Couturier absolutely has a spot. And there is no such thing as having too many good young Centers.
- MJL

Totally agree. Also it's hardly uncommon for players to switch positions early in their careers. Example: Gagne was drafted as a center (and primarily played center as an NHL rookie) and then became a winger. Giroux was drafted as a right wing (and mostly played wing in his first NHL season) and then became a center.

Couturier absolutely has a spot. And there is no such thing as having too many good young Centers.
- MJL

So what when Schenn and Couturier both reach their ultimate potential and are both scoring 60/70 pts a season (well one of them wont be with 3rd line minutes), and we still have a gap left by Timonens retirement, you won't think we're at all unbalanced? Couturier makes sense. He's close to the potential of Hamilton. He's in the same development stage that hamilton is in. A Hamilton/Schenn pair could be one of the most feared defensive pairs in the league within a few years. It just makes sense for me. But hey, if Schenn were to move to the LW and play second line with couturier at center and simmonds at RW then I'd be happy too. I just think this is a logical and reasonable way to not only fill a hole that is inevitably opening up within 2 seasons as the #1 Dman, but to get a player that exceeds the expectations of that role. The most successful teams this year (Pittsburgh, Chicago) have elite talent both on forward, and on defense. All I'm saying is we have an opportunity to have the same.

I think it's more that couturier doesn't have a spot. Schenn and Couturier are both projected 1st line/borderline elite centers. It's one thing to have 2 players like that as Pittsburgh does, its another thing to have 3 centers like that plus a projected 2nd line center. There's no balance.
- JAKEw1234

Gagne was drafted as a center, but they didn't deal him just because they already had Lindros/Brind'Amour/Langkow/Primeau... they found a place for him on the left left side and the rest is history.


Edit: Leight... Bill beat me to the anecdote!

Gagne was drafted as a center, but they didn't deal him just because they already had Lindros/Brind'Amour/Langkow/Primeau... they found a place for him on the left left side and the rest is history.
- Tomahawk

And that's the big point I've been making, either switch Schenn to the left or deal couturier and keep schenn as the #2 center. I don't know if coots plays wing, but I think he's better at faceoffs than schenn

Yeah, tagging space, not being able to bank cap space during the season, and a dead roster spot against the 50-limit are all significant penalties... the OP kind of made it sound like we were getting a free pass with the situation.

Didn't they have problems insuring some the back-diving over-40 deals? Not sure if it pertains to Pronger, or only to Kovalchuk/Luongo.
- Tomahawk

There is a new rule regarding tagging space that will come into play for next Season and beyond.

Beginning on March 1 of any League Year(2013/14 League Year and beyond, the
Upper Limit shall be increased by 10% for the sole purpose of calculating Tagged Payroll Room.

go to hockeystreams.com for all the details
- Crimsoninja

that site is money. wonder whether it is here to stay. to make a long story short, too late, if you don't live in a specific part of Anchorage, you have to go through a lot of trouble to make sure you can watch all games (including NHL Network/NBC Sports). This makes all of that go away. Love it.

And that's the big point I've been making, either switch Schenn to the left or deal couturier and keep schenn as the #2 center. I don't know if coots plays wing, but I think he's better at faceoffs than schenn
- JAKEw1234

It could shake out any number of ways, including a deal.

You're preaching to the choir here... we'd all love to add an elite prospect/player on the back end... it's just A LOT easier said than done, for any number of reasons.

that site is money. wonder whether it is here to stay. to make a long story short, too late, if you don't live in a specific part of Anchorage, you have to go through a lot of trouble to make sure you can watch all games (including NHL Network/NBC Sports). This makes all of that go away. Love it.
- wilsonecho91

I'd be wary of subscribing to a site that could be shut down by the FBI.

It could shake out any number of ways, including a deal.

You're preaching to the choir here... we'd all love to add an elite prospect/player on the back end... it's just A LOT easier said than done, for any number of reasons.
- Tomahawk

Right, well I think the biggest reason would be that Boston has big plans for dougie. That's why if we wanted him, I imagine we'd have to overpay for him, hence, Coots and 2 1sts or Coots, a 1st, a 2nd, a 3rd, and Mez.

So what when Schenn and Couturier both reach their ultimate potential and are both scoring 60/70 pts a season (well one of them wont be with 3rd line minutes), and we still have a gap left by Timonens retirement, you won't think we're at all unbalanced? Couturier makes sense. He's close to the potential of Hamilton. He's in the same development stage that hamilton is in. A Hamilton/Schenn pair could be one of the most feared defensive pairs in the league within a few years. It just makes sense for me. But hey, if Schenn were to move to the LW and play second line with couturier at center and simmonds at RW then I'd be happy too. I just think this is a logical and reasonable way to not only fill a hole that is inevitably opening up within 2 seasons as the #1 Dman, but to get a player that exceeds the expectations of that role. The most successful teams this year (Pittsburgh, Chicago) have elite talent both on forward, and on defense. All I'm saying is we have an opportunity to have the same.
- JAKEw1234

I didn't say anything about being unbalanced. Whatever that means. I said there is no such thing as having too many good young Centers. Players can change positions. You can trade from excess to improve another position. But saying Couturier doesn't have a spot doesn't make sense.
The problem with your trade proposals is that you only look at it from the prospective of it making sense for the Flyers. Well in order for a trade to happen, it has to make sense for both teams. And the trades you propose don't do that.

