I hope the NHL learned a lesson is approving a deal, and then later punishing a team for it later. But I really don't see the league approving that trade in the first place.
- MJL

Agreed. I get the impression Bettman has zero sympathy for the Flyers when it comes to Pronger's cap hit. We're almost certainly seeing that one to it's natural end.

Hopefully there will be more MDZ's to scoop up later in the summer when other teams have blown their paltry allotment on more Engellands and Stoners.
- Tomahawk

I worry about the tidbit in the Friedman's 30 NHL things article, about how teams are super duper reluctant to give up any defensemen. Seems like it's been that way for a while now. How many more seasons before something shifts in the defenseman market?

Luckily, he's an RFA and I think one good season will get him less than Johansen who is a 4M for the next three years.
- aflyerpower8

Johansen wasn't given up UFA years in the deal.

I worry about the tidbit in the Friedman's 30 NHL things article, about how teams are super duper reluctant to give up any defensemen. Seems like it's been that way for a while now. How many more seasons before something shifts in the defenseman market?
- BulliesPhan87

When healthy, we will have two extra serviceable defensemen. Hopefully, we can take advantage of that market.

Johansen wasn't given up UFA years in the deal.
- MJL

True, but he also was a thirty goal scorer who was a top five draft pick widely coveted around the league while Del Zotto almost didn't make it back to the NHL after last year.

I worry about the tidbit in the Friedman's 30 NHL things article, about how teams are super duper reluctant to give up any defensemen. Seems like it's been that way for a while now. How many more seasons before something shifts in the defenseman market?
- BulliesPhan87

Luckily, teams can only hoard so many good dmen before it creates cap quandaries for them. Leddy, Boychuk were just the beginning, methinks.

Umberger was expected to be somewhat better then he has been. Which I think can still happen. He hit rock bottom last game. If you're going to be a role playing forward at 4.6M, you have to play close to mistake free hockey. He can't be easily knocked off the puck, leading to a goal. Or fail to skate an extra half stride on a dump in, because you don't want to get hit, leading to an unneccessary icing.
- MJL

You nailed it.

On a positive note, I thought Coburn was dominate in his return. He looked like the biggest guy on the ice to me.

True, but he also was a thirty goal scorer who was a top five draft pick widely coveted around the league while Del Zotto almost didn't make it back to the NHL after last year.
- aflyerpower8

If Del Zotto continues to play as he is now for the entire season, that is what he's going to be negotiating on, not what happened this past off season

New blog.

New blog, with Pelle Lindbergh book excerpts....

When healthy, we will have two extra serviceable defensemen. Hopefully, we can take advantage of that market.
- aflyerpower8

Honestly, I think it'll do us more good just having them, being ready for the inevitable attrition.

Decent comparable but Green's new contract was over a 50% increase from his previous deal. This is also Coburn's last time to score big. Even at $5.5 with the other 3 guys to sign, it will be really tough to fill out a roster. Your talking approx $20 million between Coburn, Voracek, B.schenn, and Couturier. That would bring the total roster to 13 not including Pronger's contract. That's a lot of other guys to sign at pretty much under a $1 mil a piece.
- psuhockey

I'm not looking forward to any raise for Coburn. He hasn't advanced his game during his current deal or done anything else to earn a sizeable raise other than age and be a defenseman in a seller's market. He can skate and eat minutes but that alone doesn't make him an impact player. I mean what does he really do out there on a consistent basis that can't be filled in by other (cheaper) players? Frankly, I think Grossmann adds more value at his salary than Coburn does at his. Why? Because I think Grossmann is better in the defensive zone and Coburn doesn't add enough offensively to offset that. Also, I believe his recent injury stint has shown that the team can make do without him in the lineup longer term. I don't hate Coburn, but I wouldn't bend over backwards to keep him around. If other teams covet him and are willing to pay the perceived (high) market price, I would likely endorse moving him.

I'm not looking forward to any raise for Coburn. He hasn't advanced his game during his current deal or done anything else to earn a sizeable raise other than age and be a defenseman in a seller's market. He can skate and eat minutes but that alone doesn't make him an impact player. I mean what does he really do out there on a consistent basis that can't be filled in by other (cheaper) players? Frankly, I think Grossmann adds more value at his salary than Coburn does at his. Why? Because I think Grossmann is better in the defensive zone and Coburn doesn't add enough offensively to offset that. Also, I believe his recent injury stint has shown that the team can make do without him in the lineup longer term. I don't hate Coburn, but I wouldn't bend over backwards to keep him around. If other teams covet him and are willing to pay the perceived (high) market price, I would likely endorse moving him.
- exlund

I wouldn't be opposed to getting value for him, but it'd be nice if he would take a more modest raise to stick around for a few years, for old times sake. Am I insane for thinking this is possible?

I'm not looking forward to any raise for Coburn. He hasn't advanced his game during his current deal or done anything else to earn a sizeable raise other than age and be a defenseman in a seller's market. He can skate and eat minutes but that alone doesn't make him an impact player. I mean what does he really do out there on a consistent basis that can't be filled in by other (cheaper) players? Frankly, I think Grossmann adds more value at his salary than Coburn does at his. Why? Because I think Grossmann is better in the defensive zone and Coburn doesn't add enough offensively to offset that. Also, I believe his recent injury stint has shown that the team can make do without him in the lineup longer term. I don't hate Coburn, but I wouldn't bend over backwards to keep him around. If other teams covet him and are willing to pay the perceived (high) market price, I would likely endorse moving him.
- exlund

I'm a big fan and supporter of Grossmann as a player. Try and use him like the Flyers use Coburn, and that will bring out the weaknesses in Grossmann's game. Coburn is capable of playing against top lines, game in and game out. As with any prospective trade, what is the offer, and does it make the team better? Same with re-signing Coburn. What is the cost, and for how long. Really can't make any judgement without knowing the details.

I wouldn't be opposed to getting value for him, but it'd be nice if he would take a more modest raise to stick around for a few years, for old times sake. Am I insane for thinking this is possible?
- BulliesPhan87

I don't think you're insane for thinking it is possible.

I don't think you're insane for thinking it is possible.
- MJL

ty, it's good to know somebody believes in me

ty, it's good to know somebody believes in me
- BulliesPhan87

There are plenty of other reasons to blame your insanity on.

I'm a big fan and supporter of Grossmann as a player. Try and use him like the Flyers use Coburn, and that will bring out the weaknesses in Grossmann's game. Coburn is capable of playing against top lines, game in and game out. As with any prospective trade, what is the offer, and does it make the team better? Same with re-signing Coburn. What is the cost, and for how long. Really can't make any judgement without knowing the details.
- MJL

Yeah, I wasn't really saying that Grossmann can or should replace Coby's minutes, just that I think he's a better defenseman in terms of the value he provides at his salary vs. Coburn at what his salary is and what it might be, especially if he gets a significant raise in a new deal. I don't think Coburn is a critical piece the Flyers can't live without. I don't want to read too much into it, but I think Coby's injury absence showed the Flyers can spread his minutes out amongst other players and have some success, against various levels of competition. Yes, Coby can play big minutes against tough comp...but I think that's laregly been out of necessity more than choice...but minutes alone don't make him an impact player on a consistent basis.

I like Coburn as a person but as a player, I'm disappointed in his offensive regression and he's otherwise been pretty consistently inconsistent in his performance through the years. I don't feel right paying him any more than he's been getting partly because the coaches play him for more minutes than he would get if the team had more top end D talent. I agree though that any decisions regarding his future with the Flyers should be calculated and well thought out.