Nah, Chychrun did have a ton of heart and worked his ass off. But he was a definite scape goat.
- Jsaquella

By no means whatsoever.

By no means whatsoever.
- 77rams

No, by scapegoat, I mean fans blamed him for a lot of stuff that wasn't his fault...like Carter, JvR & Carle

The Flyers will be salivating over Chychrun's kid in a few years. He's got size, a mean streak, and is talented. Real talented. And will only get bigger and stronger.

And he will play defense.

Joke all you want about his dad, anyone who remembers knows Jeff took on all the heavyweights in his era and fared pretty damn well. He was one of the only Flyers during the lean years who showed up every game and player hard, and stood up for his team every night. I'd take a player like that today in a heartbeat.
- 77rams

agreed Chycrun was a warrior!

No, by scapegoat, I mean fans blamed him for a lot of stuff that wasn't his fault...like Carter, JvR & Carle
- Jsaquella

Gotcha.

Jeff may not have won them all but he never backed down or picked his spots. His list of dance partners was impressive.

that is absolutely appalling
- stayinthefnnet

more from the appalling dept:

my wife is in columbus for work this week. she paid $4 for a ticket to tonight's game vs. the devils. 4.

more from the appalling dept:

my wife is in columbus for work this week. she paid $4 for a ticket to tonight's game vs. the devils. 4.
- hammarby31

And the league is expanding.

more from the appalling dept:

my wife is in columbus for work this week. she paid $4 for a ticket to tonight's game vs. the devils. 4.
- hammarby31

my god. that is ridiculous. i think its a steal when i can shoot down to the rock and catch a devils came when the pens are in town for like 60 bucks on the glass.

a soda at the game will literally cost you more than the seat. that is a shame, as the blue jackets are a hard working team that busts their ass.

my god. that is ridiculous. i think its a steal when i can shoot down to the rock and catch a devils came when the pens are in town for like 60 bucks on the glass.

a soda at the game will literally cost you more than the seat. that is a shame, as the blue jackets are a hard working team that busts their ass.
- stayinthefnnet

a single pretzel at the wachovia center costs more than $4.

a single pretzel at the wachovia center costs more than $4.
- hammarby31

yup. i get it that everything i relative, but my god.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: One of Those Glass Half-Full, Half-Empty Nights
- bmeltzer

My opinion of the Flyers is this...

I'm not ready to trade anyone yet and unless Holmgren is offers a deal that flat out makes us better, I'm in favour of rolling with what we have heading into next season. My issue is, what does this team look like without Kimono Timonen next season? Does a guy like Dion Phaneuf make us better? Is a guy like Phaneuf or any other guy better then Kimmo?

Gun to my head though, if I had to choose which player I wanted to be trade, Mark Streit without a doubt.

This NHL Rivals is really tough to watch. Seeing Pronger seems like a lifetime ago
- KINGKENZO

I had to turn it, wounds still aren't completely healed.

My opinion of the Flyers is this...

I'm not ready to trade anyone yet and unless Holmgren is offers a deal that flat out makes us better, I'm in favour of rolling with what we have heading into next season. My issue is, what does this team look like without Kimono Timonen next season? Does a guy like Dion Phaneuf make us better? Is a guy like Phaneuf or any other guy better then Kimmo?

Gun to my head though, if I had to choose which player I wanted to be trade, Mark Streit without a doubt.
- Schenn2shine

No Phaneuf please, unless we can lose Streit in the bargain. I'd rather test the waters with Lauridsen, Alt, see if Morin sticks, and inquire about reasonable free agents, not ones that are looking to be paid near the top of the scale. And I don't doubt we move Kimmo at the deadline, and maybe Mesz. We won't get much, but every pick counts.

No Phaneuf please, unless we can lose Streit in the bargain. I'd rather test the waters with Lauridsen, Alt, see if Morin sticks, and inquire about reasonable free agents, not ones that are looking to be paid near the top of the scale. And I don't doubt we move Kimmo at the deadline, and maybe Mesz. We won't get much, but every pick counts.
- wolfhounds

We shouldn't be thinking about moving Timonen at all, at least not while we are in the hunt for the playoffs. I'm also not thinking about Lauridsen or Morin, neither replace what Timonen brings to the table.

We shouldn't be thinking about moving Timonen at all, at least not while we are in the hunt for the playoffs. I'm also not thinking about Lauridsen or Morin, neither replace what Timonen brings to the table.
- Schenn2shine

eventually you guys are going to have to replace him. i know hes getting older, but he still brings a lot, especially attributes that your other defenders really dont have

We shouldn't be thinking about moving Timonen at all, at least not while we are in the hunt for the playoffs. I'm also not thinking about Lauridsen or Morin, neither replace what Timonen brings to the table.
- Schenn2shine

Unless something drastically changes with this team, going deep in the playoffs - which is obviously the goal - is very unlikely. But you're right, the closest player we have to Timonen is Gus, and for some reason he's been benched even though this is the year he should be in there learning, prepping for the season we actually have a legit chance at the cup.

Even if we're positioned for a potential playoff berth come the TDL, if a GM dangles some good picks and/or prospects for Timonen - and this will only come from a team who feels like they've got the goods to go deep - I would absolutely pull the trigger, because it both helps the Flyers and rewards Kimmo by giving him one last legit chance at the Holy Grail.

Again, all that is predicated on the fact that something hasn't really (drastically) changed with this team prior to then.

Unless something drastically changes with this team, going deep in the playoffs - which is obviously the goal - is very unlikely. But you're right, the closest player we have to Timonen is Gus, and for some reason he's been benched even though this is the year he should be in there learning, prepping for the season we actually have a legit chance at the cup.

