according to capgeek Flyers are already 3 Mil over next years cap...How in the frank can they improve this team? Even with a Briere buyout that would give us around 3 mil. So tired of this team being at the top of the cap year in and out and getting marginal results.
- flyerfan28

Capgeek for whatever reason has added all the current call ups to next years Cap. Get used to the Flyers being up against the Cap. That's not going to change.

I wouldn't really call Mcbain and Trouba "Good Dmen"
- JAKEw1234

The only point being the Flyers currently have nobody on their team that they drafted that come even close to matching the potential of these guys.

Hopefully one of Oliver and Guss can be more than 3rd pairing guys. They have shown good promise at times.

The whole point here being though, since the new NHL how many of the leagues d-men have been essentially "made" in Philadelphia, and not had to be brought in.

It looks like Ian White is on his way out in Detroit (seeing as how they have younger cheap guys who can play). Assuming he could be had for cheap, he would be an upgrade over Mez next year. He should be a top 4 guy on the Flyers for a modest increase on Mez's cap hit.
- Flyers_01

Not interested in Ian White. And the only way he's an upgrade over Meszaros is if Meszaros can't play. White is not a top 4 guy.

Essentially I am saying that the Flyers have to improve their drafting and developing of d-men.

It would make things a lot easier. The Bruins will be hard pressed to find a replacement for Chara, but have at the very least made a step to try and shorten the gap by drafting Hamilton. I get what you are saying though.
- flyer_nutter

I prefer them drafting & developing, for sure....but a lot of the flaws on defense are as much the fault of the forwards as the defensemen

I know alot of buffalo fans that would love to get hartnell
- SMS4016

Haha and add Hartnell to the "Psycho Squad" of Ott and Sykera? Oh boy.

I wouldn't really call Mcbain and Trouba "Good Dmen"
- JAKEw1234

They are very solid youngsters who could easily become exceptional defensemen at the NHL level.

The only point being the Flyers currently have nobody on their team that they drafted that come even close to matching the potential of these guys.

Hopefully one of Oliver and Guss can be more than 3rd pairing guys. They have shown good promise at times.

The whole point here being though, since the new NHL how many of the leagues d-men have been essentially "made" in Philadelphia, and not had to be brought in.
- flyer_nutter

As long as they play well, what does it matter who drafted them? If you draft a defenseman in round 1 or trade a winger you drafted in round one for a defenseman, the cost is the same.

They are very solid youngsters who could easily become exceptional defensemen at the NHL level.
- Jsaquella

I've seen McBain play a few times this year, and I think he's going to need quite alot of work before I would call him anything close to an exceptional defeseman.

I prefer them drafting & developing, for sure....but a lot of the flaws on defense are as much the fault of the forwards as the defensemen
- Jsaquella

Dead on. A number of issues for sure.

Excited to see Mason if he is indeed in for tonight. Saw some of the AHL kids got called up, hopefully they get a shot.

Dead on. A number of issues for sure.

Excited to see Mason if he is indeed in for tonight. Saw some of the AHL kids got called up, hopefully they get a shot.
- flyer_nutter

I want to see Akeson & Konan....can't play Laughton, or it burns a year off his ELC

Drafting, drafting, drafting.

Is the way teams, and good defensive cores are made in the new NHL.

The Flyers are being taught this the hard way.
- flyer_nutter

Another name was brought to my attention to day in Dillon Heatherington of the Swift Current Broncos.

As long as they play well, what does it matter who drafted them? If you draft a defenseman in round 1 or trade a winger you drafted in round one for a defenseman, the cost is the same.
- Jsaquella

I'll move on just because this is going to go all night haha, but you have a good point.

I would go back with the case being it harder than ever to find quality d-men even in trades. Teams hang on to these guys, or will cause the Flyers to overpay. Its not really a 50/50 split anymore, good d-men are worth more. Harder to find.

I've seen McBain play a few times this year, and I think he's going to need quite alot of work before I would call him anything close to an exceptional defeseman.
- JAKEw1234

The same is true for a lot of guys his age. Luke Schenn struggled last year. This season, he's been very solid. Defensemen generally take awhile to develop

I want to see Akeson & Konan....can't play Laughton, or it burns a year off his ELC
- Jsaquella

You'll get to see atleast Konan tonight, Timonen is injured for the rest of the season

I'll move on just because this is going to go all night haha, but you have a good point.

I would go back with the case being it harder than ever to find quality d-men even in trades. Teams hang on to these guys, or will cause the Flyers to overpay. Its not really a 50/50 split anymore, good d-men are worth more. Harder to find.
- flyer_nutter

In some cases sure. But there will be teams that end up with a need for forwards and have surplus defensemen, too. Its cyclical, has been for years

You'll get to see atleast Konan tonight, Timonen is injured for the rest of the season
- JAKEw1234

Looks kind of crazy.

You'll get to see atleast Konan tonight, Timonen is injured for the rest of the season
- JAKEw1234

They recalled Lilja, who could play for Kimmo. See no sense in that, but also see no sense in recalling Lilja over Kessel or another kid.

Kimmo out for the remainder of the season with a foot fracture.
- bradleyc4

I'm sure I'm way Laught, but does that mean Konan is in?

Essentially I am saying that the Flyers have to improve their drafting and developing of d-men.

It would make things a lot easier. The Bruins will be hard pressed to find a replacement for Chara, but have at the very least made a step to try and shorten the gap by drafting Hamilton. I get what you are saying though.
- flyer_nutter

Every team would be hard pressed to replace a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman.

Another name was brought to my attention to day in Dillon Heatherington of the Swift Current Broncos.
- ob18

Never heard of him but good read here : http://whl-from-above.blo...eatherington-on-rise.html.

Love the size. 6 foot 4 and basically 200 pounds already.

Kind of frightening that I am 5 foot 9 on a good day, and 165 pounds.

And the Flyers have Luke Schenn. Not sure why it matters if they drafted him or not.
- Crimsoninja

It really doesn't. And the fact of the matter is, that they traded a player they drafted with a 2nd overall pick to get Luke Schenn. So it's essentially the same as drafting him. Plus he claimed that most teams build their defense through the draft. And his list contained one player for most of the teams he named.

Every team would be hard pressed to replace a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman.
- MJL

The way things have worked out this year - shortened season, Flyers struggling and likely to get a top 10 pick in a solid draft class - now is the time for the Flyers to try to draft a future Norris candidate.

They do for sure, but I think if you continously have to look outside the organization to bring in real talent for the blueline, you have a recipe for exactly what the Flyers are, and will be dealing with.

The Flyers need to do a much better job drafting and developing their own D-men imo. Thats basically what its all about to me.
- flyer_nutter

As was told to you earlier, Boston has one defenseman that they drafted. And they are a top team in the League. The Devils went to the Finals last year. Out of the 6 regular defenseman they played in the playoffs. One of them was drafted by the Devils.

A nice shutdown line of Laughton-Coots-Talbot for years, and you have me as a happy camper.
- flyer_nutter

2 first round picks in a row to address a 3rd shutdown line?!

The way things have worked out this year - shortened season, Flyers struggling and likely to get a top 10 pick in a solid draft class - now is the time for the Flyers to try to draft a future Norris candidate.
- wolfhounds

Who is your pick?

There is a vote on TSN for the coach of the year. Dont see how MacLean doesnt get it.