He had 14 years playing for the Lightning, and only missed games last year after taking a shot to the foot. If you somehow knew in July he was going to suffer a major back injury in December you should have told someone.
- Feanor

my opinion, I didn't like the deal, as much as you did, 5 years to a guy with a ton of mileage already on him, like he will become more durable with age, & he has no position, & he missed time each of the last 3 seasons prior to the lockout, but I'm sure you knew that already

edit, & he has no position on the team, struggles playing wing, etc

Why did PK Subban drop all the way to middle of the 2nd round?
- Feanor

Was seen as a very talented, but very, very raw prospect who needed a lot of work. There were also some character concerns, IIRC...nothing major, but pretty sure there were some concerned about his coachability and willingness to put in the work needed to refine his defensive game

He really took off the year AFTER he was drafted. He was just a late bloomer. By the end of his time in Juniors, he was a no doubt, top prospect.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, that's the tough part about the draft age being so low in hockey as opposed to other major sports... for every guy that explodes after the draft, there's a much greater number of guys that are DOA or sometimes get worse. You just have no idea what you're going to get out of a teen.

Morin's getting better, so that's a good sign.

yup

just finished my last shift at work, now on vacation

going to maui to watch the whales

so ... I'm real good
- Marc D

ohh i'm jealous. enjoy.

If he ever does, sorry, I did not like this signing when it went down, hate it even more now. He had 16 years on his body going into this season, & he received a contract for 5 more?

I was a VL fan, 2006, 2007, 2008 etc.

Not 2013, 2014, 2015 & on
- puckhead17

The NHL is full of players playing at a high level well into their 30's. I'm a fan of the player we saw earlier in the Season, who was a player who was strong on the puck, strong around the net, and scoring at a 30+ goal pace. That's the player he was before the back injury. And I think he started showing signs of getting back to that player. I'm optomistic that Lecavalier will adjust to a new position and find his game, and be that player down the stretch. I'm a big fan of the signing.

my opinion, I didn't like the deal, as much as you did, 5 years to a guy with a ton of mileage already on him, like he will become more durable with age, & he has no position, & he missed time each of the last 3 seasons prior to the lockout, but I'm sure you knew that already

edit, & he has no position on the team, struggles playing wing, etc
- puckhead17

I really don't understand why he has no position on the team. Time and again players are written off based on a small sample of games, when a player has been a quality player his entire career. I'm going to give him some time, let him adjust to a new position and hopefully get stronger coming off the injury to get back to where he was before it. And see what happens. And injuries happen, players go into slumps, trades happen. So I don't see how he doesn't have a position on the team.

The NHL is full of players playing at a high level well into their 30's. I'm a fan of the player we saw earlier in the Season, who was a player who was strong on the puck, strong around the net, and scoring at a 30+ goal pace. That's the player he was before the back injury. And I think he started showing signs of getting back to that player. I'm optomistic that Lecavalier will adjust to a new position and find his game, and be that player down the stretch. I'm a big fan of the signing.
- MJL

Surprise, whatever, as always its your opinion, its not fact.

Surprise, whatever, as always its your opinion, its not fact.
- puckhead17

Absolutely it's my opinion, and it wasn't offered as fact.

I really don't understand why he has no position on the team. Time and again players are written off based on a small sample of games, when a player has been a quality player his entire career. I'm going to give him some time, let him adjust to a new position and hopefully get stronger coming off the injury to get back to where he was before it. And see what happens. And injuries happen, players go into slumps, trades happen. So I don't see how he doesn't have a position on the team.
- MJL

again, he has no position on this team, I hope I'm wrong, & I'm sure you will tell me so.

