Absolutely correct.

Just speculation, but with Clarke quitting so quickly the way he did, you can't help but wonder if he was totally burnt out on the job.

I mean, look at those signings for cripes sake.
- johndewar

Yep. Terrible season. It happens. It looked like that team was just going through the motions, but I think they were trying they just were awful.

I wuld disagree. i think Akeson was the benefit of playing with two guys who do there job very well. Couturier and Read are very good defensivly so Akeson doesn't have to be great. Also those two were probably some of our bettter forwards in the playoffs. yes Akeson played well but I think it helped who he played with. he does have offensive insticts and you can see that but he is what he is.
- J35Bacher

Think we're both belaboring the point a bit...

Erixon would be a nice add, no question about it. I'd just offer a draft pick.

I do think he really struggled trying to figure out "the speed game." I know he was quoted as saying he was trying to build a "Buffalo type team" when he brought in Mark Cullen.

I love Bob Clarke. I don't think he was bad as a GM -- we can argue it, but he did a lot of good stuff when he came back.

But one thing he struggled with...he thought all small players were the same.

- AllInForFlyers

Sharp for Ellison

I wuld disagree. i think Akeson was the benefit of playing with two guys who do there job very well. Couturier and Read are very good defensivly so Akeson doesn't have to be great. Also those two were probably some of our bettter forwards in the playoffs. yes Akeson played well but I think it helped who he played with. he does have offensive insticts and you can see that but he is what he is.
- J35Bacher

How about this.

Akeson deserves more time in the NHL so we can actually form opinions of him. 1 playoff round is a small sample size.

He showed he belongs, so why not give him a chance to show if he deserves to stay.

See I don't remember Federov enough, and didn't see any of the other guys play...
- Giroux_Is_God

Be nice to your elders

Think we're both belaboring the point a bit...

Erixon would be a nice add, no question about it. I'd just offer a draft pick.
- Tomahawk

Probably.

I am ok dealing guys like Akeson. I would rather keep the pick. But hopefully the Flyers really do there research. i am tired of other teams making these plays for low risk/high reward type guys and we try to get the Mike Yorks of the world.

Think we're both belaboring the point a bit...

Erixon would be a nice add, no question about it. I'd just offer a draft pick.
- Tomahawk

Akeson has shown some offensive instincts at the NHL level without given much of a shot (yet).

Erixon has not (yet) shown that he can hold down a steady job in the NHL and be productive.

They're in very similar spots in their career, but Akeson has done more to impress me with less time/less of a shot. I'd put him above Erxon right now, but would move a 4th for Erixon if he was on the outs.

All of those players were on the 95 Wings that got absolutely eaten for dinner by McKay, Holik, and Peluso. The Crash line tap danced on their foreheads.
- PLindbergh31

Of course that was in the era of holding, mugging and general mayhem being completely legal, especially in the playoffs

Since he was mentioned so much, Umberger beat out Kyle Calder and Joni Pitkanen for the worst +/- that year with a -32.
- jmatchett383

I got that beat. Petr Nedved was a -20 in 21 games. Can't make it up.

See I don't remember Federov enough, and didn't see any of the other guys play...
- Giroux_Is_God

Fedorov was one of the best, most dynamic players I've ever seen. Imagine Pavel Bure with better passing and a fantastic defensive game, who was able to "pull a Kapanen" and play defense if needed.

Sharp for Ellison
- jmatchett383

Put that one on Hitch...he wouldn't play Sharp. Just didn't like him as a player, for whatever reason.

Certainly, Clarke didn't HAVE to trade him. But the Flyers, for better or worse, give the coach a ton of control over the NHL roster.

I got that beat. Petr Nedved was a -20 in 21 games. Can't make it up.
- PLindbergh31

Please, all of you, enough about 06-07. Just thinking about that season is making feel sick to my stomach!

I got that beat. Petr Nedved was a -20 in 21 games. Can't make it up.
- PLindbergh31

We traded Seidenberg for him. Yeah, we did.

Fedorov was one of the best, most dynamic players I've ever seen. Imagine Pavel Bure with better passing and a fantastic defensive game, who was able to "pull a Kapanen" and play defense if needed.
- jmatchett383

Basically, for you younger fans, Federov was Datsyuk with better wheels, more size and grit, and perhaps even a bit better defensively. Hands down, he was one of the best all around players to ever play the sport.

I got that beat. Petr Nedved was a -20 in 21 games. Can't make it up.
- PLindbergh31

Out of shape, on a bad team, with his legs shot...yeah. That was Petr Nedved as a Flyer.

Put that one on Hitch...he wouldn't play Sharp. Just didn't like him as a player, for whatever reason.

Certainly, Clarke didn't HAVE to trade him. But the Flyers, for better or worse, give the coach a ton of control over the NHL roster.
- AllInForFlyers

Sharp's career Flyers' highlight was beating up Spezza ("DOWN GOES SPEZZA!") in the 5th and final fight of the Ottawa brawl game.

Basically, for you younger fans, Federov was Datsyuk with better wheels, more size and grit, and perhaps even a bit better defensively. Hands down, he was one of the best all around players to ever play the sport.
- BiggE

Pretty much. He was also a little bit bigger and was able to come up with more pucks. He really was something else. Shame his career just puttered out towards the end.

Fedorov was one of the best, most dynamic players I've ever seen. Imagine Pavel Bure with better passing and a fantastic defensive game, who was able to "pull a Kapanen" and play defense if needed.
- jmatchett383

Would you be up for Couturier pulling a Kapanen and switching to D?

Out of shape, on a bad team, with his legs shot...yeah. That was Petr Nedved as a Flyer.
- AllInForFlyers

He was pathetic. I wonder if a player over a 20 game sample has ever been a -1 per game.

Out of shape, on a bad team, with his legs shot...yeah. That was Petr Nedved as a Flyer.
- AllInForFlyers

Take away the "Out of shape" part, change "legs" to "feet", and that's Peter Forsberg as a Flyer.

Would you be up for Couturier pulling a Kapanen and switching to D?
- Tomahawk

No because, contrary to popular belief, he actually has some offensive talent. I mean, the guy led the QMJHL in points per game for 2 seasons. I'd rather him try to bring that out, especially when he might end up being our #2 center this year when all's said and done.

Fedorov was one of the best, most dynamic players I've ever seen. Imagine Pavel Bure with better passing and a fantastic defensive game, who was able to "pull a Kapanen" and play defense if needed.
- jmatchett383

Seconded.

Fedorov was ridiculously good at everything.

Basically, for you younger fans, Federov was Datsyuk with better wheels, more size and grit, and perhaps even a bit better defensively. Hands down, he was one of the best all around players to ever play the sport.
- BiggE

Definitely true.

If he had played more like a selfish, glory-hounding wiener, he probably would have put up some ridiculous numbers.

He was pathetic. I wonder if a player over a 20 game sample has ever been a -1 per game.
- PLindbergh31

Of all the bad players on that team -- and there were many -- you just got the sense that Nedved and Sanderson were just there for the paycheck. I don't like to say that about players, because I do respect what it takes to play even a single shift in that league.

But those two guys didn't give a poop if the Flyers won or lost. The rest of the team was just bad or out of their league. But for the most part, they tried.

Basically, for you younger fans, Federov was Datsyuk with better wheels, more size and grit, and perhaps even a bit better defensively. Hands down, he was one of the best all around players to ever play the sport.
- BiggE

I can sign onto this.

This video is one of my favorite ways to remember Fedorov:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLiy6ouL-qU