I feel that money could be better spent in other areas. The team has enough offense. It would be another luxury signing like the Lecavalier signing.
- PhillySportsGuy

Where would the money be better spent? IMO the only defenseman worth overpaying for... which your going to have to do... is Markov... If he makes it. I let Hall, Gus, Downie, and Timonen walk. If Meszaros will take a 1 year deal for 2 million... I'll give him another shot...

talk about booing Santa
- vejim

Where would the money be better spent? IMO the only defenseman worth overpaying for... which your going to have to do... is Markov... If he makes it. I let Hall, Gus, Downie, and Timonen walk. If Meszaros will take a 1 year deal for 2 million... I'll give him another shot...
- youarewrong

I would overpay Girardi. I would try and move money around to sign him. He's a good two-way player.

Signing Markov would give the team a similar player to Streit. He's a bit better than Streit defensively, but he's at his best on the PP.

That is true, but look at how quickly Columbus turned from a bottom dwelling team, to a decent team. It just took a few tweaks. All the Flyers need are a few tweaks. Make the defense a bit more moble with passing skills... Get a top line sniper to play with your all-star playmaker, and get a 4th line that can play either strong defense, or physically pounding (not goons more like Otts).

I can see 1-2 trades taking care of this... Whether its Gardiner, Buff, or someone else... or getting Markov in the off-season... some of it can be handled in UFA.

We will likely have about 14 million in cap space... use it.
- youarewrong

That sounds nice, except that Columbus has still never won a single PO game in their history, and I wouldn't call trading away the face of the franchise a tweak.

No, you were very clear before. Since this team has no legit shot as a contender, the only responsible thing to do is to throw the season and draft as high as possible.
- jmatchett383

i never said that then and i didn't say it now.

i never said that then and i didn't say it now.
- hogweed

But if they had thrown the last 4 games , then they could have drafted one spot after where Seth Jones was drafted, and for some reason, that's the responsible thing to do.

But if they had thrown the last 4 games , then they could have drafted one spot after where Seth Jones was drafted, and for some reason, that's the responsible thing to do.
- jmatchett383

And gotten Sean Monahan! We should have sat Giroux with Flu-like symptoms. We all know flu-like symptoms is code for hung over anyway.

And gotten Sean Monahan! We should have sat Giroux with Flu-like symptoms. We all know flu-like symptoms is code for hung over anyway.
- PhillySportsGuy

And told players like Schenn and Couturier that's it's fine to intentionally lose. And not played Mason to find out if he's any good or not, because he might have tried to stop a puck, that ass.

And told players like Schenn and Couturier that's it's fine to intentionally lose. And not played Mason to find out if he's any good or not, because he might have tried to stop a puck, that ass.
- jmatchett383

whatever they're being told now doesn't seem to be working too well. you should really try something other than sarcasm once in a while, just for a change of pace.

They play a very defensive system. I think they've allowed the fewest goals this year. It's sad to see art Ross Akeson not getting the freedom to dominate
- PhillySportsGuy

He's doing just fine (offensevily), 39 GP 13 G 21 A 34PTS in murray's defensively style.

I am watching hockey central at noon on sportsnet.....they are seriously questioning why Berube started Emery instead of Mason last night vs Columbus..I think they underestimate Emery and I thought he played solid last night.

Also, they said that if Stamkos isn't able to play in Sochi, they are hearing that Claude is the first alternate to be added to the team even though they believe that St Louis should go instead of Giroux.

From earlier today on Bill's last thread.

Ed Snider is so friggin determined to win a cup at all costs that he's lost sight of how their cup teams were built. The 73-76 club wasn't built overnight.

Dornhoefer, Joe Watson, and Ed Van Impe came in the original expansion draft. Jim Watson, Bladon, Taylor, Clarke, Barber, Schultz, Kindrachuk, Saleski and Kelly were all drafted between 1969 and 1972. Lonsberry, Flett, Leach, Dupont, Parent, Crisp and Harris came in trades over 3 or 4 years and Ashbee and Nolet were added as free agents.

Instead of trying to restructure the team overnight, the Flyers decided back in 1969 after being swept and pummeled by the Blues that they were going to build a big, tough, team built around Bobby Clarke and a strong work ethic. 5 years later they won the Stanley Cup.

