Yeah yeah...just won a 97/98 Pinnacle Artists' Proof Hextall. Down to 3 for my mini Hextall/Timonen collection.
- jmatchett383

Do you collect stamps, too?

The guy they drafted in the first round this year. Apparently he's very tall, like Mike Rathje.
- jmatchett383

so they going to sbisa him onto the 3rd line wing spot?

good to know!

Are the Flyers as intent on digging for undrafted diamonds if they didn't lose all those picks + Sbisa in the Pronger deal? All things being equal, I think we can safely say that Homer would have rather had those 1st-rounders at his disposal than be compelled to rifle through the leftovers from 2+ drafts past.

As for Akeson, the only reason anybody's talking about him right now is because he luckily was able to capitalize on his shot and scored a goal (and played well) in his only game up. Remember, this is the same guy that got sent down to the ECHL after leading the Phantoms in scoring the previous year to work on his defense. What if Akeson comes up and doesn't stand out? Does he ever get called up again? If not, he would be far from the first lower-end prospect to be one and done.

Whereas, a guy like Couturier can languish offensively and none of us would dream of sending him down to the ECHL to work on his scoring touch. Guys like JvR, Sbisa, Zubrus and Williams get to bypass the farm entirely despite having gaping holes in their games at the time they arrived. And the organization will go out and chase a former 1st-rounder like RJ Umberger when they already had a similar talent in Patrick Sharp in hand.

I think everybody would admit that the system isn't perfect, so it's just odd to me that the OP pointing it out would illicit such a vitriolic response.
- Tomahawk

Yea!

But really the only reason I mentioned it, other then the production in the 2 games, was because Giroux talked about how much he enjoyed playing with him and was pushing for him to make the team, and Voracek said last night how much they seemed to gel. It just got me thinking....

Yea!

But really the only reason I mentioned it, other then the production in the 2 games, was because Giroux talked about how much he enjoyed playing with him and was pushing for him to make the team, and Voracek said last night how much they seemed to gel. It just got me thinking....
- youarewrong

no more thinking from you then

Why wouldn't you? I know, he mistakenly thought the Pronger deal was an under 35 deal. Which had zero affect on anything.
- MJL

The Hyka fiasco, Talbot's initial contract structure violating the CBA, telling Bill that Bartulis had another year of waiver eligibility when he actually didn't, plus the Pronger 35+ thing... yeah, I trust him implicitly when it comes to CBA nuance and the finer details.

I have to say... I trust Feaster more, though.

actually, regarding Akeson I noticed him last year in the preseason, he was creating all kinds of scoring chances and I thought wow, where did this guy come from

The Hyka fiasco, Talbot's initial contract structure violating the CBA, telling Bill that Bartulis had another year of waiver eligibility when he actually didn't, plus the Pronger 35+ thing... yeah, I trust him implicitly when it comes to CBA nuance and the finer details.

I have to say... I trust Feaster more, though.
- Tomahawk

Remember he did fall off his bike and bang his noggin

Besides where is Hyka these days??

no more thinking from you then


- Marc D

Yea, it doesn't happen a lot... I dont know what I was thinking.... Opps I did it again..... crap...

I mean, the Union had an entire social media campaign around Doop.

Either the Flyers marketing department knew and straight up stole the idea to use the song or they didn't know and just decided to use the song.

Either way, it's a goal song fail.
- johndewar

Doop was at the request of one Danny Briere

but he is going to be the best option for 3rd line winger, so all those in the know say

- Marc D

Speaking about the 3rd winger spot.

I'm just catching up on the new of today (didn't read every page of comments)... Did anyone mention, the Flyers are interested in Brenden Morrow. I heard this mentoned in a recap of a pre-season game on TSN. Pen's didn't resign, he' a UFA. Supposedly, he won't come as a try out and the Flyers need to move someone before any signing.

Doop was at the request of one Danny Briere
- nastyflyergirl

I miss him already, Doop not withstanding

Speaking about the 3rd winger spot.

I'm just catching up on the new of today (didn't read every page of comments)... Did anyone mention, the Flyers are interested in Brenden Morrow. I heard this mentoned in a recap of a pre-season game on TSN. Pen's didn't resign, he' a UFA. Supposedly, he won't come as a try out and the Flyers need to move someone before any signing.
- leon neon

doubt. Homer already said he'd like to try youth there, and management is really high on the Austrian Waffle.

I beleive most of this to be false. GM's are also fired when their team falters, due to questionable player decisions, such as keeping a higher draft pick on the team, when a player that was a lower draft choice, is a better choice. Just because that player was drafted higher. So it's a two way street. There's a legitimate reason why higher draft picks are given more attention and time from GM's and Coaches. They're better players, and are more likely to become solid NHL players. An Organization has a system. Lesser players go down to the AHL, where those Coaches work with those players, and give them the attention they need. That's how it works. McGinn or Raffl may certainly beat out Laughton. Akeson is a different player, who would play in a different role, so he's not really competing with Laughton for a spot. Laughton making the team is not going to be based on Draft status. That's false.
- MJL

There may be reasons for the high picks getting preferential treatment, but that doesn't make it false. Teams have a vested interest in having their high draft picks succeed and succeed quickly. Those players do get more/longer looks, and more help along the way than undrafted players or later round picks. On the other hand, just because it happens that way doesn't mean it's unfair. In most cases, the higher drafted player has done something at some point in his career to make teams value him highly, whereas the typical undrafted player has not.

So it isn't false. But it isn't necessarily a "problem", or unfair either. It's the way the system works.

Remember he did fall off his bike and bang his noggin

Besides where is Hyka these days??
- Buzzo

hiking

Speaking about the 3rd winger spot.

