I'm calling it now, they're going to give Rinaldo a look on the PK. I also think Hall is basically being phased out of the lineup, more or less. He will be a spot-player now, I think.
- Flyers_V88

I think you're right about Hall, but I think Raffl will get first chance on the PK. This is assuming the other 3 are G, Read and Couts.

How do you lose speed in this trade? You haven't watched downie play a shift this season I'd wager. Seriously, when you get a clue come on back.
- mayorofangrytown

Downie's not particularly fast, but then again, neither was Talbot. Both are more hustlers than burners.

Steve Downie, when he's not injured, has a better offensive skillset than Talbot. Steve Downie, when not running around and taking horrible penalties, hits harder than Max Talbot.

That's about it. We lose defense. We lose PK ability. We lose a guy whose heart and determination are on the same level (but slightly below) the beloved Lappy. We lose a guy who will do whatever it takes to win. We lose a guaranteed reasonable contract. We lose a veteran locker room leader.

But hey, Downie has 1 goal this season. Let's throw him on the 4th line and win the Cup!
- jmatchett383

honestly, PKers are fairly easy to acquire

something interesting from Scoop Cooper A ref on here Bill can you verify this?

St. Louis has been scouting the Flyers' organization (both NHL and AHL) heavily this week. I had dinner with the Blues' Asst GM Kevin McDonald at Flyers/Ducks game on Tuesday, he was at the Phantoms game with Springfield in Glens Falls, NY, last night, and told me that he will be back in Philly again for the Flyers/Caps game tomorrow. I have not seen an Oiler scout here recently however.

Source Eks Main thread

Again, the way we were doing it wasn't working. I have read your posts and I can see you're upset, but at some point, I would hope that you might acknowledge that the roster we had 24 hours ago wasn't good enough.

Doesn't mean that Maxime Talbot had to go -- again, I recognize and acknowledge his value as a PKer.

But we can't keep the same roster, keep running the same guys out there every night, and pray for miracles.
- AllInForFlyers

Might as well trade Giroux for Talbot, since Talbot has a goal. Giroux clearly isn't working out here.

Steve Downie, when he's not injured, has a better offensive skillset than Talbot. Steve Downie, when not running around and taking horrible penalties, hits harder than Max Talbot.

That's about it. We lose defense. We lose PK ability. We lose a guy whose heart and determination are on the same level (but slightly below) the beloved Lappy. We lose a guy who will do whatever it takes to win. We lose a guaranteed reasonable contract. We lose a veteran locker room leader.

But hey, Downie has 1 goal this season. Let's throw him on the 4th line and win the Cup!
- jmatchett383

I really don't think the trade is as bad as you're making it. Also no way Downie ends up on the 4th unit. They can toss Hall or Raffl or Rinaldo to pear up with G on the pk. Keep Read/Coots together as the 2nd pk unit. Not the end of the world.

honestly, PKers are fairly easy to acquire
- isaiah520

Yes. All PKers are equal in value. Shjon Podein was really a dime-a-dozen player, nothing special.

Somebody piss in your Cheerios this morning, sir?
- BulliesPhan87

Some body posted the other day that people on these thread post such definitive opinions on players they never watch play. I agreed.

Nothing screams to that fact than the reactions on this thread today to the trade for Steve Downie.

I get the people who like Talbot and what he brings but damn!!! I'm waiting for someone who knows something to tell be why (other than contract) this trade isn't lopsided to the Flyers.

Talbot fan right here and hasn't watched to Western Conference team play since he fell asleep while the Pens were blowing out the Flyers and woke to the Canucks/Kings game.
- mayorofangrytown

(frank) no. People act like Talbot's useless because, somehow, the team not scoring has a direct effect on him. Now we'll score more goals, but the goals scored against will go up because Talbot is one of the most underrated players in the league. I watched him for years in Pittsburgh, and (aside from his SCG heroics), you can see that he will do what it takes.

Now we have a (frank)ing guy who's still a punk who can't pick his spots, runs around like a nut, can't win a fight, and can't play defense. YAY!
Homer, get the (frank) out now.
- jmatchett383

Clearly you haven't seen Downie play in the last 4 years.

I haven't watched Downie, pretty much at all.

From the feeling I get in here, this trade was a dumb as professional athletes wearing helmets and goggles to celebrate a championship win.

(frank)ing baseball.

Seen a lot of posts like this in this thread. To those worried about the Flyers scoring, The net improvement in scoring from Downie will be offset by the loss of PK ability and intangibles that a guy like Talbot brought. Its only slightly better than a zero sum gain and I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that if your top line guys like Giroux aren't putting the puck in the net, it doesn't really matter what the bottom 6 guys do.
- Emperor Filonius

While this is your opinion, I do not agree.

Talbot has been a shell of his former self. He has not brought much to the team this season. Not sure if the broken leg has hampered him, if overall, injuries have caught up to him; or if this is a temporary issue or not. But the fact remains, that he has been poor this season.

The Flyers have just as good of PK option sitting in the pressbox in Adam Hall. He's a better suited to play the 4C spot and center a PK line.

Downie is a much more gifted offensive player than Talbot. Yes, he often crosses the line with hits and reactions. But he'll be a great fit if he's playing with Giroux and Vinny on the top line. He has played top line and tough minutes everywhere he's gone - and has done well with it.

