I wonder if Jack Edwards was moved by the ceremony last night?

also, he looks like a weird elf
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I assume this is a Foster comment? Cuz all I could think of was which one?

I might be in the minority here, but I hope they pass on re-signing Hall. Yes, he's been good on faceoffs, on the PK and has been generally effective at ES, but they've got several guys in the pipeline who are under contract who could fill that role. Re-signing Hall would only add redundancy and contribute to the perennial smash against the 50-contract-limit.

Ben Holmstrom is more than primed for the 4th-line pivot spot. He's everything that Hall is, but younger. If he hadn't been hurt at the beginning of this season, he might have made the squad.

Laughton is another candidate... ideally you don't want him to be on the 4th-line, but there's nothing wrong with initiating him in baby steps.

Then there's Talbot, whom Hall was brought here to fill in for... he'll be healthy next season, and while he's probably more ideal as a winger, he's definitely capable of centering an energy line.
- Tomahawk

I have to disagree here. I don't see any of those players having the ability that Hall has in that role. Hall's ability on faceoffs is crucial. And it would take a lot of hard minutes off of Giroux. Who is used too often in defensive situations, simply because he's been the only really capable faceoff guy on the team. Secondly, none of those players are going to match the PK ability and experience that Hall has. And if he resigns for around the same money, the price is right. You need a veteran in that role. Not rookies. Especially because Fedetenko isn't coming back.

he's way better than foster, and foster doesn't get nearly the hate on here that lilja did.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

He is. But like I said, Foster has one asset to the team that he can add, although Lilja is better defensively with regard to positioning, shot blocking, and hitting. Foster's just a passenger in the defensive zone.

Holmstrom's was a 50% guy in a limited sampling last season, and he was known as a faceoff maven in college and minors. With some experience and increased familiarity with linesmen, he could be in the mid-50's if not higher.
- Tomahawk

Could be, but that's just a guess. Hall is a proven faceoff winner.

The issue with Lilja is that he's lost a step after losing a step after never having great foot speed to start with. Add that to the fact that there's nothing that makes him standout (even Foster is know for having a cannon), and you get a poor man's Sean O'Donnell. There's just not much about his game that makes him stand out from the other 7th/8th dmen across the league. So he gets a ton of hate because he's doesn't bring anything to the table that stands out.
- jmatchett383

At $737,500, I'm not sure you can ask for all that much. He's been ok when called upon, and 'ok' is really what they wanted from this signing imo.

I think it just goes to show that it's less about the individual talent on the ice and systems than it is about having all 21-guys dialed in, pulling in the same direction, and supporting each other on the ice.

Running up against a slew of struggling teams doesn't hurt, either.
- Tomahawk

That the players are playing a far less aggressive system now, has a lot to do with it. They're playing a style that they're capable of playing. And because they know they can play it, the team wide confidence is there.

Holmstrom's was a 50% guy in a limited sampling last season, and he was known as a faceoff maven in college and minors. With some experience and increased familiarity with linesmen, he could be in the mid-50's if not higher.
- Tomahawk

i'd rather sign hall at 650k, knowing i could get rid of him easily...much more easily than rosehill, who i would have only re-upped for 1 yr if that.

I assume this is a Foster comment? Cuz all I could think of was which one?

- FlyersGrace

haha i meant hall

i'd rather sign hall at 650k, knowing i could get rid of him easily...much more easily than rosehill, who i would have only re-upped for 1 yr if that.
- isaiah520

One year or two years, doesn't matter. Both are easily moved off the team and the Cap if need be.

I have to disagree here. I don't see any of those players having the ability that Hall has in that role. Hall's ability on faceoffs is crucial. And it would take a lot of hard minutes off of Giroux. Who is used too often in defensive situations, simply because he's been the only really capable faceoff guy on the team. Secondly, non of those players are going to match the PK ability and experience that Hall has. And if he resigns for around the same money, the price is right. You need a veteran in that role. Not rookies. Especially because Fedetenko isn't coming back.
- MJL

if we can consider briere replaced with gagne at half the price and fedo replaced by hall at half the price, i consider it a win-win

i'd rather sign hall at 650k, knowing i could get rid of him easily...much more easily than rosehill, who i would have only re-upped for 1 yr if that.
- isaiah520

I didn't realize he was that cheap. Yeah I like him a great deal more than Rosehill...

if we can consider briere replaced with gagne at half the price and fedo replaced by hall at half the price, i consider it a win-win
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Sounds like a plan to me. That's how you create Cap space. Flyers can't afford to pay 1.75M to a player like Fedetenko for next Season.

I think it just goes to show that it's less about the individual talent on the ice and systems than it is about having all 21-guys dialed in, pulling in the same direction, and supporting each other on the ice.

Running up against a slew of struggling teams doesn't hurt, either.
- Tomahawk

If the coach had realized that many of his players either were'nt in game shape or were injured (Briere & Hartnell) at the start of the season and had toned down his game plan and tempo from day one, they would be in the playoffs. I still lay most of the blame for this season on Laviolette. While Holmgren didn't have a great off season by any means, this team still should have at least 7-10 more points than they do right now, and they would be in the hunt for a playoff spot.

