They'd be so soft if they trade Schenn or Grossmann this year. Only way it works is if we take back another physical, older vet on a 1 year deal as part of the trade, or pick up someone who's been dumped.

This year you'd take a hit defensively, but it would give you cap flexibility going into next year.

But...

The problem is not really with Schenn's or Grossmann's contracts. It's Streit's and A Mac's.
- TheGreat28

Moving Schenn wouldn't be a move to get out from under a contract so much as just getting out of the Luke Schenn business.

And as much as the advanced stats might not love Nick Grossmann, I think Berube likes and trusts him. Maybe Hextall feels he can get someone that does what Grossmann does cheaper? Dunno.

Might somebody want him under the right circumstances? Probably.

Would it be easy? Uh, no. Nashville tried to trade MDZ's rights for months, no takers.
- Tomahawk

I think the only way Luke Schenn gets traded at this point is if he has some sort of career renaissance this year (could happen, wouldn't discount it) and they sell high on him or they move him for someone else's unfulfilled project.

I think that during the course of this season, the flyers will realize that Brayden Schenn is neither a power forward nor a finisher and will be removed from the first line. I believe that spot will eventually belong to Jason Akeson who, despite some shortcomings, has shown signs that he can be a finisher at the NHL level.....something the flyers desperately need but never seem to attain.
- jeffherrm

I'm as critical as anyone of Brayden Schenn, but I do want to see him with the skill on the first line before we declare him unworthy of 1st line minutes.

Based on the little I've seen so far this pre-season (G hasn't played that much), I think it could work.

Short of The Penguins, I don't think any team in the Metro can go into this season knowing full-well where they stand. To me, it's wide-open and every team but 1 has some major "ifs" to their game plan.
- jmatchett383

Yeah. I realize that it's prey wide open. If Timonen was back and at mid season form i'd be pretty confident that we would be challenging for #2 in the div if all went well injury wise. I'm worried that we're 1 injury away from Shultz becoming a regular.

One of the things Morin said during interviews is that the NHL felt very different. That back in the Q, he did not have to work as hard as he was just so much bigger than everyone, he could push them around and they could not push back. But guys like Jagr... they could not be pushed around the same way and he had to work differently to contain them. As Morin is ineligible for the AHL and too physically mature for the Q to be challenged, has anyone come to the conclusion that maybe the Flyers are keeping him around for the first few games to give him a taste of the NHL to understand how far he still has to go? Kinda like they did with Laughton before they sent him back to the OHL? Hagg and Ghost will be on the Phantoms but Morin is going to be a giant playing amongst children back in the Q. Keeping him around for the Max is probably the best thing Hextall can do for his Development... but I find it highly unlikely they will keep him beyond those first 10 games.
- flyler

Personally I think this is probably dead on

How comes know one wants to give Rinaldo and the 4th line some credit for their play last night? We are great at bashing Rinaldo. Thought he played a solid game last night again.
- J35Bacher

Personally I think this is probably dead on
- nastyflyergirl

Yep, I think it's an educational stay. He seems to be a sponge, just taking it all in and applying it toward his future, which appears to be very bright.

Yep, I think it's an educational stay. He seems to be a sponge, just taking it all in and applying it toward his future, which appears to be very bright.
- tangent_man

Flyers defense showing him what not to do

Edirt: JUST KIDDING!

They'd be so soft if they trade Schenn or Grossmann this year. Only way it works is if we take back another physical, older vet on a 1 year deal as part of the trade, or pick up someone who's been dumped.

This year you'd take a hit defensively, but it would give you cap flexibility going into next year.

But...

The problem is not really with Schenn's or Grossmann's contracts. It's Streit's and A Mac's.
- TheGreat28

At this point I think alt, Morin, or ghost, even lauridsen for the money would be an adequate replacement for either schenn or Grossmann. This d is already weak with them - it'd be hard to get that much worse without them. Get faster, more energetic dmen that can play system d. I think our youngsters could do that.

Nice time to try to cut across the crease there, 5. And dominating box out there, 47.

(I'm sure Mase appreciates the triple screen, too.)

