Ah, the old "trade deadline virus". Of course!
- BulliesPhan87

I bet during the Buffalo game, Jagr, JVR, Voracek, and Meszaros will be playing two on two basketball.

They're more or less equal -- Vasilevski probably only gets the nod because of his int'l experience.
- Tomahawk

Lamoriello will draft one of them and he will turn out to be a Vezina winner.

I bet during the Buffalo game, Jagr, JVR, Voracek, and Meszaros will be playing two on two basketball.
- PLindbergh31

Hell, I bet Pronger's refereeing while we're at it.

I cannot see him playing again. It is a sad situation. I may have a strong dislike for you guys over there, even more since you gave us Leino BUT, you never want to see anything like that. It goes farther than hockey.
- ImThatGuy

Flyers didn't trade Leino to Buffalo, that was all Regehr and Moneybags Pegula. Just wait until he blows his hip out.

Hell, I bet Pronger's refereeing while we're at it.
- BulliesPhan87

Sadly, I wish he was. sigh. I feel for Pronger. Dealing with that type of injury has to be so depressing.

JVR won't return until the day after the deadline
- Scottie Upshall

I dont understand this. Injured players can still be traded as long as the other team is aware of the injury and still approves... right?

So Meszaros is hurt. This is exactly what I mean when I say we need at least 1 more defenseman before the deadline. Can you imagine going into the playoffs with one of Carle, TImonen, Coburn, or Meszaros hurt? That means half our defense is MAB, Gus, and Lilja... And What happens if 2 get injured... Walker? Bartulis? Kessel?

How does this sound for the playoffs...

Timonen-Coburn
Gus-MAB
Walker-Lilja

Oops, meant 35+
- Tomahawk

Not an issue. His cap hit is 700K and it's only one Season. That's a minor worry.

I dont understand this. Injured players can still be traded as long as the other team is aware of the injury and still approves... right?
- RooNosHockey

ruins his value I would imagine

Wait Mezzy is hurt?

So Meszaros is hurt. This is exactly what I mean when I say we need at least 1 more defenseman before the deadline. Can you imagine going into the playoffs with one of Carle, TImonen, Coburn, or Meszaros hurt? That means half our defense is MAB, Gus, and Lilja... And What happens if 2 get injured... Walker? Bartulis? Kessel?

How does this sound for the playoffs...

Timonen-Coburn
Gus-MAB
Walker-Lilja

- RooNosHockey

worse then, the d we had against Chicago.

More effective vets like Hannan, Staios, O'Brien, White were still on the market weeks later, and not a single one of them scored more than a 1-year deal.

As disappointing as Lilja has been this season, imagine him a year from now, when they're stuck with a #8 d-man they can't get off the cap. A lot of people complain about Shelley, but at least if it comes down to it, they can get him off the daily cap.
- Tomahawk

Were those player willing to sign with a team in a reduced role, which could include long stretches as a healthy scratch?

And I'd like to know how Lilja has been disappointing? He has been exactly what he was supposed to be.

Were those player willing to sign with a team in a reduced role, which could include long stretches as a healthy scratch?

And I'd like to know how Lilja has been disappointing? He has been exactly what he was supposed to be.
- MJL

I guess he thinks he was supposed to win the Norris trophy or something.

Were those player willing to sign with a team in a reduced role, which could include long stretches as a healthy scratch?

And I'd like to know how Lilja has been disappointing? He has been exactly what he was supposed to be.
- MJL

And you have proof of Lilja agreeing to a reduced role? I'm sure during contract negotiations, Homer sold the opportunity by informing Lilja that he was likely going to be eating a lot more popcorn that usual over the next two seasons, right?

As for his performance, we've all seen him struggle, and his poor performance is underscored by his poor possession metrics which are by far the worst of any Flyers d-man not named Matt Walker. He's facing 3rd-tier competition and is still getting torched.

Wait Mezzy is hurt?
- FLYERSROCK!

Where is this being reported? I don't see nuthin on Twitter or CSN.

When the season started and Pronger was healthy, who was in the lineup as the # 6 dman? This notion that Lilja was a spare part is an incorrect one. He started the season as one of the 6 dmen in the lineup.

Sure, there were designs on working Gustafsson in, but MAB wasn't on anyone's radar when the season started.
- PLindbergh31

It's certainly not an inncorrect notion. Lilja hasn't played anywhere near a full NHL Season since 07/08. Just from a common sense stand point you know that he wasn't brought in expected to play full time. He's had some recent injuries, is 36 years old, and the Flyers were looking for a full Season out of him?

The Flyers recalled Gustafsson from Adirondack on 10/27. Clearly they were going to work Gustafsson into the lineup as some point, as many NHL analysts including Bill Meltzer felt that he was NHL ready. MAB came up to the NHL due to the injuries to Gustafsson and Lilja. Who both missed significant time, as well as the injury to Pronger. These are the facts.

Or you can state what you stated above, and supply zero facts.

ruins his value I would imagine
- Scottie Upshall

It might hurt his value for a playoff contendor like LA or Toronto, but for someone making the move for next season, that has no hope for the playoffs, it really doesnt lower his value.

