You guys are losing the point. As a unit our defense is likely the least mobil, with the least amount of puck moving skill in the league. Anytime someone says a Flyers defender is "fast" or "above average" skater, it is always followed by... "for his size". Meaning for a big guy he is fast, but in the overall picture.... eh.

The Defense is currently 1 demensional, and specific teams can exploit that, and have with regularity. They only guy with real speed is Gustefsson.
- youarewrong

Ill disagree only with Coburn, he is fast and a good skater for any size dman.

I agree. The Flyers defense, especially with the way Laviolette wants to play. Lacks the puck skils that is needed. They need a high minute two way quality defenseman.
- MJL

mez was that guy for one season. here's to a 'healthy' comeback season for him. Hes still only 27, i think.

mez was that guy for one season. here's to a 'healthy' comeback season for him. Hes still only 27, i think.
- moylander

A healthy Meszaros would make a difference.

All but Dekeyser came from the draft. So, I don't know why they would be considered a poor drafting team in the last few years.
- mayorofangrytown

Last seven years draft:

2012 - 0 NHL players

2011 - 0 NHL players

2010 - 0 NHL players

2009 - Tomas Tartar (LW) - 27 NHL Games Played (8 pts)

2008 - Gustav Nyquist (LW) - 40 NHL Games Played (13 pts)
- Thomas McCollum (G)- 1 Game Played

2007 - Brendan Smith (D) - 48 Games Played (15 pts)
- Joakim Andersson (C) - 43 Games Played (8 pts)

2006 - Cory Emmerton (LW) - 121 Games Played (19pts)
- Shawn Matthias (C) - 253 Games Played (81 pts)
- Jan Mursak (R) - 46 Games Played (4 pts)

Not that impressive imo...mostly role players etc.


http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005492.html

Last seven years draft:Not that impressive imo...mostly role players etc.

...

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005492.html
- exlund

I agree, but the majority of their team is from the draft. They're just an older team, much like the Steelers. But as long as they have Datsyuk, they're a threat.

Honestly isn't this whole blog an excuse? The key sentence in this blog was " the flyers were the only NHL team NOT to have a home grown defenseman play in at least half the games."

Honestly isn't this whole blog an excuse? The key sentence in this blog was " the flyers were the only NHL team NOT to have a home grown defenseman play in at least half the games."
- SMS4016

Sign Freddy Myer 4th.

And you're not one of those random HB posters? LOL
Whether you think so or not, Erik Johnson is not a reclamation project. He is an NHL defenseman who is playing 20 minutes a game. And is playing in all situations. Including the PK and the PP. And he is still only 25. A reclamation project is a player who is being scratched, or who was waived, and a team has given up on him, and decided to trade him.
Your statement that his stock has never been lower is pure speculation.
I would not mind seeing him in a Flyers uniform. Because I think there is still a lot of room for growth there. But he is not the player that Edler is. Edler is far more what the Flyers need. That quality 2 way presence, that can QB the PP. And put up points on the back end. Both players are going to be expensive. I say the get the more advanced player.
- MJL

*gulp* I have to agree. I feel icky now.

But seriously I think Reclamation is the wrong word. I think you can say he hasn't reached his potential and Colorado may be willing to move him because they dont think he will reach his potential, and the Flyers may want him beacuse they would be happy with what he currently brings, and they hope he might go beyond that.

But I just dont see Johnson being moved.

I agree, but the majority of their team is from the draft. They're just an older team, much like the Steelers. But as long as they have Datsyuk, they're a threat.
- jmatchett383

the man is an absolute marvel

I agree. The Flyers defense, especially with the way Laviolette wants to play. Lacks the puck skils that is needed. They need a high minute two way quality defenseman.
- MJL

OMG, Hell just froze over. We agreed with eachother on different things. I'm buying a lottery ticket tonight.

*gulp* I have to agree. I feel icky now.

But seriously I think Reclamation is the wrong word. I think you can say he hasn't reached his potential and Colorado may be willing to move him because they dont think he will reach his potential, and the Flyers may want him beacuse they would be happy with what he currently brings, and they hope he might go beyond that.

But I just dont see Johnson being moved.
- youarewrong

i think johnson is a tricky player. to get him, he is still young enough where the selling team is going to want a return still anchored heavily in his potential, whereas the team acquiring him would hope to pay slightly less than that perceived value in the hopes that they can take a cheaper flyer on a guy who may or may not live up to his billing. if youre going to have to pay that much for him in the first place, youre better off pursuing Edler

- MBFlyerfan

They look like orange KKK members.

A reclamation project is a player who is being scratched, or who was waived, and a team has given up on him, and decided to trade him.
- MJL

It refers to any player that has been performing under their potential who might be had for a discount and/or worth taking a chance on.

Coburn's the most noticeable example... he wasn't scratched, or waived, or really given up on... the Flyers leveraged ATL's playoff run and Coburn's seemingly stalled development to pry him away at a fantastic discount.

Last seven years draft:

2012 - 0 NHL players

2011 - 0 NHL players

2010 - 0 NHL players

2009 - Tomas Tartar (LW) - 27 NHL Games Played (8 pts)

2008 - Gustav Nyquist (LW) - 40 NHL Games Played (13 pts)
- Thomas McCollum (G)- 1 Game Played

2007 - Brendan Smith (D) - 48 Games Played (15 pts)
- Joakim Andersson (C) - 43 Games Played (8 pts)

2006 - Cory Emmerton (LW) - 121 Games Played (19pts)
- Shawn Matthias (C) - 253 Games Played (81 pts)
- Jan Mursak (R) - 46 Games Played (4 pts)

Not that impressive imo...mostly role players etc.


http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005492.html
- exlund

To be fair, DET is very patient with their prospects so guys drafted within the last five years haven't had much of a chance to crack the NHL roster yet.

