Brashear was really solid in his time here. He actually had some skill, as well as being tough as nails.

Hey Bill,
I remember a crazy rumor going around at the time of the Kenny Linseman trade. Supposedly he was shipped out because he was dating one of the Snider daughters and Ed Snider was not happy about it. Do you recall anything about this?

Agree about Streit. Coburn and Amac will need to be very good as well.
I think they are going to be forced to play huge minutes for Berube every night.

I really hope Luke Schenn shows up in top shape at the start and is ready to go.
They would benefit a lot if Luke could handle more then the ~14 minutes a game he saw last season.
- Marc D

I think Berube is going to manage the ice time so each defenseman plays around 20 minutes. Coburn may get a little more and MDZ may get a little less.

I think the major differences will be zone starts and QoC.

And this will be even further exaggerated if the Flyers don't improve defensively as a team and improve in 5 on 5 play.
- MJL

If the Flyers start slow coming out of the gate, how long does it take before Hextall starts making big moves with a long term result in perspective?

Call me crazy but I'm looking forward to seeing the squad minus timonen. They have to evaluate Luke schenn under better competition to see if he actually can be a top 4 guy. Coburn and macdonald are in for a long year. No more hiding behind kimmo

If the Flyers start slow coming out of the gate, how long does it take before Hextall starts making big moves with a long term result in perspective?
- spatso

I think long-term for them right now is 2-3 years. They're going to tread water for a year or two until some of these defensive prospects are ready.

Brashear was really solid in his time here. He actually had some skill, as well as being tough as nails.
- Feanor

Every once and awhile Brashear would show off some really soft hands or a nice move around the net. But never seemed to be able to do it twice in the same game.

Hey Bill,
I remember a crazy rumor going around at the time of the Kenny Linseman trade. Supposedly he was shipped out because he was dating one of the Snider daughters and Ed Snider was not happy about it. Do you recall anything about this?

Agree about Streit. Coburn and Amac will need to be very good as well.
I think they are going to be forced to play huge minutes for Berube every night.

I really hope Luke Schenn shows up in top shape at the start and is ready to go.
They would benefit a lot if Luke could handle more then the ~14 minutes a game he saw last season.
- Marc D

I think the issue is that the Flyers best defensemen play the right side -- Coburn, Streit -- and then there's Luke. So unless Coburn or Streit want to switch to their natural left side, Luke's going to be a 3rd pairing guy at even strength.

But that doesn't mean he can't become a better player all-around. Would love to see him become a force on the PK.

Brashear was really solid in his time here. He actually had some skill, as well as being tough as nails.
- Feanor

Always great to watch Donald. His fights were always entertaining ( which he rarely
Lost) I loved the fights against Domi. Tie was scared shi*tless of him. Brashear also did have the skill as I believe he had a nice 25 point season one year for the Flyers

If the Flyers start slow coming out of the gate, how long does it take before Hextall starts making big moves with a long term result in perspective?
- spatso

I agree with BC4.
I don't see what big moves will be available to make anyway.
Their biggest need is a top pair D, and there aren't any available.
I can't see Hexy trading away Couts plus a top round pick plus more, which is what it would take to get a legit top pair Dman even if they were available in a trade.

Morin and Ghost in 3 years, and hopefully they pan out.
That's the plan I think.

I think the issue is that the Flyers best defensemen play the right side -- Coburn, Streit -- and then there's Luke. So unless Coburn or Streit want to switch to their natural left side, Luke's going to be a 3rd pairing guy at even strength.

But that doesn't mean he can't become a better player all-around. Would love to see him become a force on the PK.
- bradleyc4

I think Coburn would be better on the left.
He and Luke would be an interesting pair.

I think the limiting factor is Luke may not be able to handle playing 20 minutes against the other team's #1 line.

But this season would be as good a time as any to find out.

I think Berube is going to manage the ice time so each defenseman plays around 20 minutes. Coburn may get a little more and MDZ may get a little less.

I think the major differences will be zone starts and QoC.
- PhillySportsGuy

How do you see the D pairs forming up?

How do you see the D pairs forming up?
- Marc D

I'd like to see streit basically replacing timonen. And MDZ taking lots of o zone starts.

Streit-coburn
Amac-schenn
Grossman-mdz

Renberg was and is still my all time favorite Flyer. He was a stud. He played a strong two way game, could skate, pass and score.

AND he was good no matter who he played with.

