Hopefully this isn't Leight:

http://www.crossingbroad....ane-is-sidney-crosby.html
- Pixote Andolini

Thats pretty funny. The comments after the article make me appreciate hb more.

Heard him on Sirius yesterday evening saying that he'd go back to Fleury if he was the coach. Oy.
- bradleyc4

I've heard that far too many times over the last couple days. Someone said on the Fan 590 this morning that they might as well go back to Fleury because You can't win a Cup with Vokoun.

It's nuts.

I've heard that far too many times over the last couple days. Someone said on the Fan 590 this morning that they might as well go back to Fleury because You can't win a Cup with Vokoun.

It's nuts.
- mayorofangrytown

Jay Feaster wrote a whole blog patting himself on the back for not signing Tomas Vokoun when he was with T.B.

The belief is that he can't win the big game. Such garbage.

Meanwhile, Tampa's goaltending. Yeah. Good call, Feaster. Also, great work in Calgary.

Carolina has a great blogger who pained a not-so-pretty picture of McBain and his future:

http://www.shutdownline.c...e-zones-jamie-mcbain.html

It's only one person's opinion, but it's one that I trust.
- bradleyc4

Could Meltzer not write a similar article on coburns year this year. I believe 2 years ago Mcbain played very well seeing top 4 minutes. I would bet he's certainly better than his year last year. He is cheap next year.

He thing is I know the mix of d right now isn't good. Mcbain would come cheap and maybe another piece would come with

Vokoun has confirmed he's in the nets tonight.

for anyone who cares.

He's mobile, moves the puck w/ aplomb, RH, young, experienced?

He's not a complete player yet, he makes mistakes with regularity, but there's incredible upside.
- Tomahawk

He has raw ability that has yet to manifest itself. But at 25, it's not too late for him. But at what price? What are you willing to give up to get him?

Schenn didn't play well in Toronto. That's just a fact. He was regressing and rather quickly. Every time he got a shot he got a chance he dropped the ball. He was a fifth defenseman who was scratched for some middling defensemen on the team. Like JVR was having injury troubles, Schenn was struggling quite a bit in 2012.

I wasn't crazy about the trade at the time and thiought despite JVRs injury woes we could have gotten more for him. Still think that. Schenn has certainly turned the corner it appears and I'm glad for that.

I don't think you can find fault in either article. Just goes to show, a player can right himself in the correct situation.
- mayorofangrytown

That needs to be clarified. Schenn at times played very well in Toronto. But like most young defenseman, there were ups and downs. But the potential and glimpses of it, were always apparent.

Jay Feaster wrote a whole blog patting himself on the back for not signing Tomas Vokoun when he was with T.B.

The belief is that he can't win the big game. Such garbage.

Meanwhile, Tampa's goaltending. Yeah. Good call, Feaster. Also, great work in Calgary.
- bradleyc4

Jay Feaster is a big ugly mess. When he starts talking I tune out.

Carle's rookie season was eye-popping (still his highest scoring season, believe it or not), but he barely showed a pulse the following season before SJ pulled the plug on him and dealt him in a package for Boyle. TB gave him all of 12-games before pulling the plug on him again, to the great benefit of the Flyers.

I don't think Carolina would give him away, but I think they are more open to trading him now with the guys they have in the system coming up, and Faulk supplanting McBain. It would probably cost something like what we gave up for Carle... NHL d-man plus decent prospect. I'd make that kind of trade for him, but I respect if other people wouldn't.
- Tomahawk

It's a mistake to give up a current roster player for McBain. Plus a decent prospect? Overpayment. I'd be willing to trade a decent prospect or a draft pick. Or some combination of both. But not a first round pick. Anything more, and they should pass. Any top asset should be used for a deal for the right defenseman that they really need.

Could Meltzer not write a similar article on coburns year this year. I believe 2 years ago Mcbain played very well seeing top 4 minutes. I would bet he's certainly better than his year last year. He is cheap next year.

He thing is I know the mix of d right now isn't good. Mcbain would come cheap and maybe another piece would come with
- Just5

What's cheap? What kind of deal do you envision?

That needs to be clarified. Schenn at times played very well in Toronto. But like most young defenseman, there were ups and downs. But the potential and glimpses of it, were always apparent.
- MJL

I was referencing an article written about his 2012 season. He didn't play very well at times that season. That entire season was an enormous struggle for him. The only games he didn't struggle was when they limited his minutes to 12 and under.

Everyone saw the potential in his first two seasons but management couldn't get productive minutes out of him in 2011-2012. That's why they were willing to trade him for a young power forward coming off of a concussion.

And now for something completely different:

Who talks Pierre Maguire off the bridge tomorrow if the Pens lose tonight?? Or do we just let him jump?
- BiggE

Talk him down? Give him a push!

