My concern with Niskanen is he that much better then MacDonald? What I mean, is he worth over $6 million a year when the Flyers already have significant cap allocated to Coburn, MacDonald, and Streit.

It will be interesting to see where they go.
- ravishingone

Niskanen is NOT the answer. If you look at this years available free agent D-Men there's not much available. The flyers have some good young prospects on the backend (Ghost, Hagg, Morin) now I'm not saying put all three in the lineup next season but I believe Hagg is probably the most NHL ready after playing the past couple seasons in the Swedish Elite League followed closely by Ghost.

For starters, they never really had a shot at Suter and Nashville wasn't going to let Weber go after losing Suter no matter what it cost them so the chances of either of them coming here were very slim.
- Daveflyers36

So what, they don't count? If they overvalue Coburn as you say, there's no reason they'd go after them. Coburn was arguably the #4 dman when we had Pronger, Carle, and Timonen.

If the Flyers lose on Tuesday with Gill and Rinaldo in the lineup Berube should be fired.

The Flyers had no chance at Suter because he didn't want to come here.
- Daveflyers36

i understand that and agree with that. but that wasnt really my point though. whether or not he wanted them, the flyers wanted him. just like they wanted weber. just like they wanted pronger. just like theyd be all over a guy like subban or pietrangelo should they miraculously become available. all while coburn is on the team.

i think the market and other teams valuing their assets are what precludes the flyers from not getting that number one while coburn on the team. not thinking "oh, we have coburn. were set".

hell, even if coburn WAS a number one guy. the flyers would still probably try to sign those guys.

The Flyers had no chance at Suter because he didn't want to come here.
- Daveflyers36

delete

If the Flyers lose on Tuesday with Gill and Rinaldo in the lineup Berube should be fired.
- Feanor

Whoa! Gus and Laughton? I...don't know if Chief is ready to do that

If we are talking about players that are overvalued then at a certain point it's fair to put Couturier on that list.

Niskanen is NOT the answer. If you look at this years available free agent D-Men there's not much available. The flyers have some good young prospects on the backend (Ghost, Hagg, Morin) now I'm not saying put all three in the lineup next season but I believe Hagg is probably the most NHL ready after playing the past couple seasons in the Swedish Elite League followed closely by Ghost.
- RobFlyers#1

niskanen definitely will help the flyers. he can skate the puck in, is phenomenal on the powerplay, and is pretty good at transition passes. all things the flyers need.

that being said, hes not duncan keith. and due to the current market/cap landscape, he will probably get an AAV pushing keiths. which sets him up for failed expectations.

If we are talking about players that are overvalued then at a certain point it's fair to put Couturier on that list.
- opeth_pa

Stop. Just STOP

If the Flyers lose on Tuesday with Gill and Rinaldo in the lineup Berube should be fired.
- Feanor

Gill was a horrible choice..... Rinaldo is effective when he is hitting but he's not doing that so....

Stop. Just STOP
- feelingkettle

Yes, Coots with his role and cap hit is pretty much untouchable after G and Voracek.

niskanen definitely will help the flyers. he can skate the puck in, is phenomenal on the powerplay, and is pretty good at transition passes. all things the flyers need.

that being said, hes not duncan keith. and due to the current market/cap landscape, he will probably get an AAV pushing keiths. which sets him up for failed expectations.
- stayinthefnnet

At what price tho??? Are you willing to overpay together him? I wouldnt

Stop. Just STOP
- feelingkettle

Why?
All Couturier has shown so far is potential.
After 3 years he needs to deliver on that potential some.
It's the same reason why i think B. Schenn may be overrated also..

As I have said all along..Im only willing to move Couturier for a legit number 1 dman under the age of 30 so that limits who i would trade him for to 1 or 2 players.

It is what it is at this point. Enjoy the last game or two. Don't let them give you too much hope before they crash and burn.

We all knew the Flyers had to bring their A game to go 7 games. Their D game got them to 6 games. Coulda been worse. Too bad the Rangers wont be banged up for round 2.

