Mike Rathje's time in the witness protection program hasn't been that great.

He ordered some spaghetti with marinara sauce, and all he got was egg noodles and ketchup.
- johndewar

Then he hurt his back picking up the fork

Mike Rathje's time in the witness protection program hasn't been that great.

He ordered some spaghetti with marinara sauce, and all he got was egg noodles and ketchup.
- johndewar

Bring back Lukas "The Norris Magnet" Krajicek
- BulliesPhan87

He's Finnish, rested, and ready to return:

Mike Rathje's time in the witness protection program hasn't been that great.

He ordered some spaghetti with marinara sauce, and all he got was egg noodles and ketchup.
- johndewar

they would throw sri racha in that out here, damn hipsters

I'm a fan of Keith Jones. But he isn't a guy who exactly spends a lot of time looking into things. I wouldn't put much stock in that. I think Bryzalov's play is going to be the overwhelming main factor in what the Flyers do. If he stays another Season, does his play warrant staying in the contract for the Flyers. That's it. Not what he says, or what he wants.
- MJL

byrz's play is the major factor behind them making such a determination right now...but like you said, if he absolutely wants out, the flyers can oblige. we're gonna find out one way or another in a few weeks, so opinions are all we have. i would agree, that indications are that he's back, but it's not ironclad just yet.

as far as nxt season, i don't think he'll be able to play up to it thru a plyoff run to get to that point anyway. if mason shows enuf promise, bryz is history.

byrz's play is the major factor behind them making such a determination right now...but like you said, if he absolutely wants out, the flyers can oblige. we're gonna find out one way or another in a few weeks, so opinions are all we have. i would agree, that indications are that he's back, but it's not ironclad just yet.

as far as nxt season, i don't think he'll be able to play up to it thru a plyoff run to get to that point anyway. if mason shows enuf promise, bryz is history.
- isaiah520

I think this will be the key factor regardless of what Ilya does.

byrz's play is the major factor behind them making such a determination right now...but like you said, if he absolutely wants out, the flyers can oblige. we're gonna find out one way or another in a few weeks, so opinions are all we have. i would agree, that indications are that he's back, but it's not ironclad just yet.

as far as nxt season, i don't think he'll be able to play up to it thru a plyoff run to get to that point anyway. if mason shows enuf promise, bryz is history.
- isaiah520

If Bryz plays to a top-5 level and leads the team (LEADS them, as in, is their best player) to at least a hard-fought ECF, I have no problem with them keeping him. If they win despite him (see: Luongo, Robert, 2010 Olympics), then I'd support letting him go.

There's no official trade freeze, like during Christmas, but teams wait to announce them until the SCF is over, because they don't want to take the shine off the games.
- Jsaquella

The mid-season trade "deadline" isn't really a trade deadline, right? It's just the deadline for traded players to be eligible to play in the playoffs, right?

byrz's play is the major factor behind them making such a determination right now...but like you said, if he absolutely wants out, the flyers can oblige. we're gonna find out one way or another in a few weeks, so opinions are all we have. i would agree, that indications are that he's back, but it's not ironclad just yet.

as far as nxt season, i don't think he'll be able to play up to it thru a plyoff run to get to that point anyway. if mason shows enuf promise, bryz is history.
- isaiah520

We're going to find out soon. I don't see the Flyers or Comcast being real eager to hand Bryzalov 24M or whatever it is to walk away.
I have an open mind and think that Bryzgalov is more then capable to play to a high level all Season long. We'll see if he does if he's back

The mid-season trade "deadline" isn't really a trade deadline, right? It's just the deadline for traded players to be eligible to play in the playoffs, right?
- Scoob

Yes. Players can be traded after the TDL, but they are ineligible for the playoffs and have to clear waivers, too

I must have mistyped my initial post... Im not worried about a 7th d-man.. Im saying that if we were to land Edler and not move anyone from our current crop... Gusty would be our 7th... and I think he is ready and deserving of a full time top 6 role. Having Gusty as our 7th would be the problem (albeit a good one to have). I think if we land a top pairing d-man we would be saying goodbye to one of Meszy or Coburn.

Now on to the 7th d-man.. I wouldnt mind Huskins, but would prefer Mark Fistric or Ryan OByrne...

I like big physical 7th d-men
- jak521

sorry, misunderstood.

i think fistric and o'byrne can make a top 6, so i dunno. don't see anyone taking mez w/ those injuries, unless it's to get to the floor and i don't see that as the usual w/ the cap reduction. i'd be too nervous to jettison coby just yet. there always seems to be someone hurt on D and kimmo and nic are likely to be frquent flyers on the IR.

