Hindsight's always 20-20, but it doesn't make a damn bit of difference when you are making a decision in the present
- AllInForFlyers

They gave Sharp away for nothing because Hitchcock had him in the doghouse for no good reason. You don't need hindsight, you just needed to look at how well he played for the Phantoms the previous season to know he was worth keeping around.

40 year anniversary

Flyers west against the Rangers in the Cup Finals

Its great to be a Flyers fan, I wake up and thank my lucky stars each day
- Just5

Spoiled rotten compared to Leafs and Sabres fans.

The Sharp trade is overblown, too. You'd think he was already a star player playing on the top line at the time of the deal, with all the crying going on over it.
- tangent_man

Sharp was the beneficiary of being on some awful Chicago teams, getting ice time he was never gonna get here before he (and the franchise) got good.

And the anger with Sharp mostly comes from how it went down more than anything else. I think he got in Hitchcock's dog house and never recovered. Clarke dumped him for pennies on the dollar as a result.

They gave Sharp away for nothing because Hitchcock had him in the doghouse for no good reason. You don't need hindsight, you just needed to look at how well he played for the Phantoms the previous season to know he was worth keeping around.
- Feanor

I've said that before; that's on Hitchcock as much as anyone, because he just wouldn't play Sharp.

Clarke wasn't perfect, and that trade wound up not working as well for the Flyers. But I do give him credit for sending players elsewhere to give them chances to play -- I mean, what were they going to do? They weren't going to fire Hitchcock, and I'd bet money that Sharp wasn't eligible for waivers.

They aren't Flyers any longer, I don't think about them in O&B, and I certainly don't care if they get their name on the cup again. I want LA to lose simply because they won it all 2 years ago and I'm getting bored with the same old teams being at the top.

I'm not a big fan of the Rangers winning the cup either...

Well yeah... They did everything except the only thing that matters.
- PLindbergh31

It's frustrating...I still think about that season, TBH.

Wouldn't it just be fantastic if the Kings sweep the Rangers

As for the Richards and Carter trades.....

I was always fine with trading Carter. Stylistically, I was never a fan. The return for him was pretty damned good and then, he sulked his way out of Columbus. Hardly seems fair how he's been rewarded for that.

Richards, on the other hand, was my favorite player on the team. It sucked to see him go. What I don't miss about Richards was for his own role in what happened with the press here. He wasn't Chris Pronger and didn't have to be. I feel like he created a lot of his own problems with the press. There was a way to handle those situations and a way not to handle those situations. Richards handled things poorly. I do always wonder what role the presence of Chris Pronger played in Richards getting dealt.

That was a tougher deal, but Markov was good for them...they didn't win in 2004, so it didn't work, and yeah, that effing sucked.

But 2004...man. It didn't work. But it should've worked. They did everything, made smart moves, and did everything except win.
- AllInForFlyers

Hey, long time no see. WB!

Yeah, Williams is the trade I'm lamenting... what a terrific hockey player he's turned out to be. It would be nice to see him in O&B again... I think his game will age very gracefully, like a Ray Whitney.

Wouldn't it just be fantastic if the Kings sweep the Rangers
- Streit2ThePoint

For Kings fans maybe.

They aren't Flyers any longer, I don't think about them in O&B, and I certainly don't care if they get their name on the cup again. I want LA to lose simply because they won it all 2 years ago and I'm getting bored with the same old teams being at the top.

I'm not a big fan of the Rangers winning the cup either...
- wolfhounds

It does become monotonous rooting against teams every year. I'm going to just try and enjoy the games and not waste energy rooting against people. It's kind of a waste of energy. It doesn't change the outcome anyway.

Hey, long time no see. WB!

Yeah, Williams is the trade I'm lamenting... what a terrific hockey player he's turned out to be. It would be nice to see him in O&B again... I think his game will age very gracefully, like a Ray Whitney.


- Tomahawk

Ha! I was on an actual vacation, for the holiday week! Promised the missus that I'd not talk sports while on it.

It's good to be back and talking hockey!

Hey, long time no see. WB!

Yeah, Williams is the trade I'm lamenting... what a terrific hockey player he's turned out to be. It would be nice to see him in O&B again... I think his game will age very gracefully, like a Ray Whitney.


- Tomahawk

The Blackhawks sound like they're willing to move Teravainen for a veteran No. 2 center, because they don't think he's big enough -- I've read that rumor for awhile now, and the blogger here wrote today that he has heard it, as well.

