Also just to add onto the theme of the blog, the Chicago Blackhawks have won 3 out of their last 10. If thats not an indication that good teams can go through bad spells, then I dont know what is.

Right now the Hobey Baker award is a four man race...
Current totals:

1- Shayne Gostisbehere -6923
2-Ben Hutton-6830
3-Ryan Farragher- 6695
4-Johnny Gaudreau-6665

Rundblad's a terrific young dman, though, and his overall game is steadily improving year after year. Of course, there's no guarantee there, but he's only 23 and he's right-handed, and unlike Streit, he's equal parts puckmover and howitzer. Love that he's being instructed by Tippett as well.

Read's going to be 28 before next year... out of all the 'young' forwards on this team, he's the one I would have the least problem parting with.
- Tomahawk

Id just be concerned about trading such a known commodity like Read for a 23 year old who hasn't made ANY impact in the NHL.

If you make that move, the Flyers will need to replace Read via FA. It's not like someone else can assume his role. Maybe Laughton next year.

Id just be concerned about trading such a known commodity like Read for a 23 year old who hasn't made ANY impact in the NHL.

If you make that move, the Flyers will need to replace Read via FA. It's not like someone else can assume his role. Maybe Laughton next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

You're talking about a guy who almost broke the single-season scoring record for dmen (50pts in 55games) in one of the top pro leagues in the world as a 20-year-old, dominating against men. Tippett has him in and out of the lineup, but his underlying possession metrics are fantastic -- tops on the team for D, I believe. Tippett's just got players (Stone, Schlemko) that he's loyal to, and Rundblad isn't waiver exempt anymore, so it's been hard for him to get any meaningful minutes this season.

It's really a unique opportunity to grab a dman on the cusp of contributing big. If he already had an established track record, Matt Read wouldn't be able to get him for you.

Rumour out there on twitter that Homer wants Ekblad real bad so he would trade Couts and Coburn for Gagner Hemsky and the Oiler's First this year. Any takers?

Rumour out there on twitter that Homer wants Ekblad real bad so he would trade Couts and Coburn for Gagner Hemsky and the Oiler's First this year. Any takers?
- Daceroni

Source?

The worst is when I see a defenseman skate the puck up ice and look for an outlet, but can't find one. So the defenseman turns back and that's when I know something bad is going to happen.

The forwards need to recognize that these defenseman can't make difficult passes. If it means coming all the way back to help, then so be it.
- PhillySportsGuy

Its called puck support and making a TEAM committment to better defensive and positional play.

Rumour out there on twitter that Homer wants Ekblad real bad so he would trade Couts and Coburn for Gagner Hemsky and the Oiler's First this year. Any takers?
- Daceroni

You think thats enough from an oilers prospective?

Source?
- funmaster18

Twitter

You think thats enough from an oilers prospective?
- jak521

BUT HOMER WANTS EKBLAD REAL BADDD!!! THE TWITTER TOLD ME SO!!!

You think thats enough from an oilers prospective?
- jak521

I would personally want some form of defenseman back. Maybe Petry. I really dont know. Its a really risky move.

Right now the Hobey Baker award is a four man race...
Current totals:

1- Shayne Gostisbehere -6923
2-Ben Hutton-6830
3-Ryan Farragher- 6695
4-Johnny Gaudreau-6665
- jak521

I'm really hoping he wins it. That said, it's kind of a curse. Going back to 2011:

Andy Miele - has put up good AHL numbers, has 12 NHL games under his belt the last 2 years. Jury's still out on him, a bit.

Blake Geoffrion - After a good start, he had that horrible injury where he cracked his skull open and has since retired after 55 games.

Matt Gilroy - has been in the NHL for 6 seasons now and is neither an offensive player or an exceptionally sound defensive player.

Kevin Porter - Has put up good, but not great, numbers on Buffalo. Went pointless in 12 games this year and is back in the AHL. Another one who can't translate AHL success to the NHL.

Ryan Duncan - Couldn't make it in the AHL, is in Europe in the DEL.

Matt Carle - probably the best of the bunch. We all know his story.

Going further back, you have guys like Leopold, Miller, Drury, and Kariya, but you also have lots of guys like Holzinger, Brian Bonin, Chris Marinucci, and Jason Krog. Lots of guys who were so talented that they dominated college but couldn't make it in the NHL.

That said, I think the US college program has grown by leaps and bounds recently, and the talent there is much higher than it was even 5 years ago. Ghost looked just fine at the WJC, and plays a style that could keep him in the NHL (small but feisty, like Kapanen). I hope he's more the exception than the norm.

