I don't watch the series, since I don't have HBO (I do have the first season on Blu-ray, but I'm trying to get into Doctor Who first.) I did, however, read the books, and without spoiling anything, I'll just say that while Roose Bolton has his moments, his son Ramsay is pure evil, full stop. From a temperament standpoint, he'd fit right in with Vargo Hoat's Bloody Mummers, if not simply take the group over himself.
- dilbert719

Theon can attest to that.

If they could land at 14 & somewhere in the mid 20's, they'd be looking at a variety of good potentials.

Hagg, Josh Morrissey are in the wheelhouse, as are Mantha, Warren Rychel, Jason Dickinson, Zach Fucale, Frederick Gauthier, etc
- Jsaquella

I truly believe the Flyers are the best drafting team (of forwards) in the first round -- really, one of the best, period -- in the league.

If you give them one, the player will probably make it. If you give them two, I have no doubt that one of them absolutely would.

It's a watermelon sized one.

As much as I'd like Edler, Yandle or Johnson, I can't advocate a massive payment for one of the three. The same goes for Shattenkirk, Bouwmeester or any of the other possibilities out there.

I'd even be open to a 2 or (at most 3) year deal for a guy like Mark Streit, to bridge the gap as a short term Timonen replacement
- Jsaquella

I think they acquire J-Bo eventually. They had interest in him when he was leaving FLA. Right or wrong, the Flyers won't blink paying him the same type of money he is getting right now on a contract extension. You have to figure the Blues are going to have to spend big money on Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk won't be cheap either.

If they could land at 14 & somewhere in the mid 20's, they'd be looking at a variety of good potentials.
- Jsaquella

Not a big difference between the 11th pick and guys going all the way down to the early 20's. Best case scenario, they could come away with two blue chip prospects out of one draft, versus just one who may not even end up better than the two you picked lower down.

I truly believe the Flyers are the best drafting team (of forwards) in the first round -- really, one of the best, period -- in the league.

If you give them one, the player will probably make it. If you give them two, I have no doubt that one of them absolutely would.
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Maybe if they get two, they get another Frick & Frack.

I'm just hoping that Jon Snow and Dani have a hot, weird 3-way with one of the dragons as the thrilling conclusion to the books while the throne is taken over by the "Others" (White Walkers) and mankind is left to suffer under their rule.
- jmatchett383

Jon?.......ummmm no.

Not a big difference between the 11th pick and guys going all the way down to the early 20's. Best case scenario, they could come away with two blue chip prospects out of one draft, versus just one who may or may not end up better than the two you picked lower down.
- Tomahawk

I am all for dropping down a few spots to add another late first, or even an early to mid 2nd.

The organizational depth ain't exactly the Marianas Trench as much as it's a kiddie pool

I think he's saying he wants to stay put with the defense unless there's the option of acquiring that #1 stud defenseman...or, to use a cliche, "Go big or stay home."

Also, if ownership is willing to suffer a building year or two with the core and hope for some of the prospects to pan out, staying put with what we have is a viable option.
- jmatchett383

The Flyers are going to need at least one young defenseman prospect to pan out. And that could take far more then one to two years. And they're still going to need to supplement the defense somehow from outside the Organization. That is much pretty inevitable. I don't see staying put as a very attractive option.

Jon?.......ummmm no.

- MBFlyerfan

You don't know if he's dead for sure. If Cat survived, anyone can.

Yeah, I'm not paying a Pronger-esque premium for Alex Edler... he's too far away from being a sure-thing at this point to do that, IMO.

If we can get him for what Toronto gave up for Phaneuf? Sign me up... 5-minutes ago.
- Tomahawk

Who is willing to pay a Pronger-esque premium for Edler? I'm certainly not. So not sure why you keep bringing that into the equation. If the cost is that high, you walk away and explore other options.
Doesn't change that Edler is a player that would greatly improve the Flyers blueline.

Jon?.......ummmm no.

- MBFlyerfan

RT + LS = JS

RT + LS = JS
- Tomahawk

Jon Snow and a 3rd for Robb Stark?

It's just that thinking that a guy is all he is ever going to be at age 21 is the kind of sense that led to trading Sharp, Williams and others over the years.
- Jsaquella

At what point does it become "okay" to give up on a player? Do you wait till 23, 25? Maybe 30?

Who is willing to pay a Pronger-esque premium for Edler? I'm certainly not. So not sure why you keep bringing that into the equation. If the cost is that high, you walk away and explore other options.
- MJL

If you have evidence that the 'Nucks would be willing to peddle him at a bargain rate, please do share.

Otherwise, as Jsaq said above, the price is assumed to be uncomfortably high.

Jon Snow and a 3rd for Robb Stark?
- jmatchett383

Haha, no, it's a theory on who his real parents were. Don't click if you don't like spoilers.

