he is consistantly old
- vejim

And only a year older than Pronger when we signed him.

he will be injured by november

I think the best way to make the second unit better would be to put 2 defenseman out there so you can put Simmonds or Voracek on the 2nd unit.
- youarewrong

I'd be fine with moving Simmonds to the 2nd unit as a PP net presence. But I would not move Voracek off of the top unit.

I personally would see that as a mistake. If you make this deal, then why not play Streit on the top PP unit? He easily has the best shot from the point. And he's been one of the top PP point producers in the NHL for defenseman. It would be a mistake not to utilize his best assets, put him in the best spot for him to produce and succeed. And play him on the PP as much as possible. Laviolette should adjust to fit his personnel. That's my opinion anyway.
- MJL

Thing is, with the Flyers' PP having clicked at 20+ percent most recent years and being 3rd in the NHL this past season, I don't think Laviolette and Mullen will be inclined to tinker much with the top unit of Timonen, Voracek, Giroux, Simmonds and Hartnell.

If it were your call to make would you:

a) keep the current umbrella setup but replace Timonen with Streit on the first unit?

b) Keep Timonen at the top of the umbrella, use Streit as the roving other point guy and Voracek, Giroux and either Hartnell/Simmonds lower in the zone?

c) Change the alignment and go with the traditional left and right point men setup with Timonen and Streit at the two points and Voracek, Giroux, Hartnell/Simmonds up front?

He's good on the PP. The one thing that will be extremely frustrating is when the puck barely goes over his stick and gets out of the zone. He is not good at keeping the puck in but other than that I liked him (for the most part) on the PP
- NYI44

He's been one of the top PP producers for defenseman in the League. That happens to every player playing the point. Every player has weaknesses.

Thing is, with the Flyers' PP having clicked at 20+ percent most recent years and being 3rd in the NHL this past season, I don't think Laviolette and Mullen will be inclined to tinker much with the top unit of Timonen, Voracek, Giroux, Simmonds and Hartnell.

If it were your call to make would you:

a) keep the current umbrella setup but replace Timonen with Streit on the first unit?

b) Keep Timonen at the top of the umbrella, use Streit as the roving other point guy and Voracek, Giroux and either Hartnell/Simmonds lower in the zone?

c) Change the alignment and go with the traditional left and right point men setup with Timonen and Streit at the two points and Voracek, Giroux, Hartnell/Simmonds up front?
- bmeltzer

That's why I don't understand going after Streit especially when you factor how much he will make. You guys already have a very good PP and how much better can it get and if it makes it better is it worth the 5 million plus?

Thing is, with the Flyers' PP having clicked at 20+ percent most recent years and being 3rd in the NHL this past season, I don't think Laviolette and Mullen will be inclined to tinker much with the top unit of Timonen, Voracek, Giroux, Simmonds and Hartnell.

If it were your call to make would you:

a) keep the current umbrella setup but replace Timonen with Streit on the first unit?

b) Keep Timonen at the top of the umbrella, use Streit as the roving other point guy and Voracek, Giroux and either Hartnell/Simmonds lower in the zone?

c) Change the alignment and go with the traditional left and right point men setup with Timonen and Streit at the two points and Voracek, Giroux, Hartnell/Simmonds up front?
- bmeltzer

I would go with C. You have to make best use of Streit's skill set. He's going to see considerably less PP time on the 2nd unit.

That's why I don't understand going after Streit especially when you factor how much he will make. You guys already have a very good PP and how much better can it get and if it makes it better is it worth the 5 million plus?
- Vukota

Streit can provide ES offense and upgrade the Flyers puck movement at ES.

That's why I don't understand going after Streit especially when you factor how much he will make. You guys already have a very good PP and how much better can it get and if it makes it better is it worth the 5 million plus?
- Vukota

That's exactly what I was thinking.

