I regard myself as a pretty objective hockey observer, right now this is made pretty easy by my general irritation with the direction of the Leafs over the past couple years. I tend to follow three blogs fairly regularly, Yost, Meltzer and Clouthier because the discussion tends to stick to serious hockey discussion.

In regard to the Weber affair I thought Meltzer was unfailingly objective in his opinions. He was clearly less hawkish than some Flyer fans who wanted a take it or leave it approach to the offer. He advocated a middle of the road strategy that would have the Flyers sweeten the offer. I think I remember correctly that in one blog he suggested only Giroux should be beyond consideration when talking of the potential acquisition of a player of Weber's stature. I thought that there was going to be a deal. I thought it would be announced tonight. I believe Nashville may regret acting so quickly. I was sure the final deal would include either Couturier or Schenn and I was certain Meltzer would have been the first up with a blog explaining how valuable a franchise Dman is in a quest for the Stanley Cup.

Having said that, I would ask that you be lenient with our Nashville friend. There is no doubt that some writers, bloggers and commentators have abused and trivialized the Nashville franchise. I think he may have confused Meltzer's comments with some other commentators or some of the posters following Meltzer who took a more dogmatic view. Regardless of the outcome, Meltzer has done an outstanding job of providing timely, objective and thought provoking analysis for the entire week. Flyer fans are lucky to have him.
- spatso

as a Toronto fan you should also realize the importance of a franchise center. We have 1 an two potential I'm happy where we are.If we could have added weber without giving them up great.. The asking price was to high for that albatross of a contract

I love when Bill gets fired up.

i know some Don't Like Bowmeister, but because of his high cap hit couldn't the Flyers ger his for a reasonable price? He's better than Carle, right?

as a Toronto fan you should also realize the importance of a franchise center. We have 1 an two potential I'm happy where we are.
- Philly1980

I think I am correct in saying you have three centers, anyone of them would be the #1 on my team.

Edit: oops sorry you just sent us a winger that we are going to try as our #1.

Bill turned me on to bogosian... There's a lot of potential there. How much would he cost?

I think I am correct in saying you have three centers, anyone of them would be the #1 on my team.
- spatso

I dunno man I get what your saying...in two years there value is going to be sky high... Giving them both up for weber would hurt at that point I would despise weber

Bill turned me on to bogosian... There's a lot of potential there. How much would he cost?
- Philly1980

Bill? sh1t, I've been talking up bogo for 3 frickin yrs

Bill turned me on to bogosian... There's a lot of potential there. How much would he cost?
- Philly1980

I'd take him too, but he might cost more than Boumeister since Bow is over paid.

I dunno man I get what your saying...in two years there value is going to be sky high... Giving them both up for weber would hurt at that point I would despise weber
- Philly1980

No way of giving up both, just one. Sort of like the Penguins losing Staal. Two #1 centers can be a problem, three is a nightmare. I am sure the Pens would have loved to deal Staal for a franchise Dman.

Bill? sh1t, I've been talking up bogo for 3 frickin yrs



- isaiah520

I see great potential has the peg given up on him? What could we get him for?

I'd take him too, but he might cost more than Boumeister since Bow is over paid.
- jstross

Someone who can grow with the crew here

No way of giving up both, just one. Sort of like the Penguins losing Staal. Two #1 centers can be a problem, three is a nightmare. I am sure the Pens would have loved to deal Staal for a franchise Dman.
- spatso

True but I suspect staal wanted to play with his brothers....

On Bobby Ryan...

The Flyers are going to not let this go. If I was asked to name the one player I have heard the team has wanted since the day he was drafted it would be Bobby Ryan. And with the departures of Jagr and JvR the stage is set to make a deal. The Ducks want a second line center for Ryan, but I keep hearing a rumor that the Flyers made offers considered "close enough to get this done" as recently as a few days prior to Shea Weber offer sheet. I would say the chances Bobby Ryan is moved to Philly grows by the day right now.

-Eklund

I regard myself as a pretty objective hockey observer, right now this is made pretty easy by my general irritation with the direction of the Leafs over the past couple years. I tend to follow three blogs fairly regularly, Yost, Meltzer and Clouthier because the discussion tends to stick to serious hockey discussion.

In regard to the Weber affair I thought Meltzer was unfailingly objective in his opinions. He was clearly less hawkish than some Flyer fans who wanted a take it or leave it approach to the offer. He advocated a middle of the road strategy that would have the Flyers sweeten the offer. I think I remember correctly that in one blog he suggested only Giroux should be beyond consideration when talking of the potential acquisition of a player of Weber's stature. I thought that there was going to be a deal. I thought it would be announced tonight. I believe Nashville may regret acting so quickly. I was sure the final deal would include either Couturier or Schenn and I was certain Meltzer would have been the first up with a blog explaining how valuable a franchise Dman is in a quest for the Stanley Cup.

Having said that, I would ask that you be lenient with our Nashville friend. There is no doubt that some writers, bloggers and commentators have abused and trivialized the Nashville franchise. I think he may have confused Meltzer's comments with some other commentators or some of the posters following Meltzer who took a more dogmatic view. Regardless of the outcome, Meltzer has done an outstanding job of providing timely, objective and thought provoking analysis for the entire week. Flyer fans are lucky to have him.
- spatso

Excellent post. Well done, and you are absolutely correct that we are lucky to have Bill as our blogger.

