Which is good, I suppose. We already have a little bit of a logjam in our top 9.
- JAKEw1234

It's okay trades & free agency will always change things.

Whoa! Didn't see that one coming!
- BiggE

Eriksson is really underrated, and I love him as a player.

To give up on Seguin at such a young age though...

Reports state the Bruins brass aren't happy with his nighttime extra-curricular activities.

Sounds vaguely familiar.
- 77rams

I guess a 70 point scorer is a pretty good return...

Why was everyone else able to sign so quickly and nobody else?

I have seen many Flyer fans describe his defensive game as being great or one of the best amongst the NHL's younger players...and the word "Selke" has been mentioned many times in association with him...I just don't see that being justified at this time.
- exlund

Ok, well then you disagree. Don't have to throw 'overrated' around, it's offputting.

And believe me, I'm very in the know about being offputting

And believe me, I'm very in the know about being offputting
- BulliesPhan87

Sadly, I think I'll overtake you if I post here too much longer.

Nope, if he wants over $2M I walk away
- ob18

You know he won't sign for $2 mil... I don't get it, $3 mil for 1 year fits easily on the cap and comes off clean next year. It's also incredibly cheap for a 2 time vezina winner who's done nothing but get better with age and is looking to pull a Dominic Hasek.

He's definitely one of the top 2 or 3 defensive forwards on this team, at least.
- JAKEw1234

Well, some numbers I would look at, like GA ON/60 indicate less goals are scored (against) when forwards, like Talbot, Feds, Hall, Gagne, Hartnell Read and Simmer are on the ice versus when Couturier is on the ice (5v5). Also, of all the players that spent significant time on the PK, players like Read, Hall, Talbot, Feds, G and Hall have all let in less goals (per 60 mins of PK time) than Couturier. Then there's his faceoff percentage, which is well below 50%. So, yeah, I don't think that argument holds water either.

Sadly, I think I'll overtake you if I post here too much longer.

- AllInForFlyers

It happens to the best of us.*

*This statement does not speak for Don'tForgetTocchet

Why was everyone else able to sign so quickly and nobody else?
- dingo8urbaby

Ok, well then you disagree. Don't have to throw 'overrated' around, it's offputting.

And believe me, I'm very in the know about being offputting
- BulliesPhan87

Underrated, overrated...these are terms often used in pro sports discussions. The terms aren't absolutes, so, if I think Coots is overrated, I'm saying versus the current perception of his play, not that he's a bad player or doesn't have nice upside potential in the future. I don't think that should be that offputting, but hey, if that's how it hits you, then so be it. Let's hope the kid makes believers out of everyone over the next few years.

Underrated, overrated...these are terms often used in pro sports discussions. The terms aren't absolutes, so, if I think Coots is overrated, I'm saying versus the current perception of his play, not that he's a bad player or doesn't have nice upside potential in the future. I don't think that should be that offputting, but hey, if that's how it hits you, then so be it. Let's hope the kid makes believers out of everyone over the next few years.
- exlund

Ok.

Well, some numbers I would look at, like GA ON/60 indicate less goals are scored when forwards, like Talbot, Feds, Hall, Gagne, Hartnell Read and Simmer are on the ice versus when Couturier is on the ice (5v5). Also, of all the players that spent significant time on the PK, players like Read, Hall, Talbot, Feds, G and Hall have all let in less goals (per 60 mins of PK time) than Couturier. Then there's his faceoff percentage, which is well below 50%. So, yeah, I don't think that argument holds water either.
- exlund

You also have to look at stats that show how difficult of opposition he was up against. Obviously Hartnell would have better GA ON/60 if he's consistently playing against more defensive forwards. And Of course Couturier would have worse GA ON/60 if he's consistently playing the most threatening goal scorers and team's top scoring lines.

This is how you avoid Shea Weber type situations. You pay high end players like it and move on
- eayost

I guess. Still don't like it. He's obviously skilled and motivated but he's kind of small and somewhat injury prone. The jury is still out on his leadership ability and he didn't exactly have a great year last year. I'm sure the Flyers will overpay regardless.

