I disagree completely. The two work off of each other beautifully and support each others strengths. Voracek has the ability to possess the puck and find open space and finish. Giroux is a superstar that does every thing well, but looks to feed first.. and Hartnell is dumb.
- jak521

I feel like Voracek would help Schenn produce and Giroux would still produce with Hartnell and whoever they get to play top line wing. I like the guys together put I feel like more offense could be produced apart, even if that means seeing Giroux score 80 points, Voracek 65-70 instead of 95 for G and 80 for Jake. I don't think Schenn can produce a significant amount of offense alone at this stage of his career.

Use of advanced stats, in some way, is a must in sports today.

And I think people get mixed up when discussing advanced stats. Stats are used as a piece of the puzzle and not the whole puzzle. The use of advanced statistics is much about finding an edge in the market for talent as it is anything else.
- johndewar

I agree. People act like it's stats OR traditional scouting. It's got to be both.

Calling Hartnell "dumb" reminds me of something Jim Fregosi said about John Kruk during the 1993 season.

Someone remarked that John Kruk was fat and appeared to be getting fatter. Fregosi said that "Kruk hits good fat".

Hartnell might be dumb, but he makes it work for him.
- johndewar

And the man is not dumb. Small people call him dumb because they're small and bitter.

Couturier and Schenn might make or break any lineup. If Schenn comes out and puts up 60+ points and Couts racks up 45+ then we're in like Flynn. Otherwise we're pretty much back to last year.
- NickTheKid87

Well I anticipate everyone having decent years.. after rough years for a few last year... nothing earth shattering, but I see us with at least six 20 goal guys this year... but possibly even more.

G,V,Hartnell,Simmonds,Schenn,Read.. Couts? UFA's?

And the man is not dumb. Small people call him dumb because they're small and bitter.
- mayorofangrytown

What about people who have pure hatred for Primeau?

He has embraced it as well.. It suits him well.
- jak521

I don't know whether to regard Hartnell as the luckiest SOB alive or if he's some idiot savant on the ice.

He got to ride shotgun w/ Carter during his 46-goal explosion, played w/ Briere in arguably his most consistent season as a Flyer and w/ Leino during his only good season period, and somehow had the luck to land w/ G and one of the greatest scorers of all time in Jagr.

Couturier and Schenn might make or break any lineup. If Schenn comes out and puts up 60+ points and Couts racks up 45+ then we're in like Flynn. Otherwise we're pretty much back to last year.
- NickTheKid87

Agreed. The key to the "stand pat" strategy absolutely implies that BSchenn and Couturier develop and take a step forward this year.

I don't know whether to regard Hartnell as the luckiest SOB alive or if he's some idiot savant on the ice.

He got to ride shotgun w/ Carter during his 46-goal explosion, played w/ Briere in arguably his most consistent season as a Flyer and w/ Leino during his only good season period, and somehow had the luck to land w/ G and one of the greatest scorers of all time in Jagr.


- Tomahawk

At a certain point, it ceases to be luck or coincidence.

Ray Emery ($2.500m)
- NickTheKid87

That's more realistic than the $1.5m I saw in another post but I bet he gets even more than that.

And the man is not dumb. Small people call him dumb because they're small and bitter.
- mayorofangrytown

I like Hartnell. He's been good for this franchise.

I like him if, for no other reason, that he trolled his ex-wife on twitter when the alimony payments were done.

At a certain point, it ceases to be luck or coincidence.
- johndewar

Except that he seems to follow those performances by floundering the next season... it's really a curious case.

I like Hartnell. He's been good for this franchise.

I like him if, for no other reason, that he trolled his ex-wife on twitter when the alimony payments were done.
- johndewar

He's one of my favorite players... he just looks dopey

Yep, i'd do it. but I am also a minority (I think) that believes the Flyers need one more 2nd or first line RW. I'd take Clarkson as well. Clowe- no thanks for what he wants and will get, but Homer apparently has a stiffy for him.

Ideally I would sign Streit and a UFA RW for around 10M by buying out Bryz and Briere and then trading Mez.
- coffee junkie

I'm on board with this plan.

I like Chris Stewart but STL wont part ways with him...Clarkson and Ryder will also both be re-signed.

