So their D is as anemic as ours.
- section32

Yes, but rookie John Klingberg has been tremendous so far. As for the rest:

Jason Demers arrived recently in the trade for Brenden Dillon. I was not a big fan of the trade from a Stars standpoint. Dillon was Dallas' most physical defenseman by a mile and now they pretty much have zero in that regard. Demers is a good puck mover, and has a heavy righthanded shot.

Trevor Daley has gone overboard trying to be an offensive defenseman this year. Great wheels and was previously a fairly reliable two-way player but he's sacrificed defense so far this season and needs to get back to playing a simpler game.

Alex Goligoski has been playing through nagging injuries. He's never been great defensively but the effort is there. The biggest issue with him defensively is that he's so undersized. Daley is also a bit undersized but has a sturdy build (though his has no physicality to his game).

Jordie Benn is probably no better than a seventh defenseman (number six max) on a deeper blueline but did have a good year for the Stars last year and had his role expanded. It's been rolled back a bit by Ruff this year because he has really struggled.

The Stars are in a bit of a tough spot with rookie Jamie Oleksiak. He's developed about as much as he can in the AHL -- where he has been consistently good for the Texas Stars the last couple years-- and they would like him to take the next step and become a mainstay for the NHL club. The problem: He has struggled every time he's been called up to the NHL and has barely been passable in 6th D mins when he hasn't been scratched.

Another rookie, Jyrki Jokipakka, has been fairly solid since his callup from the AHL (actually had a brief initial callup and is now on his second one). Good skater, good first pass, pretty good positional D man and plays a simple game. Thing is, he's another average-at-most size puck mover with no physical edge to his game.

Yet another rookie, Patrik Nemeth, was slated to be a regular this season. He is basically a much younger Nicklas Grossmann with better wheels. Blocks a lot of shots, has some physicality and a huge frame. Unfortunately, the Stars lost him for the season back in that October game with the Flyers. On his shift of the game, Nemeth's right forearm got sliced up accidentally by R.J. Umberger's skate. Did a lot of damage and the team said the next day that he would not be able to play again this season.

With all this said, defense is really a team thing and not just about the defensemen. The Stars forwards -- especially many of the top six guys -- have a tendency to get of the wrong side of the puck.

As a matter of fact, the Stars' defensive issues this year almost make the Flyers' defensive issues look not so bad by comparison -- and that is saying something.

The tickets are already sold. People will be in the building.maybe not the people who originally bought the tickets but people will be at games with the prices you can get on stub hub now. They're still paying for parking, buying food, merch etc.

This franchise will only see a significant drop in attendance if they start sucking for multiple years in a row.
- hereticpride

People I speak with are actually discussing even with someone giving them free tickets why would they spend $15-20 to park and the high cost of meals/booze/concessions to see a team suck. Maybe somebody taking their kid to a game would do it once.

If its a 3-4 year plan, I can see this team being as bad for a few years. Maybe they will clear out some of the albatrosses and replace them with low dollar vets who work, but basically will be like the guys who work hard and accomplish nothing as they are overmatched in talent.

Remember the depth on those non playoff teams in the early 90's, even in the initial Lindros years ??????

This

What he hasn't done is just as impressive as what he has done
Umbergers deal being 2 years shorter is absolutely a big deal when we are not competing for a cup in the next 3 years anyway. But in 5 who knows? It's a better outlook not having to worry about hartnells deal
- Just5

I agreed with the Umberger deal at first. But are we really better off with him playing. I guess if someone told me we are sending Hartnell to CBus for nothing in return and eating 3 years of his deal I would have been pissed.

The umberger deal I liked. Clearing term out
- Just5

Not enough term to have justified the trade on that basis, IMO.

I really like Brendan dillons game after watching them against the sharks. Hard to find that combo of skating and physicality. Head scratcher there

Yes, but rookie John Klingberg has been tremendous so far. As for the rest:

Jason Demers arrived recently in the trade for Brenden Dillon. I was not a big fan of the trade from a Stars standpoint. Dillon was Dallas' most physical defenseman by a mile and now they pretty much have zero in that regard. Demers is a good puck mover, and has a heavy righthanded shot.

