And if Giroux isn't in the mix, I don't think we see both guys exit. Not both at the same time right after the season like they were, anyway.
- funmaster18

Obviously...

You'd have a lot more cap room, and, not only that, but a need offensively.

They cleared cap room, they opened up more chances for an increasingly talented Claude Giroux, and they stocked this team with great young talent. It was a gamble, trading two of our move valuable players, but that's the kind of guts that make Holmgren a great GM.
- BulliesPhan87

We also got a bit of luck. Couts had no business slipping to #8 overall. I still can't believe Ottawa and Winnipeg passed on him.

Your entitled to not care if it's not reasonable. Just as I am to care if it's not.
- MJL

the best part is that you bring up some very good thoughts and opinions and I know others like myself enjoy reading them.

but to simply continue to beat the drum of making sure people posts are factual and unreasonable is tiresome. It's a message board for goodness sake...

Obviously...

You'd have a lot more cap room, and, not only that, but a need offensively.
- LordStanley88

It may be obvious to you, but many others feel it was a house cleaning because of sour attitudes. So it may not be so obvious, as you put it.

We also don't know for sure why they were traded, it's just our best guess.

Yeah, they both slept through the last game.
- BringBack25

ZING!

All of those same fires have been in the media about Bryzgalov, but yet you defended him to the hilt. 90% of it was a bunch of BS. There was never any ineptness from either player on the ice. Never!
- MJL

Bryzgalov's situation is different. First he's new in town not the captain of a team which he's played a few years for. Next year I expect a different approach from him. Also he finished this year below his career GAA. The Flyers needed help on the Blue line when Pronger went down, thus Bryzgalov's struggles became compounded in certain games. The Flyers went and got Grossmann and Kubina shoring up the problems they had, thus Bryzgalov had the month of March he had. He broke a bone in his foot playing in a meaningless game which btw I told you guys the Flyers needed to start sitting him, but no let's keep playing him when it didn;t matter. So the guy has gimp foot and struggles last series against a highly potent offensive team yet the Flyers win. His attitude was never that of not caring, if anything I thought the guy had the weight of the Fanbase on his shoulders, rightfully so. Do players have bad games, yes he did and so did the other two. In the end I think they either needed a change of environment as the other gentleman said, or just got too comfortable here, and yes that frustrated me.

We also got a bit of luck. Couts had no business slipping to #8 overall. I still can't believe Ottawa and Winnipeg passed on him.
- LordStanley88

I never understood why Scheifele & Zibanejad were picked ahead of Coots. Strome too for that matter. Couturier was the number one draft prospect for awhile. He didn't have a great WJC but you gotta look at his year as a whole. I think Strome will pan out but I think Coots will have a significantly better career than Scheifele and Zibanejad.

Bryzgalov's situation is different. First he's new in town not the captain of a team which he's played a few years for. Next year I expect a different approach from him. Also he finished this year below his career GAA. The Flyers needed help on the Blue line when Pronger went down, thus Bryzgalov's struggles became compounded in certain games. The Flyers went and got Grossmann and Kubina shoring up the problems they had, thus Bryzgalov had the month of March he had. He broke a bone in his foot playing in a meaningless game which btw I told you guys the Flyers needed to start sitting him, but no let's keep playing him when it didn;t matter. So the guy has gimp foot and struggles last series against a highly potent offensive team yet the Flyers win. His attitude was never that of not caring, if anything I thought the guy had the weight of the Fanbase on his shoulders, rightfully so. Do players have bad games, yes he did and so did the other two. In the end I think they either needed a change of environment as the other gentleman said, or just got too comfortable here, and yes that frustrated me.
- JoeRussomanno

i think the smothering of the media with 24/7 hurt his transition because it put him front and center too quickly instead of adjusting to a new time and organization quietly.

I think looking at the length of contracts and the money tied up, Holmgren saw getting Giroux more ice time as an opportunity to also get the team younger.
- BulliesPhan87

Richards and Carter aren't exactly old, in fact they should be in their prime.

We also got a bit of luck. Couts had no business slipping to #8 overall. I still can't believe Ottawa and Winnipeg passed on him.
- LordStanley88

we should thank MONO

We also got a bit of luck. Couts had no business slipping to #8 overall. I still can't believe Ottawa and Winnipeg passed on him.
- LordStanley88

There's always a bit of luck involved, but that's what made it a gamble. Holmgren's been one to take decisive, somewhat risky action to help his team. It was risky losing a first round pick to sign Kimmo and Hartsy to expensive contracts. It was risky putting the big bucks and years of commitment on the line for Danny Briere. But without those risks, that unspeakable season could have stretched into another year or two.

And if Giroux isn't in the mix, I don't think we see both guys exit. Not both at the same time right after the season like they were, anyway.
- funmaster18

I agree with that point your making also.

Here's what I see. I think Schenn is going to be a hell of a player in the future. We've seen glimpses of that this year. We've seen what Voracek is becoming. Simmonds is a solid gritty Forward who's great in puck battles, and on the forecheck, who is becoming a better goal scorer. Couturier, do I need to say anything about him in the future? Is that better then having Carter and Richards here, regardless of how good anyone thinks they were here? Skip the media nonsense and from a pure Hockey stand point. It's a no brainer.

I love this team. I don't care what happens this year.

