Seriously?

Not sure why he gets bashed, he's been a stabilizing player on this back line since his acquisition, also steading Luke's game a ton.

So he's not a $3.5 million a year player?
- puckhead17

Homer will not settle for under 5 mill a year

It also doesn't help that Grossmann isn't very good. He's a limited, stay at home 4/5 guy who doesn't posses good puck skills, sometimes has issues reading plays and can get beat positionally because of it.

I'm not saying that to start another Grossmann war, but the guy isn't that good and hasn't been for most of the year. He's had some good games, but he's hardly a stalwart defensive defenseman.
- Jsaquella

Noone is saying he is but it amazes me he shoulders all the blame when he is on the ice.

I'll disagree here. Amac looks good to me. He tends to get thrown out with the 2nd line a lot. That can't help. I'd take amac over those other guys for similar money
- Just5

He looks solid to me, as well. But he's also not exactly what I'd call a difficult to replace piece of the puzzle, either. He's very similar to Hainsey or Stralman in most facets of the game.

Smart cap management means finding cheaper guys that can do what a guy demanding a premium can do. People want to shred Holmgren over cap management, then are willing to pay more for a guy with similar ability to a potentially cheaper player.

It's not really comparing Gustafsson to MacDonald-even though the Flyers were able to roll 3 pairs before MacDonald arrived, when they used Gustafsson with Schenn...and actually, the advanced stats for Schenn are similar with Gus compared to what they are with MacDonald.

It's about being smart in utilizing a finite asset-cap space. They only get so much cap space, they have to allocate it wisely. That's why I mention Stralman or Hainsey, two guys similar or arguably better than MacDonald, who will command salaries similar to, or less than, what MacDonald will make.

Grossmann is one dimensional, as well. He's getting $3.5mm for his lone dimension, which is usually easily added for about $1.5-$2mm less than what Grossmann is getting paid. If They do keep MacDonald, I'd like to see Grossmann be shipped out.
- Jsaquella

Yes but that Schenn/Gus pair was a turnover machine. Mac has stabilized this d corps and they've played better as a unit since the trade.

I do agree about Grossman. Trade him to the Oilers at the along with a conditional pick for their 3rd rounder. I could dig that.

Maybe next season we'll see Gus as a regular

Noone is saying he is but it amazes me he shoulders all the blame when he is on the ice.
- Daveflyers36

I don;t see anyone laying all the blame on him. Somebody said he played badly yesterday. I'd say that's a fair assesment. If you're making $3.5mm to be a defensive defenseman, you need to be a good defensive player night in and out. He's not.

Homer will not settle for under 5 mill a year
- vejim

Not sure where his salary will end up, or if we can keep him.

We are still paying Streit 1/2 a ton of money for only possessing a heavy slap shot, and nothing else?

MacDonald has been a better all around defenseman for us then Streit has, albeit in only a few weeks.

Seriously?

Not sure why he gets bashed, he's been a stabilizing player on this back line since his acquisition, also steading Luke's game a ton.

So he's not a $3.5 million a year player?
- puckhead17

I'd be happy with him getting $3.5mm a year. The trouble is, he's likely to get $4.5 or $5mm per year.

He gets bashed by stat heads because his possession numbers are terrible, both here and with the Isles.

He could possibly head over to the SEL.
- Jsaquella

i actually dreamt last night that he quit


i guess working a ten hour day then hurrying home to watch the dvr'd loss really hurt me in the psyche

Yes but that Schenn/Gus pair was a turnover machine. Mac has stabilized this d corps and they've played better as a unit since the trade.

I do agree about Grossman. Trade him to the Oilers at the along with a conditional pick for their 3rd rounder. I could dig that.

Maybe next season we'll see Gus as a regular
- Giroux_Is_God

Actually, the turnover numbers are only slightly better with MacDonald and Meszaros also played a lot with Schenn, and was as guilty as anyone for the poor puck play.

If we see Gus as a regular it will likely be elsewhere.

i actually dreamt last night that he quit


i guess working a ten hour day then hurrying home to watch the dvr'd loss really hurt me in the psyche
- -davies-

The first 40 minutes was fun.

