The wives and gf's of the Sