It's a 7 degrees/Kevin Bacon thing. Schenn has often been compared to Mike Richards. Richards was a Selke finalist in 2009 and is often mentioned in those regards, ergo Schenn has the potential to be a Selke finalist.

I don't completely agree with the conclusion, but that's the train of thought I imagine.
- TheGreat28

Ray Charles is blind.
Love is blind.
God is love.
Ray Charles is God

Timonen-Schenn
Meszaros-Coburn
Grossman-Gus
Gervais

That's 22.4 million plus whatever Gus signs for just in D. So you're either hoping Gus continues his strong play, or a move has to be made no?
- GirouxForTheShow

I have a good feeling about Gustafsson. And if Meszaros can stay healthy, he'll make a difference. But there is still the long term need to replace Timonen. And who knows what they decide with regards to Meszaros.

I think the comparison is more about being similar in terms of style of play, as far as being physical.
- MJL

I agree... I see Schenn as more like Kris Versteeg with Richards will and physical ability.

I have a good feeling about Gustafsson. And if Meszaros can stay healthy, he'll make a difference. But there is still the long term need to replace Timonen. And who knows what they decide with regards to Meszaros.
- MJL

As do I, but my question is if any move is made for a puck moving defenseman, one of Grossman, Meszaros or Coburn has to be going the other way no? Even a FA signing.

Ray Charles is blind.
Love is blind.
God is love.
Ray Charles is God
- GirouxForTheShow

That's pretty good

Actually I think I would take the Carter trade back first. I think the Flyers are only really missing an offensive puck mover and a sniper. I really did like Richards but I like his return more then the Carter return. Simmonds, B.Schenn and Gagne are my favourite Flyers currently.
- dingo8urbaby

Giroux is your puck mover and Voracek is your goal scorer. You saw a big upswing in Voraceks game this year.

Just to give the numbers... Carter pro-rated 44 goals 12 assists 56 points. Voracek 38 goals, 39 assists, 77 points.

Ray Charles is blind.
Love is blind.
God is love.
Ray Charles is God
- GirouxForTheShow

Thanks by the way (sarcastically speaking)

I've already been screwing off all day posting on here, now you got me looking up fallacies in logic and equivocation!!

As do I, but my question is if any move is made for a puck moving defenseman, one of Grossman, Meszaros or Coburn has to be going the other way no? Even a FA signing.
- GirouxForTheShow

One of them has to be going somewhere. Probably only Coburn has any value, and he's the one I wouldn't trade. That's unfortunately the problem.

Fabulous read Bill, it really puts Couturier's season in a detailed perspective.

I don't want to put words into your mouth but from reading it I get the impression that you feel Lavi used Couturier where he was strongest, with lots of D zone starts against opponent's top scorers.

Because he didn't shine offensively, he saw fewer O-zone starts and was played on a bottom 6 checking line with the grinders.

More then a few posters, many of whose opinions I regard highly, have stated that Lavi misused Couts this season by playing him with the likes of Talbot/Knuble/Rinaldo.

Some have written that he was criminally misused and point this out as one of the reasons to consider firing Lavi this off season.

If you are around and reading this, do you feel Couts was mishandled by the coaches, or do you see the way things went as an acceptable part of his development process?
- Marc D

bump

If there was a trade to be made for player would you guys rather throw in this years 1st (11th overall) or Scott Laughton to make the deal happen?
- Jack-Meoff

Laughton, no doubt about it.

As do I, but my question is if any move is made for a puck moving defenseman, one of Grossman, Meszaros or Coburn has to be going the other way no? Even a FA signing.
- GirouxForTheShow

I would assume so.

Actually I think I would take the Carter trade back first. I think the Flyers are only really missing an offensive puck mover and a sniper. I really did like Richards but I like his return more then the Carter return. Simmonds, B.Schenn and Gagne are my favourite Flyers currently.
- dingo8urbaby

holy jumpin

Giroux is your puck mover and Voracek is your goal scorer. You saw a big upswing in Voraceks game this year.

Just to give the numbers... Carter pro-rated 44 goals 12 assists 56 points. Voracek 38 goals, 39 assists, 77 points.
- youarewrong

Other then Carter being a big time player on one of the best teams in the League. Player for player, there isn't much of a gap if any.