Trevor Daley has gone overboard trying to be an offensive defenseman this year. Great wheels and was previously a fairly reliable two-way player but he's sacrificed defense so far this season and needs to get back to playing a simpler game.

Alex Goligoski has been playing through nagging injuries. He's never been great defensively but the effort is there. The biggest issue with him defensively is that he's so undersized. Daley is also a bit undersized but has a sturdy build (though his has no physicality to his game).

Jordie Benn is probably no better than a seventh defenseman (number six max) on a deeper blueline but did have a good year for the Stars last year and had his role expanded. It's been rolled back a bit by Ruff this year because he has really struggled.

The Stars are in a bit of a tough spot with rookie Jamie Oleksiak. He's developed about as much as he can in the AHL -- where he has been consistently good for the Texas Stars the last couple years-- and they would like him to take the next step and become a mainstay for the NHL club. The problem: He has struggled every time he's been called up to the NHL and has barely been passable in 6th D mins when he hasn't been scratched.

Another rookie, Jyrki Jokipakka, has been fairly solid since his callup from the AHL (actually had a brief initial callup and is now on his second one). Good skater, good first pass, pretty good positional D man and plays a simple game. Thing is, he's another average-at-most size puck mover with no physical edge to his game.

Yet another rookie, Patrik Nemeth, was slated to be a regular this season. He is basically a much younger Nicklas Grossmann with better wheels. Blocks a lot of shots, has some physicality and a huge frame. Unfortunately, the Stars lost him for the season back in that October game with the Flyers. On his shift of the game, Nemeth's right forearm got sliced up accidentally by R.J. Umberger's skate. Did a lot of damage and the team said the next day that he would not be able to play again this season.

With all this said, defense is really a team thing and not just about the defensemen. The Stars forwards -- especially many of the top six guys -- have a tendency to get of the wrong side of the puck.

As a matter of fact, the Stars' defensive issues this year almost make the Flyers' defensive issues look not so bad by comparison -- and that is saying something.
- bmeltzer

Doesn't sound like a deal to be made unless they need more physicality: maybe we could ship Grossmann back or Luke Schenn OR. How about the Benns for the Schenns?

Yes, but rookie John Klingberg has been tremendous so far. As for the rest:

Jason Demers arrived recently in the trade for Brenden Dillon. I was not a big fan of the trade from a Stars standpoint. Dillon was Dallas' most physical defenseman by a mile and now they pretty much have zero in that regard. Demers is a good puck mover, and has a heavy righthanded shot.

Trevor Daley has gone overboard trying to be an offensive defenseman this year. Great wheels and was previously a fairly reliable two-way player but he's sacrificed defense so far this season and needs to get back to playing a simpler game.

Alex Goligoski has been playing through nagging injuries. He's never been great defensively but the effort is there. The biggest issue with him defensively is that he's so undersized. Daley is also a bit undersized but has a sturdy build (though his has no physicality to his game).

Jordie Benn is probably no better than a seventh defenseman (number six max) on a deeper blueline but did have a good year for the Stars last year and had his role expanded. It's been rolled back a bit by Ruff this year because he has really struggled.

The Stars are in a bit of a tough spot with rookie Jamie Oleksiak. He's developed about as much as he can in the AHL -- where he has been consistently good for the Texas Stars the last couple years-- and they would like him to take the next step and become a mainstay for the NHL club. The problem: He has struggled every time he's been called up to the NHL and has barely been passable in 6th D mins when he hasn't been scratched.

Another rookie, Jyrki Jokipakka, has been fairly solid since his callup from the AHL (actually had a brief initial callup and is now on his second one). Good skater, good first pass, pretty good positional D man and plays a simple game. Thing is, he's another average-at-most size puck mover with no physical edge to his game.

