There are plenty of players who have played well into their mid to upper 30's and played at a high level. Clarkson's deal is deemed to be insane, but his Cap hit doesn't put him into the top 50 for forwards in the NHL. The deal isn't as big of a deal as it's being made to be. And he was one of the top Free Agent forwards available.
- MJL

And, as always, we can agree to disagree.

I don't know you well, only the rhetoric a few said about your posts prior to you coming back on here. So, I will this: I find myself reading your posts and agreeing on most everything! Does that mean I will soon get a ban, too? Welcome back! This forum is now more interesting.

- Hokeeguy9

A lot of us agree with him on several things. We just clownin'

I'm a big fan of the Lecavalier deal. I think getting him for 4.5M a year was an absolute steal.
- MJL

Agreed! My only issue with the signing was that VL is a center, not a winger. He's more of the sneaky guy who makes you pay attention to him, not a dog in the corners, grinder. So, Homer needed to deal away a center to help another area, like D or a big fast wing as a compliment. He didn't do that. So now we have a plethora of centers, deficiency at wing, and issues on defense. I thought the VL would have been part of a bigger package to address the other issues. Maybe Homer though he had another deal that fell apart?

Agreed! My only issue with the signing was that VL is a center, not a winger. He's more of the sneaky guy who makes you pay attention to him, not a dog in the corners, grinder. So, Homer needed to deal away a center to help another area, like D or a big fast wing as a compliment. He didn't do that. So now we have a plethora of centers, deficiency at wing, and issues on defense. I thought the VL would have been part of a bigger package to address the other issues. Maybe Homer though he had another deal that fell apart?
- Hokeeguy9

I never liked the deal. Part of it is not being a big fan of Vinny and part of it is seeing it as a luxury signing. This team could have used a top 6 defenseman instead of Vinny. Or they could have banked the money and given themselves a good opportunity at acquiring Girardi or Niskanen.

I also wanted Schenn to play center. I've always liked him more at center. This is where MJL and I disagree on Schenn.

I never liked the deal. Part of it is not being a big fan of Vinny and part of it is seeing it as a luxury signing. This team could have used a top 6 defenseman instead of Vinny. Or they could have banked the money and given themselves a good opportunity at acquiring Girardi or Niskanen.

I also wanted Schenn to play center. I've always liked him more at center. This is where MJL and I disagree on Schenn.
- PhillySportsGuy

I got ya. If Homers' thinking was to sign VL and package a center, or Laughton etc to improve the defense, and this team, I won't fault him for that. My issue was only, like you stated, signing VL and NOT improving another area of the team, was then, as you say " a luxury ". Had he sent a package for a top pairing d man with one of the other centers, then it's good by me. I guess you could say the jury is still out.

My worries with the Lecavalier deal are two fold. First, he's been injured in each of the last 4 season and has missed 57 games over that time span.

Secondly, his play has dipped. Part of it is because of the injuries, but also his team mates possession metrics in playing with him have dipped as well, which is concerning. It's not just this season, bit over the last two seasons.

I think he can rebound and play better, but I also worry about what it means moving forward for kids like Schenn & Couturier. Does Lecavalier stay at wing? Does Schenn move over, despite the success he's had at center? Does Couturier end up getting stuck with subpar linemates to accomodate others?

You face a domino effect
- Jsaquella

this is exactly how i feel. i understand some players can still be productive into their 33, 34, 35 years. but not all. and he has been showing signs for at least 2 years that he is more likely to fit into the latter category. hes not done yet by any means, but i feel as though over the larger scale of the deal you will fall onto the shortchanged side more than not.

and the having the supposed core group of giroux, schenn, then couts down the middle, it confuses me as to how they see it fitting together.

I never liked the deal. Part of it is not being a big fan of Vinny and part of it is seeing it as a luxury signing. This team could have used a top 6 defenseman instead of Vinny. Or they could have banked the money and given themselves a good opportunity at acquiring Girardi or Niskanen.

I also wanted Schenn to play center. I've always liked him more at center. This is where MJL and I disagree on Schenn.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think in the long run that B Schenn can be successful at center or wing. However, they need to pick one and let him stay there. I think Berube gets that and hes determined to keep him at center for the foreseeable future.

Time to switch gears into football mode and head to a party.

Time to switch gears into football mode and head to a party.
- Hokeeguy9

Me too!!

I never liked the deal. Part of it is not being a big fan of Vinny and part of it is seeing it as a luxury signing. This team could have used a top 6 defenseman instead of Vinny. Or they could have banked the money and given themselves a good opportunity at acquiring Girardi or Niskanen.

