I read and participate as much as time allows, but I try to check in a bit on a daily basis whenever possible.
- bmeltzer

Thanks, White Shadow.

Bill - you amaze me. You use your real name so you are one of the few that are mostly serious. On top of that, you have great knowledge and insight that I'll assume most of us enjoy.

How many of the posts do you read here? I won't speak for others, but there is a lot of clowning going on here. I feel like you are lurking in the background and when a serious topic comes up - boom!

You actions may warrant the nickname of an old, great TV show - "The White Shadow".
- Daman

pretty sure bill loves our jokes.

so everyone's stance is "NO COUTURIER OR SCHENN FOR RYAN"
- eshake

Holmgren apparently wasn't willing to trade either Couturier or Schenn for Shea Weber, the best defenseman in the world. In what universe do you then turn around and trade one of them for Bobby Ryan, the second best winger on his team?

Thanks, White Shadow.
- OrangeBlack27

Its not often you get someone that understands the game, all components, and is willing to share so regularly. Read other online sights and ther is a lot of fluff and garbage. We are lucky.

Holmgren apparently wasn't willing to trade either Couturier or Schenn for Shea Weber, the best defenseman in the world. In what universe do you then turn around and trade one of them for Bobby Ryan, the second best winger on his team?
- dilbert719

Why debate? They are not trading Schenn or Coots for Bobby Ryan. The subject is dead.

pretty sure bill loves our jokes.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

life and sports should not be serious all the thyme
bring on the clowns

life and sports should not be serious all the thyme
bring on the clowns
- phi1671

Not every day you come across this typo...

Not every day you come across this typo...
- Giroux_Is_God

trying bring back the spice from yesterday

trying bring back the spice from yesterday
- phi1671

Ah. I wasn't around much the last few days because my hard drive died. Had to have some ginger fix it.

Apologies for being out of the loop!! Please, continue

some of you guys are a head scratchers...

so everyone's stance is "NO COUTURIER OR SCHENN FOR RYAN"

ok, so the flyers offer their 3rd line forward, 3rd pairing dman, a first round pick, and a prospect 2 years from hitting NHL ice for a TOP FLIGHT TOP LINE forward?

and people scoff at this too?

Mezaros helps the salaries match for another move to be made mid season.

i'm SURE something (even if it's just a later round pick or d prospect) else comes back to the flyers. but i do this

depth is great and all...
- eshake

Read is a 3rd line forward only because of the Flyers depth last year. In a very limited role, he was only a few points below Ryan, who was paired with Perry and Getzlaf. He's also signed at a very friendly cap hit. Ryan is obviously better, but then when you add:

Meszaros was the flyers best d-man 2 years ago, and is signed for a decent cap hit for 2 more years.

And then we're talking 2 firsts (Laughton and next year's 1).

Sorry, I think that is a vast overpayment. And it weakens the defense, and takes away a couple of prospects. I really do not see much incremental offense.

Ah. I wasn't around much the last few days because my hard drive died. Had to have some ginger fix it.

Apologies for being out of the loop!! Please, continue
- Giroux_Is_God

thank you kind sir

Ginger tasty

thank you kind sir
- phi1671

DID YOU GET IT??!?

Read is a 3rd line forward only because of the Flyers depth last year. In a very limited role, he was only a few points below Ryan, who was paired with Perry and Getzlaf. He's also signed at a very friendly cap hit. Ryan is obviously better, but then when you add:

Meszaros was the flyers best d-man 2 years ago, and is signed for a decent cap hit for 2 more years.

And then we're talking 2 firsts (Laughton and next year's 1).

Sorry, I think that is a vast overpayment. And it weakens the defense, and takes away a couple of prospects. I really do not see much incremental offense.
- TheGreat28

I agree. An incredibly drastic overpayment for Ryan.

DID YOU GET IT??!?
- Giroux_Is_God

yep...dragging a little today...a lot of driving this past week.

Read is a 3rd line forward only because of the Flyers depth last year. In a very limited role, he was only a few points below Ryan, who was paired with Perry and Getzlaf. He's also signed at a very friendly cap hit. Ryan is obviously better, but then when you add:

Meszaros was the flyers best d-man 2 years ago, and is signed for a decent cap hit for 2 more years.

