Over the years when we let a player go, like Bob or Sharp or JVR or Downie (the list goes on and on). we get a lot of people asking why diddn't Management show some patience... well I'm saying we fans should have some patience. Meszaros has every reason to be healthy come the start of next season and has the whole summer to train. He's 10 years younger than Kimmo and when Timmonen was his age he had just had his first full season and was -6 with 25 points. Mez's first full season with Ottawa, he was +34 with 39 points and 16 of them on the PP. We have a guy who has the ability to step up and every reason to be able to be "THE" guy in Philly. Trading him when that's what we need doesn't make any sense to me. I know people want to tinker with the blueline, but honestly we need to realize that 11 games and some seriously random injuries are not a good gauge for a guy who can easily be a 40 point producer next year for us on the back end.

Oh and Lauridson's biggest accomplishment is that he hasn't played long enough to hit a cold streak yet. He's played very well in his time up. But he is a couple years of AHL Seasoning before I'd give him a roster spot. I like him as a call up guy right now and he's made some big leaps, but he's not going to keep improving at that pace. Just like Coots, Schenn, Gus and others, he's going to have setbacks. And once he hits one, I have a feeling I'll end up trying to defend all the things he did do well rather than trying to temper expectations.

I agree with Homer I like our Defense when they are healthy and there is no reason to get freaked out about their health until we know. Because there is no reason to think they won't get back to full health, for Grossman, Mez or Coburn. With Kimmo, Schenn & Gus rounding out our top 6 We got as good and big and as young a blueline as any in the league. They can skate, Hit, block shots and even shoot the puck a bit. I'm all for improving our future Defense, but at the moment, I think it doesn't hurt to wait and see.
- flyler

Big difference being patient with prospects like Bobrovsky, Sharp, Downie, etc. who were traded before they became established and a suddenly injury prone defenseman who has been in the NHL for several years.

The issue with Meszaros is, he's on his third or fourth major shoulder injury. That's a concern and to count on him to be able to play 82 games and not get hurt again is really expecting a lot.

Matt Read could potentially head in the same direction as Ville Leino. Read will be due for a big raise and I feel he already doesn't have a long term future with the flyers after the flyers made a decision on Voracek. On another note, I still don't like the Scott Laughton pick of last season's draft in the first round. Call me crazy but if we could move him to somehow get back on track, I would do it. Laughton might be a responsible defensive forward but I feel first round drafted players should be offensively gifted.

Laughton may never be anything close to Couturier or Schenn...
- SuperSchennBros

Re Laughton- one the more accredited prospects sites did a "redraft". Laughton moved up to 11, the highest differential from the original selection. He is still developing his O face . When given the chance and opportunity, he's delivered. iMO, he's going to be a very good player.

Which nation's media, CDN or US?
- Flyskippy

Both

Over the years when we let a player go, like Bob or Sharp or JVR or Downie (the list goes on and on). we get a lot of people asking why diddn't Management show some patience... well I'm saying we fans should have some patience. Meszaros has every reason to be healthy come the start of next season and has the whole summer to train. He's 10 years younger than Kimmo and when Timmonen was his age he had just had his first full season and was -6 with 25 points. Mez's first full season with Ottawa, he was +34 with 39 points and 16 of them on the PP. We have a guy who has the ability to step up and every reason to be able to be "THE" guy in Philly. Trading him when that's what we need doesn't make any sense to me. I know people want to tinker with the blueline, but honestly we need to realize that 11 games and some seriously random injuries are not a good gauge for a guy who can easily be a 40 point producer next year for us on the back end.

Oh and Lauridson's biggest accomplishment is that he hasn't played long enough to hit a cold streak yet. He's played very well in his time up. But he is a couple years of AHL Seasoning before I'd give him a roster spot. I like him as a call up guy right now and he's made some big leaps, but he's not going to keep improving at that pace. Just like Coots, Schenn, Gus and others, he's going to have setbacks. And once he hits one, I have a feeling I'll end up trying to defend all the things he did do well rather than trying to temper expectations.

I agree with Homer I like our Defense when they are healthy and there is no reason to get freaked out about their health until we know. Because there is no reason to think they won't get back to full health, for Grossman, Mez or Coburn. With Kimmo, Schenn & Gus rounding out our top 6 We got as good and big and as young a blueline as any in the league. They can skate, Hit, block shots and even shoot the puck a bit. I'm all for improving our future Defense, but at the moment, I think it doesn't hurt to wait and see.
- flyler

Kimmo and Schenn souldn't be rounding out our defense they are our best defenders. Coburn, Mez, and Gus round out our defense. And Mezaros will never be THE guy in philly even at his best he isn't deserving of that title. I agree he could definitely work hard this offseason and have a good year next year, but the guy has shown nothing but an ability to get injured easily. Same with Coburn, that little hit against the board was his season-ender? Comon. Also, you have to take everything Homer says with a grain of salt. Sure, he might be genuinely happy with our D, but it's more likely he's saying that as more of a marketing tool, so if he goes into trade negotiations with a team, they're less likely to think that he's desperate for a D man, and therefore willing to overpay.

Re Laughton- one the more accredited prospects sites did a "redraft". Laughton moved up to 11, the highest differential from the original selection. He is still developing his O face . When given the chance and opportunity, he's delivered. iMO, he's going to be a very good player.
- KINGKENZO

He's a great player, but the way we have this team set up at the moment I can't see him ever even breaking into the top 6.

... And Mezaros will never be THE guy in philly even at his best he isn't deserving of that title.
- JAKEw1234

Oh and Gardiner could be Kimmo's replacement?

Look instead of grasping at straws for players that haven't really disappointed anyone yet, I'm sugguesting we take a harder look at the players we have. Because Meszaros's career stats & skills thus far when not injured project him as an eventual top pairing. (Again, I point to his top years in ottawa and his first year in Philly (where he did not get much PP time as in ottawa, hence the point differential))

It's better than overpaying for someone who could end up being worse than our current players.