Remove Timonen and MacDonald from the defense mix next season. How does it look? And it's actually the opposite. Having a lot of high priced long term deals, gives young players a better chance to play. Because you need players on EL deals to fill in some of the holes.
- MJL

I meant all 6 positions are high priced and long term. And I know that it looks good for next season. But 2 seasons from now is when it starts hurting the younger guys trying to make a step up. We could potentially have 4 dmen in our top 6 that are home grown in 2 years. (Hagg, Morin, Ghost, Lauridsen). But we will have Streit Mac Coburn (timo's replacement) schenn and grossmann to fill those spots. for at least 2 more years. All 6 spots.

Unless one or two of those deals is moved of course.

And not only is overplaying veteran defenseman, in roles that they aren't best suited for not a good thing. It's even worse to over rely on young inexperienced defenseman, and putting too much responsbility on them. That's a sure fire way and exposing a young player, and not giving him much of a chance.
- MJL

The transition would be helped immensely if Luke Schenn could find some consistency. Im not ready to quit on him because I do see glimpses of a good player. I just wish he wouldn't have such horrid stretches.

That was "SuperSchennBros" not "SchennBros." Totally different guy.
- jmatchett383

You sure he didn't just eat one of these?

Right now, they have:
Coburn
Streit
Schenn
AMac
Grossmann

They'll probably trade one of Schenn/Grossmann. If Kimmo doesn't come back, that's 2 spots. Gus will have the inside track on one (if he resigns). That leaves Lauridsen/Ghost/Alt to battle for one spot this year (assuming no FA signings). By the time guys like Morin and Hagg are ready to be full-time NHL contributors, Streit will have maybe 1 year left. You can't have a blueline full of kids or you'll get murdered and they'll be no good in 2 years.
- jmatchett383

Yeah hopefully it plays out that way. But I would much rather have made an attempt to get Niskanen before signing MacDonald. But I guess they were terrified of Carle 2.0 occurring.

Right now, they have:
Coburn
Streit
Schenn
AMac
Grossmann

They'll probably trade one of Schenn/Grossmann. If Kimmo doesn't come back, that's 2 spots. Gus will have the inside track on one (if he resigns). That leaves Lauridsen/Ghost/Alt to battle for one spot this year (assuming no FA signings). By the time guys like Morin and Hagg are ready to be full-time NHL contributors, Streit will have maybe 1 year left. You can't have a blueline full of kids or you'll get murdered and they'll be no good in 2 years.
- jmatchett383

Could be worse. They could be saddled with a couple of sunk costs like Keith and Seabrook.

I meant all 6 positions are high priced and long term. And I know that it looks good for next season. But 2 seasons from now is when it starts hurting the younger guys trying to make a step up. We could potentially have 4 dmen in our top 6 that are home grown in 2 years. (Hagg, Morin, Ghost, Lauridsen). But we will have Streit Mac Coburn (timo's replacement) schenn and grossmann to fill those spots. for at least 2 more years. All 6 spots.

Unless one or two of those deals is moved of course.
- FlyersSteve118

MacD doesn't have a no trade clause like a lot of guys on these longer term deals do. He'd probably be movable in a few years if need be (as long as his play is half decent).

You sure he didn't just eat one of these?


- Tomahawk

It would be a star, not a mushroom.

The transition would be helped immensely if Luke Schenn could find some consistency. Im not ready to quit on him because I do see glimpses of a good player. I just wish he wouldn't have such horrid stretches.
- PhillySportsGuy

I thought Luke had a pretty good playoff, actually.

I meant all 6 positions are high priced and long term. And I know that it looks good for next season. But 2 seasons from now is when it starts hurting the younger guys trying to make a step up. We could potentially have 4 dmen in our top 6 that are home grown in 2 years. (Hagg, Morin, Ghost, Lauridsen). But we will have Streit Mac Coburn (timo's replacement) schenn and grossmann to fill those spots. for at least 2 more years. All 6 spots.

Unless one or two of those deals is moved of course.
- FlyersSteve118

It's not going to hurt the Flyers 2 years from now. There is always room to add a good young defenseman to the lineup. And defenseman are valuable. You can always find a taker for a good veteran defenseman, if you need to make room for a younger player.

MacD doesn't have a no trade clause like a lot of guys on these longer term deals do. He'd probably be movable in a few years if need be (as long as his play is half decent).
- eayost

And that is probably why AMac got a bit more in term and a bit more $$$.

NMC are negotiating levers, just like pay and term.

Could be worse. They could be saddled with a couple of sunk costs like Keith and Seabrook.
- PLindbergh31

Total busts.

