Anyone know a good landscaper in the Bucks County area? I need some tree branches lobbed off...
- aightwebang17

I was wondering if anyone else saw that back on page 1, I didnt want to be the Grammar National Socialist this time.

I don't think the original trade has much bearing... Sakic and Roy are probably less concerned with saving face for Sherman than Sherman would be if his was the only hand on the lever.

EJ could probably be had for a Luke Schenn type of deal -- youngster for youngster.

Not cheap, but a hell of a lot cheaper than chasing after Edler, Shattenkirk or Pietrangelo.
- Tomahawk

The original trade absolutely has bearing. EJ is not a cast off. He's a good player. Colorado isn't going to give him away cheaply. My point is that the cost will still be high.

And Gardiner spent a lot of time as a scratch this past Season.
- MJL

He played most of the season with the Marlies. The fact that he performed so well at the AHL level was a source of constant consternation with Leafs fans. When the NHL restarted he was out with a concussion. He tried to play through it and it took him until late March to get back to the NHL. He played more than half the 48 game schedule with the Marlies.

He was scratched for about half (13?) his Leafs games before injuries got him in the lineup against Boston in the playoffs.

Anyone know a good landscaper in the Bucks County area? I need some tree branches lobbed off...
- aightwebang17

pure evil...

The original trade absolutely has bearing. EJ is not a cast off. He's a good player. Colorado isn't going to give him away cheaply. My point is that the cost will still be high.
- MJL

"Not cheap, but a hell of a lot cheaper than chasing after Edler, Shattenkirk or Pietrangelo."

Absolutely. And if you constantly draft defenseman. Then you're going to be trading for and signing forwards. And paying the price there. Same goes for Forwards. Look at LA. Won the Cup last year. In the Conference Finals this year. Out of the 12 top Forwards for the Kings in icetime in the playoffs. They drafted and developed 4 of them.
- MJL

And the Flyers drafted and develpoed the rest. ba da ba.

The original trade absolutely has bearing. EJ is not a cast off. He's a good player. Colorado isn't going to give him away cheaply. My point is that the cost will still be high.
- MJL

The cost would be high not because of what Colorado traded him for, but because despite not living up to expectations, he is still the best Colorado has.

"Not cheap, but a hell of a lot cheaper than chasing after Edler, Shattenkirk or Pietrangelo."


- Tomahawk

Shattenkirk would be cheaper. Colorado's defense hinges around Johnson. St. louis's does not. Plus they have other needs to sure up. The queston is if there is going to be a biding war for him. But there would be with any defenseman.

pure evil...


- mayorofangrytown

lol

Shattenkirk would be cheaper. Colorado's defense hinges around Johnson. St. louis's does not. Plus they have other needs to sure up. The queston is if there is going to be a biding war for him. But there would be with any defenseman.
- youarewrong

Shattenkirk has played well the past couple of seasons, they don't have anybody who could step into his role, and they don't seem to have any needs that the Flyers would be able to fill for them.

I agree that Johnson's availability is suspect if they plan on icing a competitive product next season... but the likelihood of him moving is still higher than guys who are playing well like Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk and Voynov, etc.

It's a catch 22. You try and help out the poor teams by limiting how much they have to spend. But the flipside is you restrict the top teams from putting the best product on the ice, that they can. Due to spending restrictions. And cut your own throat.
- MJL

Baseball has it right: luxury tax. They manage to have smaller market teams pull a penant out every couple years too. [/img]

Shattenkirk would be cheaper. Colorado's defense hinges around Johnson. St. louis's does not. Plus they have other needs to sure up. The queston is if there is going to be a biding war for him. But there would be with any defenseman.
- youarewrong

Im starting to warm up to the idea of just keeping the D we have currently. For one they werent all healthy at the same time at any point of the season. I really dont want to trade anymore forwards or prospects just look at the playoffs now..... tired of watching former players succeed and we get the shaft.

Understood. Lob sided trades like the ones I illustrated set franchises back years. You can't trade talented youth like that for decaying veteran rentals.
- PLindbergh31

hahahaha......not one of those trades set the franchise back for years.

Shattenkirk has played well the past couple of seasons, they don't have anybody who could step into his role, and they don't seem to have any needs that the Flyers would be able to fill for them.

I agree that Johnson's availability is suspect if they plan on icing a competitive product next season... but the likelihood of him moving is still higher than guys who are playing well like Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk and Voynov, etc.
- Tomahawk

Is St Louis going to want to pay market value/high dollar for Shatty and Petro? Going to need to pay at least or around 6 mil each. They still have other RFA's to sign as well.

Shattenkirk has played well the past couple of seasons, they don't have anybody who could step into his role, and they don't seem to have any needs that the Flyers would be able to fill for them.

I agree that Johnson's availability is suspect if they plan on icing a competitive product next season... but the likelihood of him moving is still higher than guys who are playing well like Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk and Voynov, etc.
- Tomahawk

Shattenkirk is playing well, but almost the entire blues team is either UFA or RFA, and that is trouble in a season when the cap is so low.

I do think there are some very sexy pieces the Blues and Hitchcock would love to have. First being Couturier. Proto-typical Hitchcock player.

