Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull
"I haven't even thought about it," Homer says of a coaching change.


Lavy will be gone by saturday.....
- Philly1980

Exactly.

"I haven't even thought about it" is Homerese for "I already told Terry Murray to break his lease in Glen Falls".

Remember, they rushed Pitkanen into the lineup, too. While he had enough game to play at the NHL level, he was far from a mature enough person to handle the responsibility of carrying the team from the back end.
- Tomahawk

Seth Jones is still a better prospect than Pitkanen. Pitkanen still hasn't really learned, leading me to believe that he never would have.

Exactly.

"I haven't even thought about it" is Homerese for "I already told Terry Murray to break his lease in Glen Falls".
- johndewar

Richards and carter are not going to be traded..... 5 minutes later lol

yes he did what a bust...who was the gm LOL...
- Philly1980

Ricci was the #1 prospect rated by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau at the time.

Yeah Simmonds is a legit top 6 forward now.
- NickTheKid87

He can be a 2nd line forward, but his 5-on-5 numbers don't support it. He's a 3rd liner/good PP player. Very much needed and wanted, but don't want to overrate his role.

Remember, they rushed Pitkanen into the lineup, too. While he had enough game to play at the NHL level, he was far from a mature enough person to handle the responsibility of carrying the team from the back end.
- Tomahawk

If Pitkanen played with Kimmo Timonen's intensity, he'd probably be a perennial Norris trophy candidate. Pitkanen really could do it all.

He can be a 2nd line forward, but his 5-on-5 numbers don't support it. He's a 3rd liner/good PP player. Very much needed and wanted, but don't want to overrate his role.
- bradleyc4

He's still young and can get better at 5-on-5. I mean, everyone sucks in that area this year.

Dougie Hamilton would have been a good pick but you guys have to realize Flyers had just traded away two top centers and you had Chris Pronger, Carle, Timmo, Mez and Coburn....Im sure if the Flyers were to be in the same position today knowing Pronger?Carle was gone they would take Hamilton.

That Ricci pick makes me cry when I think of it..He went before Jagr if I remember right..
- opeth_pa

Ricci probably could have put up better numbers if he wasn't so good defensively that he spent most of his time chasing down the other teams' top players.

You kind of hope that doesn't happen w/ Couturier.

Dougie Hamilton would be have a good pick but you guys have to realize Flyers had just traded away two top centers and you had Chris Pronger, Carle, Timmo, Mez and Coburn....Im sure if the Flyers were to be in the same position today knowing Pronger?Carle was gone they would take Hamilton.
- flyerfan28

You should ALWAYS take the best player at number 1 regardless of position and needs.

Ricci was the #1 prospect rated by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau at the time.
- 77rams

This is correct.

Ricci was the #1 prospect rated by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau at the time.
- 77rams

Weren't there sign-ability issues with Jagr too?

Dougie Hamilton would have been a good pick but you guys have to realize Flyers had just traded away two top centers and you had Chris Pronger, Carle, Timmo, Mez and Coburn....Im sure if the Flyers were to be in the same position today knowing Pronger?Carle was gone they would take Hamilton.
- flyerfan28

Except for the fact we had g briere schenn( in the trade)

I think this idea is being blown way out of proportion. We're not talking about the #19 overall pick or a 2nd rounder, we're talking about a top 3 pick in the draft. I think they'd take extra care of a prospect of Jones caliber. He can't be compared to Sbisa.
- NickTheKid87

The list of defensemen drafted in the top 3 over the past 20 years (looking at 1990-2009) does not show a lot of superstars.

Many very solid players, who were top pairing guys in their primes, but not perennial all-stars.

But there were also very few swings-and-misses. Looking at you: Cam Barker, Andrei Zyuzin and Aki Berg. 3 out of 18.

Ricci probably could have put up better numbers if he wasn't so good defensively that he spent most of his time chasing down the other teams' top players.

You kind of hope that doesn't happen w/ Couturier.
- Tomahawk

Ricci played over 1000 NHL games and scored at least 20 goals in a year 6 times.

Not bad for a guy known for his defensive prowess.

You should ALWAYS take the best player at number 1 regardless of position and needs.
- 77rams

I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that there were other teams had Hamilton rated over Couturier -- after all, Central Scouting had him ranked higher.

Weren't there sign-ability issues with Jagr too?
- NickTheKid87

Edit: Jagr also wasn't even a top 10 ranked skater.

Ricci probably could have put up better numbers if he wasn't so good defensively that he spent most of his time chasing down the other teams' top players.

You kind of hope that doesn't happen w/ Couturier.
- Tomahawk

If his skating and finishing doesn't improve, that's where his career will seemingly head.

The list of defensemen drafted in the top 3 over the past 20 years (looking at 1990-2009) does not show a lot of superstars.

Many very solid players, who were top pairing guys in their primes, but not perennial all-stars.

But there were also very few swings-and-misses. Looking at you: Cam Barker, Andrei Zyuzin and Aki Berg. 3 out of 18.
- bradleyc4

I'm not really talking about how they panned out but the projection. Seth Jones is being toted as a franchise dman opposed to only a top pairing.

The Flyers were always enamored with the prototypical two way, grinding, 2nd line center. From Bridgman, to Sutter, to Ricci, to Richards, to Laughton..
- 77rams

you have to adapt to the talent you have. I think they were best last year when all three lines were clicking and any could score on any shift. I think G's struggles aren't related to the C, it's because of the general struggles to score 5 on 5. He needs a 2nd line that is almost as potent as his line to take the pressure off. They have two thirds of that with Schenn and Simmonds. Whether Read goes there depends on next point.

For 3rd line, I think they should either trade Coots for a top young D and go checking line with Laughton, in which case I put Read on 2nd line. Or they keep Couturier and then need to surround him with Read and another 3rd line winger who can actually score AND play defense. A Gagne type, maybe a little bigger. Then Perry makes sense for 2nd line, tho you'd have juggle a bit..maybe swap read and Simmonds. Then use Laughton in a package.

I think to keep Coots and not put him with some talent is a waste, but Schenn is still my 2nd center

expansion to seattle and????
- Philly1980

Phoenix to Seattle.

Tampa to Houston. Florida to KC or Oklahoma.

Expansion in Toronto and Quebec.

Ricci played over 1000 NHL games and scored at least 20 goals in a year 6 times.

Not bad for a guy known for his defensive prowess.
- johndewar

Totally respectable -- he probably could have been ppg for his career if his coaches had sheltered and line-matched for him to maximize production like they do with other offensive stars, though.

He's still young and can get better at 5-on-5. I mean, everyone sucks in that area this year.
- NickTheKid87

Yes, he can theoretically get better. But his numbers are on par with his previous couple of seasons, but this is likely who he is. He's not the type of guy who's going to carry play in the offensive zone. He gets in front of the net and makes things happen/disrupts play. There will be fluctuation in luck (luck of the bounce).

Ricci played over 1000 NHL games and scored at least 20 goals in a year 6 times.

Not bad for a guy known for his defensive prowess.
- johndewar

thats like 12-15 now....

Edit: Jagr also wasn't even a top 10 ranked skater.
- NickTheKid87

NHL Scouting didn't rank European skaters back then.