Jim Matheson
@NHLbyMatty
Braydon Coburn will eventually wind up in EDM via PHI. Could he be def. security blanket guy for Justin Schultz? Coburn coming off poor yr.

Jim Matheson
@NHLbyMatty
Braydon Coburn will eventually wind up in EDM via PHI. Could he be def. security blanket guy for Justin Schultz? Coburn coming off poor yr.
- opeth_pa

Yup. PRV and a 1st.

First, bids against himself and hand out excessive contracts.

Second, my guess is that Homer's offer was tops among the short list given by Vinny to his agent. We'll probable never know, though.

Regarding assets, true. But history shows players tend to break down more often and their talents decrease as they get older. Two classic examples: Kimo and Pronger.
- 77rams

The bidding against himself is just the song that many here want to sing. Not a fact. All GM's hand out excessive contracts. And what is excessive, is a matter of opinion.
You can't chastise someone for stating that he could've gotten more from another team, then "guess" that the offer from Holmgren was tops.

Yes, they most certainly break down as they get older. But the point is, are they still very good players at that point? That's what really matters. Not if they're as good ow as they were when they were 26.

You're welcome. It's pretty clear to see. If you take a very good defensive defenseman. Put him on a team that is poor overall defensively. Isn't a very good 5 on 5 team. And spends large amounts of time defending in their own zone. And use that player to match up against the opposition's top line and top players, in defensive situations the majority of the time. How good would you expect the numbers to look? The question is, now take a lesser defensive player and put him in the same role, and the same situations. What's going to happen? It's not a hard game to figure out. And it's not hard to figure out that Couturier's hockey sense and defensive awareness for a kid his age is special. And he is the best defensive forward on the team, at 20 years old. And he has the chance to go on and be not just the top defensive forward on his team. But one of the top defensive forwards period, in the entire League.
- MJL

I'm sorry, I just don't see this...please describe exactly what makes him that? Any facts to back it up would be helpful...we know how you love facts.

Sam Carchidi
@BroadStBull
#Flyers source: Giroux deal will not be done tonight. Writers, go back to your cookouts.

Giroux to sign a 8 year contact that will be 8 mill per season according to TSN

Grabovski waived and seguin traded. Crazy.

What are the rumors regarding the Flyers.

Giroux to sign a 8 year contact that will be 8 mill per season according to TSN
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I was hoping they would at least knock it down to 7.5. Im assuming full NMC

I'm sorry, I just don't see this...please describe exactly what makes him that? Any facts to back it up would be helpful...we know how you love facts.
- exlund

So you can predict the future as well? gtfo he's 20 let him develop before you toss him away.

ty
- PT21

Yeah, no doubt the kid has shown flashes of above average defensive instincts and potential, but that was something we already knew going in...but he's yet to develop the consistency and overall effectiveness of an established top defensive forward, which is fine as he's very young...I just disagree with those who think he's already shown, at 20, that he is the Flyers best defensive forward, with some even thinking he's in the top tier of NHL defensive forwards (hence the "Selke" talk)....he shows promise, yes, but has a long way to go to prove he's worthy of that kind of high praise.

So you can predict the future as well? gtfo he's 20 let him develop before you toss him away.
- cfish99

Toss him away? What? If that's what you think I'm saying, you haven't paid attention or miscomprehended. I've been an advocate of keeping the kids, including Coots. I'm just disagreeing with those who apparently think he's already established himself as a top level defensive forward. Big difference.

Jim Matheson
@NHLbyMatty
Braydon Coburn will eventually wind up in EDM via PHI. Could he be def. security blanket guy for Justin Schultz? Coburn coming off poor yr.
- opeth_pa

If there is any truth to this, I hope it falls apart. What's in it for the Flyers outside of a salary dump? We need to focus on getting Meszaros out.

Yup. PRV and a 1st.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Who is PRV?

If there is any truth to this, I hope it falls apart. What's in it for the Flyers outside of a salary dump? We need to focus on getting Meszaros out.
- dingo8urbaby

Agreed...he is the guy who should be the casualty...if your trading Coburn it should be to make your team better

If there is any truth to this, I hope it falls apart. What's in it for the Flyers outside of a salary dump? We need to focus on getting Meszaros out.
- dingo8urbaby

Things can get "crazy" for the Flyers tomorrow.

