Just sign Matt Carle.
- stveshdy

Fifty million per year for a millenium

That's right, I got my Russians confused.
- Jsaquella

Gally is actually American of Russian heritage..

That is sort of the point that others were making. Being in a position to be able to draft those guys reduced the need to rely on the role players really panning out.

Of course, it was Max Talbot, who scored both goals in the game 7 that the Penguins won to defeat Detroit to win their Stanley Cup,
- Jsaquella

Still think you need role players and when you look at their defense that year there were plenty of them. The main core of Crosby and Malkin is solid no doubt but two guys dont win a cup alone.

I would agree. Supposedly it's a deep draft for d-men. I have seen mocks that have as many as 16 dmen being taken in the first round. Maybe the Flyers hit paydirt late in round 1 and find a gem.
- PLindbergh31

There's a TON of good defense prospects. Very deep draft in them, although most seem to be rated as being more Braydon Coburn than Chris Pronger

Gally is actually American of Russian heritage..
- Feeling_Glucky

Same difference. I knew it was a G.

Still think you need role players and when you look at their defense that year there were plenty of them. The main core of Crosby and Malkin is solid no doubt but two guys dont win a cup alone.
- stveshdy

No question about it. Role players like Talbot are incredibly important. Every Cup winning team has them. You don't win without them.

There's a TON of good defense prospects. Very deep draft in them, although most seem to be rated as being more Braydon Coburn than Chris Pronger
- Jsaquella

I would be thrilled and do cartwheels if the Flyers were able to develop a home grown d-man the caliber of Coburn.

No question about it. Role players like Talbot are incredibly important. Every Cup winning team has them. You don't win without them.
- MJL

That year Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi were unbelievable. Those are role players who can make a difference and without them your dead in the water.

That year Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi were unbelievable. Those are role players who can make a difference and without them your dead in the water.
- stveshdy

I still remember Scuderi hopping in net and making kick saves to save the Penguins' bacon in the finals. I really hate to think back to that postseason, but that was (frank)ing fantastic.

Still think you need role players and when you look at their defense that year there were plenty of them. The main core of Crosby and Malkin is solid no doubt but two guys dont win a cup alone.
- stveshdy

You do need good role players. Nobody is saying that you don't. However, let any competent GM build off two Hart Trophy caliber centers, a franchise goalie and a Selke caliber center who has good size and is a consistent 20+ goal scorer, plus a very good offensive defenseman that was moved for more assets and it makes the role players a lot easier.

Having guys like that also helps to recruit players. Think a guy like Bill Guerin wasn't happy to come to Pittsburgh and play with those two guys and get another kick at the can?

I would be thrilled and do cartwheels if the Flyers were able to develop a home grown d-man the caliber of Coburn.
- PLindbergh31

It requires patience. Look at JvR. People are ready to run him out of town. Defensemen generally take longer than wingers, to boot.

You do need good role players. Nobody is saying that you don't. However, let any competent GM build off two Hart Trophy caliber centers, a franchise goalie and a Selke caliber center who has good size and is a consistent 20+ goal scorer, plus a very good offensive defenseman that was moved for more assets and it makes the role players a lot easier.

Having guys like that also helps to recruit players. Think a guy like Bill Guerin wasn't happy to come to Pittsburgh and play with those two guys and get another kick at the can?
- Jsaquella

I'm not saying those guys arent good to build around (or an advantage) but having those players guarantee's absolutely nothing. You still have to get a group of guys together and play well as a team to win a cup. When you look around the league most teams carry a player who is top notch (now the Pens have two) but those other role players make the difference IMO.

I still remember Scuderi hopping in net and making kick saves to save the Penguins' bacon in the finals. I really hate to think back to that postseason, but that was (frank)ing fantastic.
- BulliesPhan87

Whatever it takes to win. If I remember correctly their penalty killing unit with those two guys on it was amazing that year.

It requires patience. Look at JvR. People are ready to run him out of town. Defensemen generally take longer than wingers, to boot.
- Jsaquella

I wouldn't be opposed to trading JVR for a stud dman, but right now Flyers would be trading him while his value is the lowest. IF, and that's a big question he stays healthy next year he could have a 30 goal season. I think he's going to be given every opportunity to play on the top line with Giroux.

I guess it's how you define tanking. The organization had good to great players they had to sell off for spare parts because they couldn't afford to pay them before they were "tanking". Try being a fan and seeing your entire contending team dismantled in 2 years because they have no money, only to become the laughing stock of the league for the next 4 years. Was that fair that they had to start over? I guess it depends who you ask.

As a fan that stayed loyal through that I make no apologies that they happened to be bad at the right time. They weren't going to battle with Koltsov and Kraft and actually thinking they had a chance to win.Too many non Pens fans forget that all too often.
- canadianpenfan

I think Mario gets far too much credit. He took over because it protected him from losing the money the team still owed him as a player, not just because he wanted to be owner.

