I think Noebels might be in there before Leier. Leier was on a STACKED Portland team last year, I'd like to see if he can replicate the #s this year, or at a higher level. I see a lot of their forwards as 3rd line guys/scoring-line call-ups, and I see most of their defenseman as 2nd/3rd pairing guys. Hopefully a few forwards and defense blossom and turn into top-6 regulars or top-pair defensemen.
- jmatchett383

Forgot Noebels, but still, he's a 3rd liner at best.

Actually we do. We have prospect call ups that could fill in on a scoring line (Akeson, Straka), we have prospect call ups that could play on a checking like (Cousins, Holmstrom), and we have plenty of defensive prospects that can play decently at an NHL level, as proven by us winning 11 of our last 15 with our 7th dman and 3 or 4 call ups starting.
- JAKEw1234

Meh.

I think the realignment is a bit unfair, because the same number of teams get in from both conferences, and the east divisions each have 1 more team. It makes it harder as an east team to make it.
- JAKEw1234

Any names for the new division names? I was thinking maybe use some of the newer (or at least more well-known in today's game) names for them, maybe the Howe, Orr, Gretzky, and and Richard divisions? Or maybe coaches, the Bowman, Blake, Arbour, and Irwin divisions?

Bill writes for the Stars on this site as well. If you go to their page and you can read all about his reaction.
- PhillySportsGuy

I was wondering about that. Is that actually him or just a bill impersonator?

This year will be tougher to make the playoffs in the East because Winnipeg was replaced by two better teams in Columbus and Detroit. I wonder if Snider will still be happy with this realignment if both those teams make the playoffs and the Flyers don't. It seemed like all he cared about was keeping us in the same division as Pittsburgh.
- Feanor

between those additions to the east and improving squads in TOR and NYI, it will not be an automatic for the plyoffs.

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.
- spatso

I am by no means a Briere basher. He was one of my favorite flyers BUT he didn't really help the team too much in any of the three zones of the ice recently. Vinny isn't Vinny anymore but should be a huge upgrade over him.

Any names for the new division names? I was thinking maybe use some of the newer (or at least more well-known in today's game) names for them, maybe the Howe, Orr, Gretzky, and and Richard divisions? Or maybe coaches, the Bowman, Blake, Arbour, and Irwin divisions?
- jmatchett383

Bettman will probably sell the names for easy money
I fully expect the McDonalds, British Petroleum, US Airways, and Samsung divisions to be implemented next year

between those additions to the east and improving squads in TOR and NYI, it will not be an automatic for the plyoffs.
- isaiah520

I think it's gonna be ALOT harder to make the playoffs out of the east then out of the west. It's why I'd like if there was some dependence on inter-conference play to make the playoffs. Like as I said before in a comment board a while ago, there should be inter-conference sister divisions. You play teams in this division 5 times a year.

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.
- spatso

Considering how bad the flyers were last year, and still didn't miss the playoffs by much, I'm going to disagree.

Vinny adds an element to our team that was lacking. Schenn, Coots, Talbot, or any other center on the team lacked the ability to strike fear into the other team.

With Vinny we gained more then we lost in Briere and Bryz both, IMO.

I like the Vinny move and the Emery move. I'm still undecided on Streit. I would have preferred we used the cap space to make some moves for younger players or something. Maybe it wasn't possible, I don't know. Just wishes on my part.

Good point, I hate the new alignment.
- BiggE

I do, too. This is what I think they should have done. Columbus wouldn't have any more West coast trips than the Eastern conference teams.

----

Top 8 teams from each conference make the playoffs, with top two seeds being the two division winners in each conference.

Teams in the Pacific (ANA, CGY, COL, EDM, LAK, PHO, SJS, VAN) and Atlantic (CAR, FLA, NJ, NYI, NYR, PHI, TB, WAS) play three of the teams in their division six times, and the other four teams five times = 38 games, and play the other 22 teams twice = 44 games.

Teams in the Central (CBS, DAL, CHI, MIN, NSH, STL, WIN) and Northeast (DET, BOS, BUF, MON, PIT, OTT, TOR) would play the other six teams six times = 36 games, and play the other 23 teams twice = 46 games.

I am by no means a Briere basher. He was one of my favorite flyers BUT he didn't really help the team too much in any of the three zones of the ice recently. Vinny isn't Vinny anymore but should be a huge upgrade over him.
- Stinkfitz

I think Vinny still COULD be Vinny, though. Sure he's slowed down a bit, but the biggest reason he struggled over the past few years is that he was constantly being moved around lines (Someone said he had 9 different line combos just last year), and often times he was playing with unskilled wingers that deserve to be in a beer league. I have high hopes.

Any names for the new division names? I was thinking maybe use some of the newer (or at least more well-known in today's game) names for them, maybe the Howe, Orr, Gretzky, and and Richard divisions? Or maybe coaches, the Bowman, Blake, Arbour, and Irwin divisions?
- jmatchett383

i was thinking: shero, clarke, parent, and hart. what? no good?

nothing to see here

I think it's gonna be ALOT harder to make the playoffs out of the east then out of the west. It's why I'd like if there was some dependence on inter-conference play to make the playoffs. Like as I said before in a comment board a while ago, there should be inter-conference sister divisions. You play teams in this division 5 times a year.
- JAKEw1234

I think it's going to be harder to make the playoffs playing mediocre or average hockey. But if you play well, and take care of business. As always, you'll make the playoffs.

