And all the players that you've mentioned over the last week, including the defenseman du jour, Gardiner, are going to fill that gap left when Timonen retires?
A player who can't currently crack the lineup is going to do that?

I'm not against trading a young player for the right player.
- MJL

Well remember that last season Luke Schenn was in nearly the same position on the same exact team. Him and Gardiner are nearly the same defenseman with the exception of their handedness, and they're style (Schenn is more defensive, proficient offensively;Gardiner is more offensive, proficient defensively). Other than that, they're age, height, team, potential, position on team (stuck at the bottom), position with the fans (Schenn was disliked there, Gardiner is disliked there), position with coaches (not good), are all the same. He's Luke Schenn #2. Would you say Luke Schenn was a solution to anything last year when he was barely on their lineup? Jake Gardiner had 30 points in 75 games last year. At age 21 . This year he's had a sophmore clump (as our dear Coots has), and the fans have all but condemned him to death, his coaching staff has all but decided to throw away his career (he's been a healthy scratch all season, not an AHLer, they haven't tried to develop him more, they've just sat him on the bench. I think someone needs to liberate him, or his career will most likely be wasted there. If we can free him, and only give up a mid aged, top 6 player who can be replaced by Brayden Schenn quite easily, plus a midaged dman that no one really wants here anymore, and be overpaying, then I really think we should do it.

Well remember that last season Luke Schenn was in nearly the same position on the same exact team. Him and Gardiner are nearly the same defenseman with the exception of their handedness, and they're style (Schenn is more defensive, proficient offensively;Gardiner is more offensive, proficient defensively). Other than that, they're age, height, team, potential, position on team (stuck at the bottom), position with the fans (Schenn was disliked there, Gardiner is disliked there), position with coaches (not good), are all the same. He's Luke Schenn #2. Would you say Luke Schenn was a solution to anything last year when he was barely on their lineup? Jake Gardiner had 30 points in 75 games last year. At age 21 . This year he's had a sophmore clump (as our dear Coots has), and the fans have all but condemned him to death, his coaching staff has all but decided to throw away his career (he's been a healthy scratch all season, not an AHLer, they haven't tried to develop him more, they've just sat him on the bench. I think someone needs to liberate him, or his career will most likely be wasted there. If we can free him, and only give up a mid aged, top 6 player who can be replaced by Brayden Schenn quite easily, plus a midaged dman that no one really wants here anymore, and be overpaying, then I really think we should do it.
- JAKEw1234

Luke Schenn played in 79 out of 82 games for the Leafs in his last Season there.

Gardiner played in 12 out of 48 games this past Season for the Leafs.

I'm not in anyway stating that Gardiner is not a good young defenseman with potential. Just that he's not the solution to replacing Timonen that you claim him to be.
The Flyers have spent time trying to develop Gustafsson as a puck moving 2nd PP option. I'd rather see how he develops, then to trade Read for Gardiner now.

I'm more concerned with the Flyers then "rescuing" Gardiner from his dungeon with the Leafs. With the Cap going down, I think keeping Read is a good idea. And seeing what Gustafsson can do.

I'm interested in making the right move, not just any move.

Luke Schenn played in 79 out of 82 games for the Leafs in his last Season there.

Gardiner played in 12 out of 48 games this past Season for the Leafs.

I'm not in anyway stating that Gardiner is not a good young defenseman with potential. Just that he's not the solution to replacing Timonen that you claim him to be.
The Flyers have spent time trying to develop Gustafsson as a puck moving 2nd PP option. I'd rather see how he develops, then to trade Read for Gardiner now.

I'm more concerned with the Flyers then "rescuing" Gardiner from his dungeon with the Leafs. With the Cap going down, I think keeping Read is a good idea. And seeing what Gustafsson can do.

I'm interested in making the right move, not just any move.
- MJL

If we traded Read and Mez to them for Gardiner, bought out briere, signed Clarkson for 4.5 mil, resigned out young players, kept bryz on, and kept Pronger on the cap hit, we would still have over 2 mil left over in cap space next year.

The question was hypothetical. Where would a healthy Meszaros rank on the UFA list this year for defenseman?

