Screen Shot 2012-04-24 at 10.36.55 PMPic via (@KellyDaBunny)

Last night, Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell, Max Talbot and Matt Carle attended the Nickelback concert. There's no less offensive way to word that.

But there might actually be a method to this unfortunate madness.

The NHL and Nickelback recently announced a partnership (why? I don’t know) that will see the Canadian band play two nights at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas in June. Additionally… well, we’ll just let the press release tell the story:

Nickelback's performance is part of a strategic promotional alliance between the League and the band. The partnership also calls for the integration of Nickelback's music into highlight reels during the upcoming Stanley Cup Conference Finals and promotion of the NHL on Nickelback's digital and social media platforms.

 

Right. In case you haven't noticed, that change has already been implemented.

All of this means that the Flyers’ presence at the concert may have been, um, encouraged. 

Flyers publicist: Hey guys… the league is asking that… well, Nickelback is in town tonight.

Giroux: Fuck off.

Talbot: No way, I’d rather get speared in my fucking penis.

Carle: Whatever Hartnell decides is fine with me.

Flyers publicist: Girls there.

Hartnell: We’re in. 

And perhaps that’s why the Flyers were at Nickelback last night.

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Video after the jump. Warning: it features Chad Kroeger doing the most Chad Kroeger thing ever: attempting to be a badass and using the phrase “we’re going to jam some metal." Plus lots of F-bombs.