They'd have been much better off matching what Tampa paid carle. At least he would be effective.
- JoeRussomanno

Carle wouldn't be faring too much better here imo. He's a relative disappointment in Tampa and was rather insulated here at times...he was a beneficiary of surrounding talent more than an impact player himself imo. He could make some basic passes like our existing guys do and make an occasional stretch pass, but hardly ever skated/carried the puck past his own blueline, so it's not like he would have been a big catalyst for the transition game. They tried to put him in that primary role in Tampa and it didn't work well...he's their highest paid D man but has been steadily losing (PP and ES) minutes to Hedman and Salo and even Gudas to some extent. I'm not saying Carle couldn't have helped out as part of the corps here, but I wouldn't want that contract for what he brings, and I highly doubt Yzerman would do that deal again if given the chance.

If you look at it strictly in terms of comparing to Streit, well they're pretty even (both have 1g 9a), with Carle getting the nod due to his more preferable age and history of durability. Having said this, I do expect more from Streit going forward.

Honestly I'm just happy to be tied for 3rd in the division right now. After how they started, it's hard to complain about much right now.

I still think its more of a language barrier. Remember, US and Canadian players are taught the cliche retoric "from day 1". So they know what NOT to say to the media. And I deal with foreign people all the time... While they might say something one way, the often mean something different.

You say that Jagr tried to back check, but did he at 18? And if he did, was it beause he had someone like Lemieux inspiring him too? There arent any Lemieux's in Edmonton right now.
- youarewrong

A #1 pick shouldn't have to be "inspired" to want to skate or improve his game.

Honestly I'm just happy to be tied for 3rd in the division right now. After how they started, it's hard to complain about much right now.
- funmaster18

How long have you been on this board?

How long have you been on this board?
- jmatchett383

Long enough to know my cries for logic, reason and patience will go unheard

Carle wouldn't be faring too much better here imo. He's a relative disappointment in Tampa and was rather insulated here at times...he was a beneficiary of surrounding talent more than an impact player himself imo. He could make some basic passes like our existing guys do and make an occasional stretch pass, but hardly ever skated/carried the puck past his own blueline, so it's not like he would have been a big catalyst for the transition game. They tried to put him in that primary role in Tampa and it didn't work well...he's their highest paid D man but has been steadily losing (PP and ES) minutes to Hedman and Salo and even Gudas to some extent. I'm not saying Carle couldn't have helped out as part of the corps here, but I wouldn't want that contract for what he brings, and I highly doubt Yzerman would do that deal again if given the chance.

If you look at it strictly in terms of comparing to Streit, well they're pretty even (both have 1g 9a), with Carle getting the nod due to his more preferable age and history of durability. Having said this, I do expect more from Streit going forward.
- exlund

I'm not sure I want to get into this with you again, but you did forget to mention that Carle is better defensively than Streit.

Honestly I'm just happy to be tied for 3rd in the division right now. After how they started, it's hard to complain about much right now.
- funmaster18

coming back from 1-3, winning at the Joe, after taking a ginormous amount of penalties

I'm on cloud 9 today

enjoy!

Long enough to know my cries for logic, reason and patience will go unheard
- funmaster18

law-jik? ree-zun? What are these new crazy words?

The problem with players like Streit is that they need to produce offense or they are very below average defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

definitely agree. i just am unsure as to why he is struggling so bad with assisting in the offensive end

Long enough to know my cries for logic, reason and patience will go unheard
- funmaster18

So you're saying DON'T trade Couturier, Giroux, Hartnell, B. Schenn, L. Schenn, and all of the other busts on this team immediately?

I'm not sure I want to get into this with you again, but you did forget to mention that Carle is better defensively than Streit.
- PhillySportsGuy

carle at that contract originally was yuck, but i think its just more my view of the market than anything. he would definitely be fairing better than streit

He had a penchant for sneaking down to the tops of the circles, or going back door and getting really primo scoring chances... another thing that people forget is that he blocked a hell of a lot of shots, too... 150+ per year.
- Tomahawk

He has a good, active, defensive stick which is how he gets his blocks, but this tack, at times, comes at the expense of getting caught watching the puck/failing to take the body or not closing gaps...the more skilled/quicker players are able to exploit this and get around him or use the space to set up for a (screened) shot.

definitely agree. i just am unsure as to why he is struggling so bad with assisting in the offensive end
- stayinthefnnet

Same here. I can live with the defensive gaffes, as they were there before. But I don't get why his production in the offensive zone is so bad. In Montreal/NYI, he would blast away from the point. Now, he gets the puck on his stick and can't wait to pass.

