The downside risk of this deal, if Downie turns out to be a negative on the roster, is completely mitigated by the fact that they aren't tied to him past this season.

That alone, should be enough to make people all of the resident accountants happy.

As for the on ice stuff, I have an open mind about Downie possibly having dialed back his game. I just don't know where he fits.
- johndewar

considering homer wanted cleary, i think there are similarities in terms of grit and ability to be spotted throughout the lineup

Not sure it's been posted

Laughton and company


- ob18

those are some ugly chicks...

Yea. Maybe, look at Edmonton. How'd ovechkin and semin work out together? They are similar players that are the same role. For a team that's always wanted to deploy a 3rd checking line. I wonder about the mix
- Just5

Just because two players didn't have chemistry on a line playing together, doesn't make a player redundant. A good team has 3 lines that can score. When you look at 5 on 5 play, both Talbot and Downie are players that can play with a physical edge on the forecheck. They like to mix it up, and throw the body. The difference is that Downie has a lot better offensive ability and can score. For a team that has had as much trouble at ES play the last year or so, how can adding a physical forward that can score be a bad thing?

As far as ES defensive play. Talbot was reliable, but he wasn't by any means a shut down forward. He's had his fair share of blown coverages over the last Season or two.

The question is how does it affect the PK. Because I feel Talbot was a strong PK forward. Someone else is going to have to pick that up. They have Hall available.

And the Flyers lose a player that brings character and leadership to the ice. But that can be replaced.

On the whole NTC deal specifically Hartnell, these guys want to win a cup or at least compete for one. I think if the Flyers continue to stink which they havent proven they wont, I could see him getting dealt at the deadline along with Timmo. I think the Flyers could get a nice pick or even play for either one as well. I have no idea why Talbot for Downie is a big deal. The team needed a shakeup, I liked Talbot too but its not like this is the Upshall for Carcillo deal. Flyers got a decent player in the deal that could actually help. If the team continues to stink it up, I would expect some other deals as well and probably some we wont like.

Sure there are no facts, or no links.

The talk here being though that the Flyers can move Downie at the deadline if need be.

Does anyone here, for a real second think that an overpaid extension wont happen?

3+million/year for Steve Downie? Really? Overpaid, stupid penalties, average at best in his own end and injury prone.
- flyer_nutter

Sure there are no facts, or no links.

The talk here being though that the Flyers can move Downie at the deadline if need be.

Does anyone here, for a real second think that an overpaid extension wont happen?

3+million/year for Steve Downie? Really? Overpaid, stupid penalties, average at best in his own end and injury prone.
- flyer_nutter

Whoa there my nutty friend! I don't know why you are so vehemently opposed to Downie, but I have to believe that you haven't followed him much since he left the team? While he still has his momentary lapses of reason, he has managed to reel in his stupidity significantly over the years. In most of the recent seasons, he has drawn more penalties than he takes. He has also played in a top six role for the Avs and the Bolts, and has been on a 52 point pace/season in his last 30+ games, where you seem to peg him as a waste of a roster spot. The dude can play. He goes hard and might surprise you with his playmaking talent and clutch play. He's better than the player he was when he was last a Flyer.

I'll relate something that really stood out to me when I heard it...in an interview with Landeskog after last season, he was asked why the Avs had such a poor season. Surprisingly, the first thing he cited was the loss of Steve Downie to injury. He said that even though he hadn't been with the team that long (he was acquired from TB in late Feb the prior season), he was a big part of the team and had a lot of good things to say about him. That spoke volumes.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I might suggest you go into this with a little more of an open mind...give it some time, see how he settles in and what his game is like these days etc. It seems a little premature to already be griping about an inflated new deal and stupid penalties that haven't even happened yet...lets see what the guy can do to prove himself here.

Personally, I have liked Downie ever since the Flyers drafted him, and I learned of his background and some of the challenges he had growing up. I also remember his clutch play in big games from his pre NHL career..in WJCs and he had a huge playoff for Kitchener in '07. I was glad to hear he would be back with the Flyers and am optimistic. I could see him playing with Simmer, maybe Read and/or Couturier.

