How could T-Mac shelter Schultz the way Pittsburgh did ? He was still working with Mac-T's dumpster fire blue line.
- Reveen.

How did Sullivan shelter him last year? Letang was out all year and Shultz was their number one dman all year. Even through the playoffs...where they won the cup...

This I agree with and he didn't have to move Eberle he did so because the coach lost confidence in him.
- Reveen.

I agree with this also.
If Eberle was to be moved, it should have been strictly for either a different type of RW (Perhaps a more dynamic two way forward) or a defenseman in some sort of package.

That I could live with, but bringing in another supposed natural center (who can play Wing if need be) in Strome... (we already have 3 great centers in McD, LD (if need be), and RNH) I'd rather have Chia get a strictly top 6 winger (with a different style of play) instead. Then on top of that, we have Letetsu and Jewels (he can play center if need be). So even if we keep LD on the wing, we can still have Jewels play center.

This is the only one left on the site...
- laughs2907

(frank) I want some pizza

How did Sullivan shelter him last year? Letang was out all year and Shultz was their number one dman all year. Even through the playoffs...where they won the cup...
- ghostofRC

He got 20 something games and playoffs with the Pens before that season

I agree with this also.
If Eberle was to be moved, it should have been strictly for either a different type of RW (Perhaps a more dynamic two way forward) or a defenseman in some sort of package.

That I could live with, but bringing in another supposed natural center (who can play Wing if need be) in Strome... (we already have 3 great centers in McD, LD (if need be), and RNH) I'd rather have Chia get a strictly top 6 winger (with a different style of play) instead. Then on top of that, we have Letetsu and Jewels (he can play center if need be). So even if we keep LD on the wing, we can still have Jewels play center.
- EdmHockeyMan

It should have been for Hamonic

Another thing to add was that I didn't like the buyout of Pouliot in the off-season. I thought that he just had a down year. He does take dumb penalties at times, but he has a good mix of speed, skill, and size.

Had we traded Ebs in a package for an upgrade on the RW. I would have loved for us to acquire Simmonds but he would probably cost us Ebs and a high pick. Consistent 50-60 point two-way player that gives us a boost in size, while maintaining skill and speed. Philly needs depth/prospects on the right which makes the pick quite useful for them. We, on the other hand, would still have Benson (he is a RW right?; I've gotten varying indications of LW or RW), Yammy, and Pulj developing.

Maroon-McDavid-LD
Lucic-RNH-Simmonds
Pouliot-Jewels/Letetsu-Kassian
Slepy-Jewels/Letetsu-Pak

I like that, a lot.

He got 20 something games and playoffs with the Pens before that season
- Reveen.

TMac had him for a full season plus after Eakins and still couldn’t use him properly. He actually got worse under TMac.

TMac had him for a full season plus after Eakins and still couldn’t use him properly. He actually got worse under TMac.
- ghostofRC

He had him for 45 games

He had him for 45 games
- Reveen.

My mistake on the games played...but he still got worse under him.

It should have been for Hamonic
- Reveen.

It should have been, but I would have still loved to see us get Simmonds. Beast of a player, on a good contract for the next two years, however, he is 2 years older than ebs. Nonetheless, Philly's lack of RW depth, prospect wise would have allowed for some strong negotiations to occur.

Either way,
Priority wise:

1. Get a top 4 RHD defender (missed opportunity in the form of Hamonic)
2. Get a more dynamic TW top 6 winger (STRICTLY WINGER who has a proven record) and a good price (Simmonds would have fit that bill perfectly, imo)

None of those were done this offseason, especially if Ebs was on his way out = failure in part of Chia. Period. Resigning Russell was pretty much sticking the finger and saying f you world.

My mistake on the games played...but he still got worse under him.
- ghostofRC

He was done in Edmonton by the time McLellan arrived... His confidence was shot.

It should have been, but I would have still loved to see us get Simmonds. Beast of a player, on a good contract for the next two years, however, he is 2 years older than ebs. Nonetheless, Philly's lack of RW depth, prospect wise would have allowed for some strong negotiations to occur.

Either way,
Priority wise:

1. Get a top 4 RHD defender (missed opportunity in the form of Hamonic)
2. Get a more dynamic TW top 6 winger (STRICTLY WINGER who has a proven record) and a good price (Simmonds would have fit that bill perfectly)

None of those were done this offseason, especially if Ebs was on his way out = failure in part of Chia. Period. Resigning Russell was pretty much sticking the finger and saying f you world.
- EdmHockeyMan

The only thing I fault Chia for in the offseason is by not building off last years success and adding more depth.

He was done in Edmonton by the time McLellan arrived... His confidence was shot.
- Reveen.

Your logic makes no sense.

His confidence was shot. New coach couldn’t turn it around after 45 games.

Goes to new team. New coach turns his confidence around after 35-40 games and has him as a number one dman that wins a cup.

