What the heck is MTL doing with Subban? Pay the man! If they lose him over this in a few years I will be shocked and appalled!
- coffee junkie

It is odd to see them hand over $4.1M to Alex Emelin and $3.5M to Eller like it's nothing, but then tighten the sphincter when it comes to guys like Subban and Price.

I would go with Pronger. Desjardins was great and had the longevity but Pronger was the best defenseman that I have seen in my era.
- GOA88

IMO, Pitkanen's 2nd season was probably the most impressive of the past couple of decades... beast mode was permanently set to ON.

IMO, Pitkanen's 2nd season was probably the most impressive of the past couple of decades... beast mode was permanently set to ON.
- Tomahawk

I think you underestimate Prongers influence on the team. Without him they would have never been to the Cup. Look how crappy our defense is without him.

With the Leach Clarke Barber line, every time they took the ice I almost expected them to score.

I had that same feeling with the Legion of Doom line.
Watching the games, I couldn't wait for them to get their turn on the ice.

What a great feeling, to just know a goal was coming when they stepped on for their shift.
- Marc D

2 best lines in Flyer history

I think it was just as much about Berube not wanting to lead the league in shorthanded opportunities.
- MBFlyerfan

Well if that's the main factor, I would expect Rinaldo to be with the phantoms next year. We'll see

I think you underestimate Prongers influence on the team. Without him they would have never been to the Cup. Look how crappy our defense is without him.
- GOA88

Not taking anything away from Pronger, Pitkanen's season was just that good.

Bill M hit the nail on the head about the 94-95 rebuild

I said it a few weeks ago, Clarke picked up 3 defensemen who were cup winners with the Habs and had good skills and understood the game, Svoboda, Haller, Rico and filled the gaps with Dykhuis, Bundy etc.

Man thats almost 20 years ago.

SIGH

That is sad and theres no emoticon for that

Hartnell's Corsi stats were padded by playing with Giroux and Voracek most of the time. He may still be a productive player for a few more years, but he's way too error prone with the puck (and with his skates) to be relied on a possession player.
- Feanor

Corsi stats can be padded?

That is sad and theres no emoticon for that
- Steelmanpa

Here, you can have this one:

IMO, Pitkanen's 2nd season was probably the most impressive of the past couple of decades... beast mode was permanently set to ON.
- Tomahawk

Pitkanen never came remotely close in any one season to the players that Desjardin and Pronger were in their best seasons here. Not even close.

Pitkanen never came remotely close in any one season to the players that Desjardin and Pronger were in their best seasons here. Not even close.
- MJL

Pitkanen had Jeff Carter's drive wide mentality. Just didn't have his speed or shot. And played the wrong position to use the philosphy properly.

I think my auto correct is broken. World. Is. Ending.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Mason, Flyers Hall of Fame, 20 Years Ago, Flanagan
- bmeltzer

Recchi for Desjardins and LeClair and then a number of years down the road Zubrus for Recchi. I consider this one trade because it was that much of a robbery over Montreal...and I dislike (not hate but dislike) Montreal.

Pitkanen never came remotely close in any one season to the players that Desjardin and Pronger were in their best seasons here. Not even close.
- MJL

Well if that's the main factor, I would expect Rinaldo to be with the phantoms next year. We'll see
- Just5

That is my thoughts as well.

Pitkanen had Jeff Carter's drive wide mentality. Just didn't have his speed or shot. And played the wrong position to use the philosphy properly.

I think my auto correct is broken. World. Is. Ending.
- Flyersgod

Pitkanen was very good offensively. But his total game wasn't remotely close to the game changer that Pronger was in his best season here. He elevated the Flyers to a cup contender. Desjardins in his best here was a top 5 Norris trophy contender. And one of the top 2 way defenseman in the entire league. Pitkanen never came close to that level.

It is odd to see them hand over $4.1M to Alex Emelin and $3.5M to Eller like it's nothing, but then tighten the sphincter when it comes to guys like Subban and Price.
- Tomahawk

I think it's for future negotiations. They really should have looked to strike a long term deal earlier when he still had a handful of rfa years left. I think it was pretty obvious he was a special player from the moment he entered the NHL

Pitkanen was very good offensively. But his total game wasn't remotely close to the game changer that Pronger was in his best season here. He elevated the Flyers to a cup contender. Desjardins in his best here was a top 5 Norris trophy contender. And one of the top 2 way defenseman in the entire league. Pitkanen never came close to that level.
- MJL

No argument here. I didn't like him all that much to start with.

Pronger was amazing.
One of the things he did that impressed me was sometimes he had the puck in the D zone with no option to pass or skate it out. He'd just take a slapper and it would end up on goal, no matter if he was 40 or 80 feet away from the other goal.

I think it's for future negotiations. They really should have looked to strike a long term deal earlier when he still had a handful of rfa years left. I think it was pretty obvious he was a special player from the moment he entered the NHL
- PhillySportsGuy

He would look way better in orange.

He would look way better in orange.
- JonnyHammerstix

He's going to get $10M per year on the open market

Id imagine alot/if not all players metrics would look great playing primarily alongside Giroux/Voracek. This is not to discredit Hartnell's ability and physical presence on that line but you can't provide me any amount of data to persuade my feelings on how frustrating he was in many ways. How many times have we seen his missile-like passes which were impossible to handle or flinging the puck wildly to no one. The falling down constantly is too easy to mention.

I enjoyed Hartnell in his earlier years with the Flyers, no denying the amount of productive lines he was apart of, but getting rid of that contract is a big plus.

As much as people want to immediately rip Umberger, hes known to be a fitness fanatic, something Hartnell has been criticized for multiple times. Im optimistic he can come close to matching Hartnell's production while taking a lot less PIMs and providing better two-way play.

Cordell seems like a young, smart guy eager to learn but it seems as though when he wants to compare two or more players he immediately goes right to metrics. Im sure he's seen enough of Umberger but to rave about Hartnell's possesstion numbers shows me he didn't really watch Hartnell all that much last year.
- SeaIslelandLush

So much this. Well done

I think it's for future negotiations. They really should have looked to strike a long term deal earlier when he still had a handful of rfa years left. I think it was pretty obvious he was a special player from the moment he entered the NHL
- PhillySportsGuy

He's perfect for that market, too... completely comfortable in the limelight, young, fashionable, electric personality, marketable and uber productive.

I think it's for future negotiations. They really should have looked to strike a long term deal earlier when he still had a handful of rfa years left. I think it was pretty obvious he was a special player from the moment he entered the NHL
- PhillySportsGuy

It's a dangerous game they are playing.
I guess they can control him as an RFA for even two more years, but do they want to let him walk as an UFA?

PK can say he wants to be a Hab for life but these arbitrations get nasty.

He's going to get $10M per year on the open market
- PhillySportsGuy

Probably. He'll probably try to milk every single possible cent out of MTL as he possibly can due to the way they have handled him so far.

He's perfect for that market, too... completely comfortable in the limelight, young, fashionable, electric personality, marketable and uber productive.
- Tomahawk

He would be perfect for Philly too