As do I. Injuries are inevitable. I said in the thread a few days ago, that if healthy, Mez is in the top 6, IMO. I think with the compressed schedule, due to the Olympics, they should have a steady rotation of 7 D men to keep guys fresh( cough..Kimmo..cough). I hate the idea of just letting go of Mez + the notion that you would have to add a "sweetener" to the deal. That's asinine to me. You can never have enough quality NHL Dmen as 04 proved. Weinrich and Therien would have been much better options than Sammi Kap , et all. I know the Salary Cap looms, but damn
- KINGKENZO

As much as I like Gagne, I'd rather have Meszaros than Gagne. That's probably unpopular, and I'm not really all that fond of it myself. But if I think about it, I'd much rather have a quality top-6 defenseman in case of injury than Gagne, at this point.

http://www.icethetics.info/concepts/2013/8/8/0537-classic-philly-stripes.html#comments

i'd make a couple of minor edits, but i like it.
- hammarby31

Youre late to the party, Pal......this is so yesterday

- BulliesPhan87

That dog would learn to fly...

Youre late to the party, Pal......this is so yesterday
- KINGKENZO[/quote

not the first time i'm leight. wasn't on the blog all weekend. oh well.

As much as I like Gagne, I'd rather have Meszaros than Gagne. That's probably unpopular, and I'm not really all that fond of it myself. But if I think about it, I'd much rather have a quality top-6 defenseman in case of injury than Gagne, at this point.
- jmatchett383

It may be unpopular, but it is a smart notion.

As much as I like Gagne, I'd rather have Meszaros than Gagne. That's probably unpopular, and I'm not really all that fond of it myself. But if I think about it, I'd much rather have a quality top-6 defenseman in case of injury than Gagne, at this point.
- jmatchett383

So Meszaros is going to replace himself when he gets injured?

As much as I like Gagne, I'd rather have Meszaros than Gagne. That's probably unpopular, and I'm not really all that fond of it myself. But if I think about it, I'd much rather have a quality top-6 defenseman in case of injury than Gagne, at this point.
- jmatchett383

I like what Gagne could add to the third line. Read Cout Gagne. That would be a really nice blend of Shutdown and Supplemental scoring. Last year when Gagne played with Giroux, he had a ton of opportunities that he couldnt convert. I think that is what he is at this point, a defensively solid player that has a only a bit of his goal scoring touch left. But to get to your point, I agree, I think the D depth would be more important to the team than having Gagne in the forward corps, if it came dowm between the two.

So Meszaros is going to replace himself when he gets injured?
- PLindbergh31

I'm saying I'd rather keep Meszaros and have either him or Gus be #7 than have Gus as your #6, ship off Meszaros, and sign Gagne. Probably did not word it well, my mistake.

[quote=KINGKENZO]Youre late to the party, Pal......this is so yesterday
- hammarby31[/quote

not the first time i'm leight. wasn't on the blog all weekend. oh well.

I actually like the Whites, not the Orange. But not enough to replace what we have now

- bradleyc4

I'm saying I'd rather keep Meszaros and have either him or Gus be #7 than have Gus as your #6, ship off Meszaros, and sign Gagne. Probably did not word it well, my mistake.
- jmatchett383

I understand where you are coming from. I think Meszaros is fools gold. I have zero faith in him staying healthy, granted Gagne isn't a sure bet to stay healthy either, but I believe he would be able to contribute more to the team than Meszaros will.

I understand where you are coming from. I think Meszaros is fools gold. I have zero faith in him staying healthy, granted Gagne isn't a sure bet to stay healthy either, but I believe he would be able to contribute more to the team than Meszaros will.
- PLindbergh31

Could be. Both are question marks. I'd just stick with the defenseman who may or may not be held together with safety pins on the off chance he rebounds back into form.

That was also the game where Brad Marsh suffered one of the scariest head injuries I have ever seen. Today it would unthinkable for a player to return to the lineup as soon as Marshy did after that injury - and he played with concussion symptoms the rest of the season, too. In return, he got treated like dirt by Keenan and then unprotected on waivers by Clarke. Such a rotten end to an otherwise happy and effective career in Philly.
- bmeltzer

I remember that hit well; I thought Marsh might have been dead it was so bad. It was terrible the way they just got rid of him at the end of the season. They could have really used his leadership going into the 90s.

Timonen is a rare breed who can still play meaningful hockey into his late 30's. But to expect him to continue to be a team's #1 defenseman each and every year as he gets closer to age 40 is a recipe for disaster.

Sure, there's an element of "I'll believe it when I see it" that I'm holding on to as well. But he's still human. And humans -- especially athletes -- break down more often and recover more slowly as they age.
- bradleyc4

I'd love to see them kind of tone down Timonen's role. Unfortunately, the Flyers haven't been great at finding/getting that "true" #1 guy.

I remember that hit well; I thought Marsh might have been dead it was so bad. It was terrible the way they just got rid of him at the end of the season. They could have really used his leadership going into the 90s.
- BiggE

Sadly, I remember all 3 of Marsh, Howe, and McCrimmon best as Red Wings since I got into hockey in the early 90s. In my house, as far back as I can remember, we were a baseball family until maybe 1990-1991.

I'd love to see them kind of tone down Timonen's role. Unfortunately, the Flyers haven't been great at finding/getting that "true" #1 guy.
- johndewar

He's your horse still. He's your best. You can't take him away for fear that he might get worn down. It's like the Nationals limiting Strasburg last year, and that worked out well for them.

If Timonen's healthy, he's your top PP (well, arguably) and PK defenseman, and is the player you want matching up against top lines.

http://www.icethetics.info/concepts/2013/8/8/0537-classic-philly-stripes.html#comments

i'd make a couple of minor edits, but i like it.
- hammarby31

Sold. Love those jerseys.

He's your horse still. He's your best. You can't take him away for fear that he might get worn down. It's like the Nationals limiting Strasburg last year, and that worked out well for them.

If Timonen's healthy, he's your top PP (well, arguably) and PK defenseman, and is the player you want matching up against top lines.
- jmatchett383

Yup, they have to roll with Timonen, no doubt.

He's your horse still. He's your best. You can't take him away for fear that he might get worn down. It's like the Nationals limiting Strasburg last year, and that worked out well for them.

If Timonen's healthy, he's your top PP (well, arguably) and PK defenseman, and is the player you want matching up against top lines.
- jmatchett383

One of the best ways for the Flyers to cut down on hard minutes and the wear and tear on Timonen, is to become a more disciplined team. And cut down on the amount of penalties they take. But I'll beleive it when I see it. It's been an issue for a number of years, under different Coaches.

One of the best ways for the Flyers to cut down on hard minutes and the wear and tear on Timonen, is to become a more disciplined team. And cut down on the amount of penalties they take. But I'll beleive it when I see it. It's been an issue for a number of years, under different Coaches.
- MJL

That will most likely require a coaching change....

That will most likely require a coaching change....
- PhillaBully

Happened under Stevens too.

I don't think I can take another year of leading the league in minor penalties.

I don't think I can take another year of leading the league in minor penalties.
- Feanor

I can, as long as we draw the most as well.