which hole is easier to fill?
- JoeRussomanno

The one that is currently filled. But it's going to take more than Couturier to land a legit number one defenseman, which is a big part of the trouble.

Having the second-largest salary of any baseball team kinds of goes against the idea of the best value for the least money idea.
- jmatchett383

Red Sox did not embrace Moneyball, why would they? They embraced Beane's idea of building a team on non-traditional statistics and the metrics started by Bill James. i.e. don't sign a guy like Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder to massive contracts because of home run and RBI totals when you can get a more valuable guy for a fraction of the cost.

Considering they had neither the cap room or the picks to get the deal done, I'd doubt it.
- BiggE

As good as Boychuk's been, we might look back in 10-years and marvel at how much it cost to acquire him. Top-40 pick in 2015 could yield a pretty darned good player, not to even touch on the other two picks they got in return. Dude turned 31 today.

I wonder sometimes if Schenn has the hockey sense to be consistent. Something is missing with that kid. He has tools and there are days when he looks terrific, but I just don't think you disappear like he does without there being something coming up short between the ears
- AllInForFlyers

He's a rich mans Nodl. Not exceptional in anything. Pretty good in a lot of areas and average in others.

The one that is currently filled. But it's going to take more than Couturier to land a legit number one defenseman, which is a big part of the trouble.
- Jsaquella

have to give up to get. when i look at this roster im sad to say couturier and maybe b schenn are what im willing to part with that is going to get any real value, maybe simmonds and coburn, not named giroux or voracek.

I wonder sometimes if Schenn has the hockey sense to be consistent. Something is missing with that kid. He has tools and there are days when he looks terrific, but I just don't think you disappear like he does without there being something coming up short between the ears
- AllInForFlyers

I think his inconsistency can be summed up in two points:

1. He's still young,

2. He's a Schenn.

He should be carrying play a little more though. Whats concerning to me is that he never seems to have dominant stretches at any point. He makes some nice plays from time to time, but that's it. It's not like the JVR situation where he looked dominant at times then disappeared. Even Couturier has those dominating stretches against teams like the Pens. Same thing with Voracek when he first got to the Flyers.

I think my point is that when Schenn does find consistency, I think he'll be a Hartnell type scorer. 45-60 points depending on the talent around him.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think B. Schenn is exactly like Drew Stafford. He will produce but the consistency and effort from a game to game basis will always be lacking. I will have no issue if he is moved. He is a bargain right now but will be inline for a $4 million cap hit after next season. I don't think he does enough on the ice offensively or defensively on a regular basis to deserve that salary.

As good as Boychuk's been, we might look back in 10-years and marvel at how much it cost to acquire him. Top-40 pick in 2015 could yield a pretty darned good player, not to even touch on the other two picks they got in return. Dude turned 31 today.
- Tomahawk

Yep, that's the one bad spot in the analogy. But Snow's previous mismanagement put him in a spot where he had to be bold.

Imagine if he doesn't land Boychuk and Leddy, ends up in the lottery and Buffalo ends up with two top 5 picks?

Snow would be lucky to get a job as a NBC talking head after that

As good as Boychuk's been, we might look back in 10-years and marvel at how much it cost to acquire him. Top-40 pick in 2015 could yield a pretty darned good player, not to even touch on the other two picks they got in return. Dude turned 31 today.
- Tomahawk

Lol we traded a top 40 pick for MacDonald! What a joke! All you can do is laugh

He's a rich mans Nodl. Not exceptional in anything. Pretty good in a lot of areas and average in others.
- NickTheKid87

I don't know that you are wrong, there -- Schenn's getting to the age and number of games played where you start to say he just might be what he is. Not totally there yet, but it is close

I think the Packers found stacks of cash in their lockers at halftime, along with a note that said, "You know what to do..."
- tangent_man

That was some epic collapse by the Packers. First time a team won a playoff game while committing 5 turnovers since 1981.

have to give up to get. when i look at this roster im sad to say couturier and maybe b schenn are what im willing to part with that is going to get any real value, maybe simmonds and coburn, not named giroux or voracek.
- JoeRussomanno

That's probably true. At the same time, if you deal those guys you create a hole up front, and likely add salary in the mean time, which means you're marginally improved but still not a contender and the cap situation is even worse.

Lol we traded a top 40 pick for MacDonald! What a joke! All you can do is laugh
- PhillaBully

Yeah, that exact same pick... you just can't make that poop up.

Yep, that's the one bad spot in the analogy. But Snow's previous mismanagement put him in a spot where he had to be bold.

