I hope your wrong about Wellwood. I dont want to believe he is just D.Powe v2.0
- RooNosHockey

I wish he was more like Powe in certain aspects. If he was half as physical as Powe he would be a mainstay on just about every team in the league.

He will never have a finishing touch IMO. My opinion is a speedy hard forechecking 4th liner who kills penalties and can chip in 7-10 goals.

in case anyone was wondering, my twitter did get hacked, sorry.
- JoeRussomanno

Dude! Da fuq?

I dont want to pay him too much, but call it a 3rd line energy line. I'll give him Jagr's 3 million, if your going to trade JVR for a top blue-liner.
- RooNosHockey

Why not pay Scott Nichol $900K and get a guy better suited for the role and add another needed piece with the $2.1mm difference? I like Gaustad, but there's not really a fit for him, unless they move guys

Couturier is likely going to have to become a vastly improved skater to be a PPG player in the NHL.
- bradleyc4

I disagree. Yes, he needs to (and will) improve his first step or two, but I don't think that hinders him offensively as he goes along. Plenty of guys who aren't strong skaters that find ways to put up points.

I disagree. Yes, he needs to (and will) improve his first step or two, but I don't think that hinders him offensively as he goes along. Plenty of guys who aren't strong skaters that find ways to put up points.
- OrangeBlack27

Name 7.

If NYI and CBJ were smart they wouldnt give him big numbers and big minutes.

He is at most a 13-15 minute a night guy who plays big on the PK and can win draws.
- jak521

I think NYI is getting close to turning thier franchise around. If they could get a new arena, or move in with that new stadium in, what is it, Brooklyn... Then maybe they could start drawing Free Agents and Fans. They really need DiPietro to either become healthy, or just get rid of him. Is he on a NMC? If not I would minor his arse.

I disagree. Yes, he needs to (and will) improve his first step or two, but I don't think that hinders him offensively as he goes along. Plenty of guys who aren't strong skaters that find ways to put up points.
- OrangeBlack27

Some do, but they are few and far between. Couturier has the smarts and hockey sense to overcome it, but it's still an obstacle.

I disagree. Yes, he needs to (and will) improve his first step or two, but I don't think that hinders him offensively as he goes along. Plenty of guys who aren't strong skaters that find ways to put up points.
- OrangeBlack27

John Tavares.

The thing that sets Coots apart, and makes up for his lack of top end skating, is the fact that he knows where to be, and is constantly in the best position. He also uses his body well when skating with the puck, creating separation, and firing shots.

I think NYI is getting close to turning thier franchise around. If they could get a new arena, or move in with that new stadium in, what is it, Brooklyn... Then maybe they could start drawing Free Agents and Fans. They really need DiPietro to either become healthy, or just get rid of him. Is he on a NMC? If not I would minor his arse.
- RooNosHockey

NYI has the young talent, the just need to pull in a couple of key free agents. Gaustad isnt one of them.

Why not pay Scott Nichol $900K and get a guy better suited for the role and add another needed piece with the $2.1mm difference? I like Gaustad, but there's not really a fit for him, unless they move guys
- Jsaquella

I don't know why, but I think its a done fact they are moving guys. With Pronger being out, Timonen on his last year, and might not be ready for camp/ start of the season... They have to make some kind of insurance move. Whether its a semi cap dump like JVR for a decent young d-man and a top pick in this draft and sign Suter, or what have you... But I think something is going to be done.

Is it in stone that Gaustad is going to get that much, though? I'd love for the Flyers to pick him up for 2
- JoeRussomanno

I don't know. Do you think he'd be willing to take a paycut? Take a paycut and accept a 4th line role? Even at 2M that is too much for a 4th line role. Now if it's to play a 3rd line role, at 2M I'd be interested.

I don't know why, but I think its a done fact they are moving guys. With Pronger being out, Timonen on his last year, and might not be ready for camp/ start of the season... They have to make some kind of insurance move. Whether its a semi cap dump like JVR for a decent young d-man and a top pick in this draft and sign Suter, or what have you... But I think something is going to be done.
- RooNosHockey

If they are moving JvR its for a better than decent young d-man. They better be getting a top 4 d-man in return.

Some do, but they are few and far between. Couturier has the smarts and hockey sense to overcome it, but it's still an obstacle.
- bradleyc4

Sure. Just wanted to call you out on one of your vintage overstatements.

Sure. Just wanted to call you out on one of your vintage overstatements.
- OrangeBlack27

I'm getting good at them.

I don't know why, but I think its a done fact they are moving guys. With Pronger being out, Timonen on his last year, and might not be ready for camp/ start of the season... They have to make some kind of insurance move. Whether its a semi cap dump like JVR for a decent young d-man and a top pick in this draft and sign Suter, or what have you... But I think something is going to be done.
- RooNosHockey

They are, but they're not moving Briere, Giroux or Couturier, which means at best Gaustad is the 4th center. They can't afford $2 or $3mm for a 4th line center. Also, I doubt Gaustad jumps at the money, because he can probably get $2-$3mm from another team and see more minutes and play a bigger role.

I don't know. Do you think he'd be willing to take a paycut? Take a paycut and accept a 4th line role? Even at 2M that is too much for a 4th line role. Now if it's to play a 3rd line role, at 2M I'd be interested.
- MJL

He is a player you have to be interested in, but his demands and lack of versatility really makes it hard to even talk about signing him for a 3rd line role at 3m.

