Flyers general manager Ron Hextall continues to try to trade a veteran defenseman.
The Flyers have $583,334 in salary-cap space, according to generalfanager.com. In this situation, it makes it harder for a young defensive prospect to make the team. "In a perfect world, we’d find some space, but we’re under the cap and if we start the season where we are at, we’re comfortable," Hextall said. "It’s not ideal. But we’re in a situation where we can manage it."

We see it happen all the time in sports. A roster on paper that is the clear cut favorite does have a possibility to lose. Adding Ryan and Pommer would have helped USA. Terrible decision. All he was pointing out was the guy isn't very good at decision making.
- Smittyx36

Both Pominville and Ryan are players that need space to make plays. Neither are very good at creating on their own. Team USA got shut out of the medals because both Canada and Finland did a masterful job of giving the US absolutely no space to work with. Neither player would have changed that. Substitute Ryan and Pominville with any player you want, that team still finishes fourth...or worse. Neither player is good enough to make a difference. It wasn't a bad decision to leave them off. It had no bearing on anything whatsoever.

Both Pominville and Ryan are players that need space to make plays. Neither are very good at creating on their own. Team USA got shut out of the medals because both Canada and Finland did a masterful job of giving the US absolutely no space to work with. Neither player would have changed that. Substitute Ryan and Pominville with any player you want, that team still finishes fourth...or worse.
- buffalofan19

I still don't understand what that has to do with them picking lesser players over better ones.

I still don't understand what that has to do with them picking lesser players over better ones.
- sbroads24

The only "lesser player" that was left off was Bobby Ryan, and that was by the slimmest of margins. Neither player is good enough to make a difference, so it doesn't bother me, at all. That US team had plenty of players that could do what Pominville and Ryan could do already, and that was their problem.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall continues to try to trade a veteran defenseman.
The Flyers have $583,334 in salary-cap space, according to generalfanager.com. In this situation, it makes it harder for a young defensive prospect to make the team. "In a perfect world, we’d find some space, but we’re under the cap and if we start the season where we are at, we’re comfortable," Hextall said. "It’s not ideal. But we’re in a situation where we can manage it."
- SABRES 89

I have 0 interest in any of their current defensemen. Streit is 37 and Schenn is awful.

The only "lesser player" that was left off was Bobby Ryan, and that was by the slimmest of margins. Neither player is good enough to make a difference, so it doesn't bother me, at all. That US team had plenty of players that could do what Pominville and Ryan could do already, and that was their problem.
- buffalofan19

The US couldn't score.

Ryan and Pominville have had multiple 30 goal 70+ point seasons.

Dustin Brown had a 30 point season that year. I think you are off base on this one

The US couldn't score.

Ryan and Pominville have had multiple 30 goal 70+ point seasons.

Dustin Brown had a 30 point season that year. I think you are off base on this one
- sbroads24

Ryan and Pominville both can "score" when someone else gives them the room to work. Both players have next to zero ability to create on their own. The problem in the Olympics was that the team had nobody to give anybody the room to work. Both player would have made zero difference for that very reason.

Both the Canadians and the Finns figured that out, and gave them no space. Those are the types of games where both Ryan and Pomminville get criticized for disappearing. Neither player is a difference maker in that type of game.

Ryan and Pominville both can "score" when someone else gives them the room to work. Both players have next to zero ability to create on their own. The problem in the Olympics was that the team had nobody to give anybody the room to work. Both player would have made zero difference for that very reason.
- buffalofan19

Better skaters end up with more space

Ryan and Pominville were and are better skaters than Brown and Callahan

Also, I'm sort of confused as to how they can't create for their own? It's not like Pominville has ever had anything close to a legit #1 center to play with whether it was here and he had an 80 point season, or in Minny where he scored 30 goals.

The US couldn't score.

Ryan and Pominville have had multiple 30 goal 70+ point seasons.

