We're all guilty of making hasty calls on guys.

I was wrong about Streit as a player in year-1 of the deal, and hopefully I'll continue to be wrong in years 2-4 as well, because for better or worse, they're going to be leaning on him pretty hard for awhile.
- Tomahawk

I still think he gets bought out that last year. He had a bad start, but was playing great down the stretch. Somehow, his slow, goofy stride allows him to gain the offensive zone pretty easily.

I think he can put up 15G/40A with first-unit PP time. Very good at getting his shot through, just needs to utilize his slapper more.

Kadri and Stepan both had 18G/25A/44P
Schenn had 20G/21A/41P

Not a big difference. And, since they were playing first line, I'd argue Schenn's numbers are more impressive since he was on the second line (less talented players to play with).
- jmatchett383

I think he lands in Stepan territory, at least. Sather played hardball w/ Stepan. Homer doesn't play hardball with anybody. I wouldn't be confident that even a bridge deal would be sub-$3M.

I think he lands in Stepan territory, at least. Sather played hardball w/ Stepan. Homer doesn't play hardball with anybody. I wouldn't be confident that even a bridge deal would be sub-$3M.
- Tomahawk

I think he may WANT that money. But if he GETS that money, I'd be upset.

We're all guilty of making hasty calls on guys.

I was wrong about Streit as a player in year-1 of the deal, and hopefully I'll continue to be wrong in years 2-4 as well, because for better or worse, they're going to be leaning on him pretty hard for awhile.
- Tomahawk

I was wrong about Streit too. He was solid for this team. He'll be even more important on the PP next year.

He won't get it, but this is a case where it IS an honor to be nominated. Good for him. Not that he'll feel any better today. But he'll have fun in Vegas.
- bodiva88

Holy hell -- I'm reading Twitter, and oh my gosh.

It's OK to not have Giroux in your Top 3, not winning. That's fine. It's OK. But a couple of writers don't have Giroux in their Top 5.

I get it: Everyone has opinions. They watch the games, too.

But I'm just gonna say this: I don't even want to think about where the Flyers would be if they had to play this season without Claude Giroux. I can't even fathom how freaking awful that would go. I can't even fathom what it would've been.

If there's five guys or more who are more valuable to their teams than Giroux is to the Flyers, God bless them. Because I don't even know how that's possible.

I think he lands in Stepan territory, at least. Sather played hardball w/ Stepan. Homer doesn't play hardball with anybody. I wouldn't be confident that even a bridge deal would be sub-$3M.
- Tomahawk

I'm very interested to see what kind of contract Anton Stralman gets. Was very impressed with him in this series. He played much better than MacDonald did.

Holy hell -- I'm reading Twitter, and oh my gosh.

It's OK to not have Giroux in your Top 3, not winning. That's fine. It's OK. But a couple of writers don't have Giroux in their Top 5.

I get it: Everyone has opinions. They watch the games, too.

But I'm just gonna say this: I don't even want to think about where the Flyers would be if they had to play this season without Claude Giroux. I can't even fathom how freaking awful that would go. I can't even fathom what it would've been.

If there's five guys or more who are more valuable to their teams than Giroux is to the Flyers, God bless them. Because I don't even know how that's possible.
- AllInForFlyers

I could see some writers going with guys like Kopitar or Bergeron or Pietrangelo or Bishop or Rask or Chara or Keith

I'm very interested to see what kind of contract Anton Stralman gets. Was very impressed with him in this series. He played much better than MacDonald did.
- PLindbergh31

I hope its a lot or I'm going to be upset with Homer.

http://insider.espn.go.co...aig-custance/post?id=2550

I hope its a lot or I'm going to be upset with Homer.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think it will be as much as MacDonald got.

Gotta give to get, ma.
- bradleyc4

give them hartnell

Holy hell -- I'm reading Twitter, and oh my gosh.

It's OK to not have Giroux in your Top 3, not winning. That's fine. It's OK. But a couple of writers don't have Giroux in their Top 5.

I get it: Everyone has opinions. They watch the games, too.

But I'm just gonna say this: I don't even want to think about where the Flyers would be if they had to play this season without Claude Giroux. I can't even fathom how freaking awful that would go. I can't even fathom what it would've been.

If there's five guys or more who are more valuable to their teams than Giroux is to the Flyers, God bless them. Because I don't even know how that's possible.
- AllInForFlyers

A lot of writers equate Hart to "best player." Whether or not it's right, that's what it is.

