Well, Giroux being a competent defensive player is light year ahead of Briere's defensive abilities.

Saying Giroux is an average defensive player isn't a knock.
- Jsaquella

The original conversation was who had the better balanced game. Mike Richards or Claude Giroux. I believe Claude Giroux is the better player. So good that we traded away Richards and centered the team around Giroux.

I think I can agree with AllIn if it were more about the perception that the Flyers handed a cup over to LA in trading Richards and Carter. It's not like the Cup was going to whatever team had those two players.
- BulliesPhan87

Trading Richards to LA did not hand LA the Cup. And let's remember, the Flyers didn't trade Carter to LA.

and i gave a simple answer... bobby ryan may have been keeping himself in tip top shape all offseason... or maybe not. but we do know for a fact that voracek wasn't. and i hope he doesn't do the same thing this summer.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Voracek was playing, which maybe there was some confusion on my part. If a player is actually playing, I tend to think he's more ready to go then the player who isn't playing...

Alright, fair enough but the conversation was originally Voracek vs. Ryan due to who was ready to play coming into the regular season. Ryan didn't play and Voracek did. So I assume Voracek has the edge either way.
- dingo8urbaby

K, I'l give ya that. I guess it makes Vorachek's numbers more impressive.
I really, really hope he can build of his success. We need him to figure it out and establish himself this season. Even if he gets a slow start he needs to light it up...
I'm not against Ryan, but I'm in the we don't need him boat...

So does Hartnell put the picture of the back of a dump truck in Vorachek's locker day 1? Maybe just a piece of smashed blue metal? If you could prank him day 1 what would you leave him?

That's exactly my point -- they are not difference makers. Unless you are an elite, difference-making talent, then you need help -- and, if you are NOT an elite, difference-making talent, then you are a) replaceable and b) therefore eligible for trade.

This is not difficult stuff. Guys get traded -- it's part of the business. Patrick Roy got traded. Jaromir Jagr's been traded. Sergei Fedorov played for multiple teams. So has Teemu Selanne. So has Chris Pronger.

Those guys are all, or will be, first ballot Hall of Famers. Yet they got moved.

So please, don't tell me that Jeff Carter and Mike Richards can't be traded if the return is high enough! Because they can be! And should be, if the return is high enough.
- AllInForFlyers

I can agree with everything except that they aren't difference makers. I think they fetched such worthy returns because they are difference makers. That said, we did pretty damn good in trading them.

The original conversation was who had the better balanced game. Mike Richards or Claude Giroux. I believe Claude Giroux is the better player. So good that we traded away Richards and centered the team around Giroux.
- dingo8urbaby

I believe Giroux is the better player, too, because offensively he can take over a game.

Richards is the more well rounded player, or better balanced player, though.

If vinny l gets bought out think we will go after him??
- griouxmvp2012

I think we would have to consider it. Who knows though, maybe he'll finally end up in Montreal.

I think Roo is better defensively. He hustles... where Richards seemed to be standing around flat footed more often.
- MrBigglesworth

It's not even close. Richards is hands down much better defensively then Giroux is. Giroux is not a good defensive player. At times he can be, but overall, he is not.

If vinny l gets bought out think we will go after him??
- griouxmvp2012

I'm sure they call his agent. After that who knows?
I have no doubt the Flyers will talk to him. But I don't think it happens.

If vinny l gets bought out think we will go after him??
- griouxmvp2012

I always liked Vinny, but where would he play on this team? And what would it cost?

I don't think they have a spot for him, as currently constituted if you believe that:

1.) Scott Laughton is ready for the NHL right now.
2.) Brayden Schenn is better at center than wing.

If vinny l gets bought out think we will go after him??
- griouxmvp2012

Then he can punch Max Talbot when he's down on the ice in practice, not just in actual games.

Hopefully, you'll hear the Flyers will have stood pat and made their pick.

At least, that's what I hope.
- johndewar

I think the Flyers can still pick 11th, but make major moves like trading for a goalie or Ryan, or shattenkirk. Though I would really love to see them get Nichushkin.

