The good old days when Mononoke, PSG, JSaq were here to offset all the stupidity.
- Tomahawk

Come on now. They had a special blend of stupid as well.
Just depended on the day. But yeah I do find myself skipping certain arguments these days...

you are forced to read and reread every comment that is related to Braun, it becomes a compulsion.

Then when you skate, you can no longer skate backwards

Terrible, terrible thing...
- wcorvette

I don't think that worked for Chuck Connors

My take on the deal is that MacDonald is Homers answer to Timonen's retirement. You got a guy who logged 25+ Mins on the Isles, he is certainly capable of playing on the top line but he won't be as effective playing 25+ mins compared to 20 mins. I think Homers plan is to have 3 pairings of guys who can be considered top 4 Dmen and split the time evenly. You got Macdonald Coburn, Grossman Streit and Gus and Schenn. None of these guys are Dunca Keiths or Shea Webers but they are solid Dmen

Quote from someone on that 2014 thread. Amazing
- bulet13

To be fair, at the time he was acquired, AMac was a decent-enough defenseman based on his time with the NYI and I believe he lead the league in blocked shots the season he was traded. His immediate stint after the trade was good, but obviously he didn’t live up to contract that followed....again all hindsight now.

I think the Flyers should be concentrating on developing players for the future. Having Braun is undoubtedly going to take ice time away from younger players as Vigneault is certainly going to rely on the veteran. I also preferred that they not buyout MacDonald and let the contract fully expire after this season.

As I have said many times, I do believe that adding Braun will help the current team.
- MJL

My offseason would have been the following.

-I agree with the buyout of Andrew MacDonald. I completely disagree with handcuffing his career to Philadelphia when he isn’t going to play.

-I like the Gudas for Niskanen but there would be no way I take any salary back, especially with Gudas having the lesser deal or the two.

-There is no way I trade for Justin Braun.

-There is no way I sign Kevin Hayes, especially to the money given to him. I’m not saying I want to Ghost but you have to give to get. I would have traded Ghost for Kadri. Which would leave us Provorov, Niskanen, Sanheim, Hagg, Morin and Myers. I think you can sign a serviceable 6th or 7th Dman in free agency.

-I would have brought back Simmonds to the deal he’s at now. Simmonds had a good start to last season, with very little training camp. His production dropped off a clip but I don’t think the book has been written on Simmer yet. The Devils are my dark horse for next season. A healthy Devils with Hughes, Subban and Simmonds make them a much tougher team to play against.

To be fair, at the time he was acquired, AMac was a decent-enough defenseman based on his time with the NYI and I believe he lead the league in blocked shots the season he was traded. His immediate stint after the trade was good, but obviously he didn’t live up to contract that followed....again all hindsight now.
- Sublime55

He had some ups and downs but MacDonald provided exactly what the Flyers were looking for. A minutes eating 2nd pair veteran. We knew at the time that he was signed that it was an overpayment. Nature of free agency. That's why it's so important to develop your own defenseman.

Actually, this is just more post game comments. I crushed his ridiculous narrative weeks ago.
- MJL

Perhaps it is the rematch, but looks like game on. Keep your head up!

Come on now. They had a special blend of stupid as well.
Just depended on the day. But yeah I do find myself skipping certain arguments these days...
- FlyersGrace

Mononoke was a scouting genus.

He had some ups and downs but MacDonald provided exactly what the Flyers were looking for. A minutes eating 2nd pair veteran. We knew at the time that he was signed that it was an overpayment. Nature of free agency. That's why it's so important to develop your own defenseman.
- MJL

Agreed!

Perhaps it is the rematch, but looks like game on. Keep your head up!
- NC Flyers Fan

hah, he crushed my ridiculous narrative weeks ago blah blah blah, whatever keeps him stroking his ego, even though he is one person who shouldn't even have one. He never crushed anything as much as he would like to think he has, evidenced to the point that multiple knowledgeable people about the sport, Bill, other posters here (the rational ones) conversations on podcasts and NHL networks (not NHL Network, read carefully bud @ MJL), agree with my point that the net of the Braun trade was essentially 2 thirds and 3 spots in the first (and if you want to add in the dead space so be it, but who knows if that dead space was added to bring in Braun or Niskanen).

The other point about me thinking Fletcher made it a point to search harder to recoup a 2nd round pick entering the draft than he would have if he had not traded for Braun, he went back to some crazy rhetoric about me saying (which i never did) that I thought Fletcher had a crystal ball or could see the future (would love to see where I said by the way, I never did) and then saying he shot down my narrative, when what i was saying was completely different than what he thought i said.

just goes to show you do in fact have to keep your head up and when dealing with people like this. the fact the guy has time to comb through forum comment pages to find something that he fabricated is hilariously ridiculous (borderline pathetic)

My offseason would have been the following.

