They had gotten news that Meszaros was pretty much done for the year, Pronger wasn't returning and Bourdon had started to struggle with more ice time.

They felt they had a real shot at a Stanley Cup, so they traded for a veteran. Not really baffling. Just sucks that Kubina was half crippled himself when he came in.
- Jsaquella

The addition wasnt the baffling part it was the price they were willing to pay.

I'd love to see us turn Knuble and Rusty into picks this year if we continue to be a stale team.

The key is keeping or augmenting your picks to improve your chances. The Kubina deal still baffles me.
- jstross

They were trying to make a run. If he didn't get hurt, he would have helped the Flyers.

The addition wasnt the baffling part it was the price they were willing to pay.

I'd love to see us turn Knuble and Rusty into picks this year if we continue to be a stale team.
- hereticpride

I don't see it as that baffling. It's pretty much the cost of adding a veteran defenseman at the TDL.

Hal Gill was more expensive than Kubina. So was Johnny Oduya.

Get well soon, Wade MacLeod.

You'd need to have two first round picks then in the top 10 of that draft. They didn't have that. They had one pick, the 8th pick which they used to select Couturier. Hamilton went 9th. So if they turned around and traded Couturier for Hamilton. No different then if they had just drafted Hamilton themselves.
- MJL

I see, didn't think of that at first. But still, the mindset that developing from the draft is no different than giving up assets for players approaching their prime isn't the best concept for long term development.

I see, didn't think of that at first. But still, the mindset that developing from the draft is no different than giving up assets for players approaching their prime isn't the best concept for long term development.
- GirouxForTheShow

I think it's impossible to draft and develop players at every position. You need to supplement through other means. And the Flyers have always been a team that is not afraid to take a shot at a player for a draft pick, if they feel they need that player to make a run. They came real close in 2010. And then they felt that they needed to go in a different direction.

I think it's impossible to draft and develop players at every position. You need to supplement through other means. And the Flyers have always been a team that is not afraid to take a shot at a player for a draft pick, if they feel they need that player to make a run. They came real close in 2010. And then they felt that they needed to go in a different direction.
- MJL

Oh absolutely, you'll never have a team that has developed all or even close to all of the starting line up. I'd like to see them develop some players at this stage of the game I suppose is my point. They surprised me a bunch with sending Laughton down.