However, just for cap reasons I could see Read and Coburn being moved for Shattenkirk. Read is a cheap scorer, that can do it all and Coburn is a good value for his cap hit, he just doesnt fit the Flyers needs right now.

Anyone know a good landscaper in the Bucks County area? I need some tree branches lobbed off...
- aightwebang17

Homerun

Shattenkirk is playing well, but almost the entire blues team is either UFA or RFA, and that is trouble in a season when the cap is so low.

I do think there are some very sexy pieces the Blues and Hitchcock would love to have. First being Couturier. Proto-typical Hitchcock player.

However, just for cap reasons I could see Read and Coburn being moved for Shattenkirk. Read is a cheap scorer, that can do it all and Coburn is a good value for his cap hit, he just doesnt fit the Flyers needs right now.
- youarewrong

You know what the problem with Couturier is for Ken Hitchcock? He's young. You think people whined and moaned and complained when Laviolette reduced his ice time. Put him out there for Hitchcock and let his Defensive game lapse like it did here midseason and he'll be in Chicago for a career minor leaguer in a New York minute.

Im starting to warm up to the idea of just keeping the D we have currently. For one they werent all healthy at the same time at any point of the season. I really dont want to trade anymore forwards or prospects just look at the playoffs now..... tired of watching former players succeed and we get the shaft.
- flyerfan28

Our defense is a bunch of Pylons. Cinderblocks on skates. Big, hard hitters, and good defenseman, but teams with fast skaters just fly on by them. Also teams that presure down low on defense shut down our offense because there is no scoring threat from the point. That needs to be fixed, and fixed now.

You know what the problem with Couturier is for Ken Hitchcock? He's young. You think people whined and moaned and complained when Laviolette reduced his ice time. Put him out there for Hitchcock and let his Defensive game lapse like it did here midseason and he'll be in Chicago for a career minor leaguer in a New York minute.
- mayorofangrytown

Your talking about a kid that dominated Malkin, and other teams top players. His only real down last season was what we expected him to do offensively. Hitchcock would sacrifice his third chin for him.

Shattenkirk is playing well, but almost the entire blues team is either UFA or RFA, and that is trouble in a season when the cap is so low.
- youarewrong

You don't think that they'd sooner get rid of Jbo than dump one of their two prized possessions on the blueline right as they're coming into their own?

I do think there are some very sexy pieces the Blues and Hitchcock would love to have. First being Couturier. Proto-typical Hitchcock player.
- youarewrong

Backes and Berglund kind of make Coots a luxury addition, no? Their forward corps is deeper than ours... especially with Rattie coming up and after the year Tarasenko just had.

Our defense is a bunch of Pylons. Cinderblocks on skates. Big, hard hitters, and good defenseman, but teams with fast skaters just fly on by them. Also teams that presure down low on defense shut down our offense because there is no scoring threat from the point. That needs to be fixed, and fixed now.
- youarewrong

I think thats a bit of exageration they may not all be the fastest but Gus, Mez (healthy), Timmo are all pretty good skaters. You have to have the right mix cant have all young speedy guys cause then they get over powered. Im all for adding another puck mover but another defenseman needs to go back with it like Coburn or Grossman. Just saying I dont think the Flyers should overpay for one which is what they will need to do to aquire Petro, Shatty, Weber or any top d-man.

You know what the problem with Couturier is for Ken Hitchcock? He's young. You think people whined and moaned and complained when Laviolette reduced his ice time. Put him out there for Hitchcock and let his Defensive game lapse like it did here midseason and he'll be in Chicago for a career minor leaguer in a New York minute.
- mayorofangrytown

To play devil's advocate for a minute, I don't think Hitchcock would have a problem with a responsible player like Couturier as long as he managed to cut down on his recent puck-management gaffes.

Hitch said he wasn't scared to give Tarasenko big minutes during the regular season because the kid could play both ways and was competitive all over the ice. Playoffs were a whole other story, though.

Im starting to warm up to the idea of just keeping the D we have currently. For one they werent all healthy at the same time at any point of the season. I really dont want to trade anymore forwards or prospects just look at the playoffs now..... tired of watching former players succeed and we get the shaft.
- flyerfan28

That's fine for next season. The issue is planning for a Timonen-less 2014/2015 season.

To play devil's advocate for a minute, I don't think Hitchcock would have a problem with a responsible player like Couturier as long as he managed to cut down on his recent puck-management gaffes.

Hitch said he wasn't scared to give Tarasenko big minutes during the regular season because the kid could play both ways and was competitive all over the ice. Playoffs were a whole other story, though.
- Tomahawk

Maybe he's evolved.

I think thats a bit of exageration they may not all be the fastest but Gus, Mez (healthy), Timmo are all pretty good skaters. You have to have the right mix cant have all young speedy guys cause then they get over powered. Im all for adding another puck mover but another defenseman needs to go back with it like Coburn or Grossman. Just saying I dont think the Flyers should overpay for one which is what they will need to do to aquire Petro, Shatty, Weber or any top d-man.
- flyerfan28

Coburn had about as 'off' a year as one can have, but he is far from a pylon. And with even a modest improvement, a return to form for him, and the Flyers D gets that much better.