Backes better not have shook Seabrook's hand.
- PLindbergh31

Backes did, excpet he shocked him with a buzzer when they shook. got him good.

One of those teams that needs to be tweaked. Great defense, and the play a very sound team game. But need a little more skill up front.
- MJL

Agree, I love Hitch as a head coach. Unfortunately, Hitch has only lasted 4 years in his last 3 coaching stops. He just completed his third season in St. Louis. I think he is a terrific coach, but I'm not sure it is set in stone he returns next season.

They've had instability in goal for a few years, I think they real push to resign Miller and address the forwards.

So Brodeur is classless for not shaking Avery's hand?
- PLindbergh31

Yes.

I cant look in the mirror
- Just5

We'll look in the mirror Tuesday night.

Agree, I love Hitch as a head coach. Unfortunately, Hitch has only lasted 4 years in his last 3 coaching stops. He just completed his third season in St. Louis. I think he is a terrific coach, but I'm not sure it is set in stone he returns next season.

They've had instability in goal for a few years, I think they real push to resign Miller and address the forwards.
- ravishingone

super blockbuster.

malkin for backes and pietrangelo.

super blockbuster.

malkin for backes and pietrangelo.
- stayinthefnnet

Interesting. If I'm Pittsburgh I do that in a heartbeat. But I don't think I would if I was St. Louis.

Interesting. If I'm Pittsburgh I do that in a heartbeat. But I don't think I would if I was St. Louis.
- MJL

totally agree. i dont think they would, nor should they.

Interesting. If I'm Pittsburgh I do that in a heartbeat. But I don't think I would if I was St. Louis.
- MJL

but as far as the whole untouchable debate goes. i consider malkin about as close as they come. you move them when you are blown away. and thats the kind of deal it would take. they could have their top 5 forward up front. him flanked by tarasenko and oshie.

Yes.
- MJL

Fair enough.

If I'm Berube I'm playing Gus and Laughton Tuesday night

Fair enough.

If I'm Berube I'm playing Gus and Laughton Tuesday night
- PLindbergh31

You think that lineup change is going to make a difference?

but as far as the whole untouchable debate goes. i consider malkin about as close as they come. you move them when you are blown away. and thats the kind of deal it would take. they could have their top 5 forward up front. him flanked by tarasenko and oshie.
- stayinthefnnet

I would seriously think about moving Malkin if I was the Pens. But like you said, it would have to be a huge return.

I think the Blues have holes at center. Backes #1 center. Their blueline is great, but up the middle is lacking. I don't see the need to have Backes and Ott both on the same team, offer a lot of the same talents.
- ravishingone

But my question is this: what piece(s) do you give up to make them better? Do you do something for Jason Spezza? How does the salary fit? Do you move one of the defenseman?

Do you bring back Miller?

Man...that team faces some tricky decisions, because as noted, Chicago is going nowhere and Colorado might get better if they upgrade that defense

We'll look in the mirror Tuesday night.
- MJL

Listen, i want the flyers to do well just as you do. I have a different expectation level for this team right now. I'm not surprised by anything that's happened this series. Coburn has played well, all year and all playoffs. I'm not sure what needs to happen. But I do know that I'm willing to be patient with the young players on this roster, and won't be upset if they address the hole on the blue line with a short veteran contract. I won't be upset if they trade one of the young centers for yound D help, I dont think they can get the player they need with including multiple multiple pieces much like the Pronger acquistion, I'd be more willing to wait and see one more year with our prospects and young players before doing something like that

.

So who the the whipping boy for this Summer?
- MJL

The Fraude, of course -- end it the way it started

but as far as the whole untouchable debate goes. i consider malkin about as close as they come. you move them when you are blown away. and thats the kind of deal it would take. they could have their top 5 forward up front. him flanked by tarasenko and oshie.
- stayinthefnnet

Makes no sense for St. Louis in my opinion. You just dont trade a player like pietro....for almost anything.

You think that lineup change is going to make a difference?
- MJL

Sure it could. Akeson has played well and contributed with very little NHL experience.
Why couldn't Laughton do the same?

And Gus brings mobility and puck moving. Flyers desperately need that.

But my question is this: what piece(s) do you give up to make them better? Do you do something for Jason Spezza? How does the salary fit? Do you move one of the defenseman?

Do you bring back Miller?

Man...that team faces some tricky decisions, because as noted, Chicago is going nowhere and Colorado might get better if they upgrade that defense
- AllInForFlyers

i could see colorado making a nice push for niskanen. i think hed do well there.

spezza is interesting. dont know what assets it would take. like you said, its hard to bring in without moving out.

Makes no sense for St. Louis in my opinion. You just dont trade a player like pietro....for almost anything.
- Just5

as i said, i dont think STL would do it. but thats the type of deal it would take to pry him out. and that regardless of what people say untouchable or not, if you get bowled over by a deal, things can change in a hurry.

Listen, i want the flyers to do well just as you do. I have a different expectation level for this team right now. I'm not surprised by anything that's happened this series. Coburn has played well, all year and all playoffs. I'm not sure what needs to happen. But I do know that I'm willing to be patient with the young players on this roster, and won't be upset if they address the hole on the blue line with a short veteran contract. I won't be upset if they trade one of the young centers for yound D help, I dont think they can get the player they need with including multiple multiple pieces much like the Pronger acquistion, I'd be more willing to wait and see one more year with our prospects and young players before doing something like that
- Just5

Plenty of time for all that talk in the off season. The Flyers have beaten the Rangers what, 5 times this Season? Why can't they beat them in game 6?

Sure it could. Akeson has played well and contributed with very little NHL experience.
Why couldn't Laughton do the same?

And Gus brings mobility and puck moving. Flyers desperately need that.
- PLindbergh31

Contribute? Sure they can. But neither is going to make the PP better. Or get the Flyers top forwards going offensively. And that's the issue with this team right now.

If Gustafsson was that good of a puck mover, he'd already be in the lineup.

The Fraude, of course -- end it the way it started
- AllInForFlyers

Regardless of what happens in this Series. I still believe in Giroux as a player. And still think he's the right guy to build this team around.

i could see colorado making a nice push for niskanen. i think hed do well there.

spezza is interesting. dont know what assets it would take. like you said, its hard to bring in without moving out.
- stayinthefnnet

They burned a few assets getting Miller in, but I'd have to look and see if any of it was conditional on how deep they went

I guess you could dangle Berglund, but man...hard to see them doing something that isn't gonna be costly

Regardless of what happens in this Series. I still believe in Giroux as a player. And still think he's the right guy to build this team around.
- MJL

Absolutely -- we disagree on what's gone down in this series, but we both agree about that

They burned a few assets getting Miller in, but I'd have to look and see if any of it was conditional on how deep they went

I guess you could dangle Berglund, but man...hard to see them doing something that isn't gonna be costly
- AllInForFlyers

at least you realize it. so many barroom fans just think you can snap your fingers and bring in talent. you have to give to get. i LOVE just sitting shooting the breeze with hypotheticals. teams dont need to be eliminated for me to find fun with it. but when people dont realize that you need to ship out to bring in, it drives me nuts.

Contribute? Sure they can. But neither is going to make the PP better. Or get the Flyers top forwards going offensively. And that's the issue with this team right now.

If Gustafsson was that good of a puck mover, he'd already be in the lineup.
- MJL

Gill missed an open net that could have changed the game, as well as being exposed defensively.
Rinaldo hardly plays. Laughton and Gus are better players than those players. Simple.