Bogosian isn't going to be traded, Bill.

Getting him is a pipe dream, and he will soon be an all-star d-man IMO.

I agree that we should target guys like him, but I don't think he's a realistic target by any stretch of the imagination.

If I were Homer, I'd check the asking price on Seabrook. Chicago is craving offensive depth.
- LordStanley88

I'm leaning toward agreeing with you. Unless there are question marks to salary he will remain with the Jets imo.

My plan for the time being would be to target Streit. Bring him in, and at the end of the season aquire an up and coming young d-man who has that #1 potential.

His offense is better but his defense is worse than L schenn.
- Philly1980

I don't agree with you. Bogosian has all the tools and make-up of a dominating #1 d-man. It's just a question of whether he'll reach his soaring potential.

He reminds me of Weber a bit talent-wise actually.

I like Gustafsson. I think he can be a decent 3rd pairing player. The big question can he be consistent enough over the course of an entire season?
- stveshdy

Well find out. He looked very good at times an very average at times. Clearly he's motivated to make the team so we will see what he does at camp. The flyers have plenty of depth on the 3rd pairing so it'll be interesting to see who makes it, barring any additional trades.

I don't agree with you. Bogosian has all the tools and make-up of a dominating #1 d-man. It's just a question of whether he'll reach his soaring potential.

He reminds me of Weber a bit talent-wise actually.
- LordStanley88

He has a lot of improving to do to even be mentioned in a sentence with Weber.

Well find out. He looked very good at times an very average at times. Clearly he's motivated to make the team so we will see what he does at camp. The flyers have plenty of depth on the 3rd pairing so it'll be interesting to see who makes it, barring any additional trades.
- funmaster18

He would make an interesting option to be paired with a guy like Meszy.

His AHL numbers are all very good...

Agreed. Weber was an exception as he is the best defenseman in the world and worth almost anything.

As for Suter and Parise, I was very happy to see those two black hole contracts weren't coming our way.

The Flyers best bet is to let the kids grow together, and hand out a bunch of above average contracts to good players instead of paying 2 or 3 guys max hits and gutting the rest of the roster. We don't need Ryan. He is a lateral move in many of the deals being thrown out there.

Keep the picks. Keep the talented young kids. Draft better defensemen, keep the pipeline going.
- MBFlyerfan

Good post.

There are two real ways to build a team imo, one of which you proposed. To build a team ( or D core ) of a bunch of solid players, who are paid mid range salaries but aren't elite.

Or to have those big warhorses and fill out the rest the best you can.

I prefer the second approach. Harsh to say but I would loathe having a team of mediocre guys best suited to secondary roles.

Well find out. He looked very good at times an very average at times. Clearly he's motivated to make the team so we will see what he does at camp. The flyers have plenty of depth on the 3rd pairing so it'll be interesting to see who makes it, barring any additional trades.
- funmaster18

The Flyers would have to make a trade if Gustafsson makes the team, imo. They would have Gervais, Lilja and Bourdon who all have to stay on the club. Gustafsson is likely to start in the minors unless he looks like a star at camp and during pre-season. I could be wrong but thats my thoughts.

Bill,
You obviously didn't watch a lot of Jet games this past year. Bogo was argueably our best all around defenseman. He had limited PP time and was very snake-bitten with goal posts/crossbars. I can remember at least 10 times he rung the iron this past year. If even half of those go in, his numbers look way better. People in the Peg' know his real value and he is the one untouchable in our ranks. I predict him to have a real breakout year offensively. Huddy has been gold with this kid. The previous defensive coach in Atlanta, (can't remember name), had a personality conflict with Bogo and it really translated to his play. Comparing his development curve and play to Schenn is simply wrong.
- Icebergs

Sorry, as a Leaf fan I can't resist. I believe with some solid coaching Schenn will be the player projected at the draft. So your explanation of Bogosion's improvement with a good coach rings the bell for me on Schenn.

I don't agree with you. Bogosian has all the tools and make-up of a dominating #1 d-man. It's just a question of whether he'll reach his soaring potential.

He reminds me of Weber a bit talent-wise actually.
- LordStanley88

yes he has a long long road to go before he is an actual #1. to me schenn is way better than jvr. so in the end its the same thing.

He has a lot of improving to do to even be mentioned in a sentence with Weber.
- jak521

Talent-wise is the key word.

Similar ferocious swagger, heavy shot, and physical make-up.

lack of foresight was the take home message, not the shortcomings of L schenn. the fact that Bill is still posting about needing a dman after we made a significant move for one is telling enuf. the suggestion that we needed a guy before last yr and/or that we move a young forward named schenn has caught me a share of hell on this board.

that final comment makes zero sense...not in the least? you roll w/ that...

bottom line- I'd rather have JVR and bogo than the schenns
- isaiah520

I disagree wholeheartedly that your suggestion that they need to add a defenseman has caught you a share of hell. This board on almost a daily basis discusses the need for the replacement of Pronger now, and Timonen in the future.

Bottom line I'd like to have Weber, Suter, And a whole host of players. But the reality is that you can only get what is available and what you can make deals for. This isn't NHL 12 and fantasy Hockey. If they had kept JVR, does that mean we can now get Bogosian? I doubt it. So Holmgren made a deal for a good young defenseman with a lot of promise. More promise then you give him credit for.