We lost another Doctor today but he had a good run.
- mayorofangrytown

Yeah, I'm trying to play hardcore nerd and catch up to Doctor Who starting with William Hartnell, so right now Netflix is feeding me Jon Pertwee stories. I'm quite impressed with everything but the Chroma key and costumes so far, but that's no shock for the 60s and 70s.

I like what I hear of Matt Smith's run, but I want to get as much of the classic series in as possible before I get to new Who. I am interested in seeing who turns up as the 12th Doctor, though. My best guess: someone we never heard of. Coolest suggestion I heard that might be remotely reasonable: Richard E. Grant, under the theory that the Great Intelligence mucking about with the Doctor's time stream influences the form his regeneration takes.

I am all for dropping down a few spots to add another late first, or even an early to mid 2nd.

The organizational depth ain't exactly the Marianas Trench as much as it's a kiddie pool
- Jsaquella

I think we need quality over quantity on those prospects. Do forget we have made some signings too. Straka looks pretty good. And Gostibere, Cousins, et al.... I would rather get the elite talent and use FA to fill the bottom 6 spots.

Do you not feel that way about Giroux?
- bradleyc4

worry about him breaking down? not as much as B Schenn
or that his best is still to come? I hope so!
or I hope they hold onto him? they better or I'll lose it

At what point does it become "okay" to give up on a player? Do you wait till 23, 25? Maybe 30?
- youarewrong

I don't think there's a specific age, really. I'd say that at 25 you have a much better idea than at 21, for sure. But there's still exceptions.

Montreal traded John LeClair at age 25. The Flyers traded Patrick Sharp at 24.

I don't think there's a specific age, really. I'd say that at 25 you have a much better idea than at 21, for sure. But there's still exceptions.

Montreal traded John LeClair at age 25. The Flyers traded Patrick Sharp at 24.
- Jsaquella

Also depends on type of player... power forwards, goaltenders, defensemen are still viable from mid to late 20's... sometimes stretching into early 30's (Knuble, Thomas).

That should be the Flyers' official motto for 2013-14.
- Tomahawk

nope its hunt the puck and then prey Bryz/Mason stops the breakaway

Who is willing to pay a Pronger-esque premium for Edler? I'm certainly not. So not sure why you keep bringing that into the equation. If the cost is that high, you walk away and explore other options.
Doesn't change that Edler is a player that would greatly improve the Flyers blueline.
- MJL

i think the price, especially for the type of quality that people want, is always going to be pretty damn high, just simply due to the lack of supply

I think we need quality over quantity on those prospects. Do forget we have made some signings too. Straka looks pretty good. And Gostibere, Cousins, et al.... I would rather get the elite talent and use FA to fill the bottom 6 spots.
- youarewrong

Honestly, from around the 8th spot all the way down to 17-20, you're going to get similar quality, according to most draftnicks. There's not likely to be a huge difference between a guy you'd get at 11 and 14.

I'd definitely wait and see how the draft proceeded before pulling the trigger. Maybe a kid like Monahan or Lindholm drops to 11, when they should be going around 6 or 7, is there and you can take them.

But if that doesn't happen, trade down if you can and stockpile picks

Also depends on type of player... power forwards, goaltenders, defensemen are still viable from mid to late 20's... sometimes stretching into early 30's (Knuble, Thomas).
- Tomahawk

True. Generally bigger guys take longer, and obviously defensemen develop slower than forwards

One thing I will say about Peter Laviolette, as well: While I didn't love how he used Sean Couturier last year -- Broad Street Hockey had a great article about that -- one factor that I think led to him keeping his job is his willingness to play young players.

Paul Holmgren has said repeatedly that he feels the NHL is now a young man's league. With his background in scouting and player personnel, I have no doubt that if Laviolette complained privately about needing more veterans, he'd have gotten the pink slip.

The single-worst trade the Flyers have made in the modern era was Patrick Sharp/Eric Meloche for Matt Ellison and a pick.

Not because Sharp went on to score 40 goals in a season. That's hindsight, because if anybody knew he was a 40-goal scorer, he would never have been traded by anyone.

But it was horrific because Sharp could clearly skate, shoot and score, and Bob Clarke admitted he traded him because Ken Hitchcock simply wouldn't play him as a young player.

Sharp was getting seven minutes a game under Hitchcock.

SEVEN MINUTES A GAME.

At that time, I remember thinking, "Wait, what? Don't trade Sharp -- fire Hitchcock!"

If you make enough trades, you will win some and lose some. But that's only if you make trades for the right reasons: Assessing talent level, track record, team need.

But if you make a trade for the wrong reasons -- and "the coach won't play the young player because he makes mistakes in the defensive zone in his seven minutes a night that you're giving him" is definitely a wrong reason -- then you lose those kinds of trades every single time.