You really hold onto Read above Laughton? I'd personally rather keep the the brother together and trade Coots, who is more valuable than Schenn anyways.
- JAKEw1234

If I'm St.Louis I would like Laughton. Younger and have him under control. Read is going to cost some money after this year.

Too much. You trade one of Schenn/Cout but not both...

Read, Laughton, and 2 1st's would be my first offer.
- phillydentist

He asked me who I want. If I'm St.Louis that's my first offer.

If I'm St.Louis I would like Laughton. Younger and have him under control. Read is going to cost some money after this year.
- stveshdy

That's why you lead with Read. If St. Louis counters with Laughton, it at least gives you some sense of negotiating power.

the thing I'm wondering about now is will Homer swing for the moon now...
what I mean is look for a young top pairing defenseman and pay the exorbitant price

he has been able to plug the holes by signing free agents and only using up cap space, but I doubt he will get his high end defenseman they still need with this strategy

but I have to say I am a huge fan so far, keeping the youth and identifying the free agents he wanted and getting them

sure the vinnie and streit deal are a year or two too long, but he payed that price to assure he got the players he wanted, and kept Couts/Schenns/Simmonds/Jake on the team

way to go Homer
- Marc D

I agree, Holmgren has done an outstanding job thus far. The deals given to Vinny, Emery, and heck even Striet look nice. Well played Homer well played indeed

Schenn/Coots (you're choice), Read and Coburn.
- 77rams

I'd LOVE to acquire Pietrangelo, but it's going to be tough. In that proposed deal, we basically give up 2 top-9 forwards (2 top-6 on most teams) and a top-4 d-man for a stud #1 d-man. The value is there, but we trade in 3 current roster pieces for 1 and only shave off maybe 1 million off of the cap. That's the part that scares me in any Pietrangelo offer.

I'd LOVE to acquire Pietrangelo, but it's going to be tough. In that proposed deal, we basically give up 2 top-9 forwards (2 top-6 on most teams) and a top-4 d-man for a stud #1 d-man. The value is there, but we trade in 3 current roster pieces for 1 and only shave off maybe 1 million off of the cap. That's the part that scares me in any Pietrangelo offer.
- five4fighting10

I'm sure they would take something back to help out with D (Coburn or Mez)

Right and for me it doesn't make sense to keep that guy playing the 3rd line for the foreseeable future. Plus, we wouldn't be able to pay him AND giroux AND Pietrangelo when it gets around to that time. Just give STL their future Selke winner and move on.
- JAKEw1234

I understand but this point always annoys me. He can still be a third line center and get PK time and PP time if he earns it. Lines are just a number. Couturier can easily get 20 minutes a night playing on the "third" line.

Pietrangelo is a pipe dream. THAT is what we need to move on from.

Don't want to overplay your cards.

1st offer: Schenn, Laughton, Coburn, 2nd possibly 1st
- stveshdy

Yup I agree that is what it would take. Flyers have a lot of forward depth and I can see Homer getting Pet. The fun may not be over...

That's why you lead with Read. If St. Louis counters with Laughton, it at least gives you some sense of negotiating power.
- jmatchett383

Flyers have to be smart when dealing with this kind of trade. Don't want to give up too much and make the team worse.

And I think that's why they're struggling with him, as I think he wants slightly north of 7 mil, and he's only 23. No 23 year old gets that kind of money on their second contract.
- JAKEw1234

Doughty

Even though I think doughty is the slightly better player now, I think pietro will become better than him

just offer sheet the (frank) out of him.

That's why you lead with Read. If St. Louis counters with Laughton, it at least gives you some sense of negotiating power.
- jmatchett383

That gives other teams a chance to get involved.

Make them an offer we can afford that will make them stand up and notice immediately.

I'd LOVE to acquire Pietrangelo, but it's going to be tough. In that proposed deal, we basically give up 2 top-9 forwards (2 top-6 on most teams) and a top-4 d-man for a stud #1 d-man. The value is there, but we trade in 3 current roster pieces for 1 and only shave off maybe 1 million off of the cap. That's the part that scares me in any Pietrangelo offer.
- five4fighting10

This is the right train of thought. That's why my first offer would be Read, Laughton, and 2 1st's. That's pretty good assets but you only lose one player off your roster. I'd rather sub 1st rd picks for top6F or top4D in any package for AP.

Schenn, Read, Coburn, 2014 1st? If we trade for a big-time FA, one of Mez/Coburn/Grossmann has to go for cap issues.
- jmatchett383

Exactly what I was thinking. Don't know if it would work. Couts hasn't developed into a scorer.... yet. Read is a free agent after next year. Coby and the 1st are great adds. My question is, if you move Read and Couterier how do you replace them and if this deal happens, Mezzy MUST BE moved bc the out going salary will be less then the incoming for Pietrangelo's new deal. Also a Gagne resigning would be a must.

