is the bridge b/t sea isle and avalon still closed?
- aightwebang17

It reopened in May, thank God. That sucked when it was out of service.


Of course, it'd be funny to see Carter swimming the inlet to get to the Princeton

Without Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, the Kings don't win that Cup.

Richards and Carter were no more valuable than Jarret Stoll and Willie Mitchell.
- AllInForFlyers

I dont doubt that at all... every player was important to that run.

It reopened in May, thank God. That sucked when it was out of service.


Of course, it'd be funny to see Carter swimming the inlet to get to the Princeton
- Jsaquella

Because nobody else on the team was capable of winning faceoffs at a 50% clip.

Giroux was the only regular center who was over 50%. Next closest were Talbot at 47.9% and Briere at 45.9%.

A lot of times Giroux would be out for a draw and immediately leave the ice. Doesn't make him an above average defensive player.
- Jsaquella

That's why I would like to see Hall back, or someone like Halpern. Someone to take some slack off of Giroux at the dot.

certainly not a stretch. the agent recently said as much. if they just used vokoun to drive down bryz's price in an open mkt...you can't just stomp your feet and say, 'solve this problem now'. even if bryz was doing well, they paid too much, given mkt conditions.
- isaiah520

I'd disagre with that. A 5.7 cap hit for a Goalie playing at a high level is a good deal. Especially as the years go on and salaries escalate. It all comes down to his play.

Because nobody else on the team was capable of winning faceoffs at a 50% clip.

Giroux was the only regular center who was over 50%. Next closest were Talbot at 47.9% and Briere at 45.9%.

A lot of times Giroux would be out for a draw and immediately leave the ice. Doesn't make him an above average defensive player.
- Jsaquella

Thanks... i dont need to elaborate any further... you stole my words.

There is no way at the rink to diagnose a spleen injury.
You need a CT scan. Maybe an ultrasound could show it if its a full rupture.
They could suspect an injury based on where he hurt and how tender it was when they examined his abdomen, but a bruise to the left lower ribs could have the exact same physical findings.

If the spleen ruptures its different, you go into shock and they would have known right away and got him to surgery. But a smaller spleen injury then a full rupture would not be readily known until a CT was done.
- Marc D

Late to this one, but I'll throw in my experience with it...

When I was younger, I was skateboarding with a friend and we collided, his hip hitting my midsection. It was a hard hit, but nothing serious. It took some time for the pain to start, but within a half-hour I was in some major discomfort.

A trip to the ER and some tests, and it turns out it was a bruised spleen. If that's what happened to Bergeron, I wouldn't expect him in the lineup tonight - I was down for at least a week, and even turning over in bed was a chore.

That's why I would like to see Hall back, or someone like Halpern. Someone to take some slack off of Giroux at the dot.
- bradleyc4

Yeah, I didn't list Hall, because he only played 11 games with the Flyers. But he was at 59%

I'd definitely be OK with Hall returning.

I'd disagre with that. A 5.7 cap hit for a Goalie playing at a high level is a good deal. Especially as the years go on and salaries escalate. It all comes down to his play.
- MJL

soooo is he playing like other 5.7 mil goalies in the league?

Late to this one, but I'll throw in my experience with it...

When I was younger, I was skateboarding with a friend and we collided, his hip hitting my midsection. It was a hard hit, but nothing serious. It took some time for the pain to start, but within a half-hour I was in some major discomfort.

A trip to the ER and some tests, and it turns out it was a bruised spleen. If that's what happened to Bergeron, I wouldn't expect him in the lineup tonight - I was down for at least a week, and even turning over in bed was a chore.
- tangent_man

They had skateboards back then? I thought Marty McFly invented them in 1955

Late to this one, but I'll throw in my experience with it...

When I was younger, I was skateboarding with a friend and we collided, his hip hitting my midsection. It was a hard hit, but nothing serious. It took some time for the pain to start, but within a half-hour I was in some major discomfort.

A trip to the ER and some tests, and it turns out it was a bruised spleen. If that's what happened to Bergeron, I wouldn't expect him in the lineup tonight - I was down for at least a week, and even turning over in bed was a chore.
- tangent_man

They just pump painkillers into the players and set them loose.

I get so irritated at how Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are viewed as these central figures to one of the greatest teams ever to win a Stanley Cup.

They weren't. The Kings were huffing and puffing along in 2011-2012, with Dean Lombardi in serious jeopardy of getting fired if they had missed the playoffs. He had ZERO interest in, or intention of, spending more assets like Jack Johnson and a first-round pick to acquire Jeff Carter. None. He did that to try to get into the playoffs and save his job.

Once there, Jonathan Quick, Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Matt Greene, Rob Scuderi and Willie Mitchell were all front-line players in that playoff run. They did all that heavy lifting.

