Sometimes the players answer the wake-up call and respond with passion and renewed focus. But just as often, players decide they are bulletproof. Why worry? If things go wrong, it will be the coach, not them, taking the fall.
- Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Inquirer

On the NHL Network last Friday, somebody opined that if changing the coach doesn't work for the Flyers, we all know what comes next: "change the players."

Except, as Sheridan points out, that's not the way it is these days.

Sheridan sees Philadelphia as "a young, unformed team that seems perfectly content with mediocrity and no other options."

So although John Stevens deserved better, "it makes perfect sense to change coaches."

Indeed, the numbers indicate that almost every significant member of the Flyers makes a lot of money under a contract that runs beyond this season.

Plus, the team has little salary cap room. Even if they wanted to, the Flyers probably can't trade cheap young players for not-so-cheap veterans.

So unless GM Paul Holmgren wants to gamble big - Give up on 24-year-old Jeff Carter? Dump Simon Gagne at a discount? - all he can do is tinker at the margins of his roster.

For Flyers fans, the only real option is to assume Sheridan's dire prognosis is wrong, and the current slump is a mere aberration. Because the team is what it is.

Other teams are in the same boat: stuck up against the cap; hoping for the best-case scenario on their long-term contracts.

In a capped league, players earning big money for a couple of years to come are almost untradeable. (The occasional Brad Richards deal being the exception that proves the rule.)

But teams keep signing huge contracts.

Chicago is the latest team to hand the keys to the franchise to a core of young stars. For now, it looks like a decent investment.

But 17 months ago, Vinnie Lecavalier looked like a decent "lifetime" investment too. Then he fell off the map.

When a player is handed a lengthy, expensive contract, it's both good news and bad news for fans of the team.

The good news: this guy isn't going anywhere.

The bad news: this guy isn't going anywhere.

(Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

I wish it was Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Martin Brodeur, or anyone else on skates.

But like it or not, the NHL's dominant personality of the last ten years has been the man they call "The Count."

Don't assume the Olympic teams will be playing by NHL rules when they gather in Vancouver.

There are several crucial differences between the Olympic and NHL games.

For starters, it's a different shootout, and it could be used to decide the gold medal game.

Icing isn't the same either. And the Olympics offer an interesting option when a team is awarded a penalty shot.

Two weeks since we asked you to step into Steve Yzerman's shoes and name Canada's Olympic roster.

Plenty of readers have taken up the challenge. (If you haven't yet, here's your chance.)

So it's time to review the results so far.

We'll keep compiling your suggestions, and do another tally just before the real team is named on New Year's Eve.

Here's the About.com projected roster. Now let's see who you picked.

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