I understand the defenseman trade speculation (Meszaros/Grossman) but why on earth would the Flyers trade a center?
- aantny88

Gotta get rid of Giroux's cap hit.

kinda figured that, but what happened in 2010? i know they snuck in and lucked out in many ways, but the system worked when the effort was there. is pronger-level outlet passing the only way for his system to work at this point?
- isaiah520

Not just his passing, but he controlled the game for the 25 minutes or so, he was out there. Shows how good he really was.

Hey how come in the game they got Giroux as a right winger has EA lost it or has been playing quite a bit of wing ?
- blizzzard

It's wrong. Giroux is a center.

Hey how come in the game they got Giroux as a right winger has EA lost it or has been playing quite a bit of wing ?
- blizzzard

The league still have him listed as a RW.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm

It's bizarre.

Not just his passing, but he controlled the game for the 25 minutes or so, he was out there. Shows how good he really was.
- MJL

Agreed. Losing a first-ballot HOFer seriously hinders what the team can accomplish.

Gotta get rid of Giroux's cap hit.
- jmatchett383

Space must be cleared for the eventual Shea Weber deal.

/runs away from HB

The league still have him listed as a RW.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm

It's bizarre.
- Feanor

I know he broke in as a RW, but he's been a center going on 5 years now.

I thought he was a center and that's why I was going after him but then I hit best lines and seen him on the right wing and I am like no ?

Use the chat feature on xfinity.net, it's faster and you can understand the person, because typing is in clear English.
- Jsaquella

I always get Canadians. Just call during the day.

kinda figured that, but what happened in 2010? i know they snuck in and lucked out in many ways, but the system worked when the effort was there. is pronger-level outlet passing the only way for his system to work at this point?
- isaiah520

I believe so. I think that's why they overspent to acquire Streit.

Amazing that a game, even a pre-season one, for a team owned by a company that not only is the largest cable company in the world, but which also owns several TV networks, isn't on TV.
- Jsaquella

They didn't want to preempt "The 2013 Phillies - A Sparkling Year In Review".

Hate to do this, but if anyone's interested in a pair of tix to the Panthers game on the 8th, please let me know. Again, sorry.

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!

They didn't want to preempt "The 2013 Phillies - A Sparkling Year In Review".
- 77rams

Somehow, I'm 6-0 this year at Phillies games. I may be the only person alive to boast that record this season.

I believe so. I think that's why they overspent to acquire Streit.
- bradleyc4

maybe they should have just hired murray instead...not like that would be a panacea, but...

I believe so. I think that's why they overspent to acquire Streit.
- bradleyc4

And to add to that, I wonder if there is some part of Homer that thinks trading Grossman is the best way to go. Although he is decent at puck moving, Meszaros is obviously more of the two-way defenseman. Not only could Grossman bring in a nicer package, but maybe he thinks Meszaros fits the system better.

If we are living and dying by Lavi's system (gasp) might as well give him the pieces that fit the best within that system.

Somehow, I'm 6-0 this year at Phillies games. I may be the only person alive to boast that record this season.
- jmatchett383

I went to 2 games this year.

I've seen 3 hits by members of the Phillies over the course of those two games.

They got one hit by a guy from the Marlins and Matt Harvey held them to 2 hits at a game versus the Mets that I took my kid to when it started raining and we decided to leave.

I went to 2 games this year.

I've seen 3 hits by members of the Phillies over the course of those two games.

They got one hit by a guy from the Marlins and Matt Harvey held them to 2 hits at a game versus the Mets that I took my kid to when it started raining and we decided to leave.
- johndewar

Now that's what I consider value for your hard earned buck.

Any chance Sandberg re-ups Joiner and Henderson as hitting coaches next year?

kinda figured that, but what happened in 2010? i know they snuck in and lucked out in many ways, but the system worked when the effort was there. is pronger-level outlet passing the only way for his system to work at this point?
- isaiah520

Pronger definitely was one of the major factors- he controlled game pace for at least 1/3 of the game.

The other contributing factor was abundance of 2 way responsible forwards that were lost later on: Ricchie, Carter, Gagne, Betts, Powe, Lappy, Nodl (did I leave anybody out?).

I was going to say that Bill is the Chuck Norris of hockey bloggers but....way too Leight.

So do the Flyers have a cap problem?

or, do they just make decisions?

or, do they make decisions based upon their cap problem?

or, do they make decisions that cause a cap problem?

And really, does any team, ever, have what would be considered a cap problem?

