I think Carle would have taken at least a little bit less if the Flyers focused on bringing him back instead of saying, "One second Matt, I'm talking to Ryan here. Just wait, I'll get back to you." Like a guy that asks a girls to wait after she asked him to prom because he wants to ask a cuter girl first.....
- youarewrong

You can't blame Carle for taking the TB deal. Can't expect the player to wait around forever. I also don't blame the Flyers for trying to acqure Suter and Weber.

I seem to recall the situation being that due to tagging space homer couldn't resign carle until july 1st... and they somewhat had a deal worked out beforehand.. that was until wideman signed for ridiculous money and everything came unhinged from there.
- moylander

The big issue there was re-signing Grossmann before Carle, during the season. He could have had enough tagging space to keep Carle, but had to wait for the summer. By then Wideman got his asinine deal from Jay Feaster and Carle's price shot up

Yea but we are lacking a scoring 4th liner. We need a 20 goal guy at least.
- jak521

Talbot had 19 in 2011-12

I think there 3 different types of "good" GM's.

One is the type that is good at building a team or retooling a team. Taking them from bad to good quickly.

Another is the type of GM that takes a good team and brings them over the top into a winning team, or a team that competes to win over a short window.

Then there is the GM that is really good at both. I would say NJD and Det are the only teams that have a GM like that.

I think Homer was the former, and if the team doesn't make significant improvement this year, we may try and get someone that can finish... Likely Hextall.
- youarewrong

I dunno I think he showed he can do both things by first getting Briere, Hartnell, and Timonen to quickly turn us back into winners, then by acquiring Pronger to put us over the top and reach the cup finals the next year.

From 2006-2009 the Kings had 6 1st rd picks, 5 2nds, and 7 3rds and a total of 38 picks while the Flyers had 3 1sts, 4 2nds and 4 3rds and a total of 28 picks. Throw in the fact that the Kings missed the playoffs each year and were picking higher except in 2007,they should have been way more successful then the Flyers.
- psuhockey

The best asset that Lombardi had in LA, was truly patience. He had a solid core to build around. But needed to make a few key moves to put the team over the top. I remember reading blogs and comments from fans complaining that he was afraid to make a deal. he waited for the right moves, and then made them. It certainly helps having your goaltender playing lights out. And having a stud defenseman in Doughty to start with.

The big issue there was re-signing Grossmann before Carle, during the season. He could have had enough tagging space to keep Carle, but had to wait for the summer. By then Wideman got his asinine deal from Jay Feaster and Carle's price shot up
- Jsaquella

I thought it was Coburn that re-signed during the Season?

You can't blame Carle for taking the TB deal. Can't expect the player to wait around forever. I also don't blame the Flyers for trying to acqure Suter and Weber.
- MJL

Not at all.

Simply business.

Nice fight right up until the part where he was pummeling him after he was down.
- Scoob

If anyone had it coming, it was Barnaby.

I hate Chris Neil on the ice, but he's a Hartnell type character who's a very good guy off the ice and in the locker room.
- JAKEw1234

Chris Neil is a headhunting cheapshot artist who constantly whines all over the ice.

Chris Neil is a headhunting cheapshot artist who constantly whines all over the ice.
- jmatchett383

You just described Sean Avery. I don't think it's fair to paint Chris Neil as Sean Avery

I thought it was Coburn that re-signed during the Season?
- MJL

Grossmann was also signed to an extension early that April.

Also way off topic, but how does a player not in the baseball All-Star game get to play in the Home Run Derby?
Can Kurtis Foster take part of next year's hardest shot competition?

I thought it was Coburn that re-signed during the Season?
- MJL

Both did -- Coburn and Grossmann.

Lou Lamoriello is a great GM, but his last title was in 2003
- Jsaquella

Was a great GM. The 17 year contract for Kovalchuk, keeping the 29th pick, and the Clowe deal is just lurching from one bad mistake to the next.

