I would be ok with a 4th line overhaul. Call up holmstorm and Valveeta. I too like Rinaldo, but maybe he just needs some time off.

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Downie-Couturier-Read
Hartnell-Holmstrom-Vandavelde
- youarewrong

I like how you oh-so-subtlely slipped Hartnell onto that line as well.

Hopefully it doesnt go off the rails in march as the playoff race heats up.
- JoeRussomanno

Olympic/All Star breaks haven't been Flyers friendly in recent history.

Orpik's knees are 4 years older and he is gonna be a turnstile on that big ice. I'd have taken Yandle over him.
- jmatchett383

Faulk and Fowler can slide in if Orpik is too slow. I think they like Orpik and Martin together because they've proven to be a very effective pairing for the Pens. That's also one of the reason they took Oshie. He and Backes have been very good killing penalties together.

Faulk and Fowler can slide in if Orpik is too slow. I think they like Orpik and Martin together because they've proven to be a very effective pairing for the Pens. That's also one of the reason they took Oshie. He and Backes have been very good killing penalties together.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's fine as far as Backes as Oshie go. But Orpik ca. 2014 is not Orpik ca. 2009, or even 2010. I hope I'm wrong and he plays well for Team USA, and I know he's a gamer, but I just see the faster teams blowing by him.

I like how you oh-so-subtlely slipped Hartnell onto that line as well.
- jmatchett383

Haha. I know. I am not going to rag on Hartnell or Streit today. They've both picked up their games recently. Hartnell has been a part of several goals over the past handful of games. Amazingly, he's been more productive while playing close to the net!

Haha. I know. I am not going to rag on Hartnell or Streit today. They've both picked up their games recently. Hartnell has been a part of several goals over the past handful of games. Amazingly, he's been more productive while playing close to the net!
- PhillySportsGuy

Crazy, huh?

Also, one more note about Team USA: elite, super defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is apparently not one of the top 8 (7 if we account for a pairing preference) best US-born defenseman in the league. Just saying.

So I spoke to this in Ek's blog but I thought I would post it here. If I was the GM to team Canada I wouldnt just put the best players on the ice. I would try to put the best TEAM on the ice. I would take as many players with Chemistry as I could. Stamkos-St.Louis, Crosby-Kunits, Giroux-Richards, Towes-Sharp, Perry-Getzlaf.

I would roll this out there.

Kunitz-Crosby-Tavares
Hall-Stamkos-St.Louis
Giroux-Getzlaf-Perry
Richards-Towes-Sharp.

PP1
Stamkos-Crosby-Tavares

PP2
Hall-Getzlaf-Giroux

PK1
Towes-Sharp

PK2
Richards-Giroux

That's fine as far as Backes as Oshie go. But Orpik ca. 2014 is not Orpik ca. 2009, or even 2010. I hope I'm wrong and he plays well for Team USA, and I know he's a gamer, but I just see the faster teams blowing by him.
- jmatchett383

Suter is much better now than then. In big games, he will be on the ice for upwards of 30 minutes. That's such a luxury. The US will head in with one of the best forwards in hockey (Kane), one of the best dmen in hockey (Suter) and one of the best goalies, if healthy (Quick).

I think their true strength is their two-way play down the middle. Defensive coverages will be paramount on the big ice. Even their wingers are pretty good defensively. Callahan, Parise, Oshie, Backes.

Crazy, huh?

Also, one more note about Team USA: elite, super defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is apparently not one of the top 8 (7 if we account for a pairing preference) best US-born defenseman in the league. Just saying.
- jmatchett383

If you read the Burnside article, Byfuglien isn't even in the top 10. Jack Johnson is first one out, followed by Yandle then maybe Byfuglien.

Burke has a particular disdain for both Byfuglien and Yandle

So I spoke to this in Ek's blog but I thought I would post it here. If I was the GM to team Canada I wouldnt just put the best players on the ice. I would try to put the best TEAM on the ice. I would take as many players with Chemistry as I could. Stamkos-St.Louis, Crosby-Kunits, Giroux-Richards, Towes-Sharp, Perry-Getzlaf.

I would roll this out there.

Kunitz-Crosby-Tavares
Hall-Stamkos-St.Louis
Giroux-Getzlaf-Perry
Richards-Towes-Sharp.

PP1
Stamkos-Crosby-Tavares

PP2
Hall-Getzlaf-Giroux

PK1
Towes-Sharp

PK2
Richards-Giroux
- youarewrong

Couture, Bergeron, Thornton, Duchene are left. Which of them do you leave off? You can only take 2 more.

Haha. I know. I am not going to rag on Hartnell or Streit today. They've both picked up their games recently. Hartnell has been a part of several goals over the past handful of games. Amazingly, he's been more productive while playing close to the net!
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm not going to rag on hartnell either, but most of his points have been coming from the PP. I would keep him on the top PP, and also after a PK I would trot him out there with Schenn and Lecavalier since all 3 will be rested and you can rest your lines with Raffl-Giroux- Voracek after the next shift.