Voracek isn't worth very much less than Carter by himself now and Columbus would be hard-pressed to even find the value to get Jake and Coots back now if they tried. This was a trade victory.
- JAKEw1234

Yes agree. My point was at the time, I hated the deal. Maybe I over valued Carter, but I still think he has the talent to be a top five player in the league. He could be Stamkos but with more size if he played to his full potential.

Jake has become a #1 wing and Couts falling to them at #7 was unbelievable.

Laughton, no doubt about it.
- youarewrong

Hard choice, seeing that we have no idea who is going to be selected with the 11th pick. But I have this gut feeling, not based on anything concrete. That Laughton is going to be more then originally thought.

Honestly, I don't see a huge discrepancy in foot-speed and puck-moving ability between that group and, say, the Rangers' group or Boston's group or the Devils' group.

With improvements in goaltending and team-wide defensive consistency, I don't see that blueline being an impediment as-is. Could it be better? Sure. But it's not the anchor that it's been made out to be.
- Tomahawk

I agree to an extent. The Flyers D men aren't "slow" and they can make the basic puck moving plays just fine. We probably also agree that if the forwards were consistently more disciplined and committed defensively and supported the puck better, that would help improve the breakouts and transition game. That said, the Flyers need to add more dynamic offensive-defeneman types to the mix...guys who can better skate the puck up the ice in transition, join the play and execute (produce) in the offensive zone...ideally, a player (or players) who has a good/great shot, hockey sense and playmaking skills that can also QB the pp. Timonen is pretty much the only Flyers D man who fits this mold, but he's in the final stages of his career...it would behoove the Flyers to address this need sooner than later.

I agree... I see Schenn as more like Kris Versteeg with Richards will and physical ability.
- jak521

Versteeg with the hawks or since then?

bump
- Don'tForgetTocchet

hoping Bill will chime in on this

Yes agree. My point was at the time, I hated the deal. Maybe I over valued Carter, but I still think he has the talent to be a top five player in the league. He could be Stamkos but with more size if he played to his full potential.

Jake has become a #1 wing and Couts falling to them at #7 was unbelievable.
- Marc D

I think that was one of the biggest issues with when Carter was here. Unrealistic expectations. Carter is a very good player. But he does not have near the talent level and ability that Stamkos has. Although Carter is a very good goal scorer, he is not on Stamko's level in that department. Nor is he close in terms of playmaking to Stamkos. Carter is the better defensive checker. But when you're dealing with the offensive superstar that Stamkos is, doesn't really matter.

Was wondering if a team could sign a player with clauses in his contract like weight limits and if player broke those clauses if team could void contract. And how would that effect salary cap?

I agree to an extent. The Flyers D men aren't "slow" and they can make the basic puck moving plays just fine. We probably also agree that if the forwards were consistently more disciplined and committed defensively and supported the puck better, that would help improve the breakouts and transition game. That said, the Flyers need to add more dynamic offensive-defeneman types to the mix...guys who can better skate the puck up the ice in transition, join the play and execute (produce) in the offensive zone...ideally, a player (or players) who has a good/great shot, hockey sense and playmaking skills that can also QB the pp. Timonen is pretty much the only Flyers D man who fits this mold, but he's in the final stages of his career...it would behoove the Flyers to address this need sooner than later.
- exlund

given the cost of UFA offensively skilled D men or trades for the same, I am praying for the quick development of Ghost, the #11 pick this year and Gusty to continue to improve.

Was wondering if a team could sign a player with clauses in his contract like weight limits and if player broke those clauses if team could void contract. And how would that effect salary cap?
- SMS4016

The basic SPC contains clauses in every players contract that pertain to that. I don't know of any precedent for that, or how the Cap would be affected. Good question.

hoping Bill will chime in on this
- Marc D

agreed

given the cost of UFA offensively skilled D men or trades for the same, I am praying for the quick development of Ghost, the #11 pick this year and Gusty to continue to improve.
- Marc D

Hopefully, because the Flyers drastically need to improve the puck movement from the back end.

given the cost of UFA offensively skilled D men or trades for the same, I am praying for the quick development of Ghost, the #11 pick this year and Gusty to continue to improve.
- Marc D

This. Ryan Pulock PLEASE. I want defenseman that can shoot the damn puck with the hockey sense to know when where and how. Ghost has a good shot too.