In response to the Norris nominations question...

Karlsson
Keith
Pietrangelo

Karlsson would be a runaway winner if he wasn't -15. Far and away the highest scoring d-man, plays 2nd most minutes by a wide margin over the other guys, only Suter plays more. 17 goals to Keith's 3 and AP's 8. But of course, the -15 might haunt him, and playing for a non-playoff team.

Looks like we lack a #1 defender. Not gonna cut it. Worse than this season. They need to make a trade for a Legit D-Man
- GOA88

They've lacked a #1 all season and sit at pretty much a .600 win % since around November.

Why are we assuming he's going to need to stand on his head?

Seems like every game he's played this year, the flyers have been atrocious in front of him. Why don't we look at that instead of jumping down the throat of the goalie like sheep.

The flyers can win this game tonight if the for echeck hard and move their feet. That's the winning formula and if the play that game, the can beat any team in the league. The talent and depth is there.
- Giroux_Is_God

meh, its ok...after they got destroyed in back to backs against the Penguins this weekend, it is natural for him to feel down on the team and feel like they don't have a shot against Chicago.

Niskanen would depend on price and whether Kimmo comes back for me.
- JFlyers00

Kimmo on 1-year deal @ $6M > Niskanen on 7-year deal @ $6M/per.

Kimmo on 1-year deal @ $6M > Niskanen on 7-year deal @ $6M.
- Tomahawk

Don't do it, Homer.

In response to Emery in net tonight...

Hoping he plays well, Mase needs a rest. A 4-3 game sounds about right, not sure which teams comes out on top. Couts line vs Toews line is a must. Jake and G need to lead this team tonight, get us out front in the 1st period. Raanta or Crawford, doesn't matter. Play with confidence from the domination of the Pens this weekend, they showed they can play with the big boys.

Kimmo on 1-year deal @ $6M > Niskanen on 7-year deal @ $6M/per.
- Tomahawk

Agreed. Generally, I'd prefer to rent Kimmo for another year to buying a non-#1 defender for #1 defender money.

- PhillySportsGuy

My head hurts from that guy's posts... Every single time.

They've lacked a #1 all season and sit at pretty much a .600 win % since around November.
- Giroux_Is_God

At least we have Timonen, next year we probably wont and Niskanen couldnt hold Timonens jock strap. So what are you getting at???

In response to the Norris nominations question...

Karlsson
Keith
Pietrangelo

Karlsson would be a runaway winner if he wasn't -15. Far and away the highest scoring d-man, plays 2nd most minutes by a wide margin over the other guys, only Suter plays more. 17 goals to Keith's 3 and AP's 8. But of course, the -15 might haunt him, and playing for a non-playoff team.
- Rocktane

The Norris goes to the best all around defenseman. Not the guy who scores the most. This isn't the Art Ross of defenseman award.

I've always felt there should be multiple awards for defenseman like there are for forwards. Give one award for top scoring dman and one award for best all around dman (Norris). I feel people rely too much on scoring stats to decide the Norris. Anyone who think Karlsson has had a better year than Pietrangelo or Keith or Suter or Weber or Subban isn't watching enough hockey.

My head hurts from that guy's posts... Every single time.
- FlyersSteve118

My posts?

They are atrocious in front of any goalie we put in the net. Mason just seems to be able to make the saves. Thats the difference.
- GOA88

K

Agreed. Generally, I'd prefer to rent Kimmo for another year to buying a non-#1 defender for #1 defender money.
- BulliesPhan87

Thank you sir

Agreed. Generally, I'd prefer to rent Kimmo for another year to buying a non-#1 defender for #1 defender money.
- BulliesPhan87

And all because they didn't save enough tagging room to re-up Carle when his value was $4-5M.

Kimmo on 1-year deal @ $6M > Niskanen on 7-year deal @ $6M/per.
- Tomahawk

Kimmo on a 1 year deal at $6M is a big mistake.

Thank you sir
- GOA88

I agree that he will probably get over paid, but he is very good young d-man.

In response to the Norris nominations question...

Karlsson
Keith
Pietrangelo

Karlsson would be a runaway winner if he wasn't -15. Far and away the highest scoring d-man, plays 2nd most minutes by a wide margin over the other guys, only Suter plays more. 17 goals to Keith's 3 and AP's 8. But of course, the -15 might haunt him, and playing for a non-playoff team.
- Rocktane

When was the last time a dman won with a minus season? I think if it ever happened that would be a travesty. Sure, it usually goes to the best offensive defenseman, but they have to at least make a show of it having something to do with being ok in your own end.

Looks like we lack a #1 defender. Not gonna cut it. Worse than this season. They need to make a trade for a Legit D-Man
- GOA88

If your top 6 is solid and work well together you dont need a "number 1". Pair guys together so they compliment eachother. Niskanen is fast and a good puck mover. Schenn is a great hitter and shot blocker. Good pairing IMO.

MacDonald and Coburn are almost similiar players. They both have good speed, and decent outlets. They are very solid in shutdown and would likely be matched up against top units with couturier's line.

Streit is a great puck mover with offensive game and Morin will be a physically punishing BRUTE. And we can shelter thier defencies by having them on the same unit.

We have some cap space now. Flyers should sign Gagne and have a fourth line of

Gagne Lecav Akeson
and move Raffl up to the second line. That way we have 4 scoring lines and could use our fourth line for like 10 - 12min a night if possible. No team has that kind of scoring depth lol. Im not even sure if we are allowed to sign a guy after the trade deadline though.

Harts G Voracek
Raffl schenn simmonds
downie couts read
gags lecav akeson

I dunno, looks sweet to me.
- FlyersSteve118

I'm not going to go in depth here, but aside from playing defense or goalie, the 4th line is the worst possible place for Akeson.

My posts?
- PhillySportsGuy

No the SchennBros guy you responded to. I enjoy reading the stuff you got to say, even if I disagree with it, it at least makes a lot of sense.

Kimmo on 1-year deal @ $6M > Niskanen on 7-year deal @ $6M/per.
- Tomahawk

I hope Timonen does come back, 1 year @ 5M. I'm thinking Homer tries his best to lock up MacDonald, since he traded assets for him. I'm not sure Niskanen fits in with our plans if both Timonen and MacDonald are brought back. Timonen, Coburn, Streit, Schenn, Grossmann, MacDonald, Gus.

Of course, there is always the potential for a trade or three.

At least we have Timonen, next year we probably wont and Niskanen couldnt hold Timonens jock strap. So what are you getting at???
- GOA88

I'm getting at this team has played well this season even without a "#1 dman".

Maybe... Just maybe...trading for a #1 isn't worth losing some of this core?

My head hurts from that guy's posts... Every single time.
- FlyersSteve118

HERE

I'm not going to go in depth here, but aside from playing defense or goalie, the 4th line is the worst possible place for Akeson.
- jmatchett383

Well I was kinda putting this up there like it was four scoring lines and no actual "fourth line" even though there is four lines... If was a random hypothetical.

When was the last time a dman won with a minus season? I think if it ever happened that would be a travesty. Sure, it usually goes to the best offensive defenseman, but they have to at least make a show of it having something to do with being ok in your own end.
- MBFlyerfan

If you watch Karlsson play, he leaves his team vulnerable quite a bit. He's always thinking offense. Guys like Pietrangelo and Keith could put up points like Karlsson if they played aggressively like him.