since the day he was drafted. The very fact that Team USA brass agonized over taking him instead of Yandle tells you all you need to know about that group, and what kind of chance they had to beat Canada and Sweden.
- Tomahawk

The US team could have used Yandle IMO.
I agree with not taking big Buff and Jack Johnson, but Yandle would have made them better.

I think Galchenyuk too, but he will be there in the future.

Nick Cousins ties it up, nice play byvAlderson to set it up

The US team could have used Yandle IMO.
I agree with not taking big Buff and Jack Johnson, but Yandle would have made them better.

I think Galchenyuk too, but he will be there in the future.
- Marc D

erik johnson should have been there

The Phantoms game is on comcast right now and I they have a lot of guys I like. I personally think Lauridsen and Manning could be NHLers. Mark Alt is a solid prospect. Hopefully he develops nicely, because the Flyers could definitely use a big, physical, right handed defenseman.
- TonyBazz

Luke Schenn

I know. They were so hell bent on focusing on the negatives of guys like Yandle and Ryan. They made them seem like they're the worst defensive players in the league.

Each of them has their problems, but there is no reason they couldn't have been spotted minutes in favorable situations.
- PhillySportsGuy

IMO, it just looked like a team built for the smaller ice and tough NHL-style 7-game series... not a single-elimination puck-management type of game.

To be fair to the brass, though, the US just lags too far behind the other super powers in terms of top-end skill. Outside of Kane and Kessel, it's mostly all-around talents and not enough guys who can flat out make plays with the puck on their sticks.

Ryan and Yandle would have helped to to some degree, but yeah, not sure if it would have closed the gap by much. The optics of losing a 1-0 game to Canada just makes it seem a lot worse, but we know the game wasn't anywhere near as close as the score was -- and they cheesed that win over Russia.

IMO, it just looked like a team built for the smaller ice and tough NHL-style 7-game series... not a single-elimination puck-management type of game.

To be fair to the brass, though, the US just lags too far behind the other super powers in terms of top-end skill. Outside of Kane and Kessel, it's mostly all-around talents and not enough guys who can flat out make plays with the puck on their sticks.

Ryan and Yandle would have helped to to some degree, but yeah, not sure if it would have closed the gap by much. The optics of losing a 1-0 game to Canada just makes it seem a lot worse, but we know the game wasn't anywhere near as close as the score was -- and they cheesed that win over Russia.
- Tomahawk

The US is lagging behind right now in top end talent but there are too many dinosaurs associated with us hockey that haven't grasped the modern game yet. Today's hockey is all about transition, possession, and playing as a 5 man unit not just on defense but on offense too. Brian Burke, Paul Holmgren and even Poile don't understand the modern game. Having guys like Orpik and Martin are a negative not a positive against elite talent. Sounds great on paper to have defensive defensemen but if you can't transition the puck you end up stuck in ur own zone leading to more chances against. Simply chipping the puck out might relieve pressure but gives the opposing team possession again to attack. Russia was the perfect example as they might have had an even better top 6 than Canada and struggled to score because their blueline couldn't get them the puck in stride. Luckily for the us, they are starting to produce elite defense prospects.

phantoms score a 5 on 3 goal and give up a shg 10 seconds later......where have i seen that before?

Oh man, there are a lot of people going to the wrong spots, over committing and there is a lot of huffing and puffing on that Phantoms team. Working hard but the skill is just not there.Uggghhhh.

The US is lagging behind right now in top end talent but there are too many dinosaurs associated with us hockey that haven't grasped the modern game yet. Today's hockey is all about transition, possession, and playing as a 5 man unit not just on defense but on offense too. Brian Burke, Paul Holmgren and even Poile don't understand the modern game. Having guys like Orpik and Martin are a negative not a positive against elite talent. Sounds great on paper to have defensive defensemen but if you can't transition the puck you end up stuck in ur own zone leading to more chances against. Simply chipping the puck out might relieve pressure but gives the opposing team possession again to attack. Russia was the perfect example as they might have had an even better top 6 than Canada and struggled to score because their blueline couldn't get them the puck in stride. Luckily for the us, they are starting to produce elite defense prospects.
- psuhockey

Paul Martin is a strong all around defenseman who is underrated. And yes the game is about transition, possession and playing as a 5 man unit. But even the best team in terms of possession only has the puck a little over 50% of the time, so that's where playing defense comes in. And why you need a blend of defenseman. And there is still a need for defenseman like Orpik. I would also disagree that the GM's you named don't understand the modern game.
And the idea of possession Hockey, is not a modern concept. It goes way back. The Soviet Red Army teams of the 60's and 70's believed heavily in not dumping the puck, and in reversing the puck and holding onto it in regroups in Center ice and in the defensive zone, before attacking again. It's not new. Hockey is hockey.

New players at Sixer practice today.

Oh man, there are a lot of people going to the wrong spots, over committing and there is a lot of huffing and puffing on that Phantoms team. Working hard but the skill is just not there.Uggghhhh.
- Steelmanpa

organ-ize-ation is mediocre from top to bottom.......i know, i know.....too negative blah blah blah........