[News] USA Olympic Roster announced

[The Yen Man]

It's kind of like the Seguin talk in the first episode of Behind the B's. I loved that we got a look at the behind the door discussions, but I did feel kind of bad for Seguin to be put on the spot like that.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by fotze

No one is arguing that it isn't true. I am just trying to see it from Ryan's side to see why he is upset and it makes a lot of sense. He's pissed because:
a. Burke was a bit of a mentor/backer to Ryan
b. He is pro hockey player who has had smoke blown up his arse since he was 5 years old.
c. Publicly critiqued.
d. He was told he has zero (not just low) intensity, one of the most important hockey traits there is.
e. Saying you have ZERO intensity is like being told you do not care
f. He probably doesn't agree with the assessment.

I don't think I would take it well either in those shoes (even if its true). I know everyone here though, takes every critique as a building block to becoming a batter person but some people just aren't as awesome as that.

Agreed, really unfortunate for the player.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

attacking him as a player and his passion for winning, a weak vocabulary and his ability to spell....

Come on. We've already gone over this. Anyone who thinks Burke was actually commenting on Ryan's ability to spell is only making themselves look like the illiterate.


Read this quote from the article and take out the "can't spell" Burkeism:

Holmgren suggests the coaches have to decide if Ryan is going to be an integral part of the power-play groups, and if so, he needs to be pushed ahead. But if not, maybe they should be looking at two more well-rounded players.

"I agree," Poile says.

Burke points out that Poile has included the coaches more than he did when he occupied the GM position in Vancouver four years before. It's good, but, he adds, "I think coaches see snapshots, and I think GMs watch the whole movie."

"I think we have to know what we're taking with Bobby," says Burke, who had him in Anaheim when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007.

"He's a passive guy," Burke says. And over 82 games, yes, Saad and or Pacioretty might be more attractive than Ryan. But Ryan's a game-breaker.

"He is not intense. That word is not in his vocabulary," Burke says. "It's never going to be in his vocabulary. He can't spell intense."

If he's not going to be put in a role in which he can score an important goal, use his skills as a sniper, he shouldn't go, Burke says.

"Is everybody really happy with our speed up front?" Poile asks.

There is a pause.

"I don't think it's a fast team," Tallon notes.

Ryan doesn't add to the speed quotient, so do these last two spots need to be filled with speed guys? And if there are injuries, which of these guys are more compatible, more able to move up the roster to fill in more demanding roles?

Pacioretty and Saad are both better 60-minute players, Burke says, "But neither can do what Bobby can do."

Is there absolutely any reason for Ryan to be upset with what Burke said about him? Holmgren and Poile are worried about Ryan's intensity level. Burke agrees that Ryan is not an intense guy, but argues that he is still a game-breaker who will bring more to the team than Pacioretty or Saad will.

[Flash Walken]

Yandle and Byfuglien seem like they are the focal point of the majority of harsh criticism.

Totally agree, getbak.

[renny]

Originally Posted by getbak

Is there absolutely any reason for Ryan to be upset with what Burke said about him? Holmgren and Poile are worried about Ryan's intensity level. Burke agrees that Ryan is not an intense guy, but argues that he is still a game-breaker who will bring more to the team than Pacioretty or Saad will.

THIS, add the fact that Burke had Ryan on his roster for team USA. Burke just says Ryan needs to be put in a position to do something important, otherwise he's not an intense individual. Nothing to do with his ability to write or spell... People are taking what Burke said so literally it's ridiculous.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Pretty sure if BR played for Columbus or Dallas nobody would care. But no NHL city is as sensitive as OTT. Well, except VAN.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by getbak

Come on. We've already gone over this. Anyone who thinks Burke was actually commenting on Ryan's ability to spell is only making themselves look like the illiterate.


Read this quote from the article and take out the "can't spell" Burkeism:

Is there absolutely any reason for Ryan to be upset with what Burke said about him? Holmgren and Poile are worried about Ryan's intensity level. Burke agrees that Ryan is not an intense guy, but argues that he is still a game-breaker who will bring more to the team than Pacioretty or Saad will.

excellent rebuttal. You have me convinced.

Though, if burke had censored/editted his statement like you have, or the reporter for that matter, than this really is a non-story.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Pretty sure if BR played for Columbus or Dallas nobody would care. But no NHL city is as sensitive as OTT. Well, except VAN.

i saw that, and also noted him being attacked immediately on twitter.

