when're you gonna be on steam again? got a nerd question for you
- BulliesPhan87

i'll be on later tonight i'm at work right now

Ah, but if the chicken is in the process of laying the egg, or has laid the egg, then obviously, Raptor Jesus created the chicken first, as the egg was dependent on the chicken, while the chicken was dependent on Raptor Jesus.

EPIC FIAL!
- jmatchett383

Stop questioning Raptor Jesus and eat your vegetables

Raptor Jesus created a chicken, which was laying an egg at the exact time of creation. This means they happened at the same time.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd expect any stay-at-home, shot-blocking defenseman who's part of a team that probably led the league in odd-man rushes against would have poor imaginary stats.
- jmatchett383

Goals scored for and against are the least imaginary stats available.

While outside the NHL? Quite a few. While already with NHL games over parts of several seasons under their belts? Not many.
- bmeltzer

I just feel like NHL pro scouts/coaches have a strong bias against small-EU dmen, unless they're so obviously skilled that they just can't be ignored.

I look at a guy like Andre Benoit, who went from a complete afterthought to the Sens, and became a critical member of the Avs' blueline. Ditto a guy like Diaz who played really well at times in a top-4 role in Montreal before getting unceremoniously dumped twice this season, for nothing more than Dale Weise. And Stralman, who went from failing to make the Devils on a PTO to a top-4 on one of the better bluelines in the league.

Big, strong, fast Western Canadian dmen are always going to be the ideal... and small European finesse dmen seem generally undervalued.

If I'm the Flyers, I'm hanging on to Gus and giving him more of a shot at the top-6. Maybe he's nothing more than a Yannick Weber, but he's also at the age where underrated guys like Kimmo, Visnovsky and Zidlicky started to show their stuff.

I think he add a dimension this teams really needs. I wouldn't go above $7M thought. $7M is even pushing it for me and I'm part of the Niskanen fan club.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think Niskanen gets you guys what you need. Already have similar dmen in AMac and Streit. If you add Nisk to the mix, you would have a lot of $ tied up in 3 dmen who aren't particularly physical and certainly aren't #1 dmen. Hell, perhaps not even #2.

I think Nisk ends up somewhere in the $6 mill range. Cant see a team throwing 7+ at him. That would be a ridiculous contract, even with a week FA dmen crop.

I think you need your GM to make one of those under-the-radar signings or trades to get some beef back there. Signing #3 defensemen from division rivals to long term deals probably isn't good for business.

When you look at Grossmann-Streit in its simplest form, it looks like a pair that could work. Big, defensive defenseman with smaller offensive defenseman. The pairing just didn't work that well together. They were good together in the playoffs though.

Berube did the same thing with VL,Schenn and Simmonds. I'm not sure how long that needed to fail before he realized it just wasn't going to work.

I'm still a bit confused about Rinaldo playing so much. I think he took a step back this season. I thought he was one of the few bright spots last season. It was like Berube was trying to sell him as a good defensive forward. He's not even close to being at that level.
- PhillySportsGuy

those two were awful when NG was having his terrible month. As the season progressed the actually looked much better, and in the playoff series I thought they were real good.

I don't think Niskanen gets you guys what you need. Already have similar dmen in AMac and Streit. If you add Nisk to the mix, you would have a lot of $ tied up in 3 dmen who aren't particularly physical and certainly aren't #1 dmen. Hell, perhaps not even #2.

I think Nisk ends up somewhere in the $6 mill range. Cant see a team throwing 7+ at him. That would be a ridiculous contract, even with a week FA dmen crop.

I think you need your GM to make one of those under-the-radar signings or trades to get some beef back there. Signing #3 defensemen from division rivals to long term deals probably isn't good for business.
- 87_71_11_29

Niskanen is better than a #3 defenseman. He's been arguably your best defenseman all season.

Trust me. Niskanen is a significantly better player than Streit and MacDonald.

those two were awful when NG was having his terrible month. As the season progressed the actually looked much better, and in the playoff series I thought they were real good.
- Marc D

I never thought they worked well because neither can skate. I thought Streit was better with MacDonald. Even those two had their adventures though.

I think he took baby steps in his third pro season whereas people were hoping for a quantum leap. He also had a pretty ineffective series against the Rangers.

There are two ways of looking at Schenn -- one is that he's still young and has shown he can be a 20-goal scorer (since he didn't this year). He should still have a little more improvement to come. The other is to question his hockey sense and how much better he'll actually get and whether he'll ever settle in full time as either a center or wing.

Unlike Couturier, Schenn's main value right now IS his stats. He is not currently a bona fide second liner on a Cup-caliber team. Could he become that? I don't know the answer. What I do know is that it's foolish to give up on him out of frustration but equally foolish not to consider trades that could improve the club that might compel the Flyers to include him in the trade.
- bmeltzer

Brayden was at times frustrating to watch this season.
He has moments where you can see his skill.
As a center he isn't the best at carrying the puck and he seemed at times to lose more 50/50 battles then he wins.

I think he could shine as a productive center with a puck possession winger at his side, like Voracek. I did not like him together with Lacavalier. They seemed to bring out the worst in each other except for the very start of the season.

Goals scored for and against are the least imaginary stats available.
- Feanor

And 10000000% dependent solely on the individual.

Goals scored for and against are the least imaginary stats available.
- Feanor

I'm fine w/ Grossmann if he were relegated to the 3rd-pairing, even at his cap number.

I just don't think you can keep trotting him out there in top-4 minutes if the goal is to get better at ES, aka have the puck a little bit more.

My co-worker just now: "Steve Mason is a better goalie than Lundqvist!"

That is all.

