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

Ah, the Bruno Gervais effect.

TOI = [quality^(-TOI)] +3

Ah, the Bruno Gervais effect.

TOI = quality ^-TOI
- jmatchett383

Homer won't stop until he's got ALL the Islanders' defensemen.

Homer won't stop until he's got ALL the Islanders' defensemen.
- Tomahawk

PULOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Homer won't stop until he's got ALL the Islanders' defensemen.
- Tomahawk

i like hamonic

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

Me too.
I think he has some offense to his game, and is still going to improve defensively.

I like Grossmann, I'm not one of his detractors. But they have an awful lot of dough tied up in the D, and clearly need more transition and offense from the back.

PULOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- jmatchett383

i like hamonic
- wilsonecho91

All you'll get is Matt Carkner and you'll like it!

Along those lines...after (assuming) Timo retires, our top two salaried D-men will be former Islanders.

For some reason, that just doesn't sit well with me.

After (assuming) Timo retires, our top two salaried D-men will be former Islanders.

For some reason, that just doesn't sit well with me.
- 77rams

dont' worry mat niskanen is coming to save the day

- MBFlyerfan

Didn't know they had cameras of that quality when Mike Milbury was a baby.

dont' worry mat niskanen is coming to save the day
- 2Real

That's not good either... I still have NO CLUE as to why people are so high on him? Sure, he's got some offense to his game, but that's quite literally about it...?

And for those who have issues with two former Isles on our D, they're probably our best overall D right now. MacDonald for sure, Streit offensively for sure, AND Streit actually had a really good year for us.

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

Excellent post man, well said. I agree entirely.

He's a dartboard for fans. However, Flyers people -- especially the coach -- really like the player. He also played well during stretch run and in the playoffs until the injury. Actually, apart from having the worst month of his career in a disastrous January, he was fine this season.

On another note, I spoke with three NHL pro scouts off the record to get their assessments of some of the Flyers younger players. Only one thought Erik Gustafsson will ever be more than a #7 in the NHL. The other has him as a 6.
- bmeltzer

The scouting and analytics crowd generally have different views on players, so this isn't surprising.

Not sure if Gus will ever be better than a #6 or #7, but he drives possession better than most Flyers defensemen.

And I believe there's a subjective bias in favor of Grossmann among the Flyers coaching staff. Which happens often in many organizations.

I believe it is time for Homer to step down. It has been a good run, the timing just feels right, IMO. It will be interesting to see what Hexy would do at the helm.

The blueline is going to have to be revamped. At least one of Gus, Alt, or Ghost is probably going to have to make the top 6. I'm not so sure that Coburn isn't moved. He probably has the highest trade value and I wouldn't be surprised to see him as part of a package to acquire a more skilled two-way d-man.

That's not good either... I still have NO CLUE as to why people are so high on him? Sure, he's got some offense to his game, but that's quite literally about it...?

And for those who have issues with two former Isles on our D, they're probably our best overall D right now. MacDonald for sure, Streit offensively for sure, AND Streit actually had a really good year for us.
- Flyers_V88

who are we going to replace coburn or grossman with?

I believe it is time for Homer to step down. It has been a good run, the timing just feels right, IMO. It will be interesting to see what Hexy would do at the helm.

The blueline is going to have to be revamped. At least one of Gus, Alt, or Ghost is probably going to have to make the top 6. I'm not so sure that Coburn isn't moved. He probably has the highest trade value and I wouldn't be surprised to see him as part of a package to acquire a more skilled two-way d-man.
- ravishingone

If you trade Coburn as part of a package, you're just fixing one hole and creating another. Unless you're somehow vastly overpaying and landing an elite top defenseman, you're basically trading your best defenseman and another asset for a moderate upgrade at Coburn's spot.

Didn't know they had cameras of that quality when Mike Milbury was a baby.
- mikel33

ha

seems too happy though

who are we going to replace coburn or grossman with?
- 2Real

Coburn shouldn't be moved. Grossmann can likely be (partially) replaced by Lauridsen and/or Alt. Neither can bring what he brings, but for $$ and age issues relative to play, I'd hope one of them could earn a spot.

ha

seems too happy though
- Marc D

He was watching a video of Russian hockey players not backchecking.

If you trade Coburn as part of a package, you're just fixing one hole and creating another. Unless you're somehow vastly overpaying and landing an elite top defenseman, you're basically trading your best defenseman and another asset for a moderate upgrade at Coburn's spot.
- jmatchett383

trading Coburn is a real scary thought to me

whoever comes back would have to replace a lot of tough minutes

the idea of trading him for a forward or a draft pick does not make sense at all

He was watching a video of Russian hockey players not backchecking.
- jmatchett383

even then he gets grumpy and bit-chy

trading Coburn is a real scary thought to me

whoever comes back would have to replace a lot of tough minutes

the idea of trading him for a forward or a draft pick does not make sense at all
- Marc D

Not unless you're committing to a complete rebuild next season.

Coburn shouldn't be moved. Grossmann can likely be (partially) replaced by Lauridsen and/or Alt. Neither can bring what he brings, but for $$ and age issues relative to play, I'd hope one of them could earn a spot.
- jmatchett383

I have no feel for how Alt is as a player
Is he a legit option to play for the big club?

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.
- Marc D

He has the ability. He just concedes the zone entries way too easily. He has mobility and a good stick. He needs to be more aggressive.

That's not good either... I still have NO CLUE as to why people are so high on him? Sure, he's got some offense to his game, but that's quite literally about it...?

And for those who have issues with two former Isles on our D, they're probably our best overall D right now. MacDonald for sure, Streit offensively for sure, AND Streit actually had a really good year for us.
- Flyers_V88

I don't have an issue with them on our D (though I was flat out against the Streit signing and not exactly enamored with Mac's contract), just that they'll soon be the highest paid.

That they're probably the best, as you believe, is even more disconcerting.

who are we going to replace coburn or grossman with?
- 2Real

Oh don't get me wrong, I fully see the predicament we're in this summer and long-term, but I don't know if paying a guy like Niskanen, which will easily be north of $5+ mil, for only some offense which he MAY or MAY not be able to replicate outside of Pittsburgh, you know?

I guess I'm just being overly paranoid/suspicious of guys like Niskanen, who've had one or two good to decent years, but aren't know as pillar-like D.