Remember before last year our D looked like this:

Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Coburn
Meszaros-Lilja

Crazy how just a few bad breaks can change everything.
- NickTheKid87

At least Lilja has been removed. Silver lining!

Prior to last season, their goalie had the same questions that Bryzgalov had. What happened? Quick got red hot, much like Bryzgalov did in March.

Adding Richards and Carter helped, no question. But they were secondary pieces added to the mix after the core of Kopitar, Brown and Doughty had matured and grew as players.

You seem to want to use the LA method, but skip the growing pains.

There's also a massive difference between what LA did and what you suggest. Wayne Simmonds was playing 3rd line minutes in LA. Brayden Schenn had played under 10 NHL games. You're proposing dumping the NHL ready talent on hand for less proven talent.

The biggest issue is the impatience. You acknowledge the young talent, yet demand immediate trades for team needs, while the market favors the selling team. Trading right now for young puck moving defenseman is buying high. The market for those kind of players I, right now, at it's absolute peak.

The problem people have isn't just in trading Couturier or Schenn, it's in doing so while the market is too high. The other issue is your player analysis. Trading Couturier for Yandle is a bad move. Dumping a proven veteran goalie and then trading assets for a young unpoven goalie is a very questionable path to take.
- Jsaquella

But Bryzgalov will be old eventually!

Thats my point.. its easy to point to a team and say, well they had a #1. Why not look at the bigger picture. They had the complete team.
- jak521

Having a #1 goes a long way to building a complete team. And it's true, a #1 is not enough without the other assets. That's what makes it so tough to build a complete team. And why patience is needed.

Prior to last season, their goalie had the same questions that Bryzgalov had. What happened? Quick got red hot, much like Bryzgalov did in March.

Adding Richards and Carter helped, no question. But they were secondary pieces added to the mix after the core of Kopitar, Brown and Doughty had matured and grew as players.

You seem to want to use the LA method, but skip the growing pains.

There's also a massive difference between what LA did and what you suggest. Wayne Simmonds was playing 3rd line minutes in LA. Brayden Schenn had played under 10 NHL games. You're proposing dumping the NHL ready talent on hand for less proven talent.

The biggest issue is the impatience. You acknowledge the young talent, yet demand immediate trades for team needs, while the market favors the selling team. Trading right now for young puck moving defenseman is buying high. The market for those kind of players is, right now, at it's absolute peak.

The problem people have isn't just in trading Couturier or Schenn, it's in doing so while the market is too high. The other issue is your player analysis. Trading Couturier for Yandle is a bad move. Dumping a proven veteran goalie and then trading assets for a young unpoven goalie is a very questionable path to take.
- Jsaquella

Winning a Cup is like Algebra! There's a formula and you gotta solve for x! Plug and chug!!!!!

Wait if it's that easy then WHY HASN'T EVERY TEAM DONe THAT?

You're logic is appreciated Jsaq.

Scott Hartnell (@Hartsy19) is coming up at 11:15 with @TonyBrunoShow and @HARRYMAYES975 to talk about his rehab as well as tonight's game.

Patrick Caisse ‏@PatrickCaisse
Alex Galchenyuk tallied 7 of his 10pts in 8 games in which he played more than 11:30. Conclusion? He deserves to play more. #Habs


I just want to point something out as to how this type of stat can be misleading, given our discussion about the misuse of statistics.

The conclusion Mr. Caisse is drawing is that Galchenyuk scores more when he gets over 11:30 TOI, therefore he should get more ice time. This is structurally sound.

However, it is possible that Galchenyuk is getting over 11:30 TOI because he is flying in that particular game, which usually leads to offense. Also, he could get less than 11:30 TOI in a game because he has struggled to create anything offensively. If he's playing poorly, and you give him over 11:30 TOI, he might be hurting the team, therefore you cut his ice time.

Now, I haven't watched enough Habs' games to know what is true in this scenario but do we see how this can be deceiving?
- NickTheKid87

i think the better argument would be that he's got 10 points in 16 games despite just 12 mins of ice time so he should probably play more, but hard to argue with therrien's forward usage so far based on who's ahead of galchenyuk's TOI.

subban only averaging 4th most minutes amongst their D is ludicrous, though.

I have to disagree here. While Timonen is still a good solid defenseman. I don't think he is in that class anymore. and I'm as big a fan and supporter of Luke Schenn as there is. And I think he has the potential to be a true NHL shut down defenseman. But he's not there yet.
- MJL

Dont get me wrong.. Im not saying they are #1's. I am saying they are both very very good at what they do. One a mobile two way d-man who is still near the top in points among d-men. And the other about as physical a defensive d-man there is in the game.