I'm fine w/ Grossmann if he were relegated to the 3rd-pairing, even at his cap number.

I just don't think you can keep trotting him out there in top-4 minutes if the goal is to get better at ES, aka have the puck a little bit more.
- Tomahawk

I don't like having so many players who are below average puck handlers on defense. It just makes everything more difficult for the team. Thats why I think Schenn or Grossmann should be swapped out for a more mobile puck mover.

I never thought they worked well because neither can skate. I thought Streit was better with MacDonald. Even those two had their adventures though.
- PhillySportsGuy

whoever said the D was a patchwork mess was correct

so many questions again this summer, and likely a real solution only happens in 3+ years IF the prospects pan out

Kimmo coming back? I was in favor and now I'm leaning the other way.
If he doesn't come back I think there will be a drop off with Coburn's play.
If he does come back, he will need even more selective minutes and we can watch another year of all those hooks called on him when the other team's forward gets behind him.

from what I saw of Ghost I don't think he is the answer NEXT year.

whoever said the D was a patchwork mess was correct

so many questions again this summer, and likely a real solution only happens in 3+ years IF the prospects pan out

Kimmo coming back? I was in favor and now I'm leaning the other way.
If he doesn't come back I think there will be a drop off with Coburn's play.
If he does come back, he will need even more selective minutes and we can watch another year of all those hooks called on him when the other team's forward gets behind him.

from what I saw of Ghost I don't think he is the answer NEXT year.
- Marc D

They'll make tweaks but this defensive unit is still going to be below average unless something major happens.

Berube did a good job of covering up the deficiencies, but the team still has major problems moving the puck up ice. Part of it is on the forwards, but I don't know how many times I saw our defenseman mishandle routine passes and put themselves in vulnerable positions.

I don't like having so many players who are below average puck handlers on defense. It just makes everything more difficult for the team. Thats why I think Schenn or Grossmann should be swapped out for a more mobile puck mover.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, it's one or the other for me, and I'd go w/ Schenn based on age, injury-history and handedness, even if he's less consistent and his trade value is probably better.

I don't like having so many players who are below average puck handlers on defense. It just makes everything more difficult for the team. Thats why I think Schenn or Grossmann should be swapped out for a more mobile puck mover.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's a balancing act. Grossmann is a defense-first player, but when he's done with the defensive aspect, it's hand-wringing time, because you never know where the puck will end up. With a guy like Gus, you're good when he has the puck, but when it's a 50/50 puck or he has to make a play on the rush, it's hand-wringing time.

It's rare to find a player who can excel at both (Timonen, Pronger) and we lack that. Coburn's good at both ends, but really, that's about it, and I wouldn't say he "excels" at anything. He's just very solid. Any player that we call up right now will have his deficiencies, but Alt's probably the best projected "solid" player they have.

So basically, I talked in a circle, and will now sacrifice this adorable puppy dog to Raptor Jesus.

Yeah, it's one or the other for me, and I'd go w/ Schenn based on age, injury-history and handedness, even if he's less consistent and his trade value is probably better.
- Tomahawk

You mean you'd keep Schenn, or you'd move him?

They'll make tweaks but this defensive unit is still going to be below average unless something major happens.

Berube did a good job of covering up the deficiencies, but the team still has major problems moving the puck up ice. Part of it is on the forwards, but I don't know how many times I saw our defenseman mishandle routine passes and put themselves in vulnerable positions.
- PhillySportsGuy

AMac in an elevated role scares me the most out of everything... it's mind-boggling how a guy who can skate as well and initiate the breakout as well as he does, can be such an overall drag to possession. The guy really has no offensive instincts to speak of, and he's a turnstile at the defensive blueline.

You mean you'd keep Schenn, or you'd move him?
- jmatchett383

Keep. I'm one of those people who thinks there's still a little more to his game.

AMac in an elevated role scares me the most out of everything... it's mind-boggling how a guy who can skate as well and initiate the breakout as well as he does, can be such an overall drag to possession. The guy really has no offensive instincts to speak of, and he's a turnstile at the defensive blueline.
- Tomahawk

He worries me. He looked great when he first came over, but he had a few really soft plays in the NYR series. I mean, REALLY soft (yes, REALLY). He's an okay skater, and I know he can be a good offensive player, but I'm really far from sold on him.

Keep. I'm one of those people who thinks there's still a little more to his game.
- Tomahawk

I definitely think there's more to his game. The question is whether or not we'll see it. FWIW, I thought he played fairly well in the series.

He worries me. He looked great when he first came over, but he had a few really soft plays in the NYR series. I mean, REALLY soft (yes, REALLY). He's an okay skater, and I know he can be a good offensive player, but I'm really far from sold on him.
- jmatchett383

TOI goes up, quality of play goes down...

They'll make tweaks but this defensive unit is still going to be below average unless something major happens.

Berube did a good job of covering up the deficiencies, but the team still has major problems moving the puck up ice. Part of it is on the forwards, but I don't know how many times I saw our defenseman mishandle routine passes and put themselves in vulnerable positions.
- PhillySportsGuy

Amac for me was a disappointment in the NYRs series.

When he came over he seemed very calm and poised with the puck and nearly every time made the right play and a good first pass. I was very excited as he seemed to really settle the entire D corps. I was willing to overlook the gaudy contract he received as he clearly made them a stronger team.

In the playoff series he seemed to have an inordinate number of bad first passes and giveaways in the D zone.

My first impression when he was signed at the TDL was why give up the picks now? They clearly were not a real contender and they really need more depth in every area.
I am back to feeling like it was a mistake to trade for him. I guess long term to evaluate the signing we will have to see which guy shows up.