Not necessarily... There will be more defenseman available at the trade deadline as bottom teams are trying to make moves. Right now there are some teams that are trying ot right the ship with defense, without many d-man on the market. So the Supply is lower, thus the asking price can be higher.
- youarewrong

I disagree...I think demand for 34 year old defenseman is lower now. Weaker teams are not going to pay to get marginally better. I think a contender pays more for him at the deadline. If it wasnt so, players like jbo and others would have gotten dealt sooner last year.

Maybe for Couturier and a pick they could get someone like Beaulieu and a skilled winger (Collberg, Bozon, Hudon). There is risk for sure, but might be the only way to get a young mobile d-men who can make the team next year.
- TheGreat28

That's a horrible deal for the Flyers.

Or maybe he just needed an opportunity to consistently get top line minutes and pp time.
- TheGreat28

He was given multiple chances here.

You know what really grinds my gears... if the Flyers didn't mark Schenn and Couturier as untouchable, it would have been Couturier going to Toronto for L.Schenn and JVR would be that sniper that we really need on Giroux's wing...

JVR-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Downie-Schenn-Read
Raffl-Hall-Rinaldo


- youarewrong

I definitely would cry watching that forward lineup with get destroyed defensively by teams with top centers.

I definitely would cry watching that forward lineup with get destroyed defensively by teams with top centers.
- Feanor

Just think, we wouldn't get to see Malkin cross check Couturier in the chest whenever Coots shuts him down!

Not necessarily... There will be more defenseman available at the trade deadline as bottom teams are trying to make moves. Right now there are some teams that are trying ot right the ship with defense, without many d-man on the market. So the Supply is lower, thus the asking price can be higher.
- youarewrong

There's absolutely zero liquidity in the trade market right now... 10/30 teams are literally eating into LTIR... 20/30 teams have less than $2M cap space... and the 10/30 teams, that can fit a big contract in, are all teams on a tight budget.

Florida had to eat half of Versteeg's salary just to get rid of him. To dump Campbell, they would not only have to eat a similar % of his deal, they'd have to take substantial salary back....

How many teams out there have $3-5M worth of player contracts they both wouldn't mind losing and could entice Florida to take, PLUS whatever draft picks/prospects to get Florida to move Campbell, PLUS an appetite for dealing for a guy that is right at, if not past, his best-before date?

Answer: None.

That's a horrible deal for the Flyers.
- Feanor

I disagree - it is not a horrible deal...it's a risky deal. Couturier has NHL experience and has performed well in a shut-down role, but there is risk in his upside - will he develop offense at the NHL level or turn into a bigger John Madden.

Beaulieu is one of the top young mobile defense prospects in the entire league and has a lot of upside..but no NHL experience. Any of those wingers I named (and a few more...Montreal is truly loaded) all are very highly rated prospects with a lot of upside, especially Collberg.

I actually think Montreal would not do the deal more so than the Flyers.

There's absolutely zero liquidity in the trade market right now... 10/30 teams are literally eating into LTIR... 20/30 teams have less than $2M cap space... and the 10/30 teams, that can fit a big contract in, are all teams on a tight budget.

Florida had to eat half of Versteeg's salary just to get rid of him. To dump Campbell, they would not only have to eat a similar % of his deal, they'd have to take substantial salary back....

How many teams out there have $3-5M worth of player contracts they both wouldn't mind losing and could entice Florida to take, PLUS whatever draft picks/prospects to get Florida to move Campbell, PLUS an appetite for dealing for a guy that is right at, if not past, his best-before date?

Answer: None.
- Tomahawk

These are all good points. I would say perhaps the Flyers could be a team though.

Player to Unload? Check. Mesz...a one year deal for Mesz at 4mil is worth it to Florida giving up 7mil for Campbell for next three. They'd have to kick in maybe only 6million (2 million for each of 3 years) to make it work.

Propensity for acquiring older player on downside of career due to improper long range planning? Check. Don't even need to address this one.

Picks or Players? I actually think if you are eating that much salary, you won't have to give up much. 2nd or 3rd round pick maybe. So, propensity for throwing around 2nd round picks like they are party favors at a rave? Check.

I wouldn't do it...but I could see the Flyers doing it.

There's absolutely zero liquidity in the trade market right now... 10/30 teams are literally eating into LTIR... 20/30 teams have less than $2M cap space... and the 10/30 teams, that can fit a big contract in, are all teams on a tight budget.

Florida had to eat half of Versteeg's salary just to get rid of him. To dump Campbell, they would not only have to eat a similar % of his deal, they'd have to take substantial salary back....

How many teams out there have $3-5M worth of player contracts they both wouldn't mind losing and could entice Florida to take, PLUS whatever draft picks/prospects to get Florida to move Campbell, PLUS an appetite for dealing for a guy that is right at, if not past, his best-before date?

Answer: None.
- Tomahawk

Meh if you left the flyers managerial duties up to "YouareWrong", there would only be two players on this team....campbell and yaks..

I actually think Montreal would not do the deal more so than the Flyers.
- TheGreat28

I don't think either team would take that deal...

MTL doesn't need Couturier with their similar glut C's, and they're not going to trade multiple top prospects for one developing kid.

Likewise, the Flyers probably aren't willing to to deal NHL players off the roster for guys that are 2-3 years away from making an impact.

