I think you need two such players, especially in the postseason when it turns into broom-closet hockey.
- bmeltzer

That's true, but I wasn't really approaching it from a competitive point of view... more along the lines of opening up roster spots/cap-room to audition young two-way upgrades and plug in prospects with an eye toward development and the future.

I know that Snider doesn't think this way, but contending wouldn't be high on my list of short-term priorities if I were GM.

I think you need two such players, especially in the postseason when it turns into broom-closet hockey.
- bmeltzer

i'm with you although i'm not sure what broom closet hockey is

I think you need two such players, especially in the postseason when it turns into broom-closet hockey.
- bmeltzer

Agreed

i'd put a heartface here but i love bob and i feel bad for him
- -davies-

Lol,here's the thing. I don't want to see Bob fail like this. I also like him, but it's starting to look more and more like Homer made the right call as Mason has been fantastic. The mere fact that media is talking about him for Team Canada and that no one has given us a chance to win every single night like him since Hextall, is very telling to me. I pick on Homer for some moves so I need to give him Kudos for his work sorting out our tenders.

That's true, but I wasn't really approaching it from a competitive point of view... more along the lines of opening up roster spots/cap-room to audition young two-way upgrades and plug in prospects with an eye toward development and the future.

I know that Snider doesn't think this way, but contending wouldn't be high on my list of short-term priorities if I were GM.
- Tomahawk

Here's the problem with your plan. Forward production typically peaks in the mid-20's, maintaines through the late 20's and steadily declines afterward. That means Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, and Read are entering their prime years. It typically takes 4 NHL seasons for defensemen to hit their stride at both ends of the ice. So while your developing for the future, you will be wasting the peak years in production of 4 key forwards in the lineup including the #1 center and #1 right wing. Also 2 of the Flyers top 6 forwards, Hartnell and Lecavalier have already started to decline. You will have to rebuild the forward crop too.

Lol,here's the thing. I don't want to see Bob fail like this. I also like him, but it's starting to look more and more like Homer made the right call as Mason has been fantastic. The mere fact that media is talking about him for Team Canada and that no one has given us a chance to win every single night like him since Hextall, is very telling to me. I pick on Homer for some moves so I need to give him Kudos for his work sorting out our tenders.
- Hextall271

Sorry. That's prohibited on this site.

Lol,here's the thing. I don't want to see Bob fail like this. I also like him, but it's starting to look more and more like Homer made the right call as Mason has been fantastic. The mere fact that media is talking about him for Team Canada and that no one has given us a chance to win every single night like him since Hextall, is very telling to me. I pick on Homer for some moves so I need to give him Kudos for his work sorting out our tenders.
- Hextall271

Sadly, goaltending is just very prone to variance, especially because the numbers are so interrelated to what's going on in front of them. Mason's got a long way to go before I feel comfortable saying that he's definitely better than Bob, much less that he's legit.

Here's the problem with your plan. Forward production typically peaks in the mid-20's, maintaines through the late 20's and steadily declines afterward. That means Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, and Read are entering their prime years. It typically takes 4 NHL seasons for defensemen to hit their stride at both ends of the ice. So while your developing for the future, you will be wasting the peak years in production of 4 key forwards in the lineup including the #1 center and #1 right wing. Also 2 of the Flyers top 6 forwards, Hartnell and Lecavalier have already started to decline. You will have to rebuild the forward crop too.
- psuhockey

A team can't be made up of all players hitting their primes. You need some vets, some young guys, some guys in their primes.

If the Flyers draft well and keep their young assets, they should be able to inject more young, forward talent once the current group begins to age. That's what great franchises do.

Sadly, goaltending is just very prone to variance, especially because the numbers are so interrelated to what's going on in front of them. Mason's got a long way to go before I feel comfortable saying that he's definitely better than Bob, much less that he's legit.
- Tomahawk

There is no denying that both Mason and Bob have outstanding physical ability. I think there remains question marks with both of them. Can Bob be the number 1 for an entire 82 game season + playoffs? Can Mason bounce back after a rough stretch?

Here's the problem with your plan. Forward production typically peaks in the mid-20's, maintaines through the late 20's and steadily declines afterward. That means Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, and Read are entering their prime years. It typically takes 4 NHL seasons for defensemen to hit their stride at both ends of the ice. So while your developing for the future, you will be wasting the peak years in production of 4 key forwards in the lineup including the #1 center and #1 right wing. Also 2 of the Flyers top 6 forwards, Hartnell and Lecavalier have already started to decline. You will have to rebuild the forward crop too.
- psuhockey

In 3-4 years time, all the guys you named will be smack dab in the middle of their primes -- sweet spot for forwards tends to be 27-30. Not to mention, the next wave of Schenn/Coots/Laughton will be just entering their period of solid production as well.

Lol,here's the thing. I don't want to see Bob fail like this. I also like him, but it's starting to look more and more like Homer made the right call as Mason has been fantastic. The mere fact that media is talking about him for Team Canada and that no one has given us a chance to win every single night like him since Hextall, is very telling to me. I pick on Homer for some moves so I need to give him Kudos for his work sorting out our tenders.
- Hextall271

oh trust me i'm nuts about mason too i just kinda feel bad for bob right now, what a roller coaster the nhl has been for him so far

Sorry. That's prohibited on this site.
- PhillySportsGuy

i've already reported him don't worry

In 3-4 years time, all the guys you named will be smack dab in the middle of their primes -- sweet spot for forwards tends to be 27-30. Not to mention, the next wave of Schenn/Coots/Laughton will be just entering their period of solid production as well.
- Tomahawk

With what I've seen over the last week, it's possible that a 23-year-old Sean Couturier might be the best player on this team.

