can't wait...gotta start cashing the Laughton chips now!
- isaiah520

I'd rather hold the second.
- Jsaquella

Me too but I expect that we need to sweeten the deal to unload mesz. The second is just me goofing but I could see a pick going. That's a big cap hit and a lot of real salary as well.

The counterpoint is, that the contract comes off the books after this year.
- johndewar

Unfortunately, this has to be the year the salary cap drops artificially and a lot of teams are fresh off losing money during the lockout.

Me too but I expect that we need to sweeten the deal to unload mesz. The second is just me goofing but I could see a pick going. That's a big cap hit and a lot of real salary as well.
- Hextall271

Colorado's defense is as big a mess as there is going. They need to add guys, and Mitchell seems irked that they want him to be a 4th liner now, after being in the top 6 last year

Unfortunately, this has to be the year the salary cap drops artificially and a lot of teams are fresh off losing money during the lockout.
- Tomahawk

I know you're right, and I know it's that simple. It's just tough, because I don't think Meszaros is a bad player. He could help a few teams.

Good morning Bill
You always write with such authority and apparent insight.
You seem to go out of your way in putting Meszaros down and you declare that five spots on the blueline are wrapped up and Mez is battling for the sixth spot.
Is that your opinion or are you so informed?
It seems I have heard that Mez is a 'crucial part of this year's team' (Lavy), one of two (Grossmann the other) up for trade, and that Coburn is still being shopped.
You have him gone.
- strongsupporter

1) Coburn has been practicing daily with Timonen and the plan right now is to restore that previously long-running pairing. While it is possible that Coburn could still get traded, he is otherwise a lock.

2) Meszaros' role -- lots of offensive zone stars at 5-on-5, power play time as a guy with a big shot from the point, some PK time but generally shielded at 5-on-5 from too much ice time against top opposing offensive lines -- now belongs to Streit. They are different sorts of players stylistically, as Meszaros is much bigger and more physical, but they play the same sorts of minutes.

3) Grossmann, in his specific role as a shot-blocking defensive D, outplayed Meszaros in his specific, more puck-oriented role in the preseason. It wasn't even all that close. Yes, it's possible that Grossmann is the one who gets dealt (with the club possibly trying to get by with Gill for a year). I think part of the reason why Lauridsen was around in camp for so long had as much to do with seeing if he might be ready to step into Grossmann's role right now if the older and much more expensive player was traded. I also think the answer they got was a resounding no.

4) Erik Gustafsson had a pretty weak preseason, but the club would like to give him a chance to be a top-six this season. And, yes, I know that for a fact.

I know you're right, and I know it's that simple. It's just tough, because I don't think Meszaros is a bad player. He could help a few teams.
- AllInForFlyers

He's not a bad player at all when he's healthy.

No. He has not done enough, IMO, to earn the spot. I feel Adam Hall and Michael Raffl outplayed him, at least in the games I watched.

I also don't buy the "he's done all he can in juniors" stuff. He wasn't even the best player at his position on his junior team. He can do a lot more at the OHL level.
- Jsaquella

I have no problem with Laughton going back to junior, I just don't think that Hall was much, if any, improvement as a 4th line center. If they do acquire Mitchell, I would rather see the following as the 3rd and 4th lines.

Talbot-Couturier-Read
Rosehill-Mitchell-Rinaldo

Rosehill skates well enough to not hurt you on the 4th line, and will most likely lose his spot to Raffl once he gains some experience in Adirondack anyway.

He's not a bad player at all when he's healthy.
- bmeltzer

For sure, but can anybody say with any confidence that he'll perform up to a $5.5M level this season? The value proposition just isn't there with him.

Bill (or anybody else who might watch other games), if you're still around, I have a question:

Do you think the Flyers are fast enough, top to bottom?

I only ask this because I watched Detroit-Toronto last night, and WOW. Some of those guys were just young prospects who aren't going to make the roster for either of those teams, and most young kids usually skate extremely well.

But I do have to say that it was interesting, watching how two other conference rivals are built. Those guys were FAST.

Bill (or anybody else who might watch other games), if you're still around, I have a question:

Do you think the Flyers are fast enough, top to bottom?

I only ask this because I watched Detroit-Toronto last night, and WOW. Some of those guys were just young prospects who aren't going to make the roster for either of those teams, and most young kids usually skate extremely well.

