i still just want dennis wideman. REALLY.

Yeah, I was off with the cash by $500K on Stralman, but the point remains-a similar or (IMO)better player goes for less money and fewer years.
- Jsaquella

That player also has to be willing to sign with a team. It's one player that is comparable. I agree that the Flyers overpaid MacDonald by about 500K, but I'm okay with that, because I feel he upgrades the Flyers defense.

Is there a holiday is the States tomorrow? Is that why the Flyers play at 1pm

Is there a holiday is the States tomorrow? Is that why the Flyers play at 1pm
- 3flyerkids

Yes. MLK day

Much different circumstance when a GM is facing termination if he misses the playoffs.

When they added Carter, yes, they were fighting for their lives. But they were gearing up for another run when they added Gaborik, regardless of where in the standings they were.

The other thing is, LA was widely seen as underachieving. They had the talent to be a serious contender, regardless of where they sat in the standings. Even before that first Cup run, Lombardi wasn't in danger of being fired because he took a contender and ran it into the ground, he was in danger of being fired because he assembled a team that should be contending and was stuck in 8th.

The Flyers aren't seen by anyone as an underachieving contender. They were in 2010. But most people saw the Flyers as a bubble team this year. The Kings had Kopitar, Brown, Richards, Williams. They had a franchise defenseman in Doughty and a very solid group of defensemen. Their goalie was playing out of his head.

The Flyers are a mediocre ES team, a bad PK team and their defense is a mess. They have serious cap issues because they failed to draft a good defenseman. They lack the systemic depth the Kings had, where trading assets for key pieces didn't deplete the system and guys like Toffoli and Pearson could slide in and replace the Penners who left.
- Jsaquella

I agree that the Flyers aren't as talented as the Kings were in 2012, but this Flyers team is underachieving, for whatever reason.

Again, I'm not saying that they are contenders. Not with this roster as it currently stands. But they can make moves, with the cap space they have or could reasonably clear, to move forward and be right there if/when those defensemen hit.

That's all I'm saying -- waiting and not dealing with clear issues this team has does nothing, is no guarantee of anything.

I'm honest enough to admit that it's entirely possible that doing something might not work. But this is professional sports. You have to do things, make choices.

2015-16 doesn't have to be a throwaway year
- AllInForFlyers

It's what the Salary Cap is all about for some teams, making choices. Ive argued that for years, as if the Flyers woke up and found themselves accidentally up against the Cap. They are there because they chose to be. And there's lots of ways of working around the Cap.

Ok... great. The player who won't dress for a game this year is the one discount.
- PLindbergh31

No one is going to take a discount to play for a bad team unless they have a connection to that city.

That's all I'm saying -- waiting and not dealing with clear issues this team has does nothing, is no guarantee of anything.

I'm honest enough to admit that it's entirely possible that doing something might not work. But this is professional sports. You have to do things, make choices.

2015-16 doesn't have to be a throwaway year
- AllInForFlyers

If you can fix the clear issues immediately, do it.

Like I said, if they can land a legit number one defenseman and need to buy out Umberger to make it work, go for it. I'm 100% behind it.

If they're going to buy out Umberger to make a minor upgrade and it creates issues re-signing key pieces next summer-it's not worth it.

If you can fix the clear issues immediately, do it.

Like I said, if they can land a legit number one defenseman and need to buy out Umberger to make it work, go for it. I'm 100% behind it.

If they're going to buy out Umberger to make a minor upgrade and it creates issues re-signing key pieces next summer-it's not worth it.
- Jsaquella

Agreed.

Yes. MLK day
- PLindbergh31

Oh, ok thanks

What good environment is here with Streit and Coburn? They're missing the playoffs, and barely beat Buffalo with Streit playing last evening.

Trading one or both is not trading Ray Bourque or Nicklas Lidstrom.
- Jsaquella

whether you think they are incredible defenseman or not doesn't mean we'd likely be much worse off without them. thats how bad our defense is- when holding onto coburn is starting to seem like a good idea.

I agree that the Flyers aren't as talented as the Kings were in 2012, but this Flyers team is underachieving, for whatever reason.

Again, I'm not saying that they are contenders. Not with this roster as it currently stands. But they can make moves, with the cap space they have or could reasonably clear, to move forward and be right there if/when those defensemen hit.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm not disagreeing with you. What legitimate number one defenseman are they going to add, that will require them to clear the $2.9mm that an Umberger buyout will open up? Because if they add one, I'm totally onboard with an Umberger buyout.

That's the flaw. Adding another MacDonald or Another Coburn now and giving themselves more dead cap space doesn't help.

Oh, ok thanks
- 3flyerkids

MacDonald going back to his old stomping grounds. Video tribute planned. Going to show him signing the contract with the Flyers. Crowd will go bananas!

2 assists this afternoon for Morin

&

Sanheim is missing another game today, nothing at the moment for Fazleev
- ob18

Thoughts on Dmytro Timashov?

I am a fan.

Ok... great. The player who won't dress for a game this year is the one discount.
- PLindbergh31

i didn't say that situation isn't unfortunate. but had he been healthy and playing remotely well we'd be kissing his rings for not asking for what we all know he could have gotten.

I agree that the Flyers aren't as talented as the Kings were in 2012, but this Flyers team is underachieving, for whatever reason.

Again, I'm not saying that they are contenders. Not with this roster as it currently stands. But they can make moves, with the cap space they have or could reasonably clear, to move forward and be right there if/when those defensemen hit.
- AllInForFlyers

The biggest issue is really that the Flyers are trying to play with Coburn/Schultz as their top shut down defense pair. That just hasn't worked. Schultz has played admirably for a player that was signed as a 7th defenseman, but that's not going to cut it. This is a big if, but if the Flyers could somehow add a legitmate to pair, they would be a solid team. A player like Boychuk may not be a legitimate #1, but if you can add him, he would drastically upgrade the Flyers D core.

MacDonald going back to his old stomping grounds. Video tribute planned. Going to show him signing the contract with the Flyers. Crowd will go bananas!
- PLindbergh31

Thoughts on Dmytro Timashov?

I am a fan.
- Yosimar89

Dynamic but small, right now 3rd or 4th round for me.

Ahhh...for the days that we had a true Captain, and when we lost, we made the other team pay the price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZm18klW18c

Dynamic but small, right now 3rd or 4th round for me.
- ob18

So is Marner.

So is Marner.
- Yosimar89

Marner is not 5'8 Dmytro Timashov is

whether you think they are incredible defenseman or not doesn't mean we'd likely be much worse off without them. thats how bad our defense is- when holding onto coburn is starting to seem like a good idea.
- black_francis

If they trade them and then do not replace them, yes, they are far worse off.

When somebody suggests trading them away without adding a veteran defenseman to replace them, and rushing kids like Morin, Gostisbehere & Sanheim, I will agree with you 100%.

Nobody is suggesting that. I'm saying if you can get a good enough return, then trade them. Go out in free agency with the cap savings, sign short term free agents to bridge the gap. There's some solid guys in FA this summer that can bring most of what Streit does.

Marner is not 5'8
- ob18

I saw him listed at 154 lbs. Is he that small?

I saw him listed at 154 lbs. Is he that small?
- MJL

Who Marner?

That player also has to be willing to sign with a team. It's one player that is comparable. I agree that the Flyers overpaid MacDonald by about 500K, but I'm okay with that, because I feel he upgrades the Flyers defense.
- MJL

Terrific.

Nick Schultz upgraded this defense. Should we pony up a similar contract?