I would like to keep Read. He just does too much. PP, PK, Defensive and Offensive. I would much rather upgrade Voracek & Simmonds first. I would also be willing to move 1 of Schenn, Couts, or Laughton. I'm already thinking about next season and Timonen and Mez being gone, but I would also move Coburn if he has value in an upgrade.
- youarewrong

I would be willing to move any player at the right price. I don't think the team should be actively trying to trade anyone unless it's a veteran with a large salary. Guys like Hartnell, Timonen or Streit. I don't see many takers for Streit or Hartnell though.

Develop into what exactly? I love the concept, I question the motive. They aren't going to magically turn into Toews or Kane.

We ARE looking for a cup right?
- mikel33

You're right. Only players drafted in the top-5 on a draft can turn into even marginal NHL players. My bad.

I would be willing to move any player at the right price. I don't think the team should be actively trying to trade anyone unless it's a veteran with a large salary. Guys like Hartnell, Timonen or Streit. I don't see many takers for Streit or Hartnell though.
- PhillySportsGuy

Streit will be here through at least the end of next year, Hartnell at least 2 more.

You're right. Only players drafted in the top-5 on a draft can turn into even marginal NHL players. My bad.
- jmatchett383

Better get busy tanking, then. Ekblad and McDavid, here we come!

You're right. Only players drafted in the top-5 on a draft can turn into even marginal NHL players. My bad.
- jmatchett383

I think it's less about star players and more about balance. I imagine Giroux would have better numbers than toews if you traded them straight up for each other.

Streit will be here through at least the end of next year, Hartnell at least 2 more.
- jmatchett383

I imagine Streit doesn't look so bad in a trade if the Flyers pay for $1M of his salary each year.

I would like to keep Read. He just does too much. PP, PK, Defensive and Offensive. I would much rather upgrade Voracek & Simmonds first. I would also be willing to move 1 of Schenn, Couts, or Laughton. I'm already thinking about next season and Timonen and Mez being gone, but I would also move Coburn if he has value in an upgrade.
- youarewrong

Coburn, for his age, speed, size, cap hit and minutes played cannot be replaced.

You'd trade Couts before Read?

And even WITH those top players it didn't work, because they never had young players to supplement it, save for the 96/97 season when they had Niinimaa, Zubrus, and Prospal. So now that we DON'T have those players, the quick fix is to trade ALL of their youth away to obtain them, and then fill in the rest 2nd-4th lines with the Randy Robitaille's of the world and the bottom-4 of the D with the Jaroslav Modry's of the world for the next 5 years until we actually have more good players to build with. Good plan.
- jmatchett383

You build the Core first, and then build around your Core. You dont build a team and hope a Core just happens. They lost thier Core when they traded Richards and Carter. They hoped these young guys would become the next Core. But they arent. If they have to move these guys to get a new Core to build around, then so be it.

Toews and Kane aren't winning poop without the ridiculous amount of home-grown supplementary talent behind them. Hawks could have easily traded any number of their young players during their bad years for big names, but I'm sure they were grateful to have guys like Seabrook, Keith, Byfuglien, Bolland and Crawford when the chips were down. Aside from Seabrook, none of those aforementioned guys were considered can't-miss youngsters... Byfuglien, Bolland and Crawford weren't even considered NHL-worthy at one point.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, but they currently HAVE Toews, Kane and Seabrook from 2 top 5 draft picks and a top 15.

Flyers are never going to see that.. I am sure our youth could turn into the guys you mentioned. But what the hell is that going to do for us when we have no one to consistently put the puck in the net???

What do you expect our youth to turn into?

How in your opinion should the flyers acquire elite talent if they aren't going to be seeing any top 5 picks soon?

I imagine Streit doesn't look so bad in a trade if the Flyers pay for $1M of his salary each year.
- PhillySportsGuy

Especially with the cap ceiling (and floor) going up by a healthy clip next season.

I would be willing to move any player at the right price. I don't think the team should be actively trying to trade anyone unless it's a veteran with a large salary. Guys like Hartnell, Timonen or Streit. I don't see many takers for Streit or Hartnell though.
- PhillySportsGuy

Really though, in 2 years, when the cap goes up to 75 million those cap hits arent going to be that bad. They will be equal to 2-3 million dollar contracts right now in terms of value.

