We've seen what playing good defense does for a goalie. Whether it's Bryz or Mason....
- Giroux_Is_God

What good defense? Flyers allowed 40 shots on goal to a team that struggles on offense in the Rangers. The Rangers game was a case of a goalie stealing a win for the Flyers for once.

I would be checking with Buffalo on the availability of Christian Ehrhoff. Quietly having a Norris-caliber season on a very bad team.

He has a very long contract (with a NMC) but a very nice cap hit.
- bradleyc4

I like your off the radar thinking but Ehrhoff is not having a Norris-caliber season. He's having a good season for a 2nd pairing dman which he is. That said, I'd love to get him for Hartnell just to get out of the long extension Holmgren just gave him.

I like your off the radar thinking but Ehrhoff is not having a Norris-caliber season. He's having a good season for a 2nd pairing dman which he is. That said, I'd love to get him for Hartnell just to get out of the long extension Holmgren just gave him.
- phillydentist

This season for Hartnell was almost expected. Following his pattern, he has one good season and then one dud, and it's a cycle. So, by that logic, next year should be good lol.

What good defense? Flyers allowed 40 shots on goal by a team that struggles on offense in the Rangers. The Rangers game was a case of a goalie stealing a win for the Flyers for once.
- phillydentist

Nah I didn't say the Rangers game was a clinic on D. It was a poor way of saying that a goalie's play is strongly influenced by the D in front of him, no matter who he is.

Wasn't talking about any game or stretch of games specifically.

EDIT: Mason did steal that game. Refreshing to see....

Yandle is not a shutdown D man by any means but he's not a liability either.

Offensively, he's a bankable double-digit goal and 40-50 point player. He's a two-time All-Star and would have been one again this year had there been an ASG (on a prorated pace for about 17 goals and 50 points).

Also, he's just 26. If he stays healthy, there's absolutely no reason why he can't have 8-10 more highly productive seasons.

Unfortunately, the trading price tag the Coyotes have placed on him is outrageous if the rumors are even within the ballpark of what they've asked for from other clubs. The alleged demand to the Flyers at the draft last summer was Couturier, Brayden Schenn and draft picks including at least one number one pick. From what I heard recently, they haven't come down much. That's a non-starter in terms of trade discussions.

But Phoenix is in the driver's seat here, so long as Maloney is not under an absolute directive to cut salary however he can. Yandle is signed for three more seasons beyond this one, and his $5.2 million cap hit is now actually a little bit below the going rate on All-Star caliber but not quite Norris caliber Dmen.
- bmeltzer

It's ridiculous. The Coyotes have the lowest cap total in the league by far. There's noone within 3 mill of their cap total. The Coyotes only have 6 forwards under contract for next year AND NO GOALIES and only 3 forwards signed beyond next year.

On the other side of things (assuming the Coyotes don't increase expenditures next year) the Coyotes have 45% of their salary already tied up in defensemen.

It's ridiculous how that team is managed because the team is in limbo and under no pressure to field a winning team. The league needs to either find a buyer or move it.

This season for Hartnell was almost expected. Following his pattern, he has one good season and then one dud, and it's a cycle. So, by that logic, next year should be good lol.
- Flyers_V88

I wonder what kind of extension he would've gotten if last year wasn't one of his "good" years.

It's ridiculous. The Coyotes have the lowest cap total in the league by far. There's noone within 3 mill of their cap total. The Coyotes only have 6 forwards under contract for next year AND NO GOALIES and only 3 forwards signed beyond next year.

On the other side of things (assuming the Coyotes don't increase expenditures next year) the Coyotes have 45% of their salary already tied up in defensemen.

It's ridiculous how that team is managed because the team is in limbo and under no pressure to field a winning team. The league needs to either find a buyer or move it.
- Flyers_01

For completely selfish reasons I hope they keep Phoenix right where it is. My dad lives there and I plan visits on Flyer games...

We usually get awesome seats!

And van is asking for the moon for loungo and he's still in van and col ask the moon for Nash and he was stuck in col and they got squat For him when they realized they weren't getting the moon. Point is in yandles case no one is going to pay what pho is asking. If he is possibly on trade market pho will have tp be reasonable eventually. Price might still be too high for Philly but those type players are out there. Look at mason. We got him for nothing.
- SMS4016

Yes, Phoenix will have to be reasonable to move him, but as Bill said, as long as their GM doesn't have to cut salary (which is the current case), they have no reason to trade him for nothing as you say all of the other players were dealt for.

Yes, Phoenix will have to be reasonable to move him, but as Bill said, as long as their GM doesn't have to cut salary (which is the current case), they have no reason to trade him for nothing as you say all of the other players were dealt for.
- five4fighting10

I think there is plenty of room between the moon and nothing. Braydon Schenn and a 2nd for example. The Coyotes are completely bereft of young offensive talent.

What good defense? Flyers allowed 40 shots on goal to a team that struggles on offense in the Rangers. The Rangers game was a case of a goalie stealing a win for the Flyers for once.
- phillydentist

But in fairness ny didnt have much sustained pressure or quality scoring chances. Philly kept them to the outside for the most part. Mason did mSke a few great saves but more importantLy the timely save. And was great at moving the puck and directing traffic.