Who is PRV?
- nonpoint22

Jvr's cousin

Yeah, no doubt the kid has shown flashes of above average defensive instincts and potential, but that was something we already knew going in...but he's yet to develop the consistency and overall effectiveness of an established top defensive forward, which is fine as he's very young...I just disagree with those who think he's already shown, at 20, that he is the Flyers best defensive forward, with some even thinking he's in the top tier of NHL defensive forwards (hence the "Selke" talk)....he shows promise, yes, but has a long way to go to prove he's worthy of that kind of high praise.
- exlund

He had a rough second season, but if you look at his rookie season, he was amazing. He finished as a +16 I believe while playing with guys like Zach Rinaldo and Harry Z. He also spent the second half of the season matched up against the other teams top lines. He's excelled in his first two seasons on the PK, which is very rare for a player that young.

He then followed up the regular season with an incredible postseason against the Pens.

As Bill has stated, young players don't always develop on a steady incline. There are peaks and valleys. Couturier has already shown an ability to be a very good two way center. He just needs to find consistency and consistently good line mates.

About to fire up the BBQ! Asian skirt steak, Honey garlic BBQ pork chops, hot dogs/burger for the kids...

Toss him away? What? If that's what you think I'm saying, you haven't paid attention or miscomprehended. I've been an advocate of keeping the kids, including Coots. I'm just disagreeing with those who apparently think he's already established himself as a top level defensive forward. Big difference.
- exlund

Why was he matched up against Malkin as a rookie in the playoffs?

He had a rough second season, but if you look at his rookie season, he was amazing. He finished as a +16 I believe while playing with guys like Zach Rinaldo and Harry Z. He also spent the second half of the season matched up against the other teams top lines. He's excelled in his first two seasons on the PK, which is very rare for a player that young.

He then followed up the regular season with an incredible postseason against the Pens.

As Bill has stated, young players don't always develop on a steady incline. There are peaks and valleys. Couturier has already shown an ability to be a very good two way center. He just needs to find consistency and consistently good line mates.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree with most (except for the PK thing...he wasn't as effective as many of his teammates this season on the PK - oh, there's those pesky advanced stats again)...and as I've stated before, I'm willing to wait. I don't want to get rid of the kids...but would I do a Coots for Yandle straight up (assumiing cap hit can be taken in somehow)? Yes.

But one of the top defensive forwards period, in the entire League.
- MJL

I think he could be that too. But I am disturbed by the years being thrown around to 30+ players by the Flyers. In the short term they are better, but the point is, they are not better enough and close ain't no cigar. I would have preferred they actually focus on building a more cohesive defensively responsible team. Make the forwards backcheck and come back into zone for short passes from D. Perhaps get another set of high draft picks and be ok with an average reg season, even 2. See what we have in the young forwards and THEN add missing pieces as needed. I would have shown confidence in Couts/SChenn and let them develop/compete for the #2 center role.

In other words I saw the basic problem with team as being system rather than personnel. And with all these new pieces being brought in, the emphasis will be diverted from that.

Also, I see VL being described as a good ES player. I don't see it. He is a consistent - player throughout his career and always outside the top 5 forwards in +/- in the TBL team in recent years. We will have Simmer, Harts, Schenn, Vinny usually out on ice and this is going to be a problem.

If there is any truth to this, I hope it falls apart. What's in it for the Flyers outside of a salary dump? We need to focus on getting Meszaros out.
- dingo8urbaby

I agree dingo! Not that I don't like Meszaros. But the injuries, and he's in the last year of his deal, makes him the logical defenseman to move.

I agree with most (except for the PK thing...he wasn't that good versus many of his teammates this season on the PK - oh, there's those pesky advanced stats again)...and as I've stated before, I'm willing to wait. I don't want to get rid of the kids...but would I do a Coots for Yandle straight up (assumiing cap hit can be taken in somehow)? Yes.
- exlund

The PK has been pretty good the last couple of years and he's been a mainstay on it. It's not like Bryz was bailing them out with great saves.

I agree dingo! Not that I don't like Meszaros. But the injuries, and he's in the last year of his deal, makes him the logical defenseman to move.
- MJL

Wouldn't surprise me if the Flyers move two defenseman tonight/tomorrow.

Things can get "crazy" for the Flyers tomorrow.
- stveshdy

I doubt it.....but I have been wrong before