If that deal was accepted, Homer would have a job for the rest of his life.
- Flyersgod

Hell, lets throw in that Akeson guy. I heard he's sure-fire Hart Ross material.

Grossman I think will be a cap casualty. Kimmo should definitely not be back, regardless of whether he officially wants to retire or not.

If Alt or Lauridsen aren't ready to hold down a bottom-6 job, it just means you signing two FA's to help back on D. This doesn't include resigning AMac, who I think without question should be brought back.

Ron Hainsey is a FA who immediately jumps out at me. Other guys I'd have some interest in are Mark Fayne, Chris Butler, Anton Belov, Tom Gilbert, and Kyle Quincey.....roughly in that order.
- mochoson

I'm still shocked that Kimo got 6mil to come back this year. Really thought he would have taken a discount or something...

Schenn-Giroux-Read
Hartnell-Lecavlier-Voracek
Downie-Couturier-Simmonds
McGinn-Raffl-Hall

Thoughts?
- mochoson

I've been wanting to go back to what was working for B Schenn earlier this season.

Raffl-G-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Simmonds
Downie-Coots-Read
McGinn-Vinny-Hall

If Schenn shows nothing, switch him and Vinny.

I love the thought of Read with Giroux. I really think he could be a top scoring threat playing with Giroux. But we saw last night, how Downie was largely responsible for 2 goals against. And Simmonds is not exactly a defensive forward. So from a defensive and matchup standpoint. That line doesn't work for me.
- MJL

I think having Coots on that line will kind of balance it out. That's where a coach steps in and says, "Hey, as wingers, you two need to make these adjustments on this line. This is different from the (primarily) scoring lines you've been on"

I think that line-up can work. Downie definitely did have a bad game last night, but he's just having a down year period.

I would actually LOVE to have Downie back. Give him the summer to get fully healthy and recharge. He's a RFA, no? We own his rights no matter what. How expensive could he POSSIBLY be after the season he's had?

Ditto on the Read/Giroux thing as well. I was just thinking this to myself the other day when I realized Matt Read doesn't even have 40 points on this team. IMO, Matt Read could score upwards of 50, easily, playing with Giroux.

Well, you don't...
- MunsterMike

Stanley Cup... check.
Big, strong, fast... check.
Producing at elite level... check.
Right-handed... check.

Yeah, no interest at all.

I've been wanting to go back to what was working for B Schenn earlier this season.

Raffl-G-Voracek
Hartnell-Schenn-Simmonds
Downie-Coots-Read
McGinn-Vinny-Hall

If Schenn shows nothing, switch him and Vinny.
- The_Universe

This would work too. However, I think this only works if Schenn plays well. If Schenn isn't going to be a 2nd line center, he's got to at least be a top-9 winger. I don't like him as the 4th line center.

Unless Berube tries him there and it lights some kind of fire in him, sending him on a tear.

Idk, lots of different options. They gotta switch some stuff up though, cause were heading into these playoffs ice cold right now on basically all fronts, save maybe in goal.

Stanley Cup... check.
Big, strong, fast... check.
Producing at elite level... check.
Right-handed... check.

Yeah, no interest at all.
- Tomahawk

Can play defense.. check
Can play forward.. check
Can dominate the front of the net against hall of fame dmen.. check
Can dominate the front of the net against hall of fame omen.. check
Doesn't impress MJL at all... check

I want him more than ever now.

Personally i don't want Schenn anywhere near the top line. We can't afford for our first line to not produce and he's been pretty ineffective lately (minus his 2 goals a few games ago).
- Flyersgod

The idea was if he can't produce there with Giroux and Jake, he probably needs to be relocated to a bottom 6 wing spot.

This would work too. However, I think this only works if Schenn plays well. If Schenn isn't going to be a 2nd line center, he's got to at least be a top-9 winger. I don't like him as the 4th line center.

Unless Berube tries him there and it lights some kind of fire in him, sending him on a tear.

Idk, lots of different options. They gotta switch some stuff up though, cause were heading into these playoffs ice cold right now on basically all fronts, save maybe in goal.
- mochoson

Hartnell/Giroux/Voracek
Simmonds/Vinny/Read
Schenn/Coots/Raffl
Rinaldo/Hall/Anyone

Can play defense.. check
Can play forward.. check
Can dominate the front of the net against hall of fame dmen.. check
Can dominate the front of the net against hall of fame omen.. check
Doesn't impress MJL at all... check

I want him more than ever now.
- Flyersgod

Offenseman... I like it!

