That GIF is strangely mesmerizing. Horrifying, yet mesmerizing.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

He'd be a different player probably had the Leafs not put him in the NHL at 18 & let him finish out his junior career & maybe even some time in the AHL.

He really should only be in his 2nd or 3rd NHL season.

I think the Flyers are probably going to sign a few of middle tier defenders in the off season. The Robidas, Hainsey, Zidlicky, Salo, Orpik, Mitchell, Quincey guys that teams are waiting to resign. Of course going to have to overpay to get them here though. I don't mind it if they can keep the contracts short for their young guys to get to the big leagues.

There are a few other guys out there that will probably change teams for the right amount of money. There is nothing in our minor league team that can put up twenty minutes a night out there so something needs to be done.

A 2nd and 3rd round.

If you never have the chance to use those picks, then you never have a chance in the first place. I understand your premise, but who was the last drafted Flyer d-man that has player more than 5 seasons in the league in a top 4 role. Teams in the league do find and develop these guys. If you never take those chances, with the draft being so important, then you get some of what we have going on today.

Plenty end up being duds, but some also do end up contributing in big ways. I'd like to see the Flyers place a higher value on their picks, even if there is an element of risk there, and no immediate pay off.
- flyer_nutter

Dude come on....the Macdonald trade was a great trade knowing they were going to deal Mez to Boston.

And it will be a 2nd rounder for Mez. Boston can get to the ECF's in their sleep, and Mez was paired with Chara tonight, so their serious about him being in the lineup to fulfill the 2/3 requirement.

A 3rd for Macdonald....oh and Mez

aren't you guys glad we didn't sign Brunner?

He'd be a different player probably had the Leafs not put him in the NHL at 18 & let him finish out his junior career & maybe even some time in the AHL.

He really should only be in his 2nd or 3rd NHL season.
- ob18

What.....he'd be a lot faster? I don't see real confidence or positional issues with him. I see a player who pretty much is what he'll be.

Dude come on....the Macdonald trade was a great trade knowing they were going to deal Mez to Boston.

And it will be a 2nd rounder for Mez. Boston can get to the ECF's in their sleep, and Mez was paired with Chara tonight, so their serious about him being in the lineup to fulfill the 2/3 requirement.

A 3rd for Macdonald....oh and Mez
- Just5

we took kevin marshall instead of pk subban just sayin

we took kevin marshall instead of pk subban just sayin
- 2Real

at least we dont have to pay either

What.....he'd be a lot faster? I don't see real confidence or positional issues with him. I see a player who pretty much is what he'll be.
- Just5

Because the time he should have spent developing as a player against CHL and AHL competition was spent in the NHL, where he was often in over his head. A lot of times, when you're in over your head on a job, you learn a lot of bad habits.

And unlearning something is usually a lot harder than learning new things.

There's guys who are slower than Schenn that are still very capable, because they developed by learning good habits and the proper way to play the game for their skill sets, before the bad habits set in.

I'm simply using Boyle as a name at this point. He's a UFA who is a former number one defenseman, who has a Stanley Cup on his resume and still can play a a decent level.

I'm glad they seem to be steadfast in refusing to trade the kids. I hope like Hell they keep Brayden Schenn and Seasn Couturier. I'm looking forward to working guys like Same Morin, Shayne Gostisbehere, Mark Alt and Robert Hagg into the line-up.

But they'll need help for the interim, and I'm extremely concerned about wasting years out of the prime of a talent like Claude Giroux.

Without dealing kids or picks, they have the free agency route to take. Boyle is probably the best all around guy in the group, besides Timonen. There's other options, all have less cache than Boyle, IMO, but there's some decent names out there.

Because the time he should have spent developing as a player against CHL and AHL competition was spent in the NHL, where he was often in over his head. A lot of times, when you're in over your head on a job, you learn a lot of bad habits.

And unlearning something is usually a lot harder than learning new things.

There's guys who are slower than Schenn that are still very capable, because they developed by learning good habits and the proper way to play the game for their skill sets, before the bad habits set in.
- Jsaquella

Ok. I'm still not sure there's a dman in the league that's slower than him and better. I think maybe he's passed grossman. I don't see a lot of bad habits or mistakes coming from him. I see a limited player having an average year

Ok. I'm still not sure there's a dman in the league that's slower than him and better. I think maybe he's passed grossman. I don't see a lot of bad habits or mistakes coming from him. I see a limited player having an average year
- Just5

You don't see mistakes? Nine times out of ten when he has a play that ends up behind Mason, it's because he made a bad read, or froze and blew coverage or picked a bad time for a hit.

When he makes a mistake, he lacks the speed to recover. But if he avoids the mistake initially, then his lack of speed is much less of an issue.