All in all, despite being penciled in on the 4th line I think he could still get around 13 minutes per game. Only down 3 minutes from what he currently has.

I figure 3 PPs per game at 1 minute each, plus 3 PK per game at 1 minute each. So he will get 6 minutes total ice time during powerplays and after penalty kills. Then add that to the normal 4th line minutes of 7 minutes per game and he is getting about the same ice time as Downie and Schenn.

Couture, Bergeron, Thornton, Duchene are left. Which of them do you leave off? You can only take 2 more.
- PhillySportsGuy

I would take Couture and Bergeron for toughness and defensive play.

Orpik's knees are 4 years older and he is gonna be a turnstile on that big ice. I'd have taken Yandle over him.
- jmatchett383

I'd have taken Yandle over either Orpik or Martin, but whatever.

I'm not going to rag on hartnell either, but most of his points have been coming from the PP. I would keep him on the top PP, and also after a PK I would trot him out there with Schenn and Lecavalier since all 3 will be rested and you can rest your lines with Raffl-Giroux- Voracek after the next shift.

All in all, despite being penciled in on the 4th line I think he could still get around 13 minutes per game. Only down 3 minutes from what he currently has.

I figure 3 PPs per game at 1 minute each, plus 3 PK per game at 1 minute each. So he will get 6 minutes total ice time during powerplays and after penalty kills. Then add that to the normal 4th line minutes of 7 minutes per game and he is getting about the same ice time as Downie and Schenn.
- youarewrong

The problem is that the team currently has 10 top 9 forwards. It's not a bad problem to have.

Raffl skates well
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup. He keeps up with G and V easy enough.

And I agree on sitting Rino for a spell, there's not much lost there except the hits he can get in during his limited time on ice. I don't think he's being put out to kill penalties any longer. Put VDV in there and see how it goes. Rino and Rosehill can chat.

I would take Couture and Bergeron for toughness and defensive play.
- youarewrong

I still think guys like Seguin and Benn deserve to be in the running, but don't have the prestige others do. On the large ice, those two would be dynamic together.

You knew Seguin had no chance after his immaturity with Boston. It will take a little while to build up his reputation.

Yup. He keeps up with G and V easy enough.

And I agree on sitting Rino for a spell, there's not much lost there except the hits he can get in during his limited time on ice. I don't think he's being put out to kill penalties any longer. Put VDV in there and see how it goes. Rino and Rosehill can chat.
- wolfhounds

What I don't understand is why Berube was willing to sit Schenn for two games, but Rinaldo is totally off the hook when he plays poorly defensively or takes an undisciplined penalty.

This team has enough players willing to drop the gloves. They will be able to get by for a few games without Zac

I would take Couture and Bergeron for toughness and defensive play.
- youarewrong

You're not Canadian, so who cares?

If you read the Burnside article, Byfuglien isn't even in the top 10. Jack Johnson is first one out, followed by Yandle then maybe Byfuglien.

Burke has a particular disdain for both Byfuglien and Yandle
- PhillySportsGuy

That Burnside article is a must-read.

What I don't understand is why Berube was willing to sit Schenn for two games, but Rinaldo is totally off the hook when he plays poorly defensively or takes an undisciplined penalty.

This team has enough players willing to drop the gloves. They will be able to get by for a few games without Zac
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup. It's got to be accountability for all, or it doesn't work.

That Burnside article is a must-read.
- johndewar

It gives you an idea of how GMs and coaches really value two-way players more than offensive dynamos. They are looking for players they can trust.

Couture, Bergeron, Thornton, Duchene are left. Which of them do you leave off? You can only take 2 more.
- PhillySportsGuy

Leaving Thornton off is blasphemy. He's one of the best passers in the past decade (leading the league in assists). And there's no way Bergeron should be off, he's made of steel.

It's a shame Canada can't dress an A team and a B team.

Also, as much as I love him, I'd drop Richards from that proposed roster in favor of Benn.

Shawn McKenzie ‏@ShawnMcKenzieSN 13m
Ryan also said that the Burke's comments about him were "gutless"

Shawn McKenzie ‏@ShawnMcKenzieSN 9m
When Ryan said it was gutless he wasn't angry looking for a chance to take a shot at Burke. Seemed genuinely upset.

Shawn McKenzie ‏@ShawnMcKenzieSN 13m
Ryan also said that the Burke's comments about him were "gutless"

Shawn McKenzie ‏@ShawnMcKenzieSN 9m
When Ryan said it was gutless he wasn't angry looking for a chance to take a shot at Burke. Seemed genuinely upset.
- Feanor

If you read the article, Burke talks about wanting to draft Jack Johnson instead of Ryan. The scouts told him to take Ryan, so he went along and trusted them.

Throughout the selection process, Burke pushes for Jack Johnson and talks about how hard he'll fight for the team. It's almost like Burke wanted to validate taking Johnson over Ryan and it's clear he's always had a thing against Ryan.

You're not Canadian, so who cares?
- wolfhounds

I care. What does it matter what my nationality is? Its Hockey, so I'm going to talk hockey.