Are you a dunker?
- bradleyc4

..

I'll defer to you on this. How do you think Gusty and Gervais compare skill-wise? Obviously Gervais is the proven commodity. I guess they would likely use your lines above but swap MAB for Gusty then.
- TheGreat28

I think Gustafsson has a higher ceiling, but that Gervais-assuming he can return to the level of play he displayed with the Isles-is better now. I don't see either as being much more than 3rd pair types, anyhow, that can play in the top 4 on a limited basis.

This was in reference to ability to move from AHL to NHL without going through waivers... I believe (maybe someone can confirm...) that Bourdon would need to go through waivers to be sent down, but re-entry waivers don't apply (due to his AHL salary being low). Whereas, Gust does not have to go through waivers at all

And, on Lilja... Teams generally carry a 7th defenseman. It's a waste to put a prospect in that role, when they could be playing in the AHL and gaining more experience (that's were Gust is now). It's better to sign an experienced player with a low salary (Lilja salary is only $737K). He doesn't need the experience, and should be able to step in and play the odd game or two.
- leon neon

The way I think it works is that as long as MAB is sent down prior to the season starting he can come up with out a problem.. being sent down during the season would be the only hurdle...

I dont believe the Flyers signed Gervais and knew they has immediately solved their 6th d-man woes... I think they signed him to a relatively low salary (825k per) because they knew he was a 6/7 guy. They know they have two young guys who played pretty well for them and might be ready to take that spot. Gervais was just a fail-safe... A guy that they would use as their 6th IF the younger guys werent ready for it.

I don't live and die at the altar of CORSI. They are a tool, nothing more.

However, Gervais fell out of favor in NY because of the nagging injuries. Not saying he's a world beater, but he's a capable, fairly young, depth defenseman.
- Jsaquella

I hope you are right.... and I hope I am forced to change my view on him.

The way I think it works is that as long as MAB is sent down prior to the season starting he can come up with out a problem.. being sent down during the season would be the only hurdle...

I dont believe the Flyers signed Gervais and new they has immediately solved their 6th d-man woes... I think they signed him to a relatively low salary (825k per) because they knew he was a 6/7 guy. They know they have two young guys who played pretty well for them and might be ready to take that spot. Gervais was just a fail-safe... A guy that they would use as their 6th IF the younger guys werent ready for it.
- jak521

I think they actually expected Gervais to step in a be on the third pair. Otherwise, why sign a two year deal?

I have a theory I share with a few people that Flyers fans want Bobby Ryan so badly because he was born and spent the first ten years or so of his life in Cherry Hill, NJ, which is just outside of Philly and where a lot of the Flyers players live. Moorestown is basically one town over from Cherry Hill.

His dad was/is friendly with Bob Clarke and the Flyers former GM knows Ryan very well. My theory is, if Bobby Ryan was born in Oshawa, Flyers fans wouldn't give a ripe (frank) if he became a Flyer.
- Jsaquella

Spot on. Also agree on the D pairs you've suggested.

I have a feeling this will be the top 6 game one:

Timonen-Gervais
Lilja-Coburn
Schenn-O'Donnell

I think that's as strong as it gets for us.

Are you a dunker?
- bradleyc4

Absolutely.

I don't live and die at the altar of CORSI. They are a tool, nothing more.

However, Gervais fell out of favor in NY because of the nagging injuries. Not saying he's a world beater, but he's a capable, fairly young, depth defenseman.
- Jsaquella

the only isles fan i know hates him w/ the passion of ten burning suns

Absolutely.
- aightwebang17

ty

Absolutely.
- aightwebang17

that was a given

I think they actually expected Gervais to step in a be on the third pair. Otherwise, why sign a two year deal?
- Jsaquella

I asked the same question about Lilja... and he ended up playing in 46 games. Thats a 7th d-man right there.

the only isles fan i know hates him w/ the passion of ten burning suns
- Don'tForgetTocchet

There's Flyers fans who felt that way about Matt Carle.

I have a feeling this will be the top 6 game one:

Timonen-Gervais
Lilja-Coburn
Schenn-O'Donnell

I think that's as strong as it gets for us.
- The_Universe

the only isles fan i know hates him w/ the passion of ten burning suns
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Was that Frazier's line on Lillith?