I guess my point is, adding Pronger now would not automatically fix the problems this team has. Would the help? Absolutely. It takes more than a stud D man is all I'm saying.
- feelingkettle

maybe if pronger is healthy then all the dancing to try to replace him doesn't happen and all that energy/money/effort goes into fixing the other problems you so correctly identify and the team is way better off

Ok. I'm still not sure there's a dman in the league that's slower than him and better. I think maybe he's passed grossman. I don't see a lot of bad habits or mistakes coming from him. I see a limited player having an average year
- Just5

Luke Schenn's lack of skating ability is ridiculously overblown in my opinion. The issues he has are very correctable, and really have nothing to do with his skating ability. While he is certainly not fast, he skates well enough to be a very good defenseman in this League.

You don't see mistakes? Nine times out of ten when he has a play that ends up behind Mason, it's because he made a bad read, or froze and blew coverage or picked a bad time for a hit.

When he makes a mistake, he lacks the speed to recover. But if he avoids the mistake initially, then his lack of speed is much less of an issue.
- Jsaquella

I just don't see a lot of mistakes. I don't think he will ever be considered a two way guy or top pairing defenseman. My expectations just aren't that. I expect he could become what grossman was a couple years ago when he was playing real well.

On a side note. Gostisbehre really does seem like a Krug clone. Hopefully he makes the jump next year. It will be interesting

maybe if pronger is healthy then all the dancing to try to replace him doesn't happen and all that energy/money/effort goes into fixing the other problems you so correctly identify and the team is way better off
- hogweed

That's really part and parcel of the issues. Losing Pronger led to the deals for Grossmann & Kubina. It probably played a role in trading for Luke Schenn. It definitely led to the pursuit of Suter and Weber.

The loss of Pronger, on top of the effort to fix the third pair after the 2010 playoffs led to the high cost of the defense.

That's really part and parcel of the issues. Losing Pronger led to the deals for Grossmann & Kubina. It probably played a role in trading for Luke Schenn. It definitely led to the pursuit of Suter and Weber.

The loss of Pronger, on top of the effort to fix the third pair after the 2010 playoffs led to the high cost of the defense.
- Jsaquella

bring back ziskey

I just don't see a lot of mistakes. I don't think he will ever be considered a two way guy or top pairing defenseman. My expectations just aren't that. I expect he could become what grossman was a couple years ago when he was playing real well.

On a side note. Gostisbehre really does seem like a Krug clone. Hopefully he makes the jump next year. It will be interesting
- Just5

I see nonstop mistakes. Look at the first goal last night, he freezes, and in conjunction with Rinaldo, screens Mason and the puck is in the net. He gets caught in space too often and he doesn't have the foot speed to recover.

That's why he looks so slow, because he's trying to recover from an initial mistake. Other guys who are slow don;t get caught because they read the play better and avoid the first mistake.

bring back ziskey
- hogweed

I changed it for the 16th anniversary of the release of Lebowski...Maybe I should go back to Ziskey. They were unbeaten then

I changed it for the 16th anniversary of the release of Lebowski...Maybe I should go back to Ziskey. They were unbeaten then
- Jsaquella

i can't even comprehend how that movie is 16 years old......ziskey! ziskey! ziskey!

i can't even comprehend how that movie is 16 years old......ziskey! ziskey! ziskey!
- hogweed

There...Happy now?

I see nonstop mistakes. Look at the first goal last night, he freezes, and in conjunction with Rinaldo, screens Mason and the puck is in the net. He gets caught in space too often and he doesn't have the foot speed to recover.

That's why he looks so slow, because he's trying to recover from an initial mistake. Other guys who are slow don;t get caught because they read the play better and avoid the first mistake.
- Jsaquella

Gardiner had all day to shoot the puck. There was no coverage at the point. Amazing that puck got through. He would've been better off pushing the Leaf at the net away as best he could to possibly let Mason see the puck.

There...Happy now?
- Jsaquella

thanks! that guy always made me laugh going back to sctv days. lets see if he can bring us a cup from 'beyond'

Gardiner had all day to shoot the puck. There was no coverage at the point. Amazing that puck got through. He would've been better off pushing the Leaf at the net away as best he could to possibly let Mason see the puck.
- MJL

it was like one of those dreams that happens in slow motion.....i was thinking this is taking WAY too long for someone not to get to him

I see nonstop mistakes. Look at the first goal last night, he freezes, and in conjunction with Rinaldo, screens Mason and the puck is in the net. He gets caught in space too often and he doesn't have the foot speed to recover.

That's why he looks so slow, because he's trying to recover from an initial mistake. Other guys who are slow don;t get caught because they read the play better and avoid the first mistake.
- Jsaquella

I'll try and key in on him. I know what your talking about when he freezes. The leafs look like a very bad matchup for the flyers d.

Gardiner had all day to shoot the puck. There was no coverage at the point. Amazing that puck got through. He would've been better off pushing the Leaf at the net away as best he could to possibly let Mason see the puck.
- MJL

It was a perfectly placed shot, and I'm not blaming Schenn for the goal, but I have seen him make similar "plays" before. It's like he freezes and tries to avoid making a mistake.