Why does Rinaldo continue to get in the lineup? He is irresponsible with penalties and doesn't add anything with defensive checking or offense.

I said I didn't know where to start and I'm not advocating a Giroux trade but I'd listen to offerors. The problem with anything involving Giroux means that they're blowing up the team again. If Claude is the guy they want to build around they better start adding players that will complement him.
- 2731color

I wouldn't even listen to offers. You don't trade a top 5 player in the world.

Meszaros has had some health issues. But he should come back and play, hopefully well. And if the Flyers choose to, with only one year left on his contract. He absolutely would have trade value around the League. And whether you take a step back in buying out a player or not, depends on what you do with the money saved. As an example, buying out Briere, and adding Corey Perry, wouldn't be a step back.
- MJL

Do we know for a fact Corey Perry will come here? I am willing to bet him and Getzlef are a package deal at this point and at a high price

Wow, did you just call Meszaros a stud while calling me uneducated? I never said Meszaros was untouchable, unless my phone corrected something I didn't mean it to. Meszaros is coming off a very serious injury and was just put back on the shelf again. His play could go either way at this point.
- SuperSchennBros

When I say untouchable, I'm referring to you saying " I don't think there is a GM in the league who would touch Meszaros right now". I absolutely believe a statement like that is uneducated, or shortsighted at least. The guy is an above-average defender and was our best defenseman in the short sample he showed early in the season. He appeared to return from the Achilles with no issue before getting slammed into the boards and suffering a shoulder injury. There is no correlation between the two injuries and the guy shouldn't be looked at as a injury-ridden player. I suppose it's possible that he could come back and have a hard time adjusting from the shoulder, but that's simply speculation. I'll side with logic in that the injury typically requires a 4-week rehab period and see how he looks upon his return.

Do we know for a fact Corey Perry will come here? I am willing to bet him and Getzlef are a package deal at this point and at a high price
- SuperSchennBros

I don't think they would be a package deal. I don't see why they would be. I expect Anaheim to re-sign one if not both.

Wow, did you just call Meszaros a stud while calling me uneducated? I never said Meszaros was untouchable, unless my phone corrected something I didn't mean it to. Meszaros is coming off a very serious injury and was just put back on the shelf again. His play could go either way at this point.
- SuperSchennBros

Using a compliance buyout on a guy with one season left on his deal is an absolute waste of the compliance buyout. He's had bad injury luck, and if it continues, then you simply let him walk when the contract is up.

There's zero logic in buying out Meszaros. When I suggest that Briere and Bryzgalov ae the two most logical candidates, I'm talking about two of my favorite players on the team. The financial implications of keeping both players is pretty severe.

Briere, despite his playoff success, has been a below par regular season performer and is 35. He relies on speed and quickness, and those two qualities generally are the first thing to go. He carries a $6.5mm cap hit for 2 seasons beyond this one. In the last season of his contract, he'll be 38 and counting against a lower cap.

Bryzgalov's issue-and the only reason I suggest him-is that the way the new CBA treats front loaded long term deals means, if he retires before his deal expires, the Flyers will incur some large cap penalties for a guy that's not even on the roster.

No team has the goods to begin with. They all have had to build the team through the draft, and develop those players. And supplement through key trades and free agency. That's what this team is in the process of doing. And this team lost that key player and personality that you speak of, when Pronger got hurt. You don't recover from that easily. This is a work in progress, and I think patience is the key.
- MJL

When I said "to begin with", I wasn't ignoring drafting, building, developing, etc. I'd say that right now the Rangers and Bruins have the goods. Loss of Pronger can not be overstated. Patience is a virtue that I'm running out of as the Flyers go. Another year, another excuse and it goes on and on. I've been waiting since 1975.

I said I didn't know where to start and I'm not advocating a Giroux trade but I'd listen to offerors. The problem with anything involving Giroux means that they're blowing up the team again. If Claude is the guy they want to build around they better start adding players that will complement him.
- 2731color

I think they're doing what they can to build around Claude. They only tore down the blueprints a year and a half ago, there have to be growing pains involved. Giroux himself has growing to do as a player. Now isn't the time for wreckless trades (though an impatient owner may disagree).

I wouldn't even listen to offers. You don't trade a top 5 player in the world.
- NickTheKid87

For another top 5 player perhaps.

For another top 5 player perhaps.
- 2731color

There's no point to that. The PR ramifications would be a nightmare.

