[Loki309]

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jaroslav Modry is leaving the NHL and returning to the Czech Republic to play for HC Liberec.

FOX Sports on MSN - NHL - Modry leaves NHL to play for Czech club

[blueandwhite]

there seems to be an exodus - but is it an exodus of players that matter?
Radulov seems the most controversial and best player to go (yeah yeah jagr went but who wanted him?)
So does Modry leaving matter, Phils?

[Loki309]

Oh it matters. Some of the local kids (US and Canada) put on a darn good hockey show. But I will be a first to say that the Russia/Russia area players that have come over have been some of the best players to be in the NHL. It's like they play a different harder form of Hockey over there, and ours is like minor leagues.

You kinda have to wonder if the Hockey Lock out of a few years ago kinda pushed them into the mood where when their contract was up they were gonna go home.

[blueandwhite]

gee I disagree.
yeah jagr's the big name gone and Radulov thumbing his nose at his contract was a shocker - honestly, though, a little competition for the nhl is good.
Overall, I believe Canada produces the major players. I think every country that supports the sport is going to have some outstanding players but Canada consistently provides the NHL with highly skilled, dedicated players. we dominate at the juniors.
and if you ask me - Sweden and Finland are the countries that make me think, wow you guys make good hockey players.

[blueandwhite]

the numbers I found on the internet for country participation during the 07/08 season are:
385 Canadians, 156 Americans, 31 Fins, 46 Swedes, 54 Czechs and 27 Russians. Those are the major players in the NHL.
True, there are so many fewer Russians it hurts to lose them, but this is still a Canadian player-dominated NHL.

[Loki309]

I stand corrected. Which I don't do often. But something that hits me. The old Russian 5 of Detroit.

[blueandwhite]

now you need to be thanking your lucky Swedes.

[Phils20]

Nah, Modry can go. I don't want anyone here whose heart isn't committed to the Cup.

Let him take his money, and his sorry @#$ back home.

I realize that to folks from Europe, the Cup isn't as big a deal, and that's fine.

But I think to folks like us, there is no better goal as a hockey player.

We'll send him some pics of it next season, when no one knows or cares, on this continent, what he is doing!

[Oli Jokinen!]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

gee I disagree.
yeah jagr's the big name gone and Radulov thumbing his nose at his contract was a shocker - honestly, though, a little competition for the nhl is good.
Overall, I believe Canada produces the major players. I think every country that supports the sport is going to have some outstanding players but Canada consistently provides the NHL with highly skilled, dedicated players. we dominate at the juniors.
and if you ask me - Sweden and Finland are the countries that make me think, wow you guys make good hockey players.

How is it good at all? We havn't had many guys coming from Russia lately but they taking a lot of guys. Modry leaving is nothing. No one really knew him. So it wont effect anything at all.