Yes. The irony is he wants desperately to win another Cup, but he fails to realize his job at his advanced age is just to sign the checks. Leave the personnel decisions to his hockey guys.
- PLindbergh31

Still, I think a lot of sports fans would kill to have an owner who's so passionate about his team. If Ed can give something to help his team win, I truly believe he will.

I don't think we really can know how much tampering he does, so I don't want to be too damning here. I do think he sets the "contend every year" standard that, up until very recently, has been the Flyers modus. Even with the acquisition of Streit and Lacavalier, I think there's some pause on that philosophy right now.

Yup. I'm keeping an open mind to Morin. Hopefully he isn't rushed. It's tough to have a season like last and wait 3-4 years for a guy to contribute. I guess I'm glad they picked 11th in hindsight, if they would have picked Morin at 7 or 8 with guys like Nichushkin and Risto available I would have flipped my (frank)ing lid.
- PLindbergh31

Well, just because a guy makes the NHL right after his draft doesn't mean he's the better player. Look at Luke Schenn vs Alex Pietrangelo.

Schenn immediately came to the NHL and has been up and down, as we well know. Pietrangelo was brought along slowly by the Blues and has developed steadily and strongly and is now a Norris contender.

Still, I think a lot of sports fans would kill to have an owner who's so passionate about his team. If Ed can give something to help his team win, I truly believe he will.

I don't think we really can know how much tampering he does, so I don't want to be too damning here. I do think he sets the "contend every year" standard that, up until very recently, has been the Flyers modus. Even with the acquisition of Streit and Lacavalier, I think there's some pause on that philosophy right now.
- BulliesPhan87

I think his tampering comes in the public pronouncements, not necessarily in determining which players to get.

He says, we're gonna get a goalie, and then leaves it to Holmgren to get one. I don;t think he says get me this guy or that guy.

I think his tampering comes in the public pronouncements, not necessarily in determining which players to get.

He says, we're gonna get a goalie, and then leaves it to Holmgren to get one. I don;t think he says get me this guy or that guy.
- Jsaquella

I would go so far as to say he told Holmgren he wanted the best available goaltender, and to damn the cost. Even that's a bit of an assumption though.

I would go so far as to say he told Holmgren he wanted the best available goaltender, and to damn the cost. Even that's a bit of an assumption though.
- BulliesPhan87

Sure, but he didn't specifically say go get me Bryzgalov.

I do think he played a role in the Carter and Richards moves, though.

Well, just because a guy makes the NHL right after his draft doesn't mean he's the better player. Look at Luke Schenn vs Alex Pietrangelo.

Schenn immediately came to the NHL and has been up and down, as we well know. Pietrangelo was brought along slowly by the Blues and has developed steadily and strongly and is now a Norris contender.
- Jsaquella

That's a fair point. I guess it's human nature after a bad season to want immediate dividends returned. Doesn't always work that way. The worst thing they could do is to rush Morin.

I've only seen him play once, and I wasn't overly impressed. Obviously that is a tiny sample and is meaningless. I guess all of the big d-men the Flyers have had K. Samuellson, Therien, Mcallister, all bring back memories of slow, lumbering guys with not much offensive upside.

What would you say the odds of are right now of Morin having a better career than Therien?

If we're hovering on the bubble near the trade line there is zero chance the flyers are keeping all of morin, ghost, Laughton, stolarz, or a 1st or 2nd rounder. One or more will be gone for Brian Campbell book it
- Just5

I don't think we're keeping all those guys, on the bubble or not. This team has no number 1, no number 2. Just a bunch of 3-4's. Some worse than that.

Not a single one of those young guys is anywhere near close to logging big NHL minutes. They will pay a fortune for Dion or they will trade assets for D. Given how the Suter thing played out I think they will go for the latter.

I fully expect a deal including Simmonds & picks or prospects to go down. Nothing against him, he's just clearly the odd man out to me.

