Love that the Flyers blueline is comprised of broken down, overpriced specialists.

- Timonen is 38 years old and making $6 million on the cap this season. Team might have to limit his minutes to keep him from breaking down by season's end.

- Streit is 35 and just signed a 4-year deal for over $5 million/per to be a PP specialist.

- Meszaros is coming off of numerous serious injuries, but at least has two-way talent when/if healthy.

- Grossmann is a 3rd pairing shutdown guy who has knee and concussion issues.

Coburn and Schenn are the only two real keepers of the bunch, and most fans wanted Coburn traded this offseason.

Should be an interesting season to see how Laviolette piece-meals this blueline.

Love that the Flyers blueline is comprised of broken down, overpriced specialists.

- Timonen is 38 years old and making $6 million on the cap this season. Team might have to limit his minutes to keep him from breaking down by season's end.

- Streit is 35 and just signed a 4-year deal for over $5 million/per to be a PP specialist.

- Meszaros is coming off of numerous serious injuries, but at least has two-way talent when/if healthy.

- Grossmann is a 3rd pairing shutdown guy who has knee and concussion issues.

Coburn and Schenn are the only two real keepers of the bunch, and most fans wanted Coburn traded this offseason.

Should be an interesting season to see how Laviolette piece-meals this blueline.
- bradleyc4

That's a pretty pessimistic way to look at them...
They do have some good points..
Timmonen is crazy smart and has a god-given talent of getting in the way. He's a warrior shot bloker.
Streit - I know hardly anything about but it does sound like he can contribute to getting the puck the F outta our zone which would be a nice start.
Mez - has been one of our best defensemen and if playing healthy is a strong all around defenseman.
Grossmann is a beast out there, punishing other players and blocking shots. And my personal opinion is that every goalie loves this man. In the right place at the right time pulling their bacon out of the fire.
So add your list and my list together and that will give a more well rounded idea of them all.

That's a pretty pessimistic way to look at them...
They do have some good points..
Timmonen is crazy smart and has a god-given talent of getting in the way. He's a warrior shot bloker.
Streit - I know hardly anything about but it does sound like he can contribute to getting the puck the F outta our zone which would be a nice start.
Mez - has been one of our best defensemen and if playing healthy is a strong all around defenseman.
Grossmann is a beast out there, punishing other players and blocking shots. And my personal opinion is that every goalie loves this man. In the right place at the right time pulling their bacon out of the fire.
So add your list and my list together and that will give a more well rounded idea of them all.
- FlyersGrace

The offense should be very good, but the questionable defense + questionable goaltending is a legit concern.

They have a strength in numbers. And maybe some guys will emerge, or others will have an unrepeatable magic season. Just difficult for me to envision defensive success, barring a miracle.

Today's top ten list:

The Top 10 Flyers games that I have attended.
.
- BiggE

That was quite a list.

A couple of games stand out for me. Both of them were against Pittsburgh.

The first Pens game was March 8th, 1998. It was the day after Kasparaitus took out Lindros. Fans wanted Kaspar dead. The only one to drop the mitts with him, however, was Colin Forbes (link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8jLb4s1Js4). Such an oddly unsatisfying fight.

This was also the game that ended on an Alexandre Daigle (!) breakaway in OT (link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qD4XZRbu0E ).

The other game was a game against the Pens where the Flyers just got waxed. It was from "The Season that shall not be Named". October 28, 2006. The Pens beat the Flyers 8 - 2. The Pens fans sitting next to us were pretty obnoxious and ended getting thrown out. After that game....I just had a bad feeling where that season was gonna go. It was the worst performance I'd ever seen live up until the 10 - 3 game against the Pens in 2012.

Love that the Flyers blueline is comprised of broken down, overpriced specialists.

- Timonen is 38 years old and making $6 million on the cap this season. Team might have to limit his minutes to keep him from breaking down by season's end.

- Streit is 35 and just signed a 4-year deal for over $5 million/per to be a PP specialist.

- Meszaros is coming off of numerous serious injuries, but at least has two-way talent when/if healthy.

- Grossmann is a 3rd pairing shutdown guy who has knee and concussion issues.

