That is partly because teams view taking a big forward as less of a risk than a defenseman.

Forwards are generally easier to project, and usually develop faster, so you see a quicker return on the pick. There's a lot of draftniks that feel Sean Jones is the best prospect in the draft and at the same time tell you there's a good chance he goes 3rd, behind Drouin and MacKinnon, because of position.
- Jsaquella

Everything you said if true, but it doesn't change the fact that to get a player of Couturier's skill set you have to pick at the top end of the 1st round because other teams will snatch that player up.

IMO the most important attribute of a defensemen is decision making. The problem that scouts have is trying to guess if a prospects decision making at a much slower speed in juniors or a lesser league will translate to the faster pace of the NHL game. You will never know until a player gets to the level if he will be able to handle the pace and there is really no way of replicating it. That is why great defensemen can be had later and 1st round guys don't necessary make it.

I meant frigate. Or possibly freighter.
- Flyskippy

Totally off subject but isnt it annoying that a pacemaker battery can be made to last 20 years but cell phone battery can't last more than 4 hours?
- SMS4016

Not if it limits certain points of view

- JoeRussomanno

Pacemakers also cost over $10,000 but the selection of apps is much worse.
- NickTheKid87

Full obscurity, Sean Connery-style.
- Flyskippy

Sam Raimi
- Flyskippy

If they cast Bruce Campbell as a Sith lord, I'm down with it.

- Flyskippy

hey watching the bastardization of our beloved childhood vintage movies brings out the worst in us all.

One day hopefully we will add

3rd Round - 78th Overall
SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE

to your list

Go Flyers
- Marc D

I friggin hope so!

8 years is the maximum length, 10% of the cap remains the maximum salary. There isn't any strict guideline on maximum cap hit, though
- Jsaquella

It would be 7 years to sign another team's RFA.

Pacemakers also cost over $10,000 but the selection of apps is much worse.
- NickTheKid87

they tried that but they could not find a place to extend the cord to recharge the pacemaker...

Everything you said if true, but it doesn't change the fact that to get a player of Couturier's skill set you have to pick at the top end of the 1st round because other teams will snatch that player up.

IMO the most important attribute of a defensemen is decision making. The problem that scouts have is trying to guess if a prospects decision making at a much slower speed in juniors or a lesser league will translate to the faster pace of the NHL game. You will never know until a player gets to the level if he will be able to handle the pace and there is really no way of replicating it. That is why great defensemen can be had later and 1st round guys don't necessary make it.
- psuhockey

Yet most people here feel that Couturier alone can't land a player like OEL alone, that you'd have to add a kicker, such as a pick.

I agree wholeheartedly with the second part of your post. But when you identify a 21 year old who can be a franchise level defenseman, IMO, it's worth trading a kid like Couturier.

I'm not saying to move Couts for Yandle or Subban. No way I agree to that. But an guy like OEL, who could be similar to Lidstrom....

If they cast Bruce Campbell as a Sith lord, I'm down with it.
- jmatchett

no he can't be taken seriously and sith have to be dead serious.

- Jsaquella

I see you've gone to the "I'm Flyskippy and this is a really cool pic that won't show" school of Image Posting.

Pacemakers also cost over $10,000 but the selection of apps is much worse.
- NickTheKid87

Yeah, pretty much limited to "Keep My Ass Alive"...can't even get Anger Birds

If they cast Bruce Campbell as a Sith lord, I'm down with it.
- jmatchett

Darth Ashhe

For some reason, I feel the urge to pick up a case of Bud Light.

The antidote for said urge is Guinness.
- MunsterMike

Best post of the day!

I see you've gone to the "I'm Flyskippy and this is a really cool pic that won't show" school of Image Posting.


- Flyskippy

I'm your disciple

It would be 7 years to sign another team's RFA.
- MJL

Yeah, I didn;t grasp it was for an offer sheet when I posted.

I still don't see Laughton "replacing" Couturier. He'll likely be a very capable defensive player, but he's not Couturier in that regard.

In fact if Couturier were to be traded, I'd look at adding a veteran on a one or two year deal and allow Laughton to be brought in like Couturier was himself, as a 4th liner.
- Jsaquella

I'm not viewing it in terms of Laughton replacing Couturier, I'm more saying that Laughton will be able to compensate for a portion of the defensive ability that will be lost with Couturier in the long run. When I think about trading Couts, I focused on the long term and not the immediate impact. Framework lineup like:

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
FA LW-Schenn-Simmonds
McGinn-FA C-Read
Cousins-Laughton Rinaldo

Dman traded for Couts-Schenn
Coburn-Grossman
Mesz-Gus

Bryz
FA backup

Obviously a lot more than that could/will change but this would be my projection 3 or 4 years down the road. Knowing the Flyers though, I would expect this to be totally different in reality...

Besides, the Flyers have Laughton coming up through the ranks as a shutdown center and Schenn can be a legit #2 (might already be) so Couturier becomes more expendable.
- NickTheKid87

Laughton is a very nice future 3rd line checking center with a little offensive pop.

Couturier has shown he can shut down the Art Ross Trophy winner over an entire playoff series in his rookie season, and put up 96 points in back-to-back seasons in juniors (due to getting mono, he had the highest points per game of any draft eligible CHL player). He was projected 1st overall before getting mono.

Just a bit of a different player.

If they cast Bruce Campbell as a Sith lord, I'm down with it.
- jmatchett

Darth (frank)ing Ash!

hey watching the bastardization of our beloved childhood vintage movies brings out the worst in us all.
- JoeRussomanno

Pretty much. The fact that the prequels throw out 15+ years of great books that were better than the 3 prequels is irksome, too.

I'm your disciple
- Jsaquella

I'm not viewing it in terms of Laughton replacing Couturier, I'm more saying that Laughton will be able to compensate for a portion of the defensive ability that will be lost with Couturier in the long run. When I think about trading Couts, I focused on the long term and not the immediate impact. Framework lineup like:

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
FA LW-Schenn-Simmonds
McGinn-FA C-Read
Cousins-Laughton Rinaldo

Dman traded for Couts-Schenn
Coburn-Grossman
Mesz-Gus

Bryz
FA backup

Obviously a lot more than that could/will change but this would be my projection 3 or 4 years down the road. Knowing the Flyers though, I would expect this to be totally different in reality...
- NickTheKid87

Yeah, the Flyers will probably re-sign Timonen and Briere for starters.


Just didn't want to be accused of changing my views and get stuck with a cellphone battery in my pacemaker