Flyers are going to have to develop or make a deal for a high end Dman. Teams are now signing their RFA #1 Ds to mega long term contracts (Myers, Doughty, Karlsson). This summer Shattenkirk and Pietrangelowillbe RFAs but St. Louis will lock thEm up pretty tight.

Perhaps the Flyers need to decide that they are going to pay the price.
- spatso

yeah not even worth the phone call to St. Louis...

I have little issue with it. Perhaps Laviolette saw the Tampa game as a tough out anyhow, and figured he'd bank the easy two points against Florida, rather than having Leighton start and possibly lose to the Panthers, making the Lightning game a must win.

Had they lost 5-3 and showed an ounce of grit and heart, I'd readily agree with you. As it is, Leighton sucked, but the team in front of him was so bad, they could have had Bernie Parent in net and still lose.
- Jsaquella

only the lord saves more than Bernie

Why is it people want to trade Schenn or Simmonds, Why do we never hear Voracek? IMHO He is tradeable more so then the others.
- Buzzo

yeah, I agree ... I like Jake but I'd certainly move him before the others.

Wait... Boucher a proven backup? What does proven mean, that he's been a NHL backup, not necessarily a good one. Boucher in the past 6 seasons isn't stellar. Maybe in the past he was good, but his record over the past several years is average at best. Leighton hasn't been in the backup roll in a while. So, who say's he's not going to be any good. His game changed in the past several years, I never would have guessed that he'd take us deep into the playoffs.

Boucher
2012 Car 10games 1-6-1 (Not good)
2011 Phl 34games 18-10-4 (Good)
2010 Phl 33games 9-18-3 (Not good)
2009 SJ 22games 12-6-3 (Good)
2008 SJ 5games 3-1 (n/a)
2007 Chi/CBJ 18games 2-11-3 (Not good)

Leighton
2012 AHL (n/a)
2011 Phl 1game 1-0-0 (n/a)
2010 Phl/Car 34games 17-9-2 (Starter)
2009 Car 19games 6-7-2 (OK)
2008 Car 3games 1-1-0 (n/a)
2007 Nas/Phl 5games 2-2-0 (n/a)
- leon neon

Obviously if Boucher was consistent he wouldn't be a backup. No goalie who spends most of their career as a backup is going to have great numbers. Boosh has had success as a backup in the past and Leighton has not. That's what I mean as "proven".

there's no way I'd trade Simmonds.
- FlyerGuy

Agreed. He is not a great player right now but already productive. And I think he can get a lot better.

Here is what I like. If he can play on a top line, he will draw top D-men. He will be able to F with a lot of players, and there will be nothing they can do about it. In other words, he has potential to be a scary, productive, viloent force on the ice. I think he will easily replace Harts one day and be a lot better overall.

I disagree with Bill M a little on the winger issue. G is more passer and setup man than shooter - I personally think having a speed guy who can rip it would do him wonders. Maybe a European or Russian type that the Flyers can't stand to sign.

There are many ways I would trade him.. There are very few untouchables on the team IMO.
- jak521

maybe not untouchable ... but pretty close, imo. He just brings a lot of what the Flyers have lacked in recent years.

That's the thing. Not sure if it would take a roster player or not. Edmonton hasn't completely given up on him yet but they seem close.
- bmeltzer

What do you think of Nino Niederreiter? He could be a cheap option as well plus he has a lot of upside.

looked ridiculously bad ... probably not much the ice crew can do when it's that consistently hot outside.
- FlyerGuy

the ice was good at the BT T...that building is freakin freezing...everybody wears sweatshirts, jackets

the ice was good at the BT T...that building is freakin freezing...everybody wears sweatshirts, jackets
- vejim

Yeah, I heard water freezes at 52 degrees down there.

Agreed. He is not a great player right now but already productive. And I think he can get a lot better.

Here is what I like. If he can play on a top line, he will draw top D-men. He will be able to F with a lot of players, and there will be nothing they can do about it. In other words, he has potential to be a scary, productive, viloent force on the ice. I think he will easily replace Harts one day and be a lot better overall.

I disagree with Bill M a little on the winger issue. G is more passer and setup man than shooter - I personally think having a speed guy who can rip it would do him wonders. Maybe a European or Russian type that the Flyers can't stand to sign.
- Daman

I like your posts a lot better when you don't talk about yourself in the 3rd person.

the ice was good at the BT T...that building is freakin freezing...everybody wears sweatshirts, jackets
- vejim

true.

I like your posts a lot better when you don't talk about yourself in the 3rd person.

- FlyerGuy

Typically, no one likes my posts. So not in an ethnic sense, but you are in a minority.

-Da MFing Man

Inquiring, young lady. Simply inquiring.
- tangent_man

i wish ... hanging out with a six yr old and a three yr old playing minecraft

Yeah, I heard water freezes at 52 degrees down there.
- Daman

I had a longsleeve shirt on and was freezing

I had a longsleeve shirt on and was freezing
- vejim

I only joke b/c the weather in Philly/NYC simply is awful.

Jonathon Blum is a defensemen I think the Flyers should add on the cheap this year. He is currently 7th dmen on the Predators. He showed a lot two playoffs ago before slipping last year with a bad attitude.

I only joke b/c the weather in Philly/NYC simply is awful.
- Daman

sorry to hear that...79 and sunny here

i wish ... hanging out with a six yr old and a three yr old playing minecraft
- Don'tForgetTocchet

sorry to hear that...79 and sunny here
- vejim

Do you have room for an I-obnoxious roomate? (and perhaps two little monsters)

Do you have room for an I-obnoxious roomate? (and perhaps two little monsters)
- Daman

lol...come on down

i wish ... hanging out with a six yr old and a three yr old playing minecraft
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Who's playing Minecraft? The six year old, the three year old or you?

What do you think of Nino Niederreiter? He could be a cheap option as well plus he has a lot of upside.
- NickTheKid87

Here's the difference. Islanders don't have Edmonton's forward surplus plus Niederreiter is a year younger than Paajarvi (so he's a year further away from potentially being trade bait instead of part of the long-term plan).

I disagree with Bill M a little on the winger issue. G is more passer and setup man than shooter - I personally think having a speed guy who can rip it would do him wonders.
- Daman

Then we totally agree. I'd like to see a sniping RW with speed to add to the power guy on LW.

I think the informed majority realize Leighton has no business being here, but in the grand scheme of things on the concern meter, worrying about Leighton is like having a severed jugular, and worrying about a hangnail.
- PLindbergh31

so if this trend continues and the team is say, 6-12-2 after 20 gms, what does homer do?

Here's the difference. Islanders don't have Edmonton's forward surplus plus Niederreiter is a year younger than Paajarvi (so he's a year further away from potentially being trade bait instead of part of the long-term plan).
- bmeltzer

Something else to factor in: Paajarvi's being a good little soldier. Niederreiter is not.