Crouse is too big of a risk IMO. Low ceiling is apparent with him. They compare him to Lindros but how many times have we heard that with players before. in the top 10 if I'm going wing he has to be a player that oozes skill and is a game changer. This guy hasn't even proven to make players around him better yet
- Just5

The only thing that is Lindros like with Crouse is his size. Crouse is a big physical winger, he doesn't have anything like the puck skills Lindros had.

Crouse is too big of a risk IMO. Low ceiling is apparent with him. They compare him to Lindros but how many times have we heard that with players before. in the top 10 if I'm going wing he has to be a player that oozes skill and is a game changer. This guy hasn't even proven to make players around him better yet
- Just5

You mean this year when 4 of their top six forwards were injured for large portions of the season and he had to carry the team?

WTF are you even talking about?

The only thing that is Lindros like with Crouse is his size. Crouse is a big physical winger, he doesn't have anything like the puck skills Lindros had.
- Jsaquella

Have you ever heard him compared to Lindros?

I hope it's a hell of a lot better than last season's trade.
- mayorofangrytown

It'd have to be, almost by default

Downside...he'd be playing for AZ

- Scoob

I doubt he'd mind. That's right up there with Florida in the retirement community category.

I dont see a big trade happening. I see subtle moves being made. Similar to last year.

If he brings back a poopload of these current defenseman, I'll be kinda pissed because Schultz could have gotten them a nice return at last years deadline
- PhillySportsGuy

He wasn't going to trade Coburn and Schultz. So he traded the one who got a first, a 3rd and a player back, instead of the one who would have got just a 3rd.

I dont see a big trade happening. I see subtle moves being made. Similar to last year.

If he brings back a poopload of these current defenseman, I'll be kinda pissed because Schultz could have gotten them a nice return at last years deadline
- PhillySportsGuy

Maybe hoping against hope, in my case.

Have you ever heard him compared to Lindros?
- mayorofangrytown

Hell yeah. They both play hockey and were born on planet Earth.

Have you ever heard him compared to Lindros?
- mayorofangrytown

Yeah, in that blog that 2reel posted

I actually like Crouse, but there's people acting like he's gonna step in and be Tim Kerr.

Downside...he'd be playing for AZ

- Scoob

his other option is no ice time.
or 2nd line center and good PP time.
great weather
Fans that will be happy with him no matter what

I'm looking forward to it. Last years offseason was the best in years
- Just5

I would be ok with them offering to pay half of the salary for guys like Grossmann, Schenn and Streit if it meant a significantly better return

It's not like there are any elite players in FA. You can make a case for guys like Sekera and Ehrhoff being #2 dmen, but the Flyers aren't really ready to add those types yet. They need to see how the prospects pan out before they start committing long term to defenseman in FA.

I always liked MSL until that. And then when you couple it with where he went, he got in the fast lane to my most hated list.
- jmatchett383

That almost instantly put marty near the top of my "total bumholes" list.

What a (frank)ing spineless move that was to just abandon your team as the captain. Still gets me fuming.

I would be ok with them offering to pay half of the salary for guys like Grossmann, Schenn and Streit if it meant a significantly better return

It's not like there are any elite players in FA. You can make a case for guys like Sekera and Ehrhoff being #2 dmen, but the Flyers aren't really ready to add those types yet. They need to see how the prospects pan out before they start committing long term to defenseman in FA.
- PhillySportsGuy

AMEN

I don't think he's going to do much, honestly. Unless he moves out 2 guys with $3M+ deals, he won't have much space to do anything. I'd move out 1+ of Schenn/Grossmann/AMac, resign MDZ is he's take 2 years around $3M, resign White to one-year deal, sign a UFA vet backup, and call it a day more or less.
- jmatchett383

They should really commit to clearing money and getting picks/prospects even if it means taking a step back this year and/or next year

That almost instantly put marty near the top of my "total bumholes" list.

What a (frank)ing spineless move that was to just abandon your team as the captain. Still gets me fuming.
- benjichronic

at least he wasn't rewarded with a cup

Have you ever heard him compared to Lindros?
- mayorofangrytown

Whoever compared them needs to go look at Lindros OHL numbers

Yeah, in that blog that 2reel posted

I actually like Crouse, but there's people acting like he's gonna step in and be Tim Kerr.
- Jsaquella

After the top two, I've heard and believe he's the most NHL ready. They've been saying it since mid season. He wouldn't be my pick but he's part of a group of about 7 players where I'd go, "Ok, I can see it."

