Exactly. If they're going to make a deal, get picks or a good young player that will potentially be a Flyer AND top line contributor in 4 years. If it's a UFA, make it a depth guy and short term. If you can find a good defenseman in UFA, make sure he's young enough to still be here when the team is really ready to be a serious contender. No signing 36 year old guys to 4 year deals when you're a bubble playoff team with an eye to tomorrow
- Jsaquella

Maybe I am biased, but I think Hextall has a plan, and he`s going to stick with it regardless. As you say, if a reasonably young guy (under 30) hits UFA, and fits in (im thinking a dman) then go ahead a make an aggressive offer for him. I always said, draft a whole bunch of dmen because teams just won`t let the stud 1 dmen make it to UFA, so you have to grow these guys yourself. I`m happy with the direction of the team now.. just need to be patient.

Good points. I want no part of Ryan, and although he's a good player, I just don't think we have the salary to pay him or can afford to lose the assets. I know it doesn't exactly relate to here, but Hextall and Lombardi build through the draft and got Doughty etc.. and then when they felt they were ready to contend, supplemented with UFA and trades. It's worked out quite well for them I'd say. What I wouldn't give for a run of 2 cups in 3 years!!!
- Hextall271

I think people jump the gun when it comes to Ryan. There is no question that I want Ryan simply to have the legitimate finisher Giroux needs on his line to play with. Great hands, great shot. Also keep in mind that Ryan is about a year younger then Matt Read. With this said, certain deals often get worked out with players if they want to be in a certain place bad enough. Hossa took a one year deal with the Red Wings because he believed that the Wings were his best chance at a Cup. There are some UFA's willing to take a little less to land in the destination that they want to play in and give their team a little wiggle room for help on the roster. Eric Lindros stopped at nothing to play for Toronto. It didn't workout but that's something he wanted to do. A childhood dream if you will.

If Bobby Ryan wants a deal that handcuffs the team, I don't want him either. If he wants something reasonable, how can any of us say no? Because he doesn't play particularly the style you wish? He's still an effective player at a decent age.

Not singling anyone out but for me, the idea of having Bobby Ryan here is the same view as not liking Mark Recchi or not liking Nickolback. Just going against something that really isn't that bad just to be first to do so. If the price is right, you've gotta bring him on board. If something better comes along, you've gotta go with that instead. It's really simple to me.

If you think about it, it never really took Ryan McDonagh long to become the Rangers number defenseman. To me that kid came out of nowhere (Yes I'm aware of the Gomez to Montreal trade). You cannot compare Samuel Morin or Travis Sanheim to how quickly Drew Doughty shot up to be LA's best two way defender but these kids look hungry, especially Morin. They want to be here much sooner then later.
- SuperSchennBros

McDonaugh emerged as a top defenseman last season. That is after 3 NHL seasons including some AHL time.

Flyers, Blacklist and MNF tonight. I can hardly contain myself.
- PhillySportsGuy

Check out Madam Secretary. Pretty cool show.

Maybe I am biased, but I think Hextall has a plan, and he`s going to stick with it regardless. As you say, if a reasonably young guy (under 30) hits UFA, and fits in (im thinking a dman) then go ahead a make an aggressive offer for him. I always said, draft a whole bunch of dmen because teams just won`t let the stud 1 dmen make it to UFA, so you have to grow these guys yourself. I`m happy with the direction of the team now.. just need to be patient.
- Hextall271

I think he has a philosophy he wants to stick to, of building through the draft. But I don't think he'll hesitate to make a move if he thinks it is the right move.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...view-philadelphia-flyers/

Never ends with the goaltending criticism haha

McDonaugh emerged as a top defenseman last season. That is after 3 NHL seasons including some AHL time.
- MJL

McDonough has four seasons in the NHL and 38 games in the AHL. He was still a pretty good defenseman before this season.