Yes, Coots with his role and cap hit is pretty much untouchable after G and Voracek.
- ravishingone

21 and he's already one of the best defensive centers in the league. BUT WAIT...what about his offense, you say? It will catch up, but his line has been generating a good amount of chances this series, and he's invaluable on the PK. He is a defensive beast who is still young and will do better offensively as he matures.

I'm always amazed that people would want to trade him. We'd be in even worse shape without him, and the female doging people would do when they watch him turn into a Selke contender on another team would be out of control.

Plus your top scorer has been a no show....and your pp blows.....as far as Emery and Mason being the reason why this series is tied, your correct....in Hockey, goaltenders are a very important part of the team....

- landros 2

teams dont win relying on 1 guy. i think a 3-1 lead says a lot about the series. nice try being a smart ass, enjoy the early summer

Yes, he does, and some team will give him that type of contract. My basic point with what is already on the Flyers roster and mix, not sure it is the best allocation of resources to invest in him. However with Kimmo's $6 million, Mez $4 million gone and move for example Grossmann at $4.2 million, giving Niskanen over $6 million can be accomplished.
- ravishingone

lets say nistaken is aquired at 6 million
put him with :
Macdonald ~5 mil
Streit ~5.2 mil
Coburn ~4.5 mil
Schenn ~3.6 mil
total: 24.6 million dollars in your top 5, which isn't all that dazzling to begin with.

I think Kimmo, Gorssmann and coburn are gone this offseason. They had their chance to unload coburn last summer, they won't get the same value for him a year older now.

EDIT: if you want to count Pronger's 5 million, its 29.6 million for the defense.

Why?
All Couturier has shown so far is potential.
After 3 years he needs to deliver on that potential some.
It's the same reason why i think B. Schenn may be overrated also..

As I have said all along..Im only willing to move Couturier for a legit number 1 dman under the age of 30 so that limits who i would trade him for to 1 or 2 players.
- opeth_pa

His potential is to be one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He already is that at 21. Only thing that needs to come around is his offensive game. But he's 21.

His potential is to be one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He already is that at 21. Only thing that needs to come around is his offensive game. But he's 21.
- feelingkettle

Don't disagree and if I could move him to get a Weber , Subban , OEL type player I would.

lets say nistaken is aquired at 6 million
put him with :
Macdonald ~5 mil
Streit ~5.2 mil
Coburn ~4.5 mil
Schenn ~3.6 mil
total: 24.6 million dollars in your top 5, which isn't all that dazzling to begin with.

I think Kimmo, Gorssmann and coburn are gone this offseason. They had their chance to unload coburn last summer, they won't get the same value for him a year older now.

EDIT: if you want to count Pronger's 5 million, its 29.6 million for the defense.
- the deaninator

6 million for Niskanen is crazy.....

Yes, Coots with his role and cap hit is pretty much untouchable after G and Voracek.
- ravishingone

After Giroux....there are no untouchables....I like Couturier....but 'untouchable' ? His best year has been 13 goals!!!!! That hardly ranks in the untouchable category.

At what price tho??? Are you willing to overpay together him? I wouldnt
- RobFlyers#1

i dont like the idea of overpaying for anyone. but then again, i probably wouldnt have many agents calling me back on free agent day as a GM. this market is ridiculous.

id love the pens to sign him to the exact deal you guys gave Amac. but i dont see that happening.

Don't disagree and if I could move him to get a Weber , Subban , OEL type player I would.
- opeth_pa

What I would rather have happen is the Flyers to draft D men well so you don't have to keep trading away the future of the franchise.

His potential is to be one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He already is that at 21. Only thing that needs to come around is his offensive game. But he's 21.
- feelingkettle

Still don't make him untouchable.....just puts his value very high in the minds of the Flyers...

What I would rather have happen is the Flyers to draft D men well so you don't have to keep trading away the future of the franchise.
- feelingkettle

I see no reason to think why one of the dmen they drafted recently doesn't turn into that.