I realize there are serious questions about his health. That is the gamble and the risk that needs to be figured out.
- MJL

Maybe at the top. But Hainsey is sitting at the top right now. So it doesn't mean anything. If dumping Mez gives us the room to sign Iginla for example. I'd do it in a heartbeat. I guess Iginla is interested in resigning with Pitt but can they afford him?

If we traded Read and Mez to them for Gardiner, bought out briere, signed Clarkson for 4.5 mil, resigned out young players, kept bryz on, and kept Pronger on the cap hit, we would still have over 2 mil left over in cap space next year.
- JAKEw1234

I would not trade Read and Meszaros for Gardiner. If I'm trading both of them in a package. Or any of the other young players such as B Schenn or Couturier. It's for a more established NHL defenseman. Otherwise, I'm using the draft, and the players we already have. And saving those assets and potential Cap space for the right deal. Gardner is not it in my opinion. If he can be obtained cheaper, I'm interested.

And they'd have closer to 4M in Cap space left over.

I'm totally with you on wanting to improve the future defense for this team. But we need to add the right player. Not just any player.

Maybe at the top. But Hainsey is sitting at the top right now. So it doesn't mean anything. If dumping Mez gives us the room to sign Iginla for example. I'd do it in a heartbeat. I guess Iginla is interested in resigning with Pitt but can they afford him?
- Just5

I wouldn't sign Iginla. Flyers need to go younger. And losing both a defenseman, who isn't replaced, and Cap space in signing Iginla. When you need that to fix the defense. Isn't a good idea in my opinion.

I wouldn't sign Iginla. Flyers need to go younger. And losing both a defenseman, who isn't replaced, and Cap space in signing Iginla. When you need that to fix the defense. Isn't a good idea in my opinion.
- MJL

I agree the Flyers need to go younger, but Iginla can help them big time. He is like Gagne 5X. Its not so much the defense but team defense that needs fixed. He can help by setting an example.

I agree the Flyers need to go younger, but Iginla can help them big time. He is like Gagne 5X. Its not so much the defense but team defense that needs fixed. He can help by setting an example.
- Just5

If you want to fix team defense, Gagne is the player to keep. Iginla is a scorer, not a defensive forward. Iginla's going to want a multi year, top Cap hit deal.

Don't know if this was mentioned earlier...

seravalli, on that very lame DNL replacement show, stated that bryz "may have sealed his fate the other day" and that teammate comments during exit interviews could play the deciding role in determining his fate.

i find this to be a real stretch. i would think that the team would keep the amnesty on the table and see which alternatives are available and what if any, cost would be involved to acquire any of Lu, backstrom, bernier, et al.

if no viable alternative is available, it won't kill them to bring bryz back to compete with mason. any reports that claim certitude at this point are premature, imo.

OTT/MTL is a terrific series...

Don't know if this was mentioned earlier...

seravalli, on that very lame DNL replacement show, stated that bryz "may have sealed his fate the other day" and that teammate comments during exit interviews could play the deciding role in determining his fate.

i find this to be a real stretch. i would think that the team would keep the amnesty on the table and see which alternatives are available and what if any, cost would be involved to acquire any of Lu, backstrom, bernier, et al.

if no viable alternative is available, it won't kill them to bring bryz back to compete with mason. any reports that claim certitude at this point are premature, imo.
- isaiah520

Seravalli=tool
nuff said!

I would not trade Read and Meszaros for Gardiner. If I'm trading both of them in a package. Or any of the other young players such as B Schenn or Couturier. It's for a more established NHL defenseman. Otherwise, I'm using the draft, and the players we already have. And saving those assets and potential Cap space for the right deal. Gardner is not it in my opinion. If he can be obtained cheaper, I'm interested.

And they'd have closer to 4M in Cap space left over.