And then we're talking 2 firsts (Laughton and next year's 1).

Sorry, I think that is a vast overpayment. And it weakens the defense, and takes away a couple of prospects. I really do not see much incremental offense.
- TheGreat28

you have to take into consideration your club strengths when making these trades as well....the flyers do have the depth at forward and defense, so that allows them to trade those types of players instead of the ones they feel are "untouchable"

i don't get where all of a sudden Bobby Ryan is "over-rated"? b/c he plays on the top line in hockey? how is scoring 30+ goals every full year you've played over-rated at 5 million dollars?

PLUS he's a physical power forward most philly fans love. i certainly don't think the dude brings the cup with him from ANA automatically....but he is a great legit top line forward on this team and most.

I agree. An incredibly drastic overpayment for Ryan.
- MJL

At this point, my preferred options, in order:

1. Sign Doan
2. Trade for Ryan only if no roster players given up
3. Go into the season with current roster, see how the kids do, and adjust at TDL

yep...dragging a little today...a lot of driving this past week.
- phi1671

Me too. 4ish hours to the beach and back takes a lot out of you. Ugh. Good few days in Wildwood though- totally worth it

Soccer: the only sport on Earth where the number zero exists solely as "nill"....

Why debate? They are not trading Schenn or Coots for Bobby Ryan. The subject is dead.
- Daman

This is a message board. If we're not debating something or other, there's not much point to being here.

Other than the GIFs, perhaps.

I agree. An incredibly drastic overpayment for Ryan.
- MJL

taking names and personal feelings out of it....seriously tell me how:

bottom 6 forward plus 3rd pairing dman and (essentially) 2 first round picks doesn't = Bobby Ryan?

basically, that's about the same the Rangers paid for NASH!

Everyone wants to trade For Bobby Ryan. I see Voracek being as good as Bobby Ryan very shortly. He may not be as good of a goal scorer at any point. But as a point producer and overall player, every bit as good if not better. Same for Schenn also.
- MJL

Basically.

I agree. An incredibly drastic overpayment for Ryan.
- MJL

Everything is a drastic overpayment for him. The Flyers org cannot hide their boner each time Ryan's name comes up, and the Ducks know it. Ryan has publicly said he wants to go, in so many words, and the Flyers know it. Each side thinks they have the other side bent over a barrel. My take? The Flyers will eventually overpay for Ryan's services. I just hope the overpayment is sustainable.

I'd like to do Gus+Laughton/1st.

you have to take into consideration your club strengths when making these trades as well....the flyers do have the depth at forward and defense, so that allows them to trade those types of players instead of the ones they feel are "untouchable"

i don't get where all of a sudden Bobby Ryan is "over-rated"? b/c he plays on the top line in hockey? how is scoring 30+ goals every full year you've played over-rated at 5 million dollars?

PLUS he's a physical power forward most philly fans love. i certainly don't think the dude brings the cup with him from ANA automatically....but he is a great legit top line forward on this team and most.
- eshake

Your points are all valid.

But...the Flyers defense is a strength only because of balance. They don't really have a true shutdown #1 guy, but they don't have a huge drop off to the 3rd line either. There is a drop off, don't get me wrong, but not like 2 years ago. You take Mesz away, and now you are back at two years ago WITHOUT Pronger.

I'm not going to weaken the defense like that to add 10-15 more points of offense over Read.

Your points are all valid.

But...the Flyers defense is a strength only because of balance. They don't really have a true shutdown #1 guy, but they don't have a huge drop off to the 3rd line either. There is a drop off, don't get me wrong, but not like 2 years ago. You take Mesz away, and now you are back at two years ago WITHOUT Pronger.

I'm not going to weaken the defense like that to add 10-15 more points of offense over Read.
- TheGreat28

i personally feel like their "strength" in balance acts as a weakness at the same time since you're spending 4million on a 3rd line dman. sending Mezaros is the key to making the $ match in a deal like that so, if there are issues with Timmonen's health late in the year, they can make a trade for another dman at the deadline.

at that point, pending any unforseen injuries, they won't need top line help on offense

This is a message board. If we're not debating something or other, there's not much point to being here.

Other than the GIFs, perhaps.
- dilbert719

Fair enough. Scrap the worthless debate, bring on GIF's of Sheena.