Hejduk, Latendresse, Zubrus may be lower cost RW options...Zubrus would be the obvious favorite since he's an ex Flyer, more versatile can play RW or center.

Hope they learn from previous blunders (sharp,williams,etc) and hold on to Coots, Schenn and Read.

You'd be surprised just how many of them supplement traditional scouting with proprietary analytics.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't be surprised. Some of the advanced stats are very useful.

What about people who have pure hatred for Primeau?
- jak521

They're just bitter but not as small...

That's more realistic than the $1.5m I saw in another post but I bet he gets even more than that.
- Scoob

2.5 for Emery is too much IMO. He is making 1.15 this year... I dont see him more than doubling his current contract...

Dunno why, but I just realized Bobrovsky and Mason will be in the same division next season... pure hilarity.

I don't know whether to regard Hartnell as the luckiest SOB alive or if he's some idiot savant on the ice.

He got to ride shotgun w/ Carter during his 46-goal explosion, played w/ Briere in arguably his most consistent season as a Flyer and w/ Leino during his only good season period, and somehow had the luck to land w/ G and one of the greatest scorers of all time in Jagr.


- Tomahawk

He made all of their games better. Leino plays with him he has a breakout season... where is he now? Home counting his dough. Briere/Carter have never been as productive, Giroux has become a star.

You're looking at this completely backwards.

Pronger is owed 12 million in actually salary over next 4 years, but carries a 20 million cap hit. Flyers pay half, leaving Minnesota (as example) to pay 6 million.

They owe Heatley 5 million, but his cap hit is 7.5 million (I incorrect stated as 5 million before, so the numbers change slightly).

Flyers pay Heatley 5 million + Pronger 6 million = 11 million. They would have paid Pronger 12 million, so they "save" 1 million in cash.

Minnesota pays Pronger 6 million over next 4 years instead of Heatley 5 this year. (better cash flow). The cost is 1 million.

Flyers "save" 20 million - 7.5 million = 12.5 million in cap space over next 4 years.

Minnesota gains 12.5 million in cap dollars over next 5 years (-2.5, 5, 5, 5).
- TheGreat28

I'm going to move on, because the same flaws are still there.

He's one of my favorite players... he just looks dopey
- jak521

There's nothing I like more in a player than a love for the game. It's why Roenick has always been one of my favourite players before during and after he was a Flyer. Hartnell has that same love for playing the game. When you meet him you can tell that he knows how lucky he is be in the NHL and how much he's just enjoying it.

He made all of their games better. Leino plays with him he has a breakout season... where is he now? Home counting his dough. Briere/Carter have never been as productive, Giroux has become a star.

You're looking at this completely backwards.
- mayorofangrytown

Speaking of Ville Leino....

I wouldn't mind kicking the tires on a barely used, newly bought out, discount priced Ville Leino for this coming season if another top 6 winger doesn't fall into our laps.

It'd be great to watch Leino come back to Philly and be the player he was when he left to just completely troll the Sabres fan base.

There's nothing I like more in a player than a love for the game. It's why Roenick has always been one of my favourite players before during and after he was a Flyer. Hartnell has that same love for playing the game. When you meet him you can tell that he knows how lucky he is be in the NHL and how much he's just enjoying it.
- mayorofangrytown

There's nothing I like more in a player than a love for the game. It's why Roenick has always been one of my favourite players before during and after he was a Flyer. Hartnell has that same love for playing the game. When you meet him you can tell that he knows how lucky he is be in the NHL and how much he's just enjoying it.
- mayorofangrytown

And I think Hartnell's "dumb" comes from simply trying to hard at times too contribute when he's not scoring goals. When he is on his game, he is extremely effective.

And this is just for you. I was told the other day that Keith Primeau was a better player then Rod Brind'Amour!

2.5 for Emery is too much IMO. He is making 1.15 this year... I dont see him more than doubling his current contract...
- jak521

I'm not saying it's right, but I can see .922 and 1.94 reasons why a team will likely pay him more.

And I think Hartnell's "dumb" comes from simply trying to hard at times too contribute when he's not scoring goals.
- MJL

Or... it could be this?