someone is going to overpay him
- Marc D

You're right and he's making $5.5 mil now (at a cap hit of 4 mil).

You're not paying him money to be on your second line.

someone is going to overpay him
- Marc D

probably

but he's a very good puck possession player and doesn't kill you defensively. would be a huge upgrade on the 2nd line.

Assuming this truly comes to fruition -- and it sounds like it will -- I suspect the NHL will have the gall to say something like "we're giving back to the fans" when what the league is really doing is killing the golden goose in a flat out money grab after the lost revenues of the lockout year.

That said, if they can actually fill up six stadiums in one year and collect all the associated merchandising revenues, I guess it'll be a smart short-term move even if it harms the event in the long term.

With six games, they also obviously don't care about television ratings beyond the Jan 1 game, nor do they care about waning interest outside the participating cities. It's all about the huge gates and the marked-up merchandise.
- bmeltzer

Lack of long term planning is common in the NHL!

Just getting an honest answer here. Would you guys rather finish strong, or get the better draft pick?

Thursday's devils/flyers should be a classic, both teams, thinking what might have been, battling for a better draft pick.

Just getting an honest answer here. Would you guys rather finish strong, or get the better draft pick?
- ryman1566

Finish strong. This year the draft is deep. You're going to get a damned good player at 10-15.

Just getting an honest answer here. Would you guys rather finish strong, or get the better draft pick?
- ryman1566

Draft pick. Finishing strong counts for very little for next season, especially with all our injuries and some expected lineup changes.

Just getting an honest answer here. Would you guys rather finish strong, or get the better draft pick?
- ryman1566

Finish strong and watch young kids develop to see where they can fit in for next year.

Also, I'm enjoying watching a goal tender that can handle the puck in a Flyers uniform. It's been awhile since we had one of those.

Along with re-signing Gagne, I wouldn't be opposed to signing a guy like Brenden Morrow if the deal is reasonable, especially if as expected they aren't going to resign Knuble or Fedotenko. Morrow is a heart and soul guy with decent skills and will provide leadership on and off the ice.

A top 9 of

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Morrow-Schenn-Read
Gagne-Couturier-Simmonds

would work for me and you could build a pretty good 4th line from Talbot, Rinaldo, Laughton and Hall.

Just getting an honest answer here. Would you guys rather finish strong, or get the better draft pick?
- ryman1566

Draft pick.

A strong seven games at the end of the season will be long forgotten by the time September rolls around. That's not to say I want them to collapse or quit but a strong effort in a loss wouldn't hurt.

Here is the issue that is being overlooked. You absolutely could place Meszaros on LTIR and grab the exemption. But to do what with? Let's look back into history a short time ago. The Flyers counted on Meszaros for this Season. So after all the player moves were made. All of the good Free Agents are signed. Meszaros got hurt in the Summer time. So if it turns out that Meszaros can't stay healthy, or isn't ready for the Season. You're back in the realm of adding the Foster's of the World. Or calling up a Phantom. Or making a trade. So really, it's something that needs to be figured out much sooner then later. Like by the end of June, if they're going to count on Meszaros or not.
- MJL

it is a difficult situation, they may not fully know about his health status by June.

Draft pick.

A strong seven games at the end of the season will be long forgotten by the time September rolls around. That's not to say I want them to collapse or quit but a strong effort in a loss wouldn't hurt.
- mayorofangrytown

Even if they play well, the worst they will pick is probably 9th. There is still a very good chance that either Ristolainen or Nurse will still be available at that point and I would be happy with either of them.

Now if we had a full season and an extra 20 or so games, we might have a chance for the playoffs.

I thought the Team looked good. They played hard and attacked the puck. They played like that all year and we've been fine.

I thought Mason looked good. He looked Damn good. He looks like that every night and plays the puck like that, nobody is going to be complaining about losing Bob. Of course doing that every night is the challenge and why he got traded. Still, very good sign. I would not unload Bryz or anything at this point, but wow.

probably

but he's a very good puck possession player and doesn't kill you defensively. would be a huge upgrade on the 2nd line.
- bradleyc4

Nutter would say he is exactly the type of player the Flyers go after, those with known concussion problems



by the way, fare thee well to Nutter, I'll miss all the unleashing of the peanuts

Along with re-signing Gagne, I wouldn't be opposed to signing a guy like Brenden Morrow if the deal is reasonable, especially if as expected they aren't going to resign Knuble or Fedotenko. Morrow is a heart and soul guy with decent skills and will provide leadership on and off the ice.

A top 9 of

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Morrow-Schenn-Read
Gagne-Couturier-Simmonds

would work for me and you could build a pretty good 4th line from Talbot, Rinaldo, Laughton and Hall.
- BiggE

If Laughton sticks with the Flyers going into next year (as many have speculated), the Flyers will, once again, have a logjam at center.

Just getting an honest answer here. Would you guys rather finish strong, or get the better draft pick?
- ryman1566

my head says draft pick,
my heart, finish strong

I'll be watching every game and I cannot root for them to lose

beating the NYRs is always great
I want to see them beat the Devils too

If Laughton sticks with the Flyers going into next year (as many have speculated), the Flyers will, once again, have a logjam at center.
- johndewar

not a terrible problem to have

better then not enough centers

not a terrible problem to have

better then not enough centers
- Marc D

Agreed. It definitely gives them a card or two to play this summer, trade wise.

If Laughton sticks with the Flyers going into next year (as many have speculated), the Flyers will, once again, have a logjam at center.
- johndewar

Not really. Laughton can take the same route Couturier did, play 4th line for a year, get experience and get spotted in the top 9.

Nutter would say he is exactly the type of player the Flyers go after, those with known concussion problems



by the way, fare thee well to Nutter, I'll miss all the unleashing of the peanuts
- Marc D

What happened to Nutter?

Even if they play well, the worst they will pick is probably 9th. There is still a very good chance that either Ristolainen or Nurse will still be available at that point and I would be happy with either of them.
- BiggE

If they finish "strong" they could add 7 or 8 pts and that may very well find them picking 13 to 15. The last two wins have taken them from 5th to 9th. Ideally I want them picking as high as possible but I'd feel much better if they were in the top 7. That gives you more options just by the nature of the pick. Also it's not so much of a stretch to move up or back a couple spots. You could move to 5 from 7 but that's a huge jump to 5 from 14.

Not really. Laughton can take the same route Couturier did, play 4th line for a year, get experience and get spotted in the top 9.
- Jsaquella

Sure, they could go that route, but I'm questioning if that was as good for Couturier as you make it sound.

What happened to Nutter?
- Giroux_Is_God

Yeah. what's up with that?

Flyers have a 10% chance of making the playoffs. As long as the team still has a mathematical pulse, I'll be tuning in and cheering for them to win. Once they are officially eliminated, I'll likely watch the Phils and go to the Flyers during commercial breaks. Right now, it is the other way around.

Either way, it's great to see them playing with heart, even if it is with a patch-work defense. Guys like Gus and Laurisden are making it tough for Lavy to set next years blue line.