i'd be interested in a Mike Richardsesque defenseman actually
- Crimsoninja

Minus the coke issue tho right?

Sean Lafortune ‏@SeanLafortune

Anthony Stolarz of the London Knights have been added USA Hockey's U20 camp in August. He joins Thatcher Demko, Jon Gillies and Collin Olson
- ob18

That pick just keeps looking better and better.

It's not 100% on Laviolette. But he deserves the overwhelming amount of blame for the way the team played. By the time he adjusted, it was too late. And when the adjustment was made late in the Season, was the youthful exuberance and inexperience not present? With the likes of Lauridsen, Manning, and Konan making up half the defense?
- MJL

Yep I put 75% on lava.

I hated the way we played last year. Watch the bruins or the devils last year. I have to look hard at what forward line is out there, they all play the same way, they hustle all over the ice.

I know immediately when it's giroux or Briere out coasting around on the back check. I know that it's hartnell or b schenn laying or diving on the ice for whatever reason.

And not once have I seen Patrice Bergeron use his stick to push his teammate to chase a back check. I mean c'mon already and this guy is a selke candidate?!

Yep I put 75% on lava.

I hated the way we played last year. Watch the bruins or the devils last year. I have to look hard at what forward line is out there, they all play the same way, they hustle all over the ice.

I know immediately when it's giroux or Briere out coasting around on the back check. I know that it's hartnell or b schenn laying or diving on the ice for whatever reason.
- Just5

Late Coaching decisions, injuries, slow starts by players who are expected to carry this team, weak defense and walking away from key players such as Jagr, van Riemsdyk and Carle didn't help. I would put much less blame on Laviolette, I never thought this was a contending team. More like a bubble team the moment we signed Rusty and Gervais to replace them.

Wouldnt it be cool if the team just did the two buyouts, brought in a veteran goaltender and attempted to bring some size into the forward ranks?

Draft a good young player, hopefully a D-man, and be done with it?
- flyer_nutter

Yes, sir! I wish that everyone understood that sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy, try to get too cute with this stuff.

The Flyers aren't some horrific team. They're actually quite close to being not just a good team, but maybe a REALLY GOOD team, with about a 4-year window to be a very real contender.

But this draft is pivotal in that, this offseason. To me, if they keep it simple, it's almost impossible that they don't wind up back in the playoffs next season and challenging for a cup in two.

If they overpay in a package and that player busts...wow. There's a thin line with the depth of this team, and I hope that the organization understands that.

What do you all think the Pens would get in return for Letang if they decided to trade him this off-season?

Consider he's only signed for 1 more season and is apparently looking to double his salary. And it's fairly assumed the Pens can't afford his cap hit along with Crosby, Malkin and Neal. (that would be 5 players, including Fleury eating ~$35 million in cap space, or roughly half the total).

Further, why would any team help the Pens by trading assets for Letang when they could pursue him in 2014?

The only way I see it getting done is if there is some agreement prior to the trade that Letang will sign long-term, but is that technically even allowed?

I ask b/c the Pens blog seems to think they are working from a position of strength (which I think is a fallacy) and should get a good return similar to Staal's.

As far as drafting, a lot can happen before #11. But I think the top 5 are probably set. That is the final hard dropoff before the Flyers pick. The best picks availible after that seem to be.

Monahan
Ristolainen
Pulock
Nurse
Lindholm
Shinkaruk

That's how I would rate them for Philly should multiple ones be availible at 11th if someone like Mirco Mueller or Hagg is taken earlier. If Philly gets one of these players at 11th, I'll be quite happy. My Preferance would be Ristolainen, but I could not pass up on Monahan if he was availible, he'd be the Best Player availible.

Late Coaching decisions, injuries, slow starts by players who are expected to carry this team, weak defense and walking away from key players such as Jagr, van Riemsdyk and Carle didn't help. I would put much less blame on Laviolette, I never thought this was a contending team. More like a bubble team the moment we signed Rusty and Gervais to replace them.
- dingo8urbaby

Yeah I thought anywhere from 5-7 seed. But they finished 10 I think. They were healthy enough to have a better showing than that. Look at ottawas injuries. They changed how they played. We didn't. One was a playoff team. One wasn't

What do you all think the Pens would get in return for Letang if they decided to trade him this off-season?

Consider he's only signed for 1 more season and is apparently looking to double his salary. And it's fairly assumed the Pens can't afford his cap hit along with Crosby, Malkin and Neal. (that would be 5 players, including Fleury eating ~$35 million in cap space, or roughly half the total).

Further, why would any team help the Pens by trading assets for Letang when they could pursue him in 2014?

The only way I see it getting done is if there is some agreement prior to the trade that Letang will sign long-term, but is that technically even allowed?

I ask b/c the Pens blog seems to think they are working from a position of strength (which I think is a fallacy) and should get a good return similar to Staal's.
- wolfhounds

The fact of the matter is that teams will pay a heavy premium for a guy like Letang. Personally, I think he really benefited from playing on a team with guys like Malkin and Crosby. THAT IS NOT A SLIGHT EITHER. He is still a top pairing guy...

I could see them getting a a roster player (top 6 forward or top 4 d-man) and picks and prospects. Scary reallly.

