And how many total defenseman are playing right now? In relation to how many defenseman there are now, and have played throughout the history of the League, not many. In other words those players don't grow on trees.
- MJL

If you want to go team, by team over the course of their histories the Flyers are one of probably a select few who have never had a young top pairing guy. Not interested in debating this all night.

I just illustrated 4 current franchises off the top of my head that have such players.

Edit: add Letang, and McDonagh to the list.

Not many defenseman in the history of the League are legit #1 defenseman at 25 years of age or under.
- MJL

So they don't peak until 26 and later and can't improve after 29.

So your flag must be at full mast when a d-man is 26-28 years old

Call me crazy but I would pick Drouin #2 behind Jones.
- flyer_nutter

I've seen more than a few who agree wholeheartedly with you.

If you want to go team, by team over the course of their histories the Flyers are one of probably a select few who have never had a young top pairing guy. Not interested in debating this all night.

I just illustrated 4 current franchises off the top of my head that have such players.
- PLindbergh31

We can do that. And then you have to count how many defenseman have played for a team over their history. And then compare that. What's the percentage? It's a simple point.

One them was OEL, who said will be. We'll see.

So you named 3 players. So if there are 30 teams and each team has 7 defenseman, that's 210 defenseman. So 3 out of 210 are #1 defenseman 25 or younger. That is my point. It's a rare and extremely valuable player. And is not at all an easy player to acquire by any means.

We can do that. And then you have to count how many defenseman have played for a team over their history. And then compare that. What's the percentage? It's a simple point.

One them was OEL, who said will be. We'll see.

So you named 3 players. So if there are 30 teams and each team has 7 defenseman, that's 210 defenseman. So 3 out of 210 are #1 defenseman 25 or younger. That is my point. It's a rare and extremely valuable player.
- MJL

I added McDonagh and Letang. That's 5 teams currently. With OEL likely to make 6 teams.

When writing about B. Schenn in possible trades, it is not about souring on him. Certainly Homer understands the deficiencies on his blueline or he would not have been in hot pursuit of Suter then Weber. I applauded him for not overspending on free agent d-men last year.

This summer the free agent d crop will be sparse and way expensive for their production. So the best possible way to improve the blueline is through a trade. Certainly, outside of Ghost, there isn't much in the way of young d-men which would bring back a significant return in the organization now.

However, the Flyers have a good amount of young talent at forward. Why B. Schenn makes the most sense in my opinion is the strength the organization currently has at center. He has potential upside and would be more valuable to an organization over Matt Read because he will be under control financially eaiser then Read (Read will be an UFA after next year). Hence, B. Schenn would seem to have significant trade value for all those reasons considering G is untouchable and Coots apparently is just about untouchable.

Homer is going to have to give a good asset to get a good asset. Right now, I think Yandle makes the most sense, but certainly things can change quickly.

I added McDonagh and Letang. That's 5 teams currently. With OEL likely to make 6 teams.
- PLindbergh31

McDonaugh is not a #1 defenseman.

If you want to go team, by team over the course of their histories the Flyers are one of probably a select few who have never had a young top pairing guy. Not interested in debating this all night.

I just illustrated 4 current franchises off the top of my head that have such players.

Edit: add Letang, and McDonagh to the list.
- PLindbergh31

Ill throw a few others that the Flyers do not even come close to. Even in terms of potential. Fowler, Myers, McBain, Siemens, Leddy, Schultz, Kulikov, Voynov, Trouba, OEL, Carlson, Alzner, etc etc.

A lot of these guys are not as established as say a Doughty, but the Flyers are bare as (frank) on the defensive prospect chart. The time is now to fix it (or the off-season to be more specific).

When writing about B. Schenn in possible trades, it is not about souring on him. Certainly Homer understands the deficiencies on his blueline or he would not have been in hot pursuit of Suter then Weber. I applauded him for not overspending on free agent d-men last year.

This summer the free agent d crop will be sparse and way expensive for their production. So the best possible way to improve the blueline is through a trade. Certainly, outside of Ghost, there isn't much in the way of young d-men which would bring back a significant return in the organization now.

However, the Flyers have a good amount of young talent at forward. Why B. Schenn makes the most sense in my opinion is the strength the organization currently has at center. He has potential upside and would be more valuable to an organization over Matt Read because he will be under control financially eaiser then Read (Read will be an UFA after next year). Hence, B. Schenn would seem to have significant trade value for all those reasons considering G is untouchable and Coots apparently is just about untouchable.

Homer is going to have to give a good asset to get a good asset. Right now, I think Yandle makes the most sense, but certainly things can change quickly.
- ravishingone

Bottom line is that in order to get value, you need to give value. I'm not opposed at all to trading B Schenn in the right deal. I just don't think Yandle is the right player.

Ill throw a few others that the Flyers do not even come close to. Even in terms of potential. Fowler, Myers, McBain, Siemens, Leddy, Schultz, Kulikov, Voynov, Trouba, OEL, Carlson, Alzner, etc etc.

