Well, I mean...you COULD, right?
- jmatchett383

Bettman loves the Philly fans passion...ya right

I'm tired of talking about it. The horse died 2 months ago, let him RIP
- Streit2ThePoint

I don't think it is dead. I actually think it plays a big role in the team. If he stays then logic says one of him or schenn are on the wing. Also if the Flyers do have interest in someone like Ott, or Setagutchi or someone else it oesn't allow the signing really as there is no logical spot.

All your cap space is belong to Florida.

I think Vinny will be very good this year, just a feeling

I found this recap of last night's Flyers town hall meeting.

http://www.hockeyforums.n...-sth-townhall-2014-recap/

There's some pretty interesting stuff from Berube and Hextall.
- Feanor

that was a good read. Guess Chief didn't like Hartnell

Bill,

You did not mention Vasilyev in your blog. Is he still on a radar? If yes, how is he progressing?

Thank you

Ouch:

http://www.ontheforecheck...nt-need-vincent-lecavlier
- Tomahawk

It's always been about the term. The money is certainly a factor, but you could find a team to roll the dice on a year, maybe even two.

But I just don't see a team who's gonna take all four.

We just need to accept that he's going to be here and hope that he clicks with some linemates this season. Really, it was always to be this way, because of the term.

nhl.com loves the Emery signing

http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...725680&navid=nhl:topheads

Bill,

You did not mention Vasilyev in your blog. Is he still on a radar? If yes, how is he progressing?

Thank you
- missingmike

He mentioned that Manning, Lauridsen, and Vasiliev will not be in attendance at prospect camp.

I just hope that if they have a playoff run, like in 2008, they realize what it is and don't double down and trade kids or other assets to immediately make the team "stronger".
- Jsaquella

i don't see this happening. i am loving everything i read that comes out of hextall's mouth, and am as excited as i have been in a long time about the future of this team. we have a lot of talent now, but they're not a true contender and they're honest about it, but even more being slowly groomed. hextall wants to win a cup here more than anything, but i believe he's determined to do it the right way. and when it happens it will be so (frank)ing sweet...it's bringing a tear to my eye right now just thinking about it...because hextall deserved a cup as a player. 87 still haunts me, and i bet if you asked him he'd say it still burns him. that burn will bring lord stanley home.

Ouch:

http://www.ontheforecheck...nt-need-vincent-lecavlier
- Tomahawk

which is what i basically said yesterday without anything to backup my assertion.

It's funny, because Kimmo's offense didn't manifest itself against adults until 2-3 seasons after he was drafted... prior to that, his numbers looked a lot like Pitbull's. Of course, Pitbull was never a big scorer at the junior level either, but Kimmo's an example of the fact that you just never know what some of these late-round picks will turn out to be, until they actually turn out to be something.
- Tomahawk

see: johnsson, kim

I found this recap of last night's Flyers town hall meeting.

http://www.hockeyforums.n...-sth-townhall-2014-recap/

There's some pretty interesting stuff from Berube and Hextall.
- Feanor

Thanks, interesting read for sure.

I see MacDonald/Carle discussions again? See ya in a few days..

I think Vinny will be very good this year, just a feeling
- vejim

I hope so!

Maybe I'm alone on this but I don't want to make the mistake of confusing who really built the Kings last two Stanley Cup winning teams, Ron Hextall or Dean Lombardi. Sure Hextall was in the mix and I'm sure he's learned a few things but let's keep a few things in mind.

The Kings haven't exactly feared making a big splash. They traded for Mike Richards the offseason before winning a Cup. They gave up on a home grown talent such as Jake Johnson who's bloomed nicely in Columbus to make another splash to get Jeff Carter less then a year later. One thing that's perfectly clear so far is Hextall isn't afraid to disagree with the GM ahead of him or before him but Marian Gaborik is another example of making a splash in exchange for success.

Now what's also key is to have key building blocks. Drew Doughty is a former 2nd overall pick. I cannot remember the last time we had such a high pick. To Hextall's credit he's just drafted Travis Sanheim who looks promising. The problem is he might be years away from being ready and we don't have much of a bridge gap until he's ready. Steve Mason and Anthony Schultz are younger then Johnathon Quick but goalies are tricky and unless you're the late 90's Red Wings or the new dynasty Black Hawks, teams cannot win the Stanley Cup with just really good goaltending. Goaltending has gotta be top notch. The best in the league.