Yet another rookie, Patrik Nemeth, was slated to be a regular this season. He is basically a much younger Nicklas Grossmann with better wheels. Blocks a lot of shots, has some physicality and a huge frame. Unfortunately, the Stars lost him for the season back in that October game with the Flyers. On his shift of the game, Nemeth's right forearm got sliced up accidentally by R.J. Umberger's skate. Did a lot of damage and the team said the next day that he would not be able to play again this season.

With all this said, defense is really a team thing and not just about the defensemen. The Stars forwards -- especially many of the top six guys -- have a tendency to get of the wrong side of the puck.

As a matter of fact, the Stars' defensive issues this year almost make the Flyers' defensive issues look not so bad by comparison -- and that is saying something.
- bmeltzer

Any chance we could milk a pick out of them if we traded Emery? A 3rd with Lindback being tossed in as a warm body.

Remember the depth on those non playoff teams in the early 90's, even in the initial Lindros years ??????
- Steelmanpa

They had OK forward depth: Lindros, Recchi, Brind'Amour, rookie Renberg in 1993-94 and Dineen were a viable group of five. The bottom six was pretty weak, though, and the team was in trouble every time Lindros went down with an injury (two knee injuries and a shoulder injury).

The blueline and goaltending were the real trouble spots. They burned Garry Galley out by midseason on an annual basis. Yushkevich had a lot of promise but was young and inconsistent. The rest was pretty much a mess.

I agreed with the Umberger deal at first. But are we really better off with him playing. I guess if someone told me we are sending Hartnell to CBus for nothing in return and eating 3 years of his deal I would have been pissed.
- section32

Hartsy hasn't exactly been playing great for the BJ's either... he just broke and 11-game pointless streak a couple of nights ago... been terrible defensively and taking a lot of minors to boot.

I'm not entirely convinced that a dump him for picks kind of deal was out there to be had.

Doesn't sound like a deal to be made unless they need more physicality: maybe we could ship Grossmann back or Luke Schenn OR. How about the Benns for the Schenns?
- section32

You could get Jordie for Luke but why? Not an upgrade at all for the Flyers, although Luke would add some physicality to the Stars and give them three right-shooting D.

I am not adverse to the Flyers trading Grossmann but then they had better add some more muscle on D because they don't have a viable replacement for him right now.

Any chance we could milk a pick out of them if we traded Emery? A 3rd with Lindback being tossed in as a warm body.
- hereticpride

Nill has a similar philosophy to Hextall when it comes to trading picks. He hates to do it and actually wants to keep stockpiling them. If Emery wasn't on a one-year deal, I could see it but I think they'll try first to see if Rynnäs is ready to step up. Can't go by one game.

Not enough term to have justified the trade on that basis, IMO.
- bmeltzer

I'm find with the trade if Umberger is bought out in summer 2016. 16-17 is the season we will need the cap space, and probably the next time the Flyers can expected to be a solid playoff team.

Hartsy hasn't exactly been playing great for the BJ's either... he just broke and 11-game pointless streak a couple of nights ago... been terrible defensively and taking a lot of minors to boot.

I'm not entirely convinced that a dump him for picks kind of deal was out there to be had.
- Tomahawk

Negative value contract. If it wasn't, we wouldn't be stuck with RJ

They had OK forward depth: Lindros, Recchi, Brind'Amour, rookie Renberg in 1993-94 and Dineen were a viable group of five. The bottom six was pretty weak, though, and the team was in trouble every time Lindros went down with an injury (two knee injuries and a shoulder injury).

The blueline and goaltending were the real trouble spots. They burned Garry Galley out by midseason on an annual basis. Yushkevich had a lot of promise but was young and inconsistent. The rest was pretty much a mess.
- bmeltzer

I was remembering how bad Shawn Cronin was , always nervously winding the puck around the boards to the opposing team point man or pinching forward.

Hartsy hasn't exactly been playing great for the BJ's either... he just broke and 11-game pointless streak a couple of nights ago... been terrible defensively and taking a lot of minors to boot.

I'm not entirely convinced that a dump him for picks kind of deal was out there to be had.
- Tomahawk

CBJ should be sellers at the deadline so maybe we will see what the market for four a bit more seasons of Scott Hartnell really is.