Rumour out there on twitter that Homer wants Ekblad real bad so he would trade Couts and Coburn for Gagner Hemsky and the Oiler's First this year. Any takers?
- Daceroni

Coots no. Coburn, B Schenn, a first and second for Oilers first (if it's first overall/Ekblad's available at their spot at the draft) and Gagner, yes.

...you also have lots of guys like Holzinger, Brian Bonin, Chris Marinucci, and Jason Krog. Lots of guys who were so talented that they dominated college but couldn't make it in the NHL.
- jmatchett383

My personal fave... dude is like the Wayne Gretzky of the AHL.

You're talking about a guy who almost broke the single-season scoring record for dmen (50pts in 55games) in one of the top pro leagues in the world as a 20-year-old, dominating against men. Tippett has him in and out of the lineup, but his underlying possession metrics are fantastic -- tops on the team for D, I believe. Tippett's just got players (Stone, Schlemko) that he's loyal to, and Rundblad isn't waiver exempt anymore, so it's been hard for him to get any meaningful minutes this season.

It's really a unique opportunity to grab a dman on the cusp of contributing big. If he already had an established track record, Matt Read wouldn't be able to get him for you.


- Tomahawk

I get it. And I like Rundblad. But, he's an unproven commodity at this level and Read's a proven 20-goal scorer. It's risky, to say the least. If Rundblad is really not getting used, I'd hope we could get him cheaper. I'd rather do something like Lauridsen and Akeson + 2nd for him.

The forwards need to recognize that these defenseman can't make difficult passes. If it means coming all the way back to help, then so be it.
- PhillySportsGuy

Tocchet was saying as much, this morning on twitter.
- johndewar

I've been saying it for months...

Coots no. Coburn, B Schenn, a first and second for Oilers first (if it's first overall/Ekblad's available at their spot at the draft) and Gagner, yes.
- jmatchett383

I might do that if I could then move Gagner for a mobile dman under 30

I might do that if I could then move Gagner for a mobile dman under 30
- BiggE

That's the thing about Edmonton. Outside of RNH, Hall, Eberle, Yakupov, and Schultz, there's no real "wow" guys, and prying those 5 away will cost serious assets. Guys like Hemsky and Gagner are just unattractive to me. They're good statistically, but I put them in the Olli Jokinen pile: they just don't seem like guys you really need that badly, despite their offensive output.

Right now the Hobey Baker award is a four man race...
Current totals:

1- Shayne Gostisbehere -6923
2-Ben Hutton-6830
3-Ryan Farragher- 6695
4-Johnny Gaudreau-6665
- jak521

how come i have a feeling that #4 will sign with the flyers this year.....Serves that blow hard burke right for not getting Bob ryab on team usa.

how come i have a feeling that #4 will sign with the flyers this year.....Serves that blow hard burke right for not getting Bob ryab on team usa.
- PhillaBully

I know it's still a long way away, but I'd be thrilled if they got him. I wanted him for the Flyers since I saw him last year, and I had no clue he grew up 5 minutes from where I live.

Rumour out there on twitter that Homer wants Ekblad real bad so he would trade Couts and Coburn for Gagner Hemsky and the Oiler's First this year. Any takers?
- Daceroni

That is an HFBoards rumor originated on the Edmonton Oilers page. Lowe and MacTavish were at the game on Saturday so it was just a matter of time before some "insider" made up a rumor or got it from a "source". Deal wouldn't work capwise unless the oilers ate 50% of both contracts so it is bogus plus the Flyers would be throwing in the towel for the year which they would never do.

if only we had a player who had the heart and passion of Bob Clarke

Twitter
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

Sorry for being interested in where this "rumor" came from. That's like saying "I heard on the internet". Any bumhole can type something up.

That is an HFBoards rumor originated on the Edmonton Oilers page. Lowe and MacTavish were at the game on Saturday so it was just a matter of time before some "insider" made up a rumor or got it from a "source". Deal wouldn't work capwise unless the oilers ate 50% of both contracts so it is bogus plus the Flyers would be throwing in the towel for the year which they would never do.
- psuhockey

Were HB a sitcom, this would be where we'd have the jump-cut to Gagner and Hemsky donning Flyers jerseys.

Sorry for being interested in where this "rumor" came from. That's like saying "I heard on the internet". Any bumhole can type something up.
- funmaster18

Isn't that what this site, especially Eklund's blog, is all about: Rampant, unfiltered rumors that have no substance?

J-Bo to Philly (e5)