On top of that, the Flyers get an up-close, 6 month job interview with Downie to see if they want to sign him to an extension.

Great trade for the Flyers.

Downie's not particularly fast, but then again, neither was Talbot. Both are more hustlers than burners.
- Tomahawk

I'd drop good money on Downie once around the rink and happily buy you ice cream with your money after.

How do you lose speed in this trade? You haven't watched downie play a shift this season I'd wager. Seriously, when you get a clue come on back.
- mayorofangrytown

Ive watched every game this season, and have been to 3 games. I pay quite a bit of attention to the NHL and Im saying we lose a step in speed with this trade. Downie adds nothing more than grit. He is the same player we traded all those years ago for the most part. So why dont you get a clue

Clearly you haven't seen Downie play in the last 4 years.
- flyguy12

Actually I have. He won't Dean McAmmond anybody, but he still loses his cool a la Carcillo. Yes, I have watched him, and I especially love it when he throws a cheap shot and then basically runs away. He's like a less crazy Carcillo.

"We got a new guy! He'll be great! You're gonna love 'em!"
- PhillySportsGuy

direct quote from the press conference: "the fans are gonna' love him."

While this is your opinion, I do not agree.

Talbot has been a shell of his former self. He has not brought much to the team this season. Not sure if the broken leg has hampered him, if overall, injuries have caught up to him; or if this is a temporary issue or not. But the fact remains, that he has been poor this season.

The Flyers have just as good of PK option sitting in the pressbox in Adam Hall. He's a better suited to play the 4C spot and center a PK line.

Downie is a much more gifted offensive player than Talbot. Yes, he often crosses the line with hits and reactions. But he'll be a great fit if he's playing with Giroux and Vinny on the top line. He has played top line and tough minutes everywhere he's gone - and has done well with it.

On top of that, the Flyers get an up-close, 6 month job interview with Downie to see if they want to sign him to an extension.

Great trade for the Flyers.
- bradleyc4

Some days I love you you shaggy geek you!

Steve Downie, when he's not injured, has a better offensive skillset than Talbot. Steve Downie, when not running around and taking horrible penalties, hits harder than Max Talbot.

That's about it. We lose defense. We lose PK ability. We lose a guy whose heart and determination are on the same level (but slightly below) the beloved Lappy. We lose a guy who will do whatever it takes to win. We lose a guaranteed reasonable contract. We lose a veteran locker room leader.

But hey, Downie has 1 goal this season. Let's throw him on the 4th line and win the Cup!
- jmatchett383

Talbot is no Lappy, and IMO hasn't been the above guy for 2 seasons.

How do you lose speed in this trade? You haven't watched downie play a shift this season I'd wager. Seriously, when you get a clue come on back.
- mayorofangrytown

I watched him play -- his skating had improved, like many players, since he was a kid. He was able to keep up with Stamkos and St. Louis, with Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog/Ryan O'Reilly.

He's a good player. To be blunt, he's better than, what...four of the players we dressed on Tuesday, and probably the equal of a fifth.

That math makes you a Top 9 forward, right?

I'd drop good money on Downie once around the rink and happily buy you ice cream with your money after.
- mayorofangrytown

Gauntlet. Thrown.

Some body posted the other day that people on these thread post such definitive opinions on players they never watch play. I agreed.

Nothing screams to that fact than the reactions on this thread today to the trade for Steve Downie.

I get the people who like Talbot and what he brings but damn!!! I'm waiting for someone who knows something to tell be why (other than contract) this trade isn't lopsided to the Flyers.
- mayorofangrytown

... because when they think of Downie, all they see his Dean McAmmond flying through the air.

As you said, apparently time stood still in Downie-ville and he hasn't been successfully sitting shotgun w/ Stamkos, Duchene, et al.

While this is your opinion, I do not agree.

Talbot has been a shell of his former self. He has not brought much to the team this season. Not sure if the broken leg has hampered him, if overall, injuries have caught up to him; or if this is a temporary issue or not. But the fact remains, that he has been poor this season.

The Flyers have just as good of PK option sitting in the pressbox in Adam Hall. He's a better suited to play the 4C spot and center a PK line.

Downie is a much more gifted offensive player than Talbot. Yes, he often crosses the line with hits and reactions. But he'll be a great fit if he's playing with Giroux and Vinny on the top line. He has played top line and tough minutes everywhere he's gone - and has done well with it.

On top of that, the Flyers get an up-close, 6 month job interview with Downie to see if they want to sign him to an extension.


Great trade for the Flyers.
- bradleyc4

I think you're undervaluing Talbot. He's been a mainstay on the Flyers PK since he arrived. It's been a very good PK.

He's also quite versatile.

Some days I love you you shaggy geek you!

- mayorofangrytown

I'm on the same page as you guys for the same reasons. I like it

Might as well trade Giroux for Talbot, since Talbot has a goal. Giroux clearly isn't working out here.
- jmatchett383

It's raining where I am, so that straw man's not going to hold up long. Just throwing that out there.

Talbot is no Lappy, and IMO hasn't been the above guy for 2 seasons.
- youarewrong

I said he was a step below him. I'm comparing them, not saying they're exactly the same. You all will rue this (frank)ing day.