really hate paying meszaros $4 million for 3rd pairing minutes

grossmann isn't much less, but he's an overpaid, one-dimensional player (more of a skill set fit for the 3rd pair).
- bradleyc4

meszy even when on the third pair played a lot of special teams minutes

if he hadn't died i would have gladly had him on the second PP unit

Congrats on putting the second to final nail in the coffin of this Rangers season.
- MidnightMarauder

obviously i'm rooting against it, but i still think they're gonna make it. the jets will falter

and wait....the rangers have 2 more against florida and 2 against jersey?!? the other 2 against buffalo and carolina...... pretty favorable schedule

- Flyskippy

really hate paying meszaros $4 million for 3rd pairing minutes

grossmann isn't much less, but he's an overpaid, one-dimensional player (more of a skill set fit for the 3rd pair).
- bradleyc4

Meszaros may play on third pair at 5-on-5 but, when healthy, was pulling in 20 mins a game. Not all that long ago, Flyers had five of six D (Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn and Meszaros) all pulling in 20+ mins on average. It meant than no one had to pull in nights like Luke Schenn had in Montreal last night.

Grossmann is not overpaid. He got his market value for a potential UFA of his skill set. Look around the league: Reliable defensive D who block shots -- ala Rob Scuderi ($3.4 million cap hit) -- make in the neighborhood of what Grossmann gets. His skill set is just fine to play on any of the three pairings -- before hurting knee twice, he was excellent on top pair with Robidas in Dallas in 2010-11 -- but he ideally needs to play with a mobile puck mover.

Final thought: Underpaid D in the NHL don't stay underpaid for long once they get established. As soon as UFA years are involved, their price tag shoots up. It's just how it goes in today's NHL.

Meszaros may play on third pair at 5-on-5 but, when healthy, was pulling in 20 mins a game. Not all that long ago, Flyers had five of six D (Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn and Meszaros) all pulling in 20+ mins on average. It meant than no one had to pull in nights like Luke Schenn had in Montreal last night.

Grossmann is not overpaid. He got his market value for a potential UFA of his skill set. Look around the league: Reliable defensive D who block shots -- ala Rob Scuderi ($3.4 million cap hit) -- make in the neighborhood of what Grossmann gets. His skill set is just fine to play on any of the three pairings -- before hurting knee twice, he was excellent on top pair with Robidas in Dallas in 2010-11 -- but he ideally needs to play with a mobile puck mover.

Final thought: Underpaid D in the NHL don't stay underpaid for long once they get established. As soon as UFA years are involved, their price tag shoots up. It's just how it goes in today's NHL.
- bmeltzer

Get ready for Erik Gu$taf$$on, people!

Meszaros may play on third pair at 5-on-5 but, when healthy, was pulling in 20 mins a game. Not all that long ago, Flyers had five of six D (Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn and Meszaros) all pulling in 20+ mins on average. It meant than no one had to pull in nights like Luke Schenn had in Montreal last night.

Grossmann is not overpaid. He got his market value for a potential UFA of his skill set. Look around the league: Reliable defensive D who block shots -- ala Rob Scuderi ($3.4 million cap hit) -- make in the neighborhood of what Grossmann gets. His skill set is just fine to play on any of the three pairings -- before hurting knee twice, he was excellent on top pair with Robidas in Dallas in 2010-11 -- but he ideally needs to play with a mobile puck mover.

Final thought: Underpaid D in the NHL don't stay underpaid for long once they get established. As soon as UFA years are involved, their price tag shoots up. It's just how it goes in today's NHL.
- bmeltzer

hi bill

obviously i'm rooting against it, but i still think they're gonna make it. the jets will falter

and wait....the rangers have 2 more against florida and 2 against jersey?!? the other 2 against buffalo and carolina...... pretty favorable schedule
- FlyerMike18

Devils have been snakebitten in losses as of late. That won't happen against the Rangers. Florida already beat them this season, I can see them split those two games. Buffalo has played better lately, not an easy game. Carolina might be the only slam dunk win on this slate.

The Rangers are a brutal offensive and poorly coached hockey team.

Meszaros may play on third pair at 5-on-5 but, when healthy, was pulling in 20 mins a game. Not all that long ago, Flyers had five of six D (Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn and Meszaros) all pulling in 20+ mins on average. It meant than no one had to pull in nights like Luke Schenn had in Montreal last night.

Grossmann is not overpaid. He got his market value for a potential UFA of his skill set. Look around the league: Reliable defensive D who block shots -- ala Rob Scuderi ($3.4 million cap hit) -- make in the neighborhood of what Grossmann gets. His skill set is just fine to play on any of the three pairings -- before hurting knee twice, he was excellent on top pair with Robidas in Dallas in 2010-11 -- but he ideally needs to play with a mobile puck mover.

