Who's saying he's great? He's good. No one's saying he's an elite player. He's a good, dependable guy who can provide good offense and help you out on special teams while playing any position.
- jmatchett383

And the Flyers brought him along, which wraps this back to his original "poo-poo" on the subject.

I just don't think Downie and Mez hold much value. Teams will look at them and say "A 3rd line forward who has been benched on occasion this season and is having his worst statistical year. A depth defenseman coming off major injuries who has been benched several different times this season by a team that does not have a strong defense. Oh, and they're both ufas after the season"
- PhillySportsGuy

Downie most likely gets a 4th or a 5th with a very low level prospect

Mez, due to the inflated value of dmen, might snag them a late 2nd, or a 3rd at worst.

I think the problem may lie in our differing definition of a core player. Maybe to you it means the best players. To me, it means any piece you have in place that you want to keep in place for the coming future, whether it's a franchise scorer or a handy jack of all trades.
- Tomahawk

I understand you need players that can do everything. I understand the idea that your core needs to have a little bit of everything, but to me Matt Read would be really good on a team that is ready to win now and I just feel that this team got a longer "retool" then people think.

Thats why he said poor man's. They have similar styles, but Sharp is the better offensive player.
- PhillySportsGuy

have to be damn near broke...

Downie most likely gets a 4th or a 5th with a very low level prospect

Mez, due to the inflated value of dmen, might snag them a late 2nd, or a 3rd at worst.
- BiggE

Never know what a draft pick can be turned into. There are hidden gems in late rounds of every draft. The key is finding them. If Downie is traded, call up Akeson. I'm pretty sure he can duplicate Downie's 2 goals in 40 games. If Mez is traded Gus becomes a regular.

have to be damn near broke...
- nonpoint22

SHarp is better but I thnk you're undervaluing Read. Sharp gets to play with Toews, Kane and Hossa. Read plays with Couturier and Downie. If you put Read on a line with Giroux and Voracek, he would get you 30 goals and 60 points.

Edit: Sharp also plays on one of the best offensive teams in hockey from top to bottom.

Never know what a draft pick can be turned into. There are hidden gems in late rounds of every draft. The key is finding them. If Downie is traded, call up Akeson. I'm pretty sure he can duplicate Downie's 2 goals in 40 games. If Mez is traded Gus becomes a regular.
- PLindbergh31

Maybe Akeson shows you something up here and then you have another young player you can plug in there....I really see little down side to trading Downie or Mez this deadline

Folks the Flyers are what they are: an average team.

Until they add more mobility and skill to the D and until B Schenn and Couturier continue in their development thats all they will be. At best this season, they finish 3rd in the Metro and most likely lose to the Rangers in the 1st round. At worst they finish with 88-90 points, miss the playoffs and up picking somewhere between 9-11 at the draft.

I would go to Timonen and ask him to allow them to trade him to a contender. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Anaheim gave up their 1st this year and a 2nd next year for him. I would work out a deal with Boston for Mez, I think they would cave in and give up their 2nd for him. I would trade Downie and Emory as well as long as I can get at least a 4th for each.

I see absolutely no chance with their lack of mobility and skill on D, that they can win the Cup this year, no chance whatsoever. So why not make those deals?

SHarp is better but I thnk you're undervaluing Read. Sharp gets to play with Toews, Kane and Hossa. Read plays with Couturier and Downie. If you put Read on a line with Giroux and Voracek, he would get you 30 goals and 60 points.
- PhillySportsGuy

Kinda makes the next point made about Read really helping a team ready to win now..Maybe I do, again not saying he sucks or they should trade him. I just feel that people overvalue him on the whole

Never know what a draft pick can be turned into. There are hidden gems in late rounds of every draft. The key is finding them. If Downie is traded, call up Akeson. I'm pretty sure he can duplicate Downie's 2 goals in 40 games. If Mez is traded Gus becomes a regular.
- PLindbergh31

Absolutely, I'm all for trading both of them. I was just stating what I thought they could get for each.

I understand you need players that can do everything. I understand the idea that your core needs to have a little bit of everything, but to me Matt Read would be really good on a team that is ready to win now and I just feel that this team got a longer "retool" then people think.
- nonpoint22

If somebody comes along with a piece that fills a greater need asking about Read, I'd be all ears -- but I wouldn't be moving him along just because.

