Ok a 1st and two 2nds more realistic because that is what a similar player got last year. Or is something that actually happened not realistic enough for you?
- psuhockey

Wait, what actually happened?

This whole conversation is wild.

Ok a 1st and two 2nds more realistic because that is what a similar player got last year. Or is something that actually happened not realistic enough for you?
- psuhockey

Winnipeg aren't in a cap crunch like Boston were. They can afford to match any offer for Trouba, and could move Myers instead. trouba is also a better, more well rounded dman than Hamilton. We'll be very happy if Provorov's first three seasons are as good as Trouba's.

Certain Flyer fans just like to think Trouba is available for nickels on the dollar because he's exactly what we need.

Winnipeg aren't in a cap crunch like Boston were. They can afford to match any offer for Trouba, and could move Myers instead. trouba is also a better, more well rounded dman than Hamilton. We'll be very happy if Provorov's first three seasons are as good as Trouba's.

Certain Flyer fans just like to think Trouba is available for nickels on the dollar because he's exactly what we need.
- Feanor

Winnipeg is a budget team and might not be able to afford to keep him. That's why they might trade him to avoid only getting a 1st,2nd and 3rd for compensation from an offersheet

Cause Neuvirth had a good half a season?
- opeth_pa

oh i'm sorry you're going to ignore how he stood on his head for the sabres and got traded for winning too many games

They have 18 players signed, about $20m in cap space, and cheap rookies who could play next season like Hellebuyck, Morrisey, Kyle Connor and probably Laine. Unless their budget is $60m there's plenty of room to extend Trouba and Schiefele.

They have 18 players signed, about $20m in cap space, and cheap rookies who could play next season like Hellebuyck, Morrisey, Kyle Connor and probably Laine. Unless their budget is $60m there's plenty of room to extend Trouba and Schiefele.
- Feanor

Also, plenty of other players they could also move.

oh i'm sorry you're going to ignore how he stood on his head for the sabres and got traded for winning too many games
- 2Real

He has been on 4 teams.
His best season was in 2010-2011 when he played for the Caps though you could make the case that this season with the Flyers was his best keeping in mind he only played 32 games.

I dont have to ignore how he stood on his for Sabres because he didnt.

He played 2 seasons with them, the first doesnt really count because he played 2 games so you must be talking about the next season.

His 2014-2015 season with the Sabres where he stood on his head:
GP 27, WINS 6, LOSES 17, OT 3 , GAA: 2.99 SAVE % 218.

If that is standing on his head then ill pass..

Other teams are going to improve. They definitely need to do something with the forwards.
- mayorofangrytown

not necessarily, several of the "top" teams will run into cap issues taking their teams apart if they dont adapt

not necessarily, several of the "top" teams will run into cap issues taking their teams apart if they dont adapt
- YuenglingJagr

Who are the several? NYR?

Honestly, you really think that this forward group and get us back into the playoffs next season? If they stay pat or only ad a minor piece here or there I'll be hoping that there's no regression with any more of the forward group.

Who are the several? NYR?

Honestly, you really think that this forward group and get us back into the playoffs next season? If they stay pat or only ad a minor piece here or there I'll be hoping that there's no regression with any more of the forward group.
- mayorofangrytown

I'm all for adding the right pieces, but to your question...yeah I do.

They made it this year with an injured Giroux, an injured/slumping Voracek, a sometimes dead Sean Couturier, the 4th line as the 3rd line, the 3rd line as the 5th line...not to mention the defense situation which will improve no doubt. Add in a minor piece or two in the bottom 6, which will happen, and they can make the playoffs playing like they did down the stretch with this same group.

Come on, folks -- if even I believe Schenn played well enough to earn an extension, even if you take him to arbitration to get it, we probably shouldn't be looking to trade the guy

He played well last season, far more often than not. His invisible stretches were less and he showed up in games where they needed him

I agree: He's not a a player you build around. But he's proven that he can get you 50-60 points in a support role, and if he's consistent -- which he was for the vast majority of last season -- then, as I said, even I can't complain about him anymore
- AllInForFlyers

Obviously, he has to do it consistently in future seasons, but 50-60 points in a season for a winger, is not a support level player, it's a top line player on most teams.

- PhillySportsGuy

Shiny new toy syndrome is what I call it, and player envy. Now that we have some new shiny toys for Christmas, we need to get different shiny new toys, and on and on.
As far as this team making the playoffs this past season, one of the biggest factors was overlooked by most. The possibility of internal growth. That's why I though the Flyers could make the playoffs this past season. Nobody wants to consider internal growth. A team does not need to add a single new player, to get better as a team. Talent upgrades certainly are necessary, but this team is a playoff team in my view moving forward. Look at all the injuries they had, and they still made it.

