It's happened before. Players have come back from concussions, only to have symptoms reoccur at a later time. And you don't have to be hit again for it to happen. Because one thing we do know about players, is that they play with injuries. That they hide injuries from trainers and the team.

I think you just need to admit that you have zero evidence to back up your claim.
- MJL

Concussions don't give the opportunity for ant rvidrnce. So it's real easy to say it is impossible. But what I can point to are the other cheaters in sports. Or how bout the hockey player who takes a run at a guy and boards them when they are defenseless. Or viciously slashes someone or cross checks someone and causes a horrific injury. People say things like: plays like that don't belong in hockey. So why is it so hard to believe that someone would prolong an injury that could never be proven to avoid a trade. In comparison to those other obvious things that are caught on tape, it is a no brainer.

Essentially I think you are saying there is a chance players fake an injury, or the length of one. To think its not even possible, is making these guys out to be some kind of puppy healers imo.

I'd tend to agree with you, especially after the greed I saw during the last lockout. Although, I dont think Briere is one of those guys. Just me.
- flyer_nutter

And it is a business above all else. And every player knows it. I don't blame either side in the lockout. They both were trying to get as much as they could during the negotiation. That's what you do in business. So it seems fairly simple that prolonging an injury would be child's play by comparison.

hmmm I'll pass next up Dillon Simpson
- ob18

Not gonna work! Lowe has a boner for the old boy's club and seems like he wants to recreate it. Besides, Simpson looks like a better prospect than Musil is.

You're targeting the family of the old boy's club. Besides, Simpson looks like a better prospect than Musil is.
- MaximumBone

Then I'd say we have no deal.

Then I'd say we have no deal.
- ob18

Fine

If it's part of their makeup, then it would be permanent. And they would never play to their potential. You're mistaking inconsistent play for their makeup and character, when it's really about a young and developing team going through growing pains. And you didn't address how close the Flyers were, even playing poorly for most of the year, to making the playoffs.
- MJL

Fair enough. I think the lack of confidence plays into it as far as younger players go. But many if our vets did not show. Coburn, Hartnell, And even G. That is a character problem.

Fine
- MaximumBone

We don't have to move him at all. If we did you'd have to make it worth it for us to listen.

As JSaq so eloquently put it numerous times. The Flyers are always trying to win last years Stanley Cup.
- MBFlyerfan

Except they're not, as MOAT has countered numerous times.

Mr. Career Consistency.



Could care less if he was on the team next season or flipping burgers.
- flyer_nutter

When the coach has a defenseman who is not Matt Carle, trying to play Matt Carle's game, it is not the fault of the defenseman that he cannot do what is asked of him and it throws off all facets of his game.

Bill one thing I always admire about you is your willingness to engage us in times of stupidity. Not saying that post you just replied to was either, just sometimes we all can be, maybe not tangent man , ob (the ref), fly skip and some others, but yes even I can briere, *cough I mean be sometimes.
it really is a treat tho how you get into the conversation, being a professional writer of your stature.
- JoeRussomanno

Boy, have I got you fooled.

Marchand little

Yeah, I noticed that too, but apparently, he was not well liked in Phoenix. I don't think he ever threw his teammates under the bus, he's just too honest as you say. I think he was right about when the season was over. I felt it was after the loss to the Rangers.. collapse vs the Penguins at home then the loss to the Bruins in succession. That was it..
- Hextall271

If the best goalie since Bernie Parent (that would be Roman Cechmanek) can be called a bad teammate because he called out his impotent teammates on the ice, then anything is possible in Philly.

Concussions don't give the opportunity for ant rvidrnce. So it's real easy to say it is impossible. But what I can point to are the other cheaters in sports. Or how bout the hockey player who takes a run at a guy and boards them when they are defenseless. Or viciously slashes someone or cross checks someone and causes a horrific injury. People say things like: plays like that don't belong in hockey. So why is it so hard to believe that someone would prolong an injury that could never be proven to avoid a trade. In comparison to those other obvious things that are caught on tape, it is a no brainer.
- section32

Faking an injury isn't cheating. Taking steroids or other PED's is about trying to do better, and is a completely different situation then faking an injury to avoid being traded. Nor is playing physical Hockey in the game itself akin to faking an injury. Nothing you offer here is in any way, shape, or form evidence that JVR faked an injury to avoid being traded. It's not even circumstantial evidence. All you're offering is it's possible, and why is it so hard to believe. Basically, you've got nothing.

Fair enough. I think the lack of confidence plays into it as far as younger players go. But many if our vets did not show. Coburn, Hartnell, And even G. That is a character problem.
- section32

Giroux is a point a game player, tied for 13th in the NHL in scoring. Horrible Season he had. Hartnell got hurt, and never fully recovered until late. Coburn didn't play well. Having a subpar Season, or getting injured, is not a character problem. Especially when all the players mentioned have played at high levels in the past. Really don't know where you get this stuff from.

