The Devils played great at both ends of the ice and had over 100 points. I believe they were one point behind the Flyers and 7 points away from the best team in the East (which is around 3 games). That team was much better than people think going into the playoffs.
- stveshdy

Because they played well as a team. What's preventing the Flyers from doing that? Right now, it's poor execution and stupid mistakes. If the Flyers can avoid that stuff, they'd be performing much better.

Lets get a little crazy.

Who would take a gamble on OV via trade?

The cost would be insanely high.

True, I don't see them getting what they want without it costing an arm & a leg at least.
- ob18

Understood. But in the context of trading Voracek & Schenn for a forward, it makes a lot more sense to use those assets on a defenseman.

Lets get a little crazy.

Who would take a gamble on OV via trade?

The cost would be insanely high.
- flyer_nutter

Pass. The contract has a ton of implications and the cost is too high.

Because they played well as a team. What's preventing the Flyers from doing that? Right now, it's poor execution and stupid mistakes. If the Flyers can avoid that stuff, they'd be performing much better.
- Jsaquella

Will find out soon enough. This team could struggle to get in if they don't get better on defense.

Devils were not your normal #6 seed. Thats all im saying.

Understood. But in the context of trading Voracek & Schenn for a forward, it makes a lot more sense to use those assets on a defenseman.
- Jsaquella

I don't disagree that can be an option. But let's build with this current foundation and stop moving things around to find a solution.

More often then not it just creates another void they need to find a way to fill.

Understood. But in the context of trading Voracek & Schenn for a forward, it makes a lot more sense to use those assets on a defenseman.
- Jsaquella

Im just asking for my own curiosity.

If you are Holmgren, what young d-men are you calling about? Bogosian and OEL aside.

Will find out soon enough. This team could struggle to get in if they don't get better on defense.
- stveshdy

Sure they could, and even that's not the end of the world. The draft this year is fantastic, and the young players would certainly learn that missing the playoffs sucks and would come back with fire.

I'm going with it's a short season and any panic move in this time is just going to be lost assets current & future.
- ob18

amen

Lets get a little crazy.

Who would take a gamble on OV via trade?

The cost would be insanely high.
- flyer_nutter

I wouldn't trade for OV. Declining every single year. Not sure what happened to his skills but hes not what he use to be.

Will find out soon enough. This team could struggle to get in if they don't get better on defense.

Devils were not your normal #6 seed. Thats all im saying.
- stveshdy

At the end of the day if the team makes a trade tommorow that is for a guy who will be here long term I am fine.

Just no stupid moves giving up picks or players for band aid solutions or mediocrity. The team needs star power imo.

I don't disagree that can be an option. But let's build with this current foundation and stop moving things around to find a solution.

More often then not it just creates another void they need to find a way to fill.
- ob18

like whack-a-mole

This guys been hoping and waiting since he was your age...



- 77rams

A couple of years down the road... I hear nothing but good things about Shayne Gostisbehere. Skilled, dynamic with great hockey sense. And humble too, he says that at 170 lbs he'd get killed in the NHL. Every once in a while you see a great talent that transcends a so called limitation. He's going to get bigger naturally and he appears to be the kind of player we'll see on the team sooner rather than later. Mark Howe was not a big man yet he's the Flyers best defenseman ever. I'm anxious for the Ghost.

The one silver lining with Mesz is that his string of injuries has been different things. Back, then leg, then shoulder. He's not getting the same injury over and over.
- Jsaquella

Mez has been a Mess long before he got to Philly, highly inconsistant ever since his good year in Ottawa, always injured and overpaid. Sorry but I hold no hope for this guy going forward, just too a big a risk of injury and overpaid.

Can't fault him for rolling dice from time to time and versteeg went in to have a good year in Florida. Every GM gets burnt. One thing I think people don't realize is just because they or some analyst covets a player doesn't mean other Gms do or as much.
- JoeRussomanno

it's about getting it done somehow...btw, B Schenn was considered one of the top 5 plyrs who hadn't played in the nhl yet at the time i'm referencing. just saying

Im just asking for my own curiosity.

If you are Holmgren, what young d-men are you calling about? Bogosian and OEL aside.
- flyer_nutter

I'd kick tires on Yandle, Subban, Leddy, Erik Johnson, John Carlson and probably Dmitri Kulikov.

Other lesser lights would be guys like Keaton Ellerby, Rundblad, Roman Josi off the top of my head

I'm not sold on Schenn or Voracek. Those are two guys I would have no problem trading to get a defenseman.
- stveshdy

Especially Voracek, the guy has had enough years to prove he not just an elite skater and does things at hight speed but just can not get the job done on his own.

Mez has been a Mess long before he got to Philly, highly inconsistant ever since his good year in Ottawa, always injured and overpaid. Sorry but I hold no hope for this guy going forward, just too a big a risk of injury and overpaid.
- flyerdude17

Won the Barry Ashbee Trophy here as the Flyers best defenseman a few years back. If he can remain healthy, he's a solid player. 4M for a top 4 defenseman today, is not an overpayment.

The top RFA Dmen Karlsson, Doughty, Myers and this year Pietrangelo are being signed to huge long term deals. And, we saw the kind of money Weber and Suter got as UFAs. #1 Dmen are gold. I doubt you see any ever come to the market until they are passed their prime.

You going to have to draft for one. Or, pay the trade price in a huge deal.
- spatso

Have you noticed three of the four are not playing up to snuff since the big payday. Myers is in the doghouse and simply looks like crap. They are actually wondering what is wrong with him, see Garth for details.

A couple of years down the road... I hear nothing but good things about Shayne Gostisbehere. Skilled, dynamic with great hockey sense. And humble too, he says that at 170 lbs he'd get killed in the NHL. Every once in a while you see a great talent that transcends a so called limitation. He's going to get bigger naturally and he appears to be the kind of player we'll see on the team sooner rather than later. Mark Howe was not a big man yet he's the Flyers best defenseman ever. I'm anxious for the Ghost.
- 2731color

Right now, the Flyers have a few interesting kids in the college ranks. Gostisbehere is the most often mentioned, but they also have a 2012 draftee named Reece Willcox, who Bill has mentioned a few times as well as Mark Alt, who was acquired in the Boucher trade. The system isn't barren, but the guys that have promise were not guys who were top rated heading into the draft.

But you can get good defensemen later on, it is not uncommon.

Won the Barry Ashbee Trophy here as the Flyers best defenseman a few years back. If he can remain healthy, he's a solid player. 4M for a top 4 defenseman today, is not an overpayment.
- MJL

I am saying that he is always injured and you can not count on him for a 48 or 82 games season. All players will have an injury now and then but with Mez you can bet on it and reserve a room in a nearby hospital. He had the one good year here just like he had one good year in Ottawa, then took the big money and did little for it in Tampa.

"...while we acknowledge there was no malicious intent..."

Really?
- Flyskippy

same load of bull he said when neal ran couturier and giroux in the same shift

he was just being friendly

I don't disagree that can be an option. But let's build with this current foundation and stop moving things around to find a solution.

More often then not it just creates another void they need to find a way to fill.
- ob18

Siemens and Stefan Elliot.

Untouchables in your view?

The Devils last year had the following defense: Marek Zidlicky, Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, Mark Fayne, Henrik Tallinder, Adam Larsson, Anton Volchenkov and Peter Harrold.

Is that a great blue line on paper? Is it much better on paper than the Flyers group?
- Jsaquella

No, but they had a coach,

Pens get burned by a lucky bounce. Carlson dump in hits the stanchion, Vokoun blows a tire behind net and it ends up in.