I always liked Vinny, but where would he play on this team? And what would it cost?

I don't think they have a spot for him, as currently constituted if you believe that:

1.) Scott Laughton is ready for the NHL right now.
2.) Brayden Schenn is better at center than wing.
- johndewar

Laughton could be the 4th line C, Couturier the 3rd and Vinny centering Schenn & Simmonds.

Not advocating it, but it'd be doable

"When you get only one offer on July 1, it becomes pretty attractive, right?" Winter asked.
- isaiah520

Doesn't address the question.

Laughton could be the 4th line C, Couturier the 3rd and Vinny centering Schenn & Simmonds.

Not advocating it, but it'd be doable
- Jsaquella

But where would we put our first round draft pick of a 2-way center?
C'mon Jsaq!

Doesn't address the question.
- MJL

I thought the same damn thing when I saw this. You little weasel! You didn't answer the question...

But where would we put our first round draft pick of a 2-way center?
C'mon Jsaq!
- FlyersGrace

He stays in London and leads the Knights to another Memorial Cup

BoHo!!!

Laughton could be the 4th line C, Couturier the 3rd and Vinny centering Schenn & Simmonds.

Not advocating it, but it'd be doable
- Jsaquella

It's doable, but it also assumes they've made a strategic decision about BSchenn.

That's exactly my point -- they are not difference makers. Unless you are an elite, difference-making talent, then you need help -- and, if you are NOT an elite, difference-making talent, then you are a) replaceable and b) therefore eligible for trade.

This is not difficult stuff. Guys get traded -- it's part of the business. Patrick Roy got traded. Jaromir Jagr's been traded. Sergei Fedorov played for multiple teams. So has Teemu Selanne. So has Chris Pronger.

Those guys are all, or will be, first ballot Hall of Famers. Yet they got moved.

So please, don't tell me that Jeff Carter and Mike Richards can't be traded if the return is high enough! Because they can be! And should be, if the return is high enough.
- AllInForFlyers

First of all, I didn't say anything even closely related to stating Richards and Carter can't be traded.

Secondly, I disagree. Richards and Carter absolutely were difference makers on that team. Adding them, along with what they already had. Elevated the Kings to the team they are today.

I thought the same damn thing when I saw this. You little weasel! You didn't answer the question...
- FlyersGrace

he's a real PO...work. don't like that guy. pretty obvious what he's doing.

I think the Flyers can still pick 11th, but make major moves like trading for a goalie or Ryan, or shattenkirk. Though I would really love to see them get Nichushkin.
- youarewrong

If the Flyers ever gambled to draft a Russian player that highly, I can now say I've seen everything with this franchise.

The notion of investing such a high draft pick on a Russian seems like the last thing the Ed Snider owned Flyers would ever do.

If vinny l gets bought out think we will go after him??
- griouxmvp2012

wasnt Gags roomates with Vinny back in juniors ? and they knew each other as young kids playing hockey together?

wasnt Gags roomates with Vinny back in juniors ? and they knew each other as young kids playing hockey together?
- MrBigglesworth

Rumor has it they were teammates in Tampa Bay, too.

Then he can punch Max Talbot when he's down on the ice in practice, not just in actual games.
- Feanor

I completely forgot about that. Kind of funny in the same game so much was being made of the Rinaldo/Crombeen fight in the same game early. Crombeen started it, Rinaldo tuned him and only gave him a shot or 2 on the way down. St.Louis was saying something to Briere about it. It was talked about during intermission by everyone. Then Lecavalier actually does punch Talbot while he's down the same game and you hear nothing about it. Weird what people choose to see.

I completely forgot about that. Kind of funny in the same game so much was being made of the Rinaldo/Crombeen fight in the same game early. Crombeen started it, Rinaldo tuned him and only gave him a shot or 2 on the way down. St.Louis was saying something to Briere about it. It was talked about during intermission by everyone. Then Lecavalier actually does punch Talbot while he's down the same game and you hear nothing about it. Weird what people choose to see.
- dingo8urbaby

I remember that and thought the same thing.