("It's OK that Vinny can't play D... he's just an offenseman")

The idea was if he can't produce there with Giroux and Jake, he probably needs to be relocated to a bottom 6 wing spot.
- mochoson

10-4. He started off the year pretty well, but tailed off. I don't like him, but i'd rather him have a monster year and raise his value to an astronomical level.

Offenseman... I like it!
- Tomahawk

Had to try to stay on one line [/img]

Is it me or does Tampa get up for the Flyers for some reason?

I'm not saying they aren't good, but they seem to play at playoff like intensity against the Flyers the past few years.

Is it me or does Tampa get up for the Flyers for some reason?

I'm not saying they aren't good, but they seem to play at playoff like intensity against the Flyers the past few years.
- johndewar

They're a really really good team.

Well, you don't...
- MunsterMike

I wouldn't mind having Byfuglien on the team, but I wouldn't want to give up much of anything to get him. Too risky.

Is it me or does Tampa get up for the Flyers for some reason?

I'm not saying they aren't good, but they seem to play at playoff like intensity against the Flyers the past few years.
- johndewar

They are simply a good team (look at their record) and the Flyers, for whatever reason, can't handle the way they play, even when they overhauled their system.

They're a really really good team.
- Flyersgod

Jon Cooper is coach of the year IMO.

Initially, I would have voted for Roy. The Avs were suppose to be cellar dwellers this year. Not one analyst across any outlet pegged them as even a playoff bubble team, let alone 50 wins.

But for the Lighting to be where they're at in a season where they traded their PPG scoring Captain and lost their best player for half a season is nothing short of remarkable.

Cooper's got guys like Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat playing like seasoned top 6 scorers this year. Both rookies. The Lighting are definitely a good team on paper, but the coaching has definitely been top notch.

3-7 in the last 10. 8 of a possible 20 points. Wins against Toronto, Buffalo and Florida. All while pushing toward the playoffs. They better wake up, especially the first line, or no matter who they play they'll be out in 4 or 5.

Another wasted year?

They are simply a good team (look at their record) and the Flyers, for whatever reason, can't handle the way they play, even when they overhauled their system.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, they don't seem to do well against any team that feeds off the first mistake, especially teams that play a patient defensive system and/or a possession style.

They are simply a good team (look at their record) and the Flyers, for whatever reason, can't handle the way they play, even when they overhauled their system.
- jmatchett383

I didn't mean to imply I didn't think they were good.

It just looks like they enjoy playing and beating the Flyers.

This could all be in my head, fwiw.

3-7 in the last 10. 8 of a possible 20 points. Wins against Toronto, Buffalo and Florida. All while pushing toward the playoffs. They better wake up, especially the first line, or no matter who they play they'll be out in 4 or 5.

Another wasted year?
- mayorofangrytown

Heading into the final weekend in 2010, they were on a 3-7 streak. Not the optimal way to go in (and you're not gonna get a matchup like they did with NJ that year), but it's far from impossible to get things going.

3-7 in the last 10. 8 of a possible 20 points. Wins against Toronto, Buffalo and Florida. All while pushing toward the playoffs. They better wake up, especially the first line, or no matter who they play they'll be out in 4 or 5.

Another wasted year?
- mayorofangrytown

The year isn't wasted even if they get swept.

They are simply a good team (look at their record) and the Flyers, for whatever reason, can't handle the way they play, even when they overhauled their system.
- jmatchett383

Tampa got more breaks/bounces than the Flyers last night, and they seemed to want it more. Emery, though I wouldn't say he gave up any weak goals, looked average. And Downie was picking daisies on the ice.

3-7 in the last 10. 8 of a possible 20 points. Wins against Toronto, Buffalo and Florida. All while pushing toward the playoffs. They better wake up, especially the first line, or no matter who they play they'll be out in 4 or 5.

Another wasted year?
- mayorofangrytown

Welp, in October, there was no threat of even caring if they were scoring in the run up to the playoffs because some fans were wanting to look at Central Scouting rankings, with the way the Flyers came out of the gate.

I agree, there is cause for concern, but there are a few more games; let's see how it plays out. Anyone they play in the playoffs is going to be good.

Tampa got more breaks/bounces than the Flyers last night, and they seemed to want it more. Emery, though I wouldn't say he gave up any weak goals, looked average. And Downie was picking daisies on the ice.
- wolfhounds

Downie has 2 games to get things figured out before the playoffs start. I really hope that he does.