•Frank Seravalli: The Flyers think they are still in the running for college free agent defenseman Danny DeKeyser.

So is he automatically one of the top 4 if he comes here? Starting to look that way. He can't be worse than what they are throwing out there now.

The biggest mystery to me is still that Lavi wasn't fired at the beginning of that long break they had so that Terry Murray could finish out the year.

I was glad to see Couterier get extended playing time last night.

I keep a close eye on as many Sens rumors as possible, and i have been seeing that Philly might be one of the main parties interested in Bishop. If you were the Fliers GM what would you be willing to offer for Bishop? Would you be willing to do a straight flip of Bishop for Couturier?
- dhamon316

Bishop for Couturier? That seems like a fair deal to you? Come on man your better than that.

If you could add a solid guy next to Schenn the D would actually be pretty solid.. so long as they remain healthy.
- jak521

that third pairing is so fragile

Couterier did look solid last night. Amazing how young this kid is playing in a league of men. My hope is Lavi starts throwing more ice time his way. Get him out there on the PP and just feed him ice time.
- ggunky

Does he still worth Subban?

•Frank Seravalli: The Flyers think they are still in the running for college free agent defenseman Danny DeKeyser.

So is he automatically one of the top 4 if he comes here? Starting to look that way. He can't be worse than what they are throwing out there now.
- fnmjoe13

That says alot doesn't it about the depth of the Flyers blueline and farm system. Years of going for it all have left the Flyers farm system, at least for the near future, very barren. I defy you to find one person who is projected to be a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenseman other than maybe Ghost.

I keep a close eye on as many Sens rumors as possible, and i have been seeing that Philly might be one of the main parties interested in Bishop. If you were the Fliers GM what would you be willing to offer for Bishop? Would you be willing to do a straight flip of Bishop for Couturier?
- dhamon316

No way. What about this year's second?

Bishop for Couturier? That seems like a fair deal to you? Come on man your better than that.
- psuhockey

HAHA I will take that as a solid "No". Honestly I am just trying to get a sense of how much value fans from other teams see in Bishop.

The biggest mystery to me is still that Lavi wasn't fired at the beginning of that long break they had so that Terry Murray could finish out the year.

I was glad to see Couterier get extended playing time last night.
- Flyers_01

that could mean they may have thoughts about the GM?

A trade for Bishop this offseason is worth considering.

And buying out Bryz in the 2014 offseason seems inevitable given his level of play, and the fact his deal goes all the way thru to 2020. Then the Flyers will be free of any cap circumventing contracts that would expose them to recapture penalties if a player retired early. Apart from Pronger's, of course.
- Feanor

See I think Bryz has not been the problem. I'd consider keeping him unless there is a clear upgrade. What I have the biggest issue with is people say buy out Bryz.. but offer no plan (ufa) on who we replace him with or offer a replacement that will cost us young assets. If we trade young assets for the Dman we need then buy out Bryz and then need to pay young assets for a goaltender.. Makes no sense. We'll be lamenting that our forward corps is too weak or old... and round and round it goes.

If Bryz plays the next seven seasons here at or around the same level of his first two seasons as a Flyer were are also massively screwed.

Basically, he has next season to get back to being a .920 goalie in regulation and a .650 shootout goalie, or he has to be bought out because no one is going to trade for his contract.
- Feanor

Again, that's fine but who do you replace him with? backstrom?

That says alot doesn't it about the depth of the Flyers blueline and farm system. Years of going for it all have left the Flyers farm system, at least for the near future, very barren. I defy you to find one person who is projected to be a top 6 forward or a top 4 defenseman other than maybe Ghost.
- Flyers_01

Sure does. Hopefully Ghost likes to lift weights. I watched him play a little this year and can't wait for him to develop but that is gonna take some time.

•Frank Seravalli: The Flyers think they are still in the running for college free agent defenseman Danny DeKeyser.

So is he automatically one of the top 4 if he comes here? Starting to look that way. He can't be worse than what they are throwing out there now.
- fnmjoe13

Well, he can't be worse than what we have. Sign him, and if he can skate to the other end of the ice, he will get a chance here.

So to recap, the goaltending issue still isn't solved, the team has a bunch of overpaid players prone to injury, and the pipeline is a barren wasteland.

Everyone put their shades on, the future is blindingly bright.

A trade for Bishop this offseason is worth considering.

