Agreed.

The Flyers D is like beer without hops: it's carbonated, the color is a clear golden, and the alcohol is still there, but a key ingredient is missing, and that ingredient impacts both taste and smell.

The Flyers have a solid defensive core to build around, but they definitely need to swap a couple players in and out.
- wolfhounds

I would characterize the D as far less than solid.

Timo is cooked, Coburn is fine but a bit inconsistent. The rest are average 5-6 defensemen at best.

Agreed.

The Flyers D is like beer without hops: it's carbonated, the color is a clear golden, and the alcohol is still there, but a key ingredient is missing, and that ingredient impacts both taste and smell.

The Flyers have a solid defensive core to build around, but they definitely need to swap a couple players in and out.
- wolfhounds

i disagree. they lack a 1 AND a 2 dman which is the kind of players i think the team should build a core around. the guys the flyers have currently are a dime a dozen 4-7 guys, maybe a 3 in coby's case.

STOP CRYING OVER ONE OR TWO PLAYERS! YOU DUMMIES WE FINALLY ARE WINNING GAMES! THIS IS GREAT!
- Flyers-All-Day

I know we have can have the hopeful optimism and all.

To me though, the Schenn brothers are a joke. Don't know how much value is there in terms of trades.

Ek reporting now the Blues are VERY interested in hartnell.

Hartnell has been looking better. But I have looked up and down that blues roster damned if I can see a fit.

I would characterize the D as far less than solid.

Timo is cooked, Coburn is fine but a bit inconsistent. The rest are average 5-6 defensemen at best.
- 77rams

i disagree. they lack a 1 AND a 2 dman which is the kind of players i think the team should build a core around. the guys the flyers have currently are a dime a dozen 4-7 guys, maybe a 3 in coby's case.
- moylander

I more thinking about next season w/out Timonen and Mesz.

Coburn is a solid 2/3, Grossmann and Schenn are both solid 4/5 guys, and Streit is a 6/7 as far as I'm concerned.

I agree we're lacking 2 d-men, a #1 and another 2-4 guy. I think with the right personnel and pairings, Grossmann and Schenn will be more than able to get the job done.

Plus I just really wanted to work beer into the conversation.

Ek reporting now the Blues are VERY interested in hartnell.

Hartnell has been looking better. But I have looked up and down that blues roster damned if I can see a fit.
- Just5

There isn't. I don't think Hartnell gets you anything close to Shattenkirk.

I could see the Blues being willing to give up Paajarvi or Tarasenko but I want nothing to do with either player.

Ek reporting now the Blues are VERY interested in hartnell.

Hartnell has been looking better. But I have looked up and down that blues roster damned if I can see a fit.
- Just5

I'd go as far as eating part of the salary to make that happen. The return really doesn't even matter.

I more thinking about next season w/out Timonen and Mesz.

Coburn is a solid 2/3, Grossmann and Schenn are both solid 4/5 guys, and Streit is a 6/7 as far as I'm concerned.

I agree we're lacking 2 d-men, a #1 and another 2-4 guy. I think with the right personnel and pairings, Grossmann and Schenn will be more than able to get the job done.

Plus I just really wanted to work beer into the conversation.
- wolfhounds

Personally, I don't consider Luke Schenn anything close to solid, for even a lower pairing d-man. Its Ryan Parent all over again. A guy who I actually thought would develop at the time.

I have no doubts in my mind that if you called up Lauridsen, that he would outplay Schenn right now.

I think the Flyers are using Streit the wrong way.

I'd rather see them dress seven defenseman and give Streit protected minutes on 5 v 5 and a big PP role.

Especially if the 12th forward is getting 5 minutes or less of ice time.
I'd go seven D and limit Streit's play to offense as much as possible.

Personally, I don't consider Luke Schenn anything close to solid, for even a lower pairing d-man. Its Ryan Parent all over again. A guy who I actually thought would develop at the time.

I have no doubts in my mind that if you called up Lauridsen, that he would outplay Schenn right now.
- flyer_nutter

I think Ollie would be a stretch to play regular season minutes in a full time role.
He is prone to taking penalties and will have as many young D mistakes as Luke if not more.

It was a bad move, especially if the ice was much faster than they were used to. And it looked like he got hooked a bit. But dancing across the blue line with the puck is typically a bad idea.
- wolfhounds

Hooked a bit? I couldn't believe they let that go as it led to a breakaway - a bullpoop non-call

Ek reporting now the Blues are VERY interested in hartnell.

Hartnell has been looking better. But I have looked up and down that blues roster damned if I can see a fit.
- Just5

The Blues are up close to/against the cap, so salary is a big consideration. And since I doubt we trade Hartnell for a forward, who would that leave?

