Yep. Plug him in on the PP, spot him in when you need some wheels. He's not worse defensively than Fowler, Faulk or even Carlson. I think that was the thing that pissed me off about Burke the most.

If Yandle couldn't play defensively at all, the way Burke made it sound, there's no way he sticks with the Tippett Borg defense.
- Jsaquella

I was ok with Carlson. I think he's a decent two-way player. Fowler is coming into his own as well. I just thought it was stupid to leave Yandle and Ryan at home when teams were able to play a 13th forward and 7th dman.

They would have been able to spot both of them.

Zuccarello
Tavares
Martin

Flyers were spared but the rest of the division wasn't.
- PhillySportsGuy

I am not a buyer of the "they could have gotten hurt in NHL action" line of logic.

Yeah. They could have gotten hurt in NHL action. But they didn't.

And as a buyer of the NHL product, I can deal with guys getting hurt in service of my team and the NHL.

Not for some contrived international tournament where they SHUT THE NHL SEASON DOWN to play.

Other than Yandle, what were the other USA options on the blueline? As crazy as it sounds, Matt Carle may have been a more viable option than Faulk.
- PLindbergh31

Yandle, Byfuglien, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Carle

Get lost with Maatta.

Losing Martin for a month in the grand scheme of things for the Pens means next to nothing.
- PLindbergh31

It means a lot to the Pens. Losing Martin is a huge loss for the Pens. Especially with Letang out.

I was ok with Carlson. I think he's a decent two-way player. Fowler is coming into his own as well. I just thought it was stupid to leave Yandle and Ryan at home when teams were able to play a 13th forward and 7th dman.

They would have been able to spot both of them.
- PhillySportsGuy

There were spots in the lineup for both of Yandle and Ryan.

Gee, I wonder if they played US College hockey instead of playing in the CHL if that'd made a difference?

I was ok with Carlson. I think he's a decent two-way player. Fowler is coming into his own as well. I just thought it was stupid to leave Yandle and Ryan at home when teams were able to play a 13th forward and 7th dman.

They would have been able to spot both of them.
- PhillySportsGuy

Exactly. I don;t have an issue with either Fowler or Faulk...just both of them going over Yandle or others.

There were spots in the lineup for both of Yandle and Ryan.

Gee, I wonder if they played US College hockey instead of playing in the CHL if that'd made a difference?
- johndewar

I think they cut off their nose to spite their face. They were so afraid of having to play Yandle or Ryan regular minutes because of an injury to another player.

It means a lot to the Pens. Losing Martin is a huge loss for the Pens.
- MJL

it is. and you never know how long it will take to properly heal from a break. (see bennett). but if it only takes a month's time, he should be back for the playoffs with enough of a cushion to try and find pairs that gel. especially since its pretty much likely that he will play with orpik if they are both healthy.

There were spots in the lineup for both of Yandle and Ryan.

Gee, I wonder if they played US College hockey instead of playing in the CHL if that'd made a difference?
- johndewar

Team USA wanted defenseman who could play in all situations. They wanted to use Pavelski at the point on the PP. And they brought along Shattenkirk as a PP QB for one reason over Yandle. He's a RH shot.

I am not a buyer of the "they could have gotten hurt in NHL action" line of logic.

Yeah. They could have gotten hurt in NHL action. But they didn't.

And as a buyer of the NHL product, I can deal with guys getting hurt in service of my team and the NHL.

Not for some contrived international tournament where they SHUT THE NHL SEASON DOWN to play.
- johndewar

Agreed. One of my biggest complaints about the NHL shutdown is injury potential. Imagine if Crosby got hurt instead of Tavares. That's a major blow on the playoff race. Or Kopitar, Toews, Kane or Getzlaf.

I mean sure, guys can get hurt sitting at home, but playing hockey increases the odds.

Yandle, Byfuglien, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Carle
- Jsaquella

Yandle I thought was a no brainer. Arguments can be made for the guys you name. I didn't understand Faulk. Didn't really have a problem with any of the other selections.

Yandle I thought was a no brainer. Arguments can be made for the guys you name. I didn't understand Faulk. Didn't really have a problem with any of the other selections.
- PLindbergh31

Faulk is a better all around defenseman then Yandle is.

I think they cut off their nose to spite their face. They were so afraid of having to play Yandle or Ryan regular minutes because of an injury to another player.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think they were making a statement to young US players to stay south of the border.