Coburn and Schenn are the only two real keepers of the bunch, and most fans wanted Coburn traded this offseason.

Should be an interesting season to see how Laviolette piece-meals this blueline.
- bradleyc4

Sheesh, I should get virtual Prozac after reading this.

You did fail to mention anything about Kimmo Timonen's need for a walker.

Love that the Flyers blueline is comprised of broken down, overpriced specialists.

- Timonen is 38 years old and making $6 million on the cap this season. Team might have to limit his minutes to keep him from breaking down by season's end.

- Streit is 35 and just signed a 4-year deal for over $5 million/per to be a PP specialist.

- Meszaros is coming off of numerous serious injuries, but at least has two-way talent when/if healthy.

- Grossmann is a 3rd pairing shutdown guy who has knee and concussion issues.

Coburn and Schenn are the only two real keepers of the bunch, and most fans wanted Coburn traded this offseason.

Should be an interesting season to see how Laviolette piece-meals this blueline.
- bradleyc4

Timonen can still handle 20 minutes a night. Grossmann is a top 4 defenseman in this League, not a 3rd pair defenseman.

Love that the Flyers blueline is comprised of broken down, overpriced specialists.

- Timonen is 38 years old and making $6 million on the cap this season. Team might have to limit his minutes to keep him from breaking down by season's end.

- Streit is 35 and just signed a 4-year deal for over $5 million/per to be a PP specialist.

- Meszaros is coming off of numerous serious injuries, but at least has two-way talent when/if healthy.

- Grossmann is a 3rd pairing shutdown guy who has knee and concussion issues.

Coburn and Schenn are the only two real keepers of the bunch, and most fans wanted Coburn traded this offseason.

Should be an interesting season to see how Laviolette piece-meals this blueline.
- bradleyc4

Ah, great to have you back.

The offense should be very good, but the questionable defense + questionable goaltending is a legit concern.

They have a strength in numbers. And maybe some guys will emerge, or others will have an unrepeatable magic season. Just difficult for me to envision defensive success, barring a miracle.
- bradleyc4

The Flyers defensive success is going to hinge on how they play defensively as a team, not the makeup of the defensive core. The defense core has a nice mix and all are solid players. Timonen is still a #1 defenseman in this League. Although he's not the player he used to be, he's still very effective.

Today's top ten list:

The Top 10 Flyers games that I have attended.

For suspense reasons, I will start with #10 and work my way up!



10. 12/8/87 vs Boston: This game made the list for one reason only; Ron Hextall became the 1st NHL goalie to score by actually shooting the puck into an empty net. It was one of the coolest moments I ever witnessed at a Flyers game. While I can’t remember the final score, I will never forget that moment.
- BiggE

That was also the game where Brad Marsh suffered one of the scariest head injuries I have ever seen. Today it would unthinkable for a player to return to the lineup as soon as Marshy did after that injury - and he played with concussion symptoms the rest of the season, too. In return, he got treated like dirt by Keenan and then unprotected on waivers by Clarke. Such a rotten end to an otherwise happy and effective career in Philly.

Sheesh, I should get virtual Prozac after reading this.

You did fail to mention anything about Kimmo Timonen's need for a walker.
- johndewar

It was cloudy out, so I took off my orange glasses.

I suppose we can all go back to discussing the exact date of Simon Gagne's 2nd triumphant return to Philadelphia.

It was cloudy out, so I took off my orange glasses.

I suppose we can all go back to discussing the exact date of Simon Gagne's 2nd triumphant return to Philadelphia.
- bradleyc4

You tell 'em, Cataldi!

It was cloudy out, so I took off my orange glasses.

I suppose we can all go back to discussing the exact date of Simon Gagne's 2nd triumphant return to Philadelphia.
- bradleyc4

Agreed. At Timonen's age, he's going to need as many people on the team in their 30's as possible so he'll have someone to talk to.

That's if he can remember their names.

Agreed. At Timonen's age, he's going to need as many people on the team in their 30's as possible so he'll have someone to talk to.

That's if he can remember their names.
- johndewar

He's old and broken down. Can't believe the NHL still lets him play. He's like a (frank)ing leper.