EDIT: He would instantly make our club harder to play against if he were on a line with maybe talbot and a guy like Wellwood, but there are too many other areas we need to address before we could even think about him

one way it would help would be the speed that players will be able to work up across the blue line.

understand this, gudell is doing a legal 2 step to fend off lawsuits in the name of safety in the nfl. the NHL has the opp to not only improve safety, but improve the game by giving bigger, stronger plyrs operating room and by reducing the size of and softening the equip which has played such a role in injurring plyrs. ...these issues are related.
- isaiah520

I don't see widening the rink changing or preventing teams from packing it in around the net like the Rangers do.

Not to burst your bubble, but hands and decision making are typically the 2 things most NHlers have naturally. Very few guys develop good hands and good hockey sense.. Not saying he wont improve, but its not an easy or normal task.
- jak521

Agree 100%

Cooter will be a top line guy sooner than later. But I think right now he is best suited as the third line shutdown center. It is a role he can thrive in, and gives him the right kind of pressure for a kid his age....IE, worry about preventing goals, not producing goals.

Briere will be gone soon enough, and Cooter will have plenty of time to hone his offensive game as he gets bigger and stronger, and improves his skating and faceoffs.

I sense that sometimes people talk about "3rd line center" as being some kind of exile where he wont get minutes or some such thing. But if he is out against the other teams top lines constantly, he will be gorging on minutes. Add to that his PK and PP time, and Cooter will easily reach 20 minutes a night in that role.

Many of us need to relax when talking about labels...1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line.....blah blah blah. The minutes will be there. We don't need to worry about which line is which. In my opinion, the 1st line is whichever line is producing the most that particular night.

Keeping Cooter in his primary shutdown role will HELP not hinder his development. It will give a him big bite of responsibility on this team without overwhelming him with pressures you don't need to put on him...IE scoring. And believe me, out against some of these top players who have never seen their own zone, he will get plenty of offensive chances right where he is.

Dude! Da fuq?
- MBFlyerfan

hey I wasn't the only one

Name 7.
- aightwebang17

Mike Knuble
John LeClair
Milan Lucic
Ryan Smyth
Scott Hartnell
Todd Bertuzzi
Trent Hunter

I don't know. Do you think he'd be willing to take a paycut? Take a paycut and accept a 4th line role? Even at 2M that is too much for a 4th line role. Now if it's to play a 3rd line role, at 2M I'd be interested.
- MJL

well the Flyers are paying Talbot just under 2 mil and he's been all over the map with this team, idk. I definitely think if they add that type of player, which I think they will, they need to add some size. Got beat too much down low, along the boards and in the corners through that NJ series. I believe adding another big man will help, not be the answer to all their woes but help.

If they are moving JvR its for a better than decent young d-man. They better be getting a top 4 d-man in return.
- jak521

Depends on how high the first round pick is, and if its a cap move to sign Suter.

Cooter will be a top line guy sooner than later. But I think right now he is best suited as the third line shutdown center. It is a role he can thrive in, and gives him the right kind of pressure for a kid his age....IE, worry about preventing goals, not producing goals.

Briere will be gone soon enough, and Cooter will have plenty of time to hone his offensive game as he gets bigger and stronger, and improves his skating and faceoffs.

I sense that sometimes people talk about "3rd line center" as being some kind of exile where he wont get minutes or some such thing. But if he is out against the other teams top lines constantly, he will be gorging on minutes. Add to that his PK and PP time, and Cooter will easily reach 20 minutes a night in that role.

Many of us need to relax when talking about labels...1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line.....blah blah blah. The minutes will be there. We don't need to worry about which line is which. In my opinion, the 1st line is whichever line is producing the most that particular night.

Keeping Cooter in his primary shutdown role will HELP not hinder his development. It will give a him big bite of responsibility on this team without overwhelming him with pressures you don't need to put on him...IE scoring. And believe me, out against some of these top players who have never seen their own zone, he will get plenty of offensive chances right where he is.

- MBFlyerfan

On top of everything you just said, I think it would be foolish to expect big point totals from him next season.. Putting that kind of pressure on a young kid isnt always a smart move.

Putting him on the 3rd line is the best choice. He will have better line mates on a consistent basis, but wont be expected to be a offensive leader. He can continue matching up with the big guys in key situations, and kill penalties. Maybe even start to see some PP time.

Cooter will be a top line guy sooner than later. But I think right now he is best suited as the third line shutdown center. It is a role he can thrive in, and gives him the right kind of pressure for a kid his age....IE, worry about preventing goals, not producing goals.

Briere will be gone soon enough, and Cooter will have plenty of time to hone his offensive game as he gets bigger and stronger, and improves his skating and faceoffs.

I sense that sometimes people talk about "3rd line center" as being some kind of exile where he wont get minutes or some such thing. But if he is out against the other teams top lines constantly, he will be gorging on minutes. Add to that his PK and PP time, and Cooter will easily reach 20 minutes a night in that role.

Many of us need to relax when talking about labels...1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line.....blah blah blah. The minutes will be there. We don't need to worry about which line is which. In my opinion, the 1st line is whichever line is producing the most that particular night.

Keeping Cooter in his primary shutdown role will HELP not hinder his development. It will give a him big bite of responsibility on this team without overwhelming him with pressures you don't need to put on him...IE scoring. And believe me, out against some of these top players who have never seen their own zone, he will get plenty of offensive chances right where he is.

- MBFlyerfan

I'll add a second