2 sides to every discussion, did bringing gagne, williams, prospal, up too young hurt there career?

sbisa was a total desperation move and who knows if he would have turned out better or not, homer effed that draft up bad and was trying to make up for it by throwning sbisa out there, something to get the fans excited.

i feel if they are gonna be good at there job they will either grow into while doing it or they wont, its a gamble.

besides taking credit for sbisa, i cannot remember who the flyers rushed and ruined there career?

can anyone here without a doubt list 5 players from the nhl that ruined there careers because they were rushed?

edit-i think rushing a player and giving up on them too early are 2 different things, i beleive the flyers gave up on young prospects way to early for veterans over the years and alot of "rushed" and traded away players have blossomed elsewhere without ruining there careers.

I disagree. You stated earlier that the Flyers were very strong at 5 on 5 last night. Well guess what two defenseman were on the ice the most in last night's game? And matched up for a lot of it against the Ovechkin lne?How can that be then? I don't think they were perfect and there were a few plays that they can be better at, most notably the first goal. Bottom line is the Flyers gave up 2 goals in the game, and were the better overall team. Lack of offensive finish cost them the game, not the top defense pair. The Fehr goal was simply a lucky bounce for them. But overall Coburn and MacDonald played a solid game.
- MJL

You are entitled to your opinion. I felt we were at our worst with those two out there. Multiple times I noticed them 5v5 getting hemmed in their own zone after getting beat wide. The first goal the both of them just completely backed off ceeding the line and allowed the goal.. most of that would go on A-Mac... the second goal they lost there men deep, played a bit of grab ass in front of the net and Coburn was right in front of Mason (acting as a screen almost) and A-Mac lost Fehr. I just felt as though the other two pairs were much better.

As for the 5v5 I was mostly impressed by the tenacity of the forwards and their commitment to getting back on defense.

At this point I think alt, Morin, or ghost, even lauridsen for the money would be an adequate replacement for either schenn or Grossmann. This d is already weak with them - it'd be hard to get that much worse without them. Get faster, more energetic dmen that can play system d. I think our youngsters could do that.
- moylander

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make that happen, and show just how worse it can get.

If Alt or Lauridsen could be adequate replacements for Schenn or Grossmann, why didn't the Flyer splan that during the off season, and use the saved cap space to improve the team? Sometimes just a little common sense needs to be applied. Lauridsen is likely a career minor leaguer. Alt may or may not become a depth NHL defenseman at some point, but that is also a question mark.

The true underlying problem here is with the inability to send a physically mature guy who has signed a pro contract and participated in 2 NHL training camps to the AHL to get real pro experience. I understand that the junior teams don't want their rosters depleted by NHL clubs putting every kid into the minors, but like everything in life, there should be some common sense exceptions. Something as simple as allowing each NHL club the option of placing 1 of their under-20 prospects in the AHL if the club elects to use the 9 game pro tryout during the regular season. A guy like Morin who will be a man among boys in the Q, should really be honing his skills against men in the AHL.

How comes know one wants to give Rinaldo and the 4th line some credit for their play last night? We are great at bashing Rinaldo. Thought he played a solid game last night again.
- J35Bacher

I am actually liking the Rinaldo-Akeson-Bellemare line a lot

Nice time to try to cut across the crease there, 5. And dominating box out there, 47.

(I'm sure Mase appreciates the triple screen, too.)
- Tomahawk

well Coburn saw two guys open there so i am sure his first thought was to get to one of them to prevent an easy tap in

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make that happen, and show just how worse it can get.

If Alt or Lauridsen could be adequate replacements for Schenn or Grossmann, why didn't the Flyer splan that during the off season, and use the saved cap space to improve the team? Sometimes just a little common sense needs to be applied. Lauridsen is likely a career minor leaguer. Alt may or may not become a depth NHL defenseman at some point, but that is also a question mark.
- MJL

Lol.... Its god awful watching them as it is out there the last 3 seasons. Let's not pretend our defense is more than it is. Without timonen its even worse.... maybe we can defy the definition of insanity by throwing the same defense out there again and expecting a different result this season.


http://bleacherreport.com...is-and-future-projections

Nice time to try to cut across the crease there, 5. And dominating box out there, 47.
- Tomahawk

As I stated last night, and can be plainly seen here, Amac lost his check last night which led to the goal which tied the game.

That said, it was a fortuitous bounce onto Fehr's stick, but nevertheless, Mac, who originally had Fehr marked sufficiently, spun his body completely around after the shot leaving his man unattended.

I couldn't point to him as the sole reason the goal was scored. Coots and Read were lost on the play as well, caught skating around looking quite confused as to where to be.

