Not being negative. Despite the jersey he wears I hope he gets whatever it is he deserves. Some things are more important than hockey.
- hereticpride

just saying, I am not the only negative fan in this room and God forbid you say anything negative about Homer

...........are Philly fans happy with Luke Schenn?

Cause Toronto Fans have a Giant CN Tower Erection for JVR right now.. This kid goes to the net, has speed to burn and soft hands... playing lights out hockey with Kessel right now

Since he's been hired, Holmgren has brought in the following defensemen:

Braydon Coburn
Kimmo Timonen
Matt Carle
Chris Pronger
Nik Grossmann
Andrej Meszaros
Luke Schenn

He's very capable of acquiring defensemen. It'd be nice if they could draft one that comes up through the system, but at the same time, I agree with the organizational policy of taking the best player on the board, whether he's a center or defenseman
- Jsaquella

other than Sbisa and Pitkanin...where are the home grown Dmen?

Well, Giroux's going to get between a $4 and $5M/year raise. Schenn's salary will probably be higher, but without the bonuses. With the Timonen resigning, it will be hard to keep this team together if you keep both. I'm not advocating buying either out, but it's just hard to figure out.
- jmatchett

Timonen is only resigned for one year. Giroux, Schenn, Read and Couturier are ALL signed through next year and won't see their cap hits increase until 14-15. Timonen's deal won't effect them at all.

...........are Philly fans happy with Luke Schenn?

Cause Toronto Fans have a Giant CN Tower Erection for JVR right now.. This kid goes to the net, has speed to burn and soft hands... playing lights out hockey with Kessel right now
- billyberg10

Just wait til JVR gets hit on the skate with a puck, pulls an abdominal muscle sneezing, or suffers a concussion from a pillow fight with Phaneuf.

I think Bryz, more than anyone on this team, is simply worn out. I'm pretty sure that as of this morning, he leads ALL NHL goalies in minutes played. I know he likes to and needs to play a lot, but this is getting ridiculous.
- BiggE

Imho it's not the number of starts per se, but how hard he's had to work in those starts.

just saying, I am not the only negative fan in this room and God forbid you say anything negative about Homer
- vejim

Lets not even go there, ok?

You're complaining about a GM. I'm saying a sex offender should get due time for the crime.

...........are Philly fans happy with Luke Schenn?

Cause Toronto Fans have a Giant CN Tower Erection for JVR right now.. This kid goes to the net, has speed to burn and soft hands... playing lights out hockey with Kessel right now
- billyberg10

I am. He's tough along the boards and hits like a truck. I'd shudder to think where the defense corps would be without him, despite some of his shortcomings.

Good for JvR. Always liked him, still do. I hope he can stay healthy and consistent for the Leafs, because the next time he is either of those things will be the first time.

wow, there are no panther fans
- vejim

Fixed

just saying, I am not the only negative fan in this room and God forbid you say anything negative about Homer
- vejim

Nothing wrong with legitimate criticism. There is always room for that with any NHL GM. Nature of the position. But it's nice to take into account all of the facts and facotrs when forming that opinion. As Bill Meltzer eloquently pointed out.

other than Sbisa and Pitkanin...where are the home grown Dmen?
- vejim

Ironically, the year the Flyers drafted Giroux, the guy they really wanted was defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti.

How's he doing?

Anyways, your point is well taken, but drafting a defenseman and developing one are two vastly different things. Developing a d-man is much trickier than developing a forward.

If you watch the replay, the lined up and Grossmann was talking to him the whole time. Grossmann at the least was willing.
- Jsaquella

Bo could probably vouch for this as it took place in our corner but she's closer to the action than our seats upstairs. That's how it looked to me. Why would Parros initiate? His team was running away and energetic.

just saying, I am not the only negative fan in this room and God forbid you say anything negative about Homer
- vejim

Being negative is fine. Being ridiculous will get you criticized.

I love the guy, but he is just not at or near a game changing level anymore. He literally will be invisible for 18 minutes and then tap one in and be the star. I hate that.

I grew up playing soccer, lacrosse and hockey. In soccer (my first sport and longest active sport) I played defense. The mindset and game of a defender in soccer crafted me as a person (I like to believe). I could care less about spotlight and the glamour. A forward could be having the worst game ever. Literally doing EVERYTHING wrong.. but the ball rolls to his foot and he buries a shot and immediately everybody forgets about the rest.

A defender is the opposite. He could be having the best game of his life... doing everything that was needed or asked of him... yet, with one tough break he gets beat and the other team scores.. and people hate him. Thats what I love about defense. You have to be at the top of your game at all times... I have taken that mind set and put it to use in both the way I play hockey, and the way I coach soccer. You cant be invisible only to pop in a goal here or there. Do those goals help at times? Absolutely, but the fact that you are a ghost all of the other times has a bigger effect on the big picture.

Danny needs to stop being a Ghost.
- jak521

You're 100% right. I've been on the offensive side of every sport I've played: good hitter in baseball, goal-scorer in hockey, etc. and I have to say, it's awesome to get all the glory for just getting a juicy rebound.

