From an outsiders perspective? You severely overpaid for an over-the-hill D-man who's a powerplay/O specialist who can't play 5 on 5 D...when you already had one of the top PPs in the league (and were horrible even-strength.) So Streit likely isn't going to live up to expectations. Sorry.
Lecavalier's signing can be seen as a coin toss. He didn't fulfill a need, he's always been a defensive liability, and one has to wonder if he's going to have the heart to respond in a bigger market.
Goaltending is still up in the air. Mason's been...let's call it "mentally fragile" at times, and Emery has always been injury prone and inconsistent, year-to-year.
Basically, you guys went out and signed a couple of big names--probably to appease the fan base's want to avoid a dedicated rebuild--that didn't address any of the defensive problems from last year. Right now, I'd say the Flyers didn't get better, just because the pieces they added didn't make sense, and therefore it can't really be predicted w/ any certainty how those pieces will perform. Not a great statement
when you commit that much money in an off-season...
- Dissent
Counterpoint:
1.) "You spent too much money, blahblahblah"....Really, this is sour grapes from markets that don't spend. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to light this cigar with a $100 bill.
2.) Lecavalier will add size (missing from last year and a need) and secondary offense (also a need). Nice try. Streit will provide mobility on a defense that needs it and a shot in the arm to the 2nd PP unit, which was terrible both on paper and on the ice.
3.) While I do concede goaltending is a wait and see, it's still better than having Bryz alone. Emery was a huge part of last year's Stanley Cup championship team and Mason is a former Calder winner. There is upside there to be captured, unlike with Bryz who, unless Dave Tippett was walking through that door to coach the team back to the 90's dead puck era, Bryz "was what he was".
Enjoy Nathan MacKinnon.