Final thought: Underpaid D in the NHL don't stay underpaid for long once they get established. As soon as UFA years are involved, their price tag shoots up. It's just how it goes in today's NHL.
- bmeltzer

I really like Meszaros. When healthy and playing with confidence, there's no better Flyers defenseman with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. Haven't seen that guy in awhile, unfortunately. His contract is/was good value, just diminished returns if he can't crack the top-4 at even strength.

Grossmann is a gritty player and very good at what he does. There just might better value for that skillset to be had. He's on the team, though, and I don't want to give him away. But it's tough to be paying him and Meszaros that much coin with $7 million invested in goaltending.

If you amnesty Bryz, and sign a lesser guy to challenge Mason, it's not so bad to have that money tied up in your 3rd pair.

kimmo/schenn
coburn/meszaros
grossmann/gustafsson
gervais

could work for next season if they're playing a good team defensive game
- bradleyc4

dump mezsaros keep laurdisson

Well that was fun
What got into the Flyers?

Loved Couts game tonight

Also nice seeing a Flyers goalie able to handle the puck

3 things.

1. i got banned last night for the first time ever in on this site for saying nothing more than PK is a punk who needs to be dealt with. no warning. don't know which ref made the decision. weak. (frank)ing. sauce.

2. went to the game tonight. first of the year. flyers looked good. mason was outstanding. i'm shocked they put 3 past CSP. 2 or less is the usual.

3. i played after. first period went horribly wrong. 2nd and 3rd periods were good for me. the ice/rink didn't feel as big as i thought it would. and the ice itself was pretty lousy. it was hot as hell down there too - in an empty building. that surprised me. despite the poor result, it was a cool experience.

3 things.

1. i got banned last night for the first time ever in on this site for saying nothing more than PK is a punk who needs to be dealt with. no warning. don't know which ref made the decision. weak. (frank)ing. sauce.

2. went to the game tonight. first of the year. flyers looked good. mason was outstanding. i'm shocked they put 3 past CSP. 2 or less is the usual.

3. i played after. first period went horribly wrong. 2nd and 3rd periods were good for me. the ice/rink didn't feel as big as i thought it would. and the ice itself was pretty lousy. it was hot as hell down there too - in an empty building. that surprised me. despite the poor result, it was a cool experience.
- hammarby31

1. Probably the Habs ref

2. Mason looked really solid

3. Mason's injury was apparently cramps and Timonen mentioned the heat during the post game.

Happy you enjoyed the experience

Yeah, I'm not sure that's a fallacy. Further, I'm confident you don't know either. Primarily because not every player is the same.


- wolfhounds

Yes, it is a fallacy. Teams know when a player is ready to step up to the next level, without seeing him play in the NHL. Same way scouts know that a Draft pick is ready to step right into the NHL.

Hes played really well since the recall no doubt.
- stveshdy

\

Gustafsson has played at this level before, only to falter. Maybe he's finally healthy now. Anyway, if he can find some consistency, he can be a top 6 defenseman for this team next Season.

Just posted the following on the Rangers blog:

So you lost to a team whose D includes 3 minor leaguers, a journeyman and a 38 year old with a bad foot.
HA
HAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Go Winnipeg!!!

ps. the fact that Columbus has your 1st round pick is the icing on the cake!!



Ain't I a stinker!!

Just posted the following on the Rangers blog:

So you lost to a team whose D includes 3 minor leaguers, a journeyman and a 38 year old with a bad foot.
HA
HAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Go Winnipeg!!!

ps. the fact that Columbus has your 1st round pick is the icing on the cake!!



Ain't I a stinker!!
- BiggE

Oh, you sure told them. You are the interwebs winner!

Just posted the following on the Rangers blog:

So you lost to a team whose D includes 3 minor leaguers, a journeyman and a 38 year old with a bad foot.
HA
HAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Go Winnipeg!!!

ps. the fact that Columbus has your 1st round pick is the icing on the cake!!



Ain't I a stinker!!
- BiggE

I really like Meszaros. When healthy and playing with confidence, there's no better Flyers defenseman with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. Haven't seen that guy in awhile, unfortunately. His contract is/was good value, just diminished returns if he can't crack the top-4 at even strength.

Grossmann is a gritty player and very good at what he does. There just might better value for that skillset to be had. He's on the team, though, and I don't want to give him away. But it's tough to be paying him and Meszaros that much coin with $7 million invested in goaltending.

If you amnesty Bryz, and sign a lesser guy to challenge Mason, it's not so bad to have that money tied up in your 3rd pair.
- bradleyc4

Agree more or less with you on Mez, but agree much more with Bill on Grossmann. He complements his strong physical/shot blocking defensive game with a modicum of puck moving skill from the back end...he's also not completely inept in the offensive zone when the opportunity/need arises. I see his ideal fit as a 2nd pairing complement to a good two-way or offensive D man...his salary is fine for what he brings...only caveat being, his health.