I agreed. They didn't pick him up to sit on the bench. He bumps Gust (whether we like it or not) back to the AHL. Gust contract flexibility - waiver free movement - makes him the odd man out. Unless we suck, or there's another injury.

But, I don't agree with Grossmann-Schenn or Timmo-Coburn... At least not to start the season. Grossmann-Coburn played very well together in the playoffs - I don't think Lavy will split them up to start. We know that Timmo-Coburn works, they can always fall back on that, and that might be the pairing for the PP.
- leon neon

Bourdon as well...

We signed Lilja to a two year deal... for what? To sit the bench the 2nd year?

Guys get signed for numerous reasons.. Maybe they signed him because they thought he would make a serviceable guy coming in and out as needed. Just because they signed him doesnt mean he is guaranteed a spot... He isnt Ryan Suter.

If it's J-Bo time, I hope it's for another team. If Bouwmeester made $5 million, he'd be overpaid relative to what he's delivered to Calgary but I'd say it would worth the Flyers' while to pursue a trade given their blueline situation. But at $6.68 M? No way, no how do I want to see the Flyers take on that contract for two seasons and have to give up something like Read and a first-round pick to do it.
- bmeltzer

I agree, I just get a feeling something is to happen soon on this front. I would hate the Read and a 1st trade as well, but I think the Flyers would be unwilling. But who knows, Holmgren ate his wheaties this summer.

Since Coburn is more mobile that Grossman, and Gusty more mobile that MAB, what about flipping them?

Timonen - Schenn
Coburn - MAB
Grossmann - Gusty
- TheGreat28

I like the balance, but I would rather have Coburn and Grossmann together.. that pairing would give teams fits...

Timonen and Schenn need to stay together IMO.

Thats why I had my original lines that way.

I like the balance, but I would rather have Coburn and Grossmann together.. that pairing would give teams fits...

Timonen and Schenn need to stay together IMO.

Thats why I had my original lines that way.
- jak521

As long as Jay-Bo isn't in that lineup.

And the more I think about it, the top two pairings you had make perfect sense. Coburn and Grossmann were effective. Schenn with Timonen makes sense. And I also see Gervais in the top 6 mix. I just don't like MAB and Gustafsson together.
- MJL

The major downside tho is that you would really burn out Kimmo and put extra pressure on Schenn. Also, Coburn can handle the minutes but can Grossmann?

Either way you're kinda screwed. You either rely heavily (too much?) on Top 4 or weaken all three with balance. But early in the season, I'd try the balanced approached until it fails. If it works you really save Kimmo some hard minutes.

Regardless of his salary and the players going the other way... Where does Bouwmeester fit on the depth chart?

With the injury players removed... I assume the depth chart (over-all talent) is... You think Bouwmeester is a 2, 3, or 4?

1. Timmo
2. Coburn
3. Grossmann
4. Schenn
5. Gervais
6. Lilja
7. MAB
8. Gust
- leon neon

If the Flyers got Bouwmeester, I'd slot him as the 2 or 3, with a case to be made for Coburn as the #2. J-Bo might even play more minutes than Timonen (as both Carle and Coburn did last year) but Kimmo is still the #1 guy with Pronger gone, despite his age and mounting injury concerns.

I was just kinda looking at what pairings would be most effective..

You gotta figure the top two lines are gonna getting majority of the minutes.. Timonen is our top 2 way d-man... putting him with Schenn can do wonders for Schenn, while adding a physical element to that unit.

Coburn and Grossmann were fantastic in the playoffs... until Grossmann got hurt.. and then they were still pretty good.

I think the 3rd pair can be very interesting..

Gusty is obviously more of a speed and smarts guy. Im hoping he can parlay some of his offensive AHL success into NHL success. If he can do that.. pairing him with a more defensive and physical Bourdon could make for a pretty solid young bottom pair.