I'm happy that Downie is back. I always thought he was mismanaged his first few years here. Seemed as though Stevens was very quick to bench him. He was yo-yo'd and I think he was stunted as a result.
He has developed and, more importantly, matured during his time in Col and TB. Downie has skill, he will produce. He will occasionally lose his cool but ill accept that because of the game he plays. A game with tenacity, grit, alacrity and hustle.
Downie isn't a "moron" or an "idiot". He is not some moop running around taking stupid penalties. Anybody who thinks this, although being a fan, does not know the sport in which they follow.

Whoa there my nutty friend! I don't know why you are so vehemently opposed to Downie, but I have to believe that you haven't followed him much since he left the team? While he still has his momentary lapses of reason, he has managed to reel in his stupidity significantly over the years. In most of the recent seasons, he has drawn more penalties than he takes. He has also played in a top six role for the Avs and the Bolts, and has been on a 52 point pace/season in his last 30+ games, where you seem to peg him as a waste of a roster spot. The dude can play. He goes hard and might surprise you with his playmaking talent and clutch play. He's better than the player he was when he was last a Flyer.

I'll relate something that really stood out to me when I heard it...in an interview with Landeskog after last season, he was asked why the Avs had such a poor season. Surprisingly, the first thing he cited was the loss of Steve Downie to injury. He said that even though he hadn't been with the team that long (he was acquired from TB in late Feb the prior season), he was a big part of the team and had a lot of good things to say about him. That spoke volumes.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I might suggest you go into this with a little more of an open mind...give it some time, see how he settles in and what his game is like these days etc. It seems a little premature to already be griping about an inflated new deal and stupid penalties that haven't even happened yet...lets see what the guy can do to prove himself here.

Personally, I have liked Downie ever since the Flyers drafted him, and I learned of his background and some of the challenges he had growing up. I also remember his clutch play in big games from his pre NHL career..in WJCs and he had a huge playoff for Kitchener in '07. I was glad to hear he would be back with the Flyers and am optimistic. I could see him playing with Simmer, maybe Read and/or Couturier.
- exlund

how the hell did we get him for just talbot then

Personally, I have liked Downie ever since the Flyers drafted him, and I learned of his background and some of the challenges he had growing up. I also remember his clutch play in big games from his pre NHL career..in WJCs and he had a huge playoff for Kitchener in '07. I was glad to hear he would be back with the Flyers and am optimistic. I could see him playing with Simmer, maybe Read and/or Couturier.
- exlund

If I'm making the lines, I'm putting Downie right up there on the first line with G and Vinny.

Downie has a nose for the net and knows how to clean up the garbage. He could be lethal with those 2.

I'm happy that Downie is back. I always thought he was mismanaged his first few years here. Seemed as though Stevens was very quick to bench him. He was yo-yo'd and I think he was stunted as a result.
He has developed and, more importantly, matured during his time in Col and TB. Downie has skill, he will produce. He will occasionally lose his cool but ill accept that because of the game he plays. A game with tenacity, grit, alacrity and hustle.
Downie isn't a "moron" or an "idiot". He is not some moop running around taking stupid penalties. Anybody who thinks this, although being a fan, does not know the sport in which they follow.
- KINGKENZO

how the hell did we get him for just talbot then

- 2Real

That's a very good question

Seen a lot of posts like this in this thread. To those worried about the Flyers scoring, The net improvement in scoring from Downie will be offset by the loss of PK ability and intangibles that a guy like Talbot brought. Its only slightly better than a zero sum gain and I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that if your top line guys like Giroux aren't putting the puck in the net, it doesn't really matter what the bottom 6 guys do.
- Emperor Filonius

i see how your posts are very different depending on which blog you're visiting.

That's a very good question
- JAKEw1234

he pissed off Patrick Roy

If I'm making the lines, I'm putting Downie right up there on the first line with G and Vinny.

Downie has a nose for the net and knows how to clean up the garbage. He could be lethal with those 2.
- Giroux_Is_God

Didn't he have his best season playing on a line with Vinny?

If I'm making the lines, I'm putting Downie right up there on the first line with G and Vinny.

