Scuderi and Ference IMO are better Dmen than Coburn, dont have a problem with it.
- Just5

Scuderi and Ference play on teams that support their defenseman and have a better team game then the Flyers have had recently. Put Scuderi and Ference on the FLyers, and things might be different.

What do you guys think of Kaberle? He will be bought out by Montreal I wouldn't mind having him on a decent contract of course.

What do you guys think of Kaberle? He will be bought out by Montreal I wouldn't mind having him on a decent contract of course.
- flyerfan28

No thanks.

I don't think the Flyers are willing to move any of the young players. Read and Mez seem to be the guys to make a deal.
- stveshdy

I think they're reluctant to do so, but they would in the right deal. Don't ask me what that is, because I don't know.

What do you guys think of Kaberle? He will be bought out by Montreal I wouldn't mind having him on a decent contract of course.
- flyerfan28

Don't see a spot for him in the lineup.

I don't think the Flyers are willing to move any of the young players. Read and Mez seem to be the guys to make a deal.
- stveshdy

I believe Simmonds could be on that list also, under the right trade scenario. I think the foundation of this team is now built on G, Voracek, Coots, and the Schenns. It is going to have to take one hell of a deal to pry any of those guys away in my opinion.

I think they're reluctant to do so, but they would in the right deal. Don't ask me what that is, because I don't know.
- MJL

Problem is I don't see any of those right deals anywhere. Teams aren't giving up elite to a level below type defenseman.

Problem is I don't see any of those right deals anywhere. Teams aren't giving up elite to a level below type defenseman.
- stveshdy

That could change in a NY minute.

That could change in a NY minute.
- MJL

I would love for that to happen.

Scuderi and Ference IMO are better Dmen than Coburn, dont have a problem with it.
- Just5

And cheaper as well. They'd all be in the 3/4 mil range and free up 4/5 mil in cap space. They could use that on a FORWARD like Ryan, Bickell, Heatley etc.

I would love for that to happen.
- stveshdy

The Flyers will draft Zadarov and all the blueline issues will be solved.






It can't hurt to have hope.

I believe Simmonds could be on that list also, under the right trade scenario. I think the foundation of this team is now built on G, Voracek, Coots, and the Schenns. It is going to have to take one hell of a deal to pry any of those guys away in my opinion.
- ravishingone

Totally disagree. I think everyone from top to bottom loves Simmonds and a real good replacement for jvr

The Flyers will draft Zadarov and all the blueline issues will be solved.






It can't hurt to have hope.
- ravishingone

He's one of the favorites I have in the draft.

The Flyers will draft Zadarov and all the blueline issues will be solved.






It can't hurt to have hope.
- ravishingone

I brought him up yesterday

And cheaper as well. They'd all be in the 3/4 mil range and free up 4/5 mil in cap space. They could use that on a FORWARD like Ryan, Bickell, Heatley etc.
- TonyBazz

Coburn's Cap hit is 4.5M, and Meszaros is 4M. So even if they bring in two replacement UFA defenseman at 3M each. That would free up 2.5M

Age is also a consideration. Why with a young team do we want to add two 34 year old defenseman to the defense. We already have a 35 year old Streit and 39 year old Timonen.

I've touched on this before, but I really do feel that Mark Streit's addition really does do a couple of things for the Flyers that are more important for how we are constructed than is being credit for.

When Matt Carle left, he was playing Top 4 minutes. And while Matt Carle was almost always in the lineup -- which matters -- and was good at certain aspects of defense, particularly blocking shots, I would argue that his biggest failing is that at even strength, particularly against better teams, Carle was really a third-pairing defenseman -- again, not an awful player. Like everyone, he had strengths and weaknesses.

But when you played Matt Carle for 22-plus minutes a night against Top 6 players, well...we know what happens.

But when JVR got flipped for Luke Schenn, that reconfigured the defense. You don't HAVE to play Mark Streit in the Top 4. You really don't have to, and you won't lose anything because of it. Good coaching next season, good matching, should be easily accomplished where for the Flyers, a lot Mark Streit's weaknesses should be easier to hide, while his strengths should be a very real asset.

Just for instance:
Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Grossmann
Streit-Meszaros (more likely, someone else)
Gustafsson

See what you have there?

Luke Schenn proved one thing last year: He is not a liability in the Top 4, defensively. And he can play big minutes.

If you give Timonen-Schenn and Coburn-Grossmann the majority of the defensive zone starts against Top 6 forwards, based on rotation, the Flyers should be fine.

Where Mark Streit matters is in neutral-zone starts and offensive zone starts, especially against other teams' second, third and fourth lines. For what he does well, and likely will for the majority of his contract -- and for what he'll likely bring to the PP -- that guy should be really effective for the Flyers.

