Pretty sure that game was Tomas Vokoun's only game with the Habs.
- johndewar

Its amazing all the water skiing going on in this game.

I had the privledge of watching Eric Lindros play live many times. For a man his size, he was an incredible skater. He flew around the ice, and there weren't many players who could skate better then he could in his prime. It was amazing to watch.
None of those players neutralized Lindros. Just wasn't possible in his heyday. Steven played him the best, but it was far from being neutralized.
- MJL

I would say stevens neutralized him in epic fashion. Unfortunately. Stevens wins

I'm biased and probably a total homer BUT I think this team is a contender on paper. I like that they have a young nucleus with some good chemistry and added vets with leadership to supplement. I think they have the best depth on forward out of any team in the league.

There are questions about the D and about the goaltender. There are questions for every team:

PIT: Goalie and depth
BOS: Scoring depth and loss of some good vets (I like the Iggy signing and think a full year on a team will do him wonders)
CHI: goalie (still) and loss of some key role players (have to be the cup favorite next year)
LA: D and secondary scoring
TOR: everything (sorry had to take a jab there)

My point is, call me a homer, I think this team will be in the mix next year for the cup. I haven't been this excited for a team since Forsberg put on the O and B sweater or the Lindros era. I love the mix of young and older players and grit and skill. DROP THE PUCK!
- coffee junkie

Kool aid always tastes better in the summer

Kool aid always tastes better in the summer
- Just5

I <3 kewl aide

I'm biased and probably a total homer BUT I think this team is a contender on paper. I like that they have a young nucleus with some good chemistry and added vets with leadership to supplement. I think they have the best depth on forward out of any team in the league.

There are questions about the D and about the goaltender. There are questions for every team:

PIT: Goalie and depth
BOS: Scoring depth and loss of some good vets (I like the Iggy signing and think a full year on a team will do him wonders)
CHI: goalie (still) and loss of some key role players (have to be the cup favorite next year)
LA: D and secondary scoring
TOR: everything (sorry had to take a jab there)

My point is, call me a homer, I think this team will be in the mix next year for the cup. I haven't been this excited for a team since Forsberg put on the O and B sweater or the Lindros era. I love the mix of young and older players and grit and skill. DROP THE PUCK!
- coffee junkie

I think you make some valid points. I think the Flyers can be a contender if things break right. Depth is a concern, another injury riddled season would sink their playoff chances.

I think you make some valid points. I think the Flyers can be a contender if things break right. Depth is a concern, another injury riddled season would sink their playoff chances.
- PLindbergh31

i think that can fairly be said about a lot of teams though

Are the Flyers prospects done poopting the beach?

i think that can fairly be said about a lot of teams though
- stayinthefnnet

Not necessarily. Sure if a teams top scorer, dman, and goalie go down they are toast. Right now the Flyers seem to be counting on a few dmen to stay healthy who may not be able to do so.
Also Emery's ability to remain healthy is in question.

Flyers need a veteran presence to play on their third pairing with Gustafsson. If Meszaros (if he's still here), or Grossmann are injured the Flyers will have to put another youngster such as a Lauridsen on the third pairing. Not ideal to have to young kids paired together.

Not necessarily. Sure if a teams top scorer, dman, and goalie go down they are toast. Right now the Flyers seem to be counting on a few dmen to stay healthy who may not be able to do so.
Also Emery's ability to remain healthy is in question.

Flyers need a veteran presence to play on their third pairing with Gustafsson. If Meszaros (if he's still here), or Grossmann are injured the Flyers will have to put another youngster such as a Lauridsen on the third pairing. Not ideal to have to young kids paired together.
- PLindbergh31

i think the main difference is that the players the flyers need to stay healthy, may have some flags that would signal that they have a higher chance of an injury occurring, be it age or history. but i think if you have 2 or 3 guys go down from any team, it could severely hurt their chances

i think the main difference is that the players the flyers need to stay healthy, may have some flags that would signal that they have a higher chance of an injury occurring, be it age or history. but i think if you have 2 or 3 guys go down from any team, it could severely hurt their chances
- stayinthefnnet

Agreed. The fact there are injury concerns before the season starts is troubling.

At 6 million? Chiarelli said they are talking extension. How many more yrs are they going to give him and at what cost? What does he bring that they don't have? They have strength and leadership pouring out their ears. They need scoring and how much is he going to bring for 6 mil per?

It's a head scratcher. It made sense as a rental last season but long term?
- mayorofangrytown

I believe it is a heavy incentive based contract. so he gets the 6 million if he hits them. Would love to know what the incentives are

a lot of teams in the east seem to have improved, and realignment may be tricky as well. the flyers and pens should both be right in the thick of it though

Jagr or Gagne if they were willing to sign for 1 yr and the same $$

(I know that is a stretch)

You have to choose one for next year, which is it?
- coffee junkie

Gagne by a country mile. Younger, faster and more of a balanced game that is still useful not only to this team but others around the league. The game isn't all scoring goals. He is still an all situations player. I wouldn't sign a player with the mind set of trading him, I would sign him with the intent of how can help is through an entire 82 game schedule and down the stretch of along playoff run. Last season was half a season and Jagr looked gassed by the final.

