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

I know, thats why I think either LA or Toronto could get Him. And the other will be left high and dry, and thats when JVR starts looking good.

So this Mezzy is injured thing was just a hit and run rumor?

To me that is a little more important than whether or not Lilja was signed as a #6-7 depth defenseman or not. Which he was.

I know, thats why I think either LA or Toronto could get Him. And the other will be left high and dry, and thats when JVR starts looking good.
- RooNosHockey

Wouldnt Toronto or LA want a healthy JvR? There is no guarantee that he will even play again this season. Unless your saying they want JvR in general for years to come.

So this Mezzy is injured thing was just a hit and run rumor?

To me that is a little more important than whether or not Lilja was signed as a #6-7 depth defenseman or not. Which he was.
- MBFlyerfan

What Drej Meszy injury thing?

What Drej Meszy injury thing?
- bodiva88

That is exactly what I have been asking! Somebody posted he was injured, someone responded, I responded to the response. This is how poop happens!


edit:

Sarah Baicker @sbaickerCSN

Per the Flyers, Andrej Meszaros is day to day with an upper-body injury.

This is the only place I have seen it.

That is exactly what I have been asking! Somebody posted he was injured, someone responded, I responded to the response. This is how poop happens!


edit:



This is the only place I have seen it.
- MBFlyerfan

DRAMAdelphia.

That is exactly what I have been asking! Somebody posted he was injured, someone responded, I responded to the response. This is how poop happens!


edit:



This is the only place I have seen it.
- MBFlyerfan

She's usually pretty drama free and accurate. Boo!

She's usually pretty drama free and accurate. Boo!
- bodiva88

BOO is right.

That is exactly what I have been asking! Somebody posted he was injured, someone responded, I responded to the response. This is how poop happens!


edit:



This is the only place I have seen it.
- MBFlyerfan

Perhaps he was involved in trade rumors and is pulling a JVR.

Wouldnt Toronto or LA want a healthy JvR? There is no guarantee that he will even play again this season. Unless your saying they want JvR in general for years to come.
- stveshdy

Yes they want a healthy JVR, but he was one ice today without the yellow no contact jersey, on a line with Hartnell and Giroux.... I'm betting he will be healthy soon.

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.


- Tomahawk

Those numbers would be reliable if Lilja was the only player on the ice. Because when Lilja isn't in the lineup, the Flyers are just a stalwart defensive club. Here are some numbers that don't lie. Lilja is a +2 in 32 games. And he has only been a minus player in 9 out of those 32 games. That is a clear indication that he does not hurt the Flyers when he's in the lineup. Your using shutdown metrics to critique a part time 6/7 defenseman. Doesn't make a lot of sense. And again, it seems the expectations of the player are out of whack. And as far as the Winter Classic is concerned, are you really expecting a player like Lilja to be mistake free. Because I can show you plenty of examples of other players making far more money, and be counted on for much more, making simple fundamental mistakes leading to goals against. But let's hold Lilja to the same expectations.

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.


- Tomahawk

Hate to break it to you. But it wasn't offered as proof. I think the statement I made is a reasonable assumption.

Your comparing apples and oranges using those players you've named. They're all playing in an increased role on their team compared to what Lilja was brought in for. Those players are all playing from 18 to 23 minutes a game. If your stating that Holmgren could have signed one of them to be a regular in the lineup in an increased role, your right. But that's clearly not what Holmgren was looking for. As he already had Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn, and Meszaros. So what kind of minutes would have been available to one of the players you named? And you don't think those players are aware of what kind of playing time might be available on a team? And who they might want to sign with? those players were all looking for a team that had playing time available.

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?
- Tomahawk

Do you have proof that Lilja isn't playing over the two Rookies because Laviolette thinks he's terrible?

It says nothing about Lilja. He's clearly not terrible when he has played. He has been exactly what he was brought here to be. Expectations of some fans are the issue.

Superb work, Bill. Great analysis as usual.

