As long as you're okay with not having both Ristolainen and Zadorov, you can have him.
- jmatchett383

Nevermind, he is all yours.

Honestly, I'm in no hurry to move him, not while we still have Grossmann taking a regular shift.
- puckhead17

Let me start by saying that I like Meszaros. I really do--for as much guff as I dole out to him.

I'm in no hurry either. But if I were in Homer's position, with the inflated value of defensemen and teams that may want a spare tire (there were rumors earlier this season that the Flyers could not give Meszaros away, but as teams get closer to the deadline, a market may open)--if a team is willing to overpay for our 7th defenseman, I'd have to consider moving him. I would take a 2nd or 3rd and roll the dice on bringing up a Phantom or Hall Gill as #7 going into playoffs. Especially if he's not in Homer's long term plans beyond this season.

It's not revisionist history. He led the team in ice time last year, and was the only defenseman other than Kimmo to be a plus player.
- Feanor

so I have amnesia...ok for a second lets say thats true...whats the deal this year???

But I want him!
- ImThatGuy

You'll get nothing and like it... ....RIP Harold Ramis

No. He played as a top 4 defenseman last year. He and Timonen were the Flyers best defenseman. They could have been a good 2nd pairing on a top NHL team.
- PhillySportsGuy

an NHL team or an AHL team?

Ghost is in the running for Hobey Baker. He's generally regarded as one of the best defenseman (if not the best) in college hockey.
- jmatchett383

I'm not saying I'm right. I expressed my position on our d prospects and will let time determine the outcome.

I'm not rooting against the local kid. Just being realistic in my expectations. If I'm wrong, so be it. None of us are right 100% of the time. Well except for maybe one or two people on here....

so I have amnesia...ok for a second lets say thats true...whats the deal this year???
- landros 2

If he's paired with Kimmo again, I think he would play better.

Young defenseman don't always develop in a linear form. There are peaks and valleys. Coburn has gone through the same things. He's still inconsistent, but its not nearly as bad as before.

so I have amnesia...ok for a second lets say thats true...whats the deal this year???
- landros 2

This year? He's taken a step back. He's shown flashes of improving but still has lapses far too often. But most of us agreed that, as bad as the Flyers defense was last year, it would have been far, far worse without him. Right now, he's a guy who plays well when paired with a calmer defenseman like Timonen, but struggles when he's counted on as the anchor and offensive part of the pair.

Let me start by saying that I like Meszaros. I really do--for as much guff as I dole out to him.

I'm in no hurry either. But if I were in Homer's position, with the inflated value of defensemen and teams that may want a spare tire (there were rumors earlier this season that the Flyers could not give Meszaros away, but as teams get closer to the deadline, a market may open)--if a team is willing to overpay for our 7th defenseman, I'd have to consider moving him. I would take a 2nd or 3rd and roll the dice on bringing up a Phantom or Hall Gill as #7 going into playoffs. Especially if he's not in Homer's long term plans beyond this season.
- Moose_15

I could live with a 2nd...I have no interest in Gill being anywhere near our lineup

an NHL team or an AHL team?
- landros 2

You're letting your hatred for the trade blur the actual results of his play.

I thought he was having a great year
- PhillySportsGuy

14 Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI) D JR | 34GP 8G 18A 26P

I'm not saying I'm right. I expressed my position on our d prospects and will let time determine the outcome.

I'm not rooting against the local kid. Just being realistic in my expectations. If I'm wrong, so be it. None of us are right 100% of the time. Well except for maybe one or two people on here....
- Flyersgod

I'm always right some of the time. I'm just saying that Ghost is far from having a bad year according to most scouts. I've seen him a handful of times, and my only concern about him is that he may rove a bit too much for the pro level. He's not big, but he's chippy as hell. Not afraid to throw/take a hit at all.

This year? He's taken a step back. He's shown flashes of improving but still has lapses far too often. But most of us agreed that, as bad as the Flyers defense was last year, it would have been far, far worse without him. Right now, he's a guy who plays well when paired with a calmer defenseman like Timonen, but struggles when he's counted on as the anchor and offensive part of the pair.
- jmatchett383

If he's paired with Kimmo again, I think he would play better.

Young defenseman don't always develop in a linear form. There are peaks and valleys. Coburn has gone through the same things. He's still inconsistent, but its not nearly as bad as before.
- PhillySportsGuy

i agree with this, and even though I am not a Coburn fan we only gave up an over the hill Alexi Zhitnik to obtain him...showing another example of why you shouldnt be in such a rush to buy..

