im a fan of voracek's.

still though. the proposed deal from the pens is a little more than what they got staal for. and kesler is a rung above staal, but essentially the same mold. then there is the injury concern, and supposed pressure to make a deal.
- stayinthefnnet

I'm not sure I would be willing to deal Despres so quickly. Yes, he has struggled, but he's only 22 with a lot of physical ability. I know the Pens have other defensive options in the pipeline, but I think he still has time to find his game.

A whole lot of high paid guys just blew it for the Rangers and it's 4-2 Bruins. Girardi lost puck battle and Brad Richards made Ovechkin look like Bob gainey
- Jsaquella

Maybe everybody already knew this but, ovechkin with 65 points, leading the NHL in goals, is a -18??? That's astonishing.

YES! 5-2 Bruins with 6:34 left!

Maybe everybody already knew this but, ovechkin with 65 points, leading the NHL in goals, is a -18??? That's astonishing.
- Briere

One dimensional PP goal scorer?

I'm not sure I would be willing to deal Despres so quickly. Yes, he has struggled, but he's only 22 with a lot of physical ability. I know the Pens have other defensive options in the pipeline, but I think he still has time to find his game.
- ravishingone

I'd love for the Flyers to get Despres.

Not saying he's not. Simply saying he didn't play well today and that's reflected in the dip in ice time.

Criticizing a player for one game is not an indictment of a player overall. He screened Mason on the first goal after getting caught in space, and he was in the box for the second Washington goal, where Grossmann was asleep on johanssen in front of the net. Following that, Schenn saw his ice time drop.
- Jsaquella

That roughing penalty on Schenn was BS, almost as bad as the one on Simmonds later.

Yeah. The big concern with kesler is some of the injuries combined with the wear and tear. He's got two years left on his deal after this one, and I doubt he'll be a walking corpse before then.

It really depends on Vancouver. they might wait for summer.
- Jsaquella

those 2 years left are why i am heavily interested in him. i do think eventually the decline will come, and be fairly swift. but i do think you have at least those 2 good years left of quality play, then possibly 2 to 3 more left of being a lesser but decent contributor if you can get him to extend for a reasonable term.

but still. 2 years left is enough to get me to go in on him within reason. i still dont know why Van would be looking to move him unless they had to though.

I'd love for the Flyers to get Despres.
- Jsaquella

Actually, I'm with you. I thought the Pens have really jerked him around playing, then not playing him. I'm just not seeing Bortuzzo playing in front of him.

Maybe everybody already knew this but, ovechkin with 65 points, leading the NHL in goals, is a -18??? That's astonishing.
- Briere

I knew he had a miserable +/-, but didn't realize it was that bad.

+/- is a hard number to rely on, but Ovechkin is really not interested in defense on a lot of nights.

Also, almost half of his points come from the PP, which means that for 17 of his goals and 13 of his assists, he didn't get a plus.

I'm not sure I would be willing to deal Despres so quickly. Yes, he has struggled, but he's only 22 with a lot of physical ability. I know the Pens have other defensive options in the pipeline, but I think he still has time to find his game.
- ravishingone

oh yeah man i totally agree. he hasnt gotten to show it yet, but i am a really big believer in despres. but still, id be a hypocrite if i didnt say you had to give to get. i dont want to be one of those guys who clamors for other peoples treasures without offering anything more than C level prospects or washed out vets in return.

maatta has entered untouchable status. the team is very high on pouliot with letang. you have to have some assets youd be willing to part with if you want to aim for quality returns.

Actually, I'm with you. I thought the Pens have really jerked him around playing, then not playing him. I'm just not seeing Bortuzzo playing in front of him.
- ravishingone

thank you!

I knew he had a miserable +/-, but didn't realize it was that bad.

+/- is a hard number to rely on, but Ovechkin is really not interested in defense on a lot of nights.

Also, almost half of his points come from the PP, which means that for 17 of his goals and 13 of his assists, he didn't get a plus.
- Jsaquella

Didn't think of that. Good point. I love watching the guy but he really has no interest in back checking.

That roughing penalty on Schenn was BS, almost as bad as the one on Simmonds later.
- Feanor

The one on Schenn was because the whistle sounded. The one on Simmonds was an half assed effort of the refs to keep the game from getting out of hand.

Those were the two calls that I had issues with, too, but I can live with them. Not going to get a ton of wiggle room when your team lacks discipline as the Flyers do

Pirri is a pending RFA, and the Hawks would be hard pressed to re-sign him.
- Jsaquella

but a 3rd and a 5th this is how the hawks are able to consistently have good players

those 2 years left are why i am heavily interested in him. i do think eventually the decline will come, and be fairly swift. but i do think you have at least those 2 good years left of quality play, then possibly 2 to 3 more left of being a lesser but decent contributor if you can get him to extend for a reasonable term.

but still. 2 years left is enough to get me to go in on him within reason. i still dont know why Van would be looking to move him unless they had to though.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly, it's not taking on a 5 year commitment. It's two years and he's still playing pretty well this year in a bad situation. It's a manageable risk for a team that has serious Cup aspirations.

but a 3rd and a 5th this is how the hawks are able to consistently have good players
- 2Real

True. They draft very well

Maybe everybody already knew this but, ovechkin with 65 points, leading the NHL in goals, is a -18??? That's astonishing.
- Briere

did you watch the game today? gave the flyers a goal

I'd love for the Flyers to get Despres.
- Jsaquella

so matt read?

so matt read?
- stayinthefnnet

Stop it.

oh yeah man i totally agree. he hasnt gotten to show it yet, but i am a really big believer in despres. but still, id be a hypocrite if i didnt say you had to give to get. i dont want to be one of those guys who clamors for other peoples treasures without offering anything more than C level prospects or washed out vets in return.

maatta has entered untouchable status. the team is very high on pouliot with letang. you have to have some assets youd be willing to part with if you want to aim for quality returns.
- stayinthefnnet

I would deal Pouliot over Despres, personally. For whatever reason, it is pretty apparent Bylsma isn't a big fan of Despres. As a Flyers fan, I'm very happy to see Bortuzzo on the ice.

did you watch the game today? gave the flyers a goal
- 2Real

I was listening on radio. Therein said Ovie should have had an assist on Hall's goal.

Stop it.
- Jsaquella

i may be being a tad biased, and i will admit that his handling hasnt done his trade value any favors, but i do think that extended time with despres seeing good ice would show that trade to be surprisingly fair.

The king is leaking, even though it's not all his fault... Maybe the Canada game got to him.

I would deal Pouliot over Despres, personally. For whatever reason, it is pretty apparent Bylsma isn't a big fan of Despres. As a Flyers fan, I'm very happy to see Bortuzzo on the ice.

- ravishingone

i agree on the latter. i dont know if its attitude or what, but despres is having a hard time getting in. when the pens are fully healthy, i can see it. but with guys out, he should be playing.

ive seen enough of despres to be enamored with the potential. he has things you cant teach.

i havent gotten to see enough of pouliot to be attached yet, but i know the team is very high on him. the letang situation only probably raises their investment in him.

I was listening on radio. Therein said Ovie should have had an assist on Hall's goal.
- Briere

It was brutal. Ovie was behind the net and left the puck. I guess he thought the defenseman was coming and Couturier grabbed it and fed Hall in the slot. Ovechkin made it worse because after the turnover, he did nothing to pick up anybody.