But I do have to say that it was interesting, watching how two other conference rivals are built. Those guys were FAST.
- AllInForFlyers

I think their speed is fine. Neither Boston or LA is full of speedsters and they've both done pretty well over the last couple seasons.

I think their speed is fine. Neither Boston or LA is full of speedsters and they've both done pretty well over the last couple seasons.
- BiggE

True -- I certainly don't dispute that.

Bill (or anybody else who might watch other games), if you're still around, I have a question:

Do you think the Flyers are fast enough, top to bottom?

I only ask this because I watched Detroit-Toronto last night, and WOW. Some of those guys were just young prospects who aren't going to make the roster for either of those teams, and most young kids usually skate extremely well.

But I do have to say that it was interesting, watching how two other conference rivals are built. Those guys were FAST.
- AllInForFlyers

I'll just chime in w/ a concern there myself. one of the reasons I'd like read on 2nd line...besides the fact that he's a better plyr than schenn right now. that's also one of the reasons I wanted to pursue chimera for 3rd line wing earlier in the exhib season.

I'll just chime in w/ a concern there myself. one of the reasons I'd like read on 2nd line...besides the fact that he's a better plyr than schenn right now. that's also one of the reasons I wanted to pursue chimera for 3rd line wing earlier in the exhib season.
- isaiah520

Interesting -- you know, that'd be an interesting look, Read on the second line...huh.

Interesting -- you know, that'd be an interesting look, Read on the second line...huh.
- AllInForFlyers

I like Read on the 2nd line as well as a line with Schenn, Vinnie and Simmonds is going to struggle defensively.
I would rather see:
2nd: Schenn-Vinnie-Read
3rd: Talbot-Couturier-Simmonds

Read would be a nice 2-way complement to Vinnie and Schenn while Couturier and Simmonds would be great down low and Couturier and Talbot could cover up some of Simmonds defensive deficiencies

In a vacuum, does anyone think Laughton has done enough to hold down a regular NHL spot right now? Not me.

If you think that he has, beyond citing the untrue "he's done everything he can in juniors" argument, please enlighten me.
- johndewar

i certainly can't say that raffl/ vandevelde/ rosehill/ rinaldo showed they are better than him, so honestly, i have nothing against keeping him up. worst case he looks out of place in the first 9 games and we send him back

and i'm sure that it's possible he could develop further in juniors. i think he can develop here too. the crux comes down to: is he a) good enough to play in the nhl and b) good enough to make this roster. nothing has shown me that either of those are a no, so i'll give the kid his shot

I like Read on the 2nd line as well as a line with Schenn, Vinnie and Simmonds is going to struggle defensively.
I would rather see:
2nd: Schenn-Vinnie-Read
3rd: Talbot-Couturier-Simmonds

Read would be a nice 2-way complement to Vinnie and Schenn while Couturier and Simmonds would be great down low and Couturier and Talbot could cover up some of Simmonds defensive deficiencies
- BiggE

Schenn doesn't deserve to be top 6 right now
Read-Vinny-Simmonds
Schenn-Coots-Talbot

I like Read on the 2nd line as well as a line with Schenn, Vinnie and Simmonds is going to struggle defensively.
I would rather see:
2nd: Schenn-Vinnie-Read
3rd: Talbot-Couturier-Simmonds

Read would be a nice 2-way complement to Vinnie and Schenn while Couturier and Simmonds would be great down low and Couturier and Talbot could cover up some of Simmonds defensive deficiencies
- BiggE

I think Read has earned top 6 minutes with his play.

Schenn doesn't deserve to be top 6 right now
Read-Vinny-Simmonds
Schenn-Coots-Talbot
- JAKEw1234

I'd be fine with that.

I'd be fine with that.
- BiggE

Looking at that...I would, too. Interesting. That actually "feels" better to me than what the Flyers were running last week.

Rosehill-Laughton-Rinaldo as the 4th line scares the hell out of me..

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
EDM claims Luke Gazdic from DAL.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Everyone else on waivers yesterday cleared.


So...looks like Hall was not claimed.

The Mez for Mitchell trade would save 2.9M....not 1.9M.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
EDM claims Luke Gazdic from DAL.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Everyone else on waivers yesterday cleared.


So...looks like Hall was not claimed.
- BringBack25

LOL all that worry for nothing! The 2nd coming of Bobby Clarke is apparently still available to us.

LOL all that worry for nothing! The 2nd coming of Bobby Clarke is apparently still available to us.
- BiggE

So is Adam Hall...


(j/k I like Hall and am glad he cleared)