I think if we see Mark Streit properly for 18 minutes a game, we'll get all the offensive production the Islanders got and minimize some of the defensive worries that he'll have.

"Stacking," matching lines and d-pairs...that's coaching. That stuff matters.

The Flyers don't need Mark Streit on the ice, 5v5, against Malkin and Crosby and Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk. Or on the PK or in the last minute of the game.

We need Mark Streit to kill it off of neutral-zone starts, offensive-zone starts and on breakouts when he's retrieving the puck in the defensive zone, not starting in it.

I know the Flyers know this. That stuff is basic. And I really do think that the acquisition of Mark Streit will pay more dividends than some might realize.
- AllInForFlyers

Good stuff. I am one who really likes the Streit pickup for very little.

Totally disagree. I think everyone from top to bottom loves Simmonds and a real good replacement for jvr
- dingo8urbaby

Yea. I would guess a large portion of the flyers brass loves Simmonds. Itd be dumb to trade him just to sign an expensive bickell or Clarkson. No reason to think he's getting shopped

Yea. I would guess a large portion of the flyers brass loves Simmonds. Itd be dumb to trade him just to sign an expensive bickell or Clarkson. No reason to think he's getting shopped
- Just5

I believe its Mez and Read if the Flyers move anyone.

Totally disagree. I think everyone from top to bottom loves Simmonds and a real good replacement for jvr
- dingo8urbaby

I totally understand your opinion. I appreciate what Simmonds brings to the table. I'm not looking to deal him, but I would more quickly then the core I listed earlier. I would go so far as to say if they could move Simmonds to bolster the blueline and also allow Read to be signed long-term I would do it. Again, it sounds like I hate Simmonds, but I don't.

However in the end, most of my ideas for the Flyers that I believe are good and sound logic, they go completely in the opposite direction.

Problem is I don't see any of those right deals anywhere. Teams aren't giving up elite to a level below type defenseman.
- stveshdy

I'm so tired of the 2-year overaged free agent solution attempt (or is it just a stopgap until the 'real' right guy comes along?).

Go off the board and find a 4 or 5 guy - with the potential to be a 2 or 3 - in trade from a team that's D rich, and let him grow. Our young D depth (read: AHL) players just aren't ready to take on the NHL game yet, I fear.

A guy like Leddy, who seems to have worn out his welcome in Chicago. I'd like to think he has at least #3 potential. (Not that Leddy's 'off the board' as a RFA, but that type of player)

I'm so tired of the 2-year overaged free agent solution attempt (or is it just a stopgap until the 'real' right guy comes along?).

Go off the board and find a 4 or 5 guy - with the potential to be a 2 or 3 - in trade from a team that's D rich, and let him grow. Our young D depth (read: AHL) players just aren't ready to take on the NHL game yet, I fear.

A guy like Leddy, who seems to have worn out his welcome in Chicago. I'd like to think he has at least #3 potential. (Not that Leddy's 'off the board' as a RFA, but that type of player)
- tangent_man

The issue is what's the cost?

I think Gus is actually the replacement for Mez. They can move Mez and not have to acquire another body for the D, certainly they wouldn't need to this summer

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Streit
Gus-Grossman
Gervais
Bourdon
Lauridsen
- Just5

I see Mez still in the Mix. I don't see much movement on the D front until they know who's healthy and who isn't. Not a great idea to trade pieces when their value is down. Buyout Bryz, get another goalie to compete with Mason. Draft well and be patient.

I'd take a flyer on him if we buy out Bryzgalov. No way I;d trade for him, though.
- BulliesPhan87

agreed

I totally understand your opinion. I appreciate what Simmonds brings to the table. I'm not looking to deal him, but I would more quickly then the core I listed earlier. I would go so far as to say if they could move Simmonds to bolster the blueline and also allow Read to be signed long-term I would do it. Again, it sounds like I hate Simmonds, but I don't.

However in the end, most of my ideas for the Flyers that I believe are good and sound logic, they go completely in the opposite direction.
- ravishingone

My core is Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Luke Schenn, Steve Mason, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier. This group have long relationships beyond the Flyers.

I'm so tired of the 2-year overaged free agent solution attempt (or is it just a stopgap until the 'real' right guy comes along?).

Go off the board and find a 4 or 5 guy - with the potential to be a 2 or 3 - in trade from a team that's D rich, and let him grow. Our young D depth (read: AHL) players just aren't ready to take on the NHL game yet, I fear.

A guy like Leddy, who seems to have worn out his welcome in Chicago. I'd like to think he has at least #3 potential. (Not that Leddy's 'off the board' as a RFA, but that type of player)
- tangent_man

Which organization has the #1 rated farm system?