What's cheap? What kind of deal do you envision?
- MJL

Your not going to like it but I would consider grossman for Mcbain and a solid prospect that projects to the bottom 6

Your not going to like it but I would consider grossman for Mcbain and a solid prospect that projects to the 4th line
- Just5

I'm actually surprised you didn't say Coburn. But you're right. I'd pass. If the Flyers are going to trade a top 4 level defenseman, it needs to be as part of a deal to acquire the player they really need. Unless he makes a huge turnaround. McBain isn't it. That's a bad use of assets. And also, that's not cheap.

Your not going to like it but I would consider grossman for Mcbain and a solid prospect that projects to the bottom 6
- Just5

No way I'd do that. One of the top shot blockers in the league (believe he was #1 before he got injured) and a guy who can absolutely staple people to the boards for a potential top-4 defenseman (potential #6 defenseman also) and a bottom 6 forward? I'll pass.

And now for something completely different:

Who talks Pierre Maguire off the bridge tomorrow if the Pens lose tonight?? Or do we just let him jump?
- BiggE

YES. You now have my hopes up...
I can think of worse dilemmas.

Woof. I just read that article on Jamie McBain, and YIKES. Wow. That's...wow.

Again, it's ridiculous to look at advanced stats for a 40-game segment and just say, "Oh, that's what a guy is." It only paints part of a picture.

It would be even more ridiculous because I don't know what his metrics were last year or the year before, nor have I compared them with his teammates, nor am I familiar with the system Kirk Muller and the Hurricanes use. Is it high risk? Do the forwards play high or collapse? Do they trap at all, or play any type of left-wing lock? What about the goaltending? Were they getting any type of goaltending at even strength, because they definitely had some injuries at that position?

But at the same time...wow. Those metrics were...not good. Wow. If you do acquire the player, it is a reclamation project, and as such, I don't think you offer more than...a 3rd-round pick and a low-end prospect, like a Tyler Brown.

Your not going to like it but I would consider grossman for Mcbain and a solid prospect that projects to the bottom 6
- Just5

Dude leave Grossmann alone.... And add a g'damn N to his name!


In all seriousness yeah I wouldn't agree to that. Mainly because it takes one of our more solid pieces and slots in an unknown to an already weak backline.

I say that in the sense that offering more indicates that you feel that he's better than what you already have, that he's absolutely going to play in your Top 6. I don't think that, in looking at a player who clearly struggled in some crucial areas in sheltered minutes, that you know that.

That doesn't mean, at 25 years old, that there isn't more there. It's that you have no way of knowing that, and therefore using any more of an asset would be wasteful.

I say that in the sense that offering more indicates that you feel that he's better than what you already have, that he's absolutely going to play in your Top 6. I don't think that, in looking at a player who clearly struggled in some crucial areas in sheltered minutes, that you know that.

That doesn't mean, at 25 years old, that there isn't more there. It's that you have no way of knowing that, and therefore using any more of an asset would be wasteful.
- AllInForFlyers

Exactly. Trading a sure thing for a guy who may or may not turn into something is risky at best.

Exactly. Trading a sure thing for a guy who may or may not turn into something is risky at best.
- jmatchett383

But the cost of buying a "sure thing" is prohibitive or non-existent.

This is when you really need to count on your pro scouts to find under-appreciated players who may fit well with your team or when utilized differently.

Jay Feaster wrote a whole blog patting himself on the back for not signing Tomas Vokoun when he was with T.B.

The belief is that he can't win the big game. Such garbage.

Meanwhile, Tampa's goaltending. Yeah. Good call, Feaster. Also, great work in Calgary.
- bradleyc4

Feaster could get replaced with Mike Milbury or Craig Button and it would be an improvement -- just for the sake of TV audiences alone.

Exactly. Trading a sure thing for a guy who may or may not turn into something is risky at best.
- jmatchett383

And just plain bad business. If you want to trade a decent prospect, or maybe a future 2nd rounder for the guy. Hey, I'm in. That's worth the gamble. But a roster player? No way!. I'll save those type of assets for a deal for a better player.

But the cost of buying a "sure thing" is prohibitive or non-existent.

This is when you really need to count on your pro scouts to find under-appreciated players who may fit well with your team or when utilized differently.
- bradleyc4

I agree. But the key is to pay the right price for those players. Such as when the Flyers acquired Alt.

But the cost of buying a "sure thing" is prohibitive or non-existent.

This is when you really need to count on your pro scouts to find under-appreciated players who may fit well with your team or when utilized differently.
- bradleyc4

That's why I'd stand pat. I don't see McBain as being the player who helps put them team over the top more than Grossmann.
Now, if you have an older player who's about done and you're not a playoff team, sure, you take a shot on potential (Zhitnik for Coburn). But right now, I'd rather stand pat with what we have rather than make a move like that.