BTW is anyone else completely stunned that Carolina gave Semin 5 years at 7 million per year??
- BiggE

No. He scores more points per game than Perry and Parise, and also plays well defensively.

If Briere is healthy, trade him at the deadline -- preferably, i'd like to trade him and Read for Ryan, rather than Coots, but I'd deal with Coots for Ryan. In off season, I buy out Mesz and sign Ian White, and try to get Myers from Buffalo for cheap. If you don't trade Briere for Ryan, then trade him for a top D prospect if possible.

Hartnell - Giroux - Ryan
Voracek - Schenn - Simmonds
Gagne - Laughton - Read
Fedotenko - Talbot - Rinaldo

Timonen - Schenn
White - Coburn
Myers - Grossman

Am I ever glad that Homer is the GM.

I think Defense is a position that need at least 5 good ones -- I'd take less scoring for better Defense. I am probably crazy suggesting the above, but who cares.
- flyersfan51

Because Couturier is an unproven player and Bobby Ryan is a proven 30+ goal scorer, with 4 such season at age 25.
- Jsaquella

(frank) IT I GIVE up

so

Druin/Mackinnon-G-Ryan
Harts-Schenn-Voracek
Simmonds-Laughton-Mcginn/(read if he doesnt get traded)
Talbot-???-Rinaldo

Not bad

If Briere is healthy, trade him at the deadline -- preferably, i'd like to trade him and Read for Ryan, rather than Coots, but I'd deal with Coots for Ryan. In off season, I buy out Mesz and sign Ian White, and try to get Myers from Buffalo for cheap. If you don't trade Briere for Ryan, then trade him for a top D prospect if possible.

Hartnell - Giroux - Ryan
Voracek - Schenn - Simmonds
Gagne - Laughton - Read
Fedotenko - Talbot - Rinaldo

Timonen - Schenn
White - Coburn
Myers - Grossman

I think Defense is a position that need at least 5 good ones -- I'd take less scoring for better Defense. I am probably crazy suggesting the above, but who cares.
- flyersfan51

Two things. Anaheim is not going to have any interest in Briere. And Ian White in my opinion is not a player I'd be interested in. He's a smallish offensive defenseman that is nothing special offensively. And what is cheap for Myers? I notice there is not a significant player other then who you traded for Ryan. Buffalo is going to give Myers away?

No the biggest surprise is thinking that a notorious dog like Semin, now that he is no longer playing for a contract, will continue to play hard or well!
- BiggE

That notorious dog was almost a point peg game player for his entire tenure as a Capital.

So would I.

I have a friend who is a Bruins fan, and he told me no matter how many times the Bruins beat the Flyers or how many cups they win, they always think about that series and losing after being up 3-0. It is almost like a would that will never go away.
- Pyzik

i understand that mentality, and i'm sure if i were in that situation, it would irritate me. the flyers 3-1 loss to the devils in 2000 still infuriates me (i believe they would have beaten dallas). however, the sting would be minimal knowing they won the cup immediately the following season AND dispatched of the the team in a sweep that they blew the lead to the year before. you simply can't ask for anything more.

Anybody have the new CBA percentages for the first pick of the draft? I know they've been posted on here before but I can't remember what they are of the top of my head.

Na Na na na na na na na na
- Pyzik

more like




amirite

(frank) IT I GIVE up

so

Druin/Mackinnon-G-Ryan
Harts-Schenn-Voracek
Simmonds-Laughton-Mcginn/(read if he doesnt get traded)
Talbot-???-Rinaldo

Not bad
- Philly1980

Still have to land a defenseman somehow

I think I could live with it if they made the move and managed to trade Simmonds, Read or Hartnell for a Bouwmeester type guy.

Then you've made upgrades at two key spots, while downgrading at a lesser spot. Of course, if you get MacKinnon or Drouin at the draft, you have landed a guy who could be as good as Ryan in a short window.
- Jsaquella

Speaking of a short window, is there any top-5 player in this year's draft who is NHL ready? From everything I've read, the top 3 would all likely be a year away at least.

Because Couturier is an unproven player and Bobby Ryan is a proven 30+ goal scorer, with 4 such season at age 25.
- Jsaquella

True, but with the new deals for Getzlaf and Perry, there could be cap pressure on Anaheims side. I would hold out for a straight up deal as there is no rush to make the trade now and see what develops. I'm really hesitant on making this deal because I believe Couturier has enormous upside and the Flyers may end up really regretting let him go if they make this move.

I think I could live with it if they made the move and managed to trade Simmonds, Read or Hartnell for a Bouwmeester type guy.

Then you've made upgrades at two key spots, while downgrading at a lesser spot. Of course, if you get MacKinnon or Drouin at the draft, you have landed a guy who could be as good as Ryan in a short window.
- Jsaquella

The fact that we have Read, Simmonds, Hartnell, etc. is why I'd prefer not to trade for Ryan right now. I still think we could move one of those three or Schenn/Couturier in order to fill some holes, especially on D.