Shiny new toy syndrome is what I call it, and player envy. Now that we have some new shiny toys for Christmas, we need to get different shiny new toys, and on and on.
As far as this team making the playoffs this past season, one of the biggest factors was overlooked by most. The possibility of internal growth. That's why I though the Flyers could make the playoffs this past season. Nobody wants to consider internal growth. A team does not need to add a single new player, to get better as a team. Talent upgrades certainly are necessary, but this team is a playoff team in my view moving forward. Look at all the injuries they had, and they still made it.
- MJL

This is all true but there's also the syndrome that whenever a guy puts on our jersey it makes him a white knight, impervious to critics. Truth is both schools of thought run pretty rampant around here.

Shiny new toy syndrome is what I call it, and player envy. Now that we have some new shiny toys for Christmas, we need to get different shiny new toys, and on and on.
As far as this team making the playoffs this past season, one of the biggest factors was overlooked by most. The possibility of internal growth. That's why I though the Flyers could make the playoffs this past season. Nobody wants to consider internal growth. A team does not need to add a single new player, to get better as a team. Talent upgrades certainly are necessary, but this team is a playoff team in my view moving forward. Look at all the injuries they had, and they still made it.
- MJL

And they couldn't buy a goal in the playoffs, yet still mustered up 2 wins against the President's Trophy winner.

Lucky to win those 2 because of outstanding goaltending? Sure. But unlucky to lose the first 3 when they outplayed the Caps in probably 2 of those games? Absolutely as well.

Can't wait til next year.

Konecny is in all likelihood eventually going to push one of these guys out of the top six. Maybe even whoever they draft this year too will do the same. Just how it all works.

I'm reading too much whining about overvalueing prospects lately on here. By some people's logic the league should have collapsed on itself by now since prospects never seem to pan out. I mean unless of course we drafted them. You know who you are people.

This is all true but there's also the syndrome that whenever a guy puts on our jersey it makes him a white knight, impervious to critics. Truth is both schools of thought run pretty rampant around here.
- hereticpride

For some yes. There are extremes, for sure. There is room for criticism in a lot of cases, but it should be intelligent. For instance, today, it was posted that Brayden Schenn will never be a top player on a winning team, and the Flyers should trade him. IF, another team will have him.

Konecny is in all likelihood eventually going to push one of these guys out of the top six. Maybe even whoever they draft this year too will do the same. Just how it all works.

I'm reading too much whining about overvalueing prospects lately on here. By some people's logic the league should have collapsed on itself by now since prospects never seem to pan out. I mean unless of course we drafted them. You know who you are people.
- hereticpride

That's what I'm talking about! Our shiny new toys aren't good enough. We need better!

I'm all for adding the right pieces, but to your question...yeah I do.

They made it this year with an injured Giroux, an injured/slumping Voracek, a sometimes dead Sean Couturier, the 4th line as the 3rd line, the 3rd line as the 5th line...not to mention the defense situation which will improve no doubt. Add in a minor piece or two in the bottom 6, which will happen, and they can make the playoffs playing like they did down the stretch with this same group.
- Mononoke

See, the problem is, they barely got in. Yes, they made it but Detroit and Boston basically collapsed and the last two games of the season were handed to them. Hell, the Isles pulled their goalie when they were leading.

If you aren't the kind of fan who thinks their team does no wrong then you have to worry about Voracek bouncing back, Giroux's continuous injury issues (he plays but he plays hurt far too much), Read played significant minutes but he's cooked (Umberger cooked). Laughton, Cousins, Schenn and Couturier have room to grow. The rest are who they are. Who knows if they even resign Gagne.

Unless Konecny is making the team I don't see or hear anyone banging down the door.

They have to add to the roster up front. Not some big free agent but someone who can play well on the 2nd or 3rd line. We're still holding tryouts in the top six wing position. (We could use a goal scorer)

They need to add up front if they want to return to the playoffs. They're still a bubble team.

we should trade giroux for laine

we should trade giroux for laine
- 2Real

yes his gimpy hip will be welcomed by whatever team would receive him.

See, the problem is, they barely got in. Yes, they made it but Detroit and Boston basically collapsed and the last two games of the season were handed to them. Hell, the Isles pulled their goalie when they were leading.

If you aren't the kind of fan who thinks their team does no wrong then you have to worry about Voracek bouncing back, Giroux's continuous injury issues (he plays but he plays hurt far too much), Read played significant minutes but he's cooked (Umberger cooked). Laughton, Cousins, Schenn and Couturier have room to grow. The rest are who they are. Who knows if they even resign Gagne.

Unless Konecny is making the team I don't see or hear anyone banging down the door.