I would like to keep Read. He just does too much. PP, PK, Defensive and Offensive. I would much rather upgrade Voracek & Simmonds first. I would also be willing to move 1 of Schenn, Couts, or Laughton. I'm already thinking about next season and Timonen and Mez being gone, but I would also move Coburn if he has value in an upgrade.
- youarewrong

You want to "upgrade" Voracek or Simmonds and are willing to move Couturier, Schenn or Laughton, it seems, to do so....when the biggest, most pressing need the team has is on defense?

You note that Timonen & Meszaros will be gone. Well, they will have to be replaced somehow. You can "upgrade" the wingers all you want, but if you still have the same slow, poor transitional defense, you're not going to have a very good team.

Zherdev?
- wolfhounds

And he played a lot and was given a lot of ice time was he?

I think Zherdev reinforces my point.

Especially with the cap ceiling (and floor) going up by a healthy clip next season.
- wolfhounds

The only problem is that the team would be paying $6M per year for retired/traded defenseman.

You build the Core first, and then build around your Core. You dont build a team and hope a Core just happens. They lost thier Core when they traded Richards and Carter. They hoped these young guys would become the next Core. But they arent. If they have to move these guys to get a new Core to build around, then so be it.
- youarewrong

So age 22 is the age when players are determined to not be able to become core players?

You're right. Only players drafted in the top-5 on a draft can turn into even marginal NHL players. My bad.
- jmatchett383

The chances of getting above a second line player after the first 5 picks is probally a 1 in 4 chance. The Chance of getting a perrennial all-star is probally 1 in 20, and the chance of getting franchise players after the top 5 is probally 1 in 60. Just my guessing, but the odds outside of the top 5 isnt good enough to expect top line talent every year.

You're right. Only players drafted in the top-5 on a draft can turn into even marginal NHL players. My bad.
- jmatchett383

Why take what I said out of context? I said we're missing the 2 primary pieces right now of being an elite team, in a #1 goal scorer, and #1 puck moving defenseman.

It could happen 5 years from now that one of our young guys stats looking like he COULD be a #1, then a few years later, actually be it.

You really are looking 5 years ahead bro.. at the minimum, at young guys with "promising" potential.

Really though, in 2 years, when the cap goes up to 75 million those cap hits arent going to be that bad. They will be equal to 2-3 million dollar contracts right now in terms of value.
- youarewrong

I know. That's why I don't really care about cap issues. The major problem is that everyone else will be spending as well. Therefore, it will be impossible to upgrade through FA. All of the good FAs will be re-signed. You will be left with guys like Streit.

You build the Core first, and then build around your Core. You dont build a team and hope a Core just happens. They lost thier Core when they traded Richards and Carter. They hoped these young guys would become the next Core. But they arent. If they have to move these guys to get a new Core to build around, then so be it.
- youarewrong

Carter's replaceable and I'd argue we're fine without him. Richards is a different story. Still, Richards is also 28.

The only problem is that the team would be paying $6M per year for retired/traded defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

The cap hit (if bought out int he 2015 offseason) is like $2.4M for one of the years due to the savings vs. salary.

You want to "upgrade" Voracek or Simmonds and are willing to move Couturier, Schenn or Laughton, it seems, to do so....when the biggest, most pressing need the team has is on defense?

You note that Timonen & Meszaros will be gone. Well, they will have to be replaced somehow. You can "upgrade" the wingers all you want, but if you still have the same slow, poor transitional defense, you're not going to have a very good team.
- Jsaquella

I didnt mention what I wanted them upgraded too. I would definately address the defense with one of those moves.

Why take what I said out of context? I said we're missing the 2 primary pieces right now of being an elite team, in a #1 goal scorer, and #1 puck moving defenseman.

It could happen 5 years from now that one of our young guys stats looking like he COULD be a #1, then a few years later, actually be it.

You really are looking 5 years ahead bro.. at the minimum, at young guys with "promising" potential.
- mikel33

Who was the Bruins '#1 goal scorer'?

How in your opinion should the flyers acquire elite talent if they aren't going to be seeing any top 5 picks soon?
- mikel33

Maybe you didn't notice, but they're just as close to a top-5 pick as they are to the PO's right now.

I didnt mention what I wanted them upgraded too. I would definately address the defense with one of those moves.
- youarewrong

Saying you want a guy "upgraded" sounds as if you want to trade him for a better player at the same position. Unfortunately that usually requires trading that player and other assets.

Trading Simmonds for a defenseman isn't upgrading Simmonds, it's trading a forward for a defenseman

So age 22 is the age when players are determined to not be able to become core players?
- Jsaquella

I just don't see the upside that would make this group of player anything but playoff pretenders. Good enough to look like Playoff teams, but 1 and done. They lack physicality, and goal scoring.