I think the Flyers are using Streit the wrong way.

I'd rather see them dress seven defenseman and give Streit protected minutes on 5 v 5 and a big PP role.

Especially if the 12th forward is getting 5 minutes or less of ice time.
I'd go seven D and limit Streit's play to offense as much as possible.
- Marc D

Its a 5.25 million cap hit for Streit. To me, they need to admit the mistake, and buy him out in the off-season.

You may already have an anchor in Hartnell, and LeCavalier if injuries re-surface. Add Streit to that mix and its (frank)ing 14.5 million toward the cap.

Even if that goes up its horrific. Need to shed Streit...

There isn't. I don't think Hartnell gets you anything close to Shattenkirk.

I could see the Blues being willing to give up Paajarvi or Tarasenko but I want nothing to do with either player.
- flyer_nutter

No way they give up Tarasenko. And I'd take him in a hear beat if they would

Hooked a bit? I couldn't believe they let that go as it led to a breakaway - a bullpoop non-call
- wilsonecho91

I thought so as well. It's one thing to let a hook go in a scrum along the walls, it's another thing entirely to let a hook go that leads to a breakaway.

No way they give up Tarasenko. And I'd take him in a hear beat if they would
- wilsonecho91

I wouldn't.

I see Zherdev/Radulov 2.0 there. Just me.

So we're going to shred Schenn for his dumb play that led to a non goal breakaway and praise Grossmann for his grit and toughness despite his moronic "shot block" that gave the Oilers a 3-2 lead late in the third?

I'd be happy to get rid of both
- Jsaquella

Thats happened to kimmo a thousand times....I have no problem with it

Its a 5.25 million cap hit for Streit. To me, they need to admit the mistake, and buy him out in the off-season.

You may already have an anchor in Hartnell, and LeCavalier if injuries re-surface. Add Streit to that mix and its (frank)ing 14.5 million toward the cap.

Even if that goes up its horrific. Need to shed Streit...
- flyer_nutter

Agreed on Streit, see-ya, bad move

I'm not sold on Vinny either, not as bad a move as Streit, but not enough discretion on he signing, just having $ and wanting to spend it.

If the Blues want Hartnell I would explore all options in getting Stattenkirk, a pick or something, we need to replace Streit with someone of his ilk, & then build from there

Ek reporting now the Blues are VERY interested in hartnell.

Hartnell has been looking better. But I have looked up and down that blues roster damned if I can see a fit.
- Just5

If they have a true interest they see a fit, even if many others don't.

Its a 5.25 million cap hit for Streit. To me, they need to admit the mistake, and buy him out in the off-season.

You may already have an anchor in Hartnell, and LeCavalier if injuries re-surface. Add Streit to that mix and its (frank)ing 14.5 million toward the cap.

Even if that goes up its horrific. Need to shed Streit...
- flyer_nutter

well that could happen, but as long as he is here I wouldn't mind the coach going 7 D and using him in an offensive role

Bryz played well, but that stick tossing crap really epitomizes the guy. I like him, still, but man am I glad they used the CBO on him.

He's a really bad fit in Edmonton if he's going to be doing that sort of nonsense. Young team, last thing they need is a veteran acting like a jackass.
- Jsaquella

What they need is a vet that will kick their asses.

Agreed on Streit, see-ya, bad move

I'm not sold on Vinny either, not as bad a move as Streit, but not enough discretion on he signing, just having $ and wanting to spend it.

If the Blues want Hartnell I would explore all options in getting Stattenkirk, a pick or something, we need to replace Streit with someone of his ilk, & then build from there
- puckhead17

Shattie for Hartnell?
thanks for the laugh you cheered me right up

Really good summation of the game...and the goalies.

Mason really has settled into a "I won't loose this game for us" mode at the moment. He is not 100% where he was positionally earlier in the season...but he seems to have gotten his mental game back to where it was. Even in Columbus when he struggled he was often the reason the team had a chance to be in games that they ultimately lost. As long as the team in front of him doesn't loose faith in him/stop skating he will keep them in the contest.

I was really taken by how fast the ice is in Edmonton and how surprised the announcers all seemed .... doesn't anyone else remember the old ice in Edmonton in the 80's? It was the fastest rink in the league. Best surface, best resurface after a period. If the league ever wanted to take a serious lesson from one building on how to do things it would be Edmonton's example on how to lay and maintain the ice surface. I am sure that at least some of this has to do with building use, but I am willing to bet that it also has to do with keeping the building temperature lower than other arenas to maintain the ice.
- wbon22

Got lucky because it was cold out. When the temps get warmer Edmonton ice turns to crap nowdays. The equipment is older than Methusalah.

What they need is a vet that will kick their asses.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

we could send you Pronger