He's been steadily sub-par at driving play, irrespective of teammates, team, competition, usage and tactics. The way he looked in the Rangers series was very disconcerting.
- Tomahawk

If the Flyers have him put more of an emphasis on being aggressive on entries, he would improve by a pretty substantial margin

but he still thinks mason is a question. i suppose that's fair...but not really. he was great after the acquisition in 2013, and had a very good season this year, including the playoffs.

he's not a 2nd year player, and the flyers have a good team in front of him, despite the holes and team needs.

shut up, scott cullen.
- hammarby31

i mean i guess anything can happen, but i dont understand how much longer mason needs to display solid play before the tired routines arent trotted out.

and yes, he looks like a chipmunk.

Just gotta protect him, play him with Schenn and hope for,the best...gotta hope Schenn takes a step forward. That just needs to happen.
- AllInForFlyers

There's no move clause there... maybe they unload him this summer to the teams that miss out on Niskanen/etc?

(I mean, AMac and Carlyle/Toronto are a match made in heaven... they send us Gardiner, while they think they're getting better defensively)

It is done in private and the results are then announced, correctl?
- Steelmanpa

The rules were made in public with the consent of the board of governors. The drawing was done under controlled circumstances with witnesses from the teams. It's a multibillion dollar business with 30 teams run by successful (or lucky in birth) competitive people. No one thinks Ed Snider would have quietly sat by and let them favor either NY or Pittsburgh at his expense, do they? Really?

ETA: What MBFlyerfan said!

There's no move clause there... maybe they unload him this summer to the teams that miss out on Niskanen/etc?

(I mean, AMac and Carlyle/Toronto are a match made in heaven... they send us Gardiner, while they think they're getting better defensively)
- Tomahawk

Depending on Gardiner's development, that could rival Zhitnik for Coburn

The rules were made in public with the consent of the board of governors. The drawing was done under controlled circumstances with witnesses from the teams. It's a multibillion dollar business with 30 teams run by successful (or lucky in birth) competitive people. No one thinks Ed Snider would have quietly sat by and let them favor either NY or Pittsburgh at his expense, do they? Really?

ETA: What MBFlyerfan said!
- bodiva88

No but they cant do anything about bias reffing....

Depending on Gardiner's development, that could rival Zhitnik for Coburn
- PhillySportsGuy

Gardiner's already pretty terrific... Carlyle just intent on turning him into AMac... might as well just give them the real thing.

tough break for Alberts http://www.vancouversun.c...daches/9898138/story.html

tough break for Alberts http://www.vancouversun.c...daches/9898138/story.html
- wilsonecho91

Sad, so damn sad

tough break for Alberts http://www.vancouversun.c...daches/9898138/story.html
- wilsonecho91

I wish the NHL would take a much tougher approach to head shots. If they really wanted to get rid of them, they'd start handing out much larger suspensions.

Nutter has always been a bit of a conspiracy guy, and with only a little bit of the stuff Snowden has put to light, I think the notion that all is good and fair in the NHL is a little... Too perfect?

Sheep will be sheep.

Nutter has always been a bit of a conspiracy guy, and with only a little bit of the stuff Snowden has put to light, I think the notion that all is good and fair in the NHL is a little... Too perfect?

Sheep will be sheep.
- flyer_nutter

The takeaway from Snowden should be that, if it were fixed, somebody would've leaked evidence of it by now.

The takeaway from Snowden should be that, if it were fixed, somebody would've leaked evidence of it by now.
- BulliesPhan87

and then joined the KHL.

I wish the NHL would take a much tougher approach to head shots. If they really wanted to get rid of them, they'd start handing out much larger suspensions.
- PhillySportsGuy

Couldn't agree more.

The takeaway from Snowden should be that, if it were fixed, somebody would've leaked evidence of it by now.
- BulliesPhan87

To each their own. That would also put into light the assumption that we as society know everything those in higher power do because it would be leaked?

You are talking to me though, so take that with a grain of salt.

I don't buy into the part of the conspiracy that has Bettman hand-picking the ping pong balls out of the machine... but I do believe that the financial health of the league, specific franchise considerations and potential growth were probably factored into the equation in 2005, in addition to good old fashioned parity concerns.
- Tomahawk

All the have not teams that Bettman has carried, teams that were or are not self sufficient are dependent on the upper level teams for the "revenue sharing". Maybe the new TV deal makes that an obsolete view to an extent. But much of this problem of revenue sharing related to the TV deal which was promised in the 1990's when the league was expanding and never materialized. These teams were planning for that revenue which never materialized till this past year, to pay for players in fringe markets.

