If you compare the rosters of the pens and oilers for each players first 5-6 seasons I think its not hard to make a case that mario was better.
- twotoekenn

A guy who played with Mario during Mario's rookie year was Warren Young. His career high for goals in a season was 1 prior to Mario's rookie year.

He potted 40 goals playing on a line with Mario and really didn't have much of a career after that.

I'm always going to be on "Team Gretzky", but there's no question Mario did not have as much to work with on his teams as Gretz did.

I'd like Drounin, too. Little dude, but he's got more moves that a double jointed stripper and he's a firey bastard as well.
- Jsaquella

Yea he would be an instant favorite... he kinda reminds of a craftier Marchand.

Garth?
- JCSabs06

I haven't read enough garth to pass judgement, he does have some pierre like love for grigorenko though.

Fedestinko is the new scapegoat.
- PLindbergh31

There used to a late-night WIP host in the mid-1990s, Rob of the "Rob and Rae Show" who had some weird grudge against Rob DiMaio pretty much solely because he wasn't a big goal scorer. Used to get his case nightly and call him "Stinko DiMaio".

Fedotenko has done the job he was brought in to do for the Flyers. He was never a huge scorer (except in two playoffs and AGAINST the Flyers) anyway, but nowadays he's pretty much solely a defensive specialist.

Both were all time greats obviously. Not sure how anyone can be better than Gretzky though.
- PLindbergh31

This is like asking who was the greater physicist, Newton or Einstein?

Bob Ryab
- just about everyfreakinbody

Dead horse beaten. Sweet mother of pearl, let it go now. It, and its derivatives, are tired and not even close to funny.

If I had $1 for every time youve said "Bob Ryab," then i'm pretty sure I could have paid his salary by now..
- Trainfellow

Yeah...? lol. Why do you use Ryab..?

The article itself, touted as "exclusive" has one quote from Briere, which would suggest that there was little one-on-one interview time (although I wasn't there and don't know that for sure).

Secondly that lone quote from Briere says, Briere has a full no-movement clause - meaning he can't even be sent to the minors without his permission - and will not waive it to be dealt to any team in the NHL, regardless of destination.

"I don't want to comment on anything at this point. Trades are not my department. I've been a Flyer for a long time. My heart belongs in Philadelphia with the Flyers. I can't see myself playing anywhere else."

Where is there anything first-hand about refusing to waive the NMC if it comes to that? There isn't. Yet there's a paragraph that leaps to that very conclusion.

"Briere has a full no-movement clause - meaning he can't even be sent to the minors without his permission - and will not waive it to be dealt to any team in the NHL, regardless of destination."

Well, hang on. Was this followup directly asked of Briere? If it was, I'd assume if it were, the paragraph would say "Briere confirmed that he will not waive his no-movement clause under any circumstances" or some such.

If the followup question was not asked, then there's no room for doing more than speculating -- and making crystal clear that it is ONLY speculation -- that he does not seem inclined to waive should the hypothetical situation turn into a real one.
- bmeltzer

That's exactly what I mean. Briere said he wouldn't comment it, and Frank turned it into he's not willing to waive it

He took a fairly innocuous statement and turned it into a definitive statement of fact.

What Briere said is the stock answer every player would say if asked about being traded NMC or not.
- phillydentist

Absolutely, although in Briere's case, it's common knowledge that he's happy here, professionally and personally.

"Briere wants to stay" is nothing anybody didn't already know, nor did he say anything he hasn't said previously.

There used to a late-night WIP host in the mid-1990s, Rob of the "Rob and Rae Show" who had some weird grudge against Rob DiMaio pretty much solely because he wasn't a big goal scorer. Used to get his case nightly and call him "Stinko DiMaio".

Fedotenko has done the job he was brought in to do for the Flyers. He was never a huge scorer (except in two playoffs and AGAINST the Flyers) anyway, but nowadays he's pretty much solely a defensive specialist.
- bmeltzer

He hasnt been terrible... just lately seems realllll slow.

Absolutely, although in Briere's case, it's common knowledge that he's happy here, professionally and personally.

"Briere wants to stay" is nothing anybody didn't already know, nor did he say anything he hasn't said previously.
- bmeltzer

So gut feeling... IF he were to be asked, do you think he would provide a short list of teams? Obviously it would be complete speculation...

Happy for Gagne.

Good guy with a ton of talent but things just didn't work out for him in LA which is too bad.

I hope he finishes the season strong and keeps contributing like he did last night.

p.s. Personal issues aside when he was in Philly, Jeff Carter is a beast and we in LA are thrilled to have him on our team.
- Anjin

I am thrilled you have Carter to. I hated him when he was here. Lazy, lazy player for us. IMO it looked like he felt he was entitled to do whatever... Very frustrating to watch. Maybe being traded away and being bounced around will help the attitude. But I'll never want him back.