The best asset that Lombardi had in LA, was truly patience. He had a solid core to build around. But needed to make a few key moves to put the team over the top. I remember reading blogs and comments from fans complaining that he was afraid to make a deal. he waited for the right moves, and then made them. It certainly helps having your goaltender playing lights out. And having a stud defenseman in Doughty to start with.
- MJL

Your right. Sadly a rebuild like LA's doesn't work in Philly, where you have 17,000 plus season ticket holders. With free agency drying up, the Flyers are forced to be one of the better drafting teams in the league since they won't tank for a traditional rebuild like Pittsburgh, Chicago, and LA went thru before their cup. LA whiffed on Hickey but were horrible again the next year and got Doughty. If the Flyers were patient and followed up 2007 with another bad year, they would have had Doughty or Piertangelo and you might be talking about the Flyers being a cup champion or at least serious contender.

I hate Chris Neil on the ice, but he's a Hartnell type character who's a very good guy off the ice and in the locker room.
- JAKEw1234

Hartnell has about 100x more skill than Chris Neil has.

Neil has a role and plays it well, but on his best day, Chris Neil is nowhere near Scott Hartnell.

From 2006-2009 the Kings had 6 1st rd picks, 5 2nds, and 7 3rds and a total of 38 picks while the Flyers had 3 1sts, 4 2nds and 4 3rds and a total of 28 picks. Throw in the fact that the Kings missed the playoffs each year and were picking higher except in 2007,they should have been way more successful then the Flyers.
- psuhockey

Good points. We just have to hope that hexys reputation holds up and he brings a set of well trained eyes to the organeyezation

on a personal note, i leave tonight for Israel to compete in the Maccabi Games. opening ceremonies are on thursday night and the games start for us against Canada on the 21st. Russia on the 22nd, and Israel on the 23rd, before a semifinal/final the following 2 days. will be back on the 27th. wish me luck. i'm gonna' need it.

on a personal note, i leave tonight for Israel to compete in the Maccabi Games. opening ceremonies are on thursday night and the games start for us against Canada on the 21st. Russia on the 22nd, and Israel on the 23rd, before a semifinal/final the following 2 days. will be back on the 27th. wish me luck. i'm gonna' need it.


- hammarby31

Good luck and travel safely!!

You can't blame Carle for taking the TB deal. Can't expect the player to wait around forever. I also don't blame the Flyers for trying to acqure Suter and Weber.
- MJL

I dont blame Carle at all. And I don't mind going after Suter or Weber, but he did both without any kind of back-up plan. That was my issue.

Hexy is the 3rd goalie brought in/back so far this off season... i thought for sure Bouch would be back here somehow
- twpguy

You can't have enough good goalies in your pipeline.

Good for Hexy and good for the Flyers. It was only a matter of time before this happened.

Along the same vein, I was always kinda surprised that the Flyers never brought back Dave Poulin in some type of capacity when they had the chance.

Undrafted FA, signed by the Flyers who went on to become the second best captain the team ever had. Intelligent, approachable, highly respected by the management and players alike. A member of the Flyers Hall of Fame, his trade to Boston was one of the worst decisions ever made by Bobby Clarke.

Hartnell has about 100x more skill than Chris Neil has.

Neil has a role and plays it well, but on his best day, Chris Neil is nowhere near Scott Hartnell.
- johndewar

I wasn't saying they're similar players, I was saying they're similar characters in that they're hated on the ice and really good guys off the ice. Sorry if you misinterpreted that.

Chris Neil is a headhunting cheapshot artist who constantly whines all over the ice.
- jmatchett383

i have to agree here.

on a personal note, i leave tonight for Israel to compete in the Maccabi Games. opening ceremonies are on thursday night and the games start for us against Canada on the 21st. Russia on the 22nd, and Israel on the 23rd, before a semifinal/final the following 2 days. will be back on the 27th. wish me luck. i'm gonna' need it.


- hammarby31

good luck

on a personal note, i leave tonight for Israel to compete in the Maccabi Games. opening ceremonies are on thursday night and the games start for us against Canada on the 21st. Russia on the 22nd, and Israel on the 23rd, before a semifinal/final the following 2 days. will be back on the 27th. wish me luck. i'm gonna' need it.


- hammarby31

Good luck bud. I bet the Canadian team will be solid. I just got back from Rome yesterday, and I can only imagine that Israel will be hot as hades.