Good post.

There are two real ways to build a team imo, one of which you proposed. To build a team ( or D core ) of a bunch of solid players, who are paid mid range salaries but aren't elite.

Or to have those big warhorses and fill out the rest the best you can.

I prefer the second approach. Harsh to say but I would loathe having a team of mediocre guys best suited to secondary roles.
- flyer_nutter

Problem is they are handing out decent contracts to the defensive core. They are number one in the league without a true number one on the roster. I like Timonen but he's not what he use to be. Most of the defenseman are locked up for the future.

Problem is they are handing out decent contracts to the defensive core. They are number one in the league without a true number one on the roster. I like Timonen but he's not what he use to be. Most of the defenseman are locked up for the future.
- stveshdy

But they have 5 very, very good blue-liners. Most clubs can't say that.

I disagree wholeheartedly that your suggestion that they need to add a defenseman has caught you a share of hell. This board on almost a daily basis discusses the need for the replacement of Pronger now, and Timonen in the future.

Bottom line I'd like to have Weber, Suter, And a whole host of players. But the reality is that you can only get what is available and what you can make deals for. This isn't NHL 12 and fantasy Hockey. If they had kept JVR, does that mean we can now get Bogosian? I doubt it. So Holmgren made a deal for a good young defenseman with a lot of promise. More promise then you give him credit for.
- MJL

Good post.

But they have 5 very, very good blue-liners. Most clubs can't say that.
- LordStanley88

Do they? I think the current group is very inconsistent. I'm sure that happens all over the NHL though. Sometimes its not about the name or the money but more about how those players fit into your system and what your trying to do.

Talent-wise is the key word.

Similar ferocious swagger, heavy shot, and strength.
- LordStanley88

The big word is potential. He could develop into a star, or he might battle inconsistency his whole career.

I do think having a mentor is a big thing for a lot of these young d-men. Let a guy like Subban or Bogosian play with a guy like Kimmo or one of the better d-men in the league and it will do wonders.

problem with us guys is not the defense its the fans...i think we as flyers fans want 7 defenseman who are top 4. Theres nothing wrong with that, but there is nothing wrong with what we have either.

The big word is potential. He could develop into a star, or he might battle inconsistency his whole career.

I do think having a mentor is a big thing for a lot of these young d-men. Let a guy like Subban or Bogosian play with a guy like Kimmo or one of the better d-men in the league and it will do wonders.
- flyer_nutter

Weber didn't have a mentor.

Of course, he battled those same inconsistencies his first few seasons too. Bogosian is just 21.

I disagree wholeheartedly that your suggestion that they need to add a defenseman has caught you a share of hell. This board on almost a daily basis discusses the need for the replacement of Pronger now, and Timonen in the future.

Bottom line I'd like to have Weber, Suter, And a whole host of players. But the reality is that you can only get what is available and what you can make deals for. This isn't NHL 12 and fantasy Hockey. If they had kept JVR, does that mean we can now get Bogosian? I doubt it. So Holmgren made a deal for a good young defenseman with a lot of promise. More promise then you give him credit for.
- MJL

soon to be nhl 13

Good post.

There are two real ways to build a team imo, one of which you proposed. To build a team ( or D core ) of a bunch of solid players, who are paid mid range salaries but aren't elite.

Or to have those big warhorses and fill out the rest the best you can.

I prefer the second approach. Harsh to say but I would loathe having a team of mediocre guys best suited to secondary roles.
- flyer_nutter

There are way more than two ways to build a team but i see what you are saying..

IMO, you need to combine both of those.

You need top end players and role players. Look at some of the names of guys who have come up HUGE in playoffs over the past few years, helping their team win a cup.

Guys like Talbot, Dwight King or Jarrett Stoll, Peverly and Kelly. These guys arent elite players, but all of them have multiple GWG's over the past few playoffs, while their team went on to win a cup. You need to have depth and talent.. skill and grit.

problem with us guys is not the defense its the fans...i think we as flyers fans want 7 defenseman who are top 4. Theres nothing wrong with that, but there is nothing wrong with what we have either.
- Philly1980

With a salary cap thats near impossible but when you spend the most on defense in the league you expect your defense to be the strength of your team, imo.

Talent-wise is the key word.

Similar ferocious swagger, heavy shot, and physical make-up.
- LordStanley88

could just as quickly turn into Kurtis Foster; an oft injured, offensive force who struggles with defense.

Do they? I think the current group is very inconsistent. I'm sure that happens all over the NHL though. Sometimes its not about the name or the money but more about how those players fit into your system and what your trying to do.
- stveshdy

Coburn
Grossman
Kimmo
Schenn
Meszy

I like that group. And I believe a d-man will be added at the deadline, hopefully Enstrom.

could just as quickly turn into Kurtis Foster.
- jak521

Sure, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Do they? I think the current group is very inconsistent. I'm sure that happens all over the NHL though. Sometimes its not about the name or the money but more about how those players fit into your system and what your trying to do.
- stveshdy

Yes, they most certainly do. I think it's about playing as a team with support and a defensive structure. I don't know if any group of defenseman in the NHL that can play consistently with the inconsistent team defense the Flyers showed last year.