OK. What's plan "B"?
- 77rams

I say continue with plan A. Have patience and make the right moves, not just a move to make one.

I say continue with plan B. Have patience and make the right moves, not just a move to make one.
- MJL

I agree. Not sure how they can get a game changer on the blueline but something will happen.

What's going to curtail activity in the next couple off seasons is the mass re-signings that went down prior to the lockout. Looking at this year's UFA class of defensemen and it's a lot of old guys and early 30's guys that will get more money than they deserve.
- Jsaquella

The top RFA Dmen Karlsson, Doughty, Myers and this year Pietrangelo are being signed to huge long term deals. And, we saw the kind of money Weber and Suter got as UFAs. #1 Dmen are gold. I doubt you see any ever come to the market until they are passed their prime.

You going to have to draft for one. Or, pay the trade price in a huge deal.

The top RFA Dmen Karlsson, Doughty, Myers and this year Pietrangelo are being signed to huge long term deals. And, we saw the kind of money Weber and Suter got as UFAs. #1 Dmen are gold. I doubt you see any ever come to the market until they are passed their prime.

You going to have to draft for one. Or, pay the trade price in a huge deal.
- spatso

Let's face it, you rarely saw guys like that get to UFA before there was a salary cap. Chara is one exception and that was largely because the Senators were choosing between him and Wade Redden.

I absolutely agree that you need to trade for one or draft one. The trouble is that, the Flyers need more than just a number one.

The top RFA Dmen Karlsson, Doughty, Myers and this year Pietrangelo are being signed to huge long term deals. And, we saw the kind of money Weber and Suter got as UFAs. #1 Dmen are gold. I doubt you see any ever come to the market until they are passed their prime.

You going to have to draft for one. Or, pay the trade price in a huge deal.
- spatso

I honestly don't think the Flyers expected Nashville to match that offer to Weber. If Suter stays I think they let Weber walk and take the picks. Allowing both to go would of sent the wrong message.

Let's face it, you rarely saw guys like that get to UFA before there was a salary cap. Chara is one exception and that was largely because the Senators were choosing between him and Wade Redden.

I absolutely agree that you need to trade for one or draft one. The trouble is that, the Flyers need more than just a number one.
- Jsaquella

Giroux and Couturier are my only untouchables. I would do what I have to inorder to get a game changer on the blueline. The Flyers dont have one and the blueline is average at best.

Giroux and Couturier are my only untouchables. I would do what I have to inorder to get a game changer on the blueline. The Flyers dont have one and the blueline is average at best.
- stveshdy

If I could land Alex Pietrangelo for Couturier, my lone question would be do they want me to pay for his plane ticket to St Louis.

Not enough games for me.

Thats a very short sample.
- stveshdy

but it's a long enough sample to say that he was declining?

but it's a long enough sample to say that he was declining?
- FlyerMike18

Players start to decline at his age its just a fact. Father time takes it toll.

If I could land Alex Pietrangelo for Couturier, my lone question would be do they want me to pay for his plane ticket to St Louis.
- Jsaquella

not even worth toying with the idea. no chance pietrangelo is traded... only chance the flyers would have is offering giroux

If I could land Alex Pietrangelo for Couturier, my lone question would be do they want me to pay for his plane ticket to St Louis.
- Jsaquella

I would do that trade because of how young Pietrangelo is. Would be great to have a stud defenseman. St.Louis would not.

Players start to decline at his age its just a fact. Father time takes it toll.
- stveshdy

often, that is the case. selanne still looks pretty good though. lidstrom was dominant for a long time. just saying, it's not a guarantee

Players start to decline at his age its just a fact. Father time takes it toll.
- stveshdy

Yes, he was declining. He wasn't a 28 year old Hart & Norris winner at age 36. He was still a borderline elite defenseman before getting hurt.

