I believe a majority of any potential succession plan for life after Kimmo was for Coburn to take the next step up and fulfill some of the offensive promise that he showed earlier in his career. Can he get to that point again? That is the question I cannot answer. His inconsistency is maddening. When he is good, he is borderline All-Star, When he is bad, yikes.

With the apparent emergence of Gus, Coburn is the great mystery for the blue line. Do they ride him next year and hope he takes that next step to be a 22 minute d-man who can chip in 30 pts a season. Or replace him with something else.

If they could rely on Coburn to be a pillar on the blueline instead of a question mark the whole unit looks completely different.
- ravishingone

What they have to do with Coburn is to just let him be the defensive defenseman that he is. And not to expect offense other then 20 pts or so from him. Put him in the right role and leave him there.

Actually when he was healthy this year Mez was depressingly bad.
- JAKEw1234

When was that?

It would be nice for sure, but the Flyers still have to get more than a "wish on a star" plan for the retirement of Timonen.

I'd be cool if they give Guss and Oliver full time roles next season. However I dont like the idea of standing pat with that blueline and just rolling the dice again.

A move does have to be made imo, yet I hope they keep Grossman. He was a monster, and most nights the best d-man on this team since his arrival. People forget that fast it seems.
- flyer_nutter

How exactly do you do that? How do you plan what players will become available in the future in Free Agency or trade? You can't. You take the moves as they become available.

See my thing for a few seasons has been that the Flyers have one of the most expensive defensive cores in the league.

In terms of money vs performance on ice? Do they live up to it?

Its part of where having young d-men who can provide you with decent play, for a cheap price really comes in. I'm more and more in favour of giving Guss and Oliver full time roles next season, and signing a cheap 7th veteran d-man.

The Flyers pay so much for the back end, and have for years, to get such inconsistent play.
- flyer_nutter

In most Seasons, absolutely they do. It wasn't that long ago most were talking about the Flyers having the best defense in the League. Injuries more then anything else has changed that.

That D-core really needs a major rebuild imo.

To trim the overpaid inconsistency, and mediocrity.

Im all in favour of giving Guss and Oliver full time permanent roles on that back end next season. The Flyers have one of the most highly paid bluelines in the NHL.

For what? They dont know how Coburn will play at a given night. Great or Brutal. As well as the injury questions of Meszaros and Grossman.
- flyer_nutter

Expect Gustafsson and Lauridsen especially, to be inconsistent in their play at times. And even mediocre.

Actually when he was healthy this year Mez was depressingly bad.
- JAKEw1234

No actually he was never fully healthy this year. And he played surprisingly well for a player who wasn't 100%

If Pulock goes in the top 10, so be it. The Flyers should still get a fine player -- and I don't mind if it would be a forward. Actually, if Nichushkin slides to #11 because of the KHL concerns, the Flyers would be nuts IMO not to jump on that pick. They'll have to wait two seasons for him, but so what? You often wait 1-2 seasons for a kid out of major junior, anyway.
- bmeltzer

THANK YOU. look at how well Tarasenko has worked out for St. Louis. Imo it'd be stupid for someone to pick Fucale, Monahan, and even Lindholm over Nichushkin just because of the KHL concern. The dude has stated he wants to play in the NHL, I think it should actually impress teams further that he wants to honor his KHL contract; it shows that he's less likely to become a Zherdev and bail.

THANK YOU. look at how well Tarasenko has worked out for St. Louis. Imo it'd be stupid for someone to pick Fucale, Monahan, and even Lindholm over Nichushkin just because of the KHL concern. The dude has stated he wants to play in the NHL, I think it should actually impress teams further that he wants to honor his KHL contract; it shows that he's less likely to become a Zherdev and bail.
- JAKEw1234

Monahan is rated just as highly as Nichushkin as a player. It's not like there's a huge drop off between the two in terms of their projected ability as NHLers.

I know I'm in the minority, but I think moving players based on injuries and a weird half season where we started poorly and diddn't have the practice time to right the ship is a little too panicky. Were I an opposing GM, I'd be looking poach Mez or Coburn. Meszaros has been fantastic when he has been healthy and his injuries are not cumulative like a Knee or a Consussion. Shoulder injuries happend and they are much easily fixable than others. Coburn has had some cold spots in his career but he always bounces back, and selling him low is not going to help us. Now if the Pricetag for Yandle came down or some other golden oppertuity arose, I would trade either of these guys. But I would not be surprised to see both of them as a starting D pairing going deep into the playoffs.
- flyler

Because you use logic and don't have a different trade target every 6 hours...

