Zubrus, provided the cost is right, would be a real good addition.
- Jsaquella

Yep, he's a hard player to play against.

Zubrus is listed as RW and only took 28 faceoffs, so he would probably play third line wing here. I think I'd rather have Gagne and Hall for the same price.

Zubrus is listed as RW and only took 28 faceoffs, so he would probably play third line wing here. I think I'd rather have Gagne and Hall for the same price.
- Feanor

I think Homer mentioned he wasnt too keen on bringing Hall back? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I have no interest in bringing Gagne back unless it's on the cheap. Very cheap.

Homer doesn't seem to want Hall, but I'm worried Giroux will have to take 2,000 faceoffs next year because Schenn, Coots and Laughton will all be struggling at around the 45% mark.

Zubrus, provided the cost is right, would be a real good addition.
- Jsaquella

Gotta be careful though... he's 35+ come July 1.

Gotta be careful though... he's 35+ come July 1.
- Tomahawk

Didn't realize he was that old. I remember when he was just 19. Have to keep the term low.

Homer doesn't seem to want Hall, but I'm worried Giroux will have to take 2,000 faceoffs next year because Schenn, Coots and Laughton will all be struggling at around the 45% mark.
- Feanor

The Flyers haven't seemed concerned about that since Betts played out.

Homer doesn't seem to want Hall, but I'm worried Giroux will have to take 2,000 faceoffs next year because Schenn, Coots and Laughton will all be struggling at around the 45% mark.
- Feanor

There was a time Giroux was bad on FO's too... it's all about experience and increased familiarity with linesmen and opponents, less to do with natural ability.

There was a time Giroux was bad on FO's too... it's all about experience and increased familiarity with linesmen and opponents, less to do with natural ability.
- Tomahawk

Agree and don't agree. Definitely part of it. Some Centers never really get better at faceoffs. I think ability and hard work are key.

Gotta be careful though... he's 35+ come July 1.
- Tomahawk

2 years, 5.5 million total, 2.75 million cap hit would work for me. They really could use some size up front. Giroux, Schenn, Couturier, Read, Simmonds, Talbot, Rinaldo and Laughton all have something in common. They are all under 200 lbs.

The Flyers were terrible at winning puck battles along the boards last year, Zubrus would certainly help in that dept, plus he plays a positionally sound game and has some skill too.

Agree and don't agree. Definitely part of it. Some Centers never really get better at faceoffs. I think ability and hard work are key.
- MJL

While guys like Malhotra, Steckel and Perreault who can get into the 60's definitely have a gift.... for most, it's a craft.

Almost every kid gets feasted on when they first enter the league... most will steadily improve.

It's Craig Button... he had Dumba going #2 overall last year, Matt Finn and Malcolm Subban in the top-10, Ryan Murray at #13, Grigorenko dropping to #20... is it any wonder why he's not a GM anymore?

To his credit, he did call Jankowski going in the 1st-round, but he had him all the way up at 14.
- Tomahawk

I agree.

Also: Craig Button is hard to listen to when he's on TV.

Agree and don't agree. Definitely part of it. Some Centers never really get better at faceoffs. I think ability and hard work are key.
- MJL

"And knowing how to cheat."

- Bob Clarke

While guys like Malhotra, Steckel and Perreault who can get into the 60's definitely have a gift.... for most, it's a craft.

Almost every kid gets feasted on when they first enter the league... most will steadily improve.
- Tomahawk

I agree, but just as many don't improve.

While guys like Malhotra, Steckel and Perreault who can get into the 60's definitely have a gift.... for most, it's a craft.

Almost every kid gets feasted on when they first enter the league... most will steadily improve.
- Tomahawk

True for the most part.
I am old enough to remember Clarke in the early 70's, he was already good then, but he continued to work on it and by the late 70's he was one of the best in the league

Same with Brindamour, he was good when he got here, great by the mid/late 90's and perhaps the best in the league by the end of his career. Primeau also got better as he got older. Lindros on the other hand was very good from day 1 and remained so throughout.

True for the most part.
I am old enough to remember Clarke in the early 70's, he was already good then, but he continued to work on it and by the late 70's he was one of the best in the league

Same with Brindamour, he was good when he got here, great by the mid/late 90's and perhaps the best in the league by the end of his career. Primeau also got better as he got older. Lindros on the other hand was very good from day 1 and remained so throughout.
- BiggE

Eric just toyed with people in the faceoff circle.

Sometimes he'd ignore the puck and just barrel over the other guy.

Sometimes he'd win it clean.

And I'm pretty sure he's the first guy I ever saw shoot and score directly from the faceoff.

Dude was a menace in the faceoff circle.

zubrus is a nice plyr to have, but if it's between him and gags- and that's prob the choice that it would come down to - i'd take gags speed and most likely lwr cap hit.

Eric just toyed with people in the faceoff circle.

Sometimes he'd ignore the puck and just barrel over the other guy.

Sometimes he'd win it clean.

And I'm pretty sure he's the first guy I ever saw shoot and score directly from the faceoff.

Dude was a menace in the faceoff circle.
- johndewar

This one was pretty slick, too.

This one was pretty slick, too.


- BulliesPhan87

Richards was able to do it too.

But Lindros was the first one I ever saw do it. I'm sure there were others but I can't think of them.

That'd be fine if we didn't have weaknesses elsewhere. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have an elite defense man, an elite forward, and an amazing forward rather than an elite forward and two amazing forwards. It's much more balanced and I think we'd be a much better team for it. Don't forget that we have Laughton, too. He's a projected second-liner. We can't keep him on the 4th line forever. So that would leave us with an elite forward, and elite defenseman, an amazing forward, and a great forward instead of an elite forward, two amazing forwards, and a great forward, all just in our centers. The flyers have always gone by the philosophy of drafting the best available player, because later the greatest value will be the most helpful i aquiring strengths where we need them. I think it might be time that the flyers cashed in some value to get some value where they need it.
- JAKEw1234

Laughton's ceiling is 2nd line center. Much more likely 3rd line NHL center who can play 2nd line as needed.

And I agree, if we can land an elite defenseman without dismantling our team/prospect pool, then yeah, let's do it. But what we'd have to do in order to land one would be absurd.

You obviously have a "clear bias about the player"
- exlund

At least he gives more reasons than "he sucks" for not wanting him.

Richards was able to do it too.

But Lindros was the first one I ever saw do it. I'm sure there were others but I can't think of them.
- johndewar

It's a rare treat, for sure. I missed the 'first' in your post the first time around.

And I agree, if we can land an elite defenseman without dismantling our team/prospect pool, then yeah, let's do it. But what we'd have to do in order to land one would be absurd.
- jmatchett383

It may look grim, but anything can happen. Toronto got Dion Phaneuf at about the same stage of development as guys like Myers, E Johnson etc for what amounted to spare parts and out-right garbage.

Hi guys,

I was looking at the Pens' capgeek and noticed they have a lot of agents come this summer. Will they be getting issues with the cap and resigning players?

It may look grim, but anything can happen. Toronto got Dion Phaneuf at about the same stage of development as guys like Myers, E Johnson etc for what amounted to spare parts and out-right garbage.
- Tomahawk

myers would be a guy i would gamble on. EJ has never shown any indication of being more than a 2nd pair guy. on a lower tier, mcbain could develop into a yandle-lite. there are others, but those are a few that come to mind.