I think people jump the gun when it comes to Ryan. There is no question that I want Ryan simply to have the legitimate finisher Giroux needs on his line to play with. Great hands, great shot. Also keep in mind that Ryan is about a year younger then Matt Read. With this said, certain deals often get worked out with players if they want to be in a certain place bad enough. Hossa took a one year deal with the Red Wings because he believed that the Wings were his best chance at a Cup. There are some UFA's willing to take a little less to land in the destination that they want to play in and give their team a little wiggle room for help on the roster. Eric Lindros stopped at nothing to play for Toronto. It didn't workout but that's something he wanted to do. A childhood dream if you will.

If Bobby Ryan wants a deal that handcuffs the team, I don't want him either. If he wants something reasonable, how can any of us say no? Because he doesn't play particularly the style you wish? He's still an effective player at a decent age.

Not singling anyone out but for me, the idea of having Bobby Ryan here is the same view as not liking Mark Recchi or not liking Nickolback. Just going against something that really not that bad just to be first to do so. If the price is right, you've gotta bring him on board. If something better comes along, you've gotta go with that instead. It's really simple to me.
- SuperSchennBros

Just pulling this out but I see stuff like this a lot. Comparing other players' age to Read's. The thing is, Read has played three seasons in the NHL (196 games). Ryan has played 7 seasons (378 games). That's almost twice as many games played as Matt Read which means twice as much of an NHL beating. Matt Read might be 28 years old but he hasn't been worn down by NHL caliber competition as long as guys that came up when they were 18 or 19. So sometimes age isn't necessarily a fair comparison.

I think people jump the gun when it comes to Ryan. There is no question that I want Ryan simply to have the legitimate finisher Giroux needs on his line to play with. Great hands, great shot. Also keep in mind that Ryan is about a year younger then Matt Read. With this said, certain deals often get worked out with players if they want to be in a certain place bad enough. Hossa took a one year deal with the Red Wings because he believed that the Wings were his best chance at a Cup. There are some UFA's willing to take a little less to land in the destination that they want to play in and give their team a little wiggle room for help on the roster. Eric Lindros stopped at nothing to play for Toronto. It didn't workout but that's something he wanted to do. A childhood dream if you will.

If Bobby Ryan wants a deal that handcuffs the team, I don't want him either. If he wants something reasonable, how can any of us say no? Because he doesn't play particularly the style you wish? He's still an effective player at a decent age.

Not singling anyone out but for me, the idea of having Bobby Ryan here is the same view as not liking Mark Recchi or not liking Nickolback. Just going against something that really not that bad just to be first to do so. If the price is right, you've gotta bring him on board. If something better comes along, you've gotta go with that instead. It's really simple to me.
- SuperSchennBros

I hope you're not comparing Bobby Ryan to Mark Recchi. Because he's not half the player Rechi was.

What's a reasonable deal for Ryan?

I think people jump the gun when it comes to Ryan. There is no question that I want Ryan simply to have the legitimate finisher Giroux needs on his line to play with. Great hands, great shot. Also keep in mind that Ryan is about a year younger then Matt Read. With this said, certain deals often get worked out with players if they want to be in a certain place bad enough. Hossa took a one year deal with the Red Wings because he believed that the Wings were his best chance at a Cup. There are some UFA's willing to take a little less to land in the destination that they want to play in and give their team a little wiggle room for help on the roster. Eric Lindros stopped at nothing to play for Toronto. It didn't workout but that's something he wanted to do. A childhood dream if you will.

If Bobby Ryan wants a deal that handcuffs the team, I don't want him either. If he wants something reasonable, how can any of us say no? Because he doesn't play particularly the style you wish? He's still an effective player at a decent age.

Not singling anyone out but for me, the idea of having Bobby Ryan here is the same view as not liking Mark Recchi or not liking Nickolback. Just going against something that really not that bad just to be first to do so. If the price is right, you've gotta bring him on board. If something better comes along, you've gotta go with that instead. It's really simple to me.
- SuperSchennBros

People have actually mentioned many valid reasons why they're not in favor of adding Bobby Ryan, and have done so numerous times.

