Think about it, if you're bread and butter is your NHL team, which it is for every one of these guys, wouldn't you want one of your best players at home and resting up for the upcoming playoff run as opposed to over in Russia play for medals?

Maybe St. Louis didn't want to go knowing his career is coming to an end and his shots at the post-season are limited in number.
- wolfhounds

On the other hand, Marty is having a pretty damn good season and this would likely have been his last shot at the Olympics.

That's not true. There is a skill to it. You need anticipation and an understanding of when to pressure the puck and when to sit back. Positioning is so important. It's not all about blocking shots and sacrificing. You need to know how to get into position to blocks shots.
- PhillySportsGuy

There's a lot less movement from attackers on the PP than at ES... the reads and positioning requirements are much much easier. And when you get the puck back, you don't even have to make a play with it... just ice it. As a forward, it's one of the simplest tasks in the game.

Not all PK'ers are great defensive players. And not all great defensive players are tasked/forced to kill penalties for their teams. That tells you everything you need to know right there.

It's not about skating fast, it's about working tirelessly to cover your 1/4 of the ice and being willing to put your body in lanes. People act as if it's some preternatural skill... for forwards, PK is 90% hard work, 10% common sense. That's why you see guys like Derek Dorsett, BJ Crombeen, Matt Martin, Eric Nystrom and a sea of plugs do the job adequately/well.
- Tomahawk

Being able to anticipate what the offense will do is a huge part of it which is why Couturier is one of the best PKers in the league.

Rinaldo is tireless and happy to put his body in the way of the puck, but is still a poor penalty killer.

That's not true. There is a skill to it. You need anticipation and an understanding of when to pressure the puck and when to sit back. Positioning is so important. It's not all about blocking shots and sacrificing. You need to know how to get into position to blocks shots.
- PhillySportsGuy

Lies, all lies! All it takes to be a superior PKer is to skate hard. Positioning and defensive ability, anticipation play no part in it.

Seriously, do you not think it is an honor to get recognized and play for your Country in the Olympics? It would have been great for Giroux to experience that, would make him a better player I think
- Daceroni

I did back when it was an amateur competition. Now, not as much.

Further, it's not as if this is G's last chance.

Being able to anticipate what the offense will do is a huge part of it which is why Couturier is one of the best PKers in the league.
- Feanor

Mike Richards has the NHL record for 5-on-3 SH goals because he skates hard, not because he has fantastic positioning and anticipation.

I could probally put together a team Canada that would do better then these guys, just from whats left over....

Neal-Thornton-Giroux
Benn-Seguin-St.Louis
Hall-Couture-Eberle
M.Richards-E.Staal-D.Brown (There is your PKers... plus Giroux.)

Boyle-Seabrook
Campbell-Phanuef
Green-Stuart

Fluery
Mason
Bernier
- youarewrong

?

?
- PhillySportsGuy

They traded Giroux for Dustin Brown. Giroux made Team USA.

Mike Richards has the NHL record for 5-on-3 SH goals because he skates hard, not because he has fantastic positioning and anticipation.
- jmatchett383

Scoring SH goals is a very small part of penalty killing. Preventing PP goals is much more important. And Richards scored those goals because of anticipation and positioning as well as skating speed. There are a hundred better skaters in the league than him.

I did back when it was an amateur competition. Now, not as much.

Further, it's not as if this is G's last chance.
- wolfhounds

This is a blessing in disguise. Giroux is a competitive guy. He will be healthy, rested, and ready for the stretch run when the Olympic break is over. He will be able to play in at least 2 more Olympics after this.

I'm fine with it as a Flyers fan.

There's a lot less movement from attackers on the PP than at ES... the reads and positioning requirements are much much easier. And when you get the puck back, you don't even have to make a play with it... just ice it. As a forward, it's one of the simplest tasks in the game.

Not all PK'ers are great defensive players. And not all great defensive players are tasked/forced to kill penalties for their teams. That tells you everything you need to know right there.
- Tomahawk

Whats the point in even getting good defensive players. We should bring Zherdev back and have him kill penalties. He's fast and skilled.

Scoring SH goals is a very small part of penalty killing. Preventing PP goals is much more important.
- Feanor

Yes...but I was making a point that his positioning and anticipation are part of why PKers need to have them. He is (was) just amazingly good at scoring on the PK.

Mike Richards has the NHL record for 5-on-3 SH goalsbecause he skates hard, not because he has fantastic positioning and anticipation.
- jmatchett383

Really? Gonna have to disagree there...

They traded Giroux for Dustin Brown. Giroux made Team USA.
- jmatchett383

I wish

Really? Gonna have to disagree there...
- wolfhounds

I think it was sarcasm

Whats the point in even getting good defensive players. We should bring Zherdev back and have him kill penalties. He's fast and skilled.
- PhillySportsGuy

If he's willing to bust his tail, get into lanes, and has enough brain cells to constantly be in position to defend the cross-ice pass, then sure.

This is a blessing in disguise. Giroux is a competitive guy. He will be healthy, rested, and ready for the stretch run when the Olympic break is over. He will be able to play in at least 2 more Olympics after this.

I'm fine with it as a Flyers fan.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly.

I'll watch the games cause the NHL is on hiatus and, well, it's hockey, but I could care less who is on the Canadian team or if they sniff a medal.

I think it was sarcasm
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, I was catching up to it.

I'm sick, so I need some slack here today.

realize im late to the party, but carter? is that a joke?

i do believe giroux had wing experience coming up didnt he? i cant see any reason for carter over giroux. the whole "big sniper" argument i guess. but still. thats a mistake to me

realize im late to the party, but carter? is that a joke?

i do believe giroux had wing experience coming up didnt he? i cant see any reason for carter over giroux. the whole "big sniper" argument i guess. but still. thats a mistake to me

Haha what a joke.

Kunitz, Nash and Marleau?

Over St. Louis and Giroux

If he's willing to bust his tail, get into lanes, and has enough brain cells to constantly be in position to defend the cross-ice pass, then sure.
- Tomahawk

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you've never played competitive hockey at higher than rec. league level.

He was originally a winger though. And some centers (Stamkos) will be playing wing. Would you take him over Marleau, Carter, Nash, and/or Kunitz?
- jmatchett383

Marleau is killing it this year. I dont see any issue with him making the team. Carter has played well too, between him and Giroux its a toss, depending on team needs. But Nash is having a down year, never did well overseas... No reason he should make the team over Giroux or St.Louis.

Marleau is killing it this year. I dont see any issue with him making the team. Carter has played well too, between him and Giroux its a toss, depending on team needs. But Nash is having a down year, never did well overseas... No reason he should make the team over Giroux or St.Louis.
- youarewrong

Marleau also has the league leader in assists (who didn't make the team) feeding him.

They traded Giroux for Dustin Brown. Giroux made Team USA.
- jmatchett383

Ah, Didnt realize Brown was American.. Must have forgot. Put Jordan Staal in there then.