We all have our favourites after all.

They should really commit to clearing money and getting picks/prospects even if it means taking a step back this year and/or next year
- PhillySportsGuy

A lot of bumholes out there that will shout down logic such as this.

Yeah, in that blog that 2reel posted

I actually like Crouse, but there's people acting like he's gonna step in and be Tim Kerr.
- Jsaquella

He definitely won't be that good that quickly. But maybe by the time he's in his early 20s he'll be reminding people of John Leclair. That ceiling is why he'll go top 10, and maybe even top 5.

He wasn't going to trade Coburn and Schultz. So he traded the one who got a first, a 3rd and a player back, instead of the one who would have got just a 3rd.
- Feanor

I see Schultz similarly to Schenn and Grossmann. He had a better year, but his numbers tailed off after Coburn left.

He's a third pairing defenseman in his mid 30s. If you can get a 2nd for him, you move him.

I'm under the assumption that he was kept around for leadership and stability. That's fine, but I'm also under the assumption that Hexy is going to be moving other players out this summer. If that doesn't happen, I won't be thrilled seeing Hackstol forced to sit veteran defenseman on a nightly basis. Hard spot to put a rookie head coach imo.

You mean this year when 4 of their top six forwards were injured for large portions of the season and he had to carry the team?

WTF are you even talking about?
- mayorofangrytown

Bottom line is his ceiling isn't high enough at a position that's not worth taking risks like this in the top 10 on. Just my opinion. You probably know more than me about him that's the feeling I get.

After the top two, I've heard and believe he's the most NHL ready. They've been saying it since mid season. He wouldn't be my pick but he's part of a group of about 7 players where I'd go, "Ok, I can see it."

We all have our favourites after all.
- mayorofangrytown

I won't debate that. I think he could step in right now and play on the third line. I'm looking at down the road, what's the ceiling? Could he be a Simmonds type scorer that helps on the PK as well? Is he going to be a solid 20-25 goal guy that plays all situations? Is he another Clarkson?

He's a good prospect and will be a solid NHLer, maybe more. Comparing him to Lindros is setting him up to fail.

I am not putting anything past Hextall this offseason. He got two 2nd rounders for a guy who never sawa minute of ice time. He got an additional first and 3rd for a player everyone thought was garbage. 3rd rounder for little used Tye McGinn. Hired a coach no one had pegged or even mentioned.

I don't take anything off the table. He could move Streit, MacDonald, Schenn and Grossmann and feel it made the team better. Maybe not for 2015 but possibly for 2016 when there is a better FA pool to play in. He could feel clearing space now when it's a week FA market could be the play. With not many great d as FA out there could Streit get you another 1st rounder this year.

I just don't think anything is off the board. And with it a weak FA market it might be a good time to make some moves with the defenseman if you can.

He definitely won't be that good that quickly. But maybe by the time he's in his early 20s he'll be reminding people of John Leclair. That ceiling is why he'll go top 10, and maybe even top 5.
- Feanor

Possibly, but that's not a certainty. He might end up being a David Clarkson, a good, solid top 9 winger that brings grit, physical play and leadership, but not a ton of offense.

I agree he's going top ten, and I would have no issue if he was picked at 7. But he's not my top choice there.

http://www.pattisonave.com/flyers-5v5-goals-for/

The video in this article illustrates the flyers major problem. Puck movement from the back end. MDZ has the puck on a breakout attempt and circles back to pass it to the other d. At this time Giroux is dropping low in the zone in the center of the ice to receive a breakout pass. The other d gets the puck and there is a play to be made to get the puck to giroux. It would be a backhand saucer pass. I think this is grossman but not sure. He doesn't make the play for whatever reason, holds onto the puck and dishes it back to MDZ to start all over again. This type of play is routine for playoff teams
- Just5

Making a backhand saucer pass is not a routine play for most NHL defenseman. There's a reason why NHL teams strategize and formulate their forecheck and dump ins to try and get defenseman to have to play the puck on their weak side and their backhand. It's also a reason why good RH defenseman are coveted.