Frank Seravalli ‏@frank_seravalli
Coburn and Umberger briefly drop the gloves in practice after battling. Broken up quickly.
- ob18

Umberger has been feisty lately. I thought he was going to drop the gloves with someone during yesterday's game.

Um, why are they fighting in practice?

Maybe they both needed practice in how to get their gloves off. Sigh.
- FlyersGrace

No idea, ask Frank

Frank Seravalli ‏@frank_seravalli
Coburn and Umberger briefly drop the gloves in practice after battling. Broken up quickly.
- ob18

i hope umberger beat the poop out of that faerie

Um, why are they fighting in practice?

Maybe they both needed practice in how to get their gloves off. Sigh.
- FlyersGrace

It happens, sometimes it's a good thing

Nola is a guy with a high floor but low ceiling. Most people believe he's going to be a middle of the rotation guy.

Hamels needs to be dealt now. The longer they wait, the more they risk.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed, the only pitcher I'm looking forward to watching in 2015 is that hard throwing reliever, Giles

Hat trick in '76 my ass.


- Scoob

If only Parent and Macleish had been healthy...

Agreed, the only pitcher I'm looking forward to watching in 2015 is that hard throwing reliever, Giles
- BiggE

I like Diekman. His arm angle and throws hard. If he gets more consistant he can be nasty on lefties.

I like Diekman. His arm angle and throws hard. If he gets more consistant he can be nasty on lefties.
- J35Bacher

true, I'll add him to the list

It happens, sometimes it's a good thing
- Jsaquella

Anyone remember when Fedoruk took a swipe at Joni Pitkanen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu8-SBTUcqY

So your stance is the deal for Boychuk would be bad if he walks this year even if they win a cup this year?
- J35Bacher

Winning the Cup would certainly soften the blow obviously. I'll admit that my perspective assumes that the Isles aren't going to win the Cup.

I'm not going to debate the talent discrepancy between the two with you, but I think the Isles have a chance to re-sign him because of familiarity. If the Isles were still wallowing in the bottom of the conference, he likely would have needed a drastic overpayment to consider them. Instead, they've shown they can win with him and they have a young nucleus as well.

I think he'll strongly consider them if they match any other offer or exceed it. I don't think that would have been the case had they not traded for him and had success.

Top pairing defenseman are worth their weight in gold. I'd be ok with my team overpaying for one.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree that they have a strong chance to re-sign him. Boychuck while a better player then MacDonald, is likely to enter the same category of being overpaid. While I like him as a player, and think he's solid, I don't consider Boycheck a true top pair defenseman on hiis own merit.

I agree that they have a strong chance to re-sign him. Boychuck while a better player then MacDonald, is likely to enter the same category of being overpaid. While I like him as a player, and think he's solid, I don't consider Boycheck a true top pair defenseman on hiis own merit.
- MJL

Technically there are 60 top pairing defenseman in the NHL. He's not one of those 60?

Anyone remember when Fedoruk took a swipe at Joni Pitkanen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu8-SBTUcqY
- johndewar

Vaguely. I remember MacAllister and Primeau

Okay...let's say the Islanders trade a 2nd for Jaromir Jagr, and he ends up being a key contributor for the team on their way to a Stanley Cup championship, and he retires. To you, that's a bad deal because they gave up a 2nd rounder for a player who only played for a partial season for them, even though they won a Cup. Correct?
- jmatchett383

Again, offering up a different scenario with different expecations. If you trade at the deadline for a 40 year old player, the expectation is built in that it's a playoff rental, in that hypothetical. This may be speculation on my part, but I don't beleive the Isles expectation is that Boychuck is going to be a one year rental. I beleive they expect to re-sign him. It's a different scenario, where the deal is made with a different expectation. Unless you beleive the Isles approach is let's just try and win it this year, and then after Boychuck walks, do something else.

Technically there are 60 top pairing defenseman in the NHL. He's not one of those 60?
- PhillySportsGuy

He's playing top pair minutes, in a top pair role on one of the top teams in the conference and thriving in the role. I'd say that's a legit top pair guy.

Technically there are 60 top pairing defenseman in the NHL. He's not one of those 60?
- PhillySportsGuy

When the Flyers play Raffl at LW on the top line, is he a legitimate top line LW?

Are all 30 NHL teams happy with their top pair defenseman and not looking to upgrade

The above rhetorical questions, answer your question.

He's playing top pair minutes, in a top pair role on one of the top teams in the conference and thriving in the role. I'd say that's a legit top pair guy.
- Jsaquella

If Boychuck makes it to Free Agency, would you be happy if the Flyers sign him to a long term deal for 8-9M a year?

When the Flyers play Raffl at LW on the top line, is he a legitimate top line LW?

Are all 30 NHL teams happy with their top pair defenseman and not looking to upgrade

The above rhetorical questions, answer your question.
- MJL

If Raffl is playing consistently on the top line, then, technically speaking, yes he is. Legitimately, no, he is not.

Vaguely. I remember MacAllister and Primeau
- Jsaquella

That was a pretty decent tilt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKAr1vwYJTA

If Boychuck makes it to Free Agency, would you be happy if the Flyers sign him to a long term deal for 8-9M a year?
- MJL

No, because he's not elite. I also wouldn't pay Bouwmeester that, but he's a legit top pairing defender. Same for Fowler, Martin, and any other non-top-15 but top-60 defender.

No, because he's not elite. I also wouldn't pay Bouwmeester that, but he's a legit top pairing defender. Same for Fowler, Martin, and any other non-top-15 but top-60 defender.
- jmatchett383

Typical hyperbole. I'd be good with paying Boychuk Bouwmeester cash, for sure.

That was a pretty decent tilt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKAr1vwYJTA
- johndewar

Not practice, but training camp, Probert vs. Primeau

Even if he doesn't re-sign, I think it was a good deal. I think the Isles have given themselves a good chance of re-signing Boychuk if they match an offer. They've shown they can be competitive and the move will help bring fans.

If they just went after him in FA, I think they'd need to really overpay to get a player like him.
- PhillySportsGuy

They also can't fall into the same trap that the Flyers did... get locked into a 'bad' contract because they gave up assets to get him. Boychuk's had a pretty good season... but he's not a guy you want signed into his late-30's on a $5-7M cap hit.

They also can't fall into the same trap that the Flyers did... get locked into a 'bad' contract because they gave up assets to get him. Boychuk's had a pretty good season... but he's not a guy you want signed into his late-30's on a $5-7M cap hit.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, they have to keep the years reasonable. 4 years should be a decent term for his next deal

Technically there are 60 top pairing defenseman in the NHL. He's not one of those 60?
- PhillySportsGuy

Technically he's being used that way... but I don't believe he can keep it up beyond this nice 3-4 mos stretch he had going. Don't think he has the skating, sense and overall tool set to sustain it.

Kind of like Hartsy and his 37-goal year... you just knew he wasn't going to touch that the next few seasons.