I don't revel in the misery of others -- OK, wait a minute, yeah I do, when it comes to that team and a few others -- but I did think that Shero was gonna survive it.
- AllInForFlyers

It doesn't really surprise me. The lack of depth at forward and the Scuderi signing all fall on Shero.

I suggested that the other day too. Maybe if he doesn't get a shot somewhere else but I think someone will make the call.
- J35Bacher

Are there that many GM jobs currently open?

Bylsma and Shero should just go to Washington together

Bylsma and Shero should just go to Washington together
- eayost

Bylsma and Shero should just go to Washington together
- eayost

Huh. You know what? That'd actually be interesting -- that gig has some interesting pieces, if you think that Ovie's a player who had a tough year

Are there that many GM jobs currently open?
- BiggE

Just Vancouver and Washington at the moment I think? Not sure if any other teams are in the process of evaluating their GM and if they could be axed before the draft

Who's going to tap dance on Hextall's skull now?
- eayost

Stevie Y.

And if he looks ready later, give him another shroud. Right now he looks like an average player to me. You can sit on either side the fence, but I don't think it changes what he is right now. I'm not ruling out his potential, just that it doesn't pain me to see him go, especially if hextall has a plan for the defense.
- funmaster18

Wow, didn't think we were handing out shrouds on the team... I mean he's not dead!

Just Vancouver and Washington at the moment I think? Not sure if any other teams are in the process of evaluating their GM and if they could be axed before the draft
- eayost

Does Calgary have a GM?

Are there that many GM jobs currently open?
- BiggE

Let's see...Calgary's filled, the Leafs didn't dump Nonis...Wilson survived in San Jose...I think Washington's the only one that is currently open, now that you mention it. Oh, and Vancouver -- Linden was maybe waiting for Boston to be eliminated

Does Calgary have a GM?
- aightwebang17

Yeah, they hired Brad Treviling, the assistant GM from Phoenix

Yeah, they hired Brad Treviling, the assistant GM from Phoenix
- AllInForFlyers

Ah, totally missed that. Thx.

Let's see...Calgary's filled, the Leafs didn't dump Nonis...Wilson survived in San Jose...I think Washington's the only one that is currently open, now that you mention it. Oh, and Vancouver -- Linden was maybe waiting for Boston to be eliminated
- AllInForFlyers

Hmm
He just might end up as an asst GM here. Would be interesting to say the least. On the other hand, he will be getting paid quite a bit next year to do nothing. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he just decided to take a year off.

I do understand what you're saying, as well, but the history of the NHL, of pro sports, just means that taking the word of scouts just...it's fraught with peril.

They're just not right nearly as much as people want to believe. They're just not, in any sport. They are extremely dedicated, they work hard, they have a thankless job, in some respects.

But man. The history of pro sports is littered with guys who don't get a shot with one team because the consensus is that the guy couldn't play, and then that very guy goes on to become a player. Happens all the time, in all the sports.
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, scouts are just a pair of eyeballs with opinions... it's a profession of ex-players who want to stay in the game, not a collection of the keenest, most dispassionate hockey minds on the face of the earth.

Even consensus opinions among the group can go terribly terribly awry at a disturbingly high frequency.

Hmm
He just might end up as an asst GM here. Would be interesting to say the least. On the other hand, he will be getting paid quite a bit next year to do nothing. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he just decided to take a year off.
- BiggE

I think he probably takes the year...wouldn't you?

Some hot spots could open up in some interesting spots next year -- Dale Tallon can't be on solid ground in Florida, Doug Wilson can't be too solid in San Jose, Dave Nonis can't be totally safe in Toronto, and you wonder if David Poile's going to have much more leash down in Nashville, which Shero obviously knows pretty well...

Hmm
He just might end up as an asst GM here. Would be interesting to say the least. On the other hand, he will be getting paid quite a bit next year to do nothing. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he just decided to take a year off.
- BiggE

Don't think he's go anywhere as an assistant. Some team might axe their GM if he's interested. There's a number of teams that would probably prefer him over what they currently have. Dude knows how to draft puck-moving defenders.

I doubt he'll turn into Dan Boyle, but I'm hesitant to take the word of a couple "whisper down the lane" scouts on a guy who hasn't seen enough consistent ice at the NHL level to warrant having such a sentence handed down on him.

