Of course it's financial.......the Flyers can't even give away Vinny wth out eating contract....I guess all those teams missed the first month and a half of the season when Vinny was "on pace" for 34 goals.....tell us again how this wasn't another disaster call by Holmgren?
- landros 2

You missed the point. The poster was talking about cap space. It could also be about salary. As far as the rest, no need to comment on that.

Thats why most of us discuss Grossmann in trade scenarios. Schenn is a bit more mobile and has more offensive ability too. His greatest problem is consistency. If he can find consistency, he'll be a top 4 defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

Absolutely agree. I think Schenn has an underrated first pass out of the zone too. Grossmann tends to keep things very simple and because of that is more consistent. I'd love to see Schenn (well actually both Schenns) become more consistent. He's definitely had stretches where he's put it all together, but it usually doesn't last more than a few weeks to a month at a time.

Absolutely agree. I think Schenn has an underrated first pass out of the zone too. Grossmann tends to keep things very simple and because of that is more consistent. I'd love to see Schenn (well actually both Schenns) become more consistent. He's definitely had stretches where he's put it all together, but it usually doesn't last more than a few weeks to a month at a time.
- five4fighting10

That's the biggest hurdle for Luke Schenn. His battles with consistency.

I agree with just about all of this. If I had it my way I'd move Grossmann before Schenn, mainly because I'd rather keep the youth and the one righty we have on our D. Granted, most teams would probably give up more for Schenn for those very same reasons.
- five4fighting10

It's not that the guys they have suck......they just need improvement at the top end of the group. None qualify as a great # 1 or a very good # 2. Obviously Hextall agree's....or he wouldn't have gone so hard after Ekblad.....those guys don't grow on tree's but all good teams have them.

You missed the point. The poster was talking about cap space. It could also be about salary. As far as the rest, no need to comment on that.
- MJL

Selective memory? Thought so....

The NHL game isn't changing. You still need to defend. And still need big bodied physical defenseman to play on the PK, and to battle in the corners and around the net. Some teams are fortunate to have the type of defenseman who can not only handle the physical game, but can also handle and move the puck efficiently. The Flyers don't have that player. And I agree wholeheartedly that Ehrhoff is a better player then MacDonald is at this point. But he's also 4 years older. And MacDonald is a growing player. I don't buy that MacDonald concedes the blueline too easily. I think different defenseman have different styles of play. And if MacDonald was a physical monster who steps up and takes out forwards at the blueline, the Flyers wouldn't have gotten him for the trade price they paid, and he would've cost a lot more then 5M a year.
So while I think Ehrhoff is a significant upgrade, and would be glad to have him. he really doesn't have that big physical edge to his game either. And the Flyers need to be careful about becoming too much of a finesse team on the backend.
- MJL

MacDonald conceding the blue line is a documented stat. Please don't tell "every situation is different" because the sample size is large enough. It's like the people who say "global warming is a hoax. It's cold as poop today."

I really think this team has too many one dimensional defenseman and they're paying a lot of money for them. They have situational players playing in ALL situations.

Absolutely agree. I think Schenn has an underrated first pass out of the zone too. Grossmann tends to keep things very simple and because of that is more consistent. I'd love to see Schenn (well actually both Schenns) become more consistent. He's definitely had stretches where he's put it all together, but it usually doesn't last more than a few weeks to a month at a time.
- five4fighting10

Schenn will be fine if they use him properly.....with more consistency he could be a serviceable # 3-4 guy....

ehrhoff-Coburn
Timonen-Macdonald
Streit-Schenn

Better and cheaper than last years D. Obviously you can change up the lines.

You're right, the current Flyer D isnt going to win a cup. My point was that their current D is good enough to be a solid team and I'd rather live with that than grossly overpay a UFA or trade multiple, quality assets for one dman. I'm willing to be patient for now.
- BiggE

I can get behind that.

MacDonald conceding the blue line is a documented stat. Please don't tell "every situation is different" because the sample size is large enough. It's like the people who say "global warming is a hoax. It's cold as poop today."

I really think this team has too many one dimensional defenseman and they're paying a lot of money for them. They have situational players playing in ALL situations.
- PhillySportsGuy

You did not just go with the whole Global warming thing?