I'm totally with you on wanting to improve the future defense for this team. But we need to add the right player. Not just any player.
- MJL

Gardiner won't be a #1 defense man, but again he and Luke Schenn would almost perfectly compliment each other, so if he continues to progress in his development he and Luke Schenn could sure as hell be a scary first pair, even though neither of them will be a #1 elite. And we could without a doubt get him for cheaper, but again we need to lose Mez somewhere along the line here. Maybe Gardiner + for Read and Mez. Maybe that 2nd rounder, because honestly Mez is just not worth much more than a 2nd rounder, if he is even worth that much. Gardiner has had a sophomore slump, don't jump on the maple leafs bandwagon and condemn him as they have. I see him being a 50+ point scorer in his prime.

Seravalli=tool
nuff said!
- BiggE

i will say that beat guys are close enuf to the situation that if you hear something new or different from what you thought was happening, it's prob worthwhile to run it by a more trusted source like ASF or Isaac.

After 2

Barrie - 2
London - 1

Stolarz with 17 saves.

Gardiner won't be a #1 defense man, but again he and Luke Schenn would almost perfectly compliment each other, so if he continues to progress in his development he and Luke Schenn could sure as hell be a scary first pair, even though neither of them will be a #1 elite. And we could without a doubt get him for cheaper, but again we need to lose Mez somewhere along the line here. Maybe Gardiner + for Read and Mez. Maybe that 2nd rounder, because honestly Mez is just not worth much more than a 2nd rounder, if he is even worth that much. Gardiner has had a sophomore slump, don't jump on the maple leafs bandwagon and condemn him as they have. I see him being a 50+ point scorer in his prime.
- JAKEw1234

Why do they need to lose Meszaros? If he is healthy enough to play, he's one of their 4 best defensemen. If not, they can LTIR him and get the exemption. He's in the last year of his deal, so it's not as if he's an albatross moving forward, either.

Why do they need to lose Meszaros? If he is healthy enough to play, he's one of their 4 best defensemen. If not, they can LTIR him and get the exemption. He's in the last year of his deal, so it's not as if he's an albatross moving forward, either.
- Jsaquella

I also don't understand this desire to get rid of a 20+ goal scorer who makes 800k in a year where the cap is going down significantly.

Don't know if this was mentioned earlier...

seravalli, on that very lame DNL replacement show, stated that bryz "may have sealed his fate the other day" and that teammate comments during exit interviews could play the deciding role in determining his fate.

i find this to be a real stretch. i would think that the team would keep the amnesty on the table and see which alternatives are available and what if any, cost would be involved to acquire any of Lu, backstrom, bernier, et al.

if no viable alternative is available, it won't kill them to bring bryz back to compete with mason. any reports that claim certitude at this point are premature, imo.
- isaiah520

It's possible that the exit interviews could play a role in a decision on Bryzgalov. They were a primary factor when Bill Barber was fired and probably played a role in Cechmanek's departure, as well.

I also don't understand this desire to get rid of a 20+ goal scorer who makes 800k in a year where the cap is going down significantly.
- MBFlyerfan

Dude, we could get a great AHL defenseman!

Dude, we could get a great AHL defenseman!
- Jsaquella

Well....when you put it that way!

After 2

Baie-Comeau - 0
Halifax - 1

Some pretty damn good games so far. Watching games in Montreal, with that crowd....wow.

The Icelanders showing some spunk, last game was men vs boys.

It's possible that the exit interviews could play a role in a decision on Bryzgalov. They were a primary factor when Bill Barber was fired and probably played a role in Cechmanek's departure, as well.
- Jsaquella

i could see it moving the needle in that direction, but to think that they've gone from an inclination to keep him all the way to amnesty seemed like a stretch. if they don't like the alternatives to him and/or the cost of them...add the financial issues into the bargain. we'll see.

Watching the pens-islanders series and I am really liking it. I was actually pissed at the isles performance two days ago, so it is good to see them stepping up. Also, if they win, they'd have two home matches in a row with an away win in their pocket.

Maybe it really helped throwing all those kittens into the fire.

i could see it moving the needle in that direction, but to think that they've gone from an inclination to keep him all the way to amnesty seemed like a stretch. if they don't like the alternatives to him and/or the cost of them...add the financial issues into the bargain. we'll see.
- isaiah520

Yeah, it could be a factor, but I doubt that it's a deciding factor.