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.
- BiggE

I totally feel bad for that kid, because the reason he tried to play through the first concussion was because he didn't want to go back down, because he knew how hard it was to get on the NHL roster in the first place.

Poor kid.

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.
- BiggE

True, but be fair: They barely draft 'em, to begin with -- they're always burning picks to bring in the Pavel Kubinas and Nicklas Grosmmanns of the world.

True, but be fair: They barely draft 'em, to begin with -- they're always burning picks to bring in the Pavel Kubinas and Nicklas Grosmmanns of the world.

- AllInForFlyers

That's in the past we now have 4 (count em 4!) solid D prospects in our system right now.
Morin, Haag, Alt, Ghost

I totally feel bad for that kid, because the reason he tried to play through the first concussion was because he didn't want to go back down, because he knew how hard it was to get on the NHL roster in the first place.

Poor kid.
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed, it really is a shame what happened to him.

True, but be fair: They barely draft 'em, to begin with -- they're always burning picks to bring in the Pavel Kubinas and Nicklas Grosmmanns of the world.

- AllInForFlyers

So true

That's in the past we now have 4 (count em 4!) solid D prospects in our system right now.
Morin, Haag, Alt, Ghost
- FlyersGrace

Two of those guys are gonna make it big. I can feel it.

Morin's gonna make it. It's gonna take time, but if they play it right, he'll be on the second pair, a legitimate player.

One of Hagg or Ghost is gonna make it big. Top pairing. I just have a feeling.

That's in the past we now have 4 (count em 4!) solid D prospects in our system right now.
Morin, Haag, Alt, Ghost
- FlyersGrace

Good point!


FWIW My top 10 current Flyers prospects

1. Laughton
2. Morin
3. Ghost
4. Hagg
5. Stolarz
6. Alt
7. Leier
8. Lauridsen
9. Cousins
10. Straka

5 out of 10 are dmen, who woulda thunk it??

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

Yeah, people tend to think that there's simply a group of hockey players that are 'good enough' to play in the NHL, and that cream will eventually rise to the top.

In practice, timing and luck play a pretty big part in who seizes an opportunity and never looks back, and who ends up like Gus, forced to head overseas after reaching a career dead-end.

Two of those guys are gonna make it big. I can feel it.

Morin's gonna make it. It's gonna take time, but if they play it right, he'll be on the second pair, a legitimate player.

One of Hagg or Ghost is gonna make it big. Top pairing. I just have a feeling.
- AllInForFlyers

Could well be, my take would be as follows:

Morin
Best Case: The next Chara
Worst case: 4/5 guy
likely: Top pair shutdown guy-he skates extremely well for a guy his size, and that's half the battle. Kid should be a beast on the PK

Ghost
Best Case: A faster Kimmo Timonen
Worst Case: 3rd pair PP specialist
likely: 2nd pair offensive dman. Not sure if he will have the physical tools to ever skate on the top pair and match up against NHL first lines.

Hagg
Best Case: A bigger, stronger Eric Desjardins
Worst Case: Stuck on the 3rd pair due to lack of consistency
Likely: Solid all around defender who can play in all situations. Can anchor the 2nd pair or play on the top pair with a legit #1

Two of those guys are gonna make it big. I can feel it.

Morin's gonna make it. It's gonna take time, but if they play it right, he'll be on the second pair, a legitimate player.

One of Hagg or Ghost is gonna make it big. Top pairing. I just have a feeling.
- AllInForFlyers

I wouldn't knock Alt out either. He will probably take more time but I don't discount Lilja's praise of him. I realize Lilja was moving out the door for us but his time spent paired with Alt in the AHL had him singing nothing but praise about the kid. And anytime any NHL players says you're the real deal I'm willing to listen.

Yeah, people tend to think that there's simply a group of hockey players that are 'good enough' to play in the NHL, and that cream will eventually rise to the top.

In practice, timing and luck play a pretty big part in who seizes an opportunity and never looks back, and who ends up like Gus, forced to head overseas after reaching a career dead-end.
- Tomahawk

True
In Gus' case though, I just think he's one of those guys that just doesn't do anything well enough to ever be more than a 3rd pair guy at best.