Gervais is a mystery to me.. I havent really seen him play all that much, he wasnt a steady fixture on his team over the past few seasons (didnt play in 61 games the past two years), so just based on that, I have the other two getting the nod as of now.
- jak521

Gervais was a solid, if unspectacular defenseman averaging 20 minutes a night on some bad Islanders teams. Most of the time he missed in his last few years in New York was injury related, and he finished his time there battling an injury.

It took him awhile to find his footing in Tampa, but played well as a third pair defenseman towards the end of the year, with good advandced numbers, which admittedly came against softer competition.

Here's a good write up on him
http://thehockeyguys.net/...ment-philadelphia-flyers/

Gervais was a solid, if unspectacular defenseman averaging 20 minutes a night on some bad Islanders teams. Most of the time he missed in his last few years in New York was injury related, and he finished his time there battling an injury.

It took him awhile to find his footing in Tampa, but played well as a third pair defenseman towards the end of the year, with good advandced numbers, which admittedly came against softer competition.

Here's a good write up on him
http://thehockeyguys.net/...ment-philadelphia-flyers/
- Jsaquella

I expect him to just be OK, with a skill set that may help us.

I watched some of his fights on YouTube. Let's just say I'm glad he isn't a professional boxer.

I agree with others, who feel that Gervais is pretty much a lock for the top 6.
- Jsaquella

You guys are probably right. But all things being equal I think Gusty would be better to be paired with Gervais or Grossmann vs. MAB or Lilya. So the waiver issue really hurts a bit I think.

Gervais was a solid, if unspectacular defenseman averaging 20 minutes a night on some bad Islanders teams. Most of the time he missed in his last few years in New York was injury related, and he finished his time there battling an injury.

It took him awhile to find his footing in Tampa, but played well as a third pair defenseman towards the end of the year, with good advandced numbers, which admittedly came against softer competition.

Here's a good write up on him
http://thehockeyguys.net/...ment-philadelphia-flyers/
- Jsaquella

I like how the article even mentions Matt Walker.

If it's J-Bo time, I hope it's for another team. If Bouwmeester made $5 million, he'd be overpaid relative to what he's delivered to Calgary but I'd say it would worth the Flyers' while to pursue a trade given their blueline situation. But at $6.68 M? No way, no how do I want to see the Flyers take on that contract for two seasons and have to give up something like Read and a first-round pick to do it.
- bmeltzer

remember reading post 2006 draft that the flyers organization was really interested in defenseman tj brennan...

ya think they still have an interest in the new jersey native?

You guys are probably right. But all things being equal I think Gusty would be better to be paired with Gervais or Grossmann vs. MAB or Lilya. So the waiver issue really hurts a bit I think.
- TheGreat28

Gervais and Gustafsson is a very small pair. Both are more puck mover than defensive defender. I could see

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Gustafsson
Grossmann-Gervais
MAB-Lilja

remember reading post 2006 draft that the flyers organization was really interested in defenseman tj brennan...

ya think they still have an interest in the new jersey native?
- b0s0o1

Nope. He's from Moorestown, not Cherry Hill.

Inside joke Flyers fans will get

I like how the article even mentions Matt Walker.
- stveshdy

Walker...I'd love to see them be able to move him for bag of Oreos

Nope. He's from Moorestown, not Cherry Hill.

Inside joke Flyers fans will get
- Jsaquella

ahahaha...hahah...ah


*scratches head*

Walker...I'd love to see them be able to move him for bag of Oreos
- Jsaquella

I'd even just accept the chocolate wafers part of the oreo (which is obviously the lesser part vs. the icing)!

Walker...I'd love to see them be able to move him for bag of Oreos
- Jsaquella

Are you a dunker?

Gervais and Gustafsson is a very small pair. Both are more puck mover than defensive defender. I could see

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Gustafsson
Grossmann-Gervais
MAB-Lilja
- Jsaquella

I'll defer to you on this. How do you think Gusty and Gervais compare skill-wise? Obviously Gervais is the proven commodity. I guess they would likely use your lines above but swap MAB for Gusty then.

