There seems to be a surge in the Barkov/Nichushkin movement but I still think it goes 1, 2, 3 with Drounin going third.
- mayorofangrytown

Teams value big centers over small wingers, generally.

You guys are throwing around a lot of names with big point numbers for what Couturier could be. I find most of them head scratching.

I'll be really happy if he becomes Guy Carbonneau.

Datsyuk is an exception. I'm sorry, but I really don't see Couturier as the next Datsyuk. Maybe Bergeron, but it's not a lock he reaches that level of offense either. Hope I'm wrong.
- TheGreat28

You said was the best defensive defensive forward more important than the best puck-moving, 2-way defenseman. And I said that, yes, he is. I never said Couturier was going to be Datsyuk.

I just don't see a "possible" 18-22 goal scorer and 45-50 point player as someone we absolutely need to hold onto if it means going into another season with these pylons on defense.

I see nothing in Couturier's offensive game that says he can become more then a Michael Handzus on the low side to a Rod Brind'Amour on the high side. I think right now I would be okay with moving him for a top puck moving D-man.
- youarewrong

Depends in the defenseman. A offensive puck mover like Yandle? Absolutely not. A top 2 way defenseman the likes of a much younger Timonen, absolutely. But I don't see it being available right now.

MacK is probably the only guy with a chance to unseat him at #1... Drouin is the one that could actually fall to 4-5 depending on teams' preferences.
- Tomahawk

I think Barkov and Nichuskin are going to rise, and Jones and Drouin will fall.. Idk why, but thats what my gut is telling me.

Teams value big centers over small wingers, generally.
- bradleyc4

I'd take both of them before Drounin but I think Yzerman sticks with him at 3.

Great article, Bill. Thanks for your consistent delivery of worthy and relevant Flyers articles.

Great article, Bill. Thanks for your consistent delivery of worthy and relevant Flyers articles.
- Flyskippy

Beat it Aimish

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Couturier's Development and Future Potential
- bmeltzer

and yet people want to dump him for yandle

thanks bill

I'd take both of them before Drounin but I think Yzerman sticks with him at 3.
- mayorofangrytown

I've read that Yzerman loves Nichushkin.

But I also know that you can't believe everything you read.

Drouin/Stamkos could be a feared duo for years.

I dont think Read's value for the Flyers is much higher then league wide. Lets face it, the reason he is such a high value is because of his current contract. Right now your getting 2-3rd line player for 4th line player prices. Next year that bargin value goes out the window, and everyone knows it. You will get a 2nd-3rd line player for 2nd-3rd line money.

So is a 2nd-3rd line player worth a current back-up goalie with high potential... When your goaltending situation is this questionable I say yes.
- youarewrong

I say no. And that is exactly why Read is more valuable to the Flyers now, then he is to a lot of other teams around the League. I would not trade Read for Bernier. I'd keep Read, and see what they got in Mason. If I'm going to trade Read, it's to upgrade the defense.

Does anybody think I am crazy for thinking that Seth Jones will end up going 2-4?
- jak521

Yeah. Remember Jones's dad played for the Nuggets and the first guy he went to when Seth told him he wanted to play hockey was Joe Sakic. And who's big with the Avs Management? Sakic. It's a great Hockey move, Fan move, AND PR move. Think about the temptation to bring in Nurse to Philly because of his Uncle McNabb. Now Multiply that by a lot. As far as I'm concerned it's chiseled in stone.

No, well maybe if I was Winnipeg.

Despite not being a first rounder, Gus has shown just as much poise as Bogo. And Coots > Kane.
- flyler

I dont know if you are being serious or not...

Frk was still available when Stolarz was drafted.

that draft was pretty talented!
8/10 of the top picks were defencemen if that tells you something
- MrBigglesworth

Yeah, just looked back at that draft. Big time run on defenseman out of the gate. Stolarz/Laughton seem to be solid prospects, but I wonder if we'll end up regretting this draft in hindsight. Too early to tell I guess.

