I'm not so sure. I think they would like to keep him but it would have to be on thier terms. Not max term. They have Rielly and Gardiner that are going to be top notch offensive d-men soon. Liles isn't bad ofensively either. Then Paul Rangers seems like a gem they just found. Unless Phaneuf signs for short term like 4 years, or doesnt take a NMC or NTC then I think they let him walk.

edit. Well not walk, but either traded at deadline which is unlikely due to thier position or traded in offseason for his rights.
- youarewrong

Not soon, they can take years... If those two were ready pahneuf wouldnt be playing 27 minutes a night...i dont understand the phaneuf hate at all/

I'm not so sure. I think they would like to keep him but it would have to be on thier terms. Not max term. They have Rielly and Gardiner that are going to be top notch offensive d-men soon. Liles isn't bad ofensively either. Then Paul Rangers seems like a gem they just found. Unless Phaneuf signs for short term like 4 years, or doesnt take a NMC or NTC then I think they let him walk.

edit. Well not walk, but either traded at deadline which is unlikely due to thier position or traded in offseason for his rights.
- youarewrong

Liles is buried in the minors. Do you think that he's going to go from that situation to in the Leafs plan in the future?

Thanks for the 12:15 PM Practice Update, Bill. I want to hear why Berube thinks Rosehill should be dressed over someone with hockey skills in Adam Hall.
- Flyskippy

I'd be interested to know what the issue is with Hall also.

Why in God's name would we want Phaneuf?
- Hextall271

Subract Timonen and Meszaros and what does this defense look like?

Liles is buried in the minors. Do you think that he's going to go from that situation to in the Leafs plan in the future?
- MJL

You might want to check your facts... he's up w/ the big club.

Not soon, they can take years... If those two were ready pahneuf wouldnt be playing 27 minutes a night...i dont understand the phaneuf hate at all/
- PhillaBully

I'm not hating on Phaneuf. Like I said, its all about term. Those guys will take 3-4 years to be ready, but as UFA Phaneuf will be looking for 8 years... so in 4 years when those guys are ready, then Phaneuf's 7 million dollar contract with NMC becomes a liability. If he signs in toronto it will either be under 5 years, or have a limited NTC... Not a full NTC or NMC. Or at least that is what I would do if I was Toronto.

As for the Flyers. Homer put all his eggs in the Suter basket 2 years ago and came up empty. I wouldnt do the same for Phaneuf. You just can't risk it. Better to make a trade then Hope you sign a guy and be left with nothing.

Thanks for the 12:15 PM Practice Update, Bill. I want to hear why Berube thinks Rosehill should be dressed over someone with hockey skills in Adam Hall.
- Flyskippy

Hall called Berube Sacagawea once by accident; Chief was not happy.

I'd be interested to know what the issue is with Hall also.
- MJL

Gone from Faceoff Winner/Good PK guy to "Elf on the Shelf" quickly. I wouldn't say he's played his way out of the lineup.

Hall called Berube Sacagawea once by accident; Chief was not happy.
- wolfhounds

That sounds like some Sitting Bull to me.

Gone from Faceoff Winner/Good PK guy to "Elf on the Shelf" quickly. I wouldn't say he's played his way out of the lineup.
- Flyskippy

Its a complete mystery to me too. All I know is with Simmonds on the 3rd line, its not a real shutdown line. And with Rosehill on the 4th line, they dont get any minutes. Its no wonder they cant get or hold a 3rd period lead.

That sounds like some Sitting Bull to me.
- Flyskippy

I Squanto what you did there.

I'm not hating on Phaneuf. Like I said, its all about term. Those guys will take 3-4 years to be ready, but as UFA Phaneuf will be looking for 8 years... so in 4 years when those guys are ready, then Phaneuf's 7 million dollar contract with NMC becomes a liability. If he signs in toronto it will either be under 5 years, or have a limited NTC... Not a full NTC or NMC. Or at least that is what I would do if I was Toronto.

As for the Flyers. Homer put all his eggs in the Suter basket 2 years ago and came up empty. I wouldnt do the same for Phaneuf. You just can't risk it. Better to make a trade then Hope you sign a guy and be left with nothing.
- youarewrong

I listen a lot to toronto radio simply because they talk more hockey than anyone else. it sounds like they are going to keep him.

Subract Timonen and Meszaros and what does this defense look like?
- youarewrong

About 10M to the good on the cap with Gus and Alt playing full time...Sold!!!!

I Squanto what you did there.
- wolfhounds

Hiya(watha)!

I'm not hating on Phaneuf. Like I said, its all about term. Those guys will take 3-4 years to be ready, but as UFA Phaneuf will be looking for 8 years... so in 4 years when those guys are ready, then Phaneuf's 7 million dollar contract with NMC becomes a liability. If he signs in toronto it will either be under 5 years, or have a limited NTC... Not a full NTC or NMC. Or at least that is what I would do if I was Toronto.

As for the Flyers. Homer put all his eggs in the Suter basket 2 years ago and came up empty. I wouldnt do the same for Phaneuf. You just can't risk it. Better to make a trade then Hope you sign a guy and be left with nothing.
- youarewrong

No matter where he signs, Phaneuf is going to ask for 6-8 years, at something around his current AAV... he's going to get a full NMC no matter what, too.

As for how the Flyers figure in, it's a different situation than it was back then... there's no Matt Carle up for UFA that they are trying to keep... so if they chase after Dion, they're not going to lose anything in the meantime.

Morin/Hagg/Ghost etc are most likely not going to be contributing at a Phaneuf-level when they do crack the lineup, so you still need a people to hold down the fort while they learn the ropes. Just like Jones is learning the ropes from Weber, and Hamilton from Chara, and Kronwall from Lidstrom, etc.

