It depends heavily on the patch and how long the patch would stay. I'd be all for trading a couple of picks for a guy like Dan Boyle, or a second rounder for a Lubomir Vishnovsky.

Say they got Boyle for 2 seconds and a mid-level prospect, the defense would be much improved.

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Boyle
Grossmann-Gustafsson/MAB/Gervais

Even if it is short term, guys like that can help immensely.
- Jsaquella

I'm down with that.

Absolutely. It's rare that the Flyers have a first round bust, too. Even a guy like Pitkanen is a 20-25 minute a night NHL defenseman.

There's also so many guys that are highly touted that never do jacxkpoop
- Jsaquella

Yeah I agree. I didn't post that list to point out their drafting gaffs - purely just to show the last decade and what transpired. Most of the time they drafted well with their high picks. It showcases more to the point of how difficult it is to scout and land top notch defenseman.

They did aim higher than Schenn. They made major offers to Suter and signed Weber to an offer sheet.

Did you think in the summer of 2010 that Jeff Carter would be traded for a 1st rounder and a youngster that had cracked 50 points once? Or that Mike Richards would be traded for a prospect with all of 8 NHL games under his belt and guy who had yet to have a 20 goal season?

Didn't realize it had to be a young player, either.
- Jsaquella

- not in that trade and that's exactly what i'm referring to.
- yes, we heard about that trade non stop
- i wanted evander kane or a young dman, but i knew that schenn was the highest rated prospect by most (incldng THN) at the time, so i was ok w/ it. as you know, i had always liked simmonds and i had grown tired of richards passenger act most of his last 2 yrs here.

- i appreciate homer's efforts to address an obvious area of need, but they were low % attempts in the cases of weber and esp suter. putting his efforts there left him vulnerable w/ the carle situation. i know matt got overpaid, but he'd look real good right now and i felt that way even before the mez injury.

nobody knows whos is going to be a #1 dman, its a shot in the dark...

weber went 49th, if anyone knew his potential he wouldve went first, eric johnson was picked #1, howd that work out?

scrub teams develop dman by accident because they have no choice to throw them out there at a young age logging huge minutes, and they either sink or swim.

Absolutely. It's rare that the Flyers have a first round bust, too. Even a guy like Pitkanen is a 20-25 minute a night NHL defenseman.

There's also so many guys that are highly touted that never do jacxkpoop
- Jsaquella

Absolutely. I'm not one of those fans that calls Pitkanen a bust because he didn't turn into Bobby Orr.

I'm down with that.
- stveshdy

I'd be okay with Boyle as well.

Yeah I agree. I didn't post that list to point out their drafting gaffs - purely just to show the last decade and what transpired. Most of the time they drafted well with their high picks. It showcases more to the point of how difficult it is to scout and land top notch defenseman.
- Pixote Andolini

Although trading away draft picks like candy in trades to 'win now' through the years has definitely hurt them more than helped I'll say.

also the flyers could have had perry+getlzof instead of carter and richards, the draft is like throwing dice with the highest pick carrying the best odds.

total crap shoot, it all depends on the player, the brain in his head on how he matures and how bad he wants to be better

I'd be okay with Boyle as well.
- moylander

I like Boyle and he can still play. Good in both ends and helps out on the PP big time.

It depends heavily on the patch and how long the patch would stay. I'd be all for trading a couple of picks for a guy like Dan Boyle, or a second rounder for a Lubomir Vishnovsky.

Say they got Boyle for 2 seconds and a mid-level prospect, the defense would be much improved.

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Boyle
Grossmann-Gustafsson/MAB/Gervais

Even if it is short term, guys like that can help immensely.
- Jsaquella

i'll pass on having 2 smallish old guys. what would we be bridging to anyway? i guess we'd have to hope laughton has the kind of season that dramatically increases his value.

also the flyers could have had perry+getlzof instead of carter and richards, the draft is like throwing dice with the highest pick carrying the best odds.

total crap shoot, it all depends on the player, the brain in his head on how he matures and how bad he wants to be better
- mydoglicks

Right but with no Pronger on the back end.

nobody knows whos is going to be a #1 dman, its a shot in the dark...

weber went 49th, if anyone knew his potential he wouldve went first, eric johnson was picked #1, howd that work out?

scrub teams develop dman by accident because they have no choice to throw them out there at a young age logging huge minutes, and they either sink or swim.
- mydoglicks

some orgs are better thans others...that's the point. the flyers have had an issue there for 2 decades.

some orgs are better thans others...that's the point. the flyers have had an issue there for 2 decades.
- isaiah520

related, but in a different sport. patriots, Giants and Packers draft really well. Hoping this year is different for the Birds.

related, but in a different sport. patriots, Giants and Packers draft really well. Oping this year is different for the Birds.
- jstross

th eagles are prob avg overall. seem to have trouble drafting at LB and S.