Still, I think a lot of sports fans would kill to have an owner who's so passionate about his team. If Ed can give something to help his team win, I truly believe he will.

I don't think we really can know how much tampering he does, so I don't want to be too damning here. I do think he sets the "contend every year" standard that, up until very recently, has been the Flyers modus. Even with the acquisition of Streit and Lacavalier, I think there's some pause on that philosophy right now.
- BulliesPhan87

I love the passion. He can be passionate without involving himself in hockey decisions, as well as being more low key with the media.

That's a fair point. I guess it's human nature after a bad season to want immediate dividends returned. Doesn't always work that way. The worst thing they could do is to rush Morin.

I've only seen him play once, and I wasn't overly impressed. Obviously that is a tiny sample and is meaningless. I guess all of the big d-men the Flyers have had K. Samuellson, Therien, Mcallister, all bring back memories of slow, lumbering guys with not much offensive upside.

What would you say the odds of are right now of Morin having a better career than Therien?
- PLindbergh31

Right now, probably 50-50. I've seen games & clips where he's struggled, and other games where he looks like a high first rounder. But he's going to take time.

The good thing is, he's not lumbering. He does skate pretty well for his size.

I'll admit, he wasn;t my first choice either...but then neither was Laughton, and honestly neither were Carter or Richards. I remember being pissed when they picked Carter over Zach Parise.

I don't think we're keeping all those guys, on the bubble or not. This team has no number 1, no number 2. Just a bunch of 3-4's. Some worse than that.

Not a single one of those young guys is anywhere near close to logging big NHL minutes. They will pay a fortune for Dion or they will trade assets for D. Given how the Suter thing played out I think they will go for the latter.

I fully expect a deal including Simmonds & picks or prospects to go down. Nothing against him, he's just clearly the odd man out to me.
- hereticpride

I wouldn't be surprised if they made a trade and then went after Phaneuf or Girardi in FA. They'll need to replace at least two defensemen this summer, and I could see them attacking it with their usual restraint.

I love the passion. He can be passionate without involving himself in hockey decisions, as well as being more low key with the media.
- PLindbergh31

I don't have a big problem with anything he's publicly said since the goalie decree, really. Even the, "That's our culture," thing is overblown imo. He was just standing up for his team.

It's not like he Holmgren signed our culture to a 9 year/$51 million contract afterwords

I don't think we're keeping all those guys, on the bubble or not. This team has no number 1, no number 2. Just a bunch of 3-4's. Some worse than that.

Not a single one of those young guys is anywhere near close to logging big NHL minutes. They will pay a fortune for Dion or they will trade assets for D. Given how the Suter thing played out I think they will go for the latter.

I fully expect a deal including Simmonds & picks or prospects to go down. Nothing against him, he's just clearly the odd man out to me.
- hereticpride

I don't know if I'd say he's an odd man out, but I agree Simmonds is pretty tradeable. He's a good young player, he has a fair cap hit at a decent term, and right now he's one of three gritty scoring line forwards (yes, I'm including Hartnell, suck it haterz). He's valuable, but not essential.

Right now, probably 50-50. I've seen games & clips where he's struggled, and other games where he looks like a high first rounder. But he's going to take time.

The good thing is, he's not lumbering. He does skate pretty well for his size.

I'll admit, he wasn;t my first choice either...but then neither was Laughton, and honestly neither were Carter or Richards. I remember being pissed when they picked Carter over Zach Parise.
- Jsaquella

You're... not still pissed about that?

I don't have a big problem with anything he's publicly said since the goalie decree, really. Even the, "That's our culture," thing is overblown imo. He was just standing up for his team.

It's not like he Holmgren signed our culture to a 9 year/$51 million contract afterwords
- BulliesPhan87

The same people that constantly bring up the culture are the same ones who complain that the Flyers lack an identity.

The problem is that they don't stick to a plan. They grab a guy, sign him to a long deal, then trade him a year later, because he took a step backward or had a slump.