I can get behind that.
- Flyers_01

If they do get a guy to help them now, just make damned sure that it won't be another contract that they'll have to bend over backwards to shed just a couple of years down the road when all our kids are ready to go.

I was under the impression the Flyers had no issues with cap space.

Absolutely agree. I think Schenn has an underrated first pass out of the zone too. Grossmann tends to keep things very simple and because of that is more consistent. I'd love to see Schenn (well actually both Schenns) become more consistent. He's definitely had stretches where he's put it all together, but it usually doesn't last more than a few weeks to a month at a time.
- five4fighting10

It's one the reasons I'd love to get Ehrhoff. I think Schenn would work really well with Timonen. Playing Kimmo on the second pair would help limit his minutes too.

Ehrhoff-Coburn
Timonen-Schenn

I like that top 4 a lot.

MacDonald conceding the blue line is a documented stat. Please don't tell "every situation is different" because the sample size is large enough. It's like the people who say "global warming is a hoax. It's cold as poop today."

I really think this team has too many one dimensional defenseman and they're paying a lot of money for them. They have situational players playing in ALL situations.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's a stat that simply puts all zone entries on one player, just because he happens to be the defenseman on that side of the ice. It's a bad stat. Because it eliminates the team element from the game, and secondly, it ignores whether the defenseman made the correct read or not. Sometimes defenseman have no choice to concede the blueline, and the defenseman makes the right read on the play to back in. A good stat would look at each individual rush, and whether the correct read was made, whether the forward support and back pressure was there, etc.

I agree with the last point. But that's the way it is when you don't have a true #1.

They aren't afraid if letting go of Timonen. Signing him and bringing him back simply made the Flyers a better team. The contract could be an issue, which I wouldn't have done. But I wanted Timonen back.
- MJL

I can't disagree. Our D is rather complicated to say the least and has been not only since Pronger's injury but Carle's jumping ship.

ehrhoff-Coburn
Timonen-Macdonald
Streit-Schenn

Better and cheaper than last years D. Obviously you can change up the lines.
- jstross

Really depends on what Ehrhoff signs for.

ehrhoff-Coburn
Timonen-Macdonald
Streit-Schenn

Better and cheaper than last years D. Obviously you can change up the lines.
- jstross

Says who?

Not sure why people think we have a shot at erhoff.
have to move vinny and probably grossman first which won'tbe done bbefore July 2.
still have 2 rfa and a goalie to sign, so unless you unload VL and grossman for nothing, the cap sspace is gone with those signings.
and even if they do move them for just picks, the rest of the league will have had time to drive up the price on erhoff.
if Bogo is available, that is the avenue I pursue.

Says who?
- SuperSchennBros

You don't think that's an upgrade?

Could be a financial issue.
- MJL

Oh yea true forgot Vinny makes 6 mill this year. Homer and his love for front loaded contracts

Not sure why people think we have a shot at erhoff.
have to move vinny and probably grossman first which won'tbe done bbefore July 2.
still have 2 rfa and a goalie to sign, so unless you unload VL and grossman for nothing, the cap sspace is gone with those signings.
and even if they do move them for just picks, the rest of the league will have had time to drive up the price on erhoff.
if Bogo is available, that is the avenue I pursue.
- nails

Depending on who they make qualifying offers to, and how much Ehrhoff is going to command, the Flyers could potentially sign Ehrhoff, and make moves after that to clear cap space for the season.

Oh yea true forgot Vinny makes 6 mill this year. Homer and his love for front loaded contracts
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

In this case the front loaded deal works to the Flyers favor. In number of ways, which I suspect was done to suit both parties.

You don't think that's an upgrade?
- jstross

I don't think it's cheaper.

It's not that the guys they have suck......they just need improvement at the top end of the group. None qualify as a great # 1 or a very good # 2. Obviously Hextall agree's....or he wouldn't have gone so hard after Ekblad.....those guys don't grow on tree's but all good teams have them.
- landros 2

No doubt about it, every player on our D is an NHL-caliber player, but none are top pairing anymore (but I could argue Coburn could be a fine #2 with the right #1)

It's one the reasons I'd love to get Ehrhoff. I think Schenn would work really well with Timonen. Playing Kimmo on the second pair would help limit his minutes too.

Ehrhoff-Coburn
Timonen-Schenn

I like that top 4 a lot.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd have no issue with that.