Why was everyone else able to sign so quickly and nobody else?
- dingo8urbaby

If you mean LeCavalier, I think it is because he had a NMC and got bought out so he didn't have to go through the same waivers or process as other free agents. However, I still think he can't officially sign until Friday but the process was a little different. In Streit's case, the Flyers traded for his rights so they could sign him befoe July 5.

I think all the other people I have seen being signed have been re-signed by their current clubs or to longer extensions like Letang.

We don't really know all the details, and Streit's rights were traded to us. No other GM was able to even talk to him, so we don't know what they were or weren't willing to offer.
- mikel33

Streit was pretty highly coveted, and would likely have been one of the most sought after pieces in free agency.

Check out this article from a few months ago to get an idea of the interest level for Streit:

http://islanderspointblan...writers-want-mark-streit/

Homer snookered them all by getting the jump... Not crazy about the term and cap hit, but I think he may have gotten a bit more in the open market.

I guess. Still don't like it. He's obviously skilled and motivated but he's kind of small and somewhat injury prone. The jury is still out on his leadership ability and he didn't exactly have a great year last year. I'm sure the Flyers will overpay regardless.
- Dkos

I love how everyone perceives him to have had a bad year and he STILL played at above a point per game. I don't see the injury prone thing, what's he had 1 injury that only put him out a few weeks? If that's the case than only the true iron men that have only missed like 2 games in their careers are not injury prone?

Streit was pretty highly coveted, and would likely have been one of the most sought after pieces in free agency.

Check out this article from a few months ago to get an idea of the interest level for Streit:

http://islanderspointblan...writers-want-mark-streit/

Homer snookered them all by getting the jump... Not crazy about the term and cap hit, but I think he may have gotten a bit more in the open market.
- exlund

He would've if a bidding war was started. Homer paid market value.

You also have to look at stats that show how difficult of opposition he was up against. Obviously Hartnell would have better GA ON/60 if he's consistently playing against more defensive forwards. And Of course Couturier would have worse GA ON/60 if he's consistently playing the most threatening goal scorers and team's top scoring lines.
- JAKEw1234

I do look at that too...and yes, Couturier was slotted against tough opposition 5v5...but he didn't fare that well against them, so what does that really say about him? Also, on the PK, other Flyer PK'ers faced similar or tougher opposition and did better that Coots (Feds, Talbot Read Gagne...).

Why was everyone else able to sign so quickly and nobody else?
- dingo8urbaby

Vinny still hasn't officially signed and Streit was flyers property via trade

If the twitter hockey universe of what I consider reasonable hockey sources is correct it seems like flyers are goin to make a minor move to dump salary probably Mez and sign a goalie and then there are your 2013-2014 Philadelphia Flyers....so seems like big splash move isn't happening which is probably a good thing

I love how everyone perceives him to have had a bad year and he STILL played at above a point per game. I don't see the injury prone thing, what's he had 1 injury that only put him out a few weeks? If that's the case than only the true iron men that have only missed like 2 games in their careers are not injury prone?
- JAKEw1234

I was hoping it was more towards the 7.5 million mark. $8.3 is a lot imo. bottom line though - I don't pay the salary, I just watch the game, and I like watching G out there so pay the guy

I love how everyone perceives him to have had a bad year and he STILL played at above a point per game. I don't see the injury prone thing, what's he had 1 injury that only put him out a few weeks? If that's the case than only the true iron men that have only missed like 2 games in their careers are not injury prone?
- JAKEw1234

Would you trade him straight up for Toews? Kopitar? Krejci ?

Would you trade him straight up for Toews? Kopitar? Krejci ?
- Dkos

MAYBE for Toews, but not Kopitar or Krejci.

I do look at that too...and yes, Couturier was slotted against tough opposition 5v5...but he didn't fare that well against them, so what does that really say about him? Also, on the PK, other Flyer PK'ers faced similar or tougher opposition and did better that Coots (Feds, Talbot Read Gagne...).
- exlund

He's not the greatest defensive player to ever play the game man, which he'd have to be to outplay those guys at age 20. Feds has what, 10 more seasons of NHL experience than Coots? I think Talbot has 6 more seasons, and Gagne has 12 seasons on him. Read is the only one who doesn't have more NHL experience than Coots, but he's still 7 years older than Coots. Like jesus man I don't think Johnny Toews would even beat those guys defensively at age 20.