Please feel free to discuss, ad nauseam, in a circular fashion.

Oh....let the season begin already!!

And to add to that, I wonder if there is some part of Homer that thinks trading Grossman is the best way to go. Although he is decent at puck moving, Meszaros is obviously more of the two-way defenseman. Not only could Grossman bring in a nicer package, but maybe he thinks Meszaros fits the system better.

If we are living and dying by Lavi's system (gasp) might as well give him the pieces that fit the best within that system.
- GirouxForTheShow

Grossmann is a considerably better defensive defenseman than Meszaros -- someone reliable to be used against another team's top line if necessary, the better shot blocker of the two and comparably physical. He also makes a much better first pass than people give him credit for, although he's not usually one to attempt long stretch passes. The think with Grossmann is that you get virtually zero offensive output from him.

Meszaros is the better offensive D by a considerable margin. He's a better breakout passer and has the heavier shot, although his shooting accuracy has been pretty suspect pretty much ever since the wrist surgery two summers ago. When put into easier defensive matchups, he can be pretty effective in his own end (although he was awful defensively in his brief time between injuries last year, despite starting among the highest percentage of shifts in the offensive zone and being matched against lesser-grade offensive players). I do not trust Meszaros' decision-making in tougher matchups. He's still fairly physical but has become less aggressive as a hitter the last couple years. He has always been a bit suspect as a positional defenseman, even in his Barry Ashbee Trophy winning season.

It wouldn't bother me...not like I get freebies on a routine basis
- Jsaquella

Don't you know how to rig up free cable?

Now that's what I consider value for your hard earned buck.

Any chance Sandberg re-ups Joiner and Henderson as hitting coaches next year?
- 77rams

Not sure how it works in baseball. Does Sandberg have his own guy he wants to recommend? Are managers even empowered to hire their coaches?

Joyner is credited with helping Dom Brown progress. He'll get a pass.

Not so sure about Henderson.

And to add to that, I wonder if there is some part of Homer that thinks trading Grossman is the best way to go. Although he is decent at puck moving, Meszaros is obviously more of the two-way defenseman. Not only could Grossman bring in a nicer package, but maybe he thinks Meszaros fits the system better.

If we are living and dying by Lavi's system (gasp) might as well give him the pieces that fit the best within that system.
- GirouxForTheShow

Every Stanley Cup champion had d-men on the team who played more of a shut down role than a puck carrier's role. Id think Lava's syst...(no, I won't say it) would have a place as well for such a player like Grossmannnn.

If it's strictly a salary dump, I could see it go either way.

Grossmann is a considerably better defensive defenseman than Meszaros -- someone reliable to be used against another team's top line if necessary, the better shot blocker of the two and comparably physical. He also makes a much better first pass than people give him credit for, although he's not usually one to attempt long stretch passes. The think with Grossmann is that you get virtually zero offensive output from him.

Meszaros is the better offensive D by a considerable margin. He's a better breakout passer and has the heavier shot, although his shooting accuracy has been pretty suspect pretty much ever since the wrist surgery two summers ago. When put into easier defensive matchups, he can be pretty effective in his own end (although he was awful defensively in his brief time between injuries last year, despite starting among the highest percentage of shifts in the offensive zone and being matched against lesser-grade offensive players). I do not trust Meszaros' decision-making in tougher matchups. He's still fairly physical but has become less aggressive as a hitter the last couple years. He has always been a bit suspect as a positional defenseman, even in his Barry Ashbee Trophy winning season.
- bmeltzer

Bill you mentioned Meszy's accuracy post wrist surgery (which I will assume was necessary to repair a TFCC) Typically when TFCC's are repaired there you pretty much pick up right where you left off. Guys like Giroux (both wrists) and Richards (as a Flyer) have had them done in recent years and didnt have any appreciable change that I noticed. Is it possible? Certainly, but I think it probably had more to do with his shoulder injuries. I think if we dont trade him we will see his offensive game back at a pretty similar level to his Ashbee season.. There is also a pretty big mental game that is played after serious injuries and surgeries so that could play into a slower start as well.


EDIT: I did a little digging and found out it was a TFCC.. That would likely have an impact pre-surgery.. Interestingly enough Lecavalier and Pronger have had it done as well.. I suffered a TFCC and ECU tear back in June and was "casted" for about 6 weeks. Surgery was put off to see how I would recover and I feel great... just minor painless clicking.

http://flyersfaithful.com...age-tears-aka-tfcc-tears/