http://www.broadstreethockey.com/201...college-hockey
- youarewrong

He was on NHL Tonight over the weekend. I'm sure it was mentioned on here.

Clearly he would never create space for anyone. They would ignore him on the ice at all times.
- MBFlyerfan

does he hit? does he muscle people off the puck? does he screen the goalie? can he protect the puck with his body and skate around the ice?

The trades of Richards and Carter were the biggest instances of the Flyers lacking a long term plan. I like that they got value for the pair, and I'm not saying that they were bad trades, in and of themselves.

But when you trade a guy in the second year of a 12 year deal, and two other guys before long term extensions signed less than a year before kicked in, it shows that you don't have a good plan, or that you're very impatient.
- Jsaquella

I think Homer wasn't necessarily looking to get rid of those guys, but when he saw the offers for them he listened and saw good value and did the deals...he probably thought the team would still be ok with Pronger as captain and the younger players he obtained being able to make up the offense they lost in time...he may have been right, but Pronger getting Grabovski'd/Hanzal'd set the team back significantly.

does he hit? does he muscle people off the puck? does he screen the goalie? can he protect the puck with his body and skate around the ice?
- 2Real

He is one of those players that can put the puck in the net every time the puck is on his stick. People have to defend that. And Giroux would put that puck on his stick in beautiful spots.

I think Homer wasn't necessarily looking to get rid of those guys, but when he saw the offers for them he listened and saw good value and did the deals...he probably thought the team would still be ok with Pronger as captain and the younger players he obtained being able to make up the offense they lost in time...he may have been right, but Pronger getting Grabovski'd/Hanzal'd set the team back significantly.
- exlund

I've heard enough reports that he was actively sopping them for me to believe that the trades were not entirely for on-ice reasons.

Pronger getting wiped out would have hurt, regardless of making those deals or not.

I think Homer wasn't necessarily looking to get rid of those guys, but when he saw the offers for them he listened and saw good value and did the deals...he probably thought the team would still be ok with Pronger as captain and the younger players he obtained being able to make up the offense they lost in time...he may have been right, but Pronger getting Grabovski'd/Hanzal'd set the team back significantly.
- exlund

Yea, I cant fault Homer for not having a plan, when the plan was de-railed by losing Pronger to injury and carle to FA.

The point for getting Yakupov IMO is to have someone that will open up space for Giroux like Jagr did. No other player on this team can do that. There are 2 other players that might be able to do this too, however they are older, possible UFA's, and expensive... and might be a little cheaper, but not for the long term value IMO... Gaborik or Heatley. Now I believe Defense has to be addressed first. But they really do need to get someone to play with Giroux. I think Yakupov ould be the perfect long term solution, but they can always just scrap this year and try and sign Gaborik and Phaneuf in UFA... if they make it....
- youarewrong

I'm more willing to allow things to play out. I feel Brayden Schenn is having a Mike Richards like break out season. Quietly and surprisingly leading the team in points above a natural point getter like Giroux, the same Richards did over the newly signed Briere.

Yea, I cant fault Homer for not having a plan, when the plan was de-railed by losing Pronger to injury and carle to FA.
- youarewrong

Carle was self-inflicted. He re-signed Grossmann, which ate up all the tagging space, and forced Carle to wait until the summer....then once Wideman signed, Carle wanted more dough.

I'm more willing to allow things to play out. I feel Brayden Schenn is having a Mike Richards like break out season. Quietly and surprisingly leading the team in points above a natural point getter like Giroux, the same Richards did over the newly signed Briere.
- Schenn2shine

Schenn is having a nice year for sure, but Richards did much more then just score. Schenn's defense and physical game are nowhere near as close as Richards' was at the time. But even still, thats kind of my point... Mike Richards is a 2nd line player. Schenn is a second line player. He is not going to create the space Giroux needs to be a top player in this league again.

Carle was self-inflicted. He re-signed Grossmann, which ate up all the tagging space, and forced Carle to wait until the summer....then once Wideman signed, Carle wanted more dough.
- Jsaquella

Carle was self-inflicted not only because he waited, but because he was going after another UFA, Suter, to replace Pronger when he got hurt...

