If it was his long-time dream I think they would've been able to talk him down from $5.25
- JAKEw1234

His agent was initially asking for $5.26 million/year.

Or Gostisbehere or Stolarz.
- jmatchett383

So any of our prospects that a team might want?

I think the coburn, 11th package to carolina is a very real scenario. Who would they sign to replace coburn? There's no one really on UFA that's not 34 yoa. For instance scuderi or maybe ference would be a hockey fit but they are older.
- Just5

I don't want to trade Coburn because, after this season, you're right back to needed another top-4 dman. You have Streit, Schenn, Grossmann (hopefully), MAYBE Gus can play top-5, mostly likely 5-6.

word on the street it's always been streit's dream to play in philly
- 2Real

what about bobby ryan? whats going on there

So any of our prospects that a team might want?
- Roytastic

Cousins, Ghosty, Laughton, Stolarz. Not much else in the cupboard teams would care about... Unless you trot out Lauridsen and Gus.
EDIT: Forgot McGinn

So any of our prospects that a team might want?
- Roytastic

Yes. If we're going to actually try to build a team instead of buy one, those 3 should be nearly untouchable unless we bring in a legit star (a la Weber or Lundqvist), not for a goalie who may or may not be good over a full season. Now, if we're talking about trying to trade for Pietrangelo, that's a different story.

I think trading Coburn would be a big mistake.
- Pixote Andolini

Depends on the return.

Cousins, Ghosty, Laughton, Stolarz. Not much else in the cupboard teams would care about... Unless you trot out Lauridsen and Gus.
EDIT: Forgot McGinn
- FlyersGrace

I wasn't trying to ask which of our prospects were of any value. I was just pointing out that the ones that do have value were pretty much all on that impromptu untouchable list.

So any of our prospects that a team might want?
- Roytastic

Laughton is the best of the lot but he's not exactly a big time trade chip.

I wasn't trying to ask which of our prospects were of any value. I was just pointing out that the ones that do have value were pretty much all on that impromptu untouchable list.
- Roytastic

My bad.

My bad.
- FlyersGrace

Haha no problem. I probably could have made myself more clear.

why lauridsson isn't horrible like parent or bartulis was
- 2Real

There is nothing wrong with Lauridsen. For a player of his experience and ability he played well in a callup role. A lot better than Anticipated. I am not knocking the guy's improvements. But he played 15 games and everyone is ready to put him into the starting lineup? Like Mason's good 7 games or Meszaro's 11 bad ones. This season was way too short to be making major roster decisions on.

There's nothing wrong with standing on the wrong side of the red line (with your feet not moving) waiting for the homerun pass, as long as you repeatedly bang your stick on the ice, demanding the puck from your d-men.

And if they don't get it to you, it's your job as a forward to let them hear about it when you get to the bench.

After your three-minute shift.
- Atomic Wedgie

I have to same issues with the wingers on my team. Outlet passes are nearly impossible when the wingers are behind the opposing defenseman and im deep in my own zone.

Depends on the return.
- NickTheKid87

It always depends on the return.

There is nothing wrong with Lauridsen. For a player of his experience and ability he played well in a callup role. A lot better than Anticipated. I am not knocking the guy's improvements. But he played 15 games and everyone is ready to put him into the starting lineup? Like Mason's good 7 games or Meszaro's 11 bad ones. This season was way too short to be making major roster decisions on.
- flyler

He'll likely start the season in the AHL as the first injury call-up.
Actually, given the Flyers injury history, he WON'T start the season in the AHL.

Everything is the blog is just...true.

It just is. I swear to God, reading the Internet today, you'd think the Flyers said they were acquiring Mark Streit to win the Norris Trophy next year.

There are two contracts that screwed the league as far as free-agent defensemen were concerned: Matt Carle's five-year deal with Tampa Bay and Sergei Gonchar's two-year deal at $5 million per at 38 years old.