- not in that trade and that's exactly what i'm referring to.
- yes, we heard about that trade non stop
- i wanted evander kane or a young dman, but i knew that schenn was the highest rated prospect by most (incldng THN) at the time, so i was ok w/ it. as you know, i had always liked simmonds and i had grown tired of richards passenger act most of his last 2 yrs here.

- i appreciate homer's efforts to address an obvious area of need, but they were low % attempts in the cases of weber and esp suter. putting his efforts there left him vulnerable w/ the carle situation. i know matt got overpaid, but he'd look real good right now and i felt that way even before the mez injury.
- isaiah520

Oh, so you expected Carter and Richards to be traded the summer immediately following the loss to Chicago in the SCF?

Carle would look real good now. The Flyers basically traded the value of Laughton and Gustafsson for him.

Oh, so you expected Carter and Richards to be traded the summer immediately following the loss to Chicago in the SCF?

Carle would look real good now. The Flyers basically traded the value of Laughton and Gustafsson for him.
- Jsaquella

Who do you think will be the biggest surprise player for the Flyers this year (depending no lockout)?

i'll pass on having 2 smallish old guys. what would we be bridging to anyway? i guess we'd have to hope laughton has the kind of season that dramatically increases his value.
- isaiah520

You don't know, you're improving the team short term at little cost.

As I have pointed out, several times, a lot can change in the space of a year.

Richards and Carter went from being the faces of the franchise to being traded 12 months after a Stanley Cup Final appearance. Bogosian went from a guy that probably could have been had in a trade, but a new GM comes in and he's back on track to being a top pair defenseman.

Guys who struggled with one team get traded to a new team and play well, such as Carle and Matt Niskanen, who played well after leaving Dallas for Pittsburgh.

There will also be teams that have to make moves because of cap mismanagement or simply financial instability.

Who do you think will be the biggest surprise player for the Flyers this year (depending no lockout)?
- stveshdy

Wellwood.

Who do you think will be the biggest surprise player for the Flyers this year (depending no lockout)?
- stveshdy

Braydon Coburn. I think with an increased offensive role and more ice time, he puts up 35-40 points and continues to be a very good defensive defenseman.

Wellwood.
- jstross

I know Bill has stated that Wellwood doesn't have a roster spot locked up in one of his previous blogs. I think he is a key player on this team. His speed and hard work stands out on the ice IMO. He may not score many goals but I love the way he plays the game.

Braydon Coburn. I think with an increased offensive role and more ice time, he puts up 35-40 points and continues to be a very good defensive defenseman.
- Jsaquella

He's going to be the guy once Timonen leaves the club. Coburn has to take his game to another level or just be more consistent on a nightly basis.

Oh, so you expected Carter and Richards to be traded the summer immediately following the loss to Chicago in the SCF?

Carle would look real good now. The Flyers basically traded the value of Laughton and Gustafsson for him.
- Jsaquella

carter yes, richards, no, but i was ready for the change...depending on his physical maturity, laughton could be in the nhl season after nxt. not sure who he'll be playing for.

You don't know, you're improving the team short term at little cost.

As I have pointed out, several times, a lot can change in the space of a year.

Richards and Carter went from being the faces of the franchise to being traded 12 months after a Stanley Cup Final appearance. Bogosian went from a guy that probably could have been had in a trade, but a new GM comes in and he's back on track to being a top pair defenseman.

Guys who struggled with one team get traded to a new team and play well, such as Carle and Matt Niskanen, who played well after leaving Dallas for Pittsburgh.

There will also be teams that have to make moves because of cap mismanagement or simply financial instability.
- Jsaquella

woe to the have-nots

I know Bill has stated that Wellwood doesn't have a roster spot locked up in one of his previous blogs. I think he is a key player on this team. His speed and hard work stands out on the ice IMO. He may not score many goals but I love the way he plays the game.
- stveshdy

Kid can fly. If he can just up the rest of his game a notch he'd become one heck of a weapon. I have high hopes for him.

carter yes, richards, no, but i was ready for the change...depending on his physical maturity, laughton could be in the nhl season after nxt. not sure who he'll be playing for.
- isaiah520

So, immediately after the Hawks got handed the Cup, you expected Carter to be dealt?

I wasn't surprised the next summer when he was dealt, but had he been traded in 2010, I would have been stunned. All the Carter rumors came in 2011. I don;t recall any following the Cup loss to Chicago.

I agree on Laughton. He could be traded. So could Schenn or Couturier. I'm not convinced that any of them will be.