It would be a star, not a mushroom.
- FlyersSteve118

p sure mushrooms turn person into super person

edit: or a hallucinating mess

The transition would be helped immensely if Luke Schenn could find some consistency. Im not ready to quit on him because I do see glimpses of a good player. I just wish he wouldn't have such horrid stretches.
- PhillySportsGuy

Consistency is his biggest issue. He needs to take steps towards correcting that. I thought he had a strong playoffs. Which is encouraging. But his regular season was disapointing overall.

Consistency is his biggest issue. He needs to take steps towards correcting that. I thought he had a strong playoffs. Which is encouraging. But his regular season was disapointing overall.
- MJL

And if MacD would hold the blue line instead of retreating every damn play, they could be a quality 2nd pair defense.

I thought Luke had a pretty good playoff, actually.
- johndewar

He did. He got a lot better once Mez left. He just can't have half seasons like the first half. He can't be completely ineffective.

Grossmann had a really bad month, but that was it. Schenn had a bad 3 months. He needs to find ways to work out of his ruts.

p sure mushrooms turn person into super person

edit: or a hallucinating mess
- BulliesPhan87

Your avatar is freakin me out, man

Consistency is his biggest issue. He needs to take steps towards correcting that. I thought he had a strong playoffs. Which is encouraging. But his regular season was disapointing overall.
- MJL

There is either good Schenn or bad Schenn. I would like to see much less of bad Schenn.

Consistency is his biggest issue. He needs to take steps towards correcting that. I thought he had a strong playoffs. Which is encouraging. But his regular season was disapointing overall.
- MJL

The good news is it was only his 6th year in the League. Still the learning curve/developmental stage.

Re the Flyers 14-15 D:
FWIW, this is what I would suggest:
Re-sign Timonen, hopefully for no more than 4.5 million
Move Grossmann for pick/s to get some cap room
Let Gus, Lauridsen, Alt and a cheap UFA depth dman compete for the 6th and 7th spots
Let Hagg and Ghost play big minutes at the AHL level and Morin return to Junior

Finally, if VL can be moved as well, try to add another solid top 9 winger via FA

It would be a star, not a mushroom.
- FlyersSteve118

A star makes Mario invincible, whereas the 'super mushroom' allows Mario to double in size.

Hey, everyone. Good article and great thread. I've been giving this a lot of thought. I don't think people realize how big of a challenge the Flyers are going to have with the cap again next season.

I believe one of B.Schenn or Vinny will be gone, and you likely see both Laughton and Ghost on the squad - even it that means 4th line center and 6th D-Man. This would also require shedding a Grossmann for cap relief as they transition (one hopes) to a more youthful, faster, more skilled backline.

And this assumes Kimmo doesn't return. Cap challenges.

Re the Flyers 14-15 D:
FWIW, this is what I would suggest:
Re-sign Timonen, hopefully for no more than 4.5 million
Move Grossmann for pick/s to get some cap room
Let Gus, Lauridsen, Alt and a cheap UFA depth dman compete for the 6th and 7th spots
Let Hagg and Ghost play big minutes at the AHL level and Morin return to Junior

Finally, if VL can be moved as well, try to add another solid top 9 winger via FA
- BiggE

Not even going to poke at Niskanen?

Your avatar is freakin me out, man
- PhillySportsGuy

I guess I've got a thing for avatars with freaky masks

And if MacD would hold the blue line instead of retreating every damn play, they could be a quality 2nd pair defense.
- FlyersSteve118

This is another instance of where fancy stats has created a false culture. Every play has to be looked at individually, to see if a defenseman made the right read, or had the support to stand up and challenge. And some defenseman are aggressive, and like to come up and challenge physically, and some like to contain and keep players to the outside. Both can be effective. But ever since zone entries have been kept, it's one of the new fads. As if the defenseman on the side of the ice that the puck came into the zone on, is the only player on the ice responsible for an opposition's successful zone entry carrying the puck. He's playing in a vaccuum I guess, and it's one on one hockey all the time. Comical.

Hey, everyone. Good article and great thread. I've been giving this a lot of thought. I don't think people realize how big of a challenge the Flyers are going to have with the cap again next season.

I believe one of B.Schenn or Vinny will be gone, and you likely see both Laughton and Ghost on the squad - even it that means 4th line center and 6th D-Man. This would also require shedding a Grossmann for cap relief as they transition (one hopes) to a more youthful, faster, more skilled backline.

And this assumes Kimmo doesn't return. Cap challenges.
- cmr.266

If they can move Vinny and Grossmann they can open up around 15mil in cap space next season. Which is what I am pretty sure is going to happen.