Sadly, Ed Snider seems to have forgotten all this and apparently no one else in the organization has the stones to tell the emporer that he's wearing no clothes.
They can go from coach to coach, they can even replace Holmgren with Hextall, but as long as Snider sits at the top its very doubtful that a long careful building of a championship caliber team is ever going to happen.



- BiggE

If he wasn't on board with rebuilding with youth, he wouldn't have approved the trades of Richards and Carter.

whatever they're being told now doesn't seem to be working too well. you should really try something other than sarcasm once in a while, just for a change of pace.
- hogweed

But you seem to enjoy it so much, as you always feel the need to respond. Makes for lively entertainment. I enjoy your world falling apart views.

Just because I am bored, and I've been working too hard lately. Schenn, Schenn, and Simmonds for Buff and Kane. Sign Markov, resign Mez.


FORWARDS
Evander Kane ($5.250m) / Claude Giroux ($8.275m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Scott Hartnell ($4.750m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($4.500m) / Jason Akeson ($0.715m)
Michael Raffl ($1.000m) / Sean Couturier ($1.750m) / Matt Read ($3.625m)
Nick Cousins ($0.812m) / Scott Laughton ($0.894m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)

DEFENSEMEN
Dustin Byfuglien ($5.200m) / Braydon Coburn ($4.500m)
Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m) / Andrei Markov ($6.550m)
Mark Streit ($5.250m) / Andrej Meszaros ($2.000m)

GOALTENDERS
Steve Mason ($4.100m)
Cal Heeter ($0.874m)

CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $2,555,042

Line 1 would kill it offensively. Line 2 would have good production, depending on how Akeson clicks. Line 3 would be a great shut-down line that can still contribute, and line 4 can still contribute but would destroy bodies.... The defense looks like a perfect balance of puck moves and shutdown guys..

PP1
Hartnell-Giroux-Kane
Buff-Markov

PP2
Read-Lecavalier-Voracek
Streit-Meszaros

PK1
Read-Couturier
Grossman-Coburn

PK2
Raffl-Giroux
Markov-Meszaros

PK3
Cousins-Laughton

Lets all have some fun

Flyers acquire high def photos of David Poile having sex with a baby panda; Nashville trades Weber to the Flyers for Rosehill, Streit and a 7th round pick.
Bobby Ryan threatens to go to the KHL unless he's traded for the Flyers, so they send him to Philly for Grossmann, Ed Snider's jet, Raffl and a 3rd.
Byfuglien, desperate for cheesteaks and pretzels demands a trade to Philly, so they trade him for Laughton, Gene Hart's ghost and a 2nd
Byfuglien eats Hartnell, removing him from the cap
The Flyers, claiming he hasn't had a concussion in over a decade, bring Lindros out of retirement.
The Flyers re-sign Robert Esche just so he will refuse to talk to Panaccio
Byfuglien eats VL, Flyers re-acquire Briere for a 6th rounder and Clarke's spittoon
Byfuglien demands to compete in Wing Bowl

Lineup
Ryan-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lindros-Simmonds
Some guy who's never been in my kitchen-Couturier-Read
McGinn-Briere-Rinaldo

Coburn-Weber
Byfuglien (at 600lbs, he doesn't need a partner)
Lauridsen-Gus
Manning

Mason
Esche

And this is why I can't be allowed to drink during the day!!

If he wasn't on board with rebuilding with youth, he wouldn't have approved the trades of Richards and Carter.
- JAKEw1234

Sure he was on board that day.
However he just can't stay patient enough to stick to a plan or else JVR would most likely still be a Flyer and VL wouldn't.
Snider, at age 80 whatever, simply lacks the patience to stick with a plan.