Dustin Brown had a 30 point season that year. I think you are off base on this one
- sbroads24

The only way the US medals in 2014 is if they had players that could make plays in space. Neither Pominville nor Ryan have that ability. Can you make an argument that they should be on the roster over Dustin Brown and someone else? Sure. Do they medal if that happens? No way.

Better skaters end up with more space

Ryan and Pominville were and are better skaters than Brown and Callahan

Also, I'm sort of confused as to how they can't create for their own? It's not like Pominville has ever had anything close to a legit #1 center to play with whether it was here and he had an 80 point season, or in Minny where he scored 30 goals.
- sbroads24

Pominville isn't that good of a skater. Ryan is, but by very little. Again, it boils down to this: neither player is good enough to make a material difference.

Like I said, the reason the US got shut out was because both Canada and Finland had masterful gameplans of taking away Team USA's space. Neither player would have changed that. They simply aren't good enough to.

Both Pominville and Ryan are players that need space to make plays. Neither are very good at creating on their own. Team USA got shut out of the medals because both Canada and Finland did a masterful job of giving the US absolutely no space to work with. Neither player would have changed that. Substitute Ryan and Pominville with any player you want, that team still finishes fourth...or worse. Neither player is good enough to make a difference. It wasn't a bad decision to leave them off. It had no bearing on anything whatsoever.
- buffalofan19

From what I saw the US were shattered after the semi final & didn't matter who was out there for 3rd they were gone. They couldn't adjust to Canada's game in the semi & were crushed mentally. The coach looked like someone was holding his family hostage & couldn't get the team even close against Finland - that coach is now yours. I hope for your sakes that he has learnt from what he couldn't do there & in Pittsburgh - adjust mid game to compete not just stick with 1 plan throughout the whole game - from what you have pointed out above how did the US try & make space? Good luck with Disco.

From what I saw the US were shattered after the semi final & didn't matter who was out there for 3rd they were gone. They couldn't adjust to Canada's game in the semi & were crushed mentally. The coach looked like someone was holding his family hostage & couldn't get the team even close against Finland - that coach is now yours. I hope for your sakes that he has learnt from what he couldn't do there & in Pittsburgh - adjust mid game to compete not just stick with 1 plan throughout the whole game - from what you have pointed out above how did the US try & make space? Good luck with Disco.
- Aussiepenguin

They absolutely were crushed mentally. Canada was essentially a brick wall, and the US simply didn't have the horses to get through it. Neither Jason Pominville, nor Bobby Ryan were the "horses" to change that.

Pominville isn't that good of a skater. Ryan is, but by very little. Again, it boils down to this: neither player is good enough to make a material difference.

Like I said, the reason the US got shut out was because both Canada and Finland had masterful gameplans of taking away Team USA's space. Neither player would have changed that. They simply aren't good enough to.
- buffalofan19

But...they...are..still ...better than Callahan and Brown, and it really isn't debatable.

You give me a GM that chooses the guys that are "tough to play against" as opposed to the better producers, and I'll show you a GM with issues. It's very Ted Nolanish

They absolutely were crushed mentally. Canada was essentially a brick wall, and the US simply didn't have the horses to get through it. Neither Jason Pominville, nor Bobby Ryan were the "horses" to change that.
- buffalofan19

Again, they still didn't ice the best team possible. Something you preach constantly

Again, they still didn't ice the best team possible. Something you preach constantly
- sbroads24

I guess it gets down to this. I don't think Pominville or Ryan are materially better than anybody on that roster. Ryan might be. Pominville is basically "folk hero" status around here, as far as I am concerned.

I guess it gets down to this. I don't think Pominville or Ryan are materially better than anybody on that roster. Ryan might be. Pominville is basically "folk hero" status around here, as far as I am concerned.
- buffalofan19

Bobby Ryan - Career .74 PPG
Jason Pominville - Career .76 PPG
Dustin Brown- Career .55 PPG
Ryan Callahan -Career .58 PPG


You are off base

Bobby Ryan - Career .74 PPG
Jason Pominville - Career .76 PPG
Dustin Brown- Career .55 PPG
Ryan Callahan -Career .58 PPG


You are off base
- sbroads24

See, I look at it differently. Does adding player A over player B make a difference in the win column? The answer in this instance is "no".