Or maybe he just needed an opportunity to consistently get top line minutes and pp time.
- TheGreat28

Maybe Coots needs that opportunity. He seems to have no confidence whatsoever with scoring. I think offensive upside would have started to peek through by now if it was truly there. Not saying it isn't, because I've seen weirder things.. but at this point in his NHL career, he is showing me next to nothing as far as offensive abilities... and he doesn't appear to get the chances he needs to develop those abilities. Yep, he's a great shut down guy, but the way they seem to be molding his game and mindset, he may take those offensive risks that are needed to build confidence. He's not "allowed" to make mistakes.

Player to Unload? Check. Mesz...a one year deal for Mesz at 4mil is worth it to Florida giving up 7mil for Campbell for next three. They'd have to kick in maybe only 6million (2 million for each of 3 years) to make it work.
- TheGreat28

Florida has to want Mez to make that deal... and we know that nobody wants Mez.

The salary going back has to be in the form of players that Tallon wants moving forward... for the Flyers, that would mean guys like Simmons, Coburn, etc.

It don't think either team would take that deal...

MTL doesn't need Couturier with their similar glut C's, and they're not going to trade multiple top prospects for one developing kid.

Likewise, the Flyers probably aren't willing to to deal NHL players off the roster for guys that are 2-3 years away from making an impact.
- Tomahawk

I think you are right. Wishing thinking on my part . I think the Flyers could do it - Beaulieu is closer and if the deal was done after the season, we'd have Laughton to take 3rd line center.

But you are right, I didn't realize how many young centers Montreal had. They'd likely have to pair it with another transaction to trade maybe a Lars Eller (Couts would be an upgrade IMO) so it seems pretty unlikely.

Florida has to want Mez to make that deal... and we know that nobody wants Mez.

- Tomahawk

You just made Mrs. Meszaros roll a tear!

I think you are right. Wishing thinking on my part . I think the Flyers could do it - Beaulieu is closer and if the deal was done after the season, we'd have Laughton to take 3rd line center.

But you are right, I didn't realize how many young centers Montreal had. They'd likely have to pair it with another transaction to trade maybe a Lars Eller (Couts would be an upgrade IMO) so it seems pretty unlikely.
- TheGreat28

You're right about one thing, though... Beaulieu is one hell of a prospect.

Meh if you left the flyers managerial duties up to "YouareWrong", there would only be two players on this team....campbell and yaks..
- PhillaBully

Today is the first day I mentioned Campbell... It would have been Buff and yaks.

Florida has to want Mez to make that deal... and we know that nobody wants Mez.

The salary going back has to be in the form of players that Tallon wants moving forward... for the Flyers, that would mean guys like Simmons, Coburn, etc.
- Tomahawk

Not sure I completely agree. Basically Mesz is an expiring contract. Sure, it's not the NBA. But it is no different than us taking back Walker in the Gagne trade. Let's say that Florida keeps the 6 million I mentioned...they are saving roughly 11 million in salary over three years (21 million - 4 for mesz - 6 million eaten). For a team like Florida - that's not insignificant.

Your point was they'd have to eat at least half - so we're in the same ballpark.

And in exchange for taking on that contract...with all the risks associated with...you are not gonna have to pay a premium in picks/players going back. As you said...the market for Campbell is not that high.

game day, yeah? we need a fresh blob.

Florida has to want Mez to make that deal... and we know that nobody wants Mez.

The salary going back has to be in the form of players that Tallon wants moving forward... for the Flyers, that would mean guys like Simmons, Coburn, etc.
- Tomahawk

No Mez would just be a throw in to make the salary right. They can let him go at the end of the year. So maybe like Downie, Gus, Mez, 3rd for Campbell. Doubt they get much more at the deadline.

game day, yeah? we need a fresh blob.
- hammarby31

Taking my 7 YO and I'm genuinely getting excited to go tonight.

Team has had plenty of time to get over last Friday night and hopefully, has a strong home stand.

Maybe Coots needs that opportunity. He seems to have no confidence whatsoever with scoring. I think offensive upside would have started to peek through by now if it was truly there. Not saying it isn't, because I've seen weirder things.. but at this point in his NHL career, he is showing me next to nothing as far as offensive abilities... and he doesn't appear to get the chances he needs to develop those abilities. Yep, he's a great shut down guy, but the way they seem to be molding his game and mindset, he may take those offensive risks that are needed to build confidence. He's not "allowed" to make mistakes.
- mikel33

Kesler, Backes, M. Koivu and other similar big, two-way C's looked similarly meek offensively until their mid-20's... nobody's complaining about their contributions now.

At least Couturier has already mastered the defensive side of the puck, and he's improved on FO's... he's not like the kids in EDM who are basically useless if they're not scoring in bunches.

You're right about one thing, though... Beaulieu is one hell of a prospect.
- Tomahawk

Montreal really has done a nice job stocking their system. And not that Hockey's Future is the be all end all, but they have them only ranked 11th. Just goes to show how utterly barren the Flyers system is compared to other teams.

Today is the first day I mentioned Campbell... It would have been Buff and yaks.
- youarewrong

true

Taking my 7 YO and I'm genuinely getting excited to go tonight.

Team has had plenty of time to get over last Friday night and hopefully, has a strong home stand.
- johndewar

first game for your kid?

first game for your kid?
- hammarby31

He's spoiled; he's been there before.

He just likes it more now because he knows what's going on.