Was just reading the B's blog and some people out there actually think the Blues would trade Oshie with the rough season he's having. If that we're true I think Hexy would have the perfect player to target.

You could get Jordie for Luke but why? Not an upgrade at all for the Flyers, although Luke would add some physicality to the Stars and give them three right-shooting D.

I am not adverse to the Flyers trading Grossmann but then they had better add some more muscle on D because they don't have a viable replacement for him right now.
- bmeltzer

Luke is such a disappointment. Wasn't he a top 5 or 6 pick in TO?

CBJ should be sellers at the deadline so maybe we will see what the market for four a bit more seasons of Scott Hartnell really is.
- Feanor

I actually see CBJ climbing out of their hole a bit when guys start coming back healthy. That said its one big hole to get out of right now.

Luke is such a disappointment. Wasn't he a top 5 or 6 pick in TO?
- section32

Both Schenns went fifth overall

Why has Jesper bern a healthy scratch for three games. Ghost is out, so the spot is there. Has he been that bad that theyd rather dress an ECHL stiff?

Luke is such a disappointment. Wasn't he a top 5 or 6 pick in TO?
- section32

Yup.

He probably only gets you a 2nd rounder now. If he were ever dealt I think it's as part of a package deal.

I dunno... I actually am on board with most of his moves so far.

- 3rd for McGinn,
- finding value in MDZ, Schultz, Colie,
- Bellemare,
- getting Emery to take a 40% haircut,
- flushing Rosehill down the toilet,
- the cap-number for Kimmo, although that didn't work out.

I don't even mind the Hartsy trade, since I wasn't holding much hope out for the next couple of years anyway. Rinaldo was vexing, but at least that contract can be buried 100%.

It seems like there have been a lot of moves that he could have made, that he thankfully didn't/hasn't/won't. AKA the kind of poop Homer would do. He probably could have moved Vinny out this summer... at a tremendous cost in assets and retained salary... and turned around and blown that money on another AMac or something.

TL;DR: not perfect, but already better than Homer.
- Tomahawk

Homer wasn't horrible his whole tenure as GM. He actually started out well and made some really good trades. (the haul for a rented Forsberg, Cobrun, Kukkonen and a 3rd for Kyle Freaking Calder, Biron, Timonen/Harts, Smith/Lupul for Pitkanen/Sanderson, a first and 3rd for Umberger, Leino just to name a few) I think where he went wrong was after the cup run the pressure to win after coming so close resulted in some really bad contracts, moving of draft picks for veterans and slapping together a team.

Homer wasn't horrible his whole tenure as GM. He actually started out well and made some really good trades. (the haul for a rented Forsberg, Cobrun, Kukkonen and a 3rd for Kyle Freaking Calder, Biron, Timonen/Harts, Smith/Lupul for Pitkanen/Sanderson, a first and 3rd for Umberger, Leino just to name a few) I think where he went wrong was after the cup run the pressure to win after coming so close resulted in some really bad contracts, moving of draft picks for veterans and slapping together a team.
- nastyflyergirl

Yeah, agreed.

Tearing down is a lot easier than building back up, it seems.

Hopefully Hexy will be just as good as Homer at the former, and a lot lot better than him at the latter.

Yup.

He probably only gets you a 2nd rounder now. If he were ever dealt I think it's as part of a package deal.
- hereticpride

I would be shocked if they got a 2nd for him

Homer wasn't horrible his whole tenure as GM. He actually started out well and made some really good trades. (the haul for a rented Forsberg, Cobrun, Kukkonen and a 3rd for Kyle Freaking Calder, Biron, Timonen/Harts, Smith/Lupul for Pitkanen/Sanderson, a first and 3rd for Umberger, Leino just to name a few) I think where he went wrong was after the cup run the pressure to win after coming so close resulted in some really bad contracts, moving of draft picks for veterans and slapping together a team.
- nastyflyergirl

Kubina and the two Versteeg trades will forever annoy me.