If you're an bumhole, an ocean isn't going to stop people from finding out.
- feelingkettle

It's not hard to sniff them out these days

If he trades Mez or Grossmann for a 2nd or 3rd and re-signs MacDonald, its not that bad.

Everyone here knew Homer was going to sign one of the better defenseman available. I would be shocked if MacDonald isn't re-signed.
- PhillySportsGuy

Let's see how he plays before opening the check book....

This female doging is ridiculous.

Just because one team (CHI) fleeces another (PHX); doesn't mean that the Flyers trade for MacDonald is terrible. It just means that one team fleeced another, while the Flyers made a seemingly middling-trade. Take into account that the Flyers made their trade first, and you can't really flip out over Homer not getting a kid who has bounced around a few times at a young age.

There is no correlation between the two. As others have pointed out, Homer traded for a proven player who has shown the ability to play 25+ minutes to shore up the defense. Chicago traded for a player who is high-risk/high-reward. There is a difference between trading assets for a proven commodity vs. trading assets for a project. One is a gamble, and the other is not. Now if they can't get MacDonald to re-sign for a fair price, then I have no qualms with saying that the Flyers lost this trade (barring a Stanley Cup win). For the time being, I'll reserve judgment for two things: How does he look on our blue line, and; was he re-signed at a reasonable cap hit. Until then, it's just female doging for the sake of female doging...
- steelydan

It's Chicago.
Duncan Keith 2.0 has arrived

Ahhh, that's simply because I don't hold the Flyers management and scouting to the highest pedigree, especially when it comes to defense, and making moves the last few years.

As of now, I would rather have a chance to take another Hagg (for example), and a 3rd, instead of giving it up for mediocrity. Macdonald is no top pairing d-man, and you will be disappointed to think he is. They need quick puck movers, and players good on the transition. Lets see what Macdonald can bring to that, while being respectable in his own end.
- flyer_nutter

Again, the problem is the label of mediocrity given to McDonald. How many games have you seen McDonald play this year? I've only seen a few. Hardly enough for me to label the player mediocre, and challenge the Flyers who probably scouted him in depth before making the move.
I don't think anyone feels that McDonald is a top pairing defenseman. If he was, do you think the Flyers get him for what they did? The question is, does it make the team better? And I agree, let's see what McDonald can bring to the team. I'm going to do that before labeling the player mediocre!

Yup. Rundblad's likely not going to make the Flyers a cup favorite, but why not give up 1 less draft pick and get a 2nd player to boot?
- wolfhounds

Hell, why not make both trades? Adding MacDonald wouldn;t mean Rundblad is now impossible to land.

HA HA HA HA HA

And the end product is that Mike Gillis turned two starting goalies into a backup goalie, a draft pick and a 3/4 center

You can spin that any way you want, but that's laughable -- I realize saying "Yeah, I might be wrong" isn't what you do, but all I have to do is point at Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider and, well, you're wrong
- AllInForFlyers

No, that isn't the end product. Because the deal also brought them something else that is obviously being overlooked.

Hell, why not make both trades? Adding MacDonald wouldn;t mean Rundblad is now impossible to land.
- Jsaquella

If they can't land the best defensemen, may as well land the most

This female doging is ridiculous.

Just because one team (CHI) fleeces another (PHX); doesn't mean that the Flyers trade for MacDonald is terrible. It just means that one team fleeced another, while the Flyers made a seemingly middling-trade. Take into account that the Flyers made their trade first, and you can't really flip out over Homer not getting a kid who has bounced around a few times at a young age.

There is no correlation between the two. As others have pointed out, Homer traded for a proven player who has shown the ability to play 25+ minutes to shore up the defense. Chicago traded for a player who is high-risk/high-reward. There is a difference between trading assets for a proven commodity vs. trading assets for a project. One is a gamble, and the other is not. Now if they can't get MacDonald to re-sign for a fair price, then I have no qualms with saying that the Flyers lost this trade (barring a Stanley Cup win). For the time being, I'll reserve judgment for two things: How does he look on our blue line, and; was he re-signed at a reasonable cap hit. Until then, it's just female doging for the sake of female doging...
- steelydan

Sir, I ask that you and your common sense be shown the door. Please come back when you are more irrational. Thank you.

Hell, why not make both trades? Adding MacDonald wouldn;t mean Rundblad is now impossible to land.
- Jsaquella

Contract space is a factor. And the Flyers might have something else in mind. Either now or at the draft.

