Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Line Juggling, Talbot Trade Rumors, Flyers UFA Forwards

Roberto Luongo is your meal ticket to the playoffs and back to respectability as a top tier team.

I do not know what you would give up for him but get him now and he will win or get a point in 80% of your remaining games.

For God's sakes Toronto is above you.....

Luongo is your answer.

Get him before New York or New Jersey does.

27th place and a couple teams below us have games in hand.

I don't know what Philly fans know of Luongo other that day after high lights but this guy is a work horse in a 109% sold out building. Great stats...

27th place and a couple teams below us have games in hand.
- Just5

That is a travesty. When the annuals of the team are written, this will be the lowest point ever. And it just does not have to be that way.

That is a travesty. When the annuals of the team are written, this will be the lowest point ever. And it just does not have to be that way.
- Beatle_john

I hope we can take it lower my fren. Like Pittsburgh style

I don't know what Philly fans know of Luongo other that day after high lights but this guy is a work horse in a 109% sold out building. Great stats...
- Beatle_john

Luongo is the second best goalie on your team and would've been long gone if your GM could've found a buyer early in the season. Why is it that Schneider, who has superior stats to Luongo, get's benched anytime he has a bad game but Luongo has to have 3 or 4 bad games to have Schneider play?

At his cap hit Luongo, still a very good goalie, needs to play regardless if there's a better goalie on the roster.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Line Juggling, Talbot Trade Rumors, Flyers UFA Forwards
- bmeltzer

We've now sunk to 14th in theconference... Very good news! If you are going to miss.. the playoffs.. miss in style. Of course we will lose the lottery, but if we are last overall aren't we guaranteed at least a top 5 pick?

Not winnin for Mackinnon
Ruin for Drouin..

and so forth.

That is a travesty. When the annuals of the team are written, this will be the lowest point ever. And it just does not have to be that way.
- Beatle_john

So what you are saying is that you will trade Bryz for Luongo straight up? Interesting. I like the Canucks but they are not a lock for the playoffs and won't go deep with just the Sedin sisters scoring.

Good write up but I'm going to disagree on Gagne. I think the Flyers should actively be trying to trade him as the deadline grows closer. I am not opposed to bringing him back next year at half his current salary. Like you said, he's a role player at this stage which makes him overpaid currently.

The Flyers should already know what they have in Gagne and have another 2 weeks or so to evaluate him before they have to trade him if they are going to. The other side of trading Gagne and others is that the young guys get more experience in more critical roles which helps them for next year.

Let's play McGinn and give Couterier a more offensive role. Call up anyone you can to finish the season. This should be about evaluating and giving the young guys more experience without the quick hook if they struggle.

If the problem is Laviolette coaching to save his job, then management needs to make a decision. If the team is building for the future then let Laviolette know and tell him to play the kids. Otherwise, can him.

Good write up but I'm going to disagree on Gagne. I think the Flyers should actively be trying to trade him as the deadline grows closer. I am not opposed to bringing him back next year at half his current salary. Like you said, he's a role player at this stage which makes him overpaid currently.

The Flyers should already know what they have in Gagne and have another 2 weeks or so to evaluate him before they have to trade him if they are going to. The other side of trading Gagne and others is that the young guys get more experience in more critical roles which helps them for next year.

Let's play McGinn and give Couterier a more offensive role. Call up anyone you can to finish the season. This should be about evaluating and giving the young guys more experience without the quick hook if they struggle.

If the problem is Laviolette coaching to save his job, then management needs to make a decision. If the team is building for the future then let Laviolette know and tell him to play the kids. Otherwise, can him.
- Flyers_01

We're not really in disagreement, then. I have no problem at all with the Flyers trading Gagne. But other teams have to initiate it by making a viable offer. If you actively shop the player to other GMs, the return is usually lower because you're basically trying to give the player away.

Regarding McGinn, I don't think he'll ever play a regular top six offensive role in the NHL. I see him as a third liner.

Flyers should have no interest in a high priced goalie. They already have one. And, he appears to be pretty good as long as he is not overworked.

I think the Flyers have two priorities. A #1 Dman and a solid back up goalie that can give some needed support to Bryzgalov.

The Dman situation will have to wait until the offseason. And, there is not much activity on good back ups right now other than for the possibility of Ottawa moving Bishop. Patience might be important for another 6 weeks.

The Flyers need to give Bryzgalov another year with better support. The buy out option remains an option for the summer of 2014.

I love Max but he might be our best chance at fleecing a team at the deadline. All depends what the return is. Would the Habs give up two of their three 2nd rounders? One of which being Calgary's. That I would be interested in.

Luongo is the second best goalie on your team and would've been long gone if your GM could've found a buyer early in the season. Why is it that Schneider, who has superior stats to Luongo, get's benched anytime he has a bad game but Luongo has to have 3 or 4 bad games to have Schneider play?

At his cap hit Luongo, still a very good goalie, needs to play regardless if there's a better goalie on the roster.
- Flyers_01

Not really the case. This is why I asked if people from the east get to see Loungo. His only misstep was a blowout in Detroit which bumped his numbers up but he still leads over CS in GGA, S% is almost identical and CS only has one more win because he played tonight in Phoenix. Lou has played the higher level of competition this year too. CS is great ---- don't get me wrong, But Lou you would build a contender around and do it within 1 year.

