I agree there is some luck involved, but the Flyers track record regarding drafting and developing defenseman isn't all bad luck. Not by a long shot.
- PLindbergh31

There were a number of players on the Rangers last season that will not do as well, given different circumstances, team mates and coaches. What they had were skills that had not been used effectively in the past. Many were 1st round picks who under performed previously. Credit Tort's staff for the foundation and AV and this seasons staff for continuing and improving the system and mix. Easier to teach systems than skills. Agree with Bill that Stralman needs a Staal. Not to sure I agree that size or heart or toughness trumps skill in many cases. I will provide Captain Callahan (a prototypical Flyer), who we all loved, as an example. Played to his maximum nightly, often injured yet never had the skill set to be missed very much. Flyers generally have drafted very well, except possibly for the over emphasis of size or toughness. Get branded a "soft", injury prone, or perimeter player and you are out the door, down the road. Those same guys are now playing well for other teams throughout the League. Yes, it is not all bad luck.

I would trade for Floridas #1 pick and select Aaron Ekblad.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=262489

Just one more thread from the actual draft day. I really wanted to find a HB draft day comments section but they're deleted :/
- eayost

-

Sanguinetti or Vishnevski would be cool. Or Summers or Strait. Lots of d-men that sound like they will project well.

I think only 1 dman from the draft made it to the NHL

I would trade for Floridas #1 pick and select Aaron Ekblad.
- GOA88

Fascinating, and who would you trade for that?
We've heard quite a few... so I'd be curious to see if you have something different up your sleeve.

I get it though… if the NHL allowed Pronger to retire due to injury, get paid by the Flyers, but come off the cap, then the players as a whole would get more than the agreed to upon % of HRR. That's really the reason things are the way they are no?

Now that the contract rules in the CBA allow much less back diving on contracts (can only decrease 10% or something each season), I think they should reexamine this 35+ thing in regards to injury. We can agree that Pronger does effect the Flyers ability to go over the cap by 10% in the offseason right? Essentially lowers their tagging space?
- eayost

They could because the ability to front load deals has been lessened with the contract variability rules in the new CBA. But they can still do that somewhat, just not to the extreme that they could in the past.

http://articles.courant.com/1994-05-21/sports/9405210429_1_pierre-mcguire-whalers-general-manager-paul-holmgren
- JAKEw1234

Love it!

I would trade for Floridas #1 pick and select Aaron Ekblad.
- GOA88

I get it though… if the NHL allowed Pronger to retire due to injury, get paid by the Flyers, but come off the cap, then the players as a whole would get more than the agreed to upon % of HRR. That's really the reason things are the way they are no?
- eayost

You got it. The dreaded money outside of the system.

-

I think only 1 dman from the draft made it to the NHL
- JAKEw1234

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_NHL_Entry_Draft

EJ and McBain. Didn't look past the first 2 rounds. Not pretty. It's funny that the draft coming up will probably look similar in 8 years. Honestly no one really knows. All the kids sound great when Button/McGuire describe them as they're selected. We'll never hear from half of them again

Classic Ek gem:

"On the BIG IMMINENT TRADE...
Sounds spooky... All I can say is if it happens it looks like it is out off Ontario....meaning Spezza or Phaneuf...but that is just a guess at this point based on who is telling me about this one. I am also getting sparse info which usually means the deal is very close. As always, things can fall apart, but to this point I am told nothing has fallen apart yet...but obviously NOT done."
- jmatchett383

I'm not even sure what any of that means.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=262489

Just one more thread from the actual draft day. I really wanted to find a HB draft day comments section but they're deleted :/
- eayost

how does that one guy have a bringbackstevens username in 2006?

Even if the 35+ rule was not in effect, Pronger still would not retire.
- jmatchett383

Correct he would be playing.

Love it!
- bmeltzer

One of the all time great hockey articles.

http://articles.courant.com/1994-05-21/sports/9405210429_1_pierre-mcguire-whalers-general-manager-paul-holmgren
- JAKEw1234

Holy poop.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=250150

Kind of fun to look into the past. The Giroux draft
- eayost

"If Finnish G Riku Helenius still is available at 22, we should pick him."



God I'm glad they didn't pick some of those players. Although, it's easy to look back now and laugh...

Fascinating, and who would you trade for that?
We've heard quite a few... so I'd be curious to see if you have something different up your sleeve.
- FlyersGrace

I never said it would be easy or that we even had enough to give them for it. I would definitely try though. I've heard rumors of Schenn(s), Coburn, and our 1st rd pick. I would pull the trigger on that. Its time for a minor rebuild. This team has no chance of winning a cup as is. Even with Mason standing on his head we lost to the Rangers.

Correct he would be playing.
- J35Bacher

How so? He's permanently injured. Not sure his age or league rules depend on that.

Holy poop.
- Tomahawk

I had read that before and it made me a little sad that the Pens didn't hire Pierre.

It would have been high comedy.

- Tomahawk

Easy as pie.

I never said it would be easy or that we even had enough to give them for it. I would definitely try though. I've heard rumors of Schenn(s), Coburn, and our 1st rd pick. I would pull the trigger on that. Its time for a minor rebuild. This team has no chance of winning a cup as is. Even with Mason standing on his head we lost to the Rangers.
- GOA88

Yes...trading our young RFA 20-goal scorer, our top all-around defenseman, and another young top-6 defenseman along with a first-round pick for a guy who's never played an NHL game in a draft where the top-5 are about as weak as top-5's go....fantastic idea. Guarantees about 7 parades.

I never said it would be easy or that we even had enough to give them for it. I would definitely try though. I've heard rumors of Schenn(s), Coburn, and our 1st rd pick. I would pull the trigger on that. Its time for a minor rebuild. This team has no chance of winning a cup as is. Even with Mason standing on his head we lost to the Rangers.
- GOA88

I think you're going a little overboard. We lost to the Rangers in 7. And the Rangers were pretty damn good this year. Im failing to see why that warrants a rebuild...

Classic Ek gem:

"On the BIG IMMINENT TRADE...
Sounds spooky... All I can say is if it happens it looks like it is out off Ontario....meaning Spezza or Phaneuf...but that is just a guess at this point based on who is telling me about this one. I am also getting sparse info which usually means the deal is very close. As always, things can fall apart, but to this point I am told nothing has fallen apart yet...but obviously NOT done."
- jmatchett383

It's probably, definitely, not sure

Yes...trading our young RFA 20-goal scorer, our top all-around defenseman, and another young top-6 defenseman along with a first-round pick for a guy who's never played an NHL game in a draft where the top-5 are about as weak as top-5's go....fantastic idea. Guarantees about 7 parades.
- jmatchett383

So you must be on the Schenn brother wagon. Im not impressed with either one and Coburns time is up. The only way this team is getting a #1 D-man is thru the draft. Will we be better next year. Nope. Im thinking towards the future because this going for the cup with spare parts every season has proven to be a failing formula. Im willing to go thru a rebuild so I can watch them raise the cup before I die.

It's probably, definitely, not sure
- PhillySportsGuy

He's doing his best Peter King bit.

"The deal looks like it's going to happen. UNLESS IT DOESN'T."