Amorosa update:

7A, 4 PIM, +8 for the Sioux City Musketeers

That is all.
- jmatchett383

You go, girl!

Everytime I see someone wanting Yakupov here I think of these quotes from him:


“I love more playing with the puck. I don’t really like playing without the puck, skate all the time and do forecheck and hit somebody every shift — I don’t think it’s my game. I try to do it some time, but I’m not here to crush everything. I just want to play hockey.”

“I’m not going to change,” adding, “I really don’t like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift.”

- Yakupov, in Oct. 2013

Also, there's this:

"From what I see, his team game is really, really poor. He tries to do a lot of things by himself, he has absolutely no defense."

“That’s what really concerns us as scouts.” Igor Kravchuk - Russian Olympic Scout


Not sure if that's the type of player you give up so much to obtain.
- exlund

Believe it or not, there are players who's game isn't to forecheck, and hit. I remember this guy named Jaromir Jagr and another guy named Pavel Bure. I mean its not a crime to be a finesse player. If you have the pure talent to just go out there and score, then do it.

Plus you have to remember English isnt his first language. I interperate more as, "I'm a finesse player. My game isn't to go out and bang bodies, or pressure along the wall. My job is to get open in prime scoring areas, so when my team gets the puck I'm in position to score."

B Schenn may become a more consistent scorer but I don't think he will ever be as good an all around player as Couturier. I wouldn't move either Schenn just to move them but if moving them lands a quality, mobile dman under 30 then I'd most likely be ok with that deal.
- BiggE

That's fine I just dont see it happening. Every organization has their own version of B Schenn in the pipeline somewhere. The same can't be said about Couturier for example

Made me appreciate how good Gene Hart was.
- johndewar

Last night, they kepy referring to "Yakub" Voracek. He's made it known (at least in Philly) from day 1 that he prefers Jacob.

Believe it or not, there are players who's game isn't to forecheck, and hit. I remember this guy named Jaromir Jagr and another guy named Pavel Bure. I mean its not a crime to be a finesse player. If you have the pure talent to just go out there and score, then do it.

Plus you have to remember English isnt his first language. I interperate more as, "I'm a finesse player. My game isn't to go out and bang bodies, or pressure along the wall. My job is to get open in prime scoring areas, so when my team gets the puck I'm in position to score."
- youarewrong

I don't think anyone's upset that he's not going to try to be Eric Lindros out there. I think the more damning parts are bolded:

“I love more playing with the puck. I don’t really like playing without the puck, skate all the time and do forecheck and hit somebody every shift — I don’t think it’s my game. I try to do it some time, but I’m not here to crush everything. I just want to play hockey.”

“I’m not going to change,” adding, “I really don’t like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift.”

The 2 players you mentioned (Bure and Jagr) weren't Selke winners, but were adept as using their superior skills to be responsible away from the puck. The comments from Yakupov almost seem to say, "I only care about when I have a chance to score, and am not interested in playing hard when the other team has the puck."

Again, no one's expecting him to be a Lindros, or a Fedorov, or even Bure. But he comes off as being a player who is very selfish in those comments.

Last night, they kepy referring to "Yakub" Voracek. He's made it known (at least in Philly) from day 1 that he prefers Jacob.
- jmatchett383

At least Pierre didn't call him Christopher

At least Pierre didn't call him Christopher
- Jsaquella

No, "Christopher" is reserved for Kris Letang. Need to call those Quebec boys by the full names.

So, thoughts on re-signing Downie to keep the "3rd" line together for a few years? I think he's proven his worth, and that he's matured from his first stint here.
- Rocktane

I think they need to show that their chemistry won't wear off before we try to keep it together for a few years.

And maybe leight, but Malkin dead out again.

He may well be a hockey savant, but I personally cringe at all of Berube's interviews... there's no charisma or insight... not sure he's ever used a word longer than 2 syllables... I just hope that it's because he's more comfortable with lockeroom vernacular than having a mic jammed into his face and being forced to communicate like a civilian.





Stand by you 100% on everything here, except for cutting the cord on the Schenn Bros.

Next week, after Baby Schenn scores 4 points in a game, and the Elder Schenn sends Jamie Benn into the third-row on a hip check, they'll both return to untouchable status again, like our buddy Couturier.
- Tomahawk

Well I'm not down on the schenns its just I don't think like is gonna develop into anything better than Grossman at this point and I think Brayden is gonna be at best a 20-25 goal a year guy... At best. Nothing to scoff at but this team
Doesn't need that right now they need a dman that can move the puck with speed and get the puck on net from the point with some kind of consistency.