Lets all have some fun

Flyers acquire high def photos of David Poile having sex with a baby panda; Nashville trades Weber to the Flyers for Rosehill, Streit and a 7th round pick.
Bobby Ryan threatens to go to the KHL unless he's traded for the Flyers, so they send him to Philly for Grossmann, Ed Snider's jet, Raffl and a 3rd.
Byfuglien, desperate for cheesteaks and pretzels demands a trade to Philly, so they trade him for Laughton, Gene Hart's ghost and a 2nd
Byfuglien eats Hartnell, removing him from the cap
The Flyers, claiming he hasn't had a concussion in over a decade, bring Lindros out of retirement.
The Flyers re-sign Robert Esche just so he will refuse to talk to Panaccio
Byfuglien eats VL, Flyers re-acquire Briere for a 6th rounder and Clarke's spittoon
Byfuglien demands to compete in Wing Bowl

Lineup
Ryan-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lindros-Simmonds
Some guy who's never been in my kitchen-Couturier-Read
McGinn-Briere-Rinaldo

Coburn-Weber
Byfuglien (at 600lbs, he doesn't need a partner)
Lauridsen-Gus
Manning

Mason
Esche

And this is why I can't be allowed to drink during the day!!

- BiggE

Alright, my turn.

Flyers trade Read, B Schenn, Coburn, Morin, Laughton, and 2 1sts to Nashville for Shea Weber.

Flyers acquire Santa Clause for Hartnell.

Snider sends a team of mercenaries to Bryan Murray's house to convince him to trade Bobby Ryan for Rosehill.

Flyers trade Voracek and Schenn for Byfuglien, who promptly eats 55 cheese steaks and weighs in at 423 pounds. He is promptly traded away for fan favorite Dan Carcillo.

Flyers resign Gagne at 6-years, $4M per.

Mason explodes (literally).

Flyers lineup:

Ryan - Giroux - Santa Clause (he's a winger)
Akeson - Lecavalier - Gagne
Simmonds - Couturier - Raffl
Carcillo - Hall - Rinaldo
Weber - Alt
Gustafsson - Lauridsen
Gill - Streit
Heeter
Stolarz

Any questions about this team NOT being a Cup Favorite are void.
- jmatchett383

Good Luck fitting him under the cap.

Bill,
Thank you for the excellent summary.
All great points. The last few games have been difficult to watch.
Maybe time for a break for me.
Thanks again for your blogs.

No, you were very clear before. Since this team has no legit shot as a contender, the only responsible thing to do is to throw the season and draft as high as possible.
- jmatchett383

you guys confuse me. each individual player is from day to day, either incredible to stud level quality that would take bobby orr's left nut to make trading them worth it. but yet the team itself apparently should be scrapped and folded. i dont know how it can entirely be both ways.

you guys have a ton of great pieces. just not the right ones in enough places

Just because I am bored, and I've been working too hard lately. Schenn, Schenn, and Simmonds for Buff and Kane. Sign Markov, resign Mez.


FORWARDS
Evander Kane ($5.250m) / Claude Giroux ($8.275m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Scott Hartnell ($4.750m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($4.500m) / Jason Akeson ($0.715m)
Michael Raffl ($1.000m) / Sean Couturier ($1.750m) / Matt Read ($3.625m)
Nick Cousins ($0.812m) / Scott Laughton ($0.894m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)

DEFENSEMEN
Dustin Byfuglien ($5.200m) / Braydon Coburn ($4.500m)
Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m) / Andrei Markov ($6.550m)
Mark Streit ($5.250m) / Andrej Meszaros ($2.000m)

GOALTENDERS
Steve Mason ($4.100m)
Cal Heeter ($0.874m)

CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $2,555,042

Line 1 would kill it offensively. Line 2 would have good production, depending on how Akeson clicks. Line 3 would be a great shut-down line that can still contribute, and line 4 can still contribute but would destroy bodies.... The defense looks like a perfect balance of puck moves and shutdown guys..

PP1
Hartnell-Giroux-Kane
Buff-Markov

PP2
Read-Lecavalier-Voracek
Streit-Meszaros

PK1
Read-Couturier
Grossman-Coburn

PK2
Raffl-Giroux
Markov-Meszaros

PK3
Cousins-Laughton
- youarewrong

I would be really excited to see Markov and Mez kill penalties together!

I would be really excited to see Markov and Mez kill penalties together!
- PhillySportsGuy

Would you rather Streit and Buff.....

What's the story with Cousins?

I would be really excited to see Markov and Mez kill penalties together!
- PhillySportsGuy

Yea Danny Markov was awesome

What's the story with Cousins?
- 2Real

I have 4. 1 plays prep school hockey in conneticut, 1 is a NCC cop, and 2 smoke weed and do nothing.