Enjoy the game everyone...I'm out

Go Flyers!!!

PM me if anyone is going to the game on Thursday. I'm heading up there with my brother.

I never understood why Scheifele & Zibanejad were picked ahead of Coots. Strome too for that matter. Couturier was the number one draft prospect for awhile. He didn't have a great WJC but you gotta look at his year as a whole. I think Strome will pan out but I think Coots will have a significantly better career than Scheifele and Zibanejad.
- NickTheKid87

Couts fell because he got mono, and people/scouts were worried about his energy level as a player.

He made the WJC as a 17-year old, and did a fine job on the checking line. Every other major prospect, including RNH, couldn't even crack Canada's roster.

Lets go Flyers!!
Let's go Caps!!
Let's go Preds!!
Let's go Kings!!

Philly vs LA in the Finals would be epic!


That said, the NYR are a serious roadblock and I'm not counting out the Devils until the handshake.

the best part is that you bring up some very good thoughts and opinions and I know others like myself enjoy reading them.

but to simply continue to beat the drum of making sure people posts are factual and unreasonable is tiresome. It's a message board for goodness sake...
- phi1671

we should thank MONO
- phi1671

Yup, because, if not for that Couts is going #1 or 2 overall.

I never understood why Scheifele & Zibanejad were picked ahead of Coots. Strome too for that matter. Couturier was the number one draft prospect for awhile. He didn't have a great WJC but you gotta look at his year as a whole. I think Strome will pan out but I think Coots will have a significantly better career than Scheifele and Zibanejad.
- NickTheKid87

Strome was a bad pick with Couturier and Zibanejad on the board. Strome could be a good second line center that puts up a ton of points. He could also be Rob Scrempf.

Imagine the NYI in 2 years with Couturier and Tavares.

Bryzgalov's situation is different. First he's new in town not the captain of a team which he's played a few years for. Next year I expect a different approach from him. Also he finished this year below his career GAA. The Flyers needed help on the Blue line when Pronger went down, thus Bryzgalov's struggles became compounded in certain games. The Flyers went and got Grossmann and Kubina shoring up the problems they had, thus Bryzgalov had the month of March he had. He broke a bone in his foot playing in a meaningless game which btw I told you guys the Flyers needed to start sitting him, but no let's keep playing him when it didn;t matter. So the guy has gimp foot and struggles last series against a highly potent offensive team yet the Flyers win. His attitude was never that of not caring, if anything I thought the guy had the weight of the Fanbase on his shoulders, rightfully so. Do players have bad games, yes he did and so did the other two. In the end I think they either needed a change of environment as the other gentleman said, or just got too comfortable here, and yes that frustrated me.
- JoeRussomanno

It's really not different Joe. 98% of what the media reports has been pure BS with Bryzgalov. Same with 17 and 18 when they were here. Pure nonsense. But you want to pick and choose depending on who you like. What happened to where there's smoke there's fire? Same thing with Briere.

They did to fix the Salary Cap issues, and the lack of prospects in the Organization.
- MJL

Not sure what Cap issues. All they had to do to sign Bryzgalov was trade Versteeg. They signed Jagr with Leino's money.

I knew the Carter trade was coming, because a change had to be made, that's not a knock on Carter. But when they traded Richards I was like wow! I didn't like his attitude in interviews towards the end and really felt he didn't leave it all on the ice in last year's playoffs. But I thought perhaps he was hurt and the media was just making poop up to get under his skin. That trade said a lot to me. So yes, I was defending Richards despite my concerns with him I can't back that up because I didn't get involved in all this internet sports talk stuff like I am now until after that day. Actually heard from some acquiantances b.c they heard it through the web and debated with them. What you are saying now reminds me very much of what I was saying to them. Gotta admit the web is a wealth of information that isn't always true but it's good to read.

Strome was a bad pick with Couturier and Zibanejad on the board. Strome could be a good second line center that puts up a ton of points. He could also be Rob Scrempf.

Imagine the NYI in 2 years with Couturier and Tavares.
- Jsaquella

Instead we have Giroux, Couturier AND Schenn. Not to mention Nick Cousins coming up through the organization. Things could get awfully crowded though.

It's really not different Joe. 98% of what the media reports has been pure BS with Bryzgalov. Same with 17 and 18 when they were here. Pure nonsense. But you want to pick and choose depending on who you like. What happened to where there's smoke there's fire? Same thing with Briere.
- MJL

Not sure what you mean with Briere. My thing was I thought he was done. No I didn't think he would be this valuable this year. yes I was wrong for stating that. I don't recall that being a media driven thing.

Richards and Carter aren't exactly old, in fact they should be in their prime.
- JoeRussomanno

I wasn't suggesting otherwise. But Holmgren saw a lack of flexibility, and did what he had to to turn that into potential, for both today and tomorrow.

Instead we have Giroux, Couturier AND Schenn. Not to mention Nick Cousins coming up through the organization. Things could get awfully crowded though.
- NickTheKid87

Schenn is capable of playing on the wing, much like Seguin has in Boston. He will eventually replace Briere as a center in the top nine though for sure.

i think the smothering of the media with 24/7 hurt his transition because it put him front and center too quickly instead of adjusting to a new time and organization quietly.
- phi1671

It definitely didn;t help.