Parity aside, there are certain core teams that were relied on to fund the revenue sharing. Their flourishing and being competitive etc etc and driving revenue higher would help raise that nasty old cap they adopted to help the have nots exist.
Those core teams are in the northern traditional markets and with the exception of the Devils whose numbers I have never researched, their health and interest in those teams was what helped to fund the little sisters of the poor billionaires teams in non traditional markets

Those teams have to show certain ticket sales percentage of total seats to qualify for the revenue sharing. How do they do that, THEY LOWER THE TICKET PRICES AND MAKE SPECIAL PACKAGES FOR ENTICEMENT. Then they fund their players and teams with your season ticket money and anything you buy which goes into the Flyers franchise pockets which is sent like Robin Hood and his merry men by the rules.

Pittsburgh was the recipient of many gifts once Gary adopted Sidney and previously determined the franchise would not move to Kansas City on his watch. I also blame Rendell for sending 20-30 mill of state money. Draft picks early and officiating from 06-11 were slanted towards their success

They wouldnt let them move to save it for a future expan$$$$ion franchi$$$e fee generator and keep a traditional market.

Patrick Kane was the gift for that franchise. I dont think they got the officiating help the Pens did, the Hawks were more loaded than the Pens.

All I wanted to know was eveyones opinion if the Flyers would have won the Cup in 2010 with Kane instead of JVR, not to have to go through this again

To each their own. That would also put into light the assumption that we as society know everything those in higher power do because it would be leaked?

You are talking to me though, so take that with a grain of salt.
- flyer_nutter

salted peanuts?

salted peanuts?
- PhillySportsGuy

honey roasted pls

To each their own. That would also put into light the assumption that we as society know everything those in higher power do because it would be leaked?

You are talking to me though, so take that with a grain of salt.
- flyer_nutter

I wouldn't say we know everything and so on, just that secrets are awfully tough to keep these days. The only computer that can't be hacked is the one that isn't plugged in.

All the have not teams that Bettman has carried, teams that were or are not self sufficient are dependent on the upper level teams for the "revenue sharing". Maybe the new TV deal makes that an obsolete view to an extent. But much of this problem of revenue sharing related to the TV deal which was promised in the 1990's when the league was expanding and never materialized. These teams were planning for that revenue which never materialized till this past year, to pay for players in fringe markets.

Parity aside, there are certain core teams that were relied on to fund the revenue sharing. Their flourishing and being competitive etc etc and driving revenue higher would help raise that nasty old cap they adopted to help the have nots exist.
Those core teams are in the northern traditional markets and with the exception of the Devils whose numbers I have never researched, their health and interest in those teams was what helped to fund the little sisters of the poor billionaires teams in non traditional markets

Those teams have to show certain ticket sales percentage of total seats to qualify for the revenue sharing. How do they do that, THEY LOWER THE TICKET PRICES AND MAKE SPECIAL PACKAGES FOR ENTICEMENT. Then they fund their players and teams with your season ticket money and anything you buy which goes into the Flyers franchise pockets which is sent like Robin Hood and his merry men by the rules.

Pittsburgh was the recipient of many gifts once Gary adopted Sidney and previously determined the franchise would not move to Kansas City on his watch. I also blame Rendell for sending 20-30 mill of state money. Draft picks early and officiating from 06-11 were slanted towards their success

They wouldnt let them move to save it for a future expan$$$$ion franchi$$$e fee generator and keep a traditional market.

Patrick Kane was the gift for that franchise. I dont think they got the officiating help the Pens did, the Hawks were more loaded than the Pens.

All I wanted to know was eveyones opinion if the Flyers would have won the Cup in 2010 with Kane instead of JVR, not to have to go through this again
- Steelmanpa

damn. a 5 year period? huh. who'd have thunk.

To each their own. That would also put into light the assumption that we as society know everything those in higher power do because it would be leaked?

You are talking to me though, so take that with a grain of salt.
- flyer_nutter

Yes, because self made billionaires like Ed Snider and Mike Illitch would voluntarily weaken their teams and risk revenue going into their own pockets to help out small market teams.

You know Ed LOVES writing that revenue sharing check to Nashville every summer

Exactly. They won't blow out the Rags, but the Kings will find a way to win. It's just what they do.
- BiggE

I hate to break this to you but the rangers will win the series.. if not for any other reason than I'm rooting for the kings to win. Always happens.

All I wanted to know was eveyones opinion if the Flyers would have won the Cup in 2010 with Kane instead of JVR, not to have to go through this again
- Steelmanpa

yes

I hate to break this to you but the rangers will win the series.. if not for any other reason than I'm rooting for the kings to win. Always happens.
- moylander

that's what my husband said... he left the room and said "i don't know why i'm even watching nobody that i want to win ever wins"

three seconds later the kings won