I am however pleased to have Gagne back.

I'm not sure where we are headed in trades right now Homer will always keep us guessing...

No need to buy out Briere if we get Shattenkirk for him.


- phillydentist

Do any reasonable Flyers fans believe that the Blues are going to trade away their 24 year old all star franchise Defenseman straight up for a 35 year old 2nd liner? This is honestly the most ludicrous trade rumor I've ever heard.

Dead horse beaten. Sweet mother of pearl, let it go now. It, and its derivatives, are tired and not even close to funny.
- Scoob

Thank you.

So gut feeling... IF he were to be asked, do you think he would provide a short list of teams? Obviously it would be complete speculation...
- jak521

Yes, if it came to that, I think he would talk to his boys, talk to Pat Brisson and then come up with a list.

Fedestinko is the new scapegoat.
- PLindbergh31

If only he was a mobile puck moving D-man, he'd fit the Carle role perfectly (and be more useful too).

Dead horse beaten. Sweet mother of pearl, let it go now. It, and its derivatives, are tired and not even close to funny.
- Scoob

Truly

Do any reasonable Flyers fans believe that the Blues are going to trade away their 24 year old all star franchise Defenseman straight up for a 35 year old 2nd liner? This is honestly the most ludicrous trade rumor I've ever heard.
- Blueshockey47

Not really but it's fun to think about it from this side of things.



OTOH, Holmgren can do a Weber for both of your young dmen this summer so don't be too confident that can't happen either.

Gagne looked to make Couts better right out of the gate with give-and-go and no-look on-the-move passes. Without a doubt, Couts is going to get plenty of opportunities to bury the puck.

And we finally have a decent 2nd powerplay unit.

And clearly Gagne is the reason Talbot cranked that rocket into the net for his 1st of the season.

Do any reasonable Flyers fans believe that the Blues are going to trade away their 24 year old all star franchise Defenseman straight up for a 35 year old 2nd liner? This is honestly the most ludicrous trade rumor I've ever heard.
- Blueshockey47

Hahah, us rational one think its kinda cute.

Do any reasonable Flyers fans believe that the Blues are going to trade away their 24 year old all star franchise Defenseman straight up for a 35 year old 2nd liner? This is honestly the most ludicrous trade rumor I've ever heard.
- Blueshockey47

No, but also don't confuse Shattenkirk with the "franchise" tag. He's far from a franchise D-man yet. He's only had 1 good year, and is MUCH lower on the franchise-tag than a Pietrangelo. He's your true franchise D-man, no question about it. Ideally, we'd love to swap Danny for one of the two, but it won't happen.

Shattenkirk is good, but he's not elite.

There used to a late-night WIP host in the mid-1990s, Rob of the "Rob and Rae Show" who had some weird grudge against Rob DiMaio pretty much solely because he wasn't a big goal scorer. Used to get his case nightly and call him "Stinko DiMaio".

Fedotenko has done the job he was brought in to do for the Flyers. He was never a huge scorer (except in two playoffs and AGAINST the Flyers) anyway, but nowadays he's pretty much solely a defensive specialist.
- bmeltzer

I don't think he's played great, but he's played out of position. He's been terrible on faceoffs, but that isn't his thing. The PK has drastically improved, and he's one of the reasons. I don't dislike him. He's playing hard.

He could play at about 1/6th of that level and its still a good trade. He looked like a legit top 6 winger last night.

Few points on last night:
I think this top line is special. Voracek may not have had a point in last nights game but he was yet again outstanding. Giroux has also looked like himself again. He was involved all over the place. Hartnell is a fan favorite for a reason.. the clown of the group played a very solid "dirty game" and has done so since returning. Great to have him back..

Both Schenn brothers played great games last night... as did Grossmann. B. Schenn could have had a hatty had it not been for bad luck and solid goal tending.

Happy birthday Simon Gagne... and WELCOME BACK!
- jak521

agreed all around. adding a healthy and still young Gagne for nothing (yeah, i'm calling it nothing) is something this team really could use right now. what's not to like?

top line is looking dangerous all the time.

really looking forward to meszaros coming back. if they can get healthy, this team has a lot of potential, even now.

No, but also don't confuse Shattenkirk with the "franchise" tag. He's far from a franchise D-man yet. He's only had 1 good year, and is MUCH lower on the franchise-tag than a Pietrangelo. He's your true franchise D-man, no question about it. Ideally, we'd love to swap Danny for one of the two, but it won't happen.

Shattenkirk is good, but he's not elite.
- Flyers_V88

Thank you. I said this repeatedly yesterday.

Yes, if it came to that, I think he would talk to his boys, talk to Pat Brisson and then come up with a list.
- bmeltzer

I figured.