•Renaud Lavoie: There is lots of interest in Max Talbot, but the Flyers are saying he “not available.”

I'm not shocked that teams are calling for Talbot. He's been one of our better players and at a reasonable cap hit.
- FlyersGrace

Good call. He's exactly the type of player you need in the bottom 6 to win Cups.

if you're going to rebuild do it right bring in the right personell i'm tired of these half-assed patchwork seasons
- 2Real

Are you prepared to suck for the next 3-5 years?

not to beat a dead horse.. but last week I posted that we should try to get Morrow and Iginla.. and a week later they are both Pens.
- MrBigglesworth

Looks like it is time for you to start talking about how we should keep Lilja, Walker, Shelley, Foster, and Gervais.

Good call. He's exactly the type of player you need in the bottom 6 to win Cups.
- jmatchett383

he's done just that already
just not here

tttt

Are you prepared to suck for the next 3-5 years?
- Marc D

yes

Talbot's reduction in goals/offense aside, I think of Talbot as being part of the solution to turning this around.....not part of the problem.
- johndewar

No doubt. Look at the teams that have won recently and look how good their bottom six forwards are. Look how they utilize a 3rd or 4th center to take the defensive zone draws and other tough draws, and allow their top scoring center to start out in the offensive zone as often as possible.

Guys like Talbot are very valuable to winning teams.

yes
- Philly1980

well it may happen anyway but I think it could be turned around in 1-2 years with the right moves without completely "blowing up the team"

Are you prepared to suck for the next 3-5 years?
- Marc D

god bless your energy to be able/willing to respond to these guys

The Habs have some flat out speed up front, and their fast guys are skilled and can finish, unlike the Flyers speedy guys like Harry Z and Wellwood.

Also the Habs D top to bottom are a whole lot better handling the puck then the Flyers D.

What you point out is true, they have two big shots from the point with PK and Markov.
- Marc D

Did everyone see Subban's slapshot last night? Talk about a cannon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vF6MK2hNLM

Did everyone see Subban's slapshot last night? Talk about a cannon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vF6MK2hNLM
- Feanor

That was a bleepin' bomb.

official rebuilding gif

No doubt. Look at the teams that have won recently and look how good their bottom six forwards are. Look how they utilize a 3rd or 4th center to take the defensive zone draws and other tough draws, and allow their top scoring center to start out in the offensive zone as often as possible.

Guys like Talbot are very valuable to winning teams.
- bradleyc4

Boston is a great example.
Kelly, Peverly, Campbell are the kind of bottom 6 guys you need to win a Cup these days.

Losing Chris Kelly really hurts them.

god bless your energy to be able/willing to respond to these guys
- bradleyc4

I'm fresh off a vacation, lots of energy at least for a day or two

well it may happen anyway but I think it could be turned around in 1-2 years with the right moves without completely "blowing up the team"
- Marc D

Problem is we have no defensive prospects to bring up...not one ...they take time develop

No doubt. Look at the teams that have won recently and look how good their bottom six forwards are. Look how they utilize a 3rd or 4th center to take the defensive zone draws and other tough draws, and allow their top scoring center to start out in the offensive zone as often as possible.

Guys like Talbot are very valuable to winning teams.
- bradleyc4

Great point. Claude Giroux spends far too much ice time with D zone starts. it's going to take time for Couturier to develop his faceoff game. Need to get a veteran checking Center to take some of those minutes off of Giroux. Especially on the PK.

Did everyone see Subban's slapshot last night? Talk about a cannon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vF6MK2hNLM
- Feanor

Pronger used to do that

Boston is a great example.
Kelly, Peverly, Campbell are the kind of bottom 6 guys you need to win a Cup these days.

Losing Chris Kelly really hurts them.
- Marc D

Chicago does it. Vancouver does it (to an extreme, especially when Malholtra was playing), Detroit does it. Carolina and Pittsburgh do it.

You need to have the personnel, but it's also smart to build your team that way, imo. Flyers sort of do it with Couturier. He and Talbot definitely take on the toughest defensive assignments by far.

Pronger used to do that


- Marc D

couturier for subban doesnt sound to bad huh...

No doubt. Look at the teams that have won recently and look how good their bottom six forwards are. Look how they utilize a 3rd or 4th center to take the defensive zone draws and other tough draws, and allow their top scoring center to start out in the offensive zone as often as possible.

Guys like Talbot are very valuable to winning teams.
- bradleyc4

I would hate to see Talbot go, but the Flyers either need him to turn into a 55% faceoff guy, or get someone like Boyd Gordon from Phoenix to be the 4th line center who takes defensive zone draws.

•Renaud Lavoie: There is lots of interest in Max Talbot, but the Flyers are saying he “not available.”

I'm not shocked that teams are calling for Talbot. He's been one of our better players and at a reasonable cap hit.
- FlyersGrace

I would agree he should not be available for market value. However I would deal Read and/or Talbot for teams willing to overpay. Gagne should be available for a 3rd round pick minimum. Fedetenko should be openly shopped and I see someone sending the Flyers a 4th or 5th pick for his services.

I would not deal Coburn unless the return includes a younger or defenseman around his age who projects to be able to fill or surpass his role in the near future. No sense dealing Meszaros, won't get fair value and he should be much better next season when healthy. Gervais and Foster can go to anyone who wants them.

The rest of the teams assets should be evaluated and dealt with accordingly in the off season.

Problem is we have no defensive prospects to bring up...not one ...they take time develop
- Philly1980

they have to trade one of their forwards to get a top D man this summer and get another defenseman in the draft this year who with good luck and patience could step in 3 years or so...

with Mezzy hurt they need viable defenseman like Coburn for the next few years.

I haven't given up on Gus being a legit 3rd pair guy, and who knows maybe Bourdon recovers from his conky and could be another legit 3rd pair guy. Maybe not, then Homer has to shore up the third pair.

But Kimmo, Coburn, Grossmann, L Schenn and trade for a real puck mover as the top 5, and they will be OK next season.

I would hate to see Talbot go, but the Flyers either need him to turn into a 55% faceoff guy, or get someone like Boyd Gordon from Phoenix to be the 4th line center who takes defensive zone draws.
- Feanor

If a team like Chicago wants to give up Leddy for Talbot, I think the Flyers have to do it (or something similar).

But they need Couturier to be that guy, and have Talbot used on his wing, if he's still here (he's just not a good center).

Big fan of Boyd Gordon. He's great in that role.

I would hate to see Talbot go, but the Flyers either need him to turn into a 55% faceoff guy, or get someone like Boyd Gordon from Phoenix to be the 4th line center who takes defensive zone draws.
- Feanor

perhaps they think Holmstrom can be that guy next season?

couturier for subban doesnt sound to bad huh...
- Philly1980

that ship has sailed...

or maybe not but I think it has