Ok, then I cant wait for that core of Matt Read and Adam Hall
- nonpoint22

You cant win championships without these types of players, BTW

If somebody comes along with a piece that fills a greater need asking about Read, I'd be all ears -- but I wouldn't be moving him along just because.
- Tomahawk

Nor would I

You cant win championships without these types of players, BTW
- missingmike

Joke hence the after the comment there slick

From Jak,

Matt Read is one of the more versatile players in the ENTIRE NHL.

Also called him a poor man's Patrick Sharp....Not even in the same category
- nonpoint22

Ill defend myself here.

Saying he is versatile is not saying he is great.. He is one of the more versatile players. He can literally play any of the three forward positions, on any of the top 3 lines, and in any situation (5v5, PP, PK). He can do that and still be a 40-50 point 20+ goal scorer, who plays a very solid 2 way game.

He is cut from a similar cloth as Sharp IMO. Sharp is obviously a much better player, but they both have similar playing styles.

Downie most likely gets a 4th or a 5th with a very low level prospect

Mez, due to the inflated value of dmen, might snag them a late 2nd, or a 3rd at worst.
- BiggE

I'd take that for Mez because it stops Berube from playing Meszaros with Schenn ahead of Gustafsson.

I'd take that for Downie. Let Akeson or McGinn play on the third line. They could not do any worse than Downie has for the last three months.

I'd take that for Mez because it stops Berube from playing Meszaros with Schenn ahead of Gustafsson.

I'd take that for Downie. Let Akeson or McGinn play on the third line. They could not do any worse than Downie has for the last three months.
- Feanor

ok but we have to concuss akeson twice first to get the true comparison

Ill defend myself here.

Saying he is versatile is not saying he is great.. He is one of the more versatile players. He can literally play any of the three forward positions, on any of the top 3 lines, and in any situation (5v5, PP, PK). He can do that and still be a 40-50 point 20+ goal scorer, who plays a very solid 2 way game.

He is cut from a similar cloth as Sharp IMO. Sharp is obviously a much better player, but they both have similar playing styles.
- jak521

Yeah, very similar. If Read was a couple of inches taller, a few pounds heavier, and had an even snappier wrist shot, he'd be Sharp incarnate.

Folks the Flyers are what they are: an average team.

Until they add more mobility and skill to the D and until B Schenn and Couturier continue in their development thats all they will be. At best this season, they finish 3rd in the Metro and most likely lose to the Rangers in the 1st round. At worst they finish with 88-90 points, miss the playoffs and up picking somewhere between 9-11 at the draft.

I would go to Timonen and ask him to allow them to trade him to a contender. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Anaheim gave up their 1st this year and a 2nd next year for him. I would work out a deal with Boston for Mez, I think they would cave in and give up their 2nd for him. I would trade Downie and Emory as well as long as I can get at least a 4th for each.

I see absolutely no chance with their lack of mobility and skill on D, that they can win the Cup this year, no chance whatsoever. So why not make those deals?
- BiggE

I would also talk to Vinny about NMC and poor fit here.

I would also talk to Vinny about NMC and poor fit here.
- missingmike

I think you'd have a harder time convincing another team to take him than convincing Vinny to move.

Maybe Akeson shows you something up here and then you have another young player you can plug in there....I really see little down side to trading Downie or Mez this deadline
- nonpoint22

Agreed. And if Timonen wanted to go to a contender to make a run at a Cup I would extend him the opportunity.

Absolutely, I'm all for trading both of them. I was just stating what I thought they could get for each.
- BiggE

I know. And I concur.

ok but we have to concuss akeson twice first to get the true comparison
- -davies-

Why? It's not like getting your face broken and getting elbowed to the jaw within weeks of each other should impact anybody's play.

/WhyIsn'tEricLindrosPlayingTonight
//JustGiveTheGuyAnAspirin
///It'sOnlyBrainTrauma

So if Emery is injured for the game against the Rangers, will Heeter get called up? Can he play due to his suspension? Is his suspension over?

I think you'd have a harder time convincing another team to take him than convincing Vinny to move.
- PhillySportsGuy

Eventually, it's hard not to see Snider pissing more of his $ down the drain to make Vinny go away, either via retained salary transaction or ordinary course buy-out.