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.
- Jsaquella

Not sold on the potential either of Voracek or Schenn.

great game last night, it was very fun to watch, thats all i ask for as a fan

great game last night, it was very fun to watch, thats all i ask for as a fan
- mydoglicks

Bryzgalov won the game for them last night. Great job in net.

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?
- stveshdy

The Devils last year had the following defense: Marek Zidlicky, Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, Mark Fayne, Henrik Tallinder, Adam Larsson, Anton Volchenkov and Peter Harrold.

Is that a great blue line on paper? Is it much better on paper than the Flyers group?

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?
- stveshdy

No, what I was asking is whether a sound defensive group is enough, or do we need to spend a significant amount of money or trade a number of good young players for one "game changer"?

No, what I was asking is whether a sound defensive group is enough, or do we need to spend a significant amount of money or trade a number of good young players for one "game changer"?
- 77rams

We need a better blueline in my opinion. What we have isn't good enough.

An Iginla trade for a good young prospect is the kind of deal I'd make if it's the final piece in preparation for a long playoff run. I just don't see these Flyers making a long run. Iginla alone wouldn't be enough to make a big difference. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and making that trade under these circumstances is a textbook example of misguided short term thinking.

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

You're right about all of that. Which is why I asked you yesterday what #1 defenseman is available for your prediction of the Flyers making the move for a #1 defenseman in the near future.

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

"...while we acknowledge there was no malicious intent..."

Really?

"...while we acknowledge there was no malicious intent..."

Really?
- Flyskippy

Unreal.

Not sold on the potential either of Voracek or Schenn.
- stveshdy

Both have a ton of potential. I'm not sold that they will ever reach it. That might seem like the same thing, but it's really not.

There's potential and the probability of the player fulfilling that potential.

We need a better blueline in my opinion. What we have isn't good enough.
- stveshdy

I would think that everybody agrees with that.

You're right about all of that. Which is why I asked you yesterday what #1 defenseman is available for your prediction of the Flyers making the move for a #1 defenseman in the near future.
- MJL

These are all smoke dreams. There is no one that's going to be available by trade that won't put a dent in the future of the forwards.

The team needs to improve itself - with the current roster and eventual return of Simmonds, Hartnell, and Meszaros.

Unreal.
- tangent_man

This is crepe I didn't miss during the lockout. The junior leagues do a better job with this stuff.

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.
- flyerdude17

I don't think that Holmgren missed his opportunity to land Subban. Montreal was not trading him. If he was dealt to another team, then you'd have a point. But he wasn't traded and is still a Hab.

An Iginla trade for a good young prospect is the kind of deal I'd make if it's the final piece in preparation for a long playoff run. I just don't see these Flyers making a long run. Iginla alone wouldn't be enough to make a big difference. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and making that trade under these circumstances is a textbook example of misguided short term thinking.
- 2731color

We should be making this kind of move.... but be on the other end. Move Kimmo to a contender for assets.

Bill, I know this is looking ahead a bit but any idea on Kimmo's value should we be out of the playoff picture come the deadline? I know he's losing steam but if Kubina cost a 2nd shouldn't Kimmo still be able to bring back a pretty nice return?

You're right about all of that. Which is why I asked you yesterday what #1 defenseman is available for your prediction of the Flyers making the move for a #1 defenseman in the near future.
- MJL

Hard to find one but thats part of Homers job. Sometimes you have to get the next best thing if you think it will help your team.

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

What about yandle?

[quote=bmeltzer]Coburn is defensively streaky. He can be lights out defensively for multiple games at a time. Other times he can be mistake prone for extended stretches.

But on this team, he is arguably the club's most important defenseman after Timonen -- who is aging, ailing and a UFA after the season. So I'd be surprised if Coburn is going anywhere.

Due to the injury to Andrej Meszaros, Coburn has been saddled with Bruno Gervais as his defensive partner. Gervais looked fine in easier matchup while he was on the third pairing but, IMO, has been cringeworthy defensively since moving up a pairing to keep him away from Foster. Meanwhile, to keep the L/R balance and spread the "wealth" (such as it is), Grossmann has had to make due with Foster as his five-on-five partner.


That puts all the onus on a declining Timonen and Luke Schenn to be the "glue" pairing. Not a pretty picture at

Both have a ton of potential. I'm not sold that they will ever reach it. That might seem like the same thing, but it's really not.

There's potential and the probability of the player fulfilling that potential.
- Jsaquella

Just look at the top five picks over the last ten years. They all had potential to be close to, or franchise players. The trick is to forecast whose talent will translate into good NHL players over the long haul.

I would think that everybody agrees with that.
- 77rams

I don't know whats available bc I'm not an NHL GM but if theres something out there to help improve your team you should look at it. Homer probably is doing that but right now nothing makes sense for his club. I am fine with that but then we need to lower expectations bc this blueline isnt very good.

What about yandle?
- JoeRussomanno

Not for Couturier. Yandle is as very good offensive defenseman, who is adequate in his own end. I don't think he's a Pietrangelo/Karlsson level player.

We should be making this kind of move.... but be on the other end. Move Kimmo to a contender for assets.

Bill, I know this is looking ahead a bit but any idea on Kimmo's value should we be out of the playoff picture come the deadline? I know he's losing steam but if Kubina cost a 2nd shouldn't Kimmo still be able to bring back a pretty nice return?
- hereticpride

Agree. They can be sellers without disturbing the young nucleus.

I don't know whats available bc I'm not an NHL GM but if theres something out there to help improve your team you should look at it. Homer probably is doing that but right now nothing makes sense for his club. I am fine with that but then we need to lower expectations bc this blueline isnt very good.
- stveshdy

My opinion is if they get Meszaros back, and have the rest of the blueline playing in the right spots. Along with improved overall team defense. This blueline is better then you think. Not championship quality on paper. But certainly better.

Not for Couturier. Yandle is as very good offensive defenseman, who is adequate in his own end. I don't think he's a Pietrangelo/Karlsson level player.
- Jsaquella

Would you trade Voracek and 2nd rounder for Yandle?