That doesn't mean that Richards and Carters were fourth-liners -- they weren't. Each had big moments in the run. But in no way, shape or form are they difference makers -- they are quality players you can win with, but it is ludicrous for this perception to exist that they are these elite players you can put on the top line and win a Stanley Cup with.
- AllInForFlyers

I really don't know why some Philly fans feel the need to downgrade the contributions that Richards and Carter made to the Kings winning the Cup. Simply not the case. It takes all hands on deck to win a Cup. And Richards and Carter were immensely important to the Cup win. Adding Carter completely changed the dynamic of that lineup. And allowed other players to be used in their proper roles. If you sorround them with the right players, Carter and Richards are absolutely players you could have on the top line and win with. And that's the same for every team.

Is this the first off-season that teams can legally contact players/agents about free agency, prior to free agency opening on the 5th?

Is this the first off-season that teams can legally contact players/agents about free agency, prior to free agency opening on the 5th?
- bradleyc4

I believe that starts next year, but not sure.

How would you rate Max Talbot and Sean Couturier's defensive zone play? I would say they're pretty good. However, for some reason, Giroux takes most of the draws all over the ice. Why is Giroux most trusted on this team for defensive zone draws?
- dingo8urbaby

Because he is easily the best faceoff guy on the team. Which is a problem.

Might have to scratch Backstrom off the list of possibilities

http://www.startribune.co...orts/blogs/212775051.html

If they had offered him 5 years, $30 million, which team was going to top that?
- Feanor

Doesn't matter. The question is would Bryzgalov have signed that deal?

I really don't know why some Philly fans feel the need to downgrade the contributions that Richards and Carter made to the Kings winning the Cup. Simply not the case. It takes all hands on deck to win a Cup. And Richards and Carter were immensely important to the Cup win. Adding Carter completely changed the dynamic of that lineup. And allowed other players to be used in their proper roles. If you sorround them with the right players, Carter and Richards are absolutely players you could have on the top line and win with. And that's the same for every team.
- MJL

I think I can agree with AllIn if it were more about the perception that the Flyers handed a cup over to LA in trading Richards and Carter. It's not like the Cup was going to whatever team had those two players.

They had skateboards back then? I thought Marty McFly invented them in 1955
- Jsaquella

Very good, sir. Your invitation to kiss my ass is still open.

They just pump painkillers into the players and set them loose.
- bradleyc4

I still haven't met an effective painkiller that doesn't make me woozy. I can't imagine taking enough to dull that kind of pain and being effective in a game situation.

This....If Ray Shero had made those same moves, or Ken Holland, those GMs would be viewed as miracle workers -- Jakub Voracek, as was pointed out earlier, has outscored Jeff Carter BY HIMSELF. Wayne Simmonds has outproduced Mike Richards BY HIMSELF....
- AllInForFlyers

the regular season is soooo.... regular

both Carter(18gp, 13points, +6) and Richards(15gp, 12points, +5) were monsters in the playoffs this season!

Because nobody else on the team was capable of winning faceoffs at a 50% clip.
- Jsaquella

Which is they should resign Hall or get Boyd Gordon.

Very good, sir. Your invitation to kiss my ass is still open.



I still haven't met an effective painkiller that doesn't make me woozy. I can't imagine taking enough to dull that kind of pain and being effective in a game situation.
- tangent_man

Because nobody else on the team was capable of winning faceoffs at a 50% clip.

Giroux was the only regular center who was over 50%. Next closest were Talbot at 47.9% and Briere at 45.9%.

A lot of times Giroux would be out for a draw and immediately leave the ice. Doesn't make him an above average defensive player.
- Jsaquella

Yes but Giroux also isn't winning faceoffs at a level Bergeron is every night for the Bruins. It's not like Giroux is winning 80 to 85 percent of the draws either. There is always that chance Giroux could lose a faceoff and in my opinion you have to be above average defensively if it happens. Sean Couturier was used in plenty of defensive zone draws his rookie season (5 on 5, PK, even in the playoffs). It doesn't make sense to me to be afraid to use all your players.

Which is they should resign Hall or get Boyd Gordon.
- Feanor

Yep, I'm all for adding a guy who can win draws on the 4th line.

I get so irritated at how Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are viewed as these central figures to one of the greatest teams ever to win a Stanley Cup.

They weren't. The Kings were huffing and puffing along in 2011-2012, with Dean Lombardi in serious jeopardy of getting fired if they had missed the playoffs. He had ZERO interest in, or intention of, spending more assets like Jack Johnson and a first-round pick to acquire Jeff Carter. None. He did that to try to get into the playoffs and save his job.

Once there, Jonathan Quick, Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Matt Greene, Rob Scuderi and Willie Mitchell were all front-line players in that playoff run. They did all that heavy lifting.

That doesn't mean that Richards and Carters were fourth-liners -- they weren't. Each had big moments in the run. But in no way, shape or form are they difference makers -- they are quality players you can win with, but it is ludicrous for this perception to exist that they are these elite players you can put on the top line and win a Stanley Cup with.
- AllInForFlyers

an accurate take