I'm just catching up on the new of today (didn't read every page of comments)... Did anyone mention, the Flyers are interested in Brenden Morrow. I heard this mentoned in a recap of a pre-season game on TSN. Pen's didn't resign, he' a UFA. Supposedly, he won't come as a try out and the Flyers need to move someone before any signing.
- leon neon

I had not heard this but it doesn't surprise me.

If you look at Laughton, McGinn, and the other candidates in house, I really don't think any of them make them a better team then Gagne would have.

Trying out a youngster there has benefits for the future, this I understand, and there are the salary cap benefits of going with a guy on their entry level deal, but if they want the best team for now the idea that one of the young players makes them better then Gagne doesn't really fly.

doubt. Homer already said he'd like to try youth there, and management is really high on the Austrian Waffle.
- JAKEw1234

except they tried to get 34 yo Cleary just a bit ago

now that Cleary is out, they say "let's go with youth"

except maybe they will now go after Morrow

except they tried to get 34 yo Cleary just a bit ago

now that Cleary is out, they say "let's go with youth"

except maybe they will now go after Morrow
- Marc D

"let's go with youth" could have been in reference to Morin. It's shouldn't be a cap or contract issue, if Morrow would be in the same range.

Who's better? Gagne or Morrow. Morrow would add some grit to Read/Coots line.

except they tried to get 34 yo Cleary just a bit ago

now that Cleary is out, they say "let's go with youth"

except maybe they will now go after Morrow
- Marc D

They couldnt get Cleary because of CAP PROBLEMS....
















wait for it.....

The Hyka fiasco, Talbot's initial contract structure violating the CBA, telling Bill that Bartulis had another year of waiver eligibility when he actually didn't, plus the Pronger 35+ thing... yeah, I trust him implicitly when it comes to CBA nuance and the finer details.

I have to say... I trust Feaster more, though.
- Tomahawk

Well maybe you would prefer Feaster as the team's GM. No GM is infallible or perfect. They all make mistakes,. Holmgren's record as a GM is pretty strong. Everything you mention, is pretty much ado about nothing.

"let's go with youth" could have been in reference to Morin. It's shouldn't be a cap or contract issue, if Morrow would be in the same range.

Who's better? Gagne or Morrow. Morrow would add some grit to Read/Coots line.
- leon neon

that's what I'm told they are looking for, more grit for the third line

Morrow fits that description

He has also like Cleary seen his best days go past but that never stops the Flyers

Well maybe you would prefer Feaster as the team's GM. No GM is infallible or perfect. They all make mistakes,. Holmgren's record as a GM is pretty strong. Everything you mention, is pretty much ado about nothing.
- MJL

And, regarding the minor issues... it's not so much as "just" Homer... It's the whole organization. I would assume Homer has many people working for him. On many situations, it wasn't Homer that dropped the ball but somebody else and Homer just went with it.

And, I wonder how many deals Homer has pulled versus Feaster. I assume more, and more of a chance to miss details.

There may be reasons for the high picks getting preferential treatment, but that doesn't make it false. Teams have a vested interest in having their high draft picks succeed and succeed quickly. Those players do get more/longer looks, and more help along the way than undrafted players or later round picks. On the other hand, just because it happens that way doesn't mean it's unfair. In most cases, the higher drafted player has done something at some point in his career to make teams value him highly, whereas the typical undrafted player has not.

So it isn't false. But it isn't necessarily a "problem", or unfair either. It's the way the system works.
- BringBack25

I don't disagree with a lot of what you've said here. But the narrative that was suggested that players who were drafted lower, or signed as undrafted free agents don't succeed, because they don't get the same attention at players who were drafted higher, is false in my opinion. They definitely get enough attention given them to succeed, just not from the same sources. As I posted earlier, in training Camp, an NHL Head Coaches job is to get the team ready to play the Season. He couldn't possibly devote the same attention to every player, obviously. Nor can the GM. That's why there are other positions in the Organization to help oversee player development. As well as AHL Coaches who will devote the attention necessary to players who will not make the NHL team.

And, regarding the minor issues... it's not so much as "just" Homer... It's the whole organization. I would assume Homer has many people working for him. On many situations, it wasn't Homer that dropped the ball but somebody else and Homer just went with it.

And, I wonder how many deals Homer has pulled versus Feaster. I assume more, and more of a chance to miss details.
- leon neon

Exactly. Holmgren has advisers under him, such as Barry Hanrahan that handles the Cap. But the buck does stop with the GM. The poster claims he trusts Jay Feaster more. Good luck! That certainly goes to credibility.

Exactly. Holmgren has advisers under him, such as Barry Hanrahan that handles the Cap. But the buck does stop with the GM. The poster claims he'd rather have Jay Feater. Good luck! That certainly goes to credibility.
- MJL

I took it as saying, "At least Jay Feaster is worse," rather than, "I'd rather have Jay Feaster." We require clarification, Mr. Hawk.

I don't disagree with a lot of what you've said here. But the narrative that was suggested that players who were drafted lower, or signed as undrafted free agents don't succeed, because they don't get the same attention at players who were drafted higher, is false in my opinion. They definitely get enough attention given them to succeed, just not from the same sources. As I posted earlier, in training Camp, an NHL Head Coaches job is to get the team ready to play the Season. He couldn't possibly devote the same attention to every player, obviously. Nor can the GM. That's why there are other positions in the Organization to help oversee player development. As well as AHL Coaches who will devote the attention necessary to players who will not make the NHL team.
- MJL

Gee, take your opinion or someone's opininion that actually played and went through the experience..... Hmm. Just like when you called Bill and Homer wrong a few days ago insisting there wasn't any Cap Problems....