They draft the player that they have rated as the best. Laughton could have been drafted later, but he was the top player on their board at the time. They did the same in drafting Downie.

If they do trade up it would likely be for a specific player.

The five game rule was only for the short season. It will return to the 9 game rule next season. If they draft a kid like Nurse and keep him because he had a good camp, they're morons
- Jsaquella

My apologies, I knew this. However if the flyers did for example draft Nurse, why are they morons for keeping him? I think many expected B.Schenn to play most of his rookie season and Sean Couturier not at all. Sbisa had an outstanding camp his rookie season. I do believe they held on to Sbisa as a scratch a few times before he reached nine. Bad move or good move to keep him from playing for as long as they did at the time?

I'm rooting for the Sharks. They've always been a team I've liked.

My apologies, I knew this. However if the flyers did for example draft Nurse, why are they morons for keeping him? I think many expected B.Schenn to play most of his rookie season and Sean Couturier not at all. Sbisa had an outstanding camp his rookie season. I do believe they held on to Sbisa as a scratch a few times before he reached nine. Bad move or good move to keep him from playing for as long as they did at the time?
- SuperSchennBros

They kept Sbisa for most of the Season. He played 39 games for the Flyers that year.

My apologies, I knew this. However if the flyers did for example draft Nurse, why are they morons for keeping him? I think many expected B.Schenn to play most of his rookie season and Sean Couturier not at all. Sbisa had an outstanding camp his rookie season. I do believe they held on to Sbisa as a scratch a few times before he reached nine. Bad move or good move to keep him from playing for as long as they did at the time?
- SuperSchennBros

Because he's very likely not ready to be a full time NHL defenseman yet. Nurse has largely gotten by on his physical tools alone. That likely won't be enough at the NHL level. He needs to learn the nuances of playing defense, and he's not going to step in and be able to physically dominate the NHL like he has the CHL ranks.

Sbisa's outstanding camp led to him ending up at wing and being a healthy scratch quite a few times before being returned to juniors later in the season. It was a waste of a year on his ELC.

Some guys can step right into the NHL, there's a lot that can't. Nurse is generally assumed to be a guy that needs more time.

red turtle shell.
- Moose_15

or a self-inflicted green shell

If you're going to reach that much then trade down please. And why are folks seriously interested in Domi at 11th? He is going to be a great 3rd line pest or borderline 2nd line player someday. 5.10.
- coffee junkie

Well, they'd have to be pretty confident that no other team likes the kid as much as they do to trade down... maybe they could have traded down a bit and still gotten Richards or Giroux or Laughton, but I think we're all kind of glad they didn't.

Because he's very likely not ready to be a full time NHL defenseman yet. Nurse has largely gotten by on his physical tools alone. That likely won't be enough at the NHL level. He needs to learn the nuances of playing defense, and he's not going to step in and be able to physically dominate the NHL like he has the CHL ranks.

Sbisa's outstanding camp led to him ending up at wing and being a healthy scratch quite a few times before being returned to juniors later in the season. It was a waste of a year on his ELC.

Some guys can step right into the NHL, there's a lot that can't. Nurse is generally assumed to be a guy that needs more time.
- Jsaquella

Fair enough. What would you do with Matt Read? He's still an asset but will command more money in a year and may have value in a trade this summer? Do you have any ideas as to how upgrade the D?

or a self-inflicted green shell
- BulliesPhan87

Stupid half-wall!

I'm rooting for the Sharks. They've always been a team I've liked.
- Flyskippy

I'll be watching them on tv

how does this happen? tornado? dukes of hazzard ramp?
- hammarby31

weird science part 2

I'll be watching them on tv
- 2Real

Me, too.

Me, too.
- Flyskippy

Me three!

How many would be open to trading down? Let's say Columbus was willing to deal their pick and the Rangers' 1st rounder for the 11th pick. I'd definitely be listening to offers to move down, so long as it involved getting another first rounder.
- Jsaquella

I don't see Columbus giving up another 1st, even one in the 20s to move up 3 spots unless more is going their direction. I'd be all over that trade though, granted much depends on who is on the board at 11.

Still think Gags stays. Love his versatility being able to play on virtually any line. Have to think playing with G and Jake would help him cure that little confidence issue he's having. Could definitely see Reader as trade fodder but who knows what other teams value him at. With G, Schenn, Coots and Laughton and Cousins coming, we're deep down the middle again and will have to use some combination of those guys to get some defensive help you'd have to think.

Made some first round playoff predictions the other day, since it's the only thing we really have left to do now is watch : http://goo.gl/xLe9H

Well, they'd have to be pretty confident that no other team likes the kid as much as they do to trade down... maybe they could have traded down a bit and still gotten Richards or Giroux or Laughton, but I think we're all kind of glad they didn't.
- Tomahawk

When was the last time the flyers traded down? In the first round in particular. I'm not sure thats something they ever spend much time thinking about.

Still think Gags stays. Love his versatility being able to play on virtually any line. Have to think playing with G and Jake would help him cure that little confidence issue he's having. Could definitely see Reader as trade fodder but who knows what other teams value him at. With G, Schenn, Coots and Laughton and Cousins coming, we're deep down the middle again and will have to use some combination of those guys to get some defensive help you'd have to think.