That's exactly what I see happening.
- jmatchett383

If BSchenn scores 50 points he's going to demand $2.5m a year, and he'll get it.

Well I'm not down on the schenns its just I don't think like is gonna develop into anything better than Grossman at this point and I think Brayden is gonna be at best a 20-25 goal a year guy... At best. Nothing to scoff at but this team
Doesn't need that right now they need a dman that can move the puck with speed and get the puck on net from the point with some kind of consistency.
- JoeRussomanno

So...Matt Carle with a better wrister?

If BSchenn scores 50 points he's going to demand $2.5m a year, and he'll get it.
- Feanor

If 70 points is worth $2.9M per year, as you stated, then 50 points is worth $2.1M.

Joe R- great post!

That said about the front office, which I agree with for the most part, I want to see them resign Downie to a responsible contract.
I love how he fits in with the team and his line mates.
But I want to see him paid for what he is, and not get a NTC that they give out way too much IMO.
- Marc D

Thanks mark. Yea no nmc for his deal plz

Thanks mark. Yea no nmc for his deal plz
- JoeRussomanno

You think that players require NMCs/NTCs from the Flyers more so than from other teams based on their track record? JvR, Richards, and Carter were all traded right before their NMCs kicked in. If a player buys a house in the area, he doesn't wanna risk having to sell it a year later.

So...Matt Carle with a better wrister?
- jmatchett383

I was always opposed to them letting him walk... Was never part of the Carle bash crew. It used to amazed how people swore up and down carle was turning the puck over multie times a game and he always averaged less than a turnover a game. I just think his mistakes came at Bad times. For the most part he's a player they could really use right now yea even tho his shot is lacking.

Per TSN's Ian Mendes:

I can tell you with a great deal of authority that the Senators were pursuing a trade with the Flyers near the deadline that would have seen Ben Bishop traded to Philadelphia for Sean Couturier. That was the Senators first option and it looked like it may happen right up until 12 noon on deadline day.

The Flyers had even claimed centre Adam Hall off waivers right around the deadline, making the Sens believe they were ready to part with Couturier under the right circumstances.

But once the Flyers got cold feet, Murray had to look at his other options and he circled back to the Lightning.

Holmgren made the right moves that deadline. Kept Couturier and Got Mason for relatively nothing

You think that players require NMCs/NTCs from the Flyers more so than from other teams based on their track record? JvR, Richards, and Carter were all traded right before their NMCs kicked in. If a player buys a house in the area, he doesn't wanna risk having to sell it a year later.
- jmatchett383

Either way I'd rather they be more hesitant to give out such generosity.

I was always opposed to them letting him walk... Was never part of the Carle bash crew. It used to amazed how people swore up and down carle was turning the puck over multie times a game and he always averaged less than a turnover a game. I just think his mistakes came at Bad times. For the most part he's a player they could really use right now yea even tho his shot is lacking.
- JoeRussomanno

Don't worry. Streit will make up for losing Matt Carle….

Per TSN's Ian Mendes:


Holmgren made the right moves that deadline. Kept Couturier and Got Mason for relatively nothing
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

Ian mendes doesn't impress me as an analyst.

Per TSN's Ian Mendes:


Holmgren made the right moves that deadline. Kept Couturier and Got Mason for relatively nothing
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

I have a feeling they asked the Flyers for Couturier and the Flyers said no. I don't believe there was much of a debate.

Either way I'd rather they be more hesitant to give out such generosity.
- JoeRussomanno

Well then they might not get the player they want. If I'm a UFA and I'm getting equal offers from 2 teams, I'd probably go with the team with the better record of holding onto its players. That's the bonus of the NMC, and I can't really say I blame players for wanting one with the Flyers.

Don't worry. Streit will make up for losing Matt Carle….
- PhillySportsGuy

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

Well then they might not get the player they want. If I'm a UFA and I'm getting equal offers from 2 teams, I'd probably go with the team with the better record of holding onto its players. That's the bonus of the NMC, and I can't really say I blame players for wanting one with the Flyers.
- jmatchett383

Well they don't seem to want the right players most of the time these days. I find it interesting that these players keep getting nmc/ntc's and within 2 years become huge targets for trade talk or end up disappointing.

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

I agree. At the time, I was more than fine to see them move on from Carle at that price. I wanted him back, but not for that price tag. In hindsight, they should have just bit the bullet.