When I argue playing a guy like Mark Pysyk over a player like Mike Weber, or Matt Ellis over just about any homeless guy you get off the street, I honestly believe the answer is "yes".

Also, you do have to factor that there's a big difference between an 82 game NHL season over a short 2 week tournament. The bottom line is, put Pominville and Ryan on that team over Callahan and Brown, that team still comes no closer to medaling than they did. That team's problems would not have been resolved by what either player brought to the table.

TJ Oshie - .69 PPG
Blake Wheeler .65 PPG

Pominville produces more than most of the roster

See, I look at it differently. Does adding player A over player B make a difference in the win column? The answer in this instance is "no".

When I argue playing a guy like Mark Pysyk over a player like Mike Weber, or Matt Ellis over just about any homeless guy you get off the street, I honestly believe the answer is "yes".

Also, you do have to factor that there's a big difference between an 82 game NHL season over a short 2 week tournament. The bottom line is, put Pominville and Ryan on that team over Callahan and Brown, that team still comes no closer to medaling than they did. That team's problems would not have been resolved by what either player brought to the table.
- buffalofan19

So if the US picked Mike Weber over Mark Pysyk, would you consider that irrelevant because the outcome wouldn't have changed?

So if the US picked Mike Weber over Mark Pysyk, would you consider that irrelevant because the outcome wouldn't have changed?
- sbroads24

Yes, because if the US picked Mike Weber over Mark Pysyk (working in the parallel universe where both where US citizens), they probably wouldn't have even made the medal round.

I'm the sabres... Do i take ryan and pommer or callahan and brown. Now that we actually have center depth id take ryan and pommer without a doubt.

Team USA overall didn't play or jell well. Could ryan and pommer come in and dominate probably not. But they could have jelled better which could have created more chances. The USA lacked scoring and thats what Ryan and Pommer do. Brown and Callahan? Not so much

See, I look at it differently. Does adding player A over player B make a difference in the win column? The answer in this instance is "no".

When I argue playing a guy like Mark Pysyk over a player like Mike Weber, or Matt Ellis over just about any homeless guy you get off the street, I honestly believe the answer is "yes".

Also, you do have to factor that there's a big difference between an 82 game NHL season over a short 2 week tournament. The bottom line is, put Pominville and Ryan on that team over Callahan and Brown, that team still comes no closer to medaling than they did. That team's problems would not have been resolved by what either player brought to the table.
- buffalofan19

I don't think Pominville is a superstar or anything, but I have always considered him criminally under rated by most people outside of Buffalo.

The fact that he out produced over half of team USA's roster, is a good two way player, and they never once (nationally) mentioned him as a snub was amazing to me.

Considering that Pominville is good at both ends, you could easily make the case he's close or just plain better than Bobby Ryan all around. He might not be as dynamic, but the results favor him

I'm the sabres... Do i take ryan and pommer or callahan and brown. Now that we actually have center depth id take ryan and pommer without a doubt.

Team USA overall didn't play or jell well. Could ryan and pommer come in and dominate probably not. But they could have jelled better which could have created more chances. The USA lacked scoring and thats what Ryan and Pommer do. Brown and Callahan? Not so much
- Smittyx36

They lacked players that could create enough space to make plays. Neither Pominville nor Ryan have that ability. Both need players to create space for them.

I'm the sabres... Do i take ryan and pommer or callahan and brown. Now that we actually have center depth id take ryan and pommer without a doubt.

Team USA overall didn't play or jell well. Could ryan and pommer come in and dominate probably not. But they could have jelled better which could have created more chances. The USA lacked scoring and thats what Ryan and Pommer do. Brown and Callahan? Not so much
- Smittyx36

Pretty much.

October cant come fast enough. Debating if Pommer should have been on the 2014 Olympic squad.