Gone from Faceoff Winner/Good PK guy to "Elf on the Shelf" quickly. I wouldn't say he's played his way out of the lineup.
- Flyskippy

Elf on the shellllllllffffffffff! Yes!

I listen a lot to toronto radio simply because they talk more hockey than anyone else. it sounds like they are going to keep him.
- PhillaBully

They are in negotiations, that is for sure. But no telling if either side is close. I could be wrong about Toronto's plans, but if it was me, I wouldn't be giving long term to Phaneuf. I would hold onto him and trade him at the draft. You might be able to get a decent defensive defenseman and a pick for him.

If your the Flyers would you move Grossmann and a conditional 2nd/3rd for Phaneufs rights.... getting past your Phaneuf hate?

They are in negotiations, that is for sure. But no telling if either side is close. I could be wrong about Toronto's plans, but if it was me, I wouldn't be giving long term to Phaneuf. I would hold onto him and trade him at the draft. You might be able to get a decent defensive defenseman and a pick for him.

If your the Flyers would you move Grossmann and a conditional 2nd/3rd for Phaneufs rights.... getting past your Phaneuf hate?
- youarewrong

nope...

They are in negotiations, that is for sure. But no telling if either side is close. I could be wrong about Toronto's plans, but if it was me, I wouldn't be giving long term to Phaneuf. I would hold onto him and trade him at the draft. You might be able to get a decent defensive defenseman and a pick for him.

If your the Flyers would you move Grossmann and a conditional 2nd/3rd for Phaneufs rights.... getting past your Phaneuf hate?
- youarewrong

No i would because at this point i dont think we have the cap space for his contract/ and the timing is off. I dont think toronoto is going to let him walk simply because they are on the verge of becoming contenders. Letting him walk will set them back.

No matter where he signs, Phaneuf is going to ask for 6-8 years, at something around his current AAV... he's going to get a full NMC no matter what, too.

As for how the Flyers figure in, it's a different situation than it was back then... there's no Matt Carle up for UFA that they are trying to keep... so if they chase after Dion, they're not going to lose anything in the meantime.

Morin/Hagg/Ghost etc are most likely not going to be contributing at a Phaneuf-level when they do crack the lineup, so you still need a people to hold down the fort while they learn the ropes. Just like Jones is learning the ropes from Weber, and Hamilton from Chara, and Kronwall from Lidstrom, etc.
- Tomahawk

I agree with all of that, its basically what I've been saying, except the nothing to lose part. If you wait until UFA then you lost most of your chances to make a trade to get a number 1 defenseman. Most moves happen before or at the draft. Then if the Flyers dont land Phaneuf they are dealing from a positon of weakness.

I like Phaneuf and would be willing to get him, but I dont want to wait a full season just for a "chance" to get him "IF" Toronto doesnt resign him. Better to just make a move for Campbell or Buff now.

I agree with all of that, its basically what I've been saying, except the nothing to lose part. If you wait until UFA then you lost most of your chances to make a trade to get a number 1 defenseman. Most moves happen before or at the draft. Then if the Flyers dont land Phaneuf they are dealing from a positon of weakness.

I like Phaneuf and would be willing to get him, but I dont want to wait a full season just for a "chance" to get him "IF" Toronto doesnt resign him. Better to just make a move for Campbell or Buff now.
- youarewrong

id prefer the flyers dont make any moves for campbell or buff.

I listen a lot to toronto radio simply because they talk more hockey than anyone else. it sounds like they are going to keep him.
- PhillaBully

I can back that up. Seems like TO will give Phaneuf the money he is essentially looking for, just not the term.

In a sense, I'm glad. Dion is a good D, but he's not the D WE need. He'd be a nice complementary piece more than anything.

I agree with all of that, its basically what I've been saying, except the nothing to lose part. If you wait until UFA then you lost most of your chances to make a trade to get a number 1 defenseman. Most moves happen before or at the draft. Then if the Flyers dont land Phaneuf they are dealing from a positon of weakness.

I like Phaneuf and would be willing to get him, but I dont want to wait a full season just for a "chance" to get him "IF" Toronto doesnt resign him. Better to just make a move for Campbell or Buff now.
- youarewrong

To me, the upside of going the UFA route is that you don't give anything up.... if you get Phaneuf, you've added a piece without tearing other holes in a lineup that can scarcely afford it. If you don't get him, then you continue to bide your time and hope a trade opportunity arises.

Of course, if somebody dangles a #1 dman in Homer's face for a reasonable price, by all means, pull the trigger. Nobody's saying we should just sit on our hands while we wait for Dion to hit the open market.

Thanks for the 12:15 PM Practice Update, Bill. I want to hear why Berube thinks Rosehill should be dressed over someone with hockey skills in Adam Hall.
- Flyskippy

Question was asked indirectly ("Have you been happy with the fourth line the last few games?") but not really answered ("Yeah, like everyone, I thought the line was good on the Island; skated with energy and gave us some good shifts. Fine early on Tuesday and then our play dropped off.")

For those of you interested in the later round picks:


Terrance "Bread" Amorosa (18, D, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL) has 3 assists and a +6 rating in 8 games so far.

Merrick Madsen (18, G, Minot Minotauros, NAHL) has gone 1-3 in 4 games posting a 2.78 GAA and 89.7% Save %.

David Drake (18, D, Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL) has posted 1 assist and a -1 rating in 9 games.

I don't know about the level of competition of the NAHL, but I can say the USHL is pretty low in terms of overall league skill.
- jmatchett383

the USHL and NAHL is just basically a stepping stone for kids going to college.