That's the prism through which I view the Williams deal -- it's great if you do it and it works. And while Teravainen isn't as accomplished in the NHL as Williams was, or at least looked like he could have been because he was getting buried by Hitch too, it just goes to show those kinds of high-risk moves in order to win now...they won't ever stop.

Way to hit the nail on the head, Mr. Meltzer. Of course, the narrative will always be that the Flyers traded both players to LA for (whatever nobody cares).

No team has ever played 3 seven game series and then won the cup.

LA could make history this year.

They beat three really good teams to get to this point also.

I miss JWill, Richie, and even Carter.
But I think the Flyers did fine with the frick and frack trades.

It does become monotonous rooting against teams every year. I'm going to just try and enjoy the games and not waste energy rooting against people. It's kind of a waste of energy. It doesn't change the outcome anyway.
- PLindbergh31

good luck

No team has ever played 3 seven game series and then won the cup.

LA could make history this year.

They beat three really good teams to get to this point also.

I miss JWill, Richie, and even Carter.
But I think the Flyers did fine with the frick and frack trades.
- Marc D

Still borderline stunned they beat San Jose, TBH

The Blackhawks sound like they're willing to move Teravainen for a veteran No. 2 center, because they don't think he's big enough -- I've read that rumor for awhile now, and the blogger here wrote today that he has heard it, as well.

That's the prism through which I view the Williams deal -- it's great if you do it and it works. And while Teravainen isn't as accomplished in the NHL as Williams was, or at least looked like he could have been because he was getting buried by Hitch too, it just goes to show those kinds of high-risk moves in order to win now...they won't ever stop.
- AllInForFlyers

If they're smart (which they are), they'll just keep Teuvo, use him as the 2C, and possibly be even better next season.

No team has ever played 3 seven game series and then won the cup.

LA could make history this year.

They beat three really good teams to get to this point also.

I miss JWill, Richie, and even Carter.
But I think the Flyers did fine with the frick and frack trades.
- Marc D

Does that include a seven game Stanley Cup? The Broons went to seven in three of four series in 2011, including the finals.

Hartford then immediately flipped Linseman and Don Nachbaur to the Edmonton Oilers for Risto Siltanen and Brent Loney.

Risto Siltanen is one of my all time favorite hockey names.

It's right up with Reijo Ruotsalainen and the immortal Hakan Loob as some of the hockey names from the 80's that were just fun to say.

If they're smart (which they are), they'll just keep Teuvo, use him as the 2C, and possibly be even better next season.
- bradleyc4

HA! Now, that's what I'd do, and that's what you'd do. But that Ryan Kesler talk just won't go away -- the whispers are they don't think you can play Teuvo and Kane together, because of the size concerns.

I'd play them with Bickell and see what happens, but I do believe there's some smoke on that one.

If they're smart (which they are), they'll just keep Teuvo, use him as the 2C, and possibly be even better next season.
- bradleyc4

Yeah, 2C has been their "Achilles heel" even before 2010... I don't see them making any knee-jerk moves just b/c of what happened vs. LA this year.

They can afford to be super-patient w/ TT.

Does that include a seven game Stanley Cup? The Broons went to seven in three of four series in 2011, including the finals.
- BulliesPhan87

What happened in the one series that didn't go seven games that year?

/plind

No team has ever played 3 seven game series and then won the cup.

LA could make history this year.

They beat three really good teams to get to this point also.

I miss JWill, Richie, and even Carter.
But I think the Flyers did fine with the frick and frack trades.
- Marc D

To think the Kings were down 3-0 in the first round, and are at this point is unreal.

When looking at the Kings and Hawks I guess just be happy they are in the Western Conf. It's pretty depressing that they are better than the Flyers in every aspect of the game. Their top players are better, their supporting cast is much better, they each have 2 if not 3 dmen better than anyone the Flyers have and their goaltending is better. And both teams are fairly young. Other than that everything is hunky dory, peachy keen.

HA! Now, that's what I'd do, and that's what you'd do. But that Ryan Kesler talk just won't go away -- the whispers are they don't think you can play Teuvo and Kane together, because of the size concerns.

I'd play them with Bickell and see what happens, but I do believe there's some smoke on that one.
- AllInForFlyers

Seems to be a much bigger advantage to having a young, quality 2C playing on his ELC -- than trading him for "size."

But hey, I hope the Hawks do it. Acquire less skill and murky up your cap situation. Seems prudent.