Scott Hartnell (@Hartsy19) is coming up at 11:15 with @TonyBrunoShow and @HARRYMAYES975 to talk about his rehab as well as tonight's game.
- NickTheKid87

Hopefully he gets cleared today, and is back for the Winnipeg game Saturday.

Dont get me wrong.. Im not saying they are #1's. I am saying they are both very very good at what they do. One a mobile two way d-man who is still near the top in points among d-men. And the other about as physical a defensive d-man there is in the game.
- jak521

I think this is your best post since the lockout.

I think this is your best post since the lockout.

- BringBack25

Thanks sir!

could link you to a few OT goals he setup to dispute he's not a beautiful passer, but that would just be nitpicking. miss that guy big time.
- OrangeBlack27

game 3

Hopefully he gets cleared today, and is back for the Winnipeg game Saturday.
- PLindbergh31

Why was he put on LTIR this past weekend?

Remember before last year our D looked like this:

Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Coburn
Meszaros-Lilja

Crazy how just a few bad breaks can change everything.
- NickTheKid87

And the sad thing is that i feel like Flyers fans under value Timonen. By trading away youth your not going to get much better then him without giving up too much. I just think people dont realize Timonen is almost a #1 defenseman still at this age and if we were to win the cup his name would be mentioned along with Letang and the others as possible #1's.

We get the #1 dman and the rest of our d falls into place where they should be and plays much more effective. Like when pronger was here. Same with getting top line right winger. Simple.

Why was he put on LTIR this past weekend?
- jak521

I'm assuming so they could call up Harry Z. they were out of cap space prior to that callup

Just a reminder. We traded our top 2 centers ritchie and carts and were still fine. Better even. We CAN move coots with Laughton coming and will be fine.

i think the better argument would be that he's got 10 points in 16 games despite just 12 mins of ice time so he should probably play more, but hard to argue with therrien's forward usage so far based on who's ahead of galchenyuk's TOI.

subban only averaging 4th most minutes amongst their D is ludicrous, though.
- OrangeBlack27

Looking at his TOI and points it seems like he's been streaky. 1 goal in 11:10, 2 assists in 11:34. 2 assists in 11:10, 2 assists in 15:03, 1 assist in 11:37, 1 assist in 12:31, 1 goal in 13:28. But he's also had no points in 12:33, 14:52 and 11:24.

I'd have to watch the games to know whether or not to give him more TOI.

Just a reminder. We traded our top 2 centers ritchie and carts and were still fine. Better even. We CAN move coots with Laughton coming and will be fine.
- SMS4016

how are you still here?

We get the #1 dman and the rest of our d falls into place where they should be and plays much more effective. Like when pronger was here. Same with getting top line right winger. Simple.
- SMS4016

That is simple. I wonder why the guys running the team with years of experience haven't done that. Maybe you should be GM.

Just a reminder. We traded our top 2 centers ritchie and carts and were still fine. Better even. We CAN move coots with Laughton coming and will be fine.
- SMS4016

You do know Couts projects to be about a 10x better player than Laughton right?

And the sad thing is that i feel like Flyers fans under value Timonen. By trading away youth your not going to get much better then him without giving up too much. I just think people dont realize Timonen is almost a #1 defenseman still at this age and if we were to win the cup his name would be mentioned along with Letang and the others as possible #1's.
- Stinkfitz

I think if you showed a video to fans of a guy playing in a mask and said "that guy's 29" they'd be like "äwesome he's a legit top pairing dman!" but then removed the mask to reveal it's Timonen we'd hear ''he's too old and washed up".

Just a reminder. We traded our top 2 centers ritchie and carts and were still fine. Better even. We CAN move coots with Laughton coming and will be fine.
- SMS4016

Again, Laughton doesn't project to be the same kind of player Couturier does.

i certainly agree with this, but if someone proposed a 1 for 1 swap, couts for OEL, i'd do it.
- isaiah520

Long time reader of Bill's, first time poster.

I agree with the above quote, OEL for Couturier would be a fair trade. Both are cheap and young and have sky high potential. Good trade for both teams as they're both trading from positions of strength to solidify weaknesses.

Looking like the Flyers are going to face Vokoun tonight.

Looking at his TOI and points it seems like he's been streaky. 1 goal in 11:10, 2 assists in 11:34. 2 assists in 11:10, 2 assists in 15:03, 1 assist in 11:37, 1 assist in 12:31, 1 goal in 13:28. But he's also had no points in 12:33, 14:52 and 11:24.

I'd have to watch the games to know whether or not to give him more TOI.
- NickTheKid87

streaky? 10 points in 16 games for an 18 year old despite limited minutes is better than expected returns so far, but the sample is obviously quite small.