Even if we're positioned for a potential playoff berth come the TDL, if a GM dangles some good picks and/or prospects for Timonen - and this will only come from a team who feels like they've got the goods to go deep - I would absolutely pull the trigger, because it both helps the Flyers and rewards Kimmo by giving him one last legit chance at the Holy Grail.

Again, all that is predicated on the fact that something hasn't really (drastically) changed with this team prior to then.
- wolfhounds

yeah, i would have Gusty in there playing as many minutes as he can, particularly on the powerplay. either that or have him in the ahl being the main defender there, but still. id rather have him playing minutes. just glued to the bench isnt going to help his development. and if this guy is the most likely heir you have, you need to see what he really has and hopefully develop him properly. although hey, you can always take the pens route with Despres.

Unless something drastically changes with this team, going deep in the playoffs - which is obviously the goal - is very unlikely. But you're right, the closest player we have to Timonen is Gus, and for some reason he's been benched even though this is the year he should be in there learning, prepping for the season we actually have a legit chance at the cup.

Even if we're positioned for a potential playoff berth come the TDL, if a GM dangles some good picks and/or prospects for Timonen - and this will only come from a team who feels like they've got the goods to go deep - I would absolutely pull the trigger, because it both helps the Flyers and rewards Kimmo by giving him one last legit chance at the Holy Grail.

Again, all that is predicated on the fact that something hasn't really (drastically) changed with this team prior to then.
- wolfhounds

The ball would be in Timonen's court on whether or not he wants to be moved and where.

yeah, i would have Gusty in there playing as many minutes as he can, particularly on the powerplay. either that or have him in the ahl being the main defender there, but still. id rather have him playing minutes. just glued to the bench isnt going to help his development. and if this guy is the most likely heir you have, you need to see what he really has and hopefully develop him properly. although hey, you can always take the pens route with Despres.
- stayinthefnnet

He's what we've got right now, and the Flyers know Kimmo and Mesz are almost certainly both gone at the end of this season, so why not see how Gus develops? The window for him is shrinking, and it's not like the Flyers are fielding a world-class D right now, at least as far as quickness, passing and mobility are concerned, so there's no reason not to test Gus by fire and see how he fares at the end.

The ball would be in Timonen's court on whether or not he wants to be moved and where.
- Schenn2shine

As it should be, the man is a warrior who has paid his dues. I want nothing but the best for him.

Love Timo. If he wants another shot at the playoffs before he retires then get what you can. same with any player not expected back. A year late, but move on.

He's what we've got right now, and the Flyers know Kimmo and Mesz are almost certainly both gone at the end of this season, so why not see how Gus develops? The window for him is shrinking, and it's not like the Flyers are fielding a world-class D right now, at least as far as quickness, passing and mobility are concerned, so there's no reason not to test Gus by fire and see how he fares at the end.
- wolfhounds

i totally agree man. players get better by playing. and just from a practicality standpoint, eventually you need to give him a prolonged look to see exactly what you have in him. its much easier to properly evaluate when you give a player a good sample size of time and responsibility. hes been bouncing around enough now where i would think he is ready to either sink or swim. it isnt like he is 18. see what you have in him.

As it should be, the man is a warrior who has paid his dues. I want nothing but the best for him.
- wolfhounds

A team that's playoff bound willing to trade for Timonen shouldn't be willing to give up the farm to get him. Timonen is a great defenseman but isn't as sexy a name as Chris Pronger for example. Timonen is also up in age and streaky. I could be wrong but I don't think he's as appreciated around the league as he is with the Flyers. If traded, Timonen would be strictly a rental to any team who understands that he's done once the season is through.

i totally agree man. players get better by playing. and just from a practicality standpoint, eventually you need to give him a prolonged look to see exactly what you have in him. its much easier to properly evaluate when you give a player a good sample size of time and responsibility. hes been bouncing around enough now where i would think he is ready to either sink or swim. it isnt like he is 18. see what you have in him.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly. That's what they're there to do. And if Gus is so worried about getting sent down for any little mistake - as he probably rightly is - bringing him up for a game or two at a stretch isn't going to accomplish anything because all he's going to be worried about is messing up and getting sent back down as opposed to locking in and playing the game of hockey.

I think as we get older, and as we get wrapped up in the game as fans instead of players, and when players start answering to coaches, wives, and financial planners, we all forget these things called sports are pure human endeavors, activities that take us into the zone, take us back to when life was brutal and the every day threat of death was real; we forget these games that pit person versus person or team versus team are the very foundation of human existence, and they provide us with a glimpse for a few hours at life in the raw, at competition, the lucky defeating the unlucky, the strong beating the weak, and we sink back into the primal, live the aggression of hits and skill and speed, and cheer like savages, like fools.

A team that's playoff bound willing to trade for Timonen shouldn't be willing to give up the farm to get him. Timonen is a great defenseman but isn't as sexy a name as Chris Pronger for example. Timonen is also up in age and streaky. I could be wrong but I don't think he's as appreciated around the league as he is with the Flyers. If traded, Timonen would be strictly a rental to any team who understands that he's done once the season is through.
- Schenn2shine

Fans might not appreciate him, but I don't doubt GMs have a pretty good handle on Timonen's worth. But you're right, nobody is going to give up all that much for him. Still, you have to consider getting potential assets for an asset you know you're losing a smart deal, and I don't doubt some GM would be willing to give up a 2nd or a 3rd for a guaranteed performer for what they hope is a long playoff run. And you're also doing right by a player who always shows up to work, who never takes a day off.

I mentioned it last night, but Butsy said that the mix is just bad. There's individual talent on the roster, but it just doesn't fit well together.

It has the talent, overall, to be better, but it's a bad mix of pieces.
- Jsaquella

I kind of agree with that. That line of thinking puts more ownership on the coaches to mix up and combine the players that they have available to maximize the results.