would you trade Coots and 2016 1st for Hall
- Winning

In a heartbeat.

Trouba out til February. Winnipeg hunting for d. Does anyone want to pick at our scraps yet or is it too early?
- Just5

Our defense corps is a highly paid group of professionals that any team would be happy to have.

/said no Flyers fan ever

Many players and coaches in the KHL haven't been paid this season. League may need to contract 3 teams. This all according to Mirtle

trading Giroux for a young top defender be that bad
in three years you could have
B Schenn
Coots
Laughton

Many players and coaches in the KHL haven't been paid this season. League may need to contract 3 teams. This all according to Mirtle
- PhillySportsGuy

GUS!!! COME HOME GUS!!!!

Added this anecdote to today's blog:


My favorite personal story with Forsberg during his stint with the Flyers happened in Nov. 2006. He had just been chosen as Sweden's greatest player of all-time by the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation and a friend of mine, Konstantin Foussianis, was selected to write an accompanying magazine article.

Konstantin asked if I would be the photographer for the article. Even though I generally take lousy pictures, I agreed. Some of the photos actually turned out really nice and I got my first -- and only -- published photography credit from it.

Most of the interview took place over lunch after practice in Voorhees. We went to a nearby Italian restaurant. The staff strategically seated us so that Peter could not be seen by passers-by i the window or as they just walked into the restaurant. Although a few patrons stared over at the famed hockey star, no one came over to bother him.

Peter answered all of Konstantin's questions. Afterwards, the three of us just chatted for about 25 minutes, both about hockey and a variety of other topics. I told him I would soon be going to his hometown of Örnsköldvik to visit an old friend (Martin Sedin) and take in a Modo-Färjestad during an off-day in the World Junior Championships in Leksand and Mora.

That discussion dovetailed into talking about his involvement in a golf course/ country club in Övik and a hotel project in his hometown. Peter then talked about the city of Philadelphia and his off-the-ice interest in real estate development. He knew where all the trendy investment areas were in Philly and elsewhere and said he had some ideas on where the next hot spots might be.

In the meantime, Peter's cell phone went off about a half dozen times. He apologized for the interruptions and silenced his phone. I found that to be a very gracious gesture for such a busy person with so many irons in the fire.

During the latter part of the discussion, the talk turned back to the Flyers and then to the differences in officiating between the NHL and Swedish league. I said to Peter that I think he'd greatly improved his relationship with officials over the years, and I didn't think anything such as the infamous 1994 playoff incident with referee Börje Johansson -- in which an enraged Forsberg told a post-game interviewer on live television that he wished he could punch Johansson -- would happen with Foppa anymore. He had matured and calmed down a lot over the years.

Forsberg agreed.

The very next night, Nov. 2, 2006, the Flyers had a home game against Tampa. The Bolts won, 5-2. With the Flyers on the way to their worst season in franchise history and Foppa frustrated with his ongoing foot problems, he erupted at a couple of questionable calls.

By the time the night was done, Foppa earned himself a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and eventually got dumped from the game on a 10-minute misconduct in the waning minutes of the third period.

Peter left the building without making himself available to the media. The next day at practice, however, his eye caught mine as the local media filed into the locker room. He knew what I was thinking: "About that conversation on referees the other day..."

"Shhh!" he said, putting his index finger to his mouth. "Don't say a word."

He shook his head and grinned slightly. Then he went about his usual round of interviews.
- bmeltzer

awesome story, thanks for sharing Bill!

Edit: Anybody know how long the Forsberg ceremony is scheduled for?

Many players and coaches in the KHL haven't been paid this season. League may need to contract 3 teams. This all according to Mirtle
- PhillySportsGuy

All those poor oil tycoons... time to tighten the belt.

GUS!!! COME HOME GUS!!!!
- johndewar

trading Giroux for a young top defender be that bad
in three years you could have
B Schenn
Coots
Laughton
- Winning

Would Giroux alone get you Doughty, OEL, Peitrangelo, or even a Hedman or McDonagh? I don't think it would. And even if it could, do you really trade your captain, your fire (no ginger joke intended), and your best playmaker?

You definitely don't want to add even more to that deal. Besides, 10-14-49 down the middle is a hell of a lot worse than 28-14-49.

So Lucky you guys get to meet all of these players...Let me guess did you goto country club diner? A lot of flyers used to go there after practice...My friends father owned that place and they would sit guys in the back for privacy
- PhillaBully

Players?!

He knows Konstantin Foussianis!

All those poor oil tycoons... time to tighten the belt.




- Tomahawk

In all seriousness, Gus cracks this blueline's Top 6 right now, IMO.

In all seriousness, Gus cracks this blueline's Top 6 right now, IMO.
- johndewar

Burroobee says no.

All those poor oil tycoons... time to tighten the belt.




- Tomahawk

Can't imagine living in a country where you sign a contract, do the work and not get paid and have no recourse unless you know someone.

In all seriousness, Gus cracks this blueline's Top 6 right now, IMO.
- johndewar

He couldn't do it last year.

Burroobee says no.
- Tomahawk

Burroobee says no.
- Tomahawk

Yeah. There's no way he cracks the lineup with Berube here. He has the two guys with the best possession numbers sitting.

He couldn't do it last year.
- mayorofangrytown

If they are serious about moving the puck up ice and possessing it the offensive zone, they'd be fools not to deploy him.

Would you guys do Taylor Hall for Vinny, Laughton, Hagg, Cousins + 3rd round pick?
- Jack-Meoff

people actually said no to this?

while being serious?

Flyers could be worse

They could have Gomez as their top center ''

If they are serious about moving the puck up ice and possessing it the offensive zone, they'd be fools not to deploy him.
- johndewar

When has he shown the ability to do that?

I'll be the first to admit that he got the shaft here last season but if they could have moved him I'm sure they would have. No other team had interest and we let him go at years end for nothing. The times he got on the ice he was inconsequential.

I just don't see him as anymore than a fringe player but if you think he's going to make a difference than good luck to you.

people actually said no to this?

while being serious?
- stayinthefnnet

One of the more ridiculous days...

Yeah. There's no way he cracks the lineup with Berube here. He has the two guys with the best possession numbers sitting.
- PhillySportsGuy

Stop blaming everything on the coach.
Stop blaming everything on the GM who built this team.
Stop blaming everything on the players.

When has he shown the ability to do that?

I'll be the first to admit that he got the shaft here last season but if they could have moved him I'm sure they would have. No other team had interest and we let him go at years end for nothing. The times he got on the ice he was inconsequential.

I just don't see him as anymore than a fringe player but if you think he's going to make a difference than good luck to you.
- mayorofangrytown

The Flyers didn't let him go. He signed in the KHL so he could actually play hockey rather sit in the Cote suite or go to Lehigh Valley. The Flyers still retain his NHL rights.

The Flyers didn't let him go. He signed in the KHL so he could actually play hockey rather sit in the Cote suite or go to Lehigh Valley. The Flyers still retain his NHL rights.
- johndewar

Is he here? Then he's gone.

Stop blaming everything on the coach.
Stop blaming everything on the GM who built this team.
Stop blaming everything on the players.
- Tomahawk

Coburns possession numbers have been climbing recently. Better be careful or Berube might need to sit him

Is he here? Then he's gone.

- mayorofangrytown

But it's not like the Flyers didn't renew his contract or put him on waivers.