He's old and broken down. Can't believe the NHL still lets him play. He's like a (frank)ing leper.
- jmatchett383

He's Finnish, so he's like 50 in American years.

Agreed. At Timonen's age, he's going to need as many people on the team in their 30's as possible so he'll have someone to talk to.

That's if he can remember their names.
- johndewar

Timonen is a rare breed who can still play meaningful hockey into his late 30's. But to expect him to continue to be a team's #1 defenseman each and every year as he gets closer to age 40 is a recipe for disaster.

Sure, there's an element of "I'll believe it when I see it" that I'm holding on to as well. But he's still human. And humans -- especially athletes -- break down more often and recover more slowly as they age.

That was also the game where Brad Marsh suffered one of the scariest head injuries I have ever seen. Today it would unthinkable for a player to return to the lineup as soon as Marshy did after that injury - and he played with concussion symptoms the rest of the season, too. In return, he got treated like dirt by Keenan and then unprotected on waivers by Clarke. Such a rotten end to an otherwise happy and effective career in Philly.
- bmeltzer

sadly not the only time we've seen this happen.

Timonen is a rare breed who can still play meaningful hockey into his late 30's. But to expect him to continue to be a team's #1 defenseman each and every year as he gets closer to age 40 is a recipe for disaster.

Sure, there's an element of "I'll believe it when I see it" that I'm holding on to as well. But he's still human. And humans -- especially athletes -- break down more often and recover more slowly as they age.
- bradleyc4

I'll keep a close eye on his partner then this year. Hopefully his wisdom is being rubbed off on Schenn.

I'll keep a close eye on his partner then this year. Hopefully his wisdom is being rubbed off on Schenn.

- FlyersGrace

schenn continued to be good after he got split up from timonen when everybody started dying, i have high hopes for him

I'll keep a close eye on his partner then this year. Hopefully his wisdom is being rubbed off on Schenn.

- FlyersGrace

Love Luke. He's the one guy on defense that I really have high hopes for. I hope he's paired with Timonen as much as possible.

Timonen is a rare breed who can still play meaningful hockey into his late 30's. But to expect him to continue to be a team's #1 defenseman each and every year as he gets closer to age 40 is a recipe for disaster.

Sure, there's an element of "I'll believe it when I see it" that I'm holding on to as well. But he's still human. And humans -- especially athletes -- break down more often and recover more slowly as they age.
- bradleyc4

No, I agree that he's awful and will be left in pieces by the 3rd game this season, after compiling a healthy -17.

schenn continued to be good after he got split up from timonen when everybody started dying, i have high hopes for him
- -davies-

Love that the Flyers blueline is comprised of broken down, overpriced specialists.

- Timonen is 38 years old and making $6 million on the cap this season. Team might have to limit his minutes to keep him from breaking down by season's end.

- Streit is 35 and just signed a 4-year deal for over $5 million/per to be a PP specialist.

- Meszaros is coming off of numerous serious injuries, but at least has two-way talent when/if healthy.

- Grossmann is a 3rd pairing shutdown guy who has knee and concussion issues.

Coburn and Schenn are the only two real keepers of the bunch, and most fans wanted Coburn traded this offseason.

Should be an interesting season to see how Laviolette piece-meals this blueline.
- bradleyc4

What about Gus? Not proven?

http://www.icethetics.inf...lly-stripes.html#comments

i'd make a couple of minor edits, but i like it.

What about Gus? Not proven?
- JFlyers00

There's some good potential there. Will be interesting to see how they work all 7 guys into the line-up. Although the likelihood is that come opening day, someone will be injured or not 100% yet.

after last year i just want to hold on to as many dmen as possible
- -davies-

As do I. Injuries are inevitable. I said in the thread a few days ago, that if healthy, Mez is in the top 6, IMO. I think with the compressed schedule, due to the Olympics, they should have a steady rotation of 7 D men to keep guys fresh( cough..Kimmo..cough). I hate the idea of just letting go of Mez + the notion that you would have to add a "sweetener" to the deal. That's asinine to me. You can never have enough quality NHL Dmen as 04 proved. Weinrich and Therien would have been much better options than Sammi Kap , et all. I know the Salary Cap looms, but damn