I would definitely consider a Bouwmeester for Read frame work deal. You can also add depth forwards via free agency. There's a lot of things the team could do.

No. He scores more points per game than Perry and Parise, and also plays well defensively.
- Feanor

I can't even be stunned at these huge paydays right now, anyway. It was shocking when Getzlaf got it (note: neither saying he is or is not worth it), but at this point I expect $7m is the new $5m. What I'm waiting to see is how the salary structure of the NHL is going to change, because the top paid players are getting a bigger piece of the pie, and it has to come out of somebody (read: everybody) else's slice.

Carolina is a unique hockey market. Players really love Raleigh, it is great for their families
- spatso

I love that area. My wife and I lived there for ~5 years. It was before Hartford moved down. We went to many IceCaps games, though.

I wouldn't package Couturier for Ryan unless it was in a bigger deal. Maybe get Read and Couturier involved on the Flyers side and Ryan and Fowler/Sbisa on the Ducks. Construct a deal around that.

Preferably I'd try to package Couts for Shattenkirk, Yandle or Byfuglien if I was going to trade him.
- NickTheKid87

Personally, there is no way in hell I'd trade Couturier for Byfuglien. I have very little interest in him. On fence with the other two players.

Anybody have the new CBA percentages for the first pick of the draft? I know they've been posted on here before but I can't remember what they are of the top of my head.
- FlyersGrace

The likelihood of each team gaining the right to the first pick is as follows:

Team 1 25.0%

Team 2 18.8%

Team 3 14.2%

Team 4 10.7%

Team 5 8.1%

Team 6 6.2%

Team 7 4.7%

Team 8 3.6%

Team 9 2.7%

Team 10 2.1%

Team 11 1.5%

Team 12 1.1%

Team 13 0.8%

Team 14 0.5%

Gustaffson looks to have the tools to be an everyday NHL defenseman. Just needs more experience I think.
- NickTheKid87

Gustaffson isn't a 20 year old kid, he's 24 now. He should be playing games for the Flyers. What the (frank) is the purpose of Bruno Gervais playing games? This team is dead in the water. Not to mention Gustaffson is probably a better player than Gervais. So incredibly stupid.

Still have to land a defenseman somehow
- Jsaquella

damnit saq....let a guy have his five minutes before crushing him

I believe the accusations of laziness were unfounded. Didn't players and coaches come out and say that? If I remember correctly that is.
- NickTheKid87

Perhaps, but I remember watching him in Washington after he got his last good contract and he just seemed to disappear for long stretches during games.

Grossmann not skating today, likely out tonight.

Tye McGinn skating on a like with Giroux and Voracek

I would do this without a second's hesitation. Bobby Ryan would be an excellent winger for Giroux/Voracek's line. With Laughton most likely to make the team next year, Coots has become a little more expendable. Not sure what else the Ducks would want in the deal, but maybe Gustaffson thrown in and a 3rd/4th round pick. I would not part with this year's first round pick, as they need that for hopefully a dman.
- aantny88

Does it matter that Ryan is a RW, and we already have Vorachek and simmonds who are most comfortable as a RW

Personally, there is no way in hell I'd trade Couturier for Byfuglien. I have very little interest in him. On fence with the other two players.
- MJL

Shattenkirk may be more realistic with all the RFAs St. Louis has coming up. I'm not a huge fan of Byfuglien either. He'd be last on that list for me.

Anybody have the new CBA percentages for the first pick of the draft? I know they've been posted on here before but I can't remember what they are of the top of my head.
- FlyersGrace

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=658503

Team 1 25.0%

Team 2 18.8%

Team 3 14.2%

Team 4 10.7%

Team 5 8.1%

Team 6 6.2%

Team 7 4.7%

Team 8 3.6%

Team 9 2.7%

Team 10 2.1%

Team 11 1.5%

Team 12 1.1%

Team 13 0.8%

Team 14 0.5%

Gustaffson isn't a 20 year old kid, he's 24 now. He should be playing games for the Flyers. What the (frank) is the purpose of Bruno Gervais playing games? This team is dead in the water. Not to mention Gustaffson is probably a better player than Gervais. So incredibly stupid.
- PLindbergh31

honestly i think even foster is better than bruno

Two things. Anaheim is not going to have any interest in Briere. And Ian White in my opinion is not a player I'd be interested in. He's a smallish offensive defenseman that is nothing special offensively. And what is cheap for Myers? I notice there is not a significant player other then who you traded for Ryan. Buffalo is going to give Myers away?
- MJL

Whether Buffalo tries to right the ship with this roster or goes for a rebuild, you better believe Myers is part of their plans. No way they're going to jettison him on the cheap.