I'd be wary of subscribing to a site that could be shut down by the FBI.
- Tomahawk

no doubt.

And that's the big point I've been making, either switch Schenn to the left or deal couturier and keep schenn as the #2 center. I don't know if coots plays wing, but I think he's better at faceoffs than schenn
- JAKEw1234

The thing is, it's a decision that doesn't have to be made yet. They can go next year with Couturier playing 3rd line center and Schenn playing second, or vice versa. Or one could move to a wing. It doesn't have to be written in stone.

The thing is, it's a decision that doesn't have to be made yet. They can go next year with Couturier playing 3rd line center and Schenn playing second, or vice versa. Or one could move to a wing. It doesn't have to be written in stone.
- Jsaquella

Well my concern is that next year, if Hamilton has a breakout season in boston, he goes from atleast partially obtainable to off of the market.

Right, well I think the biggest reason would be that Boston has big plans for dougie. That's why if we wanted him, I imagine we'd have to overpay for him, hence, Coots and 2 1sts or Coots, a 1st, a 2nd, a 3rd, and Mez.
- JAKEw1234

Sounds like the beginning of the plot to Indecent Proposal, lol.

Well my concern is that next year, if Hamilton has a breakout season in boston, he goes from atleast partially obtainable to off of the market.
- JAKEw1234

I don't think Hamilton is "on the market" now.

Well my concern is that next year, if Hamilton has a breakout season in boston, he goes from atleast partially obtainable to off of the market.
- JAKEw1234

Why fixate on Hamilton? There's a lot of good young defensemen out there.

I didn't say anything about being unbalanced. Whatever that means. I said there is no such thing as having too many good young Centers. Players can change positions. You can trade from excess to improve another position. But saying Couturier doesn't have a spot doesn't make sense.
The problem with your trade proposals is that you only look at it from the prospective of it making sense for the Flyers. Well in order for a trade to happen, it has to make sense for both teams. And the trades you propose don't do that.
- MJL

That's why, as I've said, I imagine we'd have to overpay pretty well for him. If trades are weighted enough with value, logic goes out the window. Theoretically, if Nashville 2 years ago offered us Suter and Weber for Giroux, well there's just too much value there to reject, even though it doesn't make sense for the team. If Homer didn't accept a trade like that, I imagine he'd be fired for incompetence. That's only an example, though, not a realistic scenario.

That's why, as I've said, I imagine we'd have to overpay pretty well for him. If trades are weighted enough with value, logic goes out the window. Theoretically, if Nashville 2 years ago offered us Suter and Weber for Giroux, well there's just too much value there to reject, even though it doesn't make sense for the team. If Homer didn't accept a trade like that, I imagine he'd be fired for incompetence. That's only an example, though, not a realistic scenario.
- JAKEw1234

I'd guess if David Poile made that offer he'd be fired, too

That's why, as I've said, I imagine we'd have to overpay pretty well for him. If trades are weighted enough with value, logic goes out the window. Theoretically, if Nashville 2 years ago offered us Suter and Weber for Giroux, well there's just too much value there to reject, even though it doesn't make sense for the team. If Homer didn't accept a trade like that, I imagine he'd be fired for incompetence. That's only an example, though, not a realistic scenario.
- JAKEw1234

The trades you proposed involving Hamilton, one doesn't make sense for the Flyers. The other doesn't make sense for Boston.

Oduya would immediately become the second best puck-mover on the Flyers if they acquired him. He's better at that aspect of the game than anyone we have except Timonen. He (or someone like him) is the kind of player we should be targeting if we can't land a true #1 - which seems pretty unrealistic at this point. As Bill points out, we have enough big, physical, stay-at-home types. We need some puck movers that are at least decent in their own end, and Oduya fits that bill. I believe he made the pass to Bickel that set up the gwg last night.
- BringBack25

I was pissed we didn't opt for Oduya at the deadline rather than grossman. Still Pissed

I'd guess if David Poile made that offer he'd be fired, too
- Jsaquella

True, but it wouldn't be an offer like that. That was an unrealistic scenario to make a point. But Coots and 2 1sts, a 2nd, and maybe Mez is a pretty huge over payment, but imo both worth it to the team, and not stupid on Homers part to overpay like that.

I was pissed we didn't opt for Oduya at the deadline rather than Kubina. Still Pissed
- Just5

ftfy

The trades you proposed involving Hamilton, one doesn't make sense for the Flyers. The other doesn't make sense for Boston.
- MJL

Which one didn't make sense for the Flyers? And like I said, you can drown logic with value.

funny chris pronger will be on the flyers roster until 2017, never play a game, and the flyers get cap relief by putting on injured reserve, and exactly how is this not circumventing the salary cap?
- devfan30

Because Pronger actually counts against the cap. The Flyers can get LTIR exemption for him, but that eats up space for bonuses, and if they use his space will get cap penalties for bonuses the next season.

It's not ideal to carry a guy on LTIR

True, but it wouldn't be an offer like that. That was an unrealistic scenario to make a point. But Coots and 2 1sts, a 2nd, and maybe Mez is a pretty huge over payment, but imo both worth it to the team, and not stupid on Homers part to overpay like that.
- JAKEw1234

All that for Hamilton? That'd be a ridiculous overpayment.