I like your off the radar thinking but Ehrhoff is not having a Norris-caliber season. He's having a good season for a 2nd pairing dman which he is. That said, I'd love to get him for Hartnell just to get out of the long extension Holmgren just gave him.
- phillydentist

Erhoff is a 1st pairing defenseman. Not a 2nd pair guy.

I wonder what kind of extension he would've gotten if last year wasn't one of his "good" years.
- Flyers_01

I honestly think that played a large part in his contract negotiations... Probably why he took what appeared to be below market value. As in he's not the player that scored 37 goals last year on a nightly basis, and that he has the ability to play at that level sometimes.

I think there is plenty of room between the moon and nothing. Braydon Schenn and a 2nd for example. The Coyotes are completely bereft of young offensive talent.
- Flyers_01

I would do read and a prospect. Maybe a 3rd round pick if needed. Nothing more.

You just know Elias will break out of his slump against us!

You just know Elias will break out of his slump against us!
- BiggE

Yep, we've broken just about everyone's slumps....

@NHLAdamK: #Flyers Steve Mason out for early work with goalie coach Jeff Reese. Likely means Bryzgalov starts tonite vs. Devils
You've got to be (frank)ING kidding me

Read the last six words in Darth Vader's voice a la TESB: "...not a Jedi yet."

Loving the Mucinex sinus spray and the high I get from it. Yay Meds!
- Flyskippy

yes indeed, better living thru chemistry!!

Erhoff is a 1st pairing defenseman. Not a 2nd pair guy.
- MJL

For Buffalo he is. I don't think he would be on most teams.

@NHLAdamK: #Flyers Steve Mason out for early work with goalie coach Jeff Reese. Likely means Bryzgalov starts tonite vs. Devils
You've got to be (frank)ING kidding me
- FLYERSROCK!

Doesn't shock me. I bet they go back and forth the rest of the season.

Yes, Phoenix will have to be reasonable to move him, but as Bill said, as long as their GM doesn't have to cut salary (which is the current case), they have no reason to trade him for nothing as you say all of the other players were dealt for.
- five4fighting10

They still have to ice a team. They have alot of players to sign. 45% of salary on defense is alot. Maybe snider should just buy the yotes like he nought the Quebec aces back in the day. Then we get oel and yandle. Lol.

I like your off the radar thinking but Ehrhoff is not having a Norris-caliber season. He's having a good season for a 2nd pairing dman which he is. That said, I'd love to get him for Hartnell just to get out of the long extension Holmgren just gave him.
- phillydentist

Uh, ok.

@NHLAdamK: #Flyers Steve Mason out for early work with goalie coach Jeff Reese. Likely means Bryzgalov starts tonite vs. Devils
You've got to be (frank)ING kidding me
- FLYERSROCK!

How dare they get a look at the guy they have to make a multi-million dollar decision on!

@NHLAdamK: #Flyers Steve Mason out for early work with goalie coach Jeff Reese. Likely means Bryzgalov starts tonite vs. Devils
You've got to be (frank)ING kidding me
- FLYERSROCK!

Snider must want to hear the chants for m-a-s-o-n. Why they would play spacehead at this point is dumbfounding. Play mason for gods sake! ItS 5 games WTF

That Pittsburgh team had a still-able Gonchar and Letang. Maybe not true #1 defensemen, but 1a types, who both had great post seasons. Carolina, not so much.

But look at every other team:
06/07 - Neidermayer & Pronger
07/08 - Lidstrom
09/10 - Keith & Seabrook
10/11 - Chara
11/12 - Doughty

All guys who are, to me, legitimate #1 defensemen. So yes, it's not a necessity, but it certainly helps. By the same token, for these "2 deep" top notch centers, here are the top2 centers on winners since 05/06:


05/06 - Staal & Brind'Amour
06/07 - Getzlaf & Pahlsson
07/08 - Datsyuk & Filppula
08/09 - Crosby & Malkin
09/10 - Toews & Bollan
10/11 - Krejci & Bergeron
11/12 - Kopitar & Richards/Carter

I wouldn't call Pahlsson, Filppula, or Bolland top-notch, and Brindy is a stretch.

The point is, there are similarities and dissimilarities between every Cup winning team. If there was an easy formula to building one, every team would look the same. It takes just the right mix of young and experience, defensive and offensive depth, and team cohesiveness. Yes, Shea Weber would help, and I'd love to have him. But he wouldn't turn this team into a Cup contender all by himself, and neither would another top-6 center. That said, with the current age and recent injuries to certain players on the Flyer's defense, there should be a directive to look into upgrading it without depleting the offense.
- jmatchett383

The keys to winning a cup in my opinion are
1. Staying healthy, you just can't lose more than 2 or 3 regulars or more than one of your top players and win.
2. Hot goaltending. You don't have to have a vezina winner, but your guy needs to play like one for 2 months.
3. 2 lines that can score consistently, a 3rd line that can chip in some offense, and 4 lines that you can roll when ahead that are all solid defensively
4. 2 pairs of defensemen that you can match up against any line and a 5th guy who can step up into your top 4 without much dropoff.
5. Excellent penalty killing and a solid powerplay.

No but the team is also breakout deficient. I wouldn't overpay for Yandle but a Yandle type player would definately be a step up for the flyers defensive corps.
- Flyers_01

I'd much rather have Yandle, then an injury plagued Mezaros. However I wouldn't
even consider moving Couturier or a top 10 pick for him.

Edit: oops meant wouldn't, fixed it!