It requires patience. Look at JvR. People are ready to run him out of town. Defensemen generally take longer than wingers, to boot.
- Jsaquella

Pfft. Facts...

I'm not saying those guys arent good to build around (or an advantage) but having those players guarantee's absolutely nothing. You still have to get a group of guys together and play well as a team to win a cup. When you look around the league most teams carry a player who is top notch (now the Pens have two) but those other role players make the difference IMO.
- stveshdy

When you have players like that, you can plug them in and not worry about them at all is what I am saying.

If I have 3 centers of the caliber of Crosby, Malkin and Staal, plus a goalie like Fleury, that's a whole lot of strategy in building a team that doesn't require me to give it a second thought. There's zero question about need to add a goalie. There's no questions at the most important forward spot.

If I don't even have to give a second thought to my top 3 centers or goalie, I can focus a lot more on the role guys. Also, it's real easy to say, "Well Sid loves Max Talbot and Pascal Dupuis, so I'm going to add them".

Honestly, IMO, the most impressive thing that Ray Shero has done as GM was to hire Bylsma as head coach.

I wouldn't be opposed to trading JVR for a stud dman, but right now Flyers would be trading him while his value is the lowest. IF, and that's a big question he stays healthy next year he could have a 30 goal season. I think he's going to be given every opportunity to play on the top line with Giroux.
- PLindbergh31

The Flyers proved they can win without him in the lineup this season. I wouldnt be opposed to it if Homer was to trade him for a stud defenseman in the offseason. I still believe JvR will be a very solid NHL forward.

I wouldn't be opposed to trading JVR for a stud dman, but right now Flyers would be trading him while his value is the lowest. IF, and that's a big question he stays healthy next year he could have a 30 goal season. I think he's going to be given every opportunity to play on the top line with Giroux.
- PLindbergh31

It'd have to be a young stud defenseman, and honestly, he;s not going to get you that. He's going to get you a guy like Luke Schenn-a guy with a ton of potential that is still developing, like JvR

Tomorrow night's game is a big one. Can set the tone for the series. When the road team can break through and win game 1, it puts a ton of pressure on the home team for game 2, and is almost a house money game.

Should be a fantastic series, while it sucks the Flyers have to play the Penguins in round 1, they would likely have to play them at some point to reach the goal anyway, might as well get it out of the way early.

Pfft. Facts...
- Flyskippy

Hell, Schenn, when he struggled people ripped him-still do. He's every bit as highly regarded by most scouts as Couturier...maybe even more highly regarded.

It'd have to be a young stud defenseman, and honestly, he;s not going to get you that. He's going to get you a guy like Luke Schenn-a guy with a ton of potential that is still developing, like JvR
- Jsaquella

Pretty much, although he is young, and dmen develop at different rates, I didn't like what I saw from Schenn at all. I'm glad Holmgren held off on that.

When you have players like that, you can plug them in and not worry about them at all is what I am saying.

If I have 3 centers of the caliber of Crosby, Malkin and Staal, plus a goalie like Fleury, that's a whole lot of strategy in building a team that doesn't require me to give it a second thought. There's zero question about need to add a goalie. There's no questions at the most important forward spot.

If I don't even have to give a second thought to my top 3 centers or goalie, I can focus a lot more on the role guys. Also, it's real easy to say, "Well Sid loves Max Talbot and Pascal Dupuis, so I'm going to add them".

Honestly, IMO, the most impressive thing that Ray Shero has done as GM was to hire Bylsma as head coach.
- Jsaquella

Those players are top notch. It should make it easier cant argue that. Those players were still very young when they won their first stanley cup. Even with all that talent it still went 7 games in the finals. I totally understand what your saying I just seen it too many times in sports even with all those great players you can go without winning a title. I also agree that Bylsma is a hell of a coach. Even when he lost Malkin and Crosby last year the team still was fighting for a playoff spot at the end of the year. Most teams who lose their two best scoring players struggle.

Tomorrow night's game is a big one. Can set the tone for the series. When the road team can break through and win game 1, it puts a ton of pressure on the home team for game 2, and is almost a house money game.

Should be a fantastic series, while it sucks the Flyers have to play the Penguins in round 1, they would likely have to play them at some point to reach the goal anyway, might as well get it out of the way early.
- PLindbergh31

If they win this series, that's gotta be a huge surge of confidence. I hope they can do so without many casualties. Wishful thinking, I know.

Pretty much, although he is young, and dmen develop at different rates, I didn't like what I saw from Schenn at all. I'm glad Holmgren held off on that.
- PLindbergh31

I think the situation in Toronto contributed to Schenn's struggles. That was(maybe still is) an awful place for a kid. Tons of pressure and every mistake got him benched.