I agree 100%. I think the draft would be better if it wasnt about being loyal to certain players. But instead of having just former players, you can have Embassadors to the game. Maybe 1 year Ray Bourque vs Gretzky... Next year Bobby Clarke vs some other former GM.. Following year... Eklund vs Melrose (That would be so Funny).
- RooNosHockey

I mean hell, Justin Beiber is from Canada and a huge hockey fan, I am sure he'd love to be a part of something like that lol

Team Justin Beiber vs Team Vince Vaughn

Twitter would explode with NHL content leading up to such an event lol

Yea I mean, by eliminating the players from the team picking... it really gives you free reign on an annual basis to be creative an make it unique and interesting each and every year.

I mean hell, there are some celebrities out there who are huge hockey fans. Even teaming up some celebrities to come out and pick the rosters would draw a crowd!

Team Vince Vaughn vs Team Kevin James lol
- Flyers2821

Thats a good idea too. Team Metallica vs team Megadeath. Team Leno vs Team Letterman. That could potentially draw new fans to the game, while making the game more fantasy realistic, and might give players more of a want to play well, to impress celebrities, or the players/embassadors they grew up admiring.

As long as he can get healthy I am not sweating Briere. His track record shows that he hits the gas down the stretch and especially in the postseason. I don't know how much more I expect from JVR this season, given his injuries. I hope he can step it up, but I'm not holding my breath. Bryz is the key. He needs to be focused and consistent. Having said that, I like what Bob has shown. Kid has really built upon what he showed us last season. He has some playoff experience now too, so he knows what to expect. I sure hope Holmer has scratched him off any "trade bait" list he may have.
- Lexington Flyer

Am I the only one concerned with Jagr in the second half? He could easily go quiet.

Thats a good idea too. Team Metallica vs team Megadeath. Team Leno vs Team Letterman. That could potentially draw new fans to the game, while making the game more fantasy realistic, and might give players more of a want to play well, to impress celebrities, or the players/embassadors they grew up admiring.
- RooNosHockey

Yea I mean the NHL has always been a league to kind of keep their nose out of stuff like that, but for one weekend that right now isn't even really a hockey event anyway... why not go out of the box and make a big show of it?

I mean celebrities grew up as big hockey fans and are still hockey fans as well, I am sure they would be thrilled to do such a unique thing.

Team Snoop Dog vs Team Justin Beiber. Slam dunk winner.

I think that a lot of guys need to get better in different areas. JvR has been dealing with injuries since the preseason. No idea what has been up with Briere. Bryzgalov is well documented.

On the other hand, Giroux needs to get back to playing consistently solid defense. His defensive game, especially at 5 on 5 has been lacking. Jagr needs to wait until he's healthy to return from groin pulls. The whole group of forwards has to limit the turnovers and backcheck like demons. The defense has to make better first passes and everyone needs to stop trying to force stuff that isn't there.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I realize Lavi has them running an aggressive system, but their stretch passes out of the zone have gotten kind of predictable. They need to reign that in a bit unless the play is really there or unless they need to loosen up the opposition's D a bit by reminding them that they have that in the arsenal.

Am I the only one concerned with Jagr in the second half? He could easily go quiet.
- Flyers2821

Even if he does, they have plenty of scoring to go around. Worse comes to worse he is a good example to the younger players. Briere on the other hand needs to be better to take some presure off Giroux to "be the man" every night. If we cant get that second line going, then we are going to slowly wear Giroux out...

Yep.. I didn't realize that Letang looked so much like a girl. The Pens are like a team of circus freaks.. Fruit bat.. frankenmalkin, Horse teeth..
- Hextall271

Thank goodness Philly rescued a good guy like Talbot from that freakshow. Poor Asham

As long as he can get healthy I am not sweating Briere. His track record shows that he hits the gas down the stretch and especially in the postseason. I don't know how much more I expect from JVR this season, given his injuries. I hope he can step it up, but I'm not holding my breath. Bryz is the key. He needs to be focused and consistent. Having said that, I like what Bob has shown. Kid has really built upon what he showed us last season. He has some playoff experience now too, so he knows what to expect. I sure hope Holmer has scratched him off any "trade bait" list he may have.
- Lexington Flyer

I would be furious if Homer traded Bob. It's called organizational depth at the position. I actually hope we draft another tender with maybe the 2 pick after a Dman. This isn't a bad problem like the media implies.. When Bryz sorts it out, you have two great tenders. If Bryz were to get hurt, you know Bob can carry the mail. Only issue at all to me is that Bryz sort himself out and become more consistently good.

Even if he does, they have plenty of scoring to go around. Worse comes to worse he is a good example to the younger players. Briere on the other hand needs to be better to take some presure off Giroux to "be the man" every night. If we cant get that second line going, then we are going to slowly wear Giroux out...
- RooNosHockey

I am looking for Schenn to have a big 2nd half. He was tabbed as the leader for the Calder before the season began and the injuries held him back. He seems to be getting more and more healthy with every game. Would be a tremendous boost for that kid to find his groove and play at a Calder level down the stretch!

I also think it may not be a bad idea to bring in a guy like Selanne. I have been trumpeting this horn for a while now, but I think adding him would do wonders for this team.

Thank goodness Philly rescued a good guy like Talbot from that freakshow. Poor Asham
- Lexington Flyer

Even Asham's a bit different. when he was with the Flyers, my mom was sayin.. jeez..I didn't know the Flyers had an eskimo on the team?

