For sure. I think being sorrounded by Brown, Doughty, Quick and Kopitar really helped take some of the heat off of them. LA also has/had a much more physically dominating team.

Do you believe the Flyers focus too much on the hot streaks of players, and give out too big/lengthy contracts too soon when it could probably be avoided? Thats all Im getting at in the end.
- flyer_nutter

Possibly. I think the bigger issue is changing course on those big contracts a year or two in. Say JvR signed a 2 year deal for $3mm. He'd be sitting there this summer looking at a massive raise. That's why the Flyers-and other teams-do this, to avoid a guy having a breakout year in season 4 and breaking the bank in massive fashion.

If the Flyers had had good goaltending in 2010, they probably win the Cup. Without Quick, Carter and Richards aren't Cup winners now.

To lighten the mood.

I'm sitting on the bus on the way home from college and some gangster wannabe guy comes on the bus.

Sits next to me, and proceeds to ask me why all churches have pointy roofs.

I informed him it was to probably allow the rain and snow to runoff.

You'd think I shoved a Viagra into his morning cheerios by how excited he got. People be crazy.

All things being equal, of course, need can enter the equation. I was hoping they'd take Hamilton even when Couturier fell into their laps, and I'm still questioning that decision, but Couturier's still going to be a hell of a player, or a hell of a trade chip, either way.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. If they trade Couturier for a good defenseman, what's the difference? They still acquired a defenseman for that pick.

I'd love to see them do a better job drafting defensemen. We all would. But Does it matter how they got Luke Schenn? Or Bryadon Coburn? Nope.

Do you believe the Flyers focus too much on the hot streaks of players, and give out too big/lengthy contracts too soon when it could probably be avoided? Thats all Im getting at in the end.
- flyer_nutter

Homer's got many virtues, but he's a terrible contract negotiator, plain and simple. Flyers need to hand off contract strategy to somebody with a background in law/player representation/collective bargaining. Or at least send Homer off to Chiarelli's summer GM fantasy camp.

Possibly. I think the bigger issue is changing course on those big contracts a year or two in. Say JvR signed a 2 year deal for $3mm. He'd be sitting there this summer looking at a massive raise. That's why the Flyers-and other teams-do this, to avoid a guy having a breakout year in season 4 and breaking the bank in massive fashion.

If the Flyers had had good goaltending in 2010, they probably win the Cup. Without Quick, Carter and Richards aren't Cup winners now.
- Jsaquella

You know, I thought about the SCF final after it was done.

I do think the better team won. Hawks had good D, but their net presence really beat the Flyers as well.

I have to say, at this point it's not good enough to just be a playoff team. They've been a playoff team every year of my existence except 6 years. It's gotten them nothing.
The eagles had the same philosophy, but people always talk about "superbowl or bust". Jeff Lurey would be hung if he came out and talked about trying hard, and its all voodoo.
I'm tired of seeing the win now mentality. Look at how many teams decided to actually build their teams. I'm more than willing to burn a couple years now if it means building a team like chicago or boston that has depth, youth, and veterans sprinkled in for final touches.

It all starts with Snider. He's the one who keeps making left hand turns instead of staying the course.
- the deaninator

very well stated

To lighten the mood.

I'm sitting on the bus on the way home from college and some gangster wannabe guy comes on the bus.

Sits next to me, and proceeds to ask me why all churches have pointy roofs.

I informed him it was to probably allow the rain and snow to runoff.

You'd think I shoved a Viagra into his morning cheerios by how excited he got. People be crazy.
- flyer_nutter

at least you made your point

You know, I thought about the SCF final after it was done.

I do think the better team won. Hawks had good D, but their net presence really beat the Flyers as well.
- flyer_nutter

Niemi played solidly, not great, but he was better than Boucher and Leighton in that series.

But Quick was out of his skull last year. That's the main reason LA won.

Niemi played solidly, not great, but he was better than Boucher and Leighton in that series.

But Quick was out of his skull last year. That's the main reason LA won.
- Jsaquella

I always believed the team to most fear in the playoffs is the one with the best/hottest goalie.

Not always the case, but yeah.

To lighten the mood.

I'm sitting on the bus on the way home from college and some gangster wannabe guy comes on the bus.

Sits next to me, and proceeds to ask me why all churches have pointy roofs.

I informed him it was to probably allow the rain and snow to runoff.

You'd think I shoved a Viagra into his morning cheerios by how excited he got. People be crazy.
- flyer_nutter

wrong they're so you can be closer to god when you're in the building

Exactly. If they trade Couturier for a good defenseman, what's the difference? They still acquired a defenseman for that pick.

I'd love to see them do a better job drafting defensemen. We all would. But Does it matter how they got Luke Schenn? Or Bryadon Coburn? Nope.
- Jsaquella

it does matter because the dman as an asset has more value than a forward. think about the all of the assets expended to acquire the excellent D they had a few yrs ago. like Bill posted last June :

"One byproduct of the win-now philosophy is often impatience with young players. Another is that the starting defensemen in particular often wind up costing more, salary-cap wise and/or in terms of assets expended in trades to acquire them. "

it's essential going forward that they are able to throw a homegrown top 4 guy into the mix every 6-7 yrs at least.

Conacher reminds me a bit of Read.

If Ottawa and Boston ever meet in the playoffs that will be a hell of a physical series.

Niemi played solidly, not great, but he was better than Boucher and Leighton in that series.