I also wanted Schenn to play center. I've always liked him more at center. This is where MJL and I disagree on Schenn.
- PhillySportsGuy

The Lecavalier signing is not going to stop the Flyers from acquiring a defenseman. They have plenty of cap flexibility. And Schenn can continue to play Center, and Lecavalier will adjust to the Wing, if that's what the Flyers decide to do.

I think in the long run that B Schenn can be successful at center or wing. However, they need to pick one and let him stay there. I think Berube gets that and hes determined to keep him at center for the foreseeable future.
- BiggE

I agree. Make a decision of where you want Schenn to play, and leave him there. Stop moving him around.

this is exactly how i feel. i understand some players can still be productive into their 33, 34, 35 years. but not all. and he has been showing signs for at least 2 years that he is more likely to fit into the latter category. hes not done yet by any means, but i feel as though over the larger scale of the deal you will fall onto the shortchanged side more than not.

and the having the supposed core group of giroux, schenn, then couts down the middle, it confuses me as to how they see it fitting together.
- stayinthefnnet

I think they expected Schenn to thrice at LW

I agree. Make a decision of where you want Schenn to play, and leave him there. Stop moving him around.
- MJL

Raffl's development into being an effective top 9 forward with good two way ability certainly makes the potential trade of a more established and expensive forward easier to take to help bolster the defense.

I don't believe Raffl is a mirage.

Raffl's development into being an effective top 9 forward with good two way ability certainly makes the potential trade of a more established and expensive forward easier to take to help bolster the defense.

I don't believe Raffl is a mirage.
- ravishingone

I think he is a candidate for next year top line duty.

Came out of nowhere. Is a really young player that has shown a consistent ability to put the puck in the net, and change the momentum of the game. If only we could find more like him, the draft wouldn't be such a big deal. Once in a lifetime find.

I agree. Make a decision of where you want Schenn to play, and leave him there. Stop moving him around.
- MJL

Vinny too

I'm sure it will and a GM that signs Callahan for that term and money will likely be making a mistake, just like Nonis made a mistake in signing Clarkson to that big a contract.

Sometimes, paying market value is a mistake. That's kind of the point. Clarkson was a dumb contract. A massive deal for Callahan will be dumb
- Jsaquella

Ill see your Wideman and raise you a Carle

Time to switch gears into football mode and head to a party.
- Hokeeguy9

I'll just be doing the 2nd one.

I think he is a candidate for next year top line duty.

Came out of nowhere. Is a really young player that has shown a consistent ability to put the puck in the net, and change the momentum of the game. If only we could find more like him, the draft wouldn't be such a big deal. Once in a lifetime find.
- flyer_nutter

I really like his hockey sense, just knows where to go and be at that spot at the right time on the ice. He was a tremendous find, whoever the scout who recommended him should have received a nice Christmas bonus.

I really like his hockey sense, just knows where to go and be at that spot at the right time on the ice. He was a tremendous find, whoever the scout who recommended him should have received a nice Christmas bonus.

- ravishingone

I think they are. Ticket prices went up did they not?

Have to pay for the good product on the ice, few cents doesn't matter does it?

Akeson moved into the top ten in points in the AHL yesterday.

I think they are. Ticket prices went up did they not?

Have to pay for the good product on the ice, few cents doesn't matter does it?
- flyer_nutter

I'm married with a 4 year old, I haven't been priced out of a game for a few years now.

Akeson moved into the top ten in points in the AHL yesterday.
- Yosimar89

Great to see the Flyers have the young talent down in the farm.

I think once Rosehill or LeCavalier are done making their contributions, helping to lead the team in certain categories.

We will be able to give the young kids their shot. All is well.

I don't look at it as dumb contracts, but as the cost of doing business. If you need that player to improve your team, that's the price you pay. You either pay it or don't add the player you think you need.
- MJL

No team needs a third line winger like Clarkson making $5.25m a year for 7 years while scoring 8 points in 36 games. Dumb contracts like that make your team worse.

Great to see the Flyers have the young talent down in the farm.

I think once Rosehill or LeCavalier are done making their contributions, helping to lead the team in certain categories.

We will be able to give the young kids their shot. All is well.
- flyer_nutter

He reminds me so much of Briere it's creepy.

The guy looks like him out there on the ice, small, not great defensively, right handed, great hands, scoring touch.

Difference is Briere was C, while he's a Winger.

I got ya. If Homers' thinking was to sign VL and package a center, or Laughton etc to improve the defense, and this team, I won't fault him for that. My issue was only, like you stated, signing VL and NOT improving another area of the team, was then, as you say " a luxury ". Had he sent a package for a top pairing d man with one of the other centers, then it's good by me. I guess you could say the jury is still out.
- Hokeeguy9

I don't want to trade Laughton or Schenn unless the deal is a real good one. I like both of them a lot moving forward. I just never really liked Vinny. I always thought St Louis was, far and away, the most important forward on that team (before Stamkos came along).