I guess that's why they shelled out big bucks for both Timonen and Streit, signed Gustafsson and drated Ghostisbehere?
- BiggE

So, they like small fast players now?
Don't count Streit into that, who else was out on the market? No one, that's why he's here.

Lets not get carried away. Mez is riding a hot streak, but he was a 7th defenseman most of this season. I don't see him sustaining this long term.
- PhillySportsGuy

Amazing how no one allowed mez to get back into his groove after his injuries but no one has given up on Gus.

Mezzy is a top 4 on this team when given the chance to play. This crap where we play him one game and expect him to be up to speed after all he went through is absurd.

I never said sign him now, but if he continues to play like his Ottawa days, and leaves ok, & kimmo retires, then what? They need to have a damn plan, oh I forgot they never do, they thought they were getting Suter 2 years ago, & no plan B.
I have not been a big Meszaros fan either, but, he's not playing like this by accident, so it's just something to think about as the season progresses
- puckhead17

Mez is on a hot streak. He won't continue to average a point per game. Why would you assume he can revert back to his Ottawa days after 6-7 years of being a 3rd pairing guy and numerous injuries?

I do agree, I wanted J-Bo too! Your player evaluations can't be argued, just not sure what they can do for the next few years until one of the younger guys become seasoned. Trades will strip a huge portion of the depth up front, but the better Braden Schenn plays, the more I see Laughton as a possible odd man out.
As the center position, again is stocked, one say Schenn belongs on wing, but he's playing much better in the middle & he's now one of our top 4 scoring forwards.
- puckhead17

B Schenn needs to and should play center. If someone has to go in a deal for a dman it most likely will be Laughton. He's not going to land them a top pair impact guy, but hopefully he can be part of deal to land them a legit top 4 guy who skates well and can work on the pp.

Regarding Vinnie, I would think he's asked for a list of teams he'd be willing to go after this season and he is either traded for a pick, prospects or perhaps as part of deal to land a top 6 winger.

So, they like small fast players now?
Don't count Streit into that, who else was out on the market? No one, that's why he's here.
- puckhead17

Hainsey was still out there. And for much less.

Amazing how no one allowed mez to get back into his groove after his injuries but no one has given up on Gus.

Mezzy is a top 4 on this team when given the chance to play. This crap where we play him one game and expect him to be up to speed after all he went through is absurd.
- Flyersgod

When he's scoring, he's top 4. What happens when he stops playing at a point per game clip? Is he still top 4?

So, they like small fast players now?
Don't count Streit into that, who else was out on the market? No one, that's why he's here.
- puckhead17

I'm not saying they like or dislike anyone, I just don't think you can generalize. I would agree with your assessment when Clarke was the GM, but I think Holmgren is more open minded. I really doubt Clarke would have ever signed Briere or Timonen.

Vinny was brought here with the notion of p,saying some wing, they made this signing because B Schenn wasn't running with the 2nd line center spot right away, so now what? Ruin schenns play because of Vinny needing to play center?
Homer needed to worry about kimmo's retirement more so then another damn center. And no Not Streit either.
- puckhead17

I was more referring to VL being the odd man out. Schenn should be given a spot to grow in, we agree about that. But I see VL being the odd man out rather than Laughton as was mentioned above.

When he's scoring, he's top 4. What happens when he stops playing at a point per game clip? Is he still top 4?
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd rather him than schenn, Gus, Grossman, or Streit.

B Schenn needs to and should play center. If someone has to go in a deal for a dman it most likely will be Laughton. He's not going to land them a top pair impact guy, but hopefully he can be part of deal to land them a legit top 4 guy who skates well and can work on the pp.

Regarding Vinnie, I would think he's asked for a list of teams he'd be willing to go after this season and he is either traded for a pick, prospects or perhaps as part of deal to land a top 6 winger.
- BiggE

I really like Laughton. I'm not opposed to trading him, but I don't think the Flyers will get as much for him now as they would after a couple of years in the NHL. In other words, I think they'd be selling short on him.

