8 teams total. 6 of being Canada, USA, Czech, Sweden, Finland and Russia

One team of under 23 year old NORTH AMERICAN players. One team of "euro all stars" from other countries not listed in the top 6.

(frank)ing child play. Wont hold a candle to the Olympics or IIHF tournament. Even with north American media shoving this down the throats of the masses.
- flyer_nutter

NHL needs to outsource it's brainstorming... the Metropolitan division, uneven conferences, adding the Stadium Series on top of the WC, propping the Coyotes up, failing in Atlanta twice, and now this... man.

yeah i dont blame you. thats what its going to take. and if you think the player makes the difference, you have to do what you have to do.

i just dont think orpik can play at the level to justify that overreach.

however, i know the feeling. id offer the same deal to giordano and then move virtually whatever necessary to make it work
- stayinthefnnet

Just to clarify, we're talking about Boychuck. Orpik has made a considerable difference in Washington. That has been a very good signing for them.

anyone see this article?

oh boy

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to pay him Orpik years and money. That would be cheap. I wouldn't be able to get the contract signed and approved fast enough.
- MJL

I think this is the first time we've ever agreed completely on one thing!

I think this is the first time we've ever agreed completely on one thing!
- Isles_since_6

It's a late Chrismtmas miracle!

NHL needs to outsource it's brainstorming... the Metropolitan division, uneven conferences, adding the Stadium Series on top of the WC, propping the Coyotes up, failing in Atlanta twice, and now this... man.
- Tomahawk

I am going to love to see the jersey for that "euro all star team". What the (frank) will that be, a rainbow? Young stars will have a baby bottle on the crest? Lactating boobs? Its cheesy marketing. Thank god for the traditional IIHF and Olympic approach. At least leave the game some class.

Although some would also say the perversion of sports, and over marketing are similar to roman gladiator times of just distracting people from the real issues in the world. Everyone knows kim Kardashian or who is in the superbowl...

We all know Im a conspiracy guy.

Just to clarify, we're talking about Boychuck. Orpik has made a considerable difference in Washington. That has been a very good signing for them.
- MJL

yeah. i know.

i just meant that sometimes if you really think a player is the guy that would make the difference, its worth a bit of an overpayment.

you would do it for boychuck. i would do it for giordano.

i still cant get on board that orpik is an overall good signing. but then again, if they win the cup this year, who am i to say?

it is pretty funny.

but greiss is typically decent. usually wont win or lose the game for you.
- stayinthefnnet

That's usually fine for a back up. He was at or near the top of my list for Flyers back up this past summer.

EJ Hradek and Steve Mears both just picked the Pens to win tonight (along with most of the free world, the communist world and the muslim jihadist world), so... book it... Flyers to win tonight!

I am going to love to see the jersey for that "euro all star team".
- flyer_nutter

huge fan of the World Cup of Hockey news

nice to see it focus on fun, interesting scenarios instead of these other international tournaments that try so hard to pretend to have meaning.

huge fan of the World Cup of Hockey news

nice to see it focus on fun, interesting scenarios instead of these other international tournaments that try so hard to pretend to have meaning.
- Crimsoninja

To anyone outside of NA I suppose.

- Tomahawk

He's a lumberjack.. and he's ok?

yeah. i know.

i just meant that sometimes if you really think a player is the guy that would make the difference, its worth a bit of an overpayment.

you would do it for boychuck. i would do it for giordano.

i still cant get on board that orpik is an overall good signing. but then again, if they win the cup this year, who am i to say?
- stayinthefnnet

Boychuk's stock has apparently shot through the roof over the past 4-mos... incredible.

He's a lumberjack.. and he's ok?
- Doc_Sarcasm

Lederhosen

yeah. i know.

i just meant that sometimes if you really think a player is the guy that would make the difference, its worth a bit of an overpayment.

you would do it for boychuck. i would do it for giordano.

i still cant get on board that orpik is an overall good signing. but then again, if they win the cup this year, who am i to say?
- stayinthefnnet

Orpik is providing a huge physical presence on that team, and is playing a lot of hard minutes. It's allowed them to take a lot off of Alzner, and allowed them to slot and use other defenseman properly. Orpik has been a big key to that team actually becoming a solid defensive team when they haven't been in the past.

That's usually fine for a back up. He was at or near the top of my list for Flyers back up this past summer.
- Jsaquella

oh yeah. im totally fine with him for his role and salary. i wish theyd use him more this season.

Orpik is providing a huge physical presence on that team, and is playing a lot of hard minutes. It's allowed them to take a lot off of Alzner, and allowed them to slot and use other defenseman properly. Orpik has been a big key to that team actually becoming a solid defensive team when they haven't been in the past.
- MJL

Considering how bad he looked for so much of last year, I'm shocked. I still wouldnt want to be locked in for another 4 or 5 years (whatever he's got left).

Well your new coach finally figured out part of it. Start the backup goalie
- Jsaquella

I was just thinking that. Without being able to face fleury, we probably lose.

Lets go flyers!

Orpik is providing a huge physical presence on that team, and is playing a lot of hard minutes. It's allowed them to take a lot off of Alzner, and allowed them to slot and use other defenseman properly. Orpik has been a big key to that team actually becoming a solid defensive team when they haven't been in the past.
- MJL

maybe a change of scenery/trotz's system is helping him out a good bit. but he really started to lose it in his last season with the pens. and there is 0 way he lives up the term.

Lederhosen
- Jsaquella

YoungStars will look like underoos.

Binky mouthpieces.

Lederhosen
- Jsaquella

Because I'm a bad person, the first thought that popped into my head when I saw that getup was... "Man, I bet fat Phil Kessel would look hilarious in that uni."

Boychuk's stock has apparently shot through the roof over the past 4-mos... incredible.
- Tomahawk

it has. but really, its been a perfect storm for him.

you can tell his not just a byproduct of boston right now. he is getting to be the horse, and he is answering the bell. and the team itself has experienced a good step forward, which only makes his star shine a little brighter.

definitely a good defenseman. and i think theyve all seen their stock go up lately haha

maybe a change of scenery/trotz's system is helping him out a good bit. but he really started to lose it in his last season with the pens. and there is 0 way he lives up the term.
- stayinthefnnet

I'd be surprised if he's playing as well as he is now in a year or two, but Trotz is a very capable coach. He knows how to get the most out of his defensemen, and his impact is probably a bigger reason for the Capitals success this year than anything.

Holtby's also been a monster for them. Looking at what they did this summer, it really could have gone either way