The mid-season trade "deadline" isn't really a trade deadline, right? It's just the deadline for traded players to be eligible to play in the playoffs, right?
- Scoob

No, it's a firm deadline for trades. Players who are claimed on waivers have to be in the Organization to play in the playoffs by the trade deadline.

We're going to find out soon. I don't see the Flyers or Comcast being real eager to hand Bryzalov 24M or whatever it is to walk away.
I have an open mind and think that Bryzgalov is more then capable to play to a high level all Season long. We'll see if he does if he's back
- MJL

I agree that he can. I don't know if he will, though.

If Bryz plays to a top-5 level and leads the team (LEADS them, as in, is their best player) to at least a hard-fought ECF, I have no problem with them keeping him. If they win despite him (see: Luongo, Robert, 2010 Olympics), then I'd support letting him go.
- jmatchett383

if bryz is that dominant thru a plyoff run, yea, but when has he ever done that?

if bryz is that dominant thru a plyoff run, yea, but when has he ever done that?
- isaiah520

No time like the present. He's actually played fairly well with the hands he's been dealt, but now I want to see him take it to the next level and truly become an elite goalie.

No time like the present. He's actually played fairly well with the hands he's been dealt, but now I want to see him take it to the next level and truly become an elite goalie.
- jmatchett383

You might be waiting a long time.

You might be waiting a long time.
- Jsaquella

I'll be done one way or another in 12 months?

3:30 est Time, Don't miss the Colorado Avs Press Conference to announce Patrick Roy as the Teams new Head Coach, VP of Hockey Operations and Starting Goaltender.

If it is true that Roy might push Colorado to select McKinnion over Jones, do you think it is possible to swing a trade with the Panthers to get him, and what would it cost? Couturier and this years 1st?

If it is true that Roy might push Colorado to select McKinnion over Jones, do you think it is possible to swing a trade with the Panthers to get him, and what would it cost? Couturier and this years 1st?
- youarewrong

Would cost a lot more than that.

At least next year's first, plus more, I'd imagine.

We're going to find out soon. I don't see the Flyers or Comcast being real eager to hand Bryzalov 24M or whatever it is to walk away.
I have an open mind and think that Bryzgalov is more then capable to play to a high level all Season long. We'll see if he does if he's back
- MJL

yes, but are they eager to cost themselves millions by giving him 8MM nxt yr if they are not sure that the contract will be brought to term? a little # crunching clearly reveals that there is more here than meets the eye. yes, it shall be very interesting to see how it goes

3:30 est Time, Don't miss the Colorado Avs Press Conference to announce Patrick Roy as the Teams new Head Coach, VP of Hockey Operations and Starting Goaltender.
- Jimmy_wiener

Being 2 years younger doesn't come close to making him a better fit for the Flyers, in my opinion. Edler is a far superior player who is signed to a very good deal. That makes him a significantly better fit for the Flyers then Johnson.
- MJL

Edler's numbers have been inflated from having the Sedin twins on the ice over 40% of shifts taken at ES, and virtually all the time he spends on the PP. He's also got a pretty decent d-partner in Bieksa to help him out. Defensively, he's never been anything special -- he's always had Hamhuis and Salo and Ohlund to do most of his heavy lifting for him on that side of the puck.

On the other hand, EJ's been tasked with carrying the likes of Hunwick and SOB on the ice -- he's had very little support in COL. He also faces tougher defensive assignments than Edler, and he's handled himself pretty well, despite his team as a whole being at the bottom of the league in GA/G 2 of the last 3 seasons. Unlike Edler, he doesn't enjoy top-PP minutes because the Avs are in love with using 5 forwards, and the quality/consistency of his forwards are nowhere close.

In addition to the advantages of age, right-handedness, contract affordability and size, he'd also cost less in terms of assets to acquire.

IMO, buying low on EJ would make a hell of a lot more sense than buying high on guys like Yandle, Edler, etc.

If it is true that Roy might push Colorado to select McKinnion over Jones, do you think it is possible to swing a trade with the Panthers to get him, and what would it cost? Couturier and this years 1st?
- youarewrong

Whoa, wait.....is that now a thing??

I think Seth Jones represents as much of a marketing opportunity for Colorado (he's a home grown kid who learned to play hockey in Denver) as it is a hockey decision to draft him.

Have their been rumblings of Colorado passing on Seth Jones? I'd be shocked. Joe Sakic, himself, counseled Seth's father on how to help Seth along in his early hockey career. I would think Colorado drafting Jones would be a no-brainer, regardless of ISS dropping Jones to #2.

IMO, buying low on EJ would make a hell of a lot more sense than buying high on guys like Yandle, Edler, etc.
- Tomahawk

This.