I guessed Couturier and a first yesterday. Both and first is insanity. Could have had Weber for that package. Shattenkirk is a nice player, but he's the corn in Weber's poop.
- PLindbergh31

If he's lucky lol. Not even in the same class or comparable.

What would it take to get him? Cooter or Schenn and a first or maybe both and the first? The second is too pricey for me.
- Hextall271

It all depends on the contract years left on the specific player. I would think the Blues would want Coots or Schenn and a 1st rounder. But even then I don't think they want to give up the rights on such a prized possession, seeing how scarce top righty defensemen are on the market right now.

Great.. 4th rounder is now gonna turn out to be a hybrid of Zdeno Chara, Shea Weber, and Bobby Orr.
- jak521

of course that's what going to happen. i'm just living in denial. much easier.
- hammarby31

Don't stress, even if that type of player were there to be had by the Flyers, they probably pick someone else...perhaps another center?

I guessed Couturier and a first yesterday. Both and first is insanity. Could have had Weber for that package. Shattenkirk is a nice player, but he's the corn in Weber's poop.
- PLindbergh31

If you take into account their cap hits, their values are a lot closer. Shattenkirk's is $6.5M less on the cap than Weber. That's enough room to get another #1 D or #1C. Assuming he gets a new deal for $4M/yr that's still almost $4M less on the cap which you can use to get a #3D or #2W.

Interesting take, I like it. I was gonna actually bring this up, but fellow Flyers fans, do you not worry even slightly that we're gonna run into the exact same problem when we had Richards and Carter? Too many centers and not enough spots, or right spots? Just a log-jam. I sometimes worry that when Schenn and Couts mature a bit more, they're going to want and need more significant roles, and if Briere is still here, we CANNOT keep him on wing, he's virtually useless there.
- Flyers_V88

I just don't get the stubbornness in trying to fit square pegs in round holes.

Harts - Giroux - Jake
Simmonds - Briere - Gagne
Rinaldo - Schenn - Harry Z. (Read/McGinn/Knuble)
Talbot - Coots - Rusty

Schenn would probably be a bit pissed in the present, but when McGinn and/or Read get back you have options there too. Knuble might be alright with Schenn too. I am just tired of seeing Lavi insist on Talbot and Rusty playing center. Its kind of like Andy Reid insisting on calling a passing play on 2nd and 2, 3rd and 1, just about every damn time.

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.
- phillydentist

Weren't Weber and Suter both UFAs? Shattenkirk will still be restricted at the end of this year, so I doubt with the enormous cap space the Blues will have that they wouldn't be able to get a deal done.

It all depends on the contract years left on the specific player. I would think the Blues would want Coots or Schenn and a 1st rounder. But even then I don't think they want to give up the rights on such a prized possession, seeing how scarce top righty defensemen are on the market right now.
- Blueshockey47

We'll give you picks for either Shattenkirk or Pietrangelo after Holmgren Webers them this summer. Good luck keeping both.

If you take into account their cap hits, their values are a lot closer. Shattenkirk's is $6.5M less on the cap than Weber. That's enough room to get another #1 D or #1C. Assuming he gets a new deal for $4M/yr that's still almost $4M less on the cap which you can use to get a #3D or #2W.
- phillydentist

Fair point. I'd be stunned if Shattenkirk didn't get north of 5 million per year though

A few points

Great win last night, however it means absolutely nothing if they don't beat Ottawa Saturday. The win one, lose one pattern has to go if this team is going to make the playoffs.

I love what Danny Briere brings to this team both on and off the ice. However a cap hit of 6.5 million when the cap will only be 64.3 million next season is just not doable. Therefore he will either be bought out at seasons end, or he will get traded One scenario that I like is he gets traded to a team that will buy him out after the season, and the Flyers then resign him at a much lower cap hit.

Fedotenko is getting beat up here for no reason. The guy is doing a great job on the pk and always hustles. Scratching Knuble was the right move. Let Harry Z compete with McGinn for the last spot once he gets healthy and until Matt Read is ready to return.

My best guess regarding Edmonton is that the Flyers have some interest in Whitney since his contract is up at the end of the year and he has been a healthy scratch. Not sure what has been going on with him in Edmonton, but he would certainly be an upgrade over Gervais and Gus. There is no way the Flyers would give up a top young player for him, so my guess Edmonton may have been scouting Gus or even Harry Z who each could be part of a deal. I really don't think they will make any more moves until Mez returns and they see how their D looks with all of their top 5 guys healthy.

You're skewing the facts way too much the other way. Saying Gagne is healthy and still young is used car salesman talk.

A 3rd or 4th rd pick isn't a back breaker but we did LA a SOLID by taking $2.1M in salary and $3.5M in cap space off their hands for a player that wasn't even playing for them.

The pick should go to the Flyers and not the other way around. Again, it's not a back breaker either way but these things add up over time and I cringe each time Holmgren does that, ie, give up 2nd's like they're toilet paper.

As for Gagne, when he's healthy, he never hurts your team. Put him in any situation and you're good. He's like Couturier-lite. Good to see him back and hope he stays healthy.
- phillydentist

32 is young. and he is healthy. could he be concussed on his next shift? or sustain some other injury? of course. he's had his fair share of issues in recent years. if nothing happens here, he's a nice addition. i feel homer overpays much of the time, but it's not a 1st or 2nd rounder. most picks go nowhere. i'm just not going to worry about it. what's done is done.

Fair point. I'd be stunned if Shattenkirk didn't get north of 5 million per year though
- PLindbergh31

Agree. But if Shatt gets $5M then Piet gets at least $7M. Can STL keep both?