That's why you lead with Read. If St. Louis counters with Laughton, it at least gives you some sense of negotiating power.
- jmatchett383

Rich Smith ‏@ALLsportsINTEL 5m
NHL - Source - The 3 teams most likely to make a run at Blues star Pietrangelo is Oilers, Flyers and Flames, Oilers and Flyers more likely

Rich Smith ‏@ALLsportsINTEL 18m
NHL - Im aware of how good Pietrangelo is, that he isn't even in his prime yet, however dealing 2 top 6 forwards +, may hurt more than help

Hockey Tracker ‏@Hockey_tracker 26m
CSNPhilly reports the #Flyers are monitoring the situation with the #STLBlues & Pietrangelo who has not yet accepted his qualifying offer

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING...

You are describing the 2008 Gagne. Present day Gagne is a role player that a Cup winner put in the lineup just so he can have his name on the Cup. He still brings something to the table, don't get me wrong, but the Flyers should be giving some of the young guys an opportunity to play.
- phillydentist

Many look no further then Mike Richards hit on David Krejci as the turning point of one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. Gagne never even played that game, he played in the next game. Peter Laviolette kept Gagne out of OT and once he placed him in, Gagne scored the OT winner that snowballed. In fact Gagne also scored game winner in that final 7. These are no accidental goals. These are no accidents. From there moving forward Gagne was one of the major role players that brought us to the Cup final. This was 3 short years ago in 2010. Don't under sell what kind of advice a big gamer who may have taken a step back could pass on to a young core.

The game isn't all goals and points. You have to know how to play away from the puck as well. Gagne still has the hockey sense to remain a factor. He's been a forward who's played like third defenseman to help the D since his return, an element we were missing before. He can only help this group learn how to play team defense.

I'd LOVE to acquire Pietrangelo, but it's going to be tough. In that proposed deal, we basically give up 2 top-9 forwards (2 top-6 on most teams) and a top-4 d-man for a stud #1 d-man. The value is there, but we trade in 3 current roster pieces for 1 and only shave off maybe 1 million off of the cap. That's the part that scares me in any Pietrangelo offer.
- five4fighting10

I guess that's why we're lucky that we have, what, 14 current forwards? And that's without Gagne. We can spare forwards. And luckily for us, we still clear 12 mil off our cap next year, and have our #1 guy at probably only a little over a mil more than we pay Kimmo.

Im not buying the Petro rumor....GM already said he would match any offer sheet unless he didnt expect Petro to garner 7plus a per.

Im not buying the Petro rumor....GM already said he would match any offer sheet unless he didnt expect Petro to garner 7plus a per.
- flyerfan28

Have to think they can get a boat load if they trade him. Offer sheet provides picks but nothing that helps today.

I understand but this point always annoys me. He can still be a third line center and get PK time and PP time if he earns it. Lines are just a number. Couturier can easily get 20 minutes a night playing on the "third" line.

Pietrangelo is a pipe dream. THAT is what we need to move on from.
- MBFlyerfan

Well no it was a pipe dream when we were just assuming STL would trade Pietrangelo. Now that there are rumors that he's actually available, it becomes a little bit more of a real option.

Im not buying the Petro rumor....GM already said he would match any offer sheet unless he didnt expect Petro to garner 7plus a per.
- flyerfan28

Because GM's never lie...

Im not buying the Petro rumor....GM already said he would match any offer sheet unless he didnt expect Petro to garner 7plus a per.
- flyerfan28

That's why you'd have to trade, not OS him.

That's why you'd have to trade, not OS him.
- jmatchett383

Exactly. The Blues would be getting back a nice return.

Personally, I believe the three teams that need a center and have good D man to offer back as an upgrade are Slugs, Yotes, and Ducks.
I would take any of Myers, Sbisa, or OEL.
I just think the packaging for Pietrangelo would be too much to handle.

This is the right train of thought. That's why my first offer would be Read, Laughton, and 2 1st's. That's pretty good assets but you only lose one player off your roster. I'd rather sub 1st rd picks for top6F or top4D in any package for AP.
- phillydentist

If we trade two young forwards and a top draft pick which could potentially become an important young player for us, how do we fit Alex Pietrangelo into our current group? We already have Timonen, Coburn, Schenn, Meszaros, Grossman, Gustafsson and Gervais. I think we're creating brand new holes by making this deal. You already said no to Gagne while we already have a spot up front up for grabs.