My main hope for the Flyers, is to get a decent addition for the cheapest possible price. Solidify in case the chips fall right, but I don't think they're in a position to ignore other weaknesses to make a run at a huge name, be that name Rick Nash or Shea Weber.
- Jsaquella

yup, try not to over pay

That is exactly what I have been asking! Somebody posted he was injured, someone responded, I responded to the response. This is how poop happens!


edit:



This is the only place I have seen it.
- MBFlyerfan

Regardless, this just goes to show that we are 1 injury away from having half of our defense be Gus, MAB, and Lilja... God forbid 2 injuries...

Regardless, this just goes to show that we are 1 injury away from having half of our defense be Gus, MAB, and Lilja... God forbid 2 injuries...
- RooNosHockey

Plenty of depth. Stand pat. This team is rock solid. If everyone does their job there is no issues.

Regardless, this just goes to show that we are 1 injury away from having half of our defense be Gus, MAB, and Lilja... God forbid 2 injuries...
- RooNosHockey

Not a pretty picture. But not many teams have the depth to withstand 2 top defenseman being out long term.

Plenty of depth. Stand pat. This team is rock solid. If everyone does their job there is no issues.
- stveshdy

I want just a minor defenseman at the very least. Gill, Grossman, Allen...

I want just a minor defenseman at the very least. Gill, Grossman, Allen...
- RooNosHockey

Will see what happens. Im not going to be disappointed if they dont get any of the players listed above.

Do you have proof that Lilja isn't playing over the two Rookies because Laviolette thinks he's terrible?

It says nothing about Lilja. He's clearly not terrible when he has played. He has been exactly what he was brought here to be. Expectations of some fans are the issue.
- MJL

so, why isn't he playing? I don't think it's unreasonable to say he hasn't lived up to expectations when he was hired as a fill-in player and they aren't using him when they need a fill-in.

so, why isn't he playing? I don't think it's unreasonable to say he hasn't lived up to expectations when he was hired as a fill-in player and they aren't using him when they need a fill-in.
- Dkos

He's played 32 games, so how hasn't he been used when they need a fill in? If you have 2 young developing defenseman who need playing time, and one 36 year old veteran, who are fairly equal as players, who would you play? Gustafsson needs to play, not sit. Same for MAB, who has shown that he can be a decent NHL defenseman. All 3 players for different reasons have weaknesses in their games. Also if you potentially wanted to trade a younger player as part of a deal, to make the team better, is it better to have those players playing, showing their ability. Or sitting?

so, why isn't he playing? I don't think it's unreasonable to say he hasn't lived up to expectations when he was hired as a fill-in player and they aren't using him when they need a fill-in.
- Dkos

I think part of that can be attributed to how well MAB has played in stretches. I'm not sure before the season started Homer really thought he would be at this level. Lilja has been a fill in player and I think he was always considered to be a 7-8 type d-man.

He's played 32 games, so how hasn't he been used when they need a fill in? If you have 2 young developing defenseman who need playing time, and one 36 year old veteran, who are fairly equal as players, who would you play? Gustafsson needs to play, not sit. Same for MAB, who has shown that he can be a decent NHL defenseman. All 3 players for different reasons have weaknesses in their games. Also if you potentially wanted to trade a younger player as part of a deal, to make the team better, is it better to have those players playing, showing their ability. Or sitting?
- MJL

I think it's better to play your better players which is what the Flyers are doing.

I think it's better to play your better players which is what the Flyers are doing.
- Dkos

I'll add to that. It's better to play your younger better players. At this point, neither Gustafsson or MAB are significantly better players defensively then Lilja. They are more talented and have more physical tools the Lilja does. And you develop talent by playing. You don't have to be concerned about a 36 year old player not playing.

Predictable

That was so spot on I can't even begin to describe it. Next time I hear someone complain about Philly's defense I will simply send them this blog.

A+

http://ca.sports.yahoo.co...efense-nhl-145504863.html

Who has the most expensive defense?