I was thinking the same thing. Schenn could center the second line with read and jake. Coots on the 3rd between simmonds and talbot/rusty.
- Duran76

i have been watching some game highlights on nhl.com of some of last season's games and i don't know if i noticed at that time how much i like simmonds and couturier together.

i read that hockey news article and found it ridiculous. so if the flyers don't make a total overhaul every year they're somehow doomed to fail? brilliant analysis.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I'm surprised they didn't break out the whole, they still need a goalie etc.. Dear God.. I still get that poop from casual Leafs and Habs fans up here... FML>.

I am assuming that Holmgren is going to add a Dman before the season starts. If he does not, do the Flyers have enough offensive jam on the back end to support the forwards on attack. If forward production falls off it may have more to do with a lack of support from the D.
- spatso

Short of giving up a ton to get Weber (or another top pairing D under contract), I don't see that much available that's a significant upgrade.

Any young Mike Bossy's out there to trade for? That type pf player would fit in nicely with Giroux and Hartnell.
- 77rams

Ummmm... I don't think there are any future Mike Bossy's out there to be picked off a tree.

Wasn't Bossy's worst goal total of his career something like 40, or something ridiculous like that.

I was thinking the same thing. Schenn could center the second line with read and jake. Coots on the 3rd between simmonds and talbot/rusty.
- Duran76

Exactly. Try and find a guy on the cheap to center the 4th line. A good faceoff/pk guy.

Exactly. Try and find a guy on the cheap to center the 4th line. A good faceoff/pk guy.
- PLindbergh31

As it stands right now that guy might be Wellwood.

I am expecting big things from Voracek personally. I really liked how he developed in the second half. I think he can bring more O this year and fill some of the gap.

Garth is saying that Doan is likely done in PHX. I would love to get him on board here if the cap hit and years make sense.

Also, I read articles like this one

http://www.thehockeynews....ch-in-slow-offseason.html

and I realize they lost out on Suter and Parise, but to me it would not have made sense to take on tons of cap money or to gut the team a year after making the entire roster over. I'd certainly have taken Suter, but I am not crying that we didn't make a big trade that gutted the team.
- Hextall271

The bottom line is, they still have a good solid core and have added cap flexibility to the mix.

They can add Doan, if he's willing to come here, or they can possibly add other pieces if needed later.

I mean, I'd love to add Bobby Ryan. But I'm not going to do it at the cost of Schenn or Couturier. I wanted Carle back. But that cap hit at that length was just too much, with guys like Giroux, Couturier and Schenn hitting RFA in a couple years and UFA in four or so.

I'm surprised they didn't break out the whole, they still need a goalie etc.. Dear God.. I still get that poop from casual Leafs and Habs fans up here... FML>.
- Hextall271

why weren't there 29 articles discussing how every team who didn't get suter and parise are "watching the stars head elsewhere" ?

As it stands right now that guy might be Wellwood.
- Duran76

Not sure if Wellwood has any experience playing Center. It could be Holmstrom.

I am assuming that Holmgren is going to add a Dman before the season starts. If he does not, do the Flyers have enough offensive jam on the back end to support the forwards on attack. If forward production falls off it may have more to do with a lack of support from the D.
- spatso

I think that the only thing they will do is make a strong bid on Doan if he decides to leave Phoenix.

I think they start the season with Timonen, Coburn, Meszaros, Schenn, Grossmann, Gervais and Lilja as the top 7, and I think Bourdon sticks because he's waivers eligible and they will see if he can fit in and play before risking losing him for nothing.

i have been watching some game highlights on nhl.com of some of last season's games and i don't know if i noticed at that time how much i like simmonds and couturier together.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Add talbot and that line has some grit. I think plind is right. Gotta get Briere out of the middle. People say he produces more at center but he should do just fine on g's wing.

I think that the only thing they will do is make a strong bid on Doan if he decides to leave Phoenix.

I think they start the season with Timonen, Coburn, Meszaros, Schenn, Grossmann, Gervais and Lilja as the top 7, and I think Bourdon sticks because he's waivers eligible and they will see if he can fit in and play before risking losing him for nothing.
- Jsaquella

Holmgren must be pretty confident Timonen will be ready to start the season. If the defense had to go a long period of time with two of Lilja/Gervais/MAB along with the likely growing pains from L. Schenn, the defense could struggle significantly.

Any young Mike Bossy's out there to trade for? That type pf player would fit in nicely with Giroux and Hartnell.
- 77rams

evander kane

i have been watching some game highlights on nhl.com of some of last season's games and i don't know if i noticed at that time how much i like simmonds and couturier together.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

When I was messing around on capgeek last night, I put together lines like this:

Hartnell-Briere-Voracek
Schenn-Giroux-Read
Fedotenko-Couturier-Simmonds
Wellwood-Talbot-Rinaldo

I was just doing it to see how they shook out, but they intrigued me a bit. I had the 19-48-93 line first because I thought it should have been tried last year, but I expect Laviolette to juggle a bit early.

evander kane
- griouxmvp2012

I like Evander Kane. But he ain't Mike Bossy.

