Being a great defensive player to begin with certainly doesn't hurt... but there are a lot of above-average PK'ers across the league that you'd have a hard time categorizing as great defensive players.

Anyway, the genesis of this debate was the notion that Team Canada will suffer for not loading up on PK mavens, with a Selke-winner like Toews strangely being characterized as a "bad" PK'er.

My point is that virtually everybody on that team is capable of doing the task, and doing it well.
- Tomahawk

i mean there are some guys who probably could do it fairly well if they put their mind to it. toews would be one who i would think could excel. but i dont think you could just take random player X off of canada and he is just automatically going to be a wizard at it because he is a stud player. that being said though, to me toews and bergeron should be able to succeed in that role.

i mean there are some guys who probably could do it fairly well if they put their mind to it. toews would be one who i would think could excel. but i dont think you could just take random player X off of canada and he is just automatically going to be a wizard at it because he is a stud player. that being said though, to me toews and bergeron should be able to succeed in that role.
- stayinthefnnet

Nobody mentioned anything about being "great"... just simply up to the task.

I think the Olympics is likely the reason why Timonen even bothered to come back this year.

I don't doubt he wants another shot at a Cup, but Europeans love them some Olympics.
- johndewar

Haha that and an extra 6 million.

I am happy for Raffl and Lauridsen to get this experience though. Get to play big minutes against the best in the world.

Haha that and an extra 6 million.

I am happy for Raffl and Lauridsen to get this experience though. Get to play big minutes against the best in the world.
- flyer_nutter

Haven't kept up...Raffl good to go?

Nobody mentioned anything about being "great"... just simply up to the task.
- Tomahawk

true. but its the olympics. it often requires "great" to get to where a team like canada should be

So the Flyers play tonight.

Chance to put some more distance between themselves, the Devils and the Rangers. Maybe even move past Toronto into 6th if the Leafs get smacked around by the Isles!

If G comes out flat, all mopey and poop, somebody needs to hit him with a 2x4.

Haven't kept up...Raffl good to go?
- jmatchett383

Talking to Doctors today according to Bill. Baseline tests I suppose.

Haven't kept up...Raffl good to go?
- jmatchett383

By Olympic time I think he will be ready to roll.

Think I read he had no symptoms, and just needed doctor clearance.

By Olympic time I think he will be ready to roll.

Think I read he had no symptoms, and just needed doctor clearance.
- flyer_nutter

That's what I've read as well......also that Raffl actually did skate today.

So the Flyers play tonight.

Chance to put some more distance between themselves, the Devils and the Rangers. Maybe even move past Toronto into 6th if the Leafs get smacked around by the Isles!

If G comes out flat, all mopey and poop, somebody needs to hit him with a 2x4.
- wolfhounds

I doubt G wants to look bad in front of his boy, Jagr. He'll be fine.

The bigger joke in this tournament.

Group A: Russia, Slovakia, United States, Slovenia
Group B: Finland, Canada, Norway, Austria
Group C: Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Latvia

Group A has a lot tougher competition than the others.
- flyer_nutter

I'm pretty sure results from the previous competition in international hockey sets the groups.

I doubt G wants to look bad in front of his boy, Jagr. He'll be fine.
- johndewar

jags has been quietly having a damn good year

jags has been quietly having a damn good year
- stayinthefnnet

He's old and useless, nothing left in the tank.

The heck with Canada!

I will be rooting for the following in the Olympics
1. USA
2. Finland (want Kimmo to win a medal!)
3. Czech (want medals for Jake and Jagr too)
4. Sweden

After snubbing Giroux, Canada falls somewhere between Russia and Outer Mongolia!

He's old and useless, nothing left in the tank.
- jmatchett383

The heck with Canada!

I will be rooting for the following in the Olympics
1. USA
2. Finland (want Kimmo to win a medal!)
3. Czech (want medals for Jake and Jagr too)
4. Sweden

After snubbing Giroux, Canada falls somewhere between Russia and Outer Mongolia!
- BiggE

U S A
U S A
U S A

He's old and useless, nothing left in the tank.
- jmatchett383

its a shame he is playing the role of vagabond mercenary now.

I'm ok with Kunitz being on the team. He's having a beast of a season, why not pair him up with Crosby and keep that going? Kunitz-Crosby-Stamkos will be fun to watch. Kunitz also has a history with Getzlaf and Perry, so he can always be dropped down to that line if need be.

No Giroux and St. Louis is a joke. Carter over both of those guys is laughable. Bumping both for Nash and Marleau is asinine. Giroux, St. Louis, and Nash would be my choices.

its a shame he is playing the role of vagabond mercenary now.
- stayinthefnnet

I still love seeing him play. He looks like he enjoys playing the sport more than anybody else on the planet.

its a shame he is playing the role of vagabond mercenary now.
- stayinthefnnet

Why is it a shame? He certainly seemed to enjoy his time both in Philly and Dallas and I've heard no complaints from him about Jersey as well.

Why is it a shame? He certainly seemed to enjoy his time both in Philly and Dallas and I've heard no complaints from him about Jersey as well.
- BiggE

oh no no i didnt mean that he has been doing anything like wrong to teams. he is up front that he wants the team offering the most, and when he is there, he is giving it his all and still producing at a fine level.

i just like when guys are with teams for more than just a season hopping around. totally understand that its an old fashioned approach, but i love how someone like selanne is just ducks through and through right now

oh no no i didnt mean that he has been doing anything like wrong to teams. he is up front that he wants the team offering the most, and when he is there, he is giving it his all and still producing at a fine level.

i just like when guys are with teams for more than just a season hopping around. totally understand that its an old fashioned approach, but i love how someone like selanne is just ducks through and through right now
- stayinthefnnet

Fair enough

I still love seeing him play. He looks like he enjoys playing the sport more than anybody else on the planet.
- BulliesPhan87

i love watching him play as well. i definitely was bitter when he was doing his crooning for mario and then signed with you guys, but ive gotten over it. he was probably my biggest reason for becoming a pens fan. i understand that bridge has long since been ashes, but still stinks seeing him just go from team to team. would love to have had him just been a lifer.

i love watching him play as well. i definitely was bitter when he was doing his crooning for mario and then signed with you guys, but ive gotten over it. he was probably my biggest reason for becoming a pens fan. i understand that bridge has long since been ashes, but still stinks seeing him just go from team to team. would love to have had him just been a lifer.
- stayinthefnnet

I believe that he signed to play a bigger role than he could've back on the wrong side of the state. I mean, the extra money was probably convincing too, but I think what he really wants is to keep being a star.

Fair enough

- BiggE

i do admit, i find a tiny grain of humor in the fact that in simply one season there, he managed to turn throngs of people who probably swore at him up and down for years, calling him a soft prettyboy and the like, into people who love (at the very least, respect him a great deal) him.

one small comfort for having to see him in the orange and black and hear the same drooling individuals who yelled CARBOMB instead yell JAGRBOMB!