I don't know if our NSH friend was mixed up or not, but I do think that Bill completely shredding his post is punishment enough unless he comes back with more of the same kind of comments. Ouch.

I can't imagine why Nashville would even begin to consider giving him an NTC. He can't demand one. He's accepted the OS and Nashville matched. There's no NTC/NMC possible in an OS. No matter what kind of handshake he may have had with the Flyers, it isn't binding on the Preds. They'd be foolish to offer that, now, when they may very well need flexibility at some future date when they've developed another couple of stud D.
- bodiva88

I will be absolutely shocked if Weber's contract doesn't contain a movement clause.

[Last but not least, read the code of conduct. Next time, you are banned. I don't ban often but I don't mess around when I drop the ban hammer, either.

#BOOMGOESTHEBILL

On Bobby Ryan...

The Flyers are going to not let this go. If I was asked to name the one player I have heard the team has wanted since the day he was drafted it would be Bobby Ryan. And with the departures of Jagr and JvR the stage is set to make a deal. The Ducks want a second line center for Ryan, but I keep hearing a rumor that the Flyers made offers considered "close enough to get this done" as recently as a few days prior to Shea Weber offer sheet. I would say the chances Bobby Ryan is moved to Philly grows by the day right now.

-Eklund
- Sink.

I'm falling in love with bogosian(thanks bill!).. Lot of potential... Ryan could be gotten for free

I see great potential has the peg given up on him? What could we get him for?
- Philly1980

he's struggled a lot like L schenn, but he has the higher ceiling and more varied skill set...would take B schenn as WPG has needed a C forever. prob something like B schenn and MAB/Gusty for bogo and another forward.

that's why I harp on the JVR trade not aiming high enuf to get a better player. I'd rather get a better guy for schenn knowing I had JVR in tow. flyer fans know the deal - we have an excess of young forwards and we need to move one to get a first pairing dman. if we were good at drafting our own, it would be a diff story...but we're not.

only other alternative is to go the ufa route and that's pretty barren for nxt yr.

he's struggled a lot like L schenn, but he has the higher ceiling and more varied skill set...would take B schenn as WPG has needed a C forever. prob something like B schenn and MAB/Gusty for bogo and another forward.

that's why I harp on the JVR trade not aiming high enuf to get a better player. I'd rather get a better guy for schenn knowing I had JVR in tow. flyer fans know the deal - we have an excess of young forwards and we need to move one to get a first pairing dman. if we were good at drafting our own, it would be a diff story...but we're not.

only other alternative is to go the ufa route and that's pretty barren for nxt yr.
- isaiah520

They should have got d at the draft... Would Laughton voracek and a first?

I'm falling in love with bogosian(thanks bill!).. Lot of potential... Ryan could be gotten for free
- Philly1980

Free ?
I would be on board with adding Ryan and JayBo. I know JayBo isnt regarded real highly anymore, but he was a damn good D-man for Florida, he is only 29. His offense has been minimal with Calgary but he has scored 8-9 goals a couple times on the power play with Fla. in the past, he plays huge minutes. He is not Weber but if added without subtracting any D-men then it is a very deep solid group

On Bobby Ryan...

The Flyers are going to not let this go. If I was asked to name the one player I have heard the team has wanted since the day he was drafted it would be Bobby Ryan. And with the departures of Jagr and JvR the stage is set to make a deal. The Ducks want a second line center for Ryan, but I keep hearing a rumor that the Flyers made offers considered "close enough to get this done" as recently as a few days prior to Shea Weber offer sheet. I would say the chances Bobby Ryan is moved to Philly grows by the day right now.

-Eklund
- Sink.

Second line center......maybe they'd do read, bourdon, a 1st and a 2nd. Instead of 2nd line center

Free ?
I would be on board with adding Ryan and JayBo. I know JayBo isnt regarded real highly anymore, but he was a damn good D-man for Florida, he is only 29. His offense has been minimal with Calgary but he has scored 8-9 goals a couple times on the power play with Fla. in the past, he plays huge minutes. He is not Weber but if added without subtracting any D-men then it is a very deep solid group
- flyhoc

Just say no to JayBo. He has a cap hit of $6,680,000 and is signed for two more years. That's the last thing we need right now.

Free ?
I would be on board with adding Ryan and JayBo. I know JayBo isnt regarded real highly anymore, but he was a damn good D-man for Florida, he is only 29. His offense has been minimal with Calgary but he has scored 8-9 goals a couple times on the power play with Fla. in the past, he plays huge minutes. He is not Weber but if added without subtracting any D-men then it is a very deep solid group
- flyhoc

I see the flyers making a run in 2/3 years... Ryan would be a ufa in three mean time bogosian schenn are 25 kinks all worked out schenn and counts with 3 years under their belt... Could make a very serious run

They should have got d at the draft... Would Laughton voracek and a first?
- Philly1980

WPG feel they are close to being a plyoff team and they may be right, so they need help at C right away to let bogo loose...just my read on it of course.

Free ?
I would be on board with adding Ryan and JayBo. I know JayBo isnt regarded real highly anymore, but he was a damn good D-man for Florida, he is only 29. His offense has been minimal with Calgary but he has scored 8-9 goals a couple times on the power play with Fla. in the past, he plays huge minutes. He is not Weber but if added without subtracting any D-men then it is a very deep solid group
- flyhoc

I think the pieces necessary are too much for both