Center Giroux Courturier Braden Schenn Laughton in a year or 2.
you say Schenn is a left winger, again, your opinion, 5 years for the guy was a dumb move, as no other team was competing to give him that term.
Streit was a necessity (because of Carle leaving) VL was not a necessity, we had $$$ to spend & here he is Briere had no position either before he left.
I loathe, as other posters do, debating you, & I will not, I did not like the move for 5 years, you love the move & think he will excel with age.
done

Anyone know if and what Bill plans on writing about during the Olympic break? Prospects, Olympics, specific aspects of the team?

again, he has no position on this team, I hope I'm wrong, & I'm sure you will tell me so.

Center Giroux Courturier Braden Schenn Laughton in a year or 2.
you say Schenn is a left winger, again, your opinion, 5 years for the guy was a dumb move, as no other team was competing to give him that term.
Streit was a necessity (because of Carle leaving) VL was not a necessity, we had $$$ to spend & here he is Briere had no position either before he left.
- puckhead17

I tend to view the VL signing in the same light... superfluous, not exactly conducive to the development of Schenn/Coots, and an inefficient use of cap dollars considering need.

Absolutely it's my opinion, and it wasn't offered as fact.
- MJL

And its my opinion as well, 5 years for a guy in the twilight of his career (16 years in)
They traded 2 cornerstone players & received 4 younger players, (2 more centers)
VL is not a youth movement

I tend to view the VL signing in the same light... superfluous, not exactly conducive to the development of Schenn/Coots, and an inefficient use of cap dollars considering need.
- Tomahawk

I didn't like the VL or Streit deal. The Streit deal has been fine though. VL seemed like a luxury deal. I would have much rather they added a winger than a center.

I tend to view the VL signing in the same light... superfluous, not exactly conducive to the development of Schenn/Coots, and an inefficient use of cap dollars considering need.
- Tomahawk

Because Homer had money to spend & it was the "sexiest" move to make.
Other teams were interested, until we plopped down 5 years & that was that.

again, he has no position on this team, I hope I'm wrong, & I'm sure you will tell me so.

Center Giroux Courturier Braden Schenn Laughton in a year or 2.
you say Schenn is a left winger, again, your opinion, 5 years for the guy was a dumb move, as no other team was competing to give him that term.
Streit was a necessity (because of Carle leaving) VL was not a necessity, we had $$$ to spend & here he is Briere had no position either before he left.
- puckhead17

You say he has no position on this team because they're loaded at center. In 2009/2010, when the Flyers kinda sorta did okay, they had 6 centers on their team (Richards, Carter, Briere, Giroux, Betts, Powe). Giroux, Carter, and Powe played both wing and center and did pretty well. However, for Carter (who still plays some wing currently), it took some time to adjust. I see no reason why Vinny can't.

Also, FWIW, I find your posts very hard to read due to the lack of grade school-level punctuation and capitalization. It makes your posts seem more like a mindless rambling rant that a cohesive thought.

Edit: I wouldn't have done the deal myself, but I don't think I can say without a doubt that he "has no position" on the team.

I didn't like the VL or Streit deal. The Streit deal has been fine though. VL seemed like a luxury deal. I would have much rather they added a winger than a center.
- PhillySportsGuy

I still don't like the Streit deal, but it's easier to forgive because it was an actual attempt to address a perceived need.

The VL deal? It smacks of an impulse buy.

again, he has no position on this team, I hope I'm wrong, & I'm sure you will tell me so.

Center Giroux Courturier Braden Schenn Laughton in a year or 2.
you say Schenn is a left winger, again, your opinion, 5 years for the guy was a dumb move, as no other team was competing to give him that term.
Streit was a necessity (because of Carle leaving) VL was not a necessity, we had $$$ to spend & here he is Briere had no position either before he left.
I loathe, as other posters do, debating you, & I will not, I did not like the move for 5 years, you love the move & think he will excel with age.
done
- puckhead17

I personally don't know if other teams were or weren't competing for him. So I can't speak to that factually. Lecavalier can play Wing, and so can Brayden Schenn. The Flyers just have to decide where they want Schenn to play, and leave him there. And let the players adjust and settle in. There is no guarantee that all of those Centers will be here long term. Trades can happen, and a lot changes in Hockey in a short time. Getting Lecavalier for that price was a no brainer in my opinion. We'll see how he adjusts to Wing, and if he can get back to where he was before the injury. The 5 year term doesn't bother. He's 33 not 38. And he's been a good player his entire career. I don't expect that to change. But I might be wrong, we'll see.