He's not likely going to get much stronger and he's not that dynamic offensively to make up for his other shortcomings.

True
In Gus' case though, I just think he's one of those guys that just doesn't do anything well enough to ever be more than a 3rd pair guy at best.

He's not likely going to get much stronger and he's not that dynamic offensively to make up for his other shortcomings.
- BiggE

But he's (not arguably) good enough to crack a top-6 on a PO team though... while Hal Gill is still in the league and Zac Rinaldo seems to have a tenured position for some inexplicable reason... it makes you scratch your head.

I wouldn't knock Alt out either. He will probably take more time but I don't discount Lilja's praise of him. I realize Lilja was moving out the door for us but his time spent paired with Alt in the AHL had him singing nothing but praise about the kid. And anytime any NHL players says you're the real deal I'm willing to listen.
- FlyersGrace

Alt certainly has a good shot.
Good size, good mobility and a right hand shot. Doesn't seem to have much, if any, offensive skill to his game, but he could be a nice partner for a high skill guy like Ghost.

I think Hexy gave Gus his blessing for the KHL

But he's (not arguably) good enough to crack a top-6 on a PO team though... while Hal Gill is still in the league and Zac Rinaldo seems to have a tenured position for some inexplicable reason... it makes you scratch your head.
- Tomahawk

Not really sure about that. If everyone is healthy, I don't see him playing in the top 6 of any this years playoff teams.

I think Hexy gave Gus his blessing for the KHL
- vejim

I'm pretty sure he had to considering he was a RFA.

I think Hexy gave Gus his blessing for the KHL
- vejim

Most likely. Hextall did make a point that with Streit in the lineup and Ghost in the pipeline, they would have to be careful about adding any other undersized dmen. I don't believe that LA had too many dmen under 6'0, 200 lbs when they won the cup.

edit: currently Voynov is their smallest dman at 6'0, 195.

Alt certainly has a good shot.
Good size, good mobility and a right hand shot. Doesn't seem to have much, if any, offensive skill to his game, but he could be a nice partner for a high skill guy like Ghost.
- BiggE

He scored four goals and 22 assists this season. One of the goals was on the PP, but I can't find out how many of the assists were, and he almost certainly won't get any PP time on the Flyers if he makes the team.

http://www.phantomshockey.com/Pages/Team/stats.asp

I'm pretty sure he had to considering he was a RFA.
- FlyersGrace

Pretty much.

I'm sure he spoke to the agent and basically said the best you can hope for is one year at the minimum qualifying offer.

He scored four goals and 22 assists this season. One of the goals was on the PP, but I can't find out how many of the assists were, and he almost certainly won't get any PP time on the Flyers if he makes the team.

http://www.phantomshockey.com/Pages/Team/stats.asp
- Feanor

Thanks.

Very much doubt he would see any pp time with the big club. At least not in his first year or 2. He will most likely top out at 3-5 goals and 15-25 points at the NHL level though you never know.

I'm pretty sure he had to considering he was a RFA.
- FlyersGrace

Plus it freed a contract spot up for them.

A quick question to those of you who closely follow Junior hockey.
Who would be your top 10 overall prospects for this year's draft?

Plus it freed a contract spot up for them.
- J35Bacher

They have 10 UFA's coming off the books I'm not sure how many slots they really needed. I'm sure it helps, but I don't think it's a huge factor.

Downie
Hall
Vandevelde
Timonen
Gill
Emery
Gervais
Newberry
Holmstrom
Danis

I don't see many (if any) of these guys coming back. Timonen and Hall are the most likely.

At least he did this before he left.


- Feanor

They have 9 UFA's coming off the books I'm not sure how many slots they really needed. I'm sure it helps, but I don't think it's a huge factor.

Downie-Gone
Hall-probably gone
Vandevelde-will be offered an AHL contract
Gill-gone
Emery-may get re-signed if the price is right
Gervais-gone, thank you lord!
Newberry-may be offered an AHL contract
Holmstrom-AHL deal or gone
Donis-gone

I don't see many (if any) of these guys coming back.
- FlyersGrace