Damien cox is an idiot in my opinion (this being just another example). This statement also is completely false. Did anyone from Ottawa even comment on this story (murray, etc)?? No, the player was upset, had nothing to do with the team he plays for.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i saw that, and also noted him being attacked immediately on twitter.

Damien cox is an idiot in my opinion (this being just another example). This statement also is completely false. Did anyone from Ottawa even comment on this story (murray, etc)?? No, the player was upset, had nothing to do with the team he plays for.

It's not wrong though. Sen fans are brutal, little cry babies.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by getbak

Is there absolutely any reason for Ryan to be upset with what Burke said about him?

Is there absolutely any reason for Burke to throw in the digs after he already said Ryan lacks intensity? What do those smartass comments add to the professional assessment of an athlete in front of a committee of executives?

That's what irritates me about this. Burke seems to let his enjoyment of making quips and bon mots override his professionalism.

[Resolute 14]

Damien Cox whining about other people being overly sensitive is pretty rich.

[sureLoss]

Sounds like this is the first and last time the media will get access to closed door meetings for USA Hockey:

Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Sources with #USAHockey say Brian Burke comments were taken out of context. Say they won't allow that type of access to reporters again

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Pretty sure if BR played for Columbus or Dallas nobody would care. But no NHL city is as sensitive as OTT. Well, except VAN.

What an #######

[flamesfan1297]

Maybe i am biased as i am a big Anaheim fan and Bobby Ryan fan, but he has every right to be mad at Burke. It is okay to say that he lacks intensity but to keep getting the digs in is unprofessional.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Damien Cox ‏@DamoSpin

Pretty sure if BR played for Columbus or Dallas nobody would care. But no NHL city is as sensitive as OTT. Well, except VAN.

This is true. Ottawa is so damn insecure. Bobby Ryan is not staying there anyways.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Is there absolutely any reason for Burke to throw in the digs after he already said Ryan lacks intensity? What do those smartass comments add to the professional assessment of an athlete in front of a committee of executives?



That's what irritates me about this. Burke seems to let his enjoyment of making quips and bon mots override his professionalism.

What digs?

And I'm not sure what you're complaining about regarding "quips and professionalism". From all accounts he was having a conversation with his peers, jokes were tossed around, it seemed to be pretty relaxed as they hammered out a team, and I don't think any of them expected certain comments to make it into the article.

You really think Burke was the only one making comments like that? That's a bit naive.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

It's not wrong though. Sen fans are brutal, little cry babies.

They are?

Really, I think the only reason Ryan would be upset with Burke is because of the role had in his life to this point. It sounds like Burke was actually more supportive of Ryan than many of the other guys making the team.

[Tinordi]

I hope Burnside really cherished the last behind the scenes access of his career.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Saw Mr. Burke today and had a very brief conversation with him. By coincidence we were both waiting for something and he was beside me on the phone in a bit of a heated conversation. When he hung up I asked him if he just completed a deal to bring Crosby to Calgary? He laughed, asked if I was a Flames fan, and when I said I was he mentioned that he was dealing with the Team USA / Ryan situation. He seemed genuinely frustrated and said that he was only partially quoted, and that he said the conversation included him noting that Ryan was a gamebreaker among other things... and that he should know, since he drafted the kid. We exchanged a couple of words about the selection process / transparency / the media and he went on his way.

Don't want to put too many words in his mouth, but he seemed frustrated that he had to manage this situation. Gave me the impression that he was giving his full opinion of the kid and the article made a meal out of just a small snippet.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

It's kind of like the Seguin talk in the first episode of Behind the B's. I loved that we got a look at the behind the door discussions, but I did feel kind of bad for Seguin to be put on the spot like that.

I got the impression that the Bruins brass were being very guarded in their comments about Seguin, knowing full well that there was a possibility it would get aired. In the real behind the scenes, I'm sure they've had frank discussions about his extra curricular activities, but for the cameras it was a lot of stuff like (going from memory) "we're not sure he's ready to go to the next level" and "he needed to elevate to Patrick Kane's level in the finals" stuff. Nothing bombastic like what Burke tends to bring to the table.

What I find hilarious is that Feaster was seen by many to be the talker, yet here we are...