It might hurt his value for a playoff contendor like LA or Toronto, but for someone making the move for next season, that has no hope for the playoffs, it really doesnt lower his value.
- RooNosHockey

let's not kid ourselves, he doesn't have value.
If Burke doesn't want him straight up for Schenn

And you have proof of Lilja agreeing to a reduced role? I'm sure during contract negotiations, Homer sold the opportunity by informing Lilja that he was likely going to be eating a lot more popcorn that usual over the next two seasons, right?

As for his performance, we've all seen him struggle, and his poor performance is underscored by his poor possession metrics which are by far the worst of any Flyers d-man not named Matt Walker. He's facing 3rd-tier competition and is still getting torched.
- Tomahawk

Again, this goes well with Bill's blog today. Fans expectations of players. He's a 36 year old veteran depth defenseman. All your looking for from him is to provide reasonable depth and not hurt you. Yes there will be games, and shifts where he will struggle. That is completely expected from a playerof his ability and the role he is in. Again, it's the expectations that are out of whack, not the player. Lilja has been exactly what he was supposed to be. And he clearly hasn't been torched. People have short memories. I've seen what torched is.

And yes, I'm confident that Holmgren would be honest and forthright to Lilja when he was negotiatiing with him, in what his role on the team would be. And Lilja would be eating more popcorn then usual? He hasn't played close to a full NHL Season since 07/08.

Where is this being reported? I don't see nuthin on Twitter or CSN.
- MBFlyerfan

Someone posted it on the last page

let's not kid ourselves, he doesn't have value.
If Burke doesn't want him straight up for Schenn

- Scottie Upshall

If Burke misses the Nash sweepstakes, and cant work a deal out with Anaheim for Ryan or Getzlaf, then his options to get a Scoring Power Forward becomes very limited, and JVR's value would get ALOT better.

If Burke misses the Nash sweepstakes, and cant work a deal out with Anaheim for Ryan or Getzlaf, then his options to get a Scoring Power Forward becomes very limited, and JVR's value would get ALOT better.
- RooNosHockey

That's why I think Homer should wait this out a little... LA, Toronto, and Calgary are in the Carter and Nash Sweeps... Calgary is leading the way for Carter, which leaves either Toronto, LA, and possibly the Rangers for Nash.

One or Both of LA and Toronto is not going to land Nash. When that happens they are going to look elsewhere for a Power Forward/Scorer, and they will be dangling Johnson and Schenn. Perfect time for Homer to make JVR available... Maybe Voracek also...

Could you image... if Rangers land Nash... JVR to Toronto for Schenn, and Voracek, MAB and a pick for Johnson.

Again, this goes well with Bill's blog today. Fans expectations of players. He's a 36 year old veteran depth defenseman. All your looking for from him is to provide reasonable depth and not hurt you. Yes there will be games, and shifts where he will struggle. That is completely expected from a playerof his ability and the role he is in. Again, it's the expectations that are out of whack, not the player. Lilja has been exactly what he was supposed to be. And he clearly hasn't been torched. People have short memories. I've seen what torched is.
- MJL

I don't think anybody's expecting Lilja to do anything beyond play rock-solid D in limited minutes against the other team's bottom lines. He doesn't need to shut anybody down. He just has to be dependable and be in position. The numbers on him don't lie: whenever he's on the ice, the other team is handily out-shooting and out-chancing the Flyers, and often that is leading to goals against. Remember the Winter Classic? In only 11min TOI, he made Mike Rupp look like Gaborik and was on the ice for Richards' GWG too.

And yes, I'm confident that Holmgren would be honest and forthright to Lilja when he was negotiatiing with him, in what his role on the team would be. And Lilja would be eating more popcorn then usual? He hasn't played close to a full NHL Season since 07/08.
- MJL

Hate to break it to you, but that's not proof, that's your gut feeling. Guys in Lilja's situation don't expect anything more than a chance to compete for a spot and play -- same goes for Staios, Hannan, SOB and the other guys I listed before.

As for his health, it's not that he gets hurt that's the problem -- it's that he's terrible when he's healthy enough to play. So terrible, that Lavi won't dress him over two rookies -- with all due respect to Gus and MAB, they're not exactly the most dependable players either, so what does that exactly say about Lilja?

That's why I think Homer should wait this out a little... LA, Toronto, and Calgary are in the Carter and Nash Sweeps... Calgary is leading the way for Carter, which leaves either Toronto, LA, and possibly the Rangers for Nash.

One or Both of LA and Toronto is not going to land Nash. When that happens they are going to look elsewhere for a Power Forward/Scorer, and they will be dangling Johnson and Schenn. Perfect time for Homer to make JVR available... Maybe Voracek also...

Could you image... if Rangers land Nash... JVR to Toronto for Schenn, and Voracek, MAB and a pick for Johnson.
- RooNosHockey

The Rangers would have to really trade away a lot to get Nash tho

The Rangers would have to really trade away a lot to get Nash tho
- nastyflyergirl

i would probably take dubinsky, staal and a 1st or something in the neighborhood