Ironically, the thing that might have hurt Gus the most this year was the fact that the blueline was remarkably healthy this year.
- johndewar

It's not so much that they lost Gus... it's HOW they lost him. I hope Hexy's true to his word and actually gives the kids in the system a shot to play... because they've been failing some of these kids by not giving them a place on the roster.

Don't think he's go anywhere as an assistant. Some team might axe their GM if he's interested. There's a number of teams that would probably prefer him over what they currently have. Dude knows how to draft puck-moving defenders.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, could see him and Trotz as a package to Vancouver or Washington too.

Let's see...Calgary's filled, the Leafs didn't dump Nonis...Wilson survived in San Jose...I think Washington's the only one that is currently open, now that you mention it. Oh, and Vancouver -- Linden was maybe waiting for Boston to be eliminated
- AllInForFlyers

How funny would it be to see the Caps hire both Shero and Byslma.

How funny would it be to see the Caps hire both Shero and Byslma.
- Tomahawk

And Oates go to the Penguins?

And Oates go to the Penguins?
- FlyersGrace

Along with GMGM

It's not so much that they lost Gus... it's HOW they lost him. I hope Hexy's true to his word and actually gives the kids in the system a shot to play... because they've been failing some of these kids by not giving them a place on the roster.
- Tomahawk

What frustrates me is that the Flyers tend to not give themselves wiggle room for their own picks to "play through."

Marc-Andre Bourdon, for instance, was an "excuse me" call up. Just a healthy body when the Flyers had a run of injuries at the position.

Now, don't get me wrong, because again, I'm not saying that just because a guy is drafted means that he's going to be the greatest thing ever.

But Bourdon was a Flyers pick, a third-rounder, who was pretty much an afterthought in the organization. Then he comes up and plays, and before the concussions, he looked like a guy who could carve himself a spot on the third pairing.

That's all I'm saying: Give your own people that you drafted or signed a chance. You have to give them 150, 200 games. Otherwise, why even make the picks?

You have to give them a chance. One of them will be Nicklas Lidstrom one day. One of them will be Dan Boyle. One of them will, at some point, exceed what you thought they were.

But you'll never know if you never give your own prospects a chance.

What frustrates me is that the Flyers tend to not give themselves wiggle room for their own picks to "play through."

Marc-Andre Bourdon, for instance, was an "excuse me" call up. Just a healthy body when the Flyers had a run of injuries at the position.

Now, don't get me wrong, because again, I'm not saying that just because a guy is drafted means that he's going to be the greatest thing ever.

But Bourdon was a Flyers pick, a third-rounder, who was pretty much an afterthought in the organization. Then he comes up and plays, and before the concussions, he looked like a guy who could carve himself a spot on the third pairing.

That's all I'm saying: Give your own people that you drafted or signed a chance. You have to give them 150, 200 games. Otherwise, why even make the picks?

You have to give them a chance. One of them will be Nicklas Lidstrom one day. One of them will be Dan Boyle. One of them will, at some point, exceed what you thought they were.

But you'll never know if you never give your own prospects a chance.
- AllInForFlyers

In there defense, once they saw Bourdon play at the NHL level they did sign him to a one way contract. If he hadn't gotten the concussion, I think he was being penciled into the lineup.

I wish Gus all the best but lets face it, he was nothing special. Guys like him are flooding the FA pool. He would have just been a 7th Dman again if he stayed.

What frustrates me is that the Flyers tend to not give themselves wiggle room for their own picks to "play through."

Marc-Andre Bourdon, for instance, was an "excuse me" call up. Just a healthy body when the Flyers had a run of injuries at the position.

Now, don't get me wrong, because again, I'm not saying that just because a guy is drafted means that he's going to be the greatest thing ever.

But Bourdon was a Flyers pick, a third-rounder, who was pretty much an afterthought in the organization. Then he comes up and plays, and before the concussions, he looked like a guy who could carve himself a spot on the third pairing.

That's all I'm saying: Give your own people that you drafted or signed a chance. You have to give them 150, 200 games. Otherwise, why even make the picks?

You have to give them a chance. One of them will be Nicklas Lidstrom one day. One of them will be Dan Boyle. One of them will, at some point, exceed what you thought they were.

But you'll never know if you never give your own prospects a chance.
- AllInForFlyers

Also, outside of Seidenberg, the list of young dmen that they have "given up" on is not that impressive:

Marshall
Parent
Woywitka
Delmore
Eaton
Bartulis

I don't put Pitkanen or Sbisa on this list because they were part of legit trades and not just given away for nothing or peanuts.