I kind of think that run happens maybe around 15 this year. I like Jsaq's idea of trading back and getting 2 dmen in the 15-30 range.

I dont know if you are being serious or not...
- jak521

Yeah. That's a pretty good deal if you're the Flyers. In separate deals, I'd trade Gustafsson for Kane and it would be hard to turn down Bogosian for Couturier.

No, well maybe if I was Winnipeg.

Despite not being a first rounder, Gus has shown just as much poise as Bogo. And Coots > Kane.
- flyler

i was half joking - i don't want to trade either, i thought gus should've been on the roster since game 1 - over gervais and foster.

Yeah, just looked back at that draft. Big time run on defenseman out of the gate. Stolarz/Laughton seem to be solid prospects, but I wonder if we'll end up regretting this draft in hindsight. Too early to tell I guess.

I kind of think that run happens maybe around 15 this year. I like Jsaq's idea of trading back and getting 2 dmen in the 15-30 range.
- TheGreat28

Didn't Laughton just win some kind of "Best player in the OHL" award or something?

Good Lord. He's going to eat his way out of the league. I can't remember who was the subject of this Bob Clarke quote, but there was someone on the Flyers who had a weight/conditioning problem when he was the GM and what Clarke was quoted as saying has stuck with me to this day:

"Push yourself away from the table, man."
- AllInForFlyers

(still on Page 1 and not sure if this was answered)

That was Dainius Zubrus he was talking about.

Of course, if the Flyers acquire Buff there will be no fattening food left over for anyone else without their losing an arm, so...

Yeah. Remember Jones's dad played for the Nuggets and the first guy he went to when Seth told him he wanted to play hockey was Joe Sakic. And who's big with the Avs Management? Sakic. It's a great Hockey move, Fan move, AND PR move. Think about the temptation to bring in Nurse to Philly because of his Uncle McNabb. Now Multiply that by a lot. As far as I'm concerned it's chiseled in stone.
- flyler

I dont think there is even an inkling of temptation to bring in Nurse because of McNabb.. So with that train of thought (1000000000 x 0= 0) Jones isnt gonna be an Av.

In all seriousness.. making hockey related decisions based on things other than hockey isnt a wise decision.

I'd love to see Clitsome dangle

but seriously, howabout Ference, Babchuk, Fistric, Ryan Whitney all viable candidates to shore up the d
- MrBigglesworth

None of those defenseman give the Flyers what they need.

Yeah. That's a pretty good deal if you're the Flyers. In separate deals, I'd trade Gustafsson for Kane and it would be hard to turn down Bogosian for Couturier.
- jmatchett383

Winnipeg would not only laugh in your face, but theyd probably kick you in the balls and slap your sister.

I say no. And that is exactly why Read is more valuable to the Flyers now, then he is to a lot of other teams around the League. I would not trade Read for Bernier. I'd keep Read, and see what they got in Mason. If I'm going to trade Read, it's to upgrade the defense.
- MJL

I can't disagree. We don't have to trade Read but if we're going to, the deal will be to fill a void. Right now I'm all for trying to sign another goalie. UFA is under a month away...

None of those defenseman give the Flyers what they need.
- MJL

I'd like to add Ference. He's not the answer but I think he could be part of it.

Beat it Aimish
- jak521

Ok, ok. I'll go back to teaching Vanilla Ice how to spread the manure around the farm...

Yeah, just looked back at that draft. Big time run on defenseman out of the gate. Stolarz/Laughton seem to be solid prospects, but I wonder if we'll end up regretting this draft in hindsight. Too early to tell I guess.

I kind of think that run happens maybe around 15 this year. I like Jsaq's idea of trading back and getting 2 dmen in the 15-30 range.
- TheGreat28

Imagine if we tanked all of our games this season when we knew we would not make the playoffs, we would be talking about who to get with our top 5-6 pick instead of 11th....