You wonder if Gagne would give the home town discount to finish out his career here. And even if he goes at the deadline, does the other team try to resign him. Clearly too many unknowns. But it would be worth it to restock the farm system.

So what you are saying is that you will trade Bryz for Luongo straight up? Interesting. I like the Canucks but they are not a lock for the playoffs and won't go deep with just the Sedin sisters scoring.
- Hextall271

Again... do you get to see them much? The Sedin's are pretty average this season and their PP is horrible. Hansen is where their offensive is coming from.

The only place they are rock steady is goal... and they have twice as much as they need.

And you are correct, Vancouver is no lock either, although they will not fall to 27th. But since they are not a lock, they need a trade too.

We both need something.
We are in different conferences.
We both hate Toronto. (Just adding that in.)

But no, Bryz will need to be a buyout from your end or else trade him to us as a package. He plays in the AHL this season until he is bought out in the summer. I am sure the Canucks could even be talked into talking some of Lou's contract as well.

Not really the case. This is why I asked if people from the east get to see Loungo. His only misstep was a blowout in Detroit which bumped his numbers up but he still leads over CS in GGA, S% is almost identical and CS only has one more win because he played tonight in Phoenix. Lou has played the higher level of competition this year too. CS is great ---- don't get me wrong, But Lou you would build a contender around and do it within 1 year.
- Beatle_john

I know you are beating the drum for a trade Mr. Gillis. Luongo is a solid tender, but any team would be lunatics to overpay to get him AND have to eat that unearthly contract. I just don't see who is desperate enough to do that. Your best option will be to eat some of the money on his deal in a trade, buy him out or trade Schneider if you really think he's able to turn a 14th place club into a contender overnight. Contrary to what people say who don't watch the Flyers, Bryz has been fine this year, and the mess is not his fault. The second we struckout on Weber and Suter, this is what was going to happen. Give me a #1 dman, and we start the progress back to contention.

Again... do you get to see them much? The Sedin's are pretty average this season and their PP is horrible. Hansen is where their offensive is coming from.

The only place they are rock steady is goal... and they have twice as much as they need.

And you are correct, Vancouver is no lock either, although they will not fall to 27th. But since they are not a lock, they need a trade too.

We both need something.
We are in different conferences.
We both hate Toronto. (Just adding that in.)

But no, Bryz will need to be a buyout from your end or else trade him to us as a package. He plays in the AHL this season until he is bought out in the summer. I am sure the Canucks could even be talked into talking some of Lou's contract as well.
- Beatle_john

I live in Canada. I watch them all the time thank you. Question, do you watch the Flyers much? We need several pieces. One is not a goaltender. Of note, I am a very big Luongo fan. However, us trading pieces to maybe slightly upgrade a position and then force us to carry that insane contract?? It doesn't make sense in any world. If we buy out Bryz and you guys buy out Lu, then we sign Lu for a 2year contract at reasonalbe cost.. then you are talking. Also, I doubt Lu wants to play here.. I think he prefers sunny no pressure Florida.

Also, I suspect that package you speak of would be Couturier, Schenn, or some other young forwards like Simmonds. No way the Flyers do that.

Not really the case. This is why I asked if people from the east get to see Loungo. His only misstep was a blowout in Detroit which bumped his numbers up but he still leads over CS in GGA, S% is almost identical and CS only has one more win because he played tonight in Phoenix. Lou has played the higher level of competition this year too. CS is great ---- don't get me wrong, But Lou you would build a contender around and do it within 1 year.
- Beatle_john

The Flyers will take a look at Luongo once you guys buy him out. No team like Philly who are always near the cap ceiling want his terrible contract.

I love Max but he might be our best chance at fleecing a team at the deadline. All depends what the return is. Would the Habs give up two of their three 2nd rounders? One of which being Calgary's. That I would be interested in.
- hereticpride

I'd only be interested in trading Talbot if it's in a deal that nets the Flyers a promising young defenseman.

Not interested in draft picks, as I think this is a team that contend next year with another piece or two.

I agree Bill. Unless they get an offer they can't refuse, they should keep Talbot. Fedetenko has done what he was brought here to do. One thing I'd like to see next year. Is both Talbot and Fedetenko are the main forwards on the PK. I would like whoever they get to replace Fedetenko, to be a faceoff specialist. They need that. It would also reduce Giroux's PK minutes.
I'd really like the Flyers to bring Gagne back next year. I think he can still play, and can be a solid player.

Roberto Luongo is your meal ticket to the playoffs and back to respectability as a top tier team.

I do not know what you would give up for him but get him now and he will win or get a point in 80% of your remaining games.

For God's sakes Toronto is above you.....

Luongo is your answer.

Get him before New York or New Jersey does.
- Beatle_john

Bryzgalov isn't the problem here. Let jersey or New York get luongo

Talbot is a young guy locked up at a cap friendly hit, that is a good soldier on and off the ice. Naturally he will be the player to get traded.

That is a travesty. When the annuals of the team are written, this will be the lowest point ever. And it just does not have to be that way.
- Beatle_john

Yea well the coach insists on playing firewagon hockey with a group of lead footed defensemen.

I'd only be interested in trading Talbot if it's in a deal that nets the Flyers a promising young defenseman.

Not interested in draft picks, as I think this is a team that contend next year with another piece or two.
- bradleyc4

+1