I agree it does mean nothing. I think the rivalry between the two teams is still very strong, and from my viewpoint, I still see it as a big game simply because I want them to beat the snot out of the Pens. There really isn't anything on the line standings wise, but I think the heat is still there.
- MJL

Thank you for this post, I was losing faith. Judging by your avatar you have good taste, minus the hockey team you cheer for. Pow

I used to hate Mario. But that one game where he got chemo in the morning, flew to Philly, came out and scored 2 goals and was the best player on the ice...I couldn't hate him after that, and neither could the 17,000 fans who gave him a standing ovation at the pregame skate and after the first goal (not so much the second).
- jmatchett383

Stats aren't on my side but I think he was a better all-around player than Gretzky.

And how many no-look backhand pass assists is Rinaldo on pace for?
- jmatchett383

This is a trick question as he's doing more no look cross ice passes to cover for the lack of Hartnell - since this is his signature move...

Stats aren't on my side but I think he was a better all-around player than Gretzky.
- Scoob

Forget all-around, he was a better player than Gretzky, period.

Get better players. DUH!
- jmatchett383

I guess that's why I'm sitting here and not behind the GM's desk. I'm clueless!

It's gonna time some time to wean fans off the Clarke/Homer way of doing things.

Hexy's still in the tear down phase of this beast... and the kinds of contracts he's inherited and the cap climate is way different than when Homer took the sledgehammer to Clarke's handiwork.
- Tomahawk

Holmgren didn't inherit many long term deals, and his first full summer the Flyers had a mountain of cap space to add guys.

Hextall inherited a team that had to spend over the cap just so they could use Pronger's full LTIR exemption. It's a team that squeaked into the playoffs last year with great special teams.

I don't like the Hartnell trade either, but I get why it was done. That contract had the potential to be a major handicap in a year or two. I'm glad Hextall didn't make a short term move to add a washed up Sergei Gonchar. I'm ecstatic he didn't trade a high pick for a guy like David Perron.

Expecting Hextall to be able to do what he wants to do in one season is being highly unrealistic

Stats aren't on my side but I think he was a better all-around player than Gretzky.
- Scoob

He was a different player than Gretzky. Mario was a physical beast who, when coupled with his skill and hockey sense, was unstoppable.

Gretzky was, without question, the smartest player ever. He was able to discern plays 3 steps ahead of everyone else, and had this crazy ability to magically appear from nowhere when you thought you had him covered. He was also probably the best passer of all time.

Okay, please tell me all of the trades he should make, and who should be on the roster to make them an instant playoff team.
- jmatchett383

Montreal, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Anaheim have all been proactive this year. All of which are good teams. I liked the response of our team after the Downie/Talbot trade last season.

How about because its fun? And its Pens/Flyers day! Records don't matter today, today is about pure hatred.
- nbartley9

Kasparaitis

that hit on Lindros and watching the laughter just infuriated me like no other

Good news: Its a night game, I'll be home to watch it

Bad news: Its a night game, I'll be home to watch it

All kidding aside, they need to sit Matt Read. There is no way that Jason Akeson could play any worse than Read is now. Sure Couturier had a bad game yesterday, but if I was him I'd look to my right, then to my left and then I'd tell coach clueless to go (frank) himself.
- BiggE

Watch it blindfolded

Okay, please tell me all of the trades he should make, and who should be on the roster to make them an instant playoff team.
- jmatchett383

Fire Hextall. Obviously, it should only take a couple months to clear out all the bad contracts, and all the deals with NMCs and limited move clauses, and has he done that? No! Clearly after less than 8 months we can say this whole disaster is solely on Hexy's shoulders.



/sarcasm off

Montreal, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Anaheim have all been proactive this year. All of which are good teams. I liked the response of our team after the Downie/Talbot trade last season.
- SuperSchennBros

Okay, so tell me the moves. Who are we trading, what are we getting in return, and what will our team roster look like?

Or are you just spouting off the usual nonsense?

Looking forward to an exciting game tonight

And Carlo Colaiacovo but would you consider them good moves? I call them safe moves. None of these do anything to help this team's future.
- SuperSchennBros

No one ever said whether they were good or bad moves (including you)

Forget all-around, he was a better player than Gretzky, period.
- Tomahawk

I threw that in for the stat freaks.

Were I starting a team and they were the two I had to choose from, I'd pick Lemieux every time.

Fire Hextall. Obviously, it should only take a couple months to clear out all the bad contracts, and all the deals with NMCs and limited move clauses, and has he done that? No! Clearly after less than 8 months we can say this whole disaster is solely on Hexy's shoulders.



/sarcasm off
- Doc_Sarcasm

Trade Lecavalier for Crosby and a 3rd.
Trade Umberger for Tavares.
Pick up Shea Weber off of waivers.

I threw that in for the stat freaks.

Were I starting a team and they were the two I had to choose from, I'd pick Lemieux every time.
- Scoob

I'll take the guy who scored 300+ goals as a 10-year-old playing in a league of 14-year-olds.

Were I starting a team and they were the two I had to choose from, I'd pick Lemieux every time.
- Scoob

He was a different player than Gretzky. Mario was a physical beast who, when coupled with his skill and hockey sense, was unstoppable.

Gretzky was, without question, the smartest player ever. He was able to discern plays 3 steps ahead of everyone else, and had this crazy ability to magically appear from nowhere when you thought you had him covered. He was also probably the best passer of all time.
- jmatchett383

Yep, correct on both counts.

Kasparaitis

that hit on Lindros and watching the laughter just infuriated me like no other
- nastyflyergirl

Its looking like a very close race between Cookie and Kasper, which is awesome; the Crosby answer is too easy.

Looking forward to an exciting game tonight
- znagle

We figure the Pigeons are due to beat the Flyers at home. All indications point to it happening tonight.

Trade Lecavalier for Crosby and a 3rd.
Trade Umberger for Tavares.
Pick up Shea Weber off of waivers.
- jmatchett383

Has he done any of that? Has he? NO! Give me one good reason why Hextall hasnt accomplished ANY of that!

Its looking like a very close race between Cookie and Kasper, which is awesome; the Crosby answer is too easy.
- nbartley9

Crosby is far from "most hated." He'd win "most irritating" in a landslide, but he's not even close to Kasparitis and Ulfie.

How about the signings of Zepp, MDZ, and Bellemare? The drafting of Sanheim, Aube-Kubel, Fazleev, and Lindblom? The Schultz signing?

Do you think those were all terrible moves by Hextall?
- jmatchett383

I think nobody could have guessed how well Schultz was going to play but even then I think on some nights he's deserved a seat. Schultz was a gamble. A low risk, safe gamble just like all these other signing, none of which help the team long term.

When talking about drafting and signing, you separate the two. It's not like Homer would simply never show up on draft day. He never blew it off.

At 34 there is no way that ever happens, though it would be great. I still think buyouts are the best option for both. Paying the cap penalty and signing a similarly producing player to replace both still saves money on the cap.
- MBFlyerfan

If they keep him buried on the 4th line, he may retire after next season. At that point, most of the contract is paid out and he'll be 36. Or, if not, it will be a lot easier to trade him to someone struggling to reach the cap floor since his cap hit for those last 2 seasons is 4.5, but the actually salary is only 3 million. Even if they have to absorb 25-35% of the deal at that point, it's still better than a buyout.