But Quick was out of his skull last year. That's the main reason LA won.
- Jsaquella

i also felt that their break out was one of the best i'd ever seen in terms of beating forechecks (hat tip Terry Murray)

i also felt that their break out was one of the best i'd ever seen in terms of beating forechecks (hat tip Terry Murray)
- isaiah520

I lost my Flyer hat a few months ago. Forgot on a shelf in a store at the mall a former ex/gf works at.

I was stupid enough to tell the current one that fact before going back to get the cap.

She proceeded to get angry haha, and needless to say, I dont think I am ever getting it back.

NHL draft tracker: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Portland Winterhawks

http://ca.sports.yahoo.co...interhawks-231305519.html

I lost my Flyer hat a few months ago. Forgot on a shelf in a store at the mall a former ex/gf works at.

I was stupid enough to tell the current one that fact before going back to get the cap.

She proceeded to get angry haha, and needless to say, I dont think I am ever getting it back.
- flyer_nutter

there's a lesson there, ya think?

NHL draft tracker: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Portland Winterhawks

http://ca.sports.yahoo.co...interhawks-231305519.html
- ob18

You were high on him were you not?

it does matter because the dman as an asset has more value than a forward. think about the all of the assets expended to acquire the excellent D they had a few yrs ago. like Bill posted last June :

"One byproduct of the win-now philosophy is often impatience with young players. Another is that the starting defensemen in particular often wind up costing more, salary-cap wise and/or in terms of assets expended in trades to acquire them. "

it's essential going forward that they are able to throw a homegrown top 4 guy into the mix every 6-7 yrs at least.
- isaiah520

Often doesn't mean always. I agree, it tends to cost more to trade for a defenseman, and clearly stated I'd love for them to do a better job in drafting defensemen(and also goalies).

That doesn't mean that I feel they should abandon the BPA approach, especially in the early rounds.

You were high on him were you not?
- flyer_nutter

Among many I'd consider in round 2

Bill Meltzer ‏@billmeltzer 1m
NHL nears new Player Transfer Agreement http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=669998 …

I was pissed when they traded him, because in less than 24 months Bob went from a project, to the answer in goal, to the doghouse, to second fiddle to a guy who has been more inconsistent than bob ever was.
- the deaninator

I don't think Bobrovsky was ever considered the answer in goal here.

Exactly. If they trade Couturier for a good defenseman, what's the difference? They still acquired a defenseman for that pick.

I'd love to see them do a better job drafting defensemen. We all would. But Does it matter how they got Luke Schenn? Or Bryadon Coburn? Nope.
- Jsaquella

I agree with you, I just hope they don't over wait it and lose out on opportunities. If they make a move for a future #1, and it includes coots or B Schenn, I would hope it'd be this offseason. Players like Hamilton, Brodin, etc will be totally untouchable after next season. This off season we at least have a chance. If they draft Pulock, and trade Coots/B Schenn for another big up and comer, then our defensive youth core will be balanced with our offensive.

Do you mean wait for JVR to develop here?

My thing with JVR was always that his work ethic was so inconsistent. The fact that his d-game really needed work and he didnt drive the net consistently enough. I would have been cool with him here, but when they gave him the big contract that basically had him pegged as a top player, I was iffy.

The got a hot streak in the playoffs for a short time. Then the organization decides to give him a big contract, because they creamed their pants.

Hindsight at the end of it all, but I hope they learned to not give out big money so fast, and not to players that run so hot and cold. They need to better evaluate who their top guys will be, and not put that on players who aren't those kind of players.

Perfect example is Carter and Richards.
- flyer_nutter

Your first paragraph suggests that growing pains and inconsistency isn't expected in a young player. On one hand you're saying the Flyers lack patience. Then your complaining about the inconsistency and that he needed to work on his defensive game. How is that showing patience for a young player?
When players like Carter and Richards progress as they did. There's no getting away from the big contracts. And in the past with players like that, you had two choices in re-signing them. The longer back diving deals to lower the Cap hit. Or the shorter deals with higher Cap hits. Pick your poison.

Often doesn't mean always. I agree, it tends to cost more to trade for a defenseman, and clearly stated I'd love for them to do a better job in drafting defensemen(and also goalies).

That doesn't mean that I feel they should abandon the BPA approach, especially in the early rounds.
- Jsaquella

not at all. would love to get barkov or nichushkin. have to figure we're gonna say goodbye to one of schenn, couts or laught as part of a deal for a puck moving dman.

What factors? I want them to be contenders but contenders that are way more consistent.

The past 20 years they have been "contenders" but every playoffs season has always started with a goalie issue, or lack of offense, or defense liabilities. I want teams that can win consistently, and that's not going to happen when you constantly have to overpay for positions when you could remedy that by being better at scouting and developing.

Look a the salaries on the back end they have to pay next year. Tell me developing defense that are anything above third pairing players wouldn't help them in other areas of need as well.
- the deaninator

The factors I mentioned to you earlier. How coming off a Cup finals appearance. They made a radical u turn and traded their two top players at the time.
What do you mean by winning consistently? Winning the Cup consistently? This franchise is one of the top franchises in playoff appearances, and winning.
Tell me what top team doesn't overpay for players?
The Flyers if they wanted could have Gustafsson, Gervais, or Lauridsen on the 3rd pair next Season. All pretty cheaply.