Hexy has to be cautious about selling. There are certain parts of the team that I would consider trading for picks, but people who call for trading Coburn, Streit, Schenn, Grossmann forget that we will need some sort of defense next year. Morin, Sanheim Ghost Hagg won't be able to step in seamlessly next season and I don't see us picking up 4 dmen as UFAs (nor should we.) There's no easy solution to this.. it's going to take time.
- Hextall271

Sign MDZ, Schultz. and CC and you've got your bridge until the prospects step up.

There's no quick turnaround here. This is going to take time. The Flyers need to realize what the Sixers and the Phillies finally realized, and that you need to build up from the bottom by moving stagnant pieces, bad contracts, and gather as many young prospects/picks as you can, and most important...be patient.

Hexy has to be cautious about selling. There are certain parts of the team that I would consider trading for picks, but people who call for trading Coburn, Streit, Schenn, Grossmann forget that we will need some sort of defense next year. Morin, Sanheim Ghost Hagg won't be able to step in seamlessly next season and I don't see us picking up 4 dmen as UFAs (nor should we.) There's no easy solution to this.. it's going to take time.
- Hextall271

I think you would have to be crazy to move Streit right now. No one is going to effectively take over his role on the PP for some time.

Next year, if MDZ steps up maybe. But not now. I would have to be blown away with an offer.

this year's first and a second i believe were also part of the desired transaction
- -davies-

I believe the respected opinion I read was...

"NO!! Trading Couturier and Hagg (never mind the 2nd round pick next year) alone is too high a price for just a draft pick".

I think you would have to be crazy to move Streit right now. No one is going to effectively take over his role on the PP for some time.

Next year, if MDZ steps up maybe. But not now. I would have to be blown away with an offer.
- hereticpride

I agree, but its an intriguing thought. Streit only has 2 years left and isn't getting any younger. IMO, he is our best all around D-man and has been essentially since he got here (save the games he played with Kimmo). If someone is making offers, I'm listening. 2 years left and a more than reasonable cap hit for his production. You'd have to really blow me away with an offer, but I'm still listening.

Didn't realize Cody Hodgson only has 2 goals on the year after last nights game? I'm calling about him for sure. If we can work out a deal where Buffalo gets Read, this may be something we should try to capitalize on.

akeson has to be wondering what he did wrong in a past life at this point
- -davies-

I think you would have to be crazy to move Streit right now. No one is going to effectively take over his role on the PP for some time.

Next year, if MDZ steps up maybe. But not now. I would have to be blown away with an offer.
- hereticpride

Not a big deal, IMO. They are going NOWHERE this year so that really doesn't matter. For next year, they can re-sign MDZ or at some point try out Ghost, I'll worry about that later. Also I expect this to be a 2 or 3 year rebuild anyway so worrying about who is going to QB next year's pp is not a big concern at this point.

If he'd just stop peeing in Berube's coffee....
- BiggE

seriously he missed the fun game with the phantoms to drive to buffalo in the winter and watch rinaldo play

Sign MDZ, Schultz. and CC and you've got your bridge until the prospects step up.

There's no quick turnaround here. This is going to take time. The Flyers need to realize what the Sixers and the Phillies finally realized, and that you need to build up from the bottom by moving stagnant pieces, bad contracts, and gather as many young prospects/picks as you can, and most important...be patient.
- 77rams

Yessssss

Sign MDZ, Schultz. and CC and you've got your bridge until the prospects step up.

There's no quick turnaround here. This is going to take time. The Flyers need to realize what the Sixers and the Phillies finally realized, and that you need to build up from the bottom by moving stagnant pieces, bad contracts, and gather as many young prospects/picks as you can, and most important...be patient.
- 77rams

It has to be done intelligently. You can't sell for its own sake or build through youth alone. You also can't do anymore what the 2007-08 Flyers did because there are no Timonen/Hartnell and Briere acquisitions out there worth clearing out the space to get. Fewer and fewer impact players hit the open market anymore. They get pre-emptive long-term extensions.

I am not sure what the Sabres are doing is the right way to go. For one thing, I am not sure that Ristolainen and Zadorov can be properly developed in an environment of being put in position to fail regularly on a losing team that is hoping to build for brighter days that are many years away if they come at all.

However, I do agree about holding onto your own prospects and picks and acquiring a few extras. Supplement that with some good vet role players plus the team has Giroux and Voracek in their primes. I also think Simmonds could thrive at five-on-five -- most of his goals are of the power play variety -- if he had a good playmaking center and was able to play the RW (the problem with him on the Giroux line was that he was not comfortable on his off-wing, and the team wasn't about to displace Voracek)

I think you would have to be crazy to move Streit right now. No one is going to effectively take over his role on the PP for some time.

Next year, if MDZ steps up maybe. But not now. I would have to be blown away with an offer.
- hereticpride

I think the question is who cares? They aren't going to be good next year either. By 2016-17, Ghost, Hagg or Sanheim should be ready to run the point. They might be able to next year.

It has to be done intelligently. You can't sell for its own sake or build through youth alone. You also can't do anymore what the 2007-08 Flyers did because there are no Timonen/Hartnell and Briere acquisitions out there worth clearing out the space to get. Fewer and fewer impact players hit the open market anymore. They get pre-emptive long-term extensions.

I am not sure what the Sabres are doing is the right way to go. For one thing, I am not sure that Ristolainen and Zadorov can be properly developed in an environment of being put in position to fail regularly on a losing team that is hoping to build for brighter days that are many years away if they come at all.

