Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: The Brayden Schenn Dilemma

Trade him to the Canucks

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: The Brayden Schenn Dilemma
- bmeltzer

People tend to forget that player progression is often not linear once guys hit the show. There a lot of examples of guys who took a series of baby steps and then one big leap -- my favorite examples being Backes, Kesler and Mikko Koivu -- it's like hitting a switch.

Things like FO's will come around -- efficiency is heavily correlated with age/experience. Things like two-way game will come around with more exposure to game situations.

The most important thing is for the Flyers to determine if they believe in his talent and ability to reach his ceiling.

If they do, they shouldn't trade him because you're going to have a heck of a time getting equal value back -- as evidenced by the JvR trade. If they don't, then by all means, find a deal that makes sense and move on.

Schenn can be frustrating because he dissappears for stretches, but he is a young player. I'd rather they keep him and deal VL if possible. VL clearly doesn't seem happy here. All of this only makes sense if they can get Schenn to sign a reasonable deal.

Here's two names for those who want to be impatient, Justin Williams and Patrick Sharp. I'm not in favor of moving either Braydon or Luke as they are both VERY young still, however if the price is not right I would then rather move them than overpay for expectations.

I would just like to see schenn play a whole season at center without VL or briere on his wing. Give the kid those things and I guarantee he'll get better in all areas

Hell I was happy with the progress he made this year in the d zone alone. Get this kid a decent winger. The arrow is pointed up. Play hardball with him and his agent, get him to sign as close to 2 mil as possible. Figure out a creative way to get rid of vinny. Maybe include Gus as a sweetener when trading him.

Hell I was happy with the progress he made this year in the d zone alone. Get this kid a decent winger. The arrow is pointed up. Play hardball with him and his agent, get him to sign as close to 2 mil as possible. Figure out a creative way to get rid of vinny. Maybe include Gus as a sweetener when trading him.
- Just5

Totally agree!
I thought he had a nice season as well, Voracek, & Simmonds increased their production being on the first power play unit, (although they did a great job), the difference between 40, & 60 points can be the power play.

Same with Couturier, he produced 39 points, while getting little to no power play time.

Trade him to the Canucks
- LeftCoaster

AGain include the 6th overall pick & we can talk.

AGain include the 6th overall pick & we can talk.
- ob18

he's not worth the 6th overall or you wouldn't be trading him.

Both brothers progressed this season. Yes it was intermittent and yes they both show rooms for considerable improvement.

And they are both young. If Homer ships either or both and fails to get dramatic game changing help that has the potential for long term help and depth to the team then he is as big a moron as people (me included) have painted him from time to time.

You do not simply overspend for players and then jettison them before they can completely develop. Both Schenn's came at a high price but both have the potential to make that price worth paying.

I foresee a Brayden signing a one year deal ala the ongoing one year deals that Gagne used to sign...

I have a hard time trading Schenn so Lecavalier can take over the second line. Maybe switch Schenn to the third line and move Akeson up to play with Vinnie & Simmonds?

I'm also interested in where Scott Laughton might fit in next year? A replacement for Adam Hall? Hall is really good at the things he does well ie Faceoffs. Anyone know what Laughton's Face off records are?

Out of curiousity has Vinnie clicked with anyone this year as a line mate? Only one I can think of is Zac Rinaldo.

Here's two names for those who want to be impatient, Justin Williams and Patrick Sharp. I'm not in favor of moving either Braydon or Luke as they are both VERY young still, however if the price is not right I would then rather move them than overpay for expectations.
- ICUBB

i was wondering how sharp's numbers here compared to schenn's development. i think sharp struggled to crack the top 6 (and also struggled to hit the net, iirc)....would actually stop watching hockey if the flyers make another trade like that without being the recipient of one at least once first

he's not worth the 6th overall or you wouldn't be trading him.
- LeftCoaster

how about our pick and b schenn for the 6th?

then pkg the 6th w/ grossman(n), hartnell to fla for #1????

how about our pick and b schenn for the 6th?

then pkg the 6th w/ grossman(n), hartnell to fla for #1????
- hogweed

That works.

oh baby jesus please trade vinny not the schenns

how about our pick and b schenn for the 6th?

then pkg the 6th w/ grossman(n), hartnell to fla for #1????
- hogweed

To be honest, the Flyers should just be patient with Brayden, he's 22 years old. By the time he's 25 he's gonna be a heck of a player.

oh baby jesus please trade vinny not the schenns
- -davies-

Well we figured out a way to trade schenn, get the #1 pick, draft Reinhart and have him switch positions to play on vinnys wing. Like holmer said its real easy to switch to a wing

how about our pick and b schenn for the 6th?

then pkg the 6th w/ grossman(n), hartnell to fla for #1????
- hogweed

In other words, go into rebuild mode, wait half a decade to know if Ekblad will blossom into a franchise D and open other, immediate holes.

I wish there was at least one area of Schenn's game where you could see some sort of dynamic skill. Something that would make you feel comfortable waiting for the rest of game to come around. But he's just kind of good at most things. Even when he had his scoring stretch this season, there wasn't much of an elevation in his play but he was getting results.

I think if he had it in him to play a more consistent hustle/effort style, he would look like a different player. Maybe he's still getting comfortable at this level, and that will come later... I'm just not sure if his ceiling is number 2 center for a Cup contender, which, doesn't it need to be? I think he is probably redundant at C when you add Laughton to the mix.

Seems like there is the potential for some kind of move at the draft, but I also wouldn't mind re-signing Schenn, and if Laughton, Lecavalier, or even Couturier can show enough in camp to push him to LW, I think the team is better that way too. If he can start thinking the game like a LW, he's probably the best one on the team.

I wouldn't have much interest in packaging Brayden with his brother, unless the return was over the top.

As Bill alluded to the Flyers insistence on believing they can move every center to wing is a problem that has gone on for years now, and in my opinion a philosophy that needs to change. They need more true wingers who are confident and comfortable in their position.

oh baby jesus please trade vinny not the schenns
- -davies-

I will be straight pissed if we, as a fanbase, had to watch the inconsistency and growing pains, see this kid growing slowly but making progress, then move him for another piece while never giving him two wingers for an entire season who are honest-to-God Top 6 wingers

This situation could piss me off more than anything the Flyers have done since I started watching them 35 years ago.

Because you know what Brayden Schenn's next team is gonna do? Give him two NHL wingers, sit back and watch him score 60 points for the next 8-10 years

In other words, go into rebuild mode, wait half a decade to know if Ekblad will blossom into a franchise D and open other, immediate holes.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, I'll pass on that

I will be straight pissed if we, as a fanbase, had to watch the inconsistency and growing pains, see this kid growing slowly but making progress, then move him for another piece while never giving him two wingers for an entire season who are honest-to-God Top 6 wingers

This situation could piss me off more than anything the Flyers have done since I started watching them 35 years ago.

Because you know what Brayden Schenn's next team is gonna do? Give him two NHL wingers, sit back and watch him score 60 points for the next 8-10 years
- AllInForFlyers