Doing something well vs. weaker/smaller competition doesn't necessarily hold up as well as you move up in levels of play.
- bradleyc4

You're introducing other variables. That can be done all day long. The premise is two players are equals except for a significant difference in size, I'd take the bigger player.

Doing something well vs. weaker/smaller competition doesn't necessarily hold up as well as you move up in levels of play.
- bradleyc4

It's always good to have variety on your team. I've always preferred bigger players in all sports. Whenever I'd get to pick my own team, I'd pick bigger guys. That's not to say smaller players can't be effective.

Thoresen is/was twice as talented as Bellemare, btw. He's like Norwegian Sidney Crosby, lol.
- Tomahawk

That's a matter of opinion and certainly not a fact. If Bellemare comes over and establishes himself as an NHL player, and has a better NHL career, that will turn out not to be true.

Are you asking if they're playing in the tournament or whether they have a chance to win the World Cup?
- PhillySportsGuy

Just if they're in. I thought I remember reading they didn't make the cut.. but maybe that was about the Olympics 2 years ago. I know they have a slim to none chance of winning if they are in. Though they have at least made the quarter finals the last 2 Cups?

I know I could just look it up I guess… :/

Pedobear? Really? We're going with this?

Young flyer fans beware. You may be spooked or molested by various flyer bears
- Just5

I like Pebbles myself. Pedobear just wigs me out...
And he's probably a perfectly nice Frenchie...

For every St. Louis and Giroux though, aren't there countless small guys with lots of skill that never make it? We don't really quantify their failure versus the success of the ones who do make it.
- eayost

That's not my argument. This isn't about the smallest of the small.

It's more against the players that are big at a young age. The point is, all things being equal, taking the bigger player isn't necessarily the right move.

You're introducing other variables. That can be done all day long. The premise is two players are equals except for a significant difference in size, I'd take the bigger player.
- MJL

I'm not adding variables, I'm just looking at it deeper than you are.

And we disagree. That's fine.

Does the United States have a World Cup team this time?
- eayost

The United States will be entering a collection of males who will all be wearing matching uniforms.

That's not my argument. This isn't about the smallest of the small.

It's more against the players that are big at a young age. The point is, all things being equal, taking the bigger player isn't necessarily the right move.
- bradleyc4

It isn't necessarily the wrong move either. Drafting is not an exact science.

Just if they're in. I thought I remember reading they didn't make the cut.. but maybe that was about the Olympics 2 years ago. I know they have a slim to none chance of winning if they are in. Though they have at least made the quarter finals the last 2 Cups?

I know I could just look it up I guess… :/
- eayost

US has a team in it.

So the devils have hired analytical guru Mehta. I was hoping by now to read about any shakeups in the flyers organization with hextall coming in. Kind of surprised there's been no changes to scouting or anything like that. Guess we'll wait and see
- Just5

Reading this post makes me need to listen to Zappa's 'Billy the Mountain'.

*and if anyone understands why, I'll owe you a couple of beers.

FWIW, Dreger says Kings do not plan to buy out Mike Richards, however they may well demand he start a better conditioning program this summer
- Jsaquella

diet island.

Just if they're in. I thought I remember reading they didn't make the cut.. but maybe that was about the Olympics 2 years ago. I know they have a slim to none chance of winning if they are in. Though they have at least made the quarter finals the last 2 Cups?

I know I could just look it up I guess… :/
- eayost

They are in the World Cup. Their Group is very strong though. It's highly unlikely they get past the group stage. Portugal, Germany and Ghana are all good teams.

The clinched a spot pretty early. Mexico barely got in though.

That's not my argument. This isn't about the smallest of the small.

It's more against the players that are big at a young age. The point is, all things being equal, taking the bigger player isn't necessarily the right move.
- bradleyc4

If everything else is "equal" why would you not take the bigger guy? If everything is the same but size I would always take the bigger guy.

I'm not adding variables, I'm just looking at it deeper than you are.

And we disagree. That's fine.
- bradleyc4

You're not looking at it deeper then I am. Just trying to introduce more variables to prove your point. We could do that all day. I offer a simple premise and an opinion.

It's always good to have variety on your team. I've always preferred bigger players in all sports. Whenever I'd get to pick my own team, I'd pick bigger guys. That's not to say smaller players can't be effective.
- PhillySportsGuy

All things being equal, I'll take the bigger guy. But size is just one part of the equation, so if there's a disparity, it shouldn't be the overwhelming variable.

They are in the World Cup. Their Group is very strong though. It's highly unlikely they get past the group stage. Portugal, Germany and Ghana are all good teams.

The clinched a spot pretty early. Mexico barely got in though.
- PhillySportsGuy

Prediction: They will beat Ghana in blowout fashion (2-1) and tie Portugal in a thrilling 0-0 match.

Doing something well vs. weaker/smaller competition doesn't necessarily hold up as well as you move up in levels of play.
- bradleyc4

The United States will be entering a collection of males who will all be wearing matching uniforms.
- jmatchett383

If everything else is "equal" why would you not take the bigger guy? If everything is the same but size I would always take the bigger guy.
- mickel25

If you could take everything about Giroux and put it a 6'4" 225lb frame (maintaining speed, flexibility, because we're keeping all things equal)… I don't know why you wouldn't.

All things being equal, I'll take the bigger guy. But size is just one part of the equation, so if there's a disparity, it shouldn't be the overwhelming variable.
- jmatchett383

Agreed.

- Tomahawk

That's just so unfair...the other team is full o' white kids.

If you could take everything about Giroux and put it a 6'4" 225lb frame (maintaining speed, flexibility, because we're keeping all things equal)… I don't know why you wouldn't.
- eayost

You would obviously.

All things being equal, I'll take the bigger guy. But size is just one part of the equation, so if there's a disparity, it shouldn't be the overwhelming variable.
- jmatchett383

I know. This argument seems ridiculous because no two players are ever identical with one being bigger than the other.

One person values size more than another person. Thats true of all GMs and scouts. Neither person is wrong. They just disagree.

- PhillySportsGuy

Why are all of those people wearing linear sunglasses?