I think David Poile is a GM who really wants to do right by his fanbase and team, but I have long felt that his time in the NHL is over.

I don't mind him matching for Weber; he is their franchise player and more important to them in terms of relevance than just his on-ice production.

But what you said is true. Instead of trading Dan Hamhuis, he lets him go to free agency. No assets in return. Instead of trading Ryan Suter, he lets him go to free agency. No,assets in return.

This, when your offense has always been able to be defended because of the lack of game-breakers in their prime. David Legwand isn't a bad player. But that's the best you could do for 14 years?

There is a time for patience and there is a time for action. Poile, to me, doesn't seem to be able to adjust his thinking to the degree required to make a skillful move, a la Jack Johnson for Jeff Carter.

You can't be so in love with your draft picks that you can never trade any. At some point, you need to cash in a strength to address a weakness.
- AllInForFlyers

I was thinking along the same lines. Maybe this is the year Poile makes his move, dives for McDavid and trades off Weber for a ton of picks and prospects.

This is the Bruins, but a really good look at what a development camp looks like behind the scenes (starts at 26:30):

- Tomahawk

Thanks but I had to turn it off that beginning part was just too scary

I think David Poile is a GM who really wants to do right by his fanbase and team, but I have long felt that his time in the NHL is over.

I don't mind him matching for Weber; he is their franchise player and more important to them in terms of relevance than just his on-ice production.

But what you said is true. Instead of trading Dan Hamhuis, he lets him go to free agency. No assets in return. Instead of trading Ryan Suter, he lets him go to free agency. No,assets in return.

This, when your offense has always been able to be defended because of the lack of game-breakers in their prime. David Legwand isn't a bad player. But that's the best you could do for 14 years?

There is a time for patience and there is a time for action. Poile, to mkge, doesn't seem to be able to adjust his thinking to the degree required to make a skillful move, a la Jack Johnson for Jeff Carter.

You can't be so in love with your draft picks that you can never trade any. At some point, you need to cash in a strength to address a weakness.
- AllInForFlyers

this comment. So true.

I was thinking along the same lines. Maybe this is the year Poile makes his move, dives for McDavid and trades off Weber for a ton of picks and prospects.
- spatso

Could you imagine the return on Weber? Especially if there was a bidding war on him...

The Hockey News ‏@TheHockeyNews 11m
Mike Fisher out 4-to-6 months with ruptured Achilles. @THNRoryBoylen wonders who are Nashville’s top centers now? - http://bit.ly/1qcUCVF





no we are not eating any salary lol

Just say no to paying VL to play somewhere else.

The Hockey News ‏@TheHockeyNews 11m
Mike Fisher out 4-to-6 months with ruptured Achilles. @THNRoryBoylen wonders who are Nashville’s top centers now? - http://bit.ly/1qcUCVF





no we are not eating any salary lol
- PhillaBully

Per the blog:

When news broke yesterday that Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and will be out for four to six months, speculation immediately ran rampant that the on-again/ off-again trade talks between the Predators and Flyers for Vincent Lecavalier would be rekindled. While that it certainly a possibility, it is far from a certainty that the Flyers will be able to get some salary cap relief by trading Lecavalier to the Predators. David Poile is a resourceful general manager and, despite the Fisher injury, he is also unlikely to back off his reported demand that the Flyers eat a big chunk of Lecavalier's remaining salary. Perhaps there is a compromise to be reached, perhaps not.
- bmeltzer

Per the blog:
- jmatchett383

at this point its a waiting game....who is going to be their number one center? Steve ott? . let him posture all he wants....if they dont want to take him as is they can go into the season with this guy as their number one!

The Hockey News ‏@TheHockeyNews 11m
Mike Fisher out 4-to-6 months with ruptured Achilles. @THNRoryBoylen wonders who are Nashville’s top centers now? - http://bit.ly/1qcUCVF





no we are not eating any salary lol
- PhillaBully

Good chance the injury to Fisher makes Nashville less interested in LaCavalier.

Obviously, they are not going anywhere. They already have 6 centers on their roster making $2m or more. Why add another on a four year deal when the team is obviously not going anywhere? Time for them to move prime assets (Weber) in a serious rebuild. Time for Poile to start gathering picks and prospects.

Good chance the injury to Fisher makes Nashville less interested in LaCavalier.

Obviously, they are not going anywhere. They already have 6 centers centers on their roster making $2m or more. Why add another on a four year deal when the team is obviously not going anywhere? Time for them to move prime assets (Weber) in a serious rebuild. Time for Poile to start gathering picks and prospects.
- spatso

Because they are not the leafs, if they dont win fans wont show up down there.

Per the blog:
- jmatchett383

Yeah. I think they will eventually meet in the middle somewhere. I think it was a lot of posturing so someone can say they got the better end.

Also to people who think Weber will be traded now i don't know how that is a good idea. You paid all the money to match the OS, paid out all his bonus money. Once all the front loaded stuff is paid his contract is pretty resonable.

Yeah. I think they will eventually meet in the middle somewhere. I think it was a lot of posturing so someone can say they got the better end.

Also to people who think Weber will be traded now i don't know how that is a good idea. You paid all the money to match the OS, paid out all his bonus money. Once all the front loaded stuff is paid his contract is pretty resonable.
- J35Bacher

I dont think they trade weber...

Because they are not the leafs, if they dont win fans wont show up down there.
- PhillaBully

Correct. Nashville needs attendance. And what does that say to your fan base after you spent all the money on Weber and now that his contract is reasonable you decide to move a norris caliber dmen. They don't grow on tress and you have one locked up reasonably priced.

