Two words: Barb Underhill. Or Laura Stamm. Get Olly to a power skating coach, and he'd be a very solid third pair guy.
- Jsaquella

couts can go with him. couldn't hurt

Yeah, like 2003, they could conceivably end up with just as good of a player at pick 8-14 as they would have if they were sitting at the top.

Plus, I don't know about you, but I have a lot more confidence in the team's ability to fish a diamond in the rough mid-round than to pick/handle/develop a can't-miss type of prospect. JvR and Pitkanen are still too fresh in my mind.
- Tomahawk

That's a factor, too, although I think that it'd be hard to mess up a lot of the kids slated to go in the top 5 or 6.

I'd be really happy to end up with a Ryan Pulock at 10 or so. Real smart kid, great shot, that's the kind of guy Id love to see them get

couts can go with him. couldn't hurt
- isaiah520

I'd be open to that. I want to see guys go out and attack their weaknesses, or even just improve areas of their games that are not strengths

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.

And seriously? Ducks and Kings at Dodger stadium? I guess one can expect multiple knee injuries from skating on the horrible ice this event will provide. If they can produce ice at all.

Very hard to do with a reduced Salary cap next Season. Need to make a decision and a good one.
- MJL

Very true.

Devil's advocate question: Why isn't Andrej Meszaros in the buyout discussion? We've all assumed that they are just going to buy out either Briere or Bryz (or both) in the next couple of years, but if Mez can't come back or if the team thinks he won't ever be able to stand up to the rigors of being an NHL defensemen, why not buy him out.

I'm not saying that's what the Flyers SHOULD do. I'm just throwing it out there.

Cause he only has one season left and could go on LTIR if he's not healthy. Those two buyouts are too important to waste.

Gagne had a similar concussion to Grossmann's in 2010. He recovered fully but it took a long time. Like Grossmann, Gagne made the mistake of trying to come back to practice a little too soon and then started having vestibular issues. Of course, every situation is different.
- bmeltzer

That's encouraging, I guess. Gagne looks very good out there.

Grossmann just worries me since the concussion happend in practice, was not revealed for weeks, and we still don't know how it happened... and maybe they don't know either. With Briere we heard that he went hard into the boards.

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.
- MBFlyerfan

I agree with cheapening the outdoor game concept. That said, it will be a huge money maker for the NHL and the teams involved.

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.
- MBFlyerfan

Going to last year's Winter Classic made me a believer in the concept. I wish they would do one in Philly every year.

Any defense help for next year will have to come via trade or free agency move. Even Jones is not likely to step in and be a top four guy out of the gate. I like a lot of the kids that will be top 15 picks, I'm not wedded to one in particular.

Obviously, I'd love to see them win the lottery and get a crack and Jones, MacKinnon or Drouin. But I also really like Barkov, Nichushkin and Monahan. Even if they get a guy like Lindholm, it's ok.

Then you have the second tier of defensemen, like Nurse, Pulock, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Morrissey, et al.
- Jsaquella

I didn't mean for next year. I wanted them to get a top 6 pick but I don't see it happening. so that said, I can live with 9-11 and getting Ristolainen.

Since the Flyers look like finishing somewhere around the 10th pick, I hope they can get Ristolainen.
- Feanor

I'm kind of conflicted... on the one hand, any number of Ristolainen, Nurse, and/or Pulock could end up being top-flight dmen... on the other hand, the Flyers will probably rush them into the NHL and then lose patience with the development process...

If Nichushkin plummets down the rankings due to his contract status, or a guy like Monahan or Shinkaruk is still around, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with the Flyers' chances with a forward.

Very true.

Devil's advocate question: Why isn't Andrej Meszaros in the buyout discussion? We've all assumed that they are just going to buy out either Briere or Bryz (or both) in the next couple of years, but if Mez can't come back or if the team thinks he won't ever be able to stand up to the rigors of being an NHL defensemen, why not buy him out.

I'm not saying that's what the Flyers SHOULD do. I'm just throwing it out there.
- johndewar

If he is considered injured they wont be able to buy him out.

Very true.

