Sorry, I like Schenn better. Give me Keith Primeau over Rod Brind'Amour. Sorry.
- youarewrong

I didn't say a word people... therapy's working.

Sorry, I like Schenn better. Give me Keith Primeau over Rod Brind'Amour. Sorry.
- youarewrong

Keith Primeau on his best day, wasn't close to being as good as Brind'Amour was. But that's neither here nor there. A top 2 way Center is a better player then a solid offensive Center. Hands down.

What are we talking about here? Making the playoffs, or trying to win a Cup? Even if the system is tweaked, this defense isn't good enough to be a contender. Making the playoffs, sure! They should've made it this past Season. But going forward, they can't stay with this mix. Even if Timonen was not going to retire. They can get by for a Season, if Gustafsson plays well, and Meszaros can stay healthy. But down the road, changes are needed. And the defense was a big reason why they were so poor of a team at ES.
- MJL

I'm talking about being patient and not rushing into a bad move. Nobody wants to trade Schenn or Couturier unless it's an elite return, but neither gets you an elite defenseman, unless other assets are added.

I'm fine with going after a reclamation project at a lower cost, but those are a roll of the dice either way you look at it.

Needing changes eventually doesn't mean they need to make them this summer.

Best case scenario... you just traded a top-six forward on the cusp of breaking out for an 18-year-old who's going to need a season or two to adjust, minimum.

Worst case scenario... you just traded Brayden Schenn for the second coming of Nikita Filatov... he takes his ball and goes home, leaving you with... nothing.
- Tomahawk

i like his upside enough to justify that risk. his comparables are lindros and malkin

It would be a better move to trade Schenn instead of Couturier. You've added some offense there, but made your team far worse off defensively then it already was.
- MJL

Now, given this scenario I completely agree! I like Couturier and Nichuskin better than Schenn and Nichuskin.

Overall, I would do that trade combo if you could pull it off.

I terms of this discussion, it means a lot. And that raw ability has to be weighed in the comparison.
- MJL

Couts is better defensively than Schenn, at this point in time, and maybe he'll be superior offensively as well, but that is guesswork. Schenn has just as much offensive upside as Couts, maybe more, and there's no reason to think he can't get better defensively.

Compiled by TSN's Scott Cullen...actually works for me
- Jsaquella

I vomited in my mouth when I saw Ryan Clowe and Scott Hartnell's names together in the same lineup...


Swap in Gagne for Clowe, and I'm a happy camper.

I vomited in my mouth when I saw Ryan Clowe and Scott Hartnell's names together in the same lineup...


Swap in Gagne for Clowe, and I'm a happy camper.
- Tomahawk

That's what I said on twitter, but I didn't puke over Clowe.

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Scott Hartnell ($4.750m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Ryane Clowe ($4.000m) / Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
Maxime Talbot ($1.750m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Matt Read ($0.900m)
Tye McGinn ($0.775m) / Scott Laughton ($1.107m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)
Jay Rosehill ($0.675m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Braydon Coburn ($4.500m) / Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m)
Erik Gustafsson ($1.000m) / Luke Schenn ($3.600m)
Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m) / Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m)
Kent Huskins ($0.800m) / Bruno Gervais ($0.825m)
Chris Pronger ($4.941m) / Marc-Andre Bourdon ($0.613m)
GOALTENDERS
Steve Mason ($1.500m)
Ray Emery ($1.500m)
OTHER
Buyout: Oskars Bartulis ($0.100m)
Buyout: Ilya Bryzgalov ($0.000m)
Buyout: Danny Briere ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)

(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,045,595; BONUSES: $2,800,000
CAP SPACE (25-man roster): $3,054,405

Compiled by TSN's Scott Cullen...actually works for me
- Jsaquella

I could definitely see that 2nd line having a hard time producing offense at times.

And even tho there arent many options out there that wow me I just cant head into a season with Coburn slated in the top two, not to mention relying on Mesz as anything higher than a 7th D man at this point.

i like his upside enough to justify that risk. his comparables are lindros and malkin
- flyerscup2011

If he were really comparable to Lindros or Malkin, how is it that he's got up to 4 players ranked above him?