Imagine if he doesn't land Boychuk and Leddy, ends up in the lottery and Buffalo ends up with two top 5 picks?

Snow would be lucky to get a job as a NBC talking head after that
- Jsaquella

He gambled and it paid off...we gambled and we became the islanders for the next three years

I think B. Schenn is exactly like Drew Stafford. He will produce but the consistency and effort from a game to game basis will always be lacking. I will have no issue if he is moved. He is a bargain right now but will be inline for a $4 million cap hit after next season. I don't think he does enough on the ice offensively or defensively on a regular basis to deserve that salary.
- psuhockey

Said it last night, but I would destroy Schenn in arbitration before I gave him $4 million

That's probably true. At the same time, if you deal those guys you create a hole up front, and likely add salary in the mean time, which means you're marginally improved but still not a contender and the cap situation is even worse.
- Jsaquella

im willing to take that chance b/c if the flyers do one thing good, it is trade and draft for forwards. they'd fill that hole inside of two seasons.

I think B. Schenn is exactly like Drew Stafford. He will produce but the consistency and effort from a game to game basis will always be lacking. I will have no issue if he is moved. He is a bargain right now but will be inline for a $4 million cap hit after next season. I don't think he does enough on the ice offensively or defensively on a regular basis to deserve that salary.
- psuhockey

I want to see how he finishes up the year. Otherwise, a "hockey trade" at the draft should be considered.

In the Washington loss, I liked his effort, even though he didn't have any points. He was a noticeable player all night. I want more of that and less gliding.

C'mon guys! We are only 12 points ahead of buffalo for last place. Lets narrow that gap and inrease our shot at McDavid

That's probably true. At the same time, if you deal those guys you create a hole up front, and likely add salary in the mean time, which means you're marginally improved but still not a contender and the cap situation is even worse.
- Jsaquella

I would do schenns for reily. Doubt Toronto does it... I keep couts and value him much higher than schenn

Red Sox did not embrace Moneyball, why would they? They embraced Beane's idea of building a team on non-traditional statistics and the metrics started by Bill James. i.e. don't sign a guy like Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder to massive contracts because of home run and RBI totals when you can get a more valuable guy for a fraction of the cost.
- NickTheKid87

Absolutely. I thought that's what we were saying.

Islander sitting at the top of the conference? How is this possible? Who is their Luke/grossman? Who clears the net?!?!
- Just5

The Isles' team GAA is in the bottom one-third of the NHL and their PK is almost as bad as bad the Flyers. Unless they correct those areas (at least to some extent), they will be on the golf course just a couple weeks after the Flyers.

Yep, that's the one bad spot in the analogy. But Snow's previous mismanagement put him in a spot where he had to be bold.

Imagine if he doesn't land Boychuk and Leddy, ends up in the lottery and Buffalo ends up with two top 5 picks?

Snow would be lucky to get a job as a NBC talking head after that
- Jsaquella

I think that is why he was so aggressive to improve the team in the offseason. If the Islanders sucked again and missed out on McDavid, he would of been fired on the spot like you said. Compare that with a guy like MacTavish who has been way too cautious and unwilling to make deals that could potentially blow up in his face. The Vanek trade turned out to be a disaster but at least it was bold and forced him even more to improve his team instead of making a top 5 pick year after year until someone in upper management fires you.

The Isles' team GAA is in the bottom one-third of the NHL and their PK is almost as bad as bad the Flyers. Unless they correct those areas (at least to some extent), they will be on the golf course just a couple weeks after the Flyers.
- bmeltzer

Are they a version of Toronto that just peaks a little bit later in the season?

I don't know that you are wrong, there -- Schenn's getting to the age and number of games played where you start to say he just might be what he is. Not totally there yet, but it is close
- AllInForFlyers

I don't think his skills will improve that much but experience will help. I think he'll be a 25 goal, 30 assist player for his prime years, which would be top 6 production. I don't see him being a 30 goal guy unless he has a really lucky year. He'll likely be a guy that quietly puts up acceptable 2nd line point totals but doesn't wow anyone, IMO.

Yep, that's the one bad spot in the analogy. But Snow's previous mismanagement put him in a spot where he had to be bold.

Imagine if he doesn't land Boychuk and Leddy, ends up in the lottery and Buffalo ends up with two top 5 picks?

Snow would be lucky to get a job as a NBC talking head after that
- Jsaquella

It was a pretty reasonable gamble to take, IMO.

What are the chances a team that is around 50% possession was going to see bottom-5 PDO again? Not that Snow made the decision based on that, but just getting Halak will net them an extra 15-20 pts this season easy.