Faking an injury isn't cheating. Taking steroids or other PED's is about trying to do better, and is a completely different situation then faking an injury to avoid being traded. Nor is playing physical Hockey in the game itself akin to faking an injury. Nothing you offer here is in any way, shape, or form evidence that JVR faked an injury to avoid being traded. It's not even circumstantial evidence. All you're offering is it's possible, and why is it so hard to believe. Basically, you've got nothing.
- MJL

And nobody ever will. That's why it would be so easy.

Boy, have I got you fooled.
- Flyskippy

Not me though!

what happened to him?
playing in Sweden?
- Marc D

Yes, for Modo. Had a good year this season.

And nobody ever will. That's why it would be so easy.
- section32

This makes zero sense.

Giroux is a point a game player, tied for 13th in the NHL in scoring. Horrible Season he had. Hartnell got hurt, and never fully recovered until late. Coburn didn't play well. Having a subpar Season, or getting injured, is not a character problem. Especially when all the players mentioned have played at high levels in the past. Really don't know where you get this stuff from.
- MJL

Neither Hartnell nor G had seasons like last year with Jagr. Homer got greedy and let him walk. Jagr alone probably would have made them a playoff team. We lacked veteran leadership to keep them steady. G looked like he had the weight of the world in his shoulders many night. Call it the NHL13 jinx. But he took a step...maybe a half step backwards this year. So did Hartnell.

This makes zero sense.
- MJL

You are 100% correct if you believe they just would never do something like that. But it is just an opinion.

Neither Hartnell nor G had seasons like last year with Jagr. Homer got greedy and let him walk. Jagr alone probably would have made them a playoff team. We lacked veteran leadership to keep them steady. G looked like he had the weight of the world in his shoulders many night. Call it the NHL13 jinx. But he took a step...maybe a half step backwards this year. So did Hartnell.
- section32

Giroux did not match the Season before, so it is a character issue? 48 points in 48 games. Only 12 players in the entire NHL scored more points then he did. So he went backwards? Are you completely discounting the injury that Hartnell had as a factor in his poor Season?

Giroux is a point a game player, tied for 13th in the NHL in scoring. Horrible Season he had. Hartnell got hurt, and never fully recovered until late. Coburn didn't play well. Having a subpar Season, or getting injured, is not a character problem. Especially when all the players mentioned have played at high levels in the past. Really don't know where you get this stuff from.
- MJL

Going into the season with the inability to score a big free agent and with the losses of those that went elsewhere we knew two things would have to happen to be a playoff team. Youngsters would have to step up and veterans would have to lead and hope Father Time hadn't caught up with them. None of it happened to the NECESSARY DEGREE. Clearly there were bright spots, just not enough to stem the slide.

You are 100% correct if you believe they just would never do something like that. But it is just an opinion.
- section32

I'll repeat, if you want to make a general statement about players, fine. But you aren't doing that. You are accusing a specific player. And offering zero proof. And not offering one single shred of a reasonable thought to back it up. And I don't think it's right to do so. Humans do a lot of things. But we don't accuse someone of doing something, just because it's what humans have been known to do, and why is it so hard to believe that someone would do something like that. Do you get that?

Big Buff is NOT a #1. He is a point producing big guy who is not quite a defenseman, not quite a forward...who is regularly not in the best shape.

He is wildly inconsistent both on and off the ice.

No thanks.
- MBFlyerfan

I'm not saying Buff is the ideal fit, but given the scarcity of puck moving D men, let alone those that are big, physical guys that can play 25 mins a game and put up 50+ points per season, I don't think the Flyers can afford to be too picky. He's a relatively good value at 5.2 mil (less than Carle). Yes, there are some concerns, but they are overblown imo, and hey, if he was perfect he wouldn't be available, right?

I think Buff might be be one of those cases where the player would benefit from a change of scenery...make a new start etc. Pair him with a guy who bends toward staying at home (Grossman, Schenn, Coburn), put him on the PP and he could be a dynamic offensive force without compromising much on the back end. And hey, he'd be an instant whipping boy for you and the other haters! So, there's that.

And as far as his consistency on the ice:

Last three years point production:

2010/11: 53 pts
2011/12: 53 pts
2012/13: projected full season points: 53

Oooh, look at those wild swings up and down!

Giroux did not match the Season before, so it is a character issue? 48 points in 48 games. Only 12 players in the entire NHL scored more points then he did. So he went backwards? Are you completely discounting the injury that Hartnell had as a factor in his poor Season?
- MJL

It's hard to judge Hartnell on a short season with an injury. But he was lack luster at times. Didn't have a ton of jam. And where did G finish last year? Ahead of this year, no?