ChristopherReevesLegs

Allow me to complicate things again. The issue with arguing that Canadians are a better selection because "historically a power house" is that it is an argument based on quantity, and quantity does not equate to quality. Canada still produces the MOST hockey players, so naturally Canadians will comprise most of the league. But if Canada produces say 100 draft quality players a year and only 50 of them turn out to be NHL quality, and Finland produces say 20 and only 10 turn out to be NHL quality, you're still working with the same numbers. It matters not if a player is Canadian or Fin, you have the same chance of selecting an NHL quality player from a place of birth standpoint. Now if someone wanted to pour over the numbers and show that Canadians have a statistically higher chance of becoming a successful draft pick then I'll concede, but I don't want to and I doubt any of you want to do all that work. So the argument breaks down to well "Canadians just have more heart" and "Canadians just have more will to win" because "hockey orthodoxy" - whatever that is - which is a completely ridiculous premise that is impossible to support. And that, coupled with the fact that he now wants to base his argument on rink size (which is the premise I put forth) but excluded Americans, screams I'm just grasping at reasons to favor Canadians because I'm Canadian. Which is fine, but that's a stance rooted in selecting based on ones own national pride, not unbiasedly selecting the best players available.

Which hospital do you work at again? I'm asking for a friend

Came here to say he also gave ROR that deliberate nut tap just a few days prior to this. Must be nice receiving special treatment.

We dont mention traitors. Hossa is dead to me. Spat on the floor of my kitchen when I saw his name. Worth it.

Nothing wrong with good ol ontario boys

Lilja did more hockey in one season than Meech and Lebda will do in a lifetime, combined.

Darren should have taken the back and gave him the rear naked choke after the 3rd miss.

According to Rangers fans he only played with Mcdonagh the first game or so. Been on the 2nd pair since.

Hronek is an undersized offensive Dman from Czech. Best case scenario: Rafalski/Krug type. Smith is big physical shop wrecker. Best case scenario: top 6 powerfoward. Worst case scenario: bottom 6 grinder

Whenever I see a clever new Nerve tank gif, then remember we're discussing the Wings

He was the Spirit's MVP for the season if I'm not mistaken

Yes sir, thank you sir

Another comment about Smith I found

I'm sure he plans on finishing this school year at Clarkson. This is his 4th year. So I'm thinking we see him in the fall.

Some comments on Smith from Rags boys: Sounds like they don't have a great read on him yet. Most admit to not noticing him at all. Pretty mixed reviews. I think many are just happy to have someone step in and log big minutes with some of their D-men injured.

Thanks, I will be sure to avoid drinking the water on my trip to Vancouver next week

"being in an elite competitive enviroment from a young age" = Rink size If you say so Don Cherry What makes these western boys more rugged than guys in other areas? Im curious

I think he was hurt at some point this season. Hudler was played in CGY like Eaves was played in DAL, next to the 2 best players on the team. Now hes getting bottom 6 minutes and not producing. Both guys need to be paired with high end players to be effective. Kinda like Homer

I partially agreed with your conclusion, and totally disagreed with your premise. I prefer NA players because of familiarity with NA ice. You prefer Canadians simply because you're Canadian, which you like to mask as "heart/culture". Now you're back peddling and claiming you shared MY premise about rink size all along. How convenient. If you want to take that as me agreeing with you have at it.... I'll ask my question again. You prefer Canadians over others. I'm interested to know which province you prefer? I'm arguing about language because you've consistently changed your argument since we began. First it was Michigan guys are paid like high-end players. Now they're simply just overpaid. First it was you prefer Canadians because heart, now it's rink size after I mention that point. If you keep your story straight I won't have to question your language, which I would prefer.

Yeah, just figured if I was going to do this might as well go all the way

Fixed. Of course Patrick Roy is always the exception. What a special snowflake he is.

I'd be interested to know how he's looked. Obviously they want to recapture his chemistry with McDonagh. Seems like the old Kronwall-Ericsson pairing to me, Smith playing the lesser Ericsson role. If I was the Rags I'd be using him as the puck retriever on that pair, McDonagh has injured himself a number of times skating back to retrieve pucks. If Smith is doing that for him perhaps it's working out. That was my plan

No

Ok, let's pretend that place of birth is somehow a predictor of skill, and that being Canadian gives you a natural advantage. Which province do you prefer your Canadian players be from? Yeah rink size was on your mind... except you never mentioned it until I brought it up... and you excluded Americans who play on the same rink size. Sure bud. Not sure what language you used? Ok, if you forgot, simply go back and read your own posts lol they're literally right there...

"Immersive hockey environment" = rink size? Ok yeah, I'm sure you meant that the whole time bud lol I don't agree with you. You prefer Canadians simply because they're Canadians. That's asinine. Glad you can finally admit it though. Your original statement was that we have marginal Michigan boys paid like high-end players. Are you suggesting Abby, Glenny, and DK are paid like high-end players? Or are you now trying to back peddle to they're "overpaid" after the fact like you did with rink size?