However, I do agree about holding onto your own prospects and picks and acquiring a few extras. Supplement that with some good vet role players plus the team has Giroux and Voracek in their primes. I also think Simmonds could thrive at five-on-five -- most of his goals are of the power play variety -- if he had a good playmaking center and was able to play the RW (the problem with him on the Giroux line was that he was not comfortable on his off-wing, and the team wasn't about to displace Voracek)
- bmeltzer

Agreed about all of this. I think the Flyers should make all players available to see what presents itself. They shouldn't trade all 8 defenseman, but if the offers for Coburn and Streit are first rounds picks, I think you have to take those.

seriously he missed the fun game with the phantoms to drive to buffalo in the winter and watch rinaldo play
- -davies-

The goalie Cousins scored 14 seconds into the game against last night was the same one the Phantoms set the record for fastest 3 goals to open a game earlier this year.

(frank) you all for leaving when I got here

Agreed about all of this. I think the Flyers should make all players available to see what presents itself. They shouldn't trade all 8 defenseman, but if the offers for Coburn and Streit are first rounds picks, I think you have to take those.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed. There's free agents you can sign for a year or two to bridge the gap, or maybe even go after a big fish on D with the cap savings. I look at it like I said last blog-if a guy can be a big piece at an acceptable salary in a couple years and/or is a guy that isn't especially hard to replace, I'm listening.

I'm already expecting another season next year, so it's not a huge deal to me if it happens, so long as the long term goal stays on track.

(frank) you all for leaving when I got here
- PhillySportsGuy

even if that could happen, and it wont, you would have 15 or 16 million per year tied up in two centers. im sure eichel is going to command a huge salary.
- Briere

Agreed, it wouldn't work, but Eichel's increased salary is quite a few years away, and paying elite level players is a good problem to have. The problem the Flyers have is paying average players well above average salaries.

(frank) you all for leaving when I got here
- PhillySportsGuy

poop, I didn't know you were here...

Now I have to (frank)ing leave as well.

Hexy has to be cautious about selling. There are certain parts of the team that I would consider trading for picks, but people who call for trading Coburn, Streit, Schenn, Grossmann forget that we will need some sort of defense next year. Morin, Sanheim Ghost Hagg won't be able to step in seamlessly next season and I don't see us picking up 4 dmen as UFAs (nor should we.) There's no easy solution to this.. it's going to take time.
- Hextall271

The last best quick rebuild to the Flyers D was 20 years ago- Svoboda, Haller were minor deals, Desjardins was part of the Recchi deal. I think Bundy was a rookie then or the next year. Essentially there were 3 former Habs defensemen who played on cup winners, which was a solid rebuild. You cant do that even transitionally now

Agreed. There's free agents you can sign for a year or two to bridge the gap, or maybe even go after a big fish on D with the cap savings. I look at it like I said last blog-if a guy can be a big piece at an acceptable salary in a couple years and/or is a guy that isn't especially hard to replace, I'm listening.

I'm already expecting another season next year, so it's not a huge deal to me if it happens, so long as the long term goal stays on track.
- Jsaquella

If guys like Streit or Coburn are moved It obviously gives them cash to replace them. I can see a guy like Big Buff being moved in the off season. Winnipeg will NOT let him walk next year for nothing and the off season may be best to trade him.
Hexy would be considered a genius if either one of VL or Happy Meal could be moved.
( I didn't list RJ..cause he is downright inmoveable)

I think the question is who cares? They aren't going to be good next year either. By 2016-17, Ghost, Hagg or Sanheim should be ready to run the point. They might be able to next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

Says who?

There's almost no doubt in my mind one of Morin or Ghost will play a significant amount of games next year. I hope it's Ghost; I want Morin to be brought a long as slow as possible.

That being said, this team has way too many pieces now to continue to be this bad. Chalk it up as a lost season to a combination of injuries, poor roster construction, and questionable coaching decisions. So we had a bad year transitioning from one organizational philosophy (Stevens/Lavy and Homer) to the next (Berube? and Hextall).

But this team should 100% bounce back next season. Missing the playoffs again would be absolutely unacceptable. Two scorers in the leagues top 5, Simmonds, Coots, Laughton, legit starting goalie with a .920SV%.....it's not like we need to re-invent the wheel.

The last best quick rebuild to the Flyers D was 20 years ago- Svoboda, Haller were minor deals, Desjardins was part of the Recchi deal. I think Bundy was a rookie then or the next year. Essentially there were 3 former Habs defensemen who played on cup winners, which was a solid rebuild. You cant do that even transitionally now
- Steelmanpa

We went from 30th in 06 to the ECF the next year. What did we do, sign Briere and trade for Lupul and Smith?

I'm telling you, this team is not THAT bad. You all really think were looking at another sub-par season next year?

Agreed. There's free agents you can sign for a year or two to bridge the gap, or maybe even go after a big fish on D with the cap savings. I look at it like I said last blog-if a guy can be a big piece at an acceptable salary in a couple years and/or is a guy that isn't especially hard to replace, I'm listening.

I'm already expecting another season next year, so it's not a huge deal to me if it happens, so long as the long term goal stays on track.
- Jsaquella

I would like it if the Flyers accepted next year as a rebuilding season. If they offered to pay some of the salary of guys like Grossmann, Coburn or Schenn, they may be able to get a better package. Why not do that if you don't plan on competing for the playoffs next year?

poop, I didn't know you were here...

Now I have to (frank)ing leave as well.
- wolfhounds

Is parks going to get signed in your opinion bill?

I would like it if the Flyers accepted next year as a rebuilding season. If they offered to pay some of the salary of guys like Grossmann, Coburn or Schenn, they may be able to get a better package. Why not do that if you don't plan on competing for the playoffs next year?
- PhillySportsGuy

i don't want to miss the playoffs next year

NO