I am looking for Schenn to have a big 2nd half. He was tabbed as the leader for the Calder before the season began and the injuries held him back. He seems to be getting more and more healthy with every game. Would be a tremendous boost for that kid to find his groove and play at a Calder level down the stretch!

I also think it may not be a bad idea to bring in a guy like Selanne. I have been trumpeting this horn for a while now, but I think adding him would do wonders for this team.
- Flyers2821

I think if anyone gets brought in it's a rental dman. I'd love for this team to get to round 2 for experience, then go for Suter in the offseason. make that move, and next year and the year after that this team will be a contender if Bryz sorts it out.

Am I the only one concerned with Jagr in the second half? He could easily go quiet.
- Flyers2821

I'd say Jagr's production totally depends on the status of his injury. The All-Star break will be good for him. He has been off since Saturday and if he played vs. The Jets that would make it about 10 days, which is what I keep seeing as the time frame for those injuries to heal. I hope he takes the Jets game off as well. Let him start skating Tuesday and maybe work him back into the line-up vs. the Preds or Devils. When he is healthy he has shown that he can still be a big factor. He just needs to quit rushing back and re-tweaking that injury. Save that big ass for the playoffs.

Please don't ban me for being off-topic here, but the NHL has got to be thankful for guys like Giroux, Toews, Weber etc. I mean, look at where the NHL has gone in the past few years. The over marketed faces of the NHL aren't what they were. Sid is unfortunately seriously injured and may never be the same again. Ovechkin has turned into a punk (who hasn't been the same player in 3 years), who's act many have grown tired of, and refused to come to the All-Star game in protest of his suspension. If not already, I bet the faces of the NHL will drastically change over the course of the next year or so.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 1/27/12
- bmeltzer

what is this in the air?? logic??

I love that the NHL has taken advantage of the fantasy sports craze and implemented the fantasy draft for the Allstar Game. I think other sports, especially the NBA, should do this as well. The only thing I am not a fan of is how the players feel an obligation to pick certain players because they are in Ottawa or on their NHL team. When picks like that are made, for some reason it bugs me.

How awesome would it be to have legends of the games act as those captains and create a team? For example, team Gretzky and team Messier. Maybe even paired up with two lucky fan chosen by the organization the legend played the most games with as their assistant captains. Take the bias out of it. Include everyone.

Just a thought, but I think it would be a great way to include the history of the game as well as the fans.

Your thoughts?
- Flyers2821

That would be very cool.

I still think you'd get some of the same all Bruins together etc but it would add a neat twist and would be very cool.

I would be furious if Homer traded Bob. It's called organizational depth at the position. I actually hope we draft another tender with maybe the 2 pick after a Dman. This isn't a bad problem like the media implies.. When Bryz sorts it out, you have two great tenders. If Bryz were to get hurt, you know Bob can carry the mail. Only issue at all to me is that Bryz sort himself out and become more consistently good.
- Hextall271

You can never have enough goalies or Dmen IMO.

I'd say Jagr's production totally depends on the status of his injury. The All-Star break will be good for him. He has been off since Saturday and if he played vs. The Jets that would make it about 10 days, which is what I keep seeing as the time frame for those injuries to heal. I hope he takes the Jets game off as well. Let him start skating Tuesday and maybe work him back into the line-up vs. the Preds or Devils. When he is healthy he has shown that he can still be a big factor. He just needs to quit rushing back and re-tweaking that injury. Save that big ass for the playoffs.
- Lexington Flyer

I think as long as Jagr is in the NHL there will be times he'll miss 1-3 games with his groin injury.

70-72 games and a healthy playoffs from Jagr would be great IMO

I think as long as Jagr is in the NHL there will be times he'll miss 1-3 games with his groin injury.

70-72 games and a healthy playoffs from Jagr would be great IMO
- Buts16

This is what I'd look and hope for, agreed.

what is this in the air?? logic??
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Even Asham's a bit different. when he was with the Flyers, my mom was sayin.. jeez..I didn't know the Flyers had an eskimo on the team?
- Hextall271

HE'S NOT AN ESKIMO!!!!

Somebody in the media has a sense of humor.

During a pre-draft news conference, Chara chuckled when politics became part of a question.

"You said you didn't want to pick all right wingers," he was asked. "Does that mean you won't draft Tim Thomas?"

And Hartsy clearly is having fun too:

"I'm not really happy with Giroux right now," he kidded. ". . .I was hoping I was on the blue team so I get to play against him. Maybe [throw] my gloves at him a little bit."

Read more: http://www.philly.com/phi..._draft.html#ixzz1kg2i1rO4

Somebody in the media has a sense of humor.

During a pre-draft news conference, Chara chuckled when politics became part of a question.

"You said you didn't want to pick all right wingers," he was asked. "Does that mean you won't draft Tim Thomas?"

And Hartsy clearly is having fun too:

"I'm not really happy with Giroux right now," he kidded. ". . .I was hoping I was on the blue team so I get to play against him. Maybe
- Lexington Flyer[throw] my gloves at him a little bit."

Read more: http://www.philly.com/phi..._draft.html#ixzz1kg2i1rO4

Say what you will about the All-Star Game but the players are having fun. Kids love it, which speaking for myself was an easy way to get to know the players.

What about Toronto and Philadelphia making a trade, having B. Schenn and Couturier going to Toronto, and Phaneuf + going back the other way..? (Phaneuf + Kulemin?)
- Marinus1103

I think its time to relocate move your current location

- BulliesPhan87

i was hoping to get through the day without a star trek gif. oh well.

i was hoping to get through the day without a star trek gif. oh well.
- hammarby31