I could live with a 2nd...I have no interest in Gill being anywhere near our lineup
- nonpoint22

God, I'm so glad they had the wherewithal to PTO Hal Gill instead of a bum like Tom Tom Gilbert -- there was already too much puck-moving on the roster as it was.

This year? He's taken a step back. He's shown flashes of improving but still has lapses far too often. But most of us agreed that, as bad as the Flyers defense was last year, it would have been far, far worse without him. Right now, he's a guy who plays well when paired with a calmer defenseman like Timonen, but struggles when he's counted on as the anchor and offensive part of the pair.
- jmatchett383

I am just not seeing what your seeing....plain and simple.

Let me start by saying that I like Meszaros. I really do--for as much guff as I dole out to him.

I'm in no hurry either. But if I were in Homer's position, with the inflated value of defensemen and teams that may want a spare tire (there were rumors earlier this season that the Flyers could not give Meszaros away, but as teams get closer to the deadline, a market may open)--if a team is willing to overpay for our 7th defenseman, I'd have to consider moving him. I would take a 2nd or 3rd and roll the dice on bringing up a Phantom or Hall Gill as #7 going into playoffs. Especially if he's not in Homer's long term plans beyond this season.
- Moose_15

Problem is, with Gustafsson not being trusted, & Grossman backpedaling into Mason on line rushes, I'm not so sure Mez is our #7, 6, or even our #5 at this point.

When healthy, and with the right partner, he has more value to us over any 2nd round picks, similar to Luke, he has elevated his game.

I'm always right some of the time. I'm just saying that Ghost is far from having a bad year according to most scouts. I've seen him a handful of times, and my only concern about him is that he may rove a bit too much for the pro level. He's not big, but he's chippy as hell. Not afraid to throw/take a hit at all.
- jmatchett383

Its not like undersized defenseman can't make it in the NHL anymore. Puck movers are such an integral part of the game now. He's such a great skater, it will help him avoid big hits. At least, thats the hope.

I at first hated that draft. Taking 2 d-men when the obvious need is forward.

I now love it. Zadorov has found an offensive game that is surprising everyone.
Risto should be up in Buffalo next year. he is progressing faster then people thought he would be.
- ImThatGuy

You could have the Weber/Suter combo of the future. And if that bar is set just a bit too high, they are almost certainly going to be solid 2-4 d-men, at worst.

I was big on Risto for the Flyers, now I've got my fingers crossed for Morin, Hagg, Alt and Ghost.

God, I'm so glad they had the wherewithal to PTO Hal Gill instead of a bum like Tom Tom Gilbert -- there was already too much puck-moving on the roster as it was.
- Tomahawk

Excuse me we obviously needed another big slow defenseman

I am just not seeing what your seeing....plain and simple.
- landros 2

That's fine. But back to the original point, he was our best (or second best) defenseman last year, and was a legit top-4 player. Just hasn't been that way with any sort of consistency last year.

so I have amnesia...ok for a second lets say thats true...whats the deal this year???
- landros 2

I am not revising history. Luke Schenn was one of the few bright spots last season. In fact, I remember by last season's end most people considering the trade a fair hockey trade because L. Schenn looked like he turned the corner and JvR looked like he turned into the beast.

That being said, this season, it clearly looks like Toronto has won the deal. But let us consider that Schenn will never, never, never, not ever, never score as many goals as JvR. Not ever. Won't happen. And to compare the two in that regard is completely unfair.

If you want to make the case that Homer might have been able to wait out a trade longer and get another dman, by all means, I will not disagree with you. But I leave you with this thought--

Who plays those minutes if Luke Schenn is not in our lineup?
Who plays more minutes next season if Luke Schenn is not under contract and Timonen retires (because the Flyers pipeline is still a few years)?


And no, I'm not related to the Schenns.

i agree with this, and even though I am not a Coburn fan we only gave up an over the hill Alexi Zhitnik to obtain him...showing another example of why you shouldnt be in such a rush to buy..
- nonpoint22

I remember when we got him and I saw him play for the first time. I was like "there must be something bad about him. He skates way too well and is way too big for them to just give him away."

Excuse me we obviously needed another big slow defenseman
- nonpoint22

6'7 244 /drool

You're letting your hatred for the trade blur the actual results of his play.
- PhillySportsGuy

no actually.....although the trade looks one sided. I think Luke will be a serviceable 5-6 guy with warts on his game....its not his fault the trade was made for JVR....I just don't see any consistency to his game....this is his 6th year in the NHL.
like I said, can he get better? maybe....but in my opinion it will never be a huge improvement.