How do you see the D pairs forming up?
- Marc D

I really have no idea. I would guess they'll look something like
Amac-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I would go
Grossmann-Coburn
Amac-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I know people are going to say Grossmann isn't even a top 4 dman, why would you put him on the top pair? I don't view the defenseman as "top pair". They don't really have any top pairing defenseman. They have situational defenseman. My pairings are based on which players will be used in which situations and chemistry. Amac and Streit have shown strong chemistry together and Coburn and Grossmann have as well.

Imo, giving Amac heavy minutes against the best forwards is a recipe for disaster. We've seen what happens to him in that situation. I'm not sure why the team would go in that direction when we've seen how that story plays out.

I really have no idea. I would guess they'll look something like
Amac-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I would go
Grossmann-Coburn
Amac-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I know people are going to say Grossmann isn't even a top 4 dman, why would you put him on the top pair? I don't view the defenseman as "top pair". They don't really have any top pairing defenseman. They have situational defenseman. My pairings are based on which players will be used in which situations and chemistry. Amac and Streit have shown strong chemistry together and Coburn and Grossmann have as well.

Imo, giving Amac heavy minutes against the best forwards is a recipe for disaster. We've seen what happens to him in that situation. I'm not sure why the team would go in that direction when we've seen how that story plays out.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed, there are no 1st 2nd or 3rd pairs on this team. Only what Berube decides on a game to game basis. This will be defense by committee. If the forwards don't buy in, and the team doesn't play solid 5 on 5, it could be a disaster.

If the Flyers start slow coming out of the gate, how long does it take before Hextall starts making big moves with a long term result in perspective?
- spatso

I don't see any big moves on the horizon.

I would go
Grossmann-Coburn
Amac-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I know people are going to say Grossmann isn't even a top 4 dman, why would you put him on the top pair? I don't view the defenseman as "top pair". They don't really have any top pairing defenseman. They have situational defenseman. My pairings are based on which players will be used in which situations and chemistry. Amac and Streit have shown strong chemistry together and Coburn and Grossmann have as well.

Imo, giving Amac heavy minutes against the best forwards is a recipe for disaster. We've seen what happens to him in that situation. I'm not sure why the team would go in that direction when we've seen how that story plays out.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't see any big moves on the horizon.
- Feanor

We are now jinxed.

I really have no idea. I would guess they'll look something like
Amac-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I would go
Grossmann-Coburn
Amac-Streit
MDZ-Schenn

I know people are going to say Grossmann isn't even a top 4 dman, why would you put him on the top pair? I don't view the defenseman as "top pair". They don't really have any top pairing defenseman. They have situational defenseman. My pairings are based on which players will be used in which situations and chemistry. Amac and Streit have shown strong chemistry together and Coburn and Grossmann have as well.

Imo, giving Amac heavy minutes against the best forwards is a recipe for disaster. We've seen what happens to him in that situation. I'm not sure why the team would go in that direction when we've seen how that story plays out.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, I think they'll try to start w/ that first group, then end up going with that 2nd-group out of necessity. Also wouldn't be surprised to see MDZ and/or Schenn show better than expected and push one of our 'top-4' out of the top-4.

Losing Kimmo caused the wrong kind of dominoes.

We are now jinxed.
- FlyersGrace

Morin, Simmonds, and Coburn for Seth Jones

Yeah, I think they'll try to start w/ that first group, then end up going with that 2nd-group out of necessity. Also wouldn't be surprised to see MDZ and/or Schenn show better than expected and push one of our 'top-4' out of the top-4.

Losing Kimmo caused the wrong kind of dominoes.
- Tomahawk

MDZ and Schenn becoming solid, top 4 defenseman could save the season.

We haven't even discussed how injuries could impact the defense as well. Hopefully, Alt is ready to step up and the team isn't forced to go with Schultz.

Hayes to the Rangers.

MDZ and Schenn becoming solid, top 4 defenseman could save the season.

We haven't even discussed how injuries could impact the defense as well. Hopefully, Alt is ready to step up and the team isn't forced to go with Schultz.
- PhillySportsGuy

I like Schultz as the #7 they way Hal Gill was the #7. He'll travel and practice with the team, but he won't play unless a player gets injured and there is no time for a call-up. He'll play low minutes for 1 game until a recall arrives, or if there are games at the end of the season that don't impact you much, he can take up some minutes.

Hayes to the Rangers.
- KGBflyers10

ugh

We haven't even discussed how injuries could impact the defense as well. Hopefully, Alt is ready to step up and the team isn't forced to go with Schultz.
- PhillySportsGuy

To be fair, Schultz is probably the best #7 they've had in a long time. He can play both sides, he's smart/safe/dependable, and he's ironically one of the better skaters in the D group. Definitely a step up from Gill, Parent and Lilja.