For another top 5 player perhaps.
- 2731color

Who's going to make that trade? What top 5 player would you be looking at trading Giroux for?

Who's going to make that trade? What top 5 player would you be looking at trading Giroux for?
- BulliesPhan87

BOB RY...

Not going there.

When I said "to begin with", I wasn't ignoring drafting, building, developing, etc. I'd say that right now the Rangers and Bruins have the goods. Loss of Pronger can not be overstated. Patience is a virtue that I'm running out of as the Flyers go. Another year, another excuse and it goes on and on. I've been waiting since 1975.
- 2731color

The Rangers didn't just go out, make a few trades, and become a competitor overnight. The Bruins didn't, either. They made the transactions they had to over the years, built strong rosters with cornerstones that had to work through tougher seasons, and became the teams they are. I don't know where this excuses thing comes from, nobody is saying it's 'ok' that the Flyers haven't scored a Cup through decades.

The only thing that will get us a Cup is patience. There's no cure all, immediate solution, this isn't an equation that just needs to be balanced.

I don't think they would be a package deal. I don't see why they would be. I expect Anaheim to re-sign one if not both.
- NickTheKid87

The Ducks aren't a deep team. I think they will resign both and drop Ryan for assets. Why separate from a player you have build years of chemistry together and won't championships. (cup and world juniors)

BOB RY...

Not going there.
- NickTheKid87

We may have gone too far in a few places yesterday.

I said I didn't know where to start and I'm not advocating a Giroux trade but I'd listen to offerors. The problem with anything involving Giroux means that they're blowing up the team again. If Claude is the guy they want to build around they better start adding players that will complement him.
- 2731color

They've added young guys who will develop into good supporting players. When the puck drops tonight, the 2nd and 3rd line centers combined will be 41 years old. Simmonds & Voracek are 23 & 24.

There's going to be ups and downs with younger players. It's unavoidable.

There's no point to that. The PR ramifications would be a nightmare.
- NickTheKid87

Not advocating it. PR ramifications of 38 years without a Cup aren't so great either

Not advocating it. PR ramifications of 38 years without a Cup aren't so great either
- 2731color

Solution: Trade Claude Giroux for the Stanley Cup. Problem solved.

Not advocating it. PR ramifications of 38 years without a Cup aren't so great either
- 2731color

Exactly why you don't even listen to offers for the face of your franchise and the best player you've had since Eric Lindros, maybe Bobby Clarke.

Not advocating it. PR ramifications of 38 years without a Cup aren't so great either
- 2731color

The Flyers raised ticket prices coming out of a lockout and drew a record crowd in their first home game. Those ramifications don't mean jackpoop

The Ducks aren't a deep team. I think they will resign both and drop Ryan for assets. Why separate from a player you have build years of chemistry together and won't championships. (cup and world juniors)
- SuperSchennBros

That seems most likely to me. But then it comes back to what the price would be and all that jazz.

When I say untouchable, I'm referring t
o you saying " I don't think there is a GM in the league who would touch Meszaros right now". I absolutely believe a statement like that is uneducated, or shortsighted at least. The guy is an above-average defender and was our best defenseman in the short sample he showed early in the season. He appeared to return from the Achilles with no issue before getting slammed into the boards and suffering a shoulder injury. There is no correlation between the two injuries and the guy shouldn't be looked at as a injury-ridden player. I suppose it's possible that he could come back and have a hard time adjusting from the shoulder, but that's simply speculation. I'll side with logic in that the injury typically requires a 4-week rehab period and see how he looks upon his return.
- steelydan

Meszaros is a good player, not a stud. Kimmi Timonen is a stud and has been his while season. Meszaros is gonna have to come back, show.he hasn't lost a step before anyone would consider taking him, especially at his price tag. So I stand by my point, nobody would touch him right now.

We may have gone too far in a few places yesterday.
- BulliesPhan87

I won't deny that.

Any thoughts on what we would have to give up for Bouwmeester? Calgary is an absolute mess, and I can't see them delaying a rebuild any longer with Iggy and Kipper getting close to UFA. I will say, I am far from being sold on J Bo, but would he help the speed and puck moving ability of the D? If it wouldn't cost the farm, I would consider it.

Who's going to make that trade? What top 5 player would you be looking at trading Giroux for?
- BulliesPhan87

I don't know who the top 5 are. I don't know who would make the trade. I'm sure Homer has an idea. My only point is that a GM shouldn't rule anything out.