I didn't realize he was that cheap. Yeah I like him a great deal more than Rosehill...
- FlyersGrace

At least we've got Roseburn Rosebud Rosemann Rosecliff Rosestrom Rosehill at under $1m. He can skate his shifts well enough. I'm not a fan of the extra year, but he seems to be a viable option on the fourth line.

At $737,500, I'm not sure you can ask for all that much. He's been ok when called upon, and 'ok' is really what they wanted from this signing imo.
- BulliesPhan87

That's basically it. He's an okay, "we'll call you if we need you", 7th defenseman. I guess the only thing that I'd rag on him about is his mobility. But he's not really that big of a downgrade from some of the other players we've had in the lineup this year.

And if he resigns for around the same money, the price is right. You need a veteran in that role. Not rookies.
- MJL

That's kind of the same rationale that saddled us with guys like Foster, Lilja, and Gervais on the blueline. It's only when there is a catastrophic string of injuries that we seem to realize that there are perfectly viable options in-house... like Bourdon, Lauridsen, McGinn, etc.

Teams like Detroit and NJ allow their kids to come up and populate depth positions so they don't have to go and allocate roster spots and cap money to possibly redundant situations. Whereas, the Flyers seem content to keep putting roadblocks in front of their depth prospects while fast-tracking only their top prospects.

Trenton Titans are done at least for next year. Time to find a new affiliate at that level.

That's kind of the same rationale that saddled us with guys like Foster, Lilja, and Gervais on the blueline. It's only when there is a catastrophic string of injuries that we seem to realize that there are perfectly viable options in-house... like Bourdon, Lauridsen, McGinn, etc.

Teams like Detroit and NJ allow their kids to come up and populate depth positions so they don't have to go and allocate roster spots and cap money to possibly redundant situations. Whereas, the Flyers seem content to keep putting roadblocks in front of their depth prospects while fast-tracking only their top prospects.
- Tomahawk

I don't see them as roadblocks. I see them as guys who are not harmed by sitting in the pressbox playing part time as opposed to a young player who would probably be better off playing bigger minutes/every game in the AHL.

That's basically it. He's an okay, "we'll call you if we need you", 7th defenseman. I guess the only thing that I'd rag on him about is his mobility. But he's not really that big of a downgrade from some of the other players we've had in the lineup this year.
- jmatchett383

If I had to complain (and in his case, it really takes an effort to care enough), I'd wish he had just a bit more durability and/or mobility through the second year of his contract. It saw him sent down to the AHL, I would've preferred to get that money's worth up on the Flyers.

The reality is that he's a low cost spare part, though, so I'm not losing sleep over it.

Trenton Titans are done at least for next year. Time to find a new affiliate at that level.
- mayorofangrytown

I heard that. Maybe we can get an MLRH team (although they got rid of the Marple Gladiators).

That's kind of the same rationale that saddled us with guys like Foster, Lilja, and Gervais on the blueline. It's only when there is a catastrophic string of injuries that we seem to realize that there are perfectly viable options in-house... like Bourdon, Lauridsen, McGinn, etc.

Teams like Detroit and NJ allow their kids to come up and populate depth positions so they don't have to go and allocate roster spots and cap money to possibly redundant situations. Whereas, the Flyers seem content to keep putting roadblocks in front of their depth prospects while fast-tracking only their top prospects.
- Tomahawk

No it's not the same rationale. Teams like NJ and Detroit don't use kids to come up and be their top PK players, and take key defensive draws in key situations and games. So I'm not sure what you're talking about. Also injuries are what saddled us with Foster. And Lilja and Gervais are fine if they play the role that they were signed for. As part time 6/7 defenseman. Injuries again, forced players such as Gervais to take on a bigger role.

Gustafsson, if he wasn't injured, was in the mix for a full time role on the team. Bourdon, if he didn't gt a serious concussion, was also in the mix. McGinn showed that he will be in the mix and get a chance for next Season.

You're talking a completely different situation then a role where your expecting a player such as Hall, to be a key player on the PK, and take key faceoffs.

That's kind of the same rationale that saddled us with guys like Foster, Lilja, and Gervais on the blueline. It's only when there is a catastrophic string of injuries that we seem to realize that there are perfectly viable options in-house... like Bourdon, Lauridsen, McGinn, etc.

Teams like Detroit and NJ allow their kids to come up and populate depth positions so they don't have to go and allocate roster spots and cap money to possibly redundant situations. Whereas, the Flyers seem content to keep putting roadblocks in front of their depth prospects while fast-tracking only their top prospects.
- Tomahawk

But there's value to having a veteran defensive/face-off specialist like Hall.

Unlike the valueless, veteran face-puncher, Jay Rosehill.

I heard that. Maybe we can get an MLRH team (although they got rid of the Marple Gladiators).
- jmatchett383

We could reconstitute the Bulldogs.

We could reconstitute the Bulldogs.
- mayorofangrytown

I'd like to see a professional ice hockey league reminiscent of Pro Beach Hockey, complete with the 3-point line and ice ramps behind each goal. BRING BACK TONY SZABO (why the hell did he never get drafted, dude had some skill)