There's no reason to trade Coburn or Meszaros. Both need to be utilized properly. If you use a hammer to repair fine china, it's not going to work, but it you use it to drive a nail it's a perfect tool.

Coburn is what he is-a very solid, 2nd pair, defensive defenseman. Ask him to do more and he will struggle. Looking around the league, his cap hit is about average when you look at guys who are at a similar cap hit & role(Bieksa, Hamhuis, Tyutin, Hainsey, Volchenkov).

Meszaros is also a solid player. The big concern there is health. If he's healthy, he's a solid top 4/5 guy who can play in most situations and do a decent job. If he's not healthy, there's LTIR space

Monahan is rated just as highly as Nichushkin as a player. It's not like there's a huge drop off between the two in terms of their projected ability as NHLers.
- Jsaquella

most scouts have had a hard time finding a flaw in Nichushkin's play, besides for his wrist shot, which many scouts said needed a little work, but would get there. Monahan is good, but many have him projected as only a second line center, and personally I'm not that high on him. Nichushkin, on the other hand, I'm quite excited about. He has the size, skill set, style, and potential to be a poor-man's Ovechkin (a couple tiers below Ovechkin, but still amazing)

most scouts have had a hard time finding a flaw in Nichushkin's play, besides for his wrist shot, which many scouts said needed a little work, but would get there. Monahan is good, but many have him projected as only a second line center, and personally I'm not that high on him. Nichushkin, on the other hand, I'm quite excited about. He has the size, skill set, style, and potential to be a poor-man's Ovechkin (a couple tiers below Ovechkin, but still amazing)
- JAKEw1234

Most have Monahan projected as a future first line center, not a second liner. In fact, http://www.mynhldraft.com...ospect-consensus-rankings combines the various rankings and gives a consensus ranking, which has Monahan just ahead of Nichushkin.

I have yet to see a serious analyst rate Monahan that much lower than Nichushkin

Most have Monahan projected as a future first line center, not a second liner. In fact, http://www.mynhldraft.com...ospect-consensus-rankings combines the various rankings and gives a consensus ranking, which has Monahan just ahead of Nichushkin.

I have yet to see a serious analyst rate Monahan that much lower than Nichushkin
- Jsaquella

I don't know, maybe it's just my crazy opinion. With his size combined with skating and style, though, Nichushkin does remind me of Ovy.

Because you use logic and don't have a different trade target every 6 hours...

There's no reason to trade Coburn or Meszaros. Both need to be utilized properly. If you use a hammer to repair fine china, it's not going to work, but it you use it to drive a nail it's a perfect tool.

Coburn is what he is-a very solid, 2nd pair, defensive defenseman. Ask him to do more and he will struggle. Looking around the league, his cap hit is about average when you look at guys who are at a similar cap hit & role(Bieksa, Hamhuis, Tyutin, Hainsey, Volchenkov).

Meszaros is also a solid player. The big concern there is health. If he's healthy, he's a solid top 4/5 guy who can play in most situations and do a decent job. If he's not healthy, there's LTIR space
- Jsaquella

Agree 100%. I keep reading about the inconsistency in their games. Coburn has a subpar year, no doubt. Meszaros has injury concerns. But anyone who thinks you can go cheaper, and do better. Good luck. All 2nd pair type defenseman have inconsistencies in their games. If they didn't, they would be first pair defenseman. That and a lack of certain all around skills puts them where they are. All the other suggestions of other players. The inconsistencies of their games isn't seen because you don't watch them play game in and game out.

Agree 100%. I keep reading about the inconsistency in their games. Coburn has a subpar year, no doubt. Meszaros has injury concerns. But anyone who thinks you can go cheaper, and do better. Good luck. All 2nd pair type defenseman have inconsistencies in their games. If they didn't, they would be first pair defenseman. That and a lack of certain all around skills puts them where they are. All the other suggestions of other players. The inconsistencies of their games isn't seen because you don't watch them play game in and game out.
- MJL

I agreed with you until the bold. There are plenty of 2nd pair dmen who play consistently, but lack the skill set of a 1st pair dman. I think that just means they fit their role well.