Downie has a nose for the net and knows how to clean up the garbage. He could be lethal with those 2.
- Giroux_Is_God

Creates some space too to give G much needed room. Hartnell's been doing the complete opposite, waiting to be spoonfed pucks.

my favorite part is if this was the other way around and they traded Downie for Talbot, the same people would be whining that they brought in an aging grinder and gave up on a young player

Creates some space too to give G much needed room. Hartnell's been doing the complete opposite, waiting to be spoonfed pucks.
- hereticpride

Hartnell played a strong game against the Isles for his first game back from injury.

my favorite part is if this was the other way around and they traded Downie for Talbot, the same people would be whining that they brought in an aging grinder and gave up on a young player
- Crimsoninja

No question about it. Hard to figure how someone who is always preaching that the Flyers are an easy team to play against, and wants the team to play with emotion and fire, and on the edge. Doesn't like the Downie acquisition.

my favorite part is if this was the other way around and they traded Downie for Talbot, the same people would be whining that they brought in an aging grinder and gave up on a young player
- Crimsoninja

Whoa there my nutty friend! I don't know why you are so vehemently opposed to Downie, but I have to believe that you haven't followed him much since he left the team? While he still has his momentary lapses of reason, he has managed to reel in his stupidity significantly over the years. In most of the recent seasons, he has drawn more penalties than he takes. He has also played in a top six role for the Avs and the Bolts, and has been on a 52 point pace/season in his last 30+ games, where you seem to peg him as a waste of a roster spot. The dude can play. He goes hard and might surprise you with his playmaking talent and clutch play. He's better than the player he was when he was last a Flyer.

I'll relate something that really stood out to me when I heard it...in an interview with Landeskog after last season, he was asked why the Avs had such a poor season. Surprisingly, the first thing he cited was the loss of Steve Downie to injury. He said that even though he hadn't been with the team that long (he was acquired from TB in late Feb the prior season), he was a big part of the team and had a lot of good things to say about him. That spoke volumes.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I might suggest you go into this with a little more of an open mind...give it some time, see how he settles in and what his game is like these days etc. It seems a little premature to already be griping about an inflated new deal and stupid penalties that haven't even happened yet...lets see what the guy can do to prove himself here.

Personally, I have liked Downie ever since the Flyers drafted him, and I learned of his background and some of the challenges he had growing up. I also remember his clutch play in big games from his pre NHL career..in WJCs and he had a huge playoff for Kitchener in '07. I was glad to hear he would be back with the Flyers and am optimistic. I could see him playing with Simmer, maybe Read and/or Couturier.
- exlund

Good post.

Talbot for Downie - check

Next:
Rosehill for JVR

my favorite part is if this was the other way around and they traded Downie for Talbot, the same people would be whining that they brought in an aging grinder and gave up on a young player
- Crimsoninja

It seems like the Flyers got the better of the trade. I think it's more that Downie doesn't really seem like the type of player the Flyers need right now.

my favorite part is if this was the other way around and they traded Downie for Talbot, the same people would be whining that they brought in an aging grinder and gave up on a young player
- Crimsoninja

This is a great point.. when I first saw of the trade today, I said I liked it for the reasons you state.. I was really shocked to see how many folks on here were beyond themselves angry that we lost Talbot. Since 2011, the team has sucked, so how is losing a good team guy and a grinder a disaster. Do we not make a move, and continue to suck for years to come all in the name of keeping a good team guy grinder?

Just because two players didn't have chemistry on a line playing together, doesn't make a player redundant. A good team has 3 lines that can score. When you look at 5 on 5 play, both Talbot and Downie are players that can play with a physical edge on the forecheck. They like to mix it up, and throw the body. The difference is that Downie has a lot better offensive ability and can score. For a team that has had as much trouble at ES play the last year or so, how can adding a physical forward that can score be a bad thing?

As far as ES defensive play. Talbot was reliable, but he wasn't by any means a shut down forward. He's had his fair share of blown coverages over the last Season or two.

The question is how does it affect the PK. Because I feel Talbot was a strong PK forward. Someone else is going to have to pick that up. They have Hall available.

And the Flyers lose a player that brings character and leadership to the ice. But that can be replaced.
- MJL

I like the trade. I just question the mix. I know that sounds crazy

It seems like the Flyers got the better of the trade. I think it's more that Downie doesn't really seem like the type of player the Flyers need right now.
- Dkos

What kind of player would you say they need right now?