from david isaac:

No clear spot for Downie yet. Says Homer: "A lot of it will be trial and error."

not saying i don't like the trade, but there's your plan. this should be the tag line for the season: 2013-14 Philadelphia Flyers: Trial and Error!

Don't come to us with your Bottom Line Problems! We got Top Line Problems, bro.
- PhillySportsGuy

I also noticed the soda I got at Consol was kind of flat last night. So much to fix, and only 70 games to go!

As far as I'm concerned, there's no good leader on the Flyers, and by that I mean a guy who takes control of the team when he wants it and leads by example when he needs to.

That guy was injured years ago and has yet to be replaced.
- wolfhounds

Giroux is that guy..........Hes just in a funk, lacking passion that he previously had for some reason.

I also noticed the soda I got at Consol was kind of flat last night. So much to fix, and only 70 games to go!
- Emperor Filonius

I will burn your family.

... 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.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. He's proved he can play w/elite talent and add that extra element of grit, boardwork, net drive that all star players need to open up the ice. He can even step in and drop'em for a guy like Giroux.

I know it's not a direct on-ice thing, but he's also (in my opinion) got more heart and leadership than anyone else on his now-former team.
- jmatchett383

I don't think the team lacks heart or even leadership. I think the penalties are a result of being out of position and not having the speed to compensate.

If they keep playing this way under Berube, the penalty numbers will go down.

I've never been a huge 'intangibles are important' guy. When a team wins, they're happy. When they lose, they're unhappy.

Was Downie on Lecavalier's line at all? Is this something anyone thought of. Maybe trying to put some chemistry together?
- youarewrong

He was juggled for the most part but did have some time with St.Louis and Stammer, but who wouldnt collect points on that line????

As far as I'm concerned, there's no good leader on the Flyers, and by that I mean a guy who takes control of the team when he wants it and leads by example when he needs to.

That guy was injured years ago and has yet to be replaced.
- wolfhounds

Can't argue that. G isn't that vocal of a guy in my opinion. We need that Pronger type of player... Could you think in a solid 5 years Laughton/Leier ( I thought of Leier probably because he wears the Blackhawk uni's lol) could be that guy? I sure do. I see him as a Towes type of player.

I also noticed the soda I got at Consol was kind of flat last night. So much to fix, and only 70 games to go!
- Emperor Filonius

I'm giving you the finger right now.

I also noticed the soda I got at Consol was kind of flat last night. So much to fix, and only 70 games to go!
- Emperor Filonius

Pittsburgh is backwater, thats why.

He's more than 'solid' on the PK. He's been great on the PK. It's not an easy thing to do.

Any option the Flyers use will be worse than Talbot on the PK. That's what you're sacrificing in this deal.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think Talbot has been anything more than "solid" in any aspect of his game this season.

The Flyers, offensively, have not been doing the dirty work to get the garbage goals they need. Steve Downie will bring that. Hopefully, it's infectious.

Giroux is that guy..........Hes just in a funk, lacking passion that he previously had for some reason.
- GOA88

You know, he's not playing like he did 2 seasons ago. Clearly that offensive output was an anomaly. He's making too much money for what he's producing. He hasn't been the same since his injury he suffered before this season. His leadership skills obviously aren't enough. Therefore, trading him for a player who has more offensive production is not a bad thing.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Can't argue that. G isn't that vocal of a guy in my opinion. We need that Pronger type of player... Could you think in a solid 5 years Laughton could be that guy? I sure do. I see him as a Towes type of player.
- justahockeyguy2

Are you aware of how good Toews is?

Seems like a lot of folks got the urinated cereal this morning.

You know, he's not playing like he did 2 seasons ago. Clearly that offensive output was an anomaly. He's making too much money for what he's producing. He hasn't been the same since his injury he suffered before this season. His leadership skills obviously aren't enough. Therefore, trading him for a player who has more offensive production is not a bad thing.

Sound familiar to anyone?
- jmatchett383

Uhhhhh I think thats a little too early to say. If its multiple years and he isn't producing like the player he once was, then I say make a trade. Way too early IMO

Giroux is that guy..........Hes just in a funk, lacking passion that he previously had for some reason.
- GOA88

Like most of the guys currently on the team, G has the potential to be that guy...but he isn't a good or effective leader right now. And people used to argue Timonen was our good (if quiet) leader, but clearly that's no longer the case.

Who does that leave, Hartnell? Streit? Coburn? Vinny?

Give me back Jason Smith, please.

You know, he's not playing like he did 2 seasons ago. Clearly that offensive output was an anomaly. He's making too much money for what he's producing. He hasn't been the same since his injury he suffered before this season. His leadership skills obviously aren't enough. Therefore, trading him for a player who has more offensive production is not a bad thing.

Sound familiar to anyone?
- jmatchett383

If we trade Giroux I guarantee he puts up 90 plus pts a season and wins a stanley cup as the top line center.

... 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.
- Tomahawk

The fact that they traded him for talbot kind of reinforces my perception of downie. Talbot doesn't have much trade value.

But hey.. I doubt we coukd have gotten much more in any other trade with talbot. Guess that's a positive.

I don't think Talbot has been anything more than "solid" in any aspect of his game this season.

The Flyers, offensively, have not been doing the dirty work to get the garbage goals they need. Steve Downie will bring that. Hopefully, it's infectious.
- bradleyc4

IMO, Talbot has nothing to do with the struggles on offense. He is a 3rd/4th line scrapper who was here to kill penalties.

While a Flyer, the PK unit was the only consistent thing. I guess we're watching different games.

Are you aware of how good Toews is?
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes I am aware lol I am just saying from a leadership standpoint. Someone that wears his heart on his sleeve.

Can't argue that. G isn't that vocal of a guy in my opinion. We need that Pronger type of player... Could you think in a solid 5 years Laughton/Leier ( I thought of Leier probably because he wears the Blackhawk uni's lol) could be that guy? I sure do. I see him as a Towes type of player.
- justahockeyguy2

Laughton...yup, I could see that.

Like most of the guys currently on the team, G has the potential to be that guy...but he isn't a good or effective leader right now. And people used to argue Timonen was our good (if quiet) leader, but clearly that's no longer the case.

Who does that leave, Hartnell? Streit? Coburn? Vinny?

Give me back Jason Smith, please.
- wolfhounds

Only here one season, but one of the best captains this team's had, for what he walked into the day he got here.

WE JUST TRADED TALBOT!


Steve Downie for Talbot straight-up.
- Flyers_V88

I'm so confused as to what either team accomplished with this trade.

if it is the Blues, wonder if Stewart is part of the package. He's been somewhat on the outs there. Would have to be Stewart + D for ?

Mezaros for Yakupov still on the table?