Claude Giroux delivered an important message Wednesday night.
On Friday morning, he delivered a knockout.
Max Kellerman had a piping hot take about hockey Wednesday on ESPN's "First Take."
Anybody surprised? No? OK, so here it was:
Listen, I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but in the United States of America, no one really cares about hockey. You know, the old joke is every town has 20,000 hockey fans, they all have season tickets, so the arenas are always sold out but the TV ratings don’t do anything. So it’s not one of the four major team sports.
Giroux, the Flyers' captain and one of the NHL's stars over the last decade, had an appropriate response.
Perfectly done. Giroux subtly put Kellerman in his place and clearly laughed it off, as should all hockey fans. Hockey fans are rabid and protective of their game, so Kellerman knew he could get a rise out of them. Nobody should let him accomplish that.
Why was Kellerman's take asinine? Our friend Joe Haggerty from NBC Sports Boston outlined that right here.
NHL
Subscribe and rate Flyers Talk: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | YouTube
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.
More on the Flyers
-
NHL announces a key date in step toward possible resumption of season
-
Things get even better for Flyers in NHL's 24-team tournament
-
'You have my word' — Giroux sends authentic message on racial injustice
-
Why Mysak would be a huge get for Flyers, who have seen him on both stages
-
Players across NHL post messages to spark dialogue on racial injustice