The Flyers do have a pretty nice players in Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Luke Schenn, Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek, Matt Read and Steve Mason. Scott Laughton looks like he's going to fit in well also. Outside of the Hartnell/Umburger trade, this still looks like Holmgren's team. The best way for Hextall to put his mark on this team is to get us another dominating player. Whether it might be a Malkin to Crosby on another line. Or a Kane to Toews who can play together. Or even a dominating defenseman who can play in all situations and can do all the right things. This is what we need.
- SuperSchennBros

really? you can't remember? does JvR in 2007 ring a bell? it should, because that's the answer, with a #2 pick. that asset is now luke schenn. being a superschennbrother, i figured that would be in your memory bank.

of course it's still homer's team. what do you expect him to do? turn over half the roster over night? it's not easy to do that, and it wouldn't be smart...just so he can make it "his" team? he's clearly preached a path of patience and slow growth. we've got some new pieces and young pieces in the mix that they need to see what they've got with br schenn, raffl, akeson, laughton, and bellamare. the best thing hextall can do to "put his mark" on the team is to create a plan, have smart people around him, and execute the plan. it seems like he's intent on following through. it 's probably going to take 4-5 years.

i don't see this happening. i am loving everything i read that comes out of hextall's mouth, and am as excited as i have been in a long time about the future of this team. we have a lot of talent now, but they're not a true contender and they're honest about it, but even more being slowly groomed. hextall wants to win a cup here more than anything, but i believe he's determined to do it the right way. and when it happens it will be so (frank)ing sweet...it's bringing a tear to my eye right now just thinking about it...because hextall deserved a cup as a player. 87 still haunts me, and i bet if you asked him he'd say it still burns him. that burn will bring lord stanley home.
- hammarby31

I think some of you sit around and obsess about a certain poster all day long just waiting for an opportunity to get in some passive aggressive dig at "some poster".

Give it a rest already.
- MBFlyerfan

Then, after said poster and you disagree (with other people ganging up on said poster), it's always his fault, and he comes on here just looking for a fight, and woe is you, etc.

Ouch:

http://www.ontheforecheck...nt-need-vincent-lecavlier
- Tomahawk

Agree with the ouch, but where the author stumbles a bit is here:

and making a bigger deal for a center in his prime

The author could have dropped a name or two to back that up. "A center in his prime" is shooting a bit high for the position Nashville is in right now. A cheaper alternative to Lecavalier is probably what he meant.

Aside from that, Vinny is gonna be a Flyer this year (at least in the first few months) and I think that's that.

/would like to be wrong about that

really? you can't remember? does JvR in 2007 ring a bell? it should, because that's the answer, with a #2 pick. that asset is now luke schenn. being a superschennbrother, i figured that would be in your memory bank.

of course it's still homer's team. what do you expect him to do? turn over half the roster over night? it's not easy to do that, and it wouldn't be smart...just so he can make it "his" team? he's clearly preached a path of patience and slow growth. we've got some new pieces and young pieces in the mix that they need to see what they've got with br schenn, raffl, akeson, laughton, and bellamare. the best thing hextall can do to "put his mark" on the team is to create a plan, have smart people around him, and execute the plan. it seems like he's intent on following through. it 's probably going to take 4-5 years.
- hammarby31

But but but...why not trade everyone for better players? Our players suck, and we need to trade them all for different players.

I think Vinny will be very good this year, just a feeling
- vejim

I actually do think he'll be a bit better this year.

I actually do think he'll be a bit better this year.
- johndewar

Better at SUCKING!!!

amirite?

I actually do think he'll be a bit better this year.
- johndewar

Lord help us if he's worse.

But but but...why not trade everyone for better players? Our players suck, and we need to trade them all for different players.
- jmatchett383

because hextall sucks and is incompetent. why he can't turn this team into the late 90s red wings in 10 minutes is beyond me, and frankly, it's unacceptable.