and maybe if homer had moved schenn for a good young dman, things wouldn't look so bleak on D.
- isaiah520

It's not possible for that to happen in the future?

Agreed...especially on that last point.
- Jsaquella

Unfortunately, we have to make due with this flimsy substitute.



Doesn't fool folks for long, obvs.

Because players like Briere get old and are bought out.
- MJL

Fixed

Doesn't have to be under 25 though. The Flyers can certainly try to trade for one, or land one in free agency. They can also try to draft one, but of those you named only Lidstrom and Niedermayer didn't go through years of growing pains.
- Jsaquella

Absolutely. It would be ideal to find the guy that fits that bill who is young, so it won't be a need that will have to be filled again for a while.

That's fine and understandable. I would have been OK with Hamilton, too. I do agree with Bill on this particular case, though. A guy who could be a future Selke winner and be a 20 goal guy is just as rare as a good defenseman.

I'm more disappointed in trading the Carlson pick than picking Couturier over Hamilton
- Jsaquella

not that I expect him to be this good in the immediate future, but I honestly believe he is capable of 70 points while being a premiere defensive forward.. Patrice Bergeron , last year --esque

0-4 in a 48 game schedule is digging a significant hole. They will get Schenn and maybe Briere back for the weekend that will help.

Any trades made should be for the future, if a guy can be had that will help both present and future great, throwing draft picks at older guys on the last year of their deals is fools gold.
- PLindbergh31

I still don't see 0-4 as much more significant as 0-3. 48 games or 82. The last 48 game season, they had a 3-7-1 start. The Devils started off 0-3 and won the Stanley Cup that year.

I just want to see signs of improvement. Much better execution of basic hockey play. Smarter decision making. Not getting discouraged by a bad play or goal. Continuing to work hard, like they did after going down 2-0 to the Penguins.

The Flyers could still move Schenn for a good young defenseman.

I guess my trouble is, I don't see things as bleak on defense. It's not a team strength, for sure. But I also don't think it's as awful as it's made out to be.

It's kind of hard and a bit unfair to really judge things with the execution level being so bad. I mean, how good was the Devils defense last year, personnel wise? Adjustments can be made to make the lack of mobility less of an issue.
- Jsaquella

Same with Tuesday's game. Bunch of speedster the Devils got back there on the blueline. Fayne, Salvador, Tallinder, Volchenkov. They all can fly!

The Flyers could still move Schenn for a good young defenseman.

I guess my trouble is, I don't see things as bleak on defense. It's not a team strength, for sure. But I also don't think it's as awful as it's made out to be.

It's kind of hard and a bit unfair to really judge things with the execution level being so bad. I mean, how good was the Devils defense last year, personnel wise? Adjustments can be made to make the lack of mobility less of an issue.
- Jsaquella

Same with Tuesday's game. Bunch of speedster the Devils got back there on the blueline. Fayne, Salvador, Tallinder, Volchenkov. They all can fly!

not that I expect him to be this good in the immediate future, but I honestly believe he is capable of 70 points while being a premiere defensive forward.. Patrice Bergeron , last year --esque
- jak521

I don't think that that is very far off, in the future. As he gets bigger and stronger, he'll get better.

not that I expect him to be this good in the immediate future, but I honestly believe he is capable of 70 points while being a premiere defensive forward.. Patrice Bergeron , last year --esque
- jak521

Jordan Staal but with more playing time

2 years ago, the talk was that the Flyers had the best Defense in the League. You just want the Flyers to draft a defenseman.
- MJL

THN had them #1 before the cup final yr. What I posted before last season proved to be prophetic.look it up...

It's not possible for that to happen in the future?
- MJL

Less assets on hand now...

The Flyers could still move Schenn for a good young defenseman.

I guess my trouble is, I don't see things as bleak on defense. It's not a team strength, for sure. But I also don't think it's as awful as it's made out to be.

It's kind of hard and a bit unfair to really judge things with the execution level being so bad. I mean, how good was the Devils defense last year, personnel wise? Adjustments can be made to make the lack of mobility less of an issue.
- Jsaquella

I think people view it as bad because they got it in their heads that the top pairing would feature Shea Weber or Ryan Suter and Carle might still be around. They aren't comparing the defensive unit to the league average but to what could have been, which is not exactly a fair evaluation.

not that I expect him to be this good in the immediate future, but I honestly believe he is capable of 70 points while being a premiere defensive forward.. Patrice Bergeron , last year --esque
- jak521

Agree

Re Meszaros, he is just 27 and didn't miss a game in his first four years. A couple of major injuries to his shoulder, back and Achilles had him miss about 40 games in the past three years. He is coming back pretty well and can be the defenseman everyone is looking for. His stats are always respectable. Did you ever notice that the defensemen who are near the top always have the same partner? This is not the case with Philly.

THN had them #1 before the cup final yr. What I posted before last season proved to be prophetic.look it up...
- isaiah520

Wasn't very hard to see that Pronger and Timonen were older, and Carle was an impending UFA. And that the Flyers didn't have a good stable of young defense prospects. Did you also predict the career ending injury to Pronger? Because this defense looks a whole lot different with Pronger in the lineup.

Less assets on hand now...
- isaiah520

Tons of young tradeable assets on hand right now. Are you kidding me?

I don't think that that is very far off, in the future. As he gets bigger and stronger, he'll get better.
- Jsaquella

I really believe he ends up a 60-75 point guy

I think people view it as bad because they got it in their heads that the top pairing would feature Shea Weber or Ryan Suter and Carle might still be around. They aren't comparing the defensive unit to the league average but to what could have been, which is not exactly a fair evaluation.
- NickTheKid87

Bingo!

Jordan Staal but with more playing time
- NickTheKid87

The best quote ive heard (i believe it was EJ Hradek) was he is a combination of Eric and Jordan Staal. I think he is more naturally gifted than Staal.

yes, Snider is rich...no cup in 38 years is being patient
- vejim

Patient and Snider don't belong in the same sentence

Less assets on hand now...
- isaiah520

Ehh.. maybe less in the minors or whatnot, but the ones we have now will fetch more..

Re Meszaros, he is just 27 and didn't miss a game in his first four years. A couple of major injuries to his shoulder, back and Achilles had him miss about 40 games in the past three years. He is coming back pretty well and can be the defenseman everyone is looking for. His stats are always respectable. Did you ever notice that the defensemen who are near the top always have the same partner? This is not the case with Philly.
- strongsupporter

I think things are starting to go Andrej's way. He should look fine this season, and if he can get through to next season without further injury I think he can really be a big help on the back end. He's got some offensive flair to offer, which the Flyers could really use.

The best quote ive heard (i believe it was EJ Hradek) was he is a combination of Eric and Jordan Staal. I think he is more naturally gifted than Staal.
- jak521

I think so too. Couts was a much more prolific scorer in juniors than Staal.

Patient and Snider don't belong in the same sentence
- nastyflyergirl

Can't forget that he's old and wants to win another Cup before he dies. Clock's ticking.