But in all seriousness, you're right, Danny's not creating many chances right now. If he was still a 30 goal type player, he'd have a lot of value, but $6.5 mill for 20 goals isn't cutting it. Personally, I know I'm not a great defensive player and I recall a few games that were close where I knew I had to, and did, step up offensively because that's the best way I can help my team. I think Danny's past that point in his career, physically.

...........are Philly fans happy with Luke Schenn?

Cause Toronto Fans have a Giant CN Tower Erection for JVR right now.. This kid goes to the net, has speed to burn and soft hands... playing lights out hockey with Kessel right now
- billyberg10

Yes, we are very happy with Luke. Glad Reemer is playing well. Always liked him.

I've been in discussions on twitter that suggest that they won't utilize the buyout, because it's a bad business decision. I pointed out that the Flyers utilized two compliance buyouts back in 2006(LeClair & Amonte) and also had more money in one way contracts rotting in Adirondack than they're be paying Briere on a buyout.

It makes pure hockey sense. You can slot Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as your top 3 centers, then have Laughton, Cousins or whomever else in the mix for the 4th spot. The freed up cap space can be used to add pieces, and it creates tagging room to get a jump on re-signing Giroux, Couturier, Schenn & Read.
- Jsaquella

simple cap realities

Ironically, the year the Flyers drafted Giroux, the guy they really wanted was defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti.

How's he doing?

Anyways, your point is well taken, but drafting a defenseman and developing one are two vastly different things. Developing a d-man is much trickier than developing a forward.
- johndewar

my thing is the organization has no faith in drafting Dmen

I am. He's tough along the boards and hits like a truck. I'd shudder to think where the defense corps would be without him, despite some of his shortcomings.

Good for JvR. Always liked him, still do. I hope he can stay healthy and consistent for the Leafs, because the next time he is either of those things will be the first time.
- johndewar

I was a Luke Schenn fan and still think he wil develope into a consistant top 4 quality defensemen. I just always wished his foot speed was a little better.......his first pass needs some work too.

Injuries are a funny thing.. JVR was often injured sure, but being a kid in a mens leauge can do that.

I Still think it was a great "hockey trade" and both teams seam pleased with the outcome.

Since he's been hired, Holmgren has brought in the following defensemen:

Braydon Coburn
Kimmo Timonen
Matt Carle
Chris Pronger
Nik Grossmann
Andrej Meszaros
Luke Schenn

He's very capable of acquiring defensemen. It'd be nice if they could draft one that comes up through the system, but at the same time, I agree with the organizational policy of taking the best player on the board, whether he's a center or defenseman
- Jsaquella

Yea but in that list there isnt a true #1 d-man, a true #1A/B d-man, a true puck mover, a true shutdown d-man, or a true physical d-man.

other than Sbisa and Pitkanin...where are the home grown Dmen?
- vejim

Who cares? So they don't do a great job drafting Dmen. It's not the end of the world. They do a very good job of drafting forwards. Heck when they won their cups the only defenseman drafted and developed by the Flyers were Bladon and Jim Watson. Joe Watson was orginally drafted by Boston, Van Impe by Chicago, Dupont was acquired in a deal with St. Louis and Ashbee was a long time minor league vet.

All of the top dmen in the Keenan years came via trade: Howe, McCrimmon, Crossman, Samuelsson and Marsh and except for Therien, all of the top dmen in the Lindros era came via trade: Desjardins, Haller, Svoboda, Coffey and Dykhuis.

Unless you have a top 4 or 5 pick, drafting Dmen is an utter crapshoot, much more so than drafting forwards.

other than Sbisa and Pitkanin...where are the home grown Dmen?
- vejim

Did you actually read what I posted?

My entire point was that the lack of homegrown defensemen was mitigated by Holmgren's ability to land solid veteran defensemen or young developing defensemen from other teams.

If you draft a center and trade him in 2 years for a defensemen, what's the difference from drafting the defenseman? You still end up with him on the roster.

Yea but in that list there isnt a true #1 d-man, a true #1A/B d-man, a true puck mover, a true shutdown d-man, or a true physical d-man.
- jak521

That list would be good if it started and ended with Bob Ryab.

Just wait til JVR gets hit on the skate with a puck, pulls an abdominal muscle sneezing, or suffers a concussion from a pillow fight with Phaneuf.
- PLindbergh31

I really dont think he is in Carlo Colaiacovo teritory yet........but hey its early....

Being negative is fine. Being ridiculous will get you criticized.
- Jsaquella

I dont think I am being ridiculous...we all have our opinions and some prove to be right

...........are Philly fans happy with Luke Schenn?

Cause Toronto Fans have a Giant CN Tower Erection for JVR right now.. This kid goes to the net, has speed to burn and soft hands... playing lights out hockey with Kessel right now
- billyberg10

Its a shame really. The kid never had a shot with a lot of fans here in Philly. Lofty expectations (not stat wise but in comparison to John LeClair).

I have said numerous times he has 40g/30a potential year in and out.