I'd like to see them sign Arnott to be the 4th line center. The solution on defense is more of a contribution from the forwards on the back end. Their biggest problem last year was getting pinned in their own zone, another defensive center would be a good addition. Lines would be:

Hartnell/G/Voracek
Simmonds/Briere/Schenn
Read/Couts/Wellwood
Fedotenko/Arnott/Talbot

That's at least an improvement on physicality and on the back end, and makes for an excellent 4th line.
- sla6yer

That would not be a bad idea at all and I think you hit the nail on the head: the forwards' defensive play was more to blame than the defense's. The whole team must commit to defense. The defensive unit has the personnel to be above average but there's only a modest amount of 3-on-2s they can stop.

Flyers have iced worse bluelines than this, guys, and they still not only made the playoffs but went deep too. This Blueline ain't any worse than NJ's was last year.

He's been pretty logical for the most part but i guess in the end their true colors come out. Flyers won't miss the playoffs #CONFIRMED
- JoeRussomanno

He posts in here a lot and they are solid posts but that one made little sense... Hopefully it was just a hiccup.

Flyers have iced worse bluelines than this, guys, and they still not only made the playoffs but went deep too. This Blueline ain't any worse than NJ's was last year.
- JoeRussomanno

he lives in Florida and his working for a betting service...i think (no joke)
- phi1671

that is hilarious. I wonder if there are any openings at any sports blog websites?

Vishnovsky might be available if the ruling over his NMC rules in his favour

Well, for inaccuracy, the NHL is a great example.

They claim that revenues have gone up and the league is healthier than ever, but come out in CBA talks and demand an 11% cut in the revenue share, want to redefine hockey revenues to make the pool smaller and cut player salaries through these process by 19-20%.

As for the owner losing money, and it not being an issue, I know a few rich people. Not one of them likes losing any money.
- Jsaquella

Exactly they don't go around throwing away money without a return on it for very long. If Nashville is still in trouble in a couple years, they either are trading weber or become Quebec Nordiques 2.0

..

..
- aightwebang17

oh ish

Vishnovsky might be available if the ruling over his NMC rules in his favour
- Rimland

Going after Weber, and coming away with Vishnovsky is like going shopping for a Lambourghini and driving this off the lot...

"The already money-losing Predators' pride just got themselves into an almost impossible fiscal mess, with the situation a lock to get worse before it gets better. They made that choice by matching the offer sheet rather than seeking a reasonable trading solution with Philadelphia that would have kept Nashville at least solidly in the hunt for a playoff spot while adding draft pick assets and not tying their hands financially for at least six years to come."

I'm glad you are an expert with all things Nashville. Were are in trouble. Financially doomed. Out of the playoffs. Just call us Phoenix. Right. Now.

Vishnovsky might be available if the ruling over his NMC rules in his favour
- Rimland

At $5.6 million for a year? Intriguing but his dropped off last year.

"The already money-losing Predators' pride just got themselves into an almost impossible fiscal mess, with the situation a lock to get worse before it gets better. They made that choice by matching the offer sheet rather than seeking a reasonable trading solution with Philadelphia that would have kept Nashville at least solidly in the hunt for a playoff spot while adding draft pick assets and not tying their hands financially for at least six years to come."

I'm glad you are an expert with all things Nashville. Were are in trouble. Financially doomed. Out of the playoffs. Just call us Phoenix. Right. Now.
- TNGuy04

Preds locked up Kostitsyn soon after the Weber announcement didn't they? In hindsight things couldn't have worked out better for them. Weber's cap hit is a bargain in comparison to what Suter got.

I don't want this team to stand pat. They flat aren't good enough.

He posts in here a lot and they are solid posts but that one made little sense... Hopefully it was just a hiccup.
- NickTheKid87

agree, he's usually pretty good even tho I dissagree at times, I can respect his opinion because he comes to it logically. Saying the Flyers are in danger of the playoffs now is totally riddiculous imo. They've missed the playoffs 6 times in the last 40 years I think and when they miss the playoffs, its with really bad teams. This team still has an impressive group of Forwards and Defensemen. The goalie really turned it around in the second half and was player of the month in the most important month of the regular season. A foot injury threw him off and the team decided to play pond hockey against pittsburgh.

Even if the Rookies have a sophmore slump there is still plenty of veterans who can carry the load offensively. Imo the defense's problem last year was not battling for the puck enough in their own zone. With the group we have now I don't see that being a problem. Two years ago every leaf fan would have you thinking Schenn was gonna be the next Scott Stevens, an off year where he still racked up 250+ hits and now he's chopped liver. But JVR can play center, okay thanks I think I'm done here.

"The already money-losing Predators' pride just got themselves into an almost impossible fiscal mess, with the situation a lock to get worse before it gets better. They made that choice by matching the offer sheet rather than seeking a reasonable trading solution with Philadelphia that would have kept Nashville at least solidly in the hunt for a playoff spot while adding draft pick assets and not tying their hands financially for at least six years to come."