A lot of these guys are not as established as say a Doughty, but the Flyers are bare as (frank) on the defensive prospect chart. The time is now to fix it (or the off-season to be more specific).
- flyer_nutter

Gustafsson. Kid has game.

Am I the only one who thinks Schenn will not be traded because it will piss off his brother?

We'll see.

Ill throw a few others that the Flyers do not even come close to. Even in terms of potential. Fowler, Myers, McBain, Siemens, Leddy, Schultz, Kulikov, Voynov, Trouba, OEL, Carlson, Alzner, etc etc.

A lot of these guys are not as established as say a Doughty, but the Flyers are bare as (frank) on the defensive prospect chart. The time is now to fix it (or the off-season to be more specific).
- flyer_nutter

A lot of those won't be true "Number Ones" though. Take Alzner. He's going to be-Hell, pretty much is-a tremendous shut down defenseman, but he's not going to produce the kind of offense that would make him a real number one. Conversely, guys like McBain and Voynov could be similar to Yandle-very good offensive defensemen, who aren't good enough defensively to be "true number ones"

That said, I would be happy to add just about any name on your list. They're all excellent young defensemen.

Bottom line is that in order to get value, you need to give value. I'm not opposed at all to trading B Schenn in the right deal. I just don't think Yandle is the right player.
- MJL

I'm not a big fan of Schenn so I would pull the trigger on that trade. Potential is such a risky word.

Am I the only one who thinks Schenn will not be traded because it will piss off his brother?

We'll see.
- Daman

I think a couple of weeks after signing Kimmo the team traded his brother Jussi.

If I am the Flyers, I dont give a rats ass if it makes the team better. Its a good thought though.

Bottom line is that in order to get value, you need to give value. I'm not opposed at all to trading B Schenn in the right deal. I just don't think Yandle is the right player.
- MJL

I can appreciate that. Would you agree at the moment the available free agent d-men is less then stellar this summer? It would appear that Homer can really only bolster the blueline through trade.

I've seen more than a few who agree wholeheartedly with you.
- Jsaquella

I'd actually take Barkov before Drouin, he's putting up his numbers in the Finnish Elite leagues top division.

A lot of those won't be true "Number Ones" though. Take Alzner. He's going to be-Hell, pretty much is-a tremendous shut down defenseman, but he's not going to produce the kind of offense that would make him a real number one. Conversely, guys like McBain and Voynov could be similar to Yandle-very good offensive defensemen, who aren't good enough defensively to be "true number ones"

That said, I would be happy to add just about any name on your list. They're all excellent young defensemen.
- Jsaquella

Thats what I am getting at. Even if those guys dont become #1's. The Flyers have nobody on the team or the minors that comes close to even matching the "potential". Im actually really excited to see what Holmgren will do.

I'm not a big fan of Schenn so I would pull the trigger on that trade. Potential is such a risky word.
- stveshdy

That situation has a lot more variables to it then just whether B Schenn is a good Hockey trade for Yandle. Removing all other variables, it would be a good deal in just looking at it player for player. But there is more to it in my opinion.

I'd actually take Barkov before Drouin, he's putting up his numbers in the Finnish Elite leagues top division.
- ob18

He's a big center, correct?

McDonaugh is not a #1 defenseman.
- MJL

Neither is Letang. Who is the last 25 or younger dman in the history of the Flyers franchise better than McDonagh?

Let's see...

Boston, Orr and Bourque
Washington Langway
Montreal: Larry Robinson
Islanders Potvin
Oilers Coffey
Rangers Brian Leetch
Wings Lidstrom
Devils Niedermayer
Flames Al Macinnis

Where are the Flyers young defenseman who are even in the same strasophere as these guys?

Thats what I am getting at. Even if those guys dont become #1's. The Flyers have nobody on the team or the minors that comes close to even matching the "potential". Im actually really excited to see what Holmgren will do.
- flyer_nutter

It's always exciting to see what Homer will do

I think a couple of weeks after signing Kimmo the team traded his brother Jussi.

If I am the Flyers, I dont give a rats ass if it makes the team better. Its a good thought though.
- flyer_nutter

Agree 100%. Breaking up the family shouldn't be a consideration. They got all Summer to pal around.

That situation has a lot more variables to it then just whether B Schenn is a good Hockey trade for Yandle. Removing all other variables, it would be a good deal in just looking at it player for player. But there is more to it in my opinion.
- MJL

If you told me Phoenix would trade Yandle for Schenn, I would make that deal 365 days out of the year. I value defenseman much higher. Easier to get another Schenn than a Yandle IMO.

I can appreciate that. Would you agree at the moment the available free agent d-men is less then stellar this summer? It would appear that Homer can really only bolster the blueline through trade.
- ravishingone

I'd be okay drafting a few D-men and signing a guy like Visnovksy or Streit for a couple of years as a stop gap.

I dont know how good the trade market will be either. I dont really want to waste assets on a guy unless he truly does have that #1 all round potential. A guy like Yandle for example, is not that to me.

He's a big center, correct?
- Jsaquella

Currently listed at 6'2" 205

http://www.mynhldraft.com...rofiles/Aleksander-Barkov