It should have been, but I would have still loved to see us get Simmonds. Beast of a player, on a good contract for the next two years, however, he is 2 years older than ebs. Nonetheless, Philly's lack of RW depth, prospect wise would have allowed for some strong negotiations to occur.

Either way,
Priority wise:

1. Get a top 4 RHD defender (missed opportunity in the form of Hamonic)
2. Get a more dynamic TW top 6 winger (STRICTLY WINGER who has a proven record) and a good price (Simmonds would have fit that bill perfectly)

None of those were done this offseason, especially if Ebs was on his way out = failure in part of Chia. Period. Resigning Russell was pretty much sticking the finger and saying f you world.
- EdmHockeyMan

Who says Simmonds was even available? He’s a pretty important piece for Philly.

Your logic makes no sense.

His confidence was shot. New coach couldn’t turn it around after 45 games.

Goes to new team. New coach turns his confidence around after 35-40 games and has him as a number one dman that wins a cup.
- ghostofRC

New team, fresh start, team with an actual functional blue line.... jeez how could that possibly boost confidence

How many new coaches did he see in Edmonton ?

Who says Simmonds was even available? He’s a pretty important piece for Philly.
- ghostofRC

Which is why I said it would have taken Ebs and a high pick to lure him out. It is true that he is a big piece of Philly, but their lack of depth in the RW, prospect wise and the fact that Ebs is 2 years younger could have enticed them to deal him. Not to mention this upcoming draft looks quite deep.

The only thing with Ebs is that he is smaller, not as physical, but he has more offensive prowess than Simmonds and Ebs is younger (by 2-3 years).

Nonetheless, it's not like we are giving peanuts for him, we are still giving away a proven top 6 winger, it's just that Ebs game isn't as well rounded as Simmonds, hence why we would have to add. Plus adding in Simmonds would still fit with Chia's ideology of making the team bigger, all the while, you aren't sacrificing speed and skill.

(frank) I want some pizza
- Reveen.

Puljujarvi should quit hockey and sell pizza.

Point is: he came in and got gifted McDavid and a team that had a few holes to fill.

Here we are two and a half years later and we have a team with McDavid and a few holes to fill...still.
- ghostofRC

Yeah, different and easier holes to fill, but holes nonetheless. I think I look at it as the holes he had when starting were two top-4 D, a starting goalie, bottom-6 depth and developing prospect depth. Those have been filled at the expense of two top-6 wingers and poor cap decisions.

Which is why I said it would have taken Ebs and a high pick to lure him out. It is true that he is a big piece of Philly, but their lack of depth RW prospect wise and the fact that Ebs is 2 years younger could have enticed them to deal him. Not to mention this upcoming draft looks quite deep.

The only thing with Ebs is that he is smaller, not as physical, but he has more offensive prowess than Simmonds. and he is younger (by 2-3 years).

Nonetheless, it's not like we are giving peanuts for him, he was still giving away a proven top 6 winger, it's just that Ebs game isn't as well rounded as Simmonds, hence why we would have to add a high pick. Plus adding in Simmonds would still fit with Chia's ideology of making the team bigger, all the while, you aren't sacrificing speed and skill.
- EdmHockeyMan

Apparently Eberle's value was pretty low

How did Sullivan shelter him last year? Letang was out all year and Shultz was their number one dman all year. Even through the playoffs...where they won the cup...
- ghostofRC

Hainsey played the most minutes on the Cup winning team so technically he was the #1

Apparently Eberle's value was pretty low
- Reveen.

That seemed to be the overall case.
Regardless, if Chia could not get either of those priorities, you don't trade Ebs, period. He still had one year to analyze and get the most of what he had before making any big trade.

That seemed to be the overall case.
Regardless, if Chia could not get either of those priorities, you don't trade Ebs, period. He still had one year to analyze and get the most of what he had before making any big trade.
- EdmHockeyMan

It was the wrong time to move him for a variety of reasons

The only thing I fault Chia for in the offseason is by not building off last years success and adding more depth.
- Reveen.

I agree with the idea of bringing in more depth, which even makes me hate the Pouliot buyout even more.

He just had a down year from my perspective. We pretty much gave up a depth forward, sure the 4m/per was pricey and he could drive us bonkers with dumb penalties from time to time, but he has a good mix of speed, size, and skill.

This year, he has been having a good individual season so far with Buffalo.

It was the wrong time to move him for a variety of reasons
- Reveen.

Agreed to a certain extent. Unless one of the priorities came our way, Chia should have strayed away from dealing Ebs.

I agree with the idea of bringing in more depth, which even makes me hate the Pouliot buyout even more.

He just had a down year from my perspective. We pretty much gave up a depth forward, sure the 4m/per was pricey and he could drive us bonkers with dumb penalties from time to time, but he has a good mix of speed, size, and skill.

This year, he has been having a good individual season so far with Buffalo.
- EdmHockeyMan

I'm fine with the Pouliot buyout... I would have preferred a couple of established wingers on cheap contracts.