I'm glad you are an expert with all things Nashville. Were are in trouble. Financially doomed. Out of the playoffs. Just call us Phoenix. Right. Now.
- TNGuy04

Welcome to our message board and I'm very happy to see that you are the Preds financial expert.
In any case, we can all spin the books any way they want too. In the end, if investors don't get a return on their money they will pull out of the investment. They will soon find out in a couple of years if they get a return after paying out the bonus Weber will have coming to him. Good luck to you and the team you follow.

My priorities if I am Homer now are, in order:

1 - Re-sign Voracek long-term, 4 years at 4mil per is fine.

2 - Make a 3-year offer for Doan, 5-6mil per year and no more.

3 - Call Anaheim about Ryan, see what they're asking for these days.

4 - Call Phoenix about Yandle, quickly hang up when they ask for Schenn or Coots.

5 - Try to find a taker for Lilja as a 7th d-man, Gervais/Gus/MAB can fill the 6-7 spots just fine.

Maybe this news has been swept under the rug with all the Nash and Weber talk lately, but I heard Visnovsky has filed a grievance with the PA about being dealt to NYI. Says they were not on his 10-team list for his NTC clause. He's near the end of his career, but if that trade gets reversed, any thoughts on making the exact offer the Islanders made and picking him up? I'm assuming we're on his OK list. 1-year left at 5.6mil, could be a fill-in until next off-season, could still put up 30-50 points.

Isles gave up just a 2nd-round pick for him. Hmmmm.

I don't want this team to stand pat. They flat aren't good enough.
- Flyers1218

Good enough to do what? Plz explain

I don't want this team to stand pat. They flat aren't good enough.
- Flyers1218

I agree they aren't good enough to win the Cup, and everything else is immaterial. That being said there doesn't appear to be any moves to be made at this point.

Vishnovsky might be available if the ruling over his NMC rules in his favour
- Rimland

Stole my thunder!

Thank you
- JoeRussomanno

Also, I truly am not worried about Bryz. I get every Leafs Habs Senators fan I run into say to me... Flyers are good, but it's the same old thing with them.. the goaltending. I say, do you even watch the Flyers play? They say.. um yeah. Bryz played well down the stretch.. and then got hurt, played well enough in a wide open series to beat out the Pens, and then played some solid hockey vs NJ essentially holding us in it. One stick handling misplay doesn't taint it all IMO. He'll be solid after an adjustment year. I have no doubt.

Welcome to our message board and I'm very happy to see that you are the Preds financial expert.
In any case, we can all spin the books any way they want too. In the end, if investors don't get a return on their money they will pull out of the investment. They will soon find out in a couple of years if they get a return after paying out the bonus Weber will have coming to him. Good luck to you and the team you follow.
- phi1671

I really don't want the Preds to suffer even tho I think they will. Been contemplating moving to NC/Tennesee amongst other places. However that's not exactly a hockey town now is it?

Preds locked up Kostitsyn soon after the Weber announcement didn't they? In hindsight things couldn't have worked out better for them. Weber's cap hit is a bargain in comparison to what Suter got.
- PLindbergh31

Preds have never been at the upper cap limit so what do they care about his Cap hit being low? The discussion last week was how do they get to the cap floor.

The problem was actual dollars and how much real money they were willing to lose to keep Weber.

Speaking of which, if the Preds can afford to pay Weber $27 mill over the next 11 months, they should not be eligible to receive money from revenue sharing.

agree, he's usually pretty good even tho I dissagree at times, I can respect his opinion because he comes to it logically. Saying the Flyers are in danger of the playoffs now is totally riddiculous imo. They've missed the playoffs 6 times in the last 40 years I think and when they miss the playoffs, its with really bad teams. This team still has an impressive group of Forwards and Defensemen. The goalie really turned it around in the second half and was player of the month in the most important month of the regular season. A foot injury threw him off and the team decided to play pond hockey against pittsburgh.

Even if the Rookies have a sophmore slump there is still plenty of veterans who can carry the load offensively. Imo the defense's problem last year was not battling for the puck enough in their own zone. With the group we have now I don't see that being a problem. Two years ago every leaf fan would have you thinking Schenn was gonna be the next Scott Stevens, an off year where he still racked up 250+ hits and now he's chopped liver. But JVR can play center, okay thanks I think I'm done here.
- JoeRussomanno

I love the Leafs Nation for this kinda stuff. I remember when they got Joe Colborne and he was the next Joe Thornton & Kadri was the next Mario Lemieux. Also, back in 2010 they were making fun of Bruins fans after a disappointing start to the career of Tyler Seguin. Now, I don't think there is a team in the NHL that would take Kessel for Seguin straight up.

I agree they aren't good enough to win the Cup, and everything else is immaterial. That being said there doesn't appear to be any moves to be made at this point.
- PLindbergh31

so they aren't good enough to win the cup this year, so what? Wouldn't you agree that if you let this team grow a couple years they can be really good? Not just be really good but really good for a long time. Several players in their early 20's still. Even if they win the cup next june I'll have a stack of bills to pay. might be harder to do with all the festivities afterwards.