Considering how bad the flyers were last year, and still didn't miss the playoffs by much, I'm going to disagree.

Vinny adds an element to our team that was lacking. Schenn, Coots, Talbot, or any other center on the team lacked the ability to strike fear into the other team.

With Vinny we gained more then we lost in Briere and Bryz both, IMO.

I like the Vinny move and the Emery move. I'm still undecided on Streit. I would have preferred we used the cap space to make some moves for younger players or something. Maybe it wasn't possible, I don't know. Just wishes on my part.
- Flyersgod

if they stay healthy, this is a playoff team. and i really don't care what seed they have, as long as it's a good match up for them in the first round.

I think it's gonna be ALOT harder to make the playoffs out of the east then out of the west. It's why I'd like if there was some dependence on inter-conference play to make the playoffs. Like as I said before in a comment board a while ago, there should be inter-conference sister divisions. You play teams in this division 5 times a year.
- JAKEw1234

I think adding Detroit to our division will make it tougher to get a playoff spot. Detroit will make the playoffs. Pittsburgh will make it. Boston will make it. Add Wash/Carolina for their division. (Not sure how the new format works with division leaders etc).

That leaves 4 playoff spots for the remaining teams. Columbus will fair a lot better in the East compared to the West. They would have been in the playoffs had they been in the East last year.

if they stay healthy, this is a playoff team. and i really don't care what seed they have, as long as it's a good match up for them in the first round.
- hammarby31

Agreed. Staying healthy seems to be impossible anymore. We could have no injuries heading into the Cup Finals, and freak accidents would take out Giroux, Voracek, both of our goalies, and our top 6 defenseman.

I think adding Detroit to our division will make it tougher to get a playoff spot. Detroit will make the playoffs. Pittsburgh will make it. Boston will make it. Add Wash/Carolina for their division. (Not sure how the new format works with division leaders etc).

That leaves 4 playoff spots for the remaining teams. Columbus will fair a lot better in the East compared to the West. They would have been in the playoffs had they been in the East last year.
- Flyersgod

top 3 in each division make it then there is a wild card for the last two spots.

Considering how bad the flyers were last year, and still didn't miss the playoffs by much, I'm going to disagree.

Vinny adds an element to our team that was lacking. Schenn, Coots, Talbot, or any other center on the team lacked the ability to strike fear into the other team.

With Vinny we gained more then we lost in Briere and Bryz both, IMO.

I like the Vinny move and the Emery move. I'm still undecided on Streit. I would have preferred we used the cap space to make some moves for younger players or something. Maybe it wasn't possible, I don't know. Just wishes on my part.
- Flyersgod

I'm not in love with any of the moves, but it's not hard to see the logic in them.

I think they are playoff team.....especially with a full camp, offseason, etc.

LaCavelier, Streit and Emery for $11.3m.

Roughly equivalent to Briere and Bryzgalov.

I think it is okay. Not sure it represents the opportunity for a major move in the standings.
- spatso

Hockey is quite often all about puck possession. With Lecavalier, Giroux, and Hall at center (plus one of Couturier & B. Schenn), the Flyers should be above 50% on faceoffs this season. This will prevent them from chasing the game. That allows for more stamina coming out of their own zone -- which will also be helped by Mark Streit's presence roughly 1/3 of the time -- and they won't be fighting just to gain the red line just to get a change. The little things, like puck possession, add up over a season and will make for a less tired team each night if they have the puck off the draws more often.

I think adding Detroit to our division will make it tougher to get a playoff spot. Detroit will make the playoffs. Pittsburgh will make it. Boston will make it. Add Wash/Carolina for their division. (Not sure how the new format works with division leaders etc).

That leaves 4 playoff spots for the remaining teams. Columbus will fair a lot better in the East compared to the West. They would have been in the playoffs had they been in the East last year.
- Flyersgod

I think Washington's gonna get a big wake up call this year when they don't get to feast on Car/TB/Winnipeg/Fla all season long.

Right now, I think that Pit/Bos/Ott/Tor/NYI/NYR are my 6 locks to make it. The fringe teams, to me, are Phi/Det/Mtl/Cmb/NJ/Wsh all fighting for those 2 "wild card" spots.

top 3 in each division make it then there is a wild card for the last two spots.
- aightwebang17

So 1-3 is division leaders still, 4-6 next best records, 7-8 wild card? Wild card like baseball?

Again, Couturier and maybe a pick would be even value.
- JAKEw1234

I have never wanted the Trade Deadline to get here this soon into a(n) (off)season before.

I'm not in love with any of the moves, but it's not hard to see the logic in them.

I think they are playoff team.....especially with a full camp, offseason, etc.
- johndewar

I love Vinny at 4.5. I wish we would have done other things though. Wish we had made some moves for some younger D-men.

I already said this in the Tor. boards, but ya I attribute missing the playoffs much less to the players on our roster and much more to untimely injuries causing us to have 5 of our 6 starting Dmen injured at the end of the season, and bad coaching that was unable to adjust to that.
- JAKEw1234

I disagree.The defence was brutal when healthy and as injuires happened Flyers played better.With Mez, Gervais and Coburn out of the Line up the team made a late playoff push, from a team with a healthy roster that was in the bottom 3 of the East. With a 48 game schedule, there is no real time to adjust. Adjustments take time and Flyers had already dug a hole. The hole only gets deeper with adjustments because they don't pay off right away