No way either of Faulk or Fowler should have gone over Yandle.

And I shouldn't need to state Bobby Ryan's case. You can't question Ryan's intensity and then, take JvR to Sochi.

/Yes, I went there.

Faulk is a better all around defenseman then Yandle is.
- MJL

I'm not sure I agree.

Yandle, Byfuglien, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Carle
- Jsaquella

Of those guys, I would have only taken Yandle over Faulk.

Agreed. One of my biggest complaints about the NHL shutdown is injury potential. Imagine if Crosby got hurt instead of Tavares. That's a major blow on the playoff race. Or Kopitar, Toews, Kane or Getzlaf.

I mean sure, guys can get hurt sitting at home, but playing hockey increases the odds.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. So many smart hockey people are blinded to this, it's frustrating.

Of those guys, I would have only taken Yandle over Faulk.
- PhillySportsGuy

He'd be my first choice, I wouldn't give much of an argument over the others, because I really like Faulk. He's a good young player. I like Fowler, too. I just would have wanted a solid vet in case of injury/specialty uses.

Exactly. So many smart hockey people are blinded to this, it's frustrating.
- johndewar

To me, it's simply that I'm a NHL fan first and an Olympic fan second. The first exposure I had to US hockey or the Olympics, really, was the 1980 team. Leading up to that I had heavy doses of the Broad St Bullies and the Streak team and that was a constant thing.

the Miracle on Ice was a one off...and besides, the Flyers had already kicked the poop out of the USSR

He'd be my first choice, I wouldn't give much of an argument over the others, because I really like Faulk. He's a good young player. I like Fowler, too. I just would have wanted a solid vet in case of injury/specialty uses.
- Jsaquella

Both Fowler and Faulk are good, young players.

But this wasn't a futures tournament. It was "best on best".

And sorry. Leaving Bobby Ryan and Keith Yandle at home didn't help.

I think they were making a statement to young US players to stay south of the border.

No way either of Faulk or Fowler should have gone over Yandle.

And I shouldn't need to state Bobby Ryan's case. You can't question Ryan's intensity and then, take JvR to Sochi.

/Yes, I went there.
- johndewar

I think you can make a reasonable argument for taking Yandle over Faulk, depending on what you're looking for. But no way taking Yandle over Fowler. Fowler is much better in my opinion.

Both Fowler and Faulk are good, young players.

But this wasn't a futures tournament. It was "best on best".

And sorry. Leaving Bobby Ryan and Keith Yandle at home didn't help.
- johndewar

Agreed. Maybe the Flyers can use a poor performance vs Finland to pry Fowler or Faulk off their teams

To me, it's simply that I'm a NHL fan first and an Olympic fan second. The first exposure I had to US hockey or the Olympics, really, was the 1980 team. Leading up to that I had heavy doses of the Broad St Bullies and the Streak team and that was a constant thing.

the Miracle on Ice was a one off...and besides, the Flyers had already kicked the poop out of the USSR
- Jsaquella

I fully admit that I'm biased towards the Canada Cup/World Cup model, because I saw quite a few of those games in '96.

They didn't have to shut the league down for that.

I agree with Al Morganti on this: Shutting the league down means you think the Stanley Cup is NOT as important as a Gold Medal.

And I disagree with that notion, on every level. The Stanley Cup is the greatest trophy in hockey.

Agreed. Maybe the Flyers can use a poor performance vs Finland to pry Fowler or Faulk off their teams
- Jsaquella

Not bloody likely....

Agreed. Maybe the Flyers can use a poor performance vs Finland to pry Fowler or Faulk off their teams
- Jsaquella

thats a scary thought. theyd be perfect for you guys

I fully admit that I'm biased towards the Canada Cup/World Cup model, because I saw quite a few of those games in '96.

They didn't have to shut the league down for that.

I agree with Al Morganti on this: Shutting the league down means you think the Stanley Cup is NOT as important as a Gold Medal.

And I disagree with that notion, on every level. The Stanley Cup is the greatest trophy in hockey.
- johndewar

Agreed, wholeheartedly. If the Olympics were held in August or September, I'd watch them and enjoy them more. I felt zero passion watching the games this time around. Hell, even in 2010, I wasn't that fired up.

The 1996 World Cup and the 1987 Canada Cup remain the best all around international tournaments I have seen.