GHOSTBEAR

Gervais was a solid, if unspectacular defenseman averaging 20 minutes a night on some bad Islanders teams. Most of the time he missed in his last few years in New York was injury related, and he finished his time there battling an injury.

It took him awhile to find his footing in Tampa, but played well as a third pair defenseman towards the end of the year, with good advandced numbers, which admittedly came against softer competition.

Here's a good write up on him
http://thehockeyguys.net/...ment-philadelphia-flyers/
- Jsaquella

Honestly... having read that makes me feel even worse about him.

The isles soured on him and shipped him for nothing... he couldnt get in the lineup to start the year in TB, but when he did get in they were so weary of him that they used him with LOW minutes starting on offensive zone face offs 60% of the time and against the weakest opposition. His CORSI #'s were good.. but you have to also look at why. Also, for point of reference to the CORSI numbers.. Grossmann had one of the worst in the NHL last year.

Bourdon as well...

We signed Lilja to a two year deal... for what? To sit the bench the 2nd year?

Guys get signed for numerous reasons.. Maybe they signed him because they thought he would make a serviceable guy coming in and out as needed. Just because they signed him doesnt mean he is guaranteed a spot... He isnt Ryan Suter.
- jak521

This was in reference to ability to move from AHL to NHL without going through waivers... I believe (maybe someone can confirm...) that Bourdon would need to go through waivers to be sent down, but re-entry waivers don't apply (due to his AHL salary being low). Whereas, Gust does not have to go through waivers at all

And, on Lilja... Teams generally carry a 7th defenseman. It's a waste to put a prospect in that role, when they could be playing in the AHL and gaining more experience (that's were Gust is now). It's better to sign an experienced player with a low salary (Lilja salary is only $737K). He doesn't need the experience, and should be able to step in and play the odd game or two.

remember reading post 2006 draft that the flyers organization was really interested in defenseman tj brennan...

ya think they still have an interest in the new jersey native?
- b0s0o1

ehh.. I just saw him the other night too..

Honestly... having read that makes me feel even worse about him.

The isles soured on him and shipped him for nothing... he couldnt get in the lineup to start the year in TB, but when he did get in they were so weary of him that they used him with LOW minutes starting on offensive zone face offs 60% of the time and against the weakest opposition. His CORSI #'s were good.. but you have to also look at why. Also, for point of reference to the CORSI numbers.. Grossmann had one of the worst in the NHL last year.
- jak521

Well, playing on the Isles obviously would impact his numbers. If it makes you feel any better, consider the Bolts feelings about Mesz when they traded him here (for significantly less than what it cost to acquire him!)

ahahaha...hahah...ah


*scratches head*
- b0s0o1

I have a theory I share with a few people that Flyers fans want Bobby Ryan so badly because he was born and spent the first ten years or so of his life in Cherry Hill, NJ, which is just outside of Philly and where a lot of the Flyers players live. Moorestown is basically one town over from Cherry Hill.

His dad was/is friendly with Bob Clarke and the Flyers former GM knows Ryan very well. My theory is, if Bobby Ryan was born in Oshawa, Flyers fans wouldn't give a ripe (frank) if he became a Flyer.

Honestly... having read that makes me feel even worse about him.

The isles soured on him and shipped him for nothing... he couldnt get in the lineup to start the year in TB, but when he did get in they were so weary of him that they used him with LOW minutes starting on offensive zone face offs 60% of the time and against the weakest opposition. His CORSI #'s were good.. but you have to also look at why. Also, for point of reference to the CORSI numbers.. Grossmann had one of the worst in the NHL last year.
- jak521

I don't live and die at the altar of CORSI. They are a tool, nothing more.

However, Gervais fell out of favor in NY because of the nagging injuries. Not saying he's a world beater, but he's a capable, fairly young, depth defenseman.