I agreed with you until the bold. There are plenty of 2nd pair dmen who play consistently, but lack the skill set of a 1st pair dman. I think that just means they fit their role well.
- JAKEw1234

Name one?

I don't know, maybe it's just my crazy opinion. With his size combined with skating and style, though, Nichushkin does remind me of Ovy.
- JAKEw1234

I'm not knocking Nichushkin. He's a great prospect and I'd be thrilled if he landed in the Flyers lap....I'd also be cool with Monahan & about 13 or 14 others.

Name one?
- MJL

Barret Jackman

Barret Jackman
- JAKEw1234

How many game have you watched Barret Jackman play this Season?

Agree 100%. I keep reading about the inconsistency in their games. Coburn has a subpar year, no doubt. Meszaros has injury concerns. But anyone who thinks you can go cheaper, and do better. Good luck. All 2nd pair type defenseman have inconsistencies in their games. If they didn't, they would be first pair defenseman. That and a lack of certain all around skills puts them where they are. All the other suggestions of other players. The inconsistencies of their games isn't seen because you don't watch them play game in and game out.
- MJL

That's my issue. You're not going to get better than Coburn for less money, unless it's a guy coming off a major injury.

The other issue is systemic/stylistic. If the team plays the same style they did the last 7-10 games, Coburn and Meszaros would be perfectly fine. But when they were healthy(or at least playing), Laviolette was still using the more complex system that didn't really suit their abilities or provide 200 foot game from the forwards

I'm not knocking Nichushkin. He's a great prospect and I'd be thrilled if he landed in the Flyers lap....I'd also be cool with Monahan & about 13 or 14 others.
- Jsaquella

I've been worried about us getting a "flunk" out of the draft. There always seems to be a player every year that gets picked high and doesn't play up to the potential of where he was picked. Even in the stacked 2003 draft, at #10 was Kostitsyn, who although not bad, has never put up more than 30 points a season, and at #12 was Hugh Jessiman, who was picked 5 spots before Parise but is now a career AHLer. I just want to make sure we get someone who isn't going to be one of those "flunk" high picks. As naive as it is for me to say; Monahan feels like a future "flunk". Thats just the feeling I have about him, and for all I know he could end up being really good, I just don't really like him.

How many game have you watched Barret Jackman play this Season?
- MJL

As many as possible. St. Louis is my West team (along with Clumbus) and I have Gamecenter so I try to watch up whenever I can.

As many as possible. St. Louis is my West team (along with Clumbus) and I have Gamecenter so I try to watch up whenever I can.
- JAKEw1234

Doesn't answer the question. My point is most fans couldn't possibly watch enough games to see the inconsistency from game to game of players like Jackman. That's not to say that he's not a good player.

I've been worried about us getting a "flunk" out of the draft. There always seems to be a player every year that gets picked high and doesn't play up to the potential of where he was picked. Even in the stacked 2003 draft, at #10 was Kostitsyn, who although not bad, has never put up more than 30 points a season, and at #12 was Hugh Jessiman, who was picked 5 spots before Parise but is now a career AHLer. I just want to make sure we get someone who isn't going to be one of those "flunk" high picks. As naive as it is for me to say; Monahan feels like a future "flunk". Thats just the feeling I have about him, and for all I know he could end up being really good, I just don't really like him.
- JAKEw1234

Given how the Flyers usually draft in round one, I'm not that worried about getting the Hugh Jessiman or Thomas Hickey of the draft.

Given how the Flyers usually draft in round one, I'm not that worried about getting the Hugh Jessiman or Thomas Hickey of the draft.
- Jsaquella

Very true, we have a great 1st round track record. In 2003 we still managed to get our future captain at #24, and I'm sure that whoever we draft this year will be the right choice, I just hope it isn't Monahan, because I believe he isn't the right choice/

Doesn't answer the question. My point is most fans couldn't possibly watch enough games to see the inconsistency from game to game of players like Jackman. That's not to say that he's not a good player.
- MJL

So there isn't a single second-pair defenseman in this whole league who is capable of consistent play is what you want me to believe?