I'd rather him than schenn, Gus, Grossman, or Streit.
- Flyersgod

I think they signed him because they felt he was too good to pass up. I was never a huge fan of Vinny. I always thought St Louis was the really special player on Tampa.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree on St Louis, and no, I always liked Vinny, but not for 4 years with 16 seasons on his body, after you already traded 2 cornerstone centers for 2 young centers to take the place of (one drafted), & then they just got impatient waiting on them?
It doesn't make sense, remember when Briere was on wing & wanted to play center, but we had a logjam, Richards Carter Giroux Briere etc, same thing happening again with Vinny here, and we still need another 2 defensemen

Re the Flyers D for next year:

One thing to remember, the Flyers have done very well at drafting forwards, especially centers. If a center has to go to land a good dman, I'm ok with it. I have much more confidence in the club's ability to quickly draft and develop another good centerman than I do when it comes to their development of defensemen.

Mez is on a hot streak. He won't continue to average a point per game. Why would you assume he can revert back to his Ottawa days after 6-7 years of being a 3rd pairing guy and numerous injuries?
- PhillySportsGuy

In 2010-11 he played just like he did in Ottawa.

He's been a third pairing guy only because of the injuries.

I was more referring to VL being the odd man out. Schenn should be given a spot to grow in, we agree about that. But I see VL being the odd man out rather than Laughton as was mentioned above.
- Bearintheforest

I only mention Laughton as odd man out because we need defense, if we cn flip him for a young player like him only one who plays defense, then it's like we drafted more so what we needed, somewhat.

I agree on St Louis, and no, I always liked Vinny, but not for 4 years with 16 seasons on his body, after you already traded 2 cornerstone centers for 2 young centers to take the place of (one drafted), & then they just got impatient waiting on them?
It doesn't make sense, remember when Briere was on wing & wanted to play center, but we had a logjam, Richards Carter Giroux Briere etc, same thing happening again with Vinny here, and we still need another 2 defensemen
- puckhead17

I know. I wasn't in favor of signing Streit or Vinny.

I really like Laughton. I'm not opposed to trading him, but I don't think the Flyers will get as much for him now as they would after a couple of years in the NHL. In other words, I think they'd be selling short on him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Most likely, but options are really limited if they want to rebuild their D quickly. Of course the other option is to just give it time and build from within. My fear is that Ed Snider will never go for that option.

In 2010-11 he played just like he did in Ottawa.

He's been a third pairing guy only because of the injuries.
- Flyersgod

Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Coburn
Mez-O'Donnell

That was Mez best season with the Flyers. He was a 4th/5th defenseman.

In 2010-11 he played just like he did in Ottawa.

He's been a third pairing guy only because of the injuries.
- Flyersgod

And confidence, he was afraid to make a mistake & land in the press box again, but I would keep him over Streit, Streit will be a year older & he's a weak one dimensional player over 35.

- PhillySportsGuy

So Schenn with 92 career points and a career -25 over Mezzy who has pretty consistent when healthy, outside of Tampa, for his career?

Schenn 92 points -25
Mezzy 214 points +36


Obviously they don't have the same style of play. But when 100% healthy, Mezzy is the better Dman.

I only mention Laughton as odd man out because we need defense, if we cn flip him for a young player like him only one who plays defense, then it's like we drafted more so what we needed, somewhat.
- puckhead17

Ah okay.

What players of that caliber are out there? One team with an abundance of young D would be PIT. Don't know how likely they are as a trading partner though.

Ah okay.

What players of that caliber are out there? One team with an abundance of young D would be PIT. Don't know how likely they are as a trading partner though.
- Bearintheforest

Coyotes

Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Coburn
Mez-O'Donnell

That was Mez best season with the Flyers. He was a 4th/5th defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

Pronger played 50 games.

Mezzy also lead the defense in powerplay goals.

Most likely, but options are really limited if they want to rebuild their D quickly. Of course the other option is to just give it time and build from within. My fear is that Ed Snider will never go for that option.
- BiggE

Well then Homer needs to stand up and say something. When the Flyers drafted Morin, it was assumed the blue line was going to be built from the ground up. We all knew this would take years.

And confidence, he was afraid to make a mistake & land in the press box again, but I would keep him over Streit, Streit will be a year older & he's a weak one dimensional player over 35.
- puckhead17

I've loved Mezzy since we got him. It's ashame how the team handled his injuries. Nothing abnormal for this staff though.