I am actually liking the Rinaldo-Akeson-Bellemare line a lot
- nastyflyergirl

They were great last night. I like the Read-Couts-SImmer line a lot too

I am actually liking the Rinaldo-Akeson-Bellemare line a lot
- nastyflyergirl

I'm a Rinaldo fan.... Love his energy and optimism.

Looks like Morin was sent back

You are entitled to your opinion. I felt we were at our worst with those two out there. Multiple times I noticed them 5v5 getting hemmed in their own zone after getting beat wide. The first goal the both of them just completely backed off ceeding the line and allowed the goal.. most of that would go on A-Mac... the second goal they lost there men deep, played a bit of grab ass in front of the net and Coburn was right in front of Mason (acting as a screen almost) and A-Mac lost Fehr. I just felt as though the other two pairs were much better.

As for the 5v5 I was mostly impressed by the tenacity of the forwards and their commitment to getting back on defense.
- jak521

First of all. MacDonald did not lose Fehr. He was directly infront of him in solid position, between Fehr and the net. A shot was taken, which was blocked, MacDonald turned to see where the puck was, and due to a lucky bounce, the puck dropped right on Fehr's stick in his wheel house. Simply an unlucky break. The first goal was poorly played, and he needs to be better there. It's correctable.

It's all about perspective. As everyone knows, the Flyers do not have a true #1 defenseman. It's debatable if Coburn is a legitimate #2 defenseman. But is he a solid compliment on a first pairing to a true #1 defenseman. Which the Flyers don't have. So they are trying to use Coburn, at best a support #2 defenseman, paired with MacDonald, who is a finesse, 2nd pair puck moving defenseman. And are going to try a play a strong puck support and puck pressure system, to hopefully support the defense, that everyone knows, lacks a legitimate top pairing.
So as I've stated many times, there are going to be some stuggles with trying to play players in a role that they aren't best suited for. That's a given.
So let's look at the game last night. First of all it needs to be taken with a grain of salt, because it was a pre season game. They were the better team at 5 on 5, including when MacDonald and Coburn were on the ice. And they both played over 23 minutes of ice time. And they more then held they're own. One bad breakdown on the first goal, otherwise solid play. Do you or anyone else really expect that at certain times, using that pairing against top lines that there aren't going to be shifts where they spend some time in their own end? If anyone doesn't, then the expectations are unresonable. It's bend but don't break, and playing a team game with improvd team play, and improved team defense. With hopefully strong goaltending behind leading the way. That is the Flyers situation. And that's the perspective that it has to be looked at from. Any other viewpoint is foolish.

Yeah it's pretty much 1. Penguins T2. Rangers, Flyers, Capitals, Blue Jackets, Islanders 7. Canes 8. Devils
- NickTheKid87

I think Devils will be better than Canes this year. Canes are a dumpster fire at the moment. J Staal is out, Cam Ward has forgotten how to tend goal (yet still somehow the #1 ahead of Khudobin) and they'll need a bigger year from Falk as their number one d-man. Too many things have to go really right for them not to finish just above Buffalo, IMO

Looks like Morin was sent back
- nastyflyergirl

yip

Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer
Samuel Morin has been reassigned to Rimouski by the Flyers. He will be in the lineup tomorrow vs. Blainville-Boisbriand per Oceanic Twitter.

2 sides to every discussion, did bringing gagne, williams, prospal, up too young hurt there career?

sbisa was a total desperation move and who knows if he would have turned out better or not, homer effed that draft up bad and was trying to make up for it by throwning sbisa out there, something to get the fans excited.

i feel if they are gonna be good at there job they will either grow into while doing it or they wont, its a gamble.

besides taking credit for sbisa, i cannot remember who the flyers rushed and ruined there career?

can anyone here without a doubt list 5 players from the nhl that ruined there careers because they were rushed?
- mydoglicks

It's hard to compare defensemen to forwards in terms of development. I've said this before but how much is a player actually affected by being rushed? Is being rushed what caused/is causing Sbisa not to pan out? There's no way to prove if it's causation or correlation. Could be that Sbisa just didn't have what it took to be what he was projected to be.

That being said, it would be best to take the cautious course with these young players just in case. Sbisa may have not panned out regardless but in the event that it was because he was rushed, then they should be careful with Morin since another year in juniors is a lot less likely to hurt his development.