I don;t see anyone laying all the blame on him. Somebody said he played badly yesterday. I'd say that's a fair assesment. If you're making $3.5mm to be a defensive defenseman, you need to be a good defensive player night in and out. He's not.
- Jsaquella

And all I was saying is that there are suppose to be 2 d-man on the ice and when Grossman is out there, he is the only one. Streit is nothing but a forward on the back end. I understand that Grossman isn't that good but he is hung out to dry by his counterpart and because Streit brings somewhat of an offensive element, he is given a pass.

I'd be happy with him getting $3.5mm a year. The trouble is, he's likely to get $4.5 or $5mm per year.

He gets bashed by stat heads because his possession numbers are terrible, both here and with the Isles.
- Jsaquella

You need to check the comparable salaries around the league again, as well as, he's a UFA, AND, he's made Luke a better player.

edit, possession numbers by stat heads are great, but, when the Rangers were winning every night blocking shot after shot under the reign of Torts, all that stuff meant very little.

If ville doesn't score his first goal in 55 games tonight it will be shocking

I wonder how large he looms in their future plans. He's not much more than a 4/5 himself, but he brings an element they've been lacking more so than the other 4/5/6 guys they're dressing.

I do worry that they'll hand MacDonald a huge deal when they have Gustafsson who can handle the mobility and puck moving assets that were the main reason that they traded for MacDonald
- Jsaquella

Gus wasn't able to break into Lavi's lineup, either. Maybe there's something that we're all missing.

Gus wasn't able to break into Lavi's lineup, either. Maybe there's something that we're all missing.
- tangent_man

When Gustafsson was healthy, he averaged top four minutes for Laviolette's last team.

You need to check the comparable salaries around the league again, as well as, he's a UFA, AND, he's made Luke a better player.
- puckhead17

He turned down $4mm a year from the Isles, and it's rumored he's seeking $5mm a year and it's arguable that he made Schenn a better player.

Schenn's possession stats are worse with MacDonald than with other partners. He's done a better job of limiting his mistakes, but how much of that is MacDonald and how much is Schenn simply playing better because he's not getting benched and has more confidence?

If ville doesn't score his first goal in 55 games tonight it will be shocking
- FrankDrebbin

He got a 9th round shootout winner the other night, I believe. Still funny as hell to see how far he's fallen after getting the payday.

He got a 9th round shootout winner the other night, I believe. Still funny as hell to see how far he's fallen after getting the payday.
- tangent_man

He is the best non signing the Flyers ever had.

He turned down $4mm a year from the Isles, and it's rumored he's seeking $5mm a year and it's arguable that he made Schenn a better player.

Schenn's possession stats are worse with MacDonald than with other partners. He's done a better job of limiting his mistakes, but how much of that is MacDonald and how much is Schenn simply playing better because he's not getting benched and has more confidence?
- Jsaquella

...maybe he just didn't want to play for that poopty Islander team

He is the best non signing the Flyers ever had.
- Daveflyers36

I was preaching "Keep Ville in Philly" for weeks on end.

My tune changed on a dime when he said he wanted upwards of 5 mil.

I was like yup nope bye

He turned down $4mm a year from the Isles, and it's rumored he's seeking $5mm a year.
- Jsaquella

Wasn't Mr. "I only possess a hard slap shot, nothing else", Streit in line for the same UFA payday?

I will pay MacDonald the money before I sign another check over to him, Streit hasn't improved, or stabilized any other defenseman on this team while playing with them.
Mac has made a better player out of Luke, & is a much better fit for this team.

EDIT

MacDonald should get lowballed, while we pay Vinnie & Streit handsomely for their highlight reel slap shots.

He turned down $4mm a year from the Isles, and it's rumored he's seeking $5mm a year and it's arguable that he made Schenn a better player.

Schenn's possession stats are worse with MacDonald than with other partners. He's done a better job of limiting his mistakes, but how much of that is MacDonald and how much is Schenn simply playing better because he's not getting benched and has more confidence?
- Jsaquella

Possession numbers by stat heads are great, but, when the Rangers were winning every night blocking shot after shot under the reign of Torts, all that stuff meant very little.

He is the best non signing the Flyers ever had.
- Daveflyers36

I'd take him back cheap after he gets bought out though.

I'd take him back cheap after he gets bought out though.
- FrankDrebbin

I would too.

He'd look good on tthe Flyers' fourth line. That's a joke, but I'm also dead serious.

When Gustafsson was healthy, he averaged top four minutes for Laviolette's last team.
- Jsaquella

You and your damn stats. I forgot about that.