The Flyers signed a younger guy than Gonchar at less than Carle's annual cap hit. In the market that other teams set -- which I know the Flyers weren't going to pay, considering they didn't come close to signing Carle -- it's laughable that people are all over Paul Holmgren about signing a guy who played 23 minutes a night last season, with a skill set that fits what the Flyers need.
- AllInForFlyers

Wideman signed his deal in Calgary before Carle got his from Tampa. I get what you're saying, the market for UFA d-man has been set and Streit's deal fits right into the market. Wideman set that market though. Carle just followed down the paved golden road

There is nothing wrong with Lauridsen. For a player of his experience and ability he played well in a callup role. A lot better than Anticipated. I am not knocking the guy's improvements. But he played 15 games and everyone is ready to put him into the starting lineup? Like Mason's good 7 games or Meszaro's 11 bad ones. This season was way too short to be making major roster decisions on.
- flyler

I agree, but we'll do it anyway
Personally, I hope they hang onto both Mez and Coburn to see if they bounce back cuz I don't know who is going to pick up those big time minutes and I LIKE both players and believe they'll have bounce back years. But I don't think they'll do that. I expect 1 or both gone this off-season.

Yep, the offensive guys (Pulock, Morrissey) are boom or bust projects.

The rest project to be more defensive guys.

Ristolainen is the guy I feel most comfortable with, but he's tough to project because he's taken an odd path to the draft.
- bradleyc4

I was impressed with what I saw out of Zadorov. Hard to tell if he has NHL caliber offense.

I agree, but we'll do it anyway
Personally, I hope they hang onto both Mez and Coburn to see if they bounce back cuz I don't know who is going to pick up those big time minutes and I LIKE both players and believe they'll have bounce back years. But I don't think they'll do that. I expect 1 or both gone this off-season.
- FlyersGrace

I think Gus deserves a real chance at being in top 6 this year and that can't happen if we don't unload one of the two.

Personally I hope it's Mez. I like him but I think we would miss Coburn a whole lot more.

I think the coburn, 11th package to carolina is a very real scenario. Who would they sign to replace coburn? There's no one really on UFA that's not 34 yoa. For instance scuderi or maybe ference would be a hockey fit but they are older.
- Just5

I don't like for our needs. I would hope McBaim would also be thrown in.

I think Gus deserves a real chance at being in top 6 this year and that can't happen if we don't unload one of the two.

Personally I hope it's Mez. I like him but I think we would miss Coburn a whole lot more.
- Roytastic

One thing is certain, we are going to have at least 1 D man hurt at all times. That said I'd keep Mez as my #7 to start the year. Rotate him in every few games to keep the rust off and sit my most injured (or Timmonen) occaisonally. Problem is he's a large cap hit for a #7.

I don't like for our needs. I would hope McBaim would also be thrown in.
- coffee junkie

If McBain was part of that deal it would make it very interesting..

But you still have the lingering health concerns with Mez and Grossmann that become all that much more worrisome if you don't have Coburn on the roster also.

One thing is certain, we are going to have at least 1 D man hurt at all times. That said I'd keep Mez as my #7 to start the year. Rotate him in every few games to keep the rust off and sit my most injured (or Timmonen) occaisonally. Problem is he's a large cap hit for a #7.
- FlyersGrace

Yeah the cap hit is the deal breaker.

One thing is certain, we are going to have at least 1 D man hurt at all times. That said I'd keep Mez as my #7 to start the year. Rotate him in every few games to keep the rust off and sit my most injured (or Timmonen) occaisonally. Problem is he's a large cap hit for a #7.
- FlyersGrace

If he fits under the cap, then yes, keep him. If not, then so long, thanks for the memories, we'll enjoy the 6th rounder.

Have we resigned Leighton v4.0 yet? I hear he's a good guy who knows the team.

I think the coburn, 11th package to carolina is a very real scenario. Who would they sign to replace coburn? There's no one really on UFA that's not 34 yoa. For instance scuderi or maybe ference would be a hockey fit but they are older.
- Just5

I dont need a young defenseman right now. I would be fine with Ference for 2-3 years.

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Nishuchkin-Schenn-Simmonds
Gagne-Couturier-Talbot
Raffl-Laughton-Rinaldo

Timonen-Schenn
Grossmann-Streit
Gustefsson-Ference

Mason
Bernier