So you're saying DON'T trade Couturier, Giroux, Hartnell, B. Schenn, L. Schenn, and all of the other busts on this team immediately?
- jmatchett383

last night aside, i would dump him ASAP if you had a buyer. the other ones though, sometimes border on hysterics

last night aside, i would dump him ASAP if you had a buyer. the other ones though, sometimes border on hysterics
- stayinthefnnet

haha, I'm sure YOU would like that.

Same here. I can live with the defensive gaffes, as they were there before. But I don't get why his production in the offensive zone is so bad. In Montreal/NYI, he would blast away from the point. Now, he gets the puck on his stick and can't wait to pass.
- jmatchett383

yeah. and ive yet to see many times where i was like wow. that breakout was started by a good outlet by streit. i figured he would at least help in the transition of zones.

Same here. I can live with the defensive gaffes, as they were there before. But I don't get why his production in the offensive zone is so bad. In Montreal/NYI, he would blast away from the point. Now, he gets the puck on his stick and can't wait to pass.
- jmatchett383

yeah. and ive yet to see many times where i was like wow. that breakout was started by a good outlet by streit. i figured he would at least help in the transition of zones.

definitely agree. i just am unsure as to why he is struggling so bad with assisting in the offensive end
- stayinthefnnet

I'm not sure either. He doesn't look comfortable. It's not like he was playing with a ton of talent on the Isles. I think he's a casualty of bad overall play from the entire team. Teams don't respect the Flyers speed or skill so they just plug the neutral zone all game. Teams will also pressure the Flyers defense as much as possible. That's something Streit was never really good at handling.

I guess I'm most disappointed with his puck handling. I was led to believe Streit was a good passer, puck handler and shooter while his defense and skating weren't up to par. I haven't seen his passing on display at all this year.

- Marc D

Who's Derek?

haha, I'm sure YOU would like that.
- jmatchett383

haha i wouldnt. i hope you guys are stuck with him for a few more years at that price. although you guy always manage to find cap room somewhere

I'm not sure I want to get into this with you again, but you did forget to mention that Carle is better defensively than Streit.
- phillysportsguy

I don't think that's a given. They're both kind of meh... Streit is more physical...Carle has a better stick...it's debatable imo but there's not a huge difference in their defensive acumen imo.

I'm not sure either. He doesn't look comfortable. It's not like he was playing with a ton of talent on the Isles. I think he's a casualty of bad overall play from the entire team. Teams don't respect the Flyers speed or skill so they just plug the neutral zone all game. Teams will also pressure the Flyers defense as much as possible. That's something Streit was never really good at handling.

I guess I'm most disappointed with his puck handling. I was led to believe Streit was a good passer, puck handler and shooter while his defense and skating weren't up to par. I haven't seen his passing on display at all this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

yeah exactly. he doesnt seem to be contributing much of anything.

He has a good, active, defensive stick which is how he gets his blocks, but this tack, at times, comes at the expense of getting caught watching the puck/failing to take the body or not cliosing gaps...the more skilled/quicker players are able to exploit this and get around him or use the space to set up for a (screened) shot.
- exlund

I'm a Carle fan and they made the right decision at the time letting him walk.

Whether they could have signed him to a Coburn like deal during his last season if they had tagging space is another argument. Once he hit free agency they made the right call.

Now about Streit, he was a bandaid choice they made, to not part with young talent in a trade. I'm happy about that. Maybe they should have gone with a cheaper, less "name" UFA player who may or may not have worked out. I'm sure lots of people wish they did at this point.

I think you have to look at both deals at the time they were made to judge them fairly.

He has a good, active, defensive stick which is how he gets his blocks, but this tack, at times, comes at the expense of getting caught watching the puck/failing to take the body or not cliosing gaps...the more skilled/quicker players are able to exploit this and get around him or use the space to set up for a (screened) shot.
- exlund

I'm not the biggest Matt Carle fan myself, but it's hard to argue that they're not getting much poorer value today with the Streit contract than if they had just caved to Carle post July 1. In the future, it's going to look even less of a contest between the two.