Homer offering Phaneuf 7 years, $50 million in the offseason gets more likely with every passing day.
- Feanor

Phaneuf is better than any of their defenseman, but he's so similar to the guys they already have. They need mobile puck-movers.

I think it's fairly obvious this team just isn't talented enough. Overall, the team is slow and lacks puck skills.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree. People who think it's all about effort are kidding themselves.

I bust my butt every shift I play because, well, i love playing! I can't play enough. A few weekends ago I played 3 games in one night!
- nastyflyergirl

HAVE YOU BEEN DRAFTED YET? HERES TO HOPING HOMER IS LOOSE WITH THAT FIRST ROUNDER.

At some level I think the teams needs players who love what they are doing, and uses the perks of excelling in their beloved sport as motivation to do their best every single minute.

I think it's fairly obvious this team just isn't talented enough. Overall, the team is slow and lacks puck skills.
- PhillySportsGuy

This.

And I think Holmgren is smart enough to know this.

The question is, what does he do about it?

Is he going to be patient and let younger guys develop and take some lumps, while waiting for guys in the pipeline or does he make a HUMANGOUS big trade?

History says "HUMANGOUS big trade".

I agree. People who think it's all about effort are kidding themselves.
- Feanor

No one has said it is all about effort. Of course it is more complicated than that. Just saying I see guys out there not doing their best, and that that is part of the problem too.

I agree. People who think it's all about effort are kidding themselves.
- Feanor

I like the fact that the team is dedicated defensively, but they have no transition game and cannot generate any sustained pressure.

Berube is put in a difficult position. He is working with a very limited defensive unit. The forwards play very deep in their defensive end because they have to. I'm not blaming the system. Berube is doing as much as you can with this unit.

Phaneuf is better than any of their defenseman, but he's so similar to the guys they already have. They need mobile puck-movers.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't understand how benching Gus helps this, fwiw.

This.

And I think Holmgren is smart enough to know this.

The question is, what does he do about it?

Is he going to be patient and let younger guys develop and take some lumps, while waiting for guys in the pipeline or does he make a HUMANGOUS big trade?

History says "HUMANGOUS big trade".
- johndewar

History tells us that he will sign the best free agents on the market. I'm not against signing top tier talent, but I would hardly call Streit top tier talent.

You look at Ryan Suter and he would have been such a difference maker if they got him.

This.

And I think Holmgren is smart enough to know this.

The question is, what does he do about it?

Is he going to be patient and let younger guys develop and take some lumps, while waiting for guys in the pipeline or does he make a HUMANGOUS big trade?

History says "HUMANGOUS big trade".
- johndewar

The question in my mind is... are the younger guys... Chicago level prospects... or 2008 Florida panther lever prospects?

When they develop will we have Towes, Kane, etc or Booth, Ladd, Weiss, and Hornton?

If the answer is the latter, I would rather the trade.....

Bertuzzi out.
- PLindbergh31

there goes their SO specialist.

I don't understand how benching Gus helps this, fwiw.
- johndewar

I would, personally, like to see the team go back to Timo-Schenn and Grossmann-Coburn.

I think they need to start giving Schenn heavy minutes and see if he works his way back into form. He really seemed to excel last year when given big minutes. Many defenseman talk about getting into a rhythm when given large amounts of minutes.

History tells us that he will sign the best free agents on the market. I'm not against signing top tier talent, but I would hardly call Streit top tier talent.

You look at Ryan Suter and he would have been such a difference maker if they got him.
- PhillySportsGuy

You're right, but I'm not referring to next off-season, with respect to free agent additions.

I'm referring to the next couple of weeks.

I wonder if this team will look the same, come January 1st.

History tells us that he will sign the best free agents on the market. I'm not against signing top tier talent, but I would hardly call Streit top tier talent.

You look at Ryan Suter and he would have been such a difference maker if they got him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Matt Carle would have been a difference maker had Suter's shine not caught Homer's eye...

I would, personally, like to see the team go back to Timo-Schenn and Grossmann-Coburn.

I think they need to start giving Schenn heavy minutes and see if he works his way back into form. He really seemed to excel last year when given big minutes. Many defenseman talk about getting into a rhythm when given large amounts of minutes.
- PhillySportsGuy

It can't hurt at this point.

The question in my mind is... are the younger guys... Chicago level prospects... or 2008 Florida panther lever prospects?

When they develop will we have Towes, Kane, etc or Booth, Ladd, Weiss, and Hornton?

If the answer is the latter, I would rather the trade.....
- youarewrong

I think you have to trust the scouting. They have several good prospects on D. Even if some don't work out, they should get some guys who come in and play in the top 6.

Their D prospects are built on strength in quantity rather than quality.

What if I said I'm starting not to like Giroux?
- shekkie

Could be worse. You could be starting to not like Giroux.

there goes their SO specialist.
- hammarby31

The Wings entire top line is out tomorrow night. Would be shocked if the Flyers lost.

Carle is nowhere near the all-round player Suter is.

I think you have to trust the scouting. They have several good prospects on D. Even if some don't work out, they should get some guys who come in and play in the top 6.

Their D prospects are built on strength in quantity rather than quality.
- PhillySportsGuy

Just like with all of those college free agents they signed a few years back, you have to think if they sign a bunch, that one of them would hit (Matt Read).

One of those D-men they drafted, scouted, traded for (i.e.-Alt) have to hit at some point, you would think.

I think you have to trust the scouting. They have several good prospects on D. Even if some don't work out, they should get some guys who come in and play in the top 6.

Their D prospects are built on strength in quantity rather than quality.
- PhillySportsGuy

Lets not fool ourselves... Outside Morin and Hagg... and we dont know how good they will be... they lucked into the rest of those defenseman.

But I was refering to Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn, Couturier, and... Giroux.

You're right, but I'm not referring to next off-season, with respect to free agent additions.

I'm referring to the next couple of weeks.

I wonder if this team will look the same, come January 1st.
- johndewar

I doubt it. I don't really want them to trade the young guys unless they get an offer for another young player. I believe the forwards will look much better with a better defense.

Bill mentioned it in his blog, but this defense has such trouble moving the puck ahead. They seem to struggle even when they aren't pressured. Sometimes the best outlet passer is Mason!

Matt Carle would have been a difference maker had Suter's shine not caught Homer's eye...
- youarewrong

I won't crap on Homer for that one.

Suter is an absolute stud.

I won't crap on Homer for that one.

Suter is an absolute stud.
- johndewar

But it was well known that both him and Suter were going to Minnesota. He was played like a violin and should have known better.

Carle is nowhere near the all-round player Suter is.
- Feanor

True, but I don't think what was said meant he is.

But it was well known that both him and Suter were going to Minnesota. He was played like a violin and should have known better.
- youarewrong

It was rumored, but the decision wasn't definite. Homer didn't have the tagging space to sign Carle in season anyway. Once he reached FA, all bets were off as he was signed for much more than any of us were willing to pay.