You're... not still pissed about that?
- JAKEw1234

Not especially. I don't think Parise is markedly better than Carter, and the Flyers turned Carter into Voracek, Couturier and Cousins. The Devils got a bag of Richards for Parise.

Right now, probably 50-50. I've seen games & clips where he's struggled, and other games where he looks like a high first rounder. But he's going to take time.

The good thing is, he's not lumbering. He does skate pretty well for his size.

I'll admit, he wasn;t my first choice either...but then neither was Laughton, and honestly neither were Carter or Richards. I remember being pissed when they picked Carter over Zach Parise.
- Jsaquella

I've read varying opinions regarding his skating. Some say his skating is labored, others say it's fluid for a big kid.
Defenseman take longer to develop than forwards. Not all, but that's the general rule of thumb. A big defenseman at such a young age takes extra time.

The Flyers aren't exactly the most patient franchise. Heck even 5 years from now, Morin isn't anywhere close to what his prime can be if he reaches it.

The same people that constantly bring up the culture are the same ones who complain that the Flyers lack an identity.

The problem is that they don't stick to a plan. They grab a guy, sign him to a long deal, then trade him a year later, because he took a step backward or had a slump.
- Jsaquella

I mean, I would agree the team doesn't have an identity right now, but I don't think it's all because they keep changing plans (though I agree they've been guilty of chasing last year's cup quite often). I think it's really related to the roster turn over after tradepocalypse. We have a lot of talent, but the roster is unrefined. Holmgren's done well to not trade any of the young players for quick payoff, but a time will come soon when he (or whoever is in the GM seat) will have to make tough decisions and shape this team into something more coherent.

I don't know if I'd say he's an odd man out, but I agree Simmonds is pretty tradeable. He's a good young player, he has a fair cap hit at a decent term, and right now he's one of three gritty scoring line forwards (yes, I'm including Hartnell, suck it haterz). He's valuable, but not essential.
- BulliesPhan87

Pretty much outlined the exact reasons why he is the odd man out in my eyes. It would be Hartnell if not for the NMC.

I don't know if I'd say he's an odd man out, but I agree Simmonds is pretty tradeable. He's a good young player, he has a fair cap hit at a decent term, and right now he's one of three gritty scoring line forwards (yes, I'm including Hartnell, suck it haterz). He's valuable, but not essential.
- BulliesPhan87

Who the hell are all these guys in the Penguins lineup? Holy crap it's like Crosby is playing with WB/Scranton.

Not especially. I don't think Parise is markedly better than Carter, and the Flyers turned Carter into Voracek, Couturier and Cousins. The Devils got a bag of Richards for Parise.
- Jsaquella

true... although I personally think Parise is markedly better than Carter.

Who the hell are all these guys in the Penguins lineup? Holy crap it's like Crosby is playing with WB/Scranton.
- PLindbergh31

That'll happen after you play against Boston.

I don't know if I'd say he's an odd man out, but I agree Simmonds is pretty tradeable. He's a good young player, he has a fair cap hit at a decent term, and right now he's one of three gritty scoring line forwards (yes, I'm including Hartnell, suck it haterz). He's valuable, but not essential.
- BulliesPhan87

Hartnell is a great....... author.

Pretty much outlined the exact reasons why he is the odd man out in my eyes. It would be Hartnell if not for the NMC.
- hereticpride

I don't think Hartnell is as untradeable as most do. that's just me, though.

I mean, I would agree the team doesn't have an identity right now, but I don't think it's all because they keep changing plans (though I agree they've been guilty of chasing last year's cup quite often). I think it's really related to the roster turn over after tradepocalypse. We have a lot of talent, but the roster is unrefined. Holmgren's done well to not trade any of the young players for quick payoff, but a time will come soon when he (or whoever is in the GM seat) will have to make tough decisions and shape this team into something more coherent.
- BulliesPhan87

If I could get Kulikov for Simmonds, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I like Simmonds, but he's a streaky second liner, who really excels on the PP. Kulikov could be a good number two defenseman