That's why I don't understand going after Streit especially when you factor how much he will make. You guys already have a very good PP and how much better can it get and if it makes it better is it worth the 5 million plus?
- Vukota

Homer was considering coaxing Eric Desjardins out of retirement, he is only 44

Homer was considering coaxing Eric Desjardins out of retirement, he is only 44
- vejim

Thing is, with the Flyers' PP having clicked at 20+ percent most recent years and being 3rd in the NHL this past season, I don't think Laviolette and Mullen will be inclined to tinker much with the top unit of Timonen, Voracek, Giroux, Simmonds and Hartnell.

If it were your call to make would you:

a) keep the current umbrella setup but replace Timonen with Streit on the first unit?

b) Keep Timonen at the top of the umbrella, use Streit as the roving other point guy and Voracek, Giroux and either Hartnell/Simmonds lower in the zone?

c) Change the alignment and go with the traditional left and right point men setup with Timonen and Streit at the two points and Voracek, Giroux, Hartnell/Simmonds up front?
- bmeltzer

I would go with a and ween the Flyers off their dependence on Kimmo on the PP. let him get his minutes elsewhere. He is going to be 39 after all.

Thing is, with the Flyers' PP having clicked at 20+ percent most recent years and being 3rd in the NHL this past season, I don't think Laviolette and Mullen will be inclined to tinker much with the top unit of Timonen, Voracek, Giroux, Simmonds and Hartnell.

If it were your call to make would you:

a) keep the current umbrella setup but replace Timonen with Streit on the first unit?

b) Keep Timonen at the top of the umbrella, use Streit as the roving other point guy and Voracek, Giroux and either Hartnell/Simmonds lower in the zone?

c) Change the alignment and go with the traditional left and right point men setup with Timonen and Streit at the two points and Voracek, Giroux, Hartnell/Simmonds up front?
- bmeltzer

I think you should try B or C, cause you can always go back to what worked.

Pretty smart of him to talk that way. Weber talked just like that when he signed here. Why ostracize the fans by saying, "I'd be dumb not to test the market."

But I believe Homer will pay better than market for a known quantity. That's what we do. And this guy is consistently solid. Not a world beater but consistent.
- section32[/img]

He's over 35 so he's a diminishing asset.

Odds are his production will decrease every year from here on. He ran away with the highest minus (-14) on the team last year after posting a stellar -27 (third worst on the team behind Milan Jurcina who was a -34, and Nino Niederreiter at -29) in '11-'12.

He'd be a nice luxury to have if we were already a defensively sound team, however, unfortunately, we are not.

Streit can provide ES offense and upgrade the Flyers puck movement at ES.
- MJL

I understand that but I think you would expect a lot more for somebody making 5 million plus. Just my two cents

I understand that but I think you would expect a lot more for somebody making 5 million plus. Just my two cents
- Vukota

I think it would be unfair to expect anything more then offensive production and puck movement from Streit. That is his forte and his skill set. If you have a sound defensive team, which unfortunately the Flyers haven't recently. You can have a player like Streit in the lineup. But regardless of whether they sign Streit or not, they still have to fix that. And I'm sure I will not like the contract that he signs. I think the bottom line is that Streit makes the Flyers better. He's not the type of player I would prefer. But I have to assume that Holmgren has kicked the tires around the League. And knows what is available at what cost.

I know many are kind of upset.

However we have all been shown what the market is for good younger d-men, and it will probably cost 1 of Coots or Brayden Schenn.

I am really glad Holmgren chose to keep the youth together, and just be willing to go after a stop gap like Streit, who will really help the transition game on the back end.

To me, it seems to be a step in the right direction, of patience, and building through the draft.

If the Flyers sign Streit they already improved their D-core, while keep all available assets intact.

Currently I'm thinking if picking up Streit allows Homer to have some Defensive assets to play at the draft, I don't hate the idea of using Meszaros or Coburn in that fashion. Carolina & Edmonton could use either of those guys. Though I would not trade our #1 to Edmonton + a defensemen simply to move up 4 spaces. I'm not saying I would not trade other assets, just not our #1.