-I agree with the buyout of Andrew MacDonald. I completely disagree with handcuffing his career to Philadelphia when he isn’t going to play.

-I like the Gudas for Niskanen but there would be no way I take any salary back, especially with Gudas having the lesser deal or the two.

-There is no way I trade for Justin Braun.

-There is no way I sign Kevin Hayes, especially to the money given to him. I’m not saying I want to Ghost but you have to give to get. I would have traded Ghost for Kadri. Which would leave us Provorov, Niskanen, Sanheim, Hagg, Morin and Myers. I think you can sign a serviceable 6th or 7th Dman in free agency.

-I would have brought back Simmonds to the deal he’s at now. Simmonds had a good start to last season, with very little training camp. His production dropped off a clip but I don’t think the book has been written on Simmer yet. The Devils are my dark horse for next season. A healthy Devils with Hughes, Subban and Simmonds make them a much tougher team to play against.
- SuperSchennBros

To go into the season with those players as your top 6 dman would be a terrible idea

My offseason would have been the following.

-I agree with the buyout of Andrew MacDonald. I completely disagree with handcuffing his career to Philadelphia when he isn’t going to play.

-I like the Gudas for Niskanen but there would be no way I take any salary back, especially with Gudas having the lesser deal or the two.

-There is no way I trade for Justin Braun.

-There is no way I sign Kevin Hayes, especially to the money given to him. I’m not saying I want to Ghost but you have to give to get. I would have traded Ghost for Kadri. Which would leave us Provorov, Niskanen, Sanheim, Hagg, Morin and Myers. I think you can sign a serviceable 6th or 7th Dman in free agency.

-I would have brought back Simmonds to the deal he’s at now. Simmonds had a good start to last season, with very little training camp. His production dropped off a clip but I don’t think the book has been written on Simmer yet. The Devils are my dark horse for next season. A healthy Devils with Hughes, Subban and Simmonds make them a much tougher team to play against.
- SuperSchennBros

so essentially, you would rather Kadri and 7 mil+ in cap space than having Hayes and Ghost? I think Hayes and Ghost's value far outweigh Kadri's, and with that cap space, it isn't guaranteed you find a center for the vacant 2C spot. Patrick definitely needs to grow and develop a bit more, not only did the Hayes trade help the lineup collectively, and the PK, it will help NoPa too.

I think I agree with pretty much everything else other than Braun, i wish the trade didnt involve a 2nd obviously, but if there were 2 other suitors, ya gotta do what ya gotta do if you targeted this guy to be in the lineup.

so essentially, you would rather Kadri and 7 mil+ in cap space than having Hayes and Ghost? I think Hayes and Ghost's value far outweigh Kadri's, and with that cap space, it isn't guaranteed you find a center for the vacant 2C spot. Patrick definitely needs to grow and develop a bit more, not only did the Hayes trade help the lineup collectively, and the PK, it will help NoPa too.

I think I agree with pretty much everything else other than Braun, i wish the trade didnt involve a 2nd obviously, but if there were 2 other suitors, ya gotta do what ya gotta do if you targeted this guy to be in the lineup.
- sjk540

I'm guessing if we did Ghost for Kadri we probably would have signed Gardiner. Or at least tried to

But cant speculate because who knows

I'm guessing if we did Ghost for Kadri we probably would have signed Gardiner. Or at least tried to

But cant speculate because who knows
- bulet13

so for hypothetical poops and gigs, I think id still rather have Hayes and Ghost than Gardiner and Kadri, especially if Gardiner is going to get something like 5.5/6 a year. curious as to why he hasn't signed yet, could be because of ridiculous contract demands. i think he's better than people give him credit for, but not 6 mil a year good.

so for hypothetical poops and gigs, I think id still rather have Hayes and Ghost than Gardiner and Kadri, especially if Gardiner is going to get something like 5.5/6 a year. curious as to why he hasn't signed yet, could be because of ridiculous contract demands. i think he's better than people give him credit for, but not 6 mil a year good.
- sjk540

He's not signed right now because there are injury questions concerning him. Not one wants to pony up the money/term for him with those question marks.

He's not signed right now because there are injury questions concerning him. Not one wants to pony up the money/term for him with those question marks.
- jmatchett383

ah i was unaware of the lingering injury issues, i thought he finished out last season relatively healthy, or as healthy as you can be after playing 62 games and 7 playoff games, although i guess he did see much less minutes in the playoffs than he had during the season.

was it still the back issues?

ah i was unaware of the lingering injury issues, i thought he finished out last season relatively healthy, or as healthy as you can be after playing 62 games and 7 playoff games, although i guess he did see much less minutes in the playoffs than he had during the season.

was it still the back issues?
- sjk540

Yes. He said that he wasn't 100% when he came back and I think surgery is still on the table.

hah, he crushed my ridiculous narrative weeks ago blah blah blah, whatever keeps him stroking his ego, even though he is one person who shouldn't even have one. He never crushed anything as much as he would like to think he has, evidenced to the point that multiple knowledgeable people about the sport, Bill, other posters here (the rational ones) conversations on podcasts and NHL networks (not NHL Network, read carefully bud @ MJL), agree with my point that the net of the Braun trade was essentially 2 thirds and 3 spots in the first (and if you want to add in the dead space so be it, but who knows if that dead space was added to bring in Braun or Niskanen).