Lindros and Nichushkin are both 1.93 meters tall
Not that it actually means anything, but still, like dammit Dallas.

Agreed. The fact their are injury concerns before the season starts is troubling.
- PLindbergh31

true. timonen may run into trouble just from age. other than last year though, coburn is fairly durable. i think he bounces back to have a good year with a decent amount of minutes logged. schenn will be good back there as well. im personally a big fan of grossman, and i think he will find himself healthy and back to his warrior self. thats three solid guys right there capable of providing shut down physical defense. streit is old, but i dont think hes an automatic injury concern. between his presence and the growth of gus, it should add some puck moving ability to the backend as well.

When Lindros stepped over the boards on to the ice, you could hear the buzz in the crowd. You just knew something was going to happen. There's been a lot of great players in the NHL. But there's never been a player in the NHL like Lindros.
- MJL

I remember when he suffered his first injury and walked off into the tunnel. You could have heard crickets. and when he came back on the ice there was an amazing standing O. I also had season tickets back then and was lucky to see him night in and out live. my absolute all time fave Flyer along with Bernie

I would say stevens neutralized him in epic fashion. Unfortunately. Stevens wins
- Just5

Are you talking about the hit? There was far more to it in the games between the two players.

a lot of teams in the east seem to have improved, and realignment may be tricky as well. the flyers and pens should both be right in the thick of it though
- stayinthefnnet

With Detroit leaving Chicago's division and Columbus and Washington coming into ours, we have to be the hardest division in the league. 7 out of 8 teams in our division seem to be playoff teams. Washington's team is a major mess, but it still seems to be a playoff team every year.

Are you talking about the hit? There was far more to it in the games between the two players.
- MJL

Stevens took a pretty good beating on more than one occasion if I remember right.

Lauridsen just got a 2 year deal. good for him

true. timonen may run into trouble just from age. other than last year though, coburn is fairly durable. i think he bounces back to have a good year with a decent amount of minutes logged. schenn will be good back there as well. im personally a big fan of grossman, and i think he will find himself healthy and back to his warrior self. thats three solid guys right there capable of providing shut down physical defense. streit is old, but i dont think hes an automatic injury concern. between his presence and the growth of gus, it should add some puck moving ability to the backend as well.
- stayinthefnnet

I think the defense core, along with the goaltending can be a pleasant surprise. Grossmann is a legit concern, he had some severe concussions last year that caused vision and balance issues. Holmgren said he expects him to be ready for camp, but I have my doubts. He also has knees that are being held together by spit and glue.

With Detroit leaving Chicago's division and Columbus and Washington coming into ours, we have to be the hardest division in the league. 7 out of 8 teams in our division seem to be playoff teams. Washington's team is a major mess, but it still seems to be a playoff team every year.
- JAKEw1234

oh yeah. its going to be a war of attrition over a full season. you just have to hope that the talent plays up to its potential. with the way their rosters are constructed, holes and all, id still place the pens and flyers in the top 8 for the upcoming year

true. timonen may run into trouble just from age. other than last year though, coburn is fairly durable. i think he bounces back to have a good year with a decent amount of minutes logged. schenn will be good back there as well. im personally a big fan of grossman, and i think he will find himself healthy and back to his warrior self. thats three solid guys right there capable of providing shut down physical defense. streit is old, but i dont think hes an automatic injury concern. between his presence and the growth of gus, it should add some puck moving ability to the backend as well.
- stayinthefnnet

I don't know whether Coburn would be better on a pair with Streit, or with Kimmo. It seems like Streit would be the most logical, as he could just focus on his defensive game and Streit could just focus on his offensive game. But at the same time, Schenn is probably the best dman on the team as far as actual defense goes, and he could be a better match for the not so defensively sound Streit.

I think the defense core, along with the goaltending can be a pleasant surprise. Grossmann is a legit concern, he had some severe concussions last year that caused vision and balance issues. Holmgren said he expects him to be ready for camp, but I have my doubts. He also has knees that are being held together by spit and glue.
- PLindbergh31

he is just a player i respect the hell out of. little to no flash, but grit, determination, and does his job to little or no fan fare most nights. he will give it his all until someone tells him he cant play or his knees erode to dust.
i never hope for an injury to anyone, but if he is forced to miss time it would make crashing the net against you guys a lot easier. (not the pens ever make that a part of their gameplan anyway)

oh yeah. its going to be a war of attrition over a full season. you just have to hope that the talent plays up to its potential. with the way their rosters are constructed, holes and all, id still place the pens and flyers in the top 8 for the upcoming year
- stayinthefnnet

What's your personal list of 8 teams from each conference that make it?