Do you see him maturing into a Streit-type of player?
- Feanor

Yeah, somewhere along those lines.

I have one of these in mint condition. Anyone know the approx. value?


- PLindbergh31

1 Cent

The problem is that GoGo's ceiling is probably Sergei Gonchar. While Gonchar is good, he's about as 1-dimensional as defensemen get, while Neal became a 40-goal scorer and Niksanen became a solid #2/#3 defenseman. Unless GoGo becomes the second coming of Paul Coffey, that trade will never even out.
- jmatchett383

Say Dallas gets a solid 7-8 years out of Gogo and he scores 200-300 pts for them in that span. IMO, that would match up pretty evenly with the three seasons and change of great production out of Neal, and uneven production out of Niskanen.

Fantastic blog.

Love the childhood reminiscing.
Paints the exact picture of the games I played as a kid too and best yet, I see my 9 yr old son doing now. It is such a great and magical time. Makes all of the craziness in the Middle East and Africa etc fade away.
- FlyersFirst

if only everyone here could experience the 70s feeling

The closest we've seen recently was probably the Neal/Niskanen for Goligoski deal. But, the Recchi deal made sense from day 1 for both sides, but I'm still not sure why Dallas made that deal.
- jmatchett383

I was speaking in terms of Flyers deals but yes, I agree. As Tomahawk has pointed out, both Neal and Niskanen are gone. There is no way the Flyers would have allowed either player get away. With the Flyers don't see another savvy deal like those coming any time soon. Ever piece to this puzzle is too important right now. Most of the players on this team (Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn, Couturier, Mason, Read) I feel haven't reached their full potential yet, there for do not have the same value to bring back such a large return. Just my opinion.

I have one of these in mint condition. Anyone know the approx. value?


- PLindbergh31

Hitchcock will trade you this for it.

Hitchcock will trade you this for it.


- Feanor

I never knew coaches made trades.

Laviolette really (frank)ed up trading away Bob and JVR.

There are some coaches with enough weight to force a player out, even though GMS have the final say.

1 Cent
- GOA88

You drastically undervalue the penny.

There are some coaches with enough weight to force a player out.
- Feanor

I won't argue that Hitchcock had enough weight.

Great read...again....simular childhood memories, although we didn't Have the peanut butter up here...lol...by far my favorite athelete of all time.....I was at a Diabete's fundraiser a couple weeks back that had some NHL and Pro golfers attend, including Darryl Sittler....The Organizer got a hold of a Flyers contact and asked for "something Bobby Clarke" considering the charity....they simply said they would try.....a few day later an autographed Clarke Jersey showed up at his house via purolater....
I have had the honor of meeting him several times, and have always found him to be friendly but reserved.....I admit I also struggled with the Clarke could do no wrong as a player, when it came to judging his job as a GM....I still think he did a great job overall.

Say Dallas gets a solid 7-8 years out of Gogo and he scores 200-300 pts for them in that span. IMO, that would match up pretty evenly with the three seasons and change of great production out of Neal, and uneven production out of Niskanen.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, but they were then able to flip Neal so you'd have to then add in the production of Spaling and Hornqvist. Nikanen, yeah, he's done.

There are some coaches with enough weight to force a player out, even though GMS have the final say.
- Feanor

Apparently, it works the other way around too.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke Turns 65, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

(frank)in' wayne.

Question for you and Bill: how readily available were hockey cards in the USA compared to baseball cards in the 70s? I'm sure OPC wasn't obtainable, but I'm not sure if Topps hockey could be found easily or not.
- jmatchett383

The cards were pretty readily available. Most stores that sold Topps baseball cards also carried Topps football, hockey and/or basketball cards in the related season.

speaking of #8:

Chris Therien
6 mins · Edited ·

Here it is gang. The ‪#‎ALSicebucketchallenge‬. I nominated Tim Saunders, Craig Berube, and Mark Recchi

Say Dallas gets a solid 7-8 years out of Gogo and he scores 200-300 pts for them in that span. IMO, that would match up pretty evenly with the three seasons and change of great production out of Neal, and uneven production out of Niskanen.
- Tomahawk

I don't know. If niskanen can produce close to last years level and Neal remains even a 30 goal scoring forward. Don't see how you can say Dallas wins the deal. I wouldnt hold it against Pitt that the guys produced and priced themselves out of the lineup, and pitt has drafted Great D. The same thing could have happened with gogo if they kept him...they would have to trade him or let him walk

Apparently, it works the other way around too.
- SuperSchennBros

From the outside looking in it sure seems like Hartnell's departure from Philadelphia was a real team effort from Hextall and Berube.

Scottie, it's time for you to leave:

From the outside looking in it sure seems like Hartnell's departure from Philadelphia was a real team effort from Hextall and Berube.
- Feanor

Just to clarify who is who, Berube is now black, and Hextall has a horrible haircut.

Thanks for giving Clarkie the full treatment. He was incomprable as a leader as far as I'm concerned. He spoiled us because he never took a shift off and never said we'll get 'em tomorrow. He played every game with the intensity and desperation as if it was going to be his last. He contributed to a lot of great moments but for me, the greatest was the OT goal in game 2 of the final. Even though it only tied the series, we had the feeling the Flyers we going to win the Cup.

From the outside looking in it sure seems like Hartnell's departure from Philadelphia was a real team effort from Hextall and Berube.
- Feanor

According to what I've gathered in my many years of being a fan. Recchi got Barber fired and then went on to getting Ed Olczyk in Pitt. Carter and Richards tuned out Hitch and got him out of here. Not being sarcastic or poking fun but that's what I gather.

You drastically undervalue the penny.


- PLindbergh31

You're paying at least a dime for a swedish fish these days.

Don't see how you can say Dallas wins the deal.
- Just5

I didn't.

Just saying the possibility is out there it could end up more even than what it seemed at first blush, since Gogo and DAL seem to be sitting pretty, while PIT lost Niskanen for nothing and dealt Neal for a really iffy package.

According to what I've gathered in my many years of being a fan. Recchi got Barber fired and then went on to getting Ed Olczyk in Pitt. Carter and Richards tuned out Hitch and got him out of here. Not being sarcastic or poking fun but that's what I gather.
- SuperSchennBros

Carter and Richards may well have done that to Hitch, but he was at the end of his run here regardless. The 06-07 team was one big dumpster fire.

Primeau was also heavily involved in getting Barber fired.

I didn't.

Just saying the possibility is out there it could end up more even than what it seemed at first blush, since Gogo and DAL seem to be sitting pretty, while PIT lost Niskanen for nothing and dealt Neal for a really iffy package.
- Tomahawk

Yea but I don't get holding losing niskanen against them just because they are banking on younger cheaper options. Niskanen still turned into such a good piece for them it turns out they couldn't afford him.