If it really went to "player most valuable to his team," and you want a playoff team player to win, then it should go to Semyon Varlamov or Niklas Kronwall.

I think he may WANT that money. But if he GETS that money, I'd be upset.
- jmatchett383

I think he gets there just on the strength of comparables.

Jake, Hodgson and JvR got $4.25M and their numbers weren't that much better than Schenn's at the time.

Then you've got some guys who like Shaw, Colin Wilson and Marcus Johansson nearer $2M with slightly worse numbers.

I think Schenn ends up somewhere in the middle of all that.

I think he gets there just on the strength of comparables.

Jake, Hodgson and JvR got $4.25M and their numbers weren't that much better than Schenn's at the time.

Then you've got some guys who like Shaw, Colin Wilson and Marcus Johansson nearer $2M with slightly worse numbers.

I think Schenn ends up somewhere in the middle of all that.
- Tomahawk

Like I said, if he gets $2.25 or so, I'm okay. $3M would be a little too much, to me.

I think he gets there just on the strength of comparables.

Jake, Hodgson and JvR got $4.25M and their numbers weren't that much better than Schenn's at the time.

Then you've got some guys who like Shaw, Colin Wilson and Marcus Johansson nearer $2M with slightly worse numbers.

I think Schenn ends up somewhere in the middle of all that.
- Tomahawk

On a bridge deal, though, right? Gotta just be two years for him, I'm thinking

On a bridge deal, though, right? Gotta just be two years for him, I'm thinking
- AllInForFlyers

It should be. You'd hope so.

I'm very interested to see what kind of contract Anton Stralman gets. Was very impressed with him in this series. He played much better than MacDonald did.
- PLindbergh31

I think we put to bed the theory that AMac getting exposed with 20-25 minutes and tougher assignments was somehow unique to his being on the Islanders.

He was in way over his head this series... you could say shell-shocked.

On a bridge deal, though, right? Gotta just be two years for him, I'm thinking
- AllInForFlyers

All those were bridge deals.

I think we put to bed the theory that AMac getting exposed with 20-25 minutes and tougher assignments was somehow unique to his being on the Islanders.

He was in way over his head this series... you could say shell-shocked.
- Tomahawk

Yep.
STOP BEING AGREEABLE!

All those were bridge deals.
- Tomahawk

Not JVR.

saw the first 2 cups and after 39 years it still hurts...can someone please tape Snider making racial slurs

A lot of writers equate Hart to "best player." Whether or not it's right, that's what it is.

If it really went to "player most valuable to his team," and you want a playoff team player to win, then it should go to Semyon Varlamov or Niklas Kronwall.
- jmatchett383

The kicker with Giroux is that, for my money...well, I can't say it. The guy clearly is respected, because he was nominated.

But I think this season...he had, what, 30-plus more points than the Flyers' second-leading scorer?

I haven't crunched any numbers, though I might later. But man...that's a lot of heavy lifting from Giroux. I think Jake Voracek's a really good player, but he wasn't exactly Corey Perry to Ryan Getzlaf, you know?

Not JVR.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, JvR and Hodgson no, but the rest.

The kicker with Giroux is that, for my money...well, I can't say it. The guy clearly is respected, because he was nominated.

But I think this season...he had, what, 30-plus more points than the Flyers' second-leading scorer?

I haven't crunched any numbers, though I might later. But man...that's a lot of heavy lifting from Giroux. I think Jake Voracek's a really good player, but he wasn't exactly Corey Perry to Ryan Getzlaf, you know?
- AllInForFlyers

With all due respect to the rest of the team, without Giroux, we'd be talking lottery pick. Or complaining about Frick n Frack because Homer wouldn't have been able to trade them.

The kicker with Giroux is that, for my money...well, I can't say it. The guy clearly is respected, because he was nominated.

But I think this season...he had, what, 30-plus more points than the Flyers' second-leading scorer?

I haven't crunched any numbers, though I might later. But man...that's a lot of heavy lifting from Giroux. I think Jake Voracek's a really good player, but he wasn't exactly Corey Perry to Ryan Getzlaf, you know?
- AllInForFlyers

The issue is that he went 15 games without a goal. If he was even remotely productive (say, 3 goals and 6 assists) during that stretch, he has a much stronger case.

But none of those 3 players were truly the player most valuable to their team, at least not as much as some others. No way Colorado makes the playoffs without Varlamov, same with Kronwall on Detroit with all of their injuries.