Secondly, Gustav Nyquist looks like an absolute star in the making to me. He's made a bunch of rookie mistakes, but he's shown a ton of skill at this level already. And Brendan Smith, despite his struggles, still looks to become a top-4 guy in the near future. So not all bad on this list.

Thirdly, I do agree that the narrative that Detroit is GREAT at drafting is mostly that, narrative. But they have been GREAT when it comes to player development.

i think johnson is a tricky player. to get him, he is still young enough where the selling team is going to want a return still anchored heavily in his potential, whereas the team acquiring him would hope to pay slightly less than that perceived value in the hopes that they can take a cheaper flyer on a guy who may or may not live up to his billing. if youre going to have to pay that much for him in the first place, youre better off pursuing Edler
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly. Either way the cost is going to be high. If you're going to pay a high price, get the better player. Who is the player that you need. Instead of getting a player that you hope is going to be what you need. Colorado made a large investment in Johnson. To think that they would trade him for less, because at 25 he hasn't developed as fast as they would like, is mistaken in my opinion.

Last seven years draft:

Not that impressive imo...mostly role players etc.


http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005492.html
- exlund

You know its funny I was talking about this with a friend today and I said I think the Detroit dynasty is coming to an end. When the Yzerman age was coming to an end Datsyuk and Zetterberg were emerging. But now there is almost no-one able to carry the mantle coming up for them. As Datsyuk and Zetterberg close thier career, I dont think anyone will be ready to carry the load.

The best part is, you going to have hockey analysist saying it was the move to the east that did it to them somehow.

It refers to any player that has been performing under their potential who might be had for a discount and/or worth taking a chance on.

Coburn's the most noticeable example... he wasn't scratched, or waived, or really given up on... the Flyers leveraged ATL's playoff run and Coburn's seemingly stalled development to pry him away at a fantastic discount.
- Tomahawk

Maybe in your book that's what it refers to. But in my opinion, that is highly innacurate. Coburn was also not a reclamation project. That is another inaccurate description. He was a young prospect that a team traded for a veteran to make a playoff run.

Maybe in your book that's what it refers to. But in my opinion, that is highly innacurate. Coburn was also not a reclamation project. That is another inaccurate description. He was a young prospect that a team traded for a veteran to make a playoff run.
- MJL

Granted, your definitions are not always reliable. Remember 'puck-mover'?

pure evil...


- mayorofangrytown

what am I missing?

Last seven years draft:

2012 - 0 NHL players

2011 - 0 NHL players

2010 - 0 NHL players

2009 - Tomas Tartar (LW) - 27 NHL Games Played (8 pts)

2008 - Gustav Nyquist (LW) - 40 NHL Games Played (13 pts)
- Thomas McCollum (G)- 1 Game Played

2007 - Brendan Smith (D) - 48 Games Played (15 pts)
- Joakim Andersson (C) - 43 Games Played (8 pts)

2006 - Cory Emmerton (LW) - 121 Games Played (19pts)
- Shawn Matthias (C) - 253 Games Played (81 pts)
- Jan Mursak (R) - 46 Games Played (4 pts)

Not that impressive imo...mostly role players etc.


http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005492.html
- exlund

You're basing that on whether they've played in the NHL or not. They don't need those prospects to play now they have a roster full of prospects already playing:

2012 - Frk looks to be a second round find
too early to opine on most of the selections a year ago.
2011 - Sproul and Ouellett look to be very good prospects on D
2010 - Petr Mrazek could eventually be the steal of the later rounds

If they get two picks from every draft playing 100+ games in the NHL that's damn good.

Look at their minor league club and tell me the drafts you're attempting to poke holes in aren't quality prospects. They just don't need them at the NHL level at 20 years old and they haven't had first round picks the last two seasons where they might nab someone to make a quick jump. That's where development comes in.

To be fair, DET is very patient with their prospects so guys drafted within the last five years haven't had much of a chance to crack the NHL roster yet.

Secondly, Gustav Nyquist looks like an absolute star in the making to me. He's made a bunch of rookie mistakes, but he's shown a ton of skill at this level already. And Brendan Smith, despite his struggles, still looks to become a top-4 guy in the near future. So not all bad on this list.

Thirdly, I do agree that the narrative that Detroit is GREAT at drafting is mostly that, narrative. But they have been GREAT when it comes to player development.
- bradleyc4

What I think it comes down to, is in the past Detroit had the best scouting of european players by far. They were able and willing to draft these guys, when others wouldnt. In todays NHL European skaters are scouted much more beacuse of internet, so Detroit lost its edge there.

what am I missing?
- Marc D

You missed the Tree limb lobbing?

You missed the Tree limb lobbing?
- mayorofangrytown

I've got somethin for ya to lob...I think...maybe...hi

You missed the Tree limb lobbing?
- mayorofangrytown

yes

There seems to be a fair number of undrafted defenseman coming out of the college ranks. Maybe small numbers still, but some of these guys look like they may become significant players. Hopefully the Flyers can nab a couple of these guys in the near future.