And buying out Bryz in the 2014 offseason seems inevitable given his level of play, and the fact his deal goes all the way thru to 2020. Then the Flyers will be free of any cap circumventing contracts that would expose them to recapture penalties if a player retired early. Apart from Pronger's, of course.
- Feanor

Bishop is not the star of the Ottawa resurrection. Remember, they took the Rangers to 7 games in the playoffs last year with Anderson in goal.

Ottawa plays a puck possession game. Their defense defends but they are also responsible to control the pace of the game. Ottawa is lucky, when Karlsson went down Gonchar stepped up and has played outstanding.

If the Flyers want to follow an Ottawa model look at their coaching staff more than their players. Specifically, think about Luke Richardson coach of the Baby Sens. He bled orange and black and has done an amazing job in preparing many of the young senator players for the NHL. They coach the identical system in Binghamton as they do for the big club,

See I think Bryz has not been the problem. I'd consider keeping him unless there is a clear upgrade. What I have the biggest issue with is people say buy out Bryz.. but offer no plan (ufa) on who we replace him with or offer a replacement that will cost us young assets. If we trade young assets for the Dman we need then buy out Bryz and then need to pay young assets for a goaltender.. Makes no sense. We'll be lamenting that our forward corps is too weak or old... and round and round it goes.
- Hextall271

We dont need a goalie.. were better without Bryz

HAHA I will take that as a solid "No". Honestly I am just trying to get a sense of how much value fans from other teams see in Bishop.
- dhamon316

Bishop is a good you goalie but is still a backup with little starter experience. The Anders Lindback debacle in Tampa will gives teams a pause before trading a lot for an inexperienced backup goalie. I would imagine a deal like Bob's for a 2nd rd pick plus some lower picks as well.

So to recap, the goaltending issue still isn't solved, the team has a bunch of overpaid players prone to injury, and the pipeline is a barren wasteland.

Everyone put their shades on, the future is blindingly bright.


- PLindbergh31

You love when they suck

See I think Bryz has not been the problem. I'd consider keeping him unless there is a clear upgrade. What I have the biggest issue with is people say buy out Bryz.. but offer no plan (ufa) on who we replace him with or offer a replacement that will cost us young assets. If we trade young assets for the Dman we need then buy out Bryz and then need to pay young assets for a goaltender.. Makes no sense. We'll be lamenting that our forward corps is too weak or old... and round and round it goes.
- Hextall271

He is not the main problem with this team, and deserves a chance to play in front of a proper defensive system next year.

But I just can't see him being in net in Philly for the rest of this decade. And the 2014 offseason is the last chance for the Flyers to use one of their two buyouts.

•Frank Seravalli: The Flyers think they are still in the running for college free agent defenseman Danny DeKeyser.

So is he automatically one of the top 4 if he comes here? Starting to look that way. He can't be worse than what they are throwing out there now.
- fnmjoe13

He is prob quoting this from Mckenzie.

http://blogs.edmontonjour...-free-agent-dan-dekeyser/

that third pairing is so fragile
- vejim

But if healthy, one of the better 3rd pairings in the league.

He is not the main problem with this team, and deserves a chance to play in front of a proper defensive system next year.

But I just can't see him being in net in Philly for the rest of this decade. And the 2014 offseason is the last chance for the Flyers to use one of their two buyouts.
- Feanor

All your comments are fair. Just saying he sucks, is scapegoating. Exactly what you say though, the d is the priority and should be fixed this offseason. If we havea solid d corps supporting him... give him a chance to play.. if at that point he is awful, yeah cut him loose after 2014.

Hey Bill,

There is good news with some of the prospects.....Scott Laughton, had 4 pts again last night as the Generals took a 3-1lead over Niagara in their playoff series....he won player of the week last week for his first two games and now has 11 points in 4 games....he may have more offence then you seem to think he has.....I honestly think he is easily 2nd line center NHL, if not higher....think a Doug Gilmour.
The young goalie Stolarz has also been great so far in the playoffs as he continues to back the London Knights....they are definatley on a crash course to meet...both are Memorial cup contenders. They swept Saginaw.
Nick cousins had 3 goals in the first 4 games as well....they are in tough with Owen Sound.
But it is Laughton who has taken his game to another level....this kid could be a heck of a lot more then what I keep hearing....right now.....Holmgren can't possibly consider moving him.

Diaz and Mtl 2nd for Grossman.

Diaz woul be great on the powerplay with Timonen. We need size on the backend. That would be fair.