Again, the problem is the label of mediocrity given to McDonald. How many games have you seen McDonald play this year? I've only seen a few. Hardly enough for me to label the player mediocre, and challenge the Flyers who probably scouted him in depth before making the move.
I don't think anyone feels that McDonald is a top pairing defenseman. If he was, do you think the Flyers get him for what they did? The question is, does it make the team better? And I agree, let's see what McDonald can bring to the team. I'm going to do that before labeling the player mediocre!
- MJL

From what I have seen of him, he is mediocre. I don't care about Runblad. To me I would rather the Flyers have kept the picks, either to draft youth of their own, or to bring in a more dynamic/better d-man.

I think its an overpayment for a mediocre player, who while improving the team slightly, doesn't really do much to fix the real issues of that d-core. A lack of all round, and transition talent.

We will see of course. No worries.

Hell, why not make both trades? Adding MacDonald wouldn;t mean Rundblad is now impossible to land.
- Jsaquella

They may have something bigger in mind. I cant let myself get too bent out of shape over it until the deadline passes.

And who knows, the Hawks may have called in a favor on this one...

Hell, why not make both trades? Adding MacDonald wouldn;t mean Rundblad is now impossible to land.
- Jsaquella

One was had for a 2nd and the other was had for a 2nd and 3rd. That would mean we would forego a 2nd for 2 straight years, for MacDonald and Rundblad. Seems a bit overkill. If they're trading at the TDL, where prices are always higher; they're going to shell out a pick for the immediate need. Rundblad can be had during the off-season; MacDonald isn't worth the trade in the off-season.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 1m

Hearing Thomas Vanek may not be in NYI lineup tonight

It just seems rare for a young guy to be traded so much. He's gone from being a major piece to major deals to being had for a 2nd rounder.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm not betting against Chicago being able to turn him into a player. Leddy/Rundblad... now that's a 3rd-pair.

Hell, why not make both trades? Adding MacDonald wouldn;t mean Rundblad is now impossible to land.
- Jsaquella

Giving up 2 2nds and a 3rd over the next two drafts isn't very appealing. I'd like for the Flyers to try and recoup one or both of those picks. They've done well in those rounds recently.

If they can't land the best defensemen, may as well land the most
- funmaster18

Haha

I'd like to see them roll the dice on a guy like Rundblad. It's mutually exclusive from MacDonald, though. Just pointing out being mad at MacDonald because they didn't land Rundblad is kind of dumb.

No it's not. What if the Flyers make other moves that in the long run significantly upgrades the defense between now and next Season? Somehow, I think the Flyers will survive not trading for Runblad, who has played all of 50 NHL games. The Flyers don't need to add maybe's to the defense.
- MJL

Hey fellas,
Maybe the Flyers don't like Runblad as much as some of you guys do....it might actually be that simple....

For the sake of changing the subject for a little bit...

Is anyone else surprised by OTT putting Conacher on waivers? I haven't really watched him play much this year but it seemed like he was going to turn out to be a decent top 6 guy.

Again, the problem is the label of mediocrity given to McDonald. How many games have you seen McDonald play this year? I've only seen a few. Hardly enough for me to label the player mediocre, and challenge the Flyers who probably scouted him in depth before making the move.
I don't think anyone feels that McDonald is a top pairing defenseman. If he was, do you think the Flyers get him for what they did? The question is, does it make the team better? And I agree, let's see what McDonald can bring to the team. I'm going to do that before labeling the player mediocre!
- MJL

My only concern is now we have 2 islanders on our D. Its not like the islanders D has been any good with these guys so why would things be different? Just a concern.... Not thrilled with the trade. Look forward to more trades before I pass final judgment .

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 1m

Hearing Thomas Vanek may not be in NYI lineup tonight
- Winning

Rumors were he wanted Minny in the off-season no?

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 1m

Hearing Thomas Vanek may not be in NYI lineup tonight
- Winning

I smell a 4 way double blind trade brewing

They may have something bigger in mind. I cant let myself get too bent out of shape over it until the deadline passes.

And who knows, the Hawks may have called in a favor on this one...
- hereticpride

True, they have been hurting the past couple of years.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 1m

Hearing Thomas Vanek may not be in NYI lineup tonight
- Winning

One was had for a 2nd and the other was had for a 2nd and 3rd. That would mean we would forego a 2nd for 2 straight years, for MacDonald and Rundblad. Seems a bit overkill. If they're trading at the TDL, where prices are always higher; they're going to shell out a pick for the immediate need. Rundblad can be had during the off-season; MacDonald isn't worth the trade in the off-season.
- steelydan

The Flyers went 4 or 5 straight years without a second rounder. It's not as if it's an odd occurrence, plus they could deal other defensemen to recoup those picks

I'm not betting against Chicago being able to turn him into a player. Leddy/Rundblad... now that's a 3rd-pair.
- Tomahawk

We'll see. Pheonix D isn't anything to sneeze at. They've done a good job of developing guys.

Chicago is more equipped to take on a reclamation project than the Flyers.