Yeah I thought anywhere from 5-7 seed. But they finished 10 I think. They were healthy enough to have a better showing than that. Look at ottawas injuries. They changed how they played. We didn't. One was a playoff team. One wasn't
- Just5

When I say bubble team, I mean I felt we were in a dog fight to make the playoffs. Anywhere between the 7th and 10th spot in the east.

When I say bubble team, I mean I felt we were in a dog fight to make the playoffs. Anywhere between the 7th and 10th spot in the east.
- dingo8urbaby

Oh ok. I had them better

I say that because while I never say never, and things like injuries do happen, it's highly unlikely that every single one of Nick Cousins, Marcel Noebels, Petr Straka, Mark Alt, Brandon Alderson, Shayne Goestibhere, Oliver Lauridsen, Tye McGinn, Anthony Stolarz, Scott Laughton, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn ALL FAIL to reach their potential.

Some of them will underachieve. Some of them will overachieve. Some will be in the middle.

But of those 12, if just half of them reach their potential, with either Laughton, Couturier or Schenn doing more than that...we should be fine, considering we'll still be drafting players, signing players, trading for players, etc.

The fact of the matter is that teams will pay a heavy premium for a guy like Letang. Personally, I think he really benefited from playing on a team with guys like Malkin and Crosby. THAT IS NOT A SLIGHT EITHER. He is still a top pairing guy...

I could see them getting a a roster player (top 6 forward or top 4 d-man) and picks and prospects. Scary reallly.
- jak521

Man, that's just bad business if a GM puts up those kinds of assets, especially if there is no reason to believe Letang isn't going to test the FA waters next year.

Absurd.

Yep I put 75% on lava.

I hated the way we played last year. Watch the bruins or the devils last year. I have to look hard at what forward line is out there, they all play the same way, they hustle all over the ice.

I know immediately when it's giroux or Briere out coasting around on the back check. I know that it's hartnell or b schenn laying or diving on the ice for whatever reason.
- Just5

Just watch the Bruins and Hawks in the finals. Isolate and pay attention to the high forward, and how he is positioned. Watch the neutral zone and how each team has a presence there, and provides resistance to the opposition. There's a reason why Edzo said he thinks whoever owns the neutrals zone, will win the Series.
Versus the Flyers style of play where one quick pass defeats the forecheck. And then it looks like the fastest skater competition for the opposition, at the skills competition on All Star weekend, all the way to the Flyers net.

I've heard Mark Streit compared to Mike Richards.
They both....um...breathe?

The fact of the matter is that teams will pay a heavy premium for a guy like Letang. Personally, I think he really benefited from playing on a team with guys like Malkin and Crosby. THAT IS NOT A SLIGHT EITHER. He is still a top pairing guy...

I could see them getting a a roster player (top 6 forward or top 4 d-man) and picks and prospects. Scary reallly.
- jak521

And their not going to give two poops about thinking they may have helped the pens.

I've heard Mark Streit compared to Mike Richards.
They both....um...breathe?
- jmatchett383

Chris Pronger actually...

I've heard Mark Streit compared to Mike Richards.
They both....um...breathe?
- jmatchett383

And wear pants.

As far as drafting, a lot can happen before #11. But I think the top 5 are probably set. That is the final hard dropoff before the Flyers pick. The best picks availible after that seem to be.

Monahan
Ristolainen
Pulock
Nurse
Lindholm
Shinkaruk

That's how I would rate them for Philly should multiple ones be availible at 11th if someone like Mirco Mueller or Hagg is taken earlier. If Philly gets one of these players at 11th, I'll be quite happy. My Preferance would be Ristolainen, but I could not pass up on Monahan if he was availible, he'd be the Best Player availible.
- flyler

Doubt Mueller or Hagg go before 15. Risto would be a terrific pick, and I don't think Homer will have to worry about Monahan as I'd be shocked if he dropped past 8.

I personally go Pulock (due to his unique skills and top pairing upside) if he's there, but I wouldn't throw a fit if the others were picked there.

And their not going to give two poops about thinking they may have helped the pens.
- Just5

Then they have some strategy issues to work out.

But it's more about helping the Pens get out of a bind by throwing assets at them for Letang when it's pretty clear they can't keep him on the roster at his current asking price.

scouts say his game is comparable to one Mike Richards
- Crimsoninja

And so is every forward now days, who's got a physical game and plays good two way hockey...

And so is every forward now days, who's got a physical game and plays good two way hockey...


- Yosimar89

its unbelievable

Late Coaching decisions, injuries, slow starts by players who are expected to carry this team, weak defense and walking away from key players such as Jagr, van Riemsdyk and Carle didn't help. I would put much less blame on Laviolette, I never thought this was a contending team. More like a bubble team the moment we signed Rusty and Gervais to replace them.
- dingo8urbaby

Good points. I agree that while Lavy has to assume some blame (leadership, motivation, system play), Homer flopped big time in the offseason. I don't blame him for going after Weber and co., but obviously he didn't have a Plan B or C (so it seemed). Gervais? Foster? Whoops.

I blame Homer and the veteran leadership over Lavy, but they all are due some accountability. The players all seemed to make excuses or say "it's just a matter of time, we're not getting bounces". Right.

its unbelievable
- Crimsoninja

It's an epidemic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwDfMTSxMI8
(wont let me embed )
00:50