I would just like to say the biggest need right now ia a dman like PK Subban. When you have a stud like PK playing half a game and getting the puck up ice with ease it makes all your forwards better. Subban just chases down the puck in his own end and picks up the puck, makes a sharp turn and explodes away from the forechecker and moves it up ice. Wow, he is really good. I think Homer missed his opportunity to land Subban because now that he is back he is not going anywhere.
One other option is trading for David Rundblad, a guy caught behind Yandle, Ekman-Larsson and a solid core in Phoenix. Rundblad is a high risk/high reward type of guy possessing tremendous offensive skill but a work in progress like most of our current D. The difference is that Rundblad is extremely mobile and gifted offensively. He is a former #1 pick, top Dman is Swedish Elite league and is still only 22. Ironically he is the reason Tarasenko is a Blue because of a trade he was involved in. I say make a move for this guy because it could turn out really good.

I would do that trade because of how young Pietrangelo is. Would be great to have a stud defenseman. St.Louis would not.
- stveshdy

Exactly. There's no such thing as an untouchable. It just depends what the price is.

I wouldn't trade Couturier for an older defenseman, either. But there's a few excellent young ones I'd do it for.

Let's face it, you rarely saw guys like that get to UFA before there was a salary cap. Chara is one exception and that was largely because the Senators were choosing between him and Wade Redden.

I absolutely agree that you need to trade for one or draft one. The trouble is that, the Flyers need more than just a number one.
- Jsaquella

After the first CBA with a cap was initiated the Senators were facing the prospect of having to give $6m deals to Hossa, Chara and Redden. They traded Hossa for Heatley and chose Redden over Chara. They also had to trade Martin Havlat for a bag of pucks to stay under the cap. Muckler was the GM at the time. Hindsight is 20/20 but lots of hockey people would have made different choices.

But, I think the lessons this time around are about the same. You can make some really bad long term decisions if you are being squeezed by a short term cap problem. Better to create some breathing room and stay with the long term plan.

Yes, he was declining. He wasn't a 28 year old Hart & Norris winner at age 36. He was still a borderline elite defenseman before getting hurt.
- Jsaquella

All I am saying is that Pronger didn't play that many games for us. I could understand if this guy was here for 5 years playing a ton of games like Timmonen and saying its a huge loss. THe Flyers have been without him more than not and have know for awhile now that he is done. SOme of the injuries were bad luck but its not like he was an everyday guy for this team. I understand losing a player of his caliber hurts but I'm just saying he wasn't a cornerstone when he didn't play that many games for us.

80 year old owner, long Cup drought, passionate fan base, pressure cooker City... Odds are slim to none.
- PLindbergh31

Root anyway

Giroux and Couturier are my only untouchables. I would do what I have to inorder to get a game changer on the blueline. The Flyers dont have one and the blueline is average at best.
- stveshdy

Why do we need a game changer?

Exactly. There's no such thing as an untouchable. It just depends what the price is.

I wouldn't trade Couturier for an older defenseman, either. But there's a few excellent young ones I'd do it for.
- Jsaquella

I'm not sold on Schenn or Voracek. Those are two guys I would have no problem trading to get a defenseman.

did shanahan really say that the elbow was just a reaction to losing the race to a loose puck? what the hell does that even mean?

Why do we need a game changer?
- 77rams

We need a better blueline. Need someone who has the ability to be a number one who can play minutes, special teams, and match up against others top lines.

What we have is good enough?

After the first CBA with a cap was initiated the Senators were facing the prospect of having to give $6m deals to Hossa, Chara and Redden. They traded Hossa for Heatley and chose Redden over Chara. They also had to trade Martin Havlat for a bag of pucks to stay under the cap. Muckler was the GM at the time. Hindsight is 20/20 but lots of hockey people would have made different choices.

But, I think the lessons this time around are about the same. You can make some really bad long term decisions if you are being squeezed by a short term cap problem. Better to create some breathing room and stay with the long term plan.
- spatso

All true, but how often before the cap did a Norris level defenseman sign as a UFA with another team? Those guys don't hit free agency often and never have. It's not a new trend.

did shanahan really say that the elbow was just a reaction to losing the race to a loose puck? what the ell does that even mean?
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I'm not sold on Schenn or Voracek. Those are two guys I would have no problem trading to get a defenseman.
- stveshdy

I'm not sold on any of the young players-Simmonds, Schenn, Voracek or Couturier. I am excited by their potential. That's what other teams will be trading for, not their accomplishments to date.