I'm totally serious.

i've already reported him don't worry
- -davies-

i'm going to sue him but i will bring all my shoes and glasses so i have them....thank you very much

With what I've seen over the last week, it's possible that a 23-year-old Sean Couturier might be the best player on this team.

I'm totally serious.
- AllInForFlyers

I really do think Giroux will find his form and become one of the best players in the world again. He's pressing way too much. His shooting percentage is low and he's rang at least 3 times as many shots off the post than he's put in the net. Voracek has also been playing well lately. I feel it's only a matter of time for G.

I really do think Giroux will find his form and become one of the best players in the world again. He's pressing way too much. His shooting percentage is low and he's rang at least 3 times as many shots off the post than he's put in the net. Voracek has also been playing well lately. I feel it's only a matter of time for G.
- PhillySportsGuy

KEEP THEM ALL

KEEP THEM ALL
- -davies-

We should trade them for Dan Boyle

I really do think Giroux will find his form and become one of the best players in the world again. He's pressing way too much. His shooting percentage is low and he's rang at least 3 times as many shots off the post than he's put in the net. Voracek has also been playing well lately. I feel it's only a matter of time for G.
- PhillySportsGuy

While not everyone has agreed, I've been saying all along that I don't think Giroux's been as bad as his numbers have looked -- I think he's rang five posts this year, and yeah, it would've been amazing had he been able to elevate Michael Raffl's game, I think it says something that one of his wingers from earlier this year is a healthy scratch now.

That doesn't mean I'm down on Michael Raffl; I'm not. I wish he was on the fourth line for tonight's game.

But my thing with Sean Couturier is this: When he develops "man strength"....oh, my gosh. He's already getting tougher and tougher to knock off the puck now, at age 20...and you can tell he's not quite fully grown into his frame yet, with lower-body strength.

In three years...oh, my gosh. That's why getting him two wingers was important...he needs to be allowed to think offense, create offense, see offensive chances go into the back of the net.

Personally...I think it's possible -- not probable, but possible -- that kid develops into something the likes the NHL doesn't see very often: A 6-4, 215-pound center who is devastating defensively, yet scores 25 goals/60 points, wins 55 percent of his draws, and is damn near impossible to knock off the puck.

It makes my head spin just thinking about this.

While not everyone has agreed, I've been saying all along that I don't think Giroux's been as bad as his numbers have looked -- I think he's rang five posts this year, and yeah, it would've been amazing had he been able to elevate Michael Raffl's game, I think it says something that one of his wingers from earlier this year is a healthy scratch now.

That doesn't mean I'm down on Michael Raffl; I'm not. I wish he was on the fourth line for tonight's game.

But my thing with Sean Couturier is this: When he develops "man strength"....oh, my gosh. He's already getting tougher and tougher to knock off the puck now, at age 20...and you can tell he's not quite fully grown into his frame yet, with lower-body strength.

In three years...oh, my gosh. That's why getting him two wingers was important...he needs to be allowed to think offense, create offense, see offensive chances go into the back of the net.

Personally...I think it's possible -- not probable, but possible -- that kid develops into something the likes the NHL doesn't see very often: A 6-4, 215-pound center who is devastating defensively, yet scores 25 goals/60 points, wins 55 percent of his draws, and is damn near impossible to knock off the puck.

It makes my head spin just thinking about this.
- AllInForFlyers

That's basically best case scenario

LETS GO FLYERS

any dr who fans out there be sure to check out google today

We should trade them for Dan Boyle
- PhillySportsGuy

if anything jason demers

In 3-4 years time, all the guys you named will be smack dab in the middle of their primes -- sweet spot for forwards tends to be 27-30. Not to mention, the next wave of Schenn/Coots/Laughton will be just entering their period of solid production as well.
- Tomahawk

Peak point production for forwards tend to be from 24-28. Here are two studies that show that.
http://www.arcticicehocke...-points-per-game-peak-age

http://www.broadstreethoc...wards-prime-scoring-years

That means that those forwards will be exiting their prime. So the Flyers would have to hope that Schenn Couturier and or Laughton can match the production of Giroux and Voracek, who are either a point per game or close to point per game forwards against top defensive competition, this year excluded.

any dr who fans out there be sure to check out google today
- -davies-

Next up is a dr detroit homage.

That's basically best case scenario
- PhillySportsGuy

It absolutely is, but wow, if he does it...see, if he could do that, that could actually lengthen Claude Giroux's career, because Couturier could take some of those "hard minutes."

Mike Richards is better off for having Anze Kopitar as the No. 1 center in LA. He is. Those hard minutes against top defense pairs...I think he and Giroux play with a lot of heart -- I think Giroux has a lot more heart than he gets credit for having.

But at some point, physical stature does matter. Can you imagine if Claude Giroux was a "1-B" center, at 28-29 years old, playing against second-pair defensemen?

Oh, my gosh. The reign of terror might not stop from this team.