I'm talking about being patient and not rushing into a bad move. Nobody wants to trade Schenn or Couturier unless it's an elite return, but neither gets you an elite defenseman, unless other assets are added.

I'm fine with going after a reclamation project at a lower cost, but those are a roll of the dice either way you look at it.

Needing changes eventually doesn't mean they need to make them this summer.
- Jsaquella

I agree with being patient and not rushing into a bad move wholeheartedly. I've said that many times myself. Make the right move, not just make a move. But that doesn't change that the defense needs to be improved. And is lacking. And is a weakness of the team.

Keith Primeau on his best day, wasn't close to being as good as Brind'Amour was. But that's neither here nor there. A top 2 way Center is a better player then a solid offensive Center. Hands down.
- MJL

You like Richards, Couturier or even Bergeron over Stamkos?

What number did you get for your jersey foul? 102?
- mayorofangrytown

just got a 2

just got a 2
- JAKEw1234

Should've gotten a 1 or a 99 and gone maximum jersey foul

Couts is better defensively than Schenn, at this point in time, and maybe he'll be superior offensively as well, but that is guesswork. Schenn has just as much offensive upside as Couts, maybe more, and there's no reason to think he can't get better defensively.
- wolfhounds

I agree, I think Schenn has as much if not more offensive upside then Couturier has. But that gap is much, much smaller then the gap between the defensive acumen and natural hockey sense between the two. Schenn can get better defensively. But I don't see him coming close to the defensive player that Couturier already is. The gap offensively between the two, would have to be substantial for Schenn to be an equal player to Couturier in the future, in my opinion. It's a crap shoot, none of us really know. But that's how I see it.

You like Richards, Couturier or even Bergeron over Stamkos?
- TheGreat28

Nope!

That's what I said on twitter, but I didn't puke over Clowe.
- Jsaquella

Maybe they could team up to chuck gloves from the bench to stop breakaways.

That's what I said on twitter, but I didn't puke over Clowe.
- Jsaquella

Which UFA forwards do you guys like for the 1st 2 lines, if any? I'm not really sure who fits in this lineup, given current makeup and cap. I'd like more of a sniper type forward, but seems best options are more power forwards, and with Simmonds and Hartnell not sure that's what we need.

any good, recent mock draft(s) out?
- flyerscup2011

The three morons at NHL.com updated their mock drafts today:

The Flyers are either taking a defenseman, a centre or a goalie. They have us completely covered over there.

Maybe they could team up to chuck gloves from the bench to stop breakaways.
- Tomahawk

They'd have a better shot from there than Bryzgalof.

Sorry, could I just be done with him? I think I'm done with him. That means he won't get bought out.

The fact of the matter is that Couturier might become a defensive specialist who never develops an offensive game in the NHL, especially if he continues being tentative in taking shots and fails to take advantage of what the coach feels are his opportunities to demonstrate his ability.

Nobody knows.

Just like nobody knows whether or not B Schenn will develop into a defensively sound forward while chipping in 60+ points per season for the next 10 years.

From what I saw this past season, none of the Flyers' forwards looked all that great defensively, from G on down the line.

The three morons at NHL.com updated their mock drafts today:

The Flyers are either taking a defenseman, a centre or a goalie. They have us completely covered over there.
- mayorofangrytown

I predict one of them will be right

If he were really comparable to Lindros or Malkin, how is it that he's got up to 4 players ranked above him?
- Tomahawk

His shot isn't A grade yet.

Which UFA forwards do you guys like for the 1st 2 lines, if any? I'm not really sure who fits in this lineup, given current makeup and cap. I'd like more of a sniper type forward, but seems best options are more power forwards, and with Simmonds and Hartnell not sure that's what we need.
- TheGreat28

Pierre-Marc Bouchard, but not necessarily for the top two lines... he's going to be affordable, good both ways, super speedy, solid playmaker, could help get Couts or Schenn going.

Downside is he's got a horrific injury history (but healthy now), and he's undersized.

Flyers can't afford any of the big names, anyway.

Sorry, I like Schenn better. Give me Keith Primeau over Rod Brind'Amour. Sorry.
- youarewrong

youarewrong