Currently I'm thinking if picking up Streit allows Homer to have some Defensive assets to play at the draft, I don't hate the idea of using Meszaros or Coburn in that fashion. Carolina & Edmonton could use either of those guys. Though I would not trade our #1 to Edmonton + a defensemen simply to move up 4 spaces. I'm not saying I would not trade other assets, just not our #1.
- flyler

Well we know the Flyers will be active. Briere will almost certainly be bought out. We'll see about Bryzgalov. But I will not be shocked if Holmgren is a wheeler and a dealer at the Draft and after.

I think it would be unfair to expect anything more then offensive production and puck movement from Streit. That is his forte and his skill set. If you have a sound defensive team, which unfortunately the Flyers haven't recently. You can have a player like Streit in the lineup. But regardless of whether they sign Streit or not, they still have to fix that. And I'm sure I will not like the contract that he signs. I think the bottom line is that Streit makes the Flyers better. He's not the type of player I would prefer. But I have to assume that Holmgren has kicked the tires around the League. And knows what is available at what cost.
- MJL

Fair enough

Streit can provide ES offense and upgrade the Flyers puck movement at ES.
- MJL

This.

Again, I don't want the Flyers to give Mark Streit four years or $6 million. I don't want that AT ALL.

But what are the alternatives? There are none! This is the best of a bad hand.

Because the Flyers shouldn't:

1. Trade any of their players who are 25 and younger
2. Not throw Braydon Coburn away after one tough season where he played a lot with Bruno Gervais
3. Not throw Nicklas Grossmann away because he's a really good defensive defenseman
4. Not risk an asset on a reclamation project

Again, the odds are that the cost of the extension is going to be ugly. But a 2014 fourth-rounder and Shane Harper, plus a lot of cash, is a small price to pay if Mark Streit can simply move the puck slightly above-average at even strength -- which we know he can.

Is he older? Yes. Is there risk? Yes. But there's risk in anything you do.

I know many are kind of upset.

However we have all been shown what the market is for good younger d-men, and it will probably cost 1 of Coots or Brayden Schenn.

I am really glad Holmgren chose to keep the youth together, and just be willing to go after a stop gap like Streit, who will really help the transition game on the back end.

To me, it seems to be a step in the right direction, of patience, and building through the draft.

If the Flyers sign Streit they already improved their D-core, while keep all available assets intact.
- flyer_nutter

i think it's too early to get a definitive read on the situation. i'm waiting until after the initial FA period to draw any conclusions.

This.

Again, I don't want the Flyers to give Mark Streit four years or $6 million. I don't want that AT ALL.

But what are the alternatives? There are none! This is the best of a bad hand.

Because the Flyers shouldn't:

1. Trade any of their players who are 25 and younger
2. Not throw Braydon Coburn away after one tough season where he played a lot with Bruno Gervais
3. Not throw Nicklas Grossmann away because he's a really good defensive defenseman
4. Not risk an asset on a reclamation project

Again, the odds are that the cost of the extension is going to be ugly. But a 2014 fourth-rounder and Shane Harper, plus a lot of cash, is a small price to pay if Mark Streit can simply move the puck slightly above-average at even strength -- which we know he can.

Is he older? Yes. Is there risk? Yes. But there's risk in anything you do.
- AllInForFlyers

The contract is going to be the downside. It could potentially effect the Flyers ability to acquire the true top 2 way defenseman they really need in the future. And I emphasize could. A lot is going to depend on what happens in the next few weeks.

i think it's too early to get a definitive read on the situation. i'm waiting until after the initial FA period to draw any conclusions.
- isaiah520

I think that's a smart approach. This is the Flyers were discussing.

Currently I'm thinking if picking up Streit allows Homer to have some Defensive assets to play at the draft, I don't hate the idea of using Meszaros or Coburn in that fashion. Carolina & Edmonton could use either of those guys. Though I would not trade our #1 to Edmonton + a defensemen simply to move up 4 spaces. I'm not saying I would not trade other assets, just not our #1.
- flyler

If I'm the Flyers I would trade #11 and Mez to move to #7 and get Edmonton to throw in a 3rd rounder in next years draft. IF they have a specific target that they feel won't drop to 11.