I didn't like the VL or Streit deal. The Streit deal has been fine though. VL seemed like a luxury deal. I would have much rather they added a winger than a center.
- PhillySportsGuy

I did not like the Streit deal either, but they painted themselves into that corner & had to do it, if VL suddenly grasps the wing & his back improves & he scores 25 goals next year, ok, wow I'm happy, I haven't seen too many players get better with age after decline has set into their game

And its my opinion as well, 5 years for a guy in the twilight of his career (16 years in)
They traded 2 cornerstone players & received 4 younger players, (2 more centers)
VL is not a youth movement
- puckhead17

No team is filled with just youth. You need veterans sorrounding the younger players. Lecavalier is not a player close to retirement. I see no reason why he can't continue to be a strong player. He's only 33.

You say he has no position on this team because they're loaded at center. In 2009/2010, when the Flyers kinda sorta did okay, they had 6 centers on their team (Richards, Carter, Briere, Giroux, Betts, Powe). Giroux, Carter, and Powe played both wing and center and did pretty well. However, for Carter (who still plays some wing currently), it took some time to adjust. I see no reason why Vinny can't.

Also, FWIW, I find your posts very hard to read due to the lack of grade school-level punctuation and capitalization. It makes your posts seem more like a mindless rambling rant that a cohesive thought.

Edit: I wouldn't have done the deal myself, but I don't think I can say without a doubt that he "has no position" on the team.
- jmatchett383

I didn't know you were grading posts, wow, what a nice thing to say

I did not like the Streit deal either, but they painted themselves into that corner & had to do it, if VL suddenly grasps the wing & his back improves & he scores 25 goals next year, ok, wow I'm happy, I haven't seen too many players get better with age after decline has set into their game
- puckhead17

I don't think the Flyers are expecting Lecavalier to get better with age. In his prime, he was a 50 goal 100 point scorer. I think they expect him to be a tough player who can score around 25 goals and give them a strong 2nd line to compliment the Giroux line.

I did not like the Streit deal either, but they painted themselves into that corner & had to do it, if VL suddenly grasps the wing & his back improves & he scores 25 goals next year, ok, wow I'm happy, I haven't seen too many players get better with age after decline has set into their game
- puckhead17

Jagr, at the grand old age of, what, 42, is having his most productive season since returning to the NHL. Granted, he HIS a first-ballot HOFer. Selanne's career had also disappeared into mediocrity before he turned 35 and became an impact player again at 35 in the 05/06 season. Again, he's a likely HOFer. But it can be done.

I did not like the Streit deal either, but they painted themselves into that corner & had to do it, if VL suddenly grasps the wing & his back improves & he scores 25 goals next year, ok, wow I'm happy, I haven't seen too many players get better with age after decline has set into their game
- puckhead17

His game isn't declining.

Most big FA signings take a year to a year and half to get acclimated to new surroundings, especially when they spent significant time whichever city they were in previously. It's a huge mental adjustment, an aspect of the sport that is often overlooked entirely by armchair GM warriors.

Is it the case for every FA signing? No. But it happens more often then not. I fully expect Streit and Vinny to be better next year statistically. We've already seen both of them make strides throughout the year.

I didn't know you were grading posts, wow, what a nice thing to say
- puckhead17

im just saying your posts are somewhat hard to read, most people on here are very good at clearly using at least minimal proper punctuation to break up their thoughts, its easier to read that way, dont you agree periods are nice to use

I still don't like the Streit deal, but it's easier to forgive because it was an actual attempt to address a perceived need.

The VL deal? It smacks of an impulse buy.
- Tomahawk

Smacks of a deal too good to pass up if you ask me.