I have a theory I share with a few people that Flyers fans want Bobby Ryan so badly because he was born and spent the first ten years or so of his life in Cherry Hill, NJ, which is just outside of Philly and where a lot of the Flyers players live. Moorestown is basically one town over from Cherry Hill.

His dad was/is friendly with Bob Clarke and the Flyers former GM knows Ryan very well. My theory is, if Bobby Ryan was born in Oshawa, Flyers fans wouldn't give a ripe (frank) if he became a Flyer.
- Jsaquella

got it...much obliged


that fan-sentiment permeates all fan bases

There's Flyers fans who felt that way about Matt Carle.
- Jsaquella

There's Flyers fans who felt that way about Matt Carle.
- Jsaquella

You do realize you are talking about Philadelphia fans?

You know: "Mike Schmidt was a bum".

"Hey McNabb you suck"(despite setting EVERY franchise record for a QB with virtually no help at WR)

"Jeff Carter couldnt score in a whore house with Ron Jeremy's Richard"

I asked the same question about Lilja... and he ended up playing in 46 games. Thats a 7th d-man right there.
- jak521

Lilja was also a 36 year old guy that was rumored to be retiring, coming off a season where people figured he was washed up. Gervais is 27 and is coming off a season where he closed playing solid third pair minutes.

Lilja also missed about 20 games due to various injuries. Had he been healthy he could well have played in 65 or so games.

Was that Frazier's line on Lillith?
- TheGreat28

hmmm maybe... possibly buried in my subconscious

You do realize you are talking about Philadelphia fans?

You know: "Mike Schmidt was a bum".

"Hey McNabb you suck"(despite setting EVERY franchise record for a QB with virtually no help at WR)

"Jeff Carter couldnt score in a whore house with Ron Jeremy's Richard"
- jak521

Yes. There's idiots in every fanbase. Not saying that Davies' friend is an idiot, but there's fans that have an irrational hatred of players from their teams in every town.

I have a theory I share with a few people that Flyers fans want Bobby Ryan so badly because he was born and spent the first ten years or so of his life in Cherry Hill, NJ, which is just outside of Philly and where a lot of the Flyers players live. Moorestown is basically one town over from Cherry Hill.

His dad was/is friendly with Bob Clarke and the Flyers former GM knows Ryan very well. My theory is, if Bobby Ryan was born in Oshawa, Flyers fans wouldn't give a ripe (frank) if he became a Flyer.
- Jsaquella

I would care. I like him regardless of where he is from

The way I think it works is that as long as MAB is sent down prior to the season starting he can come up with out a problem.. being sent down during the season would be the only hurdle...

I dont believe the Flyers signed Gervais and knew they has immediately solved their 6th d-man woes... I think they signed him to a relatively low salary (825k per) because they knew he was a 6/7 guy. They know they have two young guys who played pretty well for them and might be ready to take that spot. Gervais was just a fail-safe... A guy that they would use as their 6th IF the younger guys werent ready for it.
- jak521

Aaah, good point on MAB. But, once the season starts - they are limited in bouncing him back and forth to the AHL and Gust is not.

I think they signed Gervais because they saw him as an improvement over Lilja - plain and simple.

I would care. I like him regardless of where he is from
- Deasr1

He's a good player, no question. But I do think that the desire to have him be a Flyer for a lot of folks comes from his being a "local kid" who has expressed a desire to play here one day.

I mean people who were aghast at the possibility of Rick Nash were salivating over Ryan, although Nash has put up similar numbers playing next to guys that are no where near as good as the players Ryan has played with in Anaheim.

Sure some of that had to do with the cap hit difference, but Nash is also a better player than Ryan.

The major downside tho is that you would really burn out Kimmo and put extra pressure on Schenn. Also, Coburn can handle the minutes but can Grossmann?

Either way you're kinda screwed. You either rely heavily (too much?) on Top 4 or weaken all three with balance. But early in the season, I'd try the balanced approached until it fails. If it works you really save Kimmo some hard minutes.
- TheGreat28

I'm not at all worried about putting pressure on Schenn. He has been a top minutes guy as a 21 year old already. Timonen is going to play 20+ minutes. Just need to watch his PK minutes.