They have to add to the roster up front. Not some big free agent but someone who can play well on the 2nd or 3rd line. We're still holding tryouts in the top six wing position. (We could use a goal scorer)

They need to add up front if they want to return to the playoffs. They're still a bubble team.
- mayorofangrytown

The optimistic view is that Couturier could still have a very real breakout season, which gives them two legit scoring lines that are hard to defend -- Raffl-Couturier-Schenn is legit, or you can fake it with Raffl-Giroux-Voracek and count on a line of Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds to score big goals

They also have a legitimate fourth line -- not perfect, but real

The problem is that damn third line. It was a dumpster fire pretty much all year -- couldn't shut anybody down, couldn't score enough to offset what they gave up

But Ghost is real. MDZ-Gudas is a legit pairing for a winning team. They have cap space to find third-liners they can count on

They're gonna score more next season. I would bet a paycheck on that, because they aren't gonna be playing Umberger 50 games and I won't be surprised in the slightest if Matt Read is a 13th forward, depending on how Hextall plays it

But I have faith that somebody is gonna be brought in from the outside who is gonna help, and if a team wants to do a picks-oriented deal, the Flyers have some bullets to shoot

See, the problem is, they barely got in. Yes, they made it but Detroit and Boston basically collapsed and the last two games of the season were handed to them. Hell, the Isles pulled their goalie when they were leading.

If you aren't the kind of fan who thinks their team does no wrong then you have to worry about Voracek bouncing back, Giroux's continuous injury issues (he plays but he plays hurt far too much), Read played significant minutes but he's cooked (Umberger cooked). Laughton, Cousins, Schenn and Couturier have room to grow. The rest are who they are. Who knows if they even resign Gagne.

Unless Konecny is making the team I don't see or hear anyone banging down the door.

They have to add to the roster up front. Not some big free agent but someone who can play well on the 2nd or 3rd line. We're still holding tryouts in the top six wing position. (We could use a goal scorer)

They need to add up front if they want to return to the playoffs. They're still a bubble team.
- mayorofangrytown

They barely got in because that was the best case scenario for a through and through bubble team.

I do forsee Jake rebounding; hope G is healthy which he should be; and think is still some continued development to be done. Read isn't cooked imo. Unlike Umby he has use. He isn't the scorer he once was, but he can be a real solid bottom 6'r still. I mean I'm all for signing Nielsen or if Eriksson could be had for a steal (he won't be), but I'm sure Hexy will heavily look for a reasonably priced middle 6/bottom 6 guy or two.

I'd like to see a 4th next year with Read and Cousins on it, maybe Leier, who I think is an addition. I hope Konecny makes it which could bump Raffl down to do yeoman's work on the 3rd. I don't want to see the 4th line again as it was. The third line? It is actually decent, but my worry is it can't score as it needs to. But I am still not greatly worried. I think minor tweaks are enough for now.

See, the problem is, they barely got in. Yes, they made it but Detroit and Boston basically collapsed and the last two games of the season were handed to them. Hell, the Isles pulled their goalie when they were leading.

If you aren't the kind of fan who thinks their team does no wrong then you have to worry about Voracek bouncing back, Giroux's continuous injury issues (he plays but he plays hurt far too much), Read played significant minutes but he's cooked (Umberger cooked). Laughton, Cousins, Schenn and Couturier have room to grow. The rest are who they are. Who knows if they even resign Gagne.

Unless Konecny is making the team I don't see or hear anyone banging down the door.

They have to add to the roster up front. Not some big free agent but someone who can play well on the 2nd or 3rd line. We're still holding tryouts in the top six wing position. (We could use a goal scorer)

They need to add up front if they want to return to the playoffs. They're still a bubble team.
- mayorofangrytown

The Flyers had their issues and bad stretches in the season also. Whether that happens in October or April, the games count the same. So I don't think looking at how Boston or Detroit played down the stretch, should be looked at as a reason why they got in. The Flyers had their issues also, with what Mason went through, injuries to Del Zotto and Voracek. Every team has their hurdles. Over the 82 games, the Flyers had enough points to get in. That's all that matters. Look at the impact that Gostisbehere made? There might be a another player who will make a big impact, such as Provorov, or someone they draft this year. You never know. There's a lot of good teams in the league, and yes the Flyers will be among those teams fighting for a few slots, but there is also lots of room for internal growth on this team.

Like everyone, I want a sexy Top 6 forward. I really do

But they don't have to have one to score more. What they have to do is make sure they are doing what it takes to push guys like Read, VDV and Bellemare to either produce or sit, and you just have to find legit third-liners for that -- not necessarily easy, but not as hard as finding a big winger who can shoot, skate and score