Carle was self-inflicted. He re-signed Grossmann, which ate up all the tagging space, and forced Carle to wait until the summer....then once Wideman signed, Carle wanted more dough.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, not re-signing Carle is Homer's fault. He leaves himself very little wiggle room and it burned him.

That being said, no GM has an alternate plan for suddenly losing your #1 Dman forever.

You could argue that Homer's plan would have worked as both Pronger and Kimmo's career would be nearing an end as the young guys were coming up.

Carle was self-inflicted. He re-signed Grossmann, which ate up all the tagging space, and forced Carle to wait until the summer....then once Wideman signed, Carle wanted more dough.
- Jsaquella

Forget Grossmann, not having bums like Lilja, Shelley and Walker eating tagging space would have probably provided enough room to get Carle re-signed before the Wideman bomb.

Forget Grossmann, not having bums like Lilja, Shelley and Walker eating tagging space would have probably provided enough room to get Carle re-signed before the Wideman bomb.
- Tomahawk

That Matt Walker trade was the worst. I understand not being able to get much for Gagne because of salary/injury history, but to take back a bloated contract was just the worst.

Schenn is having a nice year for sure, but Richards did much more then just score. Schenn's defense and physical game are nowhere near as close as Richards' was at the time. But even still, thats kind of my point... Mike Richards is a 2nd line player. Schenn is a second line player. He is not going to create the space Giroux needs to be a top player in this league again.
- youarewrong

I totally disagree with your vision of Brayden Schenn. Brayden Schenn is a secondly player right now. For the moment. It doesn't mean he can't or won't become one. Even Giroux at some point with the Flyers was a second line and even a third line player with the Flyers at some point before becoming the player he is today. Schenn could most certainly do more but you're right, he doesn't bring what Richards already does.

He is one of those players that can put the puck in the net every time the puck is on his stick. People have to defend that. And Giroux would put that puck on his stick in beautiful spots.
- youarewrong

do you have a link that shows giroux and yakupov doing this?

I totally disagree with your vision of Brayden Schenn. Brayden Schenn is a secondly player right now. For the moment. It doesn't mean he can't or won't become one. Even Giroux at some point with the Flyers was a second line and even a third line player with the Flyers at some point before becoming the player he is today. Schenn could most certainly do more but you're right, he doesn't bring what Richards already does.
- Schenn2shine

But I saw flashes of first line potential from Giroux as a 3rd liner though. Even saw flashes from JVR and Voracek. Even saw it from Richards, though a lot of those flashes are much less rare now... But if you watch Schenn's game, there is just nothing spectacular about it. He doesn't have an amazing shot... Not amazing speed or passing ability... He doesn't have a fab nose for the next, or strong puck possesion skills... Dont get me wrong... he does have these abilities, just not in the quantity that you would be looking for in a 1st line player...

And waiting for people to start the "See they shouldn't have traded Talbot" talk.
- youarewrong

That has been since he was moved

do you have a link that shows giroux and yakupov doing this?
- 2Real

I will refer you to 2010 Giroux when he had a player that drew coverage off of him as compaired to the Giroux of the last 2 years.

I will refer you to 2010 Giroux when he had a player that drew coverage off of him as compaired to the Giroux of the last 2 years.
- youarewrong

what was the player's name

what was the player's name
- 2Real

Scott Hartnell

what was the player's name
- 2Real

Pronger called him Puff Nuts.

Pronger called him Puff Nuts.
- youarewrong

Patrick Thoresen?

Patrick Thoresen?
- 77rams

Jar-O-Mir Ja-Grrrr

He had also said if Laughton was going to make the team this year it would be at Center and not wing. People say a lot just to get the media gone for the day.....
- youarewrong

He also said if he was going to make the team he'd have to blow their doors off. He didn't.

Scott Hartnell
- mayorofangrytown

and why aren't they clicking now?