- sjk540

Bill may have that opinion but I disagree with it completely. The cost was a 2nd and no opinion can change that. It is simply a fact. As far as podcasts and NHL networks, feel free to link that. The Niskanen deal was made before the buyout of MacDonald. There is a timeline.

The other point about me thinking Fletcher made it a point to search harder to recoup a 2nd round pick entering the draft than he would have if he had not traded for Braun, he went back to some crazy rhetoric about me saying (which i never did) that I thought Fletcher had a crystal ball or could see the future (would love to see where I said by the way, I never did) and then saying he shot down my narrative, when what i was saying was completely different than what he thought i said.

just goes to show you do in fact have to keep your head up and when dealing with people like this. the fact the guy has time to comb through forum comment pages to find something that he fabricated is hilariously ridiculous (borderline pathetic)
- sjk540

I'll provide the evidence of exactly what you said later on tonight when I have more time.

hah, he crushed my ridiculous narrative weeks ago blah blah blah, whatever keeps him stroking his ego, even though he is one person who shouldn't even have one. He never crushed anything as much as he would like to think he has, evidenced to the point that multiple knowledgeable people about the sport, Bill, other posters here (the rational ones) conversations on podcasts and NHL networks (not NHL Network, read carefully bud @ MJL), agree with my point that the net of the Braun trade was essentially 2 thirds and 3 spots in the first (and if you want to add in the dead space so be it, but who knows if that dead space was added to bring in Braun or Niskanen).

The other point about me thinking Fletcher made it a point to search harder to recoup a 2nd round pick entering the draft than he would have if he had not traded for Braun, he went back to some crazy rhetoric about me saying (which i never did) that I thought Fletcher had a crystal ball or could see the future (would love to see where I said by the way, I never did) and then saying he shot down my narrative, when what i was saying was completely different than what he thought i said.

just goes to show you do in fact have to keep your head up and when dealing with people like this. the fact the guy has time to comb through forum comment pages to find something that he fabricated is hilariously ridiculous (borderline pathetic)
- sjk540

Sometimes you need that crystal ball, like trading to get Filppula to help Patrick get acclimated to the NHL.

He had some ups and downs but MacDonald provided exactly what the Flyers were looking for. A minutes eating 2nd pair veteran.
- MJL

He was sent to the Phantoms for most of a season after the first year, became a regular healthy scratch after the fourth year, and was bought out after the fifth year.

That was definitely not what the Flyers were looking for in a guy taking up almost 8% of the cap in his first season.

He was sent to the Phnatoms for most of a season after the first year, became a regular healthy scratch after the fourth year, and was bought out after the fifth year.

That was definitely not what the Flyers were looking for in a guy taking up almost 8% of the cap in his first season.
- Feanor

I agree they were hoping for more consistency but sending him down was a mistake by Hextall. He belonged with the team. Overall, he provided what they were looking for.

No he didn't. He wasn't good enough at either end of the ice.

Due to poor play and injuries, he only averaged 54.4 games a season from when Homer signed him until Fletcher bought him out.

Honestly I totally forgot Braun was on the team now
- bulet13

that's how i feel about niskanen

You just love to hate. I Usually read past it but man it’s getting tiresome lol and redundant. Who hurt you?
- arichardson22

you're not upset the flyers can't see to win a cup in recent years?

so essentially, you would rather Kadri and 7 mil+ in cap space than having Hayes and Ghost? I think Hayes and Ghost's value far outweigh Kadri's, and with that cap space, it isn't guaranteed you find a center for the vacant 2C spot. Patrick definitely needs to grow and develop a bit more, not only did the Hayes trade help the lineup collectively, and the PK, it will help NoPa too.

I think I agree with pretty much everything else other than Braun, i wish the trade didnt involve a 2nd obviously, but if there were 2 other suitors, ya gotta do what ya gotta do if you targeted this guy to be in the lineup.
- sjk540

Kadri is cheaper and a much better player then Hayes. Both in all three zones and offensive production.

I like Ghost, but I don’t overvalue him like everyone else.

He had some ups and downs but MacDonald provided exactly what the Flyers were looking for. A minutes eating 2nd pair veteran. We knew at the time that he was signed that it was an overpayment. Nature of free agency. That's why it's so important to develop your own defenseman.
- MJL

Fast forward 18-24 months, we'll be saying the same about Kevin Hayes.