Yes, if he's willing to accept 3 years at $4.5mm, great, add Bobby Ryan. The trouble is he just shot down a 7 year, $7mm per year offer. If you think he'll take significantly less from the Flyers...well, I doubt it.

McDonough has four seasons in the NHL and 38 games in the AHL. He was still a pretty good defenseman before this season.
- SuperSchennBros

Sure was, but I'm talking about how a player has to progress to the point of becoming a top defenseman. It takes some time. That's the point.

People have actually mentioned many valid reasons why they're not in favor of adding Bobby Ryan, and have done so numerous times.

Yes, if he's willing to accept 3 years at $4.5mm, great, add Bobby Ryan. The trouble is he just shot down a 7 year, $7mm per year offer. If you think he'll take significantly less from the Flyers...well, I doubt it.
- Jsaquella

I just don`t think he`s worth that money. 7 mil a year.. nope.

Just pulling this out but I see stuff like this a lot. Comparing other players' age to Read's. The thing is, Read has played three seasons in the NHL (196 games). Ryan has played 7 seasons (378 games). That's almost twice as many games played as Matt Read which means twice as much of an NHL beating. Matt Read might be 28 years old but he hasn't been worn down by NHL caliber competition as long as guys that came up when they were 18 or 19. So sometimes age isn't necessarily a fair comparison.
- NickTheKid87

Read is also a conditioning fanatic. He's the kind of guy who will be an effective player long into his 30's because of his conditioning and playing style.

I just don`t think he`s worth that money. 7 mil a year.. nope.
- Hextall271

Nor do I. $5mm? Sure.

The other issue, from a Flyers prospective is, they simply don't need him. This supposed hole at LW can be filled internally, without signing a huge UFA deal or trading assets away. Schenn is 22 coming off a 20 goal season. Read had 22 goals in a heavy defensive role. Simmonds had 29 playing mostly with a struggling Lecavalier at ES. Any of those three on Giroux's line should be able to match Hartnell's output, if not Ryan's

Will the Flyers/Leafs game in London be available online tonight?

Will the Flyers/Leafs game in London be available online tonight?
- ManCity

It's being broadcast on TSN4 up here in Canada so I expect you'll be able to get it online.

mrw orange jersey

It puts the Flyers basically in rebuilding mode. How long until they're actually ready to lead a defense, and gained the experience and gone through the inevitable growing pains, as young NHL defenseman? 5-6 years from now?
- MJL

And, by that time; Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, etc... will all be in their 30' and past prime...

is it hockey yet?

is it hockey yet?
- BulliesPhan87

Yes. Yes it sort of is.

Agreed. I still think Sanheim has the best chance to reach his full potential, and also could be the best all around guy of the Big 4.
- Jsaquella

I agree. I think it's a little much to not only ask Morin to develop elite offensive skill like Pronger, when Pronger (if I'm not mistaken) already had this natural upside. I think Chara had to work on hisoffense and it worked out but how often does this happen for big defenseman if they don't already have that nack for it? This isn't to say Morin cannot make it happen.

Yes. Yes it sort of is.
- Streit2ThePoint

YES (sort of)

Sure was, but I'm talking about how a player has to progress to the point of becoming a top defenseman. It takes some time. That's the point.
- MJL

I understand. I think all of our youth could benefit from AHL seasoning.

I agree. I think it's a little much to not only ask Morin to develop elite offensive skill like Pronger, when Pronger (if I'm not mistaken) already had this natural upside. I think Chara had to work on hisoffense and it worked out but how often does this happen for big defenseman if they don't already have that nack for it? This isn't to say Morin cannot make it happen.
- SuperSchennBros

I think people need to expect him to be the first Sam Morin and not the next Chris Pronger. He's definitely not as good a prospect as Pronger was and will probably never be the same level player. I'd be happy if he was a nastier version of Coburn.

Really looking forward to seeing Ghost play in person. Taking my little girl down tonight. Was able to trade with a buddy of mine who has aisle seats, as I don't see her making it through the whole game.