The NBA is different. That league requires you to gain one superstar and try and build around them. The only way to get that superstar is to be in the top three or five. If you're middle of the road, playoff bubble team, you're not going tot make progress in the NBA.

In the NHL, you can still get quality players in the mid to late 1st round--guys who will do more than simply be a bench warmer. If the NHL was like the NBA, draft wise, Edmonton would be cruising to another Stanley Cup.
- KGBflyers10

that's because they don't play defense in the NBA if players actually played D and shut down that one player teams would have to figure out how to score and win other ways

the defensive core is okay, not the greatest, but certainly not the worst. As long as Mason continues his great play, the D can always mature and become tighter.

People have to remember the Flyers went through a rebuild after the 2011 playoffs. The returns on those moves should be coming in this season and the next season. Are you suggesting we blow it up again just to wait around? Why do you think the Flyers haven't won anything since '75? It's because the organization doesn't have patience to stick with a long term plan. Name the past few Cup winners--all of them had long term plans, early playoff exits, etc. The core needs time to develop.
- KGBflyers10

I'm right here, too!

i love giroux but he's not a gretzky, mackinnon, lindros, or crosby
- 2Real

Are we making MacKinnon a generational talent and comparing him to those other 3 after 1 season?

A generational talent still needs time to develop. Are you willing to waste away another two/three seasons of Giroux's prime on a generational talent?

No thanks.
- KGBflyers10

Sam Morin = generational talent

i love giroux but he's not a gretzky, mackinnon, lindros, or crosby
- 2Real

Seriously, MacKinnon? You got one year of him at under a ppg, but now he is up there with Lindros and Gretzky?

i love giroux but he's not a gretzky, mackinnon, lindros, or crosby
- 2Real

McKinnon isn't in the convo... Yet. Girouxhas proven his offense every year and even with one I the worst starts to a season he still managed to climb to third at the end of the season.

I dont care what anyone says. Stevens is a piece of sh*t. Intentionally injuring star players to benefit his team
- GOA88

Stevens and Matt Cooke, its like an encyclopedia for criminal assault

that's because they don't play defense in the NBA if players actually played D and shut down that one player teams would have to figure out how to score and win other ways
- 2Real

Defense doesn't get you on Sportscenter or get you a shoe deal.

We are wasting him now without a d core good enough to withstand playoffs. Plus the d prospects we have now are at least 3 years away.
- 28Girouxsalem28

They aren't three years away.

Why waste away core pieces for a #1 defenseman when we finally have one in Morin, and possibly Ghost?

He played a bit w/ Rinaldo in London...

He doesn't play here anymore, but he's supposedly tight w/ Eminger. Stamkos was his BFF in his junior days.
- Tomahawk

Stamkos and MDZ are still tight. My uncle coached them both for years while they played for Markham ( prior to junior)

Stevens and Matt Cooke, its like an encyclopedia for criminal assault
- Steelmanpa

Neither is close to Bryan Marchment.

The NBA is different. That league requires you to gain one superstar and try and build around them. The only way to get that superstar is to be in the top three or five. If you're middle of the road, playoff bubble team, you're not going tot make progress in the NBA.

In the NHL, you can still get quality players in the mid to late 1st round--guys who will do more than simply be a bench warmer. If the NHL was like the NBA, draft wise, Edmonton would be cruising to another Stanley Cup.
- KGBflyers10

The NBA is just a different animal altogether.

The kicker with getting the one superstar to build around is also that you need to get the "right" superstar to build around.

For example: Is Carmelo Anthony a "superstar" you build around? I don't think so, but others do.

Also, you really don't see players go through a development cycle in the NBA the way you might in other sports. There doesn't seem to be much of a "middle class" in terms of talent in the NBA. It seems like you're either an all-start or you're roster filler.

They aren't three years away.
- mayorofangrytown

Before they make a serious impact? Absolutely. I would actually push it to 4 years. Hagg is the closest an he needs at least a year in ahl and even more years in NHL to become a solid NHL player.

- jmatchett383

This is a satisfying picture

Why waste away core pieces for a #1 defenseman when we finally have one in Morin, and possibly Ghost?
- KGBflyers10

Because we need it NOW

Why waste away core pieces for a #1 defenseman when we finally have one in Morin, and possibly Ghost?
- KGBflyers10

Morin = Pronger
Ghostisbehere = Leetch

Before they make a serious impact? Absolutely. I would actually push it to 4 years. Hagg is the closest an he needs at least a year in ahl and even more years in NHL to become a solid NHL player.
- 28Girouxsalem28

Ghostisbehere will play this season. Morin maybe this maybe next. If they're on the ice they'll make an impact. Haag has some growing to do.

Morin = Pronger
Ghostisbehere = Leetch
- mayorofangrytown

In five years that statement could be true. But this core will just get older while we wait for their emergence.

The NBA is just a different animal altogether.

The kicker with getting the one superstar to build around is also that you need to get the "right" superstar to build around.

For example: Is Carmelo Anthony a "superstar" you build around? I don't think so, but others do.

Also, you really don't see players go through a development cycle in the NBA the way you might in other sports. There doesn't seem to be much of a "middle class" in terms of talent in the NBA. It seems like you're either an all-start or you're roster filler.
- johndewar

NHL Classes, in order:

Pronger
Giroux
Parent
Gagne
Desjardins
Hextall
Roenick
Primeau
Zherdev
Podein
Biron
Bartulis
Otto
Syvret
Backlund
Matsumoto
Klotz

Are we making MacKinnon a generational talent and comparing him to those other 3 after 1 season?
- jmatchett383

There's only one true generational player in the NHL right now... we know who he is.

The other guys are really really really good... but they don't compare w/ 99/66/Orr/Howe/Bossy, etc.

Ghostisbehere will play this season. Morin maybe this maybe next. If they're on the ice they'll make an impact. Haag has some growing to do.
- mayorofangrytown

If d men get injured yes. If not they will stay where they are. If they were ready we wouldn't have signed MDZ when kimo went down. 4 years at least until they are NHL regulars making an impact

Defense doesn't get you on Sportscenter or get you a shoe deal.
- jmatchett383

i know this but that's only because of the mentality of people these days

when i play pick up basketball and i have people on my team that know how to play the game they usually come up to me after games and say great defense because I bust my ass to steal balls, block shots, beat players to the spot

hell, my basketball career ended in high school with me taking charge and getting concussed out of it

Neither is close to Bryan Marchment.
- jmatchett383

Marchment was a knee guy most of the time ?

Cooke fractured Lecavliers forearm or wrist years agi
Cooke did somthing to Sundin and put him out
Cooke purposely lifted his skate and cut Eric Karlssons achilles two years ago
And thats only what I remember

Lets say Marchman confined himself to knees if thats true and Cooke spread the misery around the body and Stevens only head shot vulnerable players who were already engaged by other players on his team ( Ron Francis and Daymond Langkow were the two worst other ones aside from Kariya and Lindros)

Seriously, MacKinnon? You got one year of him at under a ppg, but now he is up there with Lindros and Gretzky?
- aflyerpower8

really you don't watch mackinnon play?