Holmgren must be pretty confident Timonen will be ready to start the season. If the defense had to go a long period of time with two of Lilja/Gervais/MAB along with the likely growing pains from L. Schenn, the defense could struggle significantly.
- PLindbergh31

My guess is that Timonen's progressed well and will play. Or that Holmgren feels prices will drop significantly on the trade front.

I like Evander Kane. But he ain't Mike Bossy.
- Jsaquella

dude is a sniper lol he will score 40 this year

I think the Flyers can definitely use another guy that can be counted on to score 15-20 goals. Doan would be perfect. Not very confident the Flyers will be able to land him.
- PLindbergh31

If you're adding 15-20 goals in a vacuum, that would be great, but if you bring in another top-six forward, you're potentially taking playing time and opportunity away from somebody else at the same time. Any combination of Schenn, Couturier and/or Voracek could easily break out and more than make up for the lost production from Jagr/JvR given more minutes and responsibility -- if you put another body in front of them on the depth chart, the chance of that gets lessened to some degree.

This has been a bit of a strange summer w/ regards to UFAs not wanting to go to the usual Atlantic Division destinations... I don't see Doan as being any different in that regard.

dude is a sniper lol he will score 40 this year
- griouxmvp2012

He might be good, but he's not on bossy's level. 69 goals one year, and like 9 years in a row he hit 50.

dude is a sniper lol he will score 40 this year
- griouxmvp2012

Kane's an extremely talented player, had a breakout year. Still, his best season is worse than Bossy's worst season....and Bossy played that year with a bad back that ended his career.

Bossy was an absolute machine. From 1977-1986, Bossy's lowest goal total was 51.

i read that hockey news article and found it ridiculous. so if the flyers don't make a total overhaul every year they're somehow doomed to fail? brilliant analysis.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Well, in there's:
L. Schenn
Fedotenko
Gervais
Leighton

Out, there's:
JvR
Jagr
Carle

Not a good exchange in the short term. The Flyers took a step back in the hopes that B. Schenn, Coots, and maybe Read will fill in, step up and produce more. They're also banking on Voracek and Simmonds to have a better offensive year, for L. Schenn to find himself, and for Hartnell to replicate his totals from last season.

Is that a bit optimistic? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Now, if we acquire Doan, I'd certainly feel better. Ryan? Depending on who we give up. Nash? Nah.

dude is a sniper lol he will score 40 this year
- griouxmvp2012

dude wants out of WPG and if we offer schenn, we just might get him, but if you don't want to go there forget it.

If you're adding 15-20 goals in a vacuum, that would be great, but if you bring in another top-six forward, you're potentially taking playing time and opportunity away from somebody else at the same time. Any combination of Schenn, Couturier and/or Voracek could easily break out and more than make up for the lost production from Jagr/JvR given more minutes and responsibility -- if you put another body in front of them on the depth chart, the chance of that gets lessened to some degree.

This has been a bit of a strange summer w/ regards to UFAs not wanting to go to the usual Atlantic Division destinations... I don't see Doan as being any different in that regard.
- Tomahawk

The shine has definitely faded a bit from the Flyers' star. Players used to jump at the chance to sign here. Not so much recently.

If you're adding 15-20 goals in a vacuum, that would be great, but if you bring in another top-six forward, you're potentially taking playing time and opportunity away from somebody else at the same time. Any combination of Schenn, Couturier and/or Voracek could easily break out and more than make up for the lost production from Jagr/JvR given more minutes and responsibility -- if you put another body in front of them on the depth chart, the chance of that gets lessened to some degree.

This has been a bit of a strange summer w/ regards to UFAs not wanting to go to the usual Atlantic Division destinations... I don't see Doan as being any different in that regard.
- Tomahawk

I hear what you are saying. Certainly a valid point. I'm more concerned with the likely goal decreases from Hartnell, Simmonds, and Talbot, than I am with replacing the modest total of 30 goals that were produced from Jagr and JVR. I'm fine with the kids getting more ice time, and prominent roles. I think there is plenty of scoring, provided everyone stays healthy. That is a big IF. A few injuries, and the thinned out depth will be tested.

The shine has definitely faded a bit from the Flyers' star. Players used to jump at the chance to sign here. Not so much recently.
- 77rams

Might be a good thing, force them to rely on drafting and building from within.

Although Grossmann wasted no time signing up.