32 is young. and he is healthy. could he be concussed on his next shift? or sustain some other injury? of course. he's had his fair share of issues in recent years. if nothing happens here, he's a nice addition. i feel homer overpays much of the time, but it's not a 1st or 2nd rounder. most picks go nowhere. i'm just not going to worry about it. what's done is done.
- hammarby31

That's more accurate.

I think in my comment I should have mentioned that Shattenkirk is *ONE of our franchise defensemen. A franchise defensemen meaning a should be top pairing defensemen on almost any other team that should be offered a contract through the rest of his prime age career. Pretty much everyone would agree with you that Petro is the elite defenseman not only on our team but in the NHL.
- Blueshockey47

Nobody doubts that Shattenkirk is a great defenseman, but he is the type of player the flyers need and would ask for in a trade for any of our roster players

Couts for Schultz and their First...

GID HOMER.
- Philly1980

Klefbom mps and a 2nd for coots

I think in my comment I should have mentioned that Shattenkirk is *ONE of our franchise defensemen. A franchise defensemen meaning a should be top pairing defensemen on almost any other team that should be offered a contract through the rest of his prime age career. Pretty much everyone would agree with you that Petro is the elite defenseman not only on our team but in the NHL.
- Blueshockey47

I'd still argue that the franchise tag for Shattenkirk is not justified. Only for Pietrangelo. Shattenkirk is good, but he's not at Pietrangelo's level and doesn't offer the size and shutdown play that Pietrangelo does.

I just don't get the stubbornness in trying to fit square pegs in round holes.

Harts - Giroux - Jake
Simmonds - Briere - Gagne
Rinaldo - Schenn - Harry Z. (Read/McGinn/Knuble)
Talbot - Coots - Rusty

Schenn would probably be a bit pissed in the present, but when McGinn and/or Read get back you have options there too. Knuble might be alright with Schenn too. I am just tired of seeing Lavi insist on Talbot and Rusty playing center. Its kind of like Andy Reid insisting on calling a passing play on 2nd and 2, 3rd and 1, just about every damn time.
- Lexington Flyer

i like the lineup a lot more with Read in it than out. Gagne might be better in a 3rd line role - but's got familiarity with briere and briere needs SOMEONE on his line to play to D.

It just seems to me that Meszaros will not be overly enthused by his progress until he gets to really test his body out.

Obviously he'll trip while skating and tear his MCL, PCL, ACL and all the other CL's he's got
- Jsaquella

ZzzzzzzzzzzzCL

Nobody doubts that Shattenkirk is a great defenseman, but he is the type of player the flyers need and would ask for in a trade for any of our roster players
- nonpoint22

Shattenkirk is a good defenseman, I think great is pushing it. He benefits from playing in Hitchcocks system which stresses defensive responsibility. Pietrangelo on the other hand is a great defenseman who St. Louis will do whatever they need to keep.

I would be really leery about moving Couturier for Shattenkirk, I still think we have only seen a small part of what this kid can do on both ends of the ice. Now if we could get Shattenkirk at the deadline for say Matt Read and a 1st, thats a deal I would do.

Just noticed that the title of the blog is Happy Homecoming, Briere.

Still a little under the weather, Bill?

Obviously in terms of points, Gretzky is virtually untouchable.

I think ML was a better overall player. He wasn't afraid to get dirty.
- Scoob

Lemieux!
Pilon!
Fight! (With sticks)

/1990's video game voice

I just don't get the stubbornness in trying to fit square pegs in round holes.

Harts - Giroux - Jake
Simmonds - Briere - Gagne
Rinaldo - Schenn - Harry Z. (Read/McGinn/Knuble)
Talbot - Coots - Rusty

Schenn would probably be a bit pissed in the present, but when McGinn and/or Read get back you have options there too. Knuble might be alright with Schenn too. I am just tired of seeing Lavi insist on Talbot and Rusty playing center. Its kind of like Andy Reid insisting on calling a passing play on 2nd and 2, 3rd and 1, just about every damn time.
- Lexington Flyer

I think the issue is that they want to get Couturier more minutes which is hard to do with having him on the 4th line. I'm not a huge fan of Briere or Schenn playing wing but if every one was healthy, a Gagne-Couturier-Read line could be a huge asset given their defensive prowess and offensive capabilities.

Just noticed that the title of the blog is Happy Homecoming, Briere.

Still a little under the weather, Bill?
- tangent_man

Shattenkirk is a good defenseman, I think great is pushing it. He benefits from playing in Hitchcocks system which stresses defensive responsibility. Pietrangelo on the other hand is a great defenseman who St. Louis will do whatever they need to keep.

I would be really leery about moving Couturier for Shattenkirk, I still think we have only seen a small part of what this kid can do on both ends of the ice. Now if we could get Shattenkirk at the deadline for say Matt Read and a 1st, thats a deal I would do.
- BiggE

Eaxctly. Couldn't have said it better. However, I wouldn't touch Shattenkirk for a 1st and Read. I value them more than I would with what Shattenkirk can do. For Pietrangelo, sure lol.

- FlyersGrace

Better latent than never, right?

i like the lineup a lot more with Read in it than out. Gagne might be better in a 3rd line role - but's got familiarity with briere and briere needs SOMEONE on his line to play to D.
- hammarby31

For sure. He is still about 5 weeks away though. Will be interesting to see what they do when he gets back. If Gagne can consistently play like he did last night, the Flyers have the good problem of options.