Devil's advocate question: Why isn't Andrej Meszaros in the buyout discussion? We've all assumed that they are just going to buy out either Briere or Bryz (or both) in the next couple of years, but if Mez can't come back or if the team thinks he won't ever be able to stand up to the rigors of being an NHL defensemen, why not buy him out.

I'm not saying that's what the Flyers SHOULD do. I'm just throwing it out there.
- johndewar

Probably because his contract is over after next season. It's a short term burden at a position which we really need NHL-caliber talent.

If he is considered injured they wont be able to buy him out.
- MBFlyerfan

I hadn't considered that.

If he is considered injured they wont be able to buy him out.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed.

What I'm saying is, if Mez comes back and they think he can't stay on the ice ("You can't help the club in the tub"), then why not buy him out?

Agreed.

What I'm saying is, if Mez comes back and they think he can't stay on the ice ("You can't help the club in the tub"), then why not buy him out?
- johndewar

Because Meszaros is headed into the last year of his contract. You don't waste a CBO on a guy with one year left. If he's hurt, LTIR him.

Ive had interest in him before. Lost cost, strong on faceoffs, defensively sound for the most part. A guy we have needed for a few seasons now.

- MBFlyerfan

Basically a Jim Dowd, without any facial hair. And that's not a bad thing.

Agreed.

What I'm saying is, if Mez comes back and they think he can't stay on the ice ("You can't help the club in the tub"), then why not buy him out?
- johndewar

He can be traded easily, decent cap hit and he doesnt have a NTC or NMC. Flyers could get something for him in trade.

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.

And seriously? Ducks and Kings at Dodger stadium? I guess one can expect multiple knee injuries from skating on the horrible ice this event will provide. If they can produce ice at all.
- MBFlyerfan

I guess I fall in the middle ground on this one. I don't have a problem with multiple outdoor games, but expanding it does kind of ruin the spectacle of having the big 'mark your calendars, folks' event that is the Winter Classic. Meh, as long as it's still hockey they're playing, and the sport is financially healthy, I guess.

Agreed.

What I'm saying is, if Mez comes back and they think he can't stay on the ice ("You can't help the club in the tub"), then why not buy him out?
- johndewar

Because even if healthy, his contract is millions less than Briere, and over sooner. It would make more sense to do it on Briere.

So the choice is 1 more year with Mezzy at 4, or 2 more years with Briere at 6.5.

Its really a no brainer at this point.

can we sign adam hall for his usual 650k for 2 yrs? i know he's not a FA who's over 35 and he's actually had a positive impact in more than one game, but...
- isaiah520

I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop with him... he's been great, but you have to wonder why he would get waived so many times if he was this good all the time. Just a few seasons ago, he was a full-time AHLer.

I agree with cheapening the outdoor game concept. That said, it will be a huge money maker for the NHL and the teams involved.
- Jsaquella

6x more fans a year get to enjoy an outdoor game. Players and owners get to make more money. I'm finding it hard to see why most of the press is complaining about it.

I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop with him... he's been great, but you have to wonder why he would get waived so many times if he was this good all the time. Just a few seasons ago, he was a full-time AHLer.
- Tomahawk

I'm good with him returning, so long as it's for less than the AHL threshold. If he falters or whatever, and he can be sent down without retaining cap, no harm.

Gagne had a similar concussion to Grossmann's in 2010. He recovered fully but it took a long time. Like Grossmann, Gagne made the mistake of trying to come back to practice a little too soon and then started having vestibular issues. Of course, every situation is different.
- bmeltzer

speaking of Gagne, what UFA's do you see coming back?

Kinda funny how it takes this rag tag fugitive fleet of characters to start winning.
- section32

They're doing it on adrenaline. I wouldn't think that long-term success is possible with the current on-ice lineup.

6x more fans a year get to enjoy an outdoor game. Players and owners get to make more money. I'm finding it hard to see why most of the press is complaining about it.
- eayost

If you take something "special" and make it commonplace, it loses some luster. I'm not a huge fan of the outdoor games anyhow. They're a nice novelty, but I'd prefer playing on better indoor ice with no worries about the elements.