Made some first round playoff predictions the other day, since it's the only thing we really have left to do now is watch : http://goo.gl/xLe9H
- Duce12

With the Cap going down to 64.3M, and Read Cap hit only being 800K. I think he has more value keeping him then trading him. And I like Gagne, and want him back. But I'd rather have Read. Younger and in his prime.

Go, Flyslanders!

http://www.nydailynews.co...se-floor-article-1.402546
- Flyskippy

good lord. and nice detective work!

I hate being all draft focused while the playoffs are just starting... this sucks.
- flyler

Plenty to focus on even for the draft from pick #11 to pick #41 for the Flyers

Fair enough. What would you do with Matt Read? He's still an asset but will command more money in a year and may have value in a trade this summer? Do you have any ideas as to how upgrade the D?
- SuperSchennBros

By assessing Lauridsens ability to play full time NHL in training camp. If yes, work a trade with Read, Mez, Coburn + a 1st + possibly another 1st or a 2nd for that big name #1 or future #1 defensemen. If no, do the trade anyway, and explore free agent possibilities for our 3rd pairing. our roster would be
Hartnell (maybe Akseon if he works crazy hard this offseason[he has insta chem with G and Jake]) - Giroux - Voracek
Schenn - Couturier - Simmonds
gagne??? - talbot - UFA RW (there are tons this year)
Rosehill - Laughton - Rinaldo

Timonen - ThatNewEliteGuy
Schenn - Grossmann
Gustafsson - Lauridsen/UFA (there are alot of older guys who would be good for 1 year)

Bryz - Mason

I think it will work well if the cap can be figured out. They'll need to clear up alot of space considering Giroux, Schenn, and Coots are all RFAs after next season as well.

By assessing Lauridsens ability to play full time NHL in training camp. If yes, work a trade with Read, Mez, Coburn + a 1st + possibly another 1st or a 2nd for that big name #1 or future #1 defensemen. If no, do the trade anyway, and explore free agent possibilities for our 3rd pairing. our roster would be
Hartnell (maybe Akseon if he works crazy hard this offseason
- JAKEw1234[he has insta chem with G and Jake]) - Giroux - Voracek
Schenn - Couturier - Simmonds
gagne??? - talbot - UFA RW (there are tons this year)
Rosehill - Laughton - Rinaldo

Timonen - ThatNewEliteGuy
Schenn - Grossmann
Gustafsson - Lauridsen/UFA (there are alot of older guys who would be good for 1 year)

Bryz - Mason

I think it will work well if the cap can be figured out. They'll need to clear up alot of space considering Giroux, Schenn, and Coots are all RFAs after next season as well.

Any suggestions on who that elite guy is? Who they can target?

After next Season, the Cap is going to go up substantially. Probably significantly higher then the 70.2M it is at now. We could realistically see a 10M raise on the Upper limit from the 64.3M it's going to be next Season. Plus they have the bonus cushion to work with.

Fair enough. What would you do with Matt Read? He's still an asset but will command more money in a year and may have value in a trade this summer? Do you have any ideas as to how upgrade the D?
- SuperSchennBros

If they can get a good, top four(at least) defenseman, I'd consider moving Read, although I hate to. Read's a very versatile player, who fills a lot of roles and fills them all pretty well. For the upcoming season, he's also very, very cheap

Any suggestions on who that elite guy is? Who they can target?

After next Season, the Cap is going to go up substantially. Probably significantly higher then the 70.2M it is at now. We could realistically see a 10M raise on the Upper limit from the 64.3M it's going to be next Season. Plus they have the bonus cushion to work with.
- MJL

I did not know that, but it almost made my day
Realistically, Erik Johnson is a possibility with Seth Jones coming. If I were colorado I would keep both of my 1st overall defenseman, but Johnson has played like poop for the last couple of seasons. We could try going back to nashville for weber, hopefully by now they've realized that they need to scrap and restart a rebuild phase. By the time their youth is good enough to compete Weber will be a veteran and the rest of his career as an elite defenseman will have been all but wasted. We could try Pietrangelo, but I have a feeling St. Louis isn't taking offers. For future elite talent we could try to grab Jonas Brodin, but I think it will still be a few seasons until we will truly call him elite. We could attempt for Byfuglien, I hear he's not well liked in Winnipeg. I'm sure there are countless possibilities going through Homers mind that none of us have even considered, though. He's always been creative.

With the Cap going down to 64.3M, and Read Cap hit only being 800K. I think he has more value keeping him then trading him. And I like Gagne, and want him back. But I'd rather have Read. Younger and in his prime.
- MJL

I think Id like them to keep read unless we use him in a package for a true #1 like pietro or weber. Read is 26 with low miles. He can easily be just as good of a player throughout a 4 year deal. If im the flyers I want another season to evaluate read, cooter, schenn before I decide where to put my eggs

If they can get a good, top four(at least) defenseman, I'd consider moving Read, although I hate to. Read's a very versatile player, who fills a lot of roles and fills them all pretty well. For the upcoming season, he's also very, very cheap
- Jsaquella

What top four defenseman are going to be available? Yandle, Boyle, and...?

cooter, Gusty, 2013 first and 2014 2nd for BRyan and CFowler?