Because they are not the leafs, if they dont win fans wont show up down there.
- PhillaBully

They could, for example, probably get Legwand from the Senators but it is not going to help them win. Does anybody believe in the current situation LaCavalier would actually make any difference for the. He is not effective playing #2 on a good team. It would be very ugly if he was asked to play #1 on a bad team.

They could, for example, probably get Legwand from the Senators but it is not going to help them win. Does anybody believe in the current situation LaCavalier would actually make any difference for the. He is not effective playing #2 on a good team. It would be very ugly if he was asked to play #1 on a bad team.
- spatso

he had 20 goals and was on the fourth line. he was the flyers best player in the begining of the season. remeber he was shuffled up and down the line up playing center on the fourth line and still managed to pot 20. tbh he never really played #2 here he was mostly on the wing or fourth line center.

Because they are not the leafs, if they dont win fans wont show up down there.
- PhillaBully

I think you can do both -- look at what Jim Nill,has done in Dallas. It's been masterful.

The Seguin deal -- Dallas gave up a ton in that deal. Boston gave up the best player but still got a sizable return.

Both teams made out.

Does Poile have to trade Shea Weber? Maybe not. But why not try to make a hockey trade with Roman Josi for a young, productive center?

It can be done. Dallas just did it last year. You just have to be creative and have some intestinal fortitude.

I think you can do both -- look at what Jim Nill,has done in Dallas. It's been masterful.

The Seguin deal -- Dallas gave up a ton in that deal. Boston gave up the best player but still got a sizable return.

Both teams made out.

Does Poile have to trade Shea Weber? Maybe not. But why not try to make a hockey trade with Roman Josi for a young, productive center?

It can be done. Dallas just did it last year. You just have to be creative and have some intestinal fortitude.
- AllInForFlyers

i wouldnt mind that either...schenn+ for josi would make sense

They could, for example, probably get Legwand from the Senators but it is not going to help them win. Does anybody believe in the current situation LaCavalier would actually make any difference for the. He is not effective playing #2 on a good team. It would be very ugly if he was asked to play #1 on a bad team.
- spatso

As long as Lecavalier is healthy without any chronic back issues, there's no reason why he can't be effective as a #2 center. And if he is healthy, he would be the best center on Nashville. And isn't it ugly now who they have as a #1 Center?

Correct. Nashville needs attendance. And what does that say to your fan base after you spent all the money on Weber and now that his contract is reasonable you decide to move a norris caliber dmen. They don't grow on tress and you have one locked up reasonably priced.
- J35Bacher

There are some teams with great young players and prospects that could go from being good to elite with Weber. For example, Minnesota has a very deep talent pool. They would be tempted to reunite Weber and Suter. San Jose is stacked with outstanding centers, but not much on the back end. Would they give up Logan Couture for Weber. I would.

I think you can do both -- look at what Jim Nill,has done in Dallas. It's been masterful.

The Seguin deal -- Dallas gave up a ton in that deal. Boston gave up the best player but still got a sizable return.

Both teams made out.

Does Poile have to trade Shea Weber? Maybe not. But why not try to make a hockey trade with Roman Josi for a young, productive center?

It can be done. Dallas just did it last year. You just have to be creative and have some intestinal fortitude.
- AllInForFlyers

The Seguin trade for Boston is not looking very good. Especially if they wind up having to trade Loui Ericksson.

They could, for example, probably get Legwand from the Senators but it is not going to help them win. Does anybody believe in the current situation LaCavalier would actually make any difference for the. He is not effective playing #2 on a good team. It would be very ugly if he was asked to play #1 on a bad team.
- spatso

Shhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone these things.

I think you can do both -- look at what Jim Nill,has done in Dallas. It's been masterful.

The Seguin deal -- Dallas gave up a ton in that deal. Boston gave up the best player but still got a sizable return.

Both teams made out.

Does Poile have to trade Shea Weber? Maybe not. But why not try to make a hockey trade with Roman Josi for a young, productive center?

It can be done. Dallas just did it last year. You just have to be creative and have some intestinal fortitude.
- AllInForFlyers

I agree.

I have no idea what Poile does. But, it seems that it just makes so much sense that he begin a rebuild.

There are some teams with great young players and prospects that could go from being good to elite with Weber. For example, Minnesota has a very deep talent pool. They would be tempted to reunite Weber and Suter. San Jose is stacked with outstanding centers, but not much on the back end. Would they give up Logan Couture for Weber. I would.
- spatso

That's how the Oakland A's do it -- instead of marrying yourself to one great player and lose, trade that one great player to a target-rich team, no matter who it is, and maximize their value so the near future is far brighter.

I don't know that you have to trade Weber. But I wouldn't be afraid to.

There are some teams with great young players and prospects that could go from being good to elite with Weber. For example, Minnesota has a very deep talent pool. They would be tempted to reunite Weber and Suter. San Jose is stacked with outstanding centers, but not much on the back end. Would they give up Logan Couture for Weber. I would.
- spatso

You're looking at giving up at least 4 pieces for him. All significant pieces too. It would be Couture+3rd liner/3rd pairing dman+ Top prospect in organization+ 1st rounder

You're looking at giving up at least 4 pieces for him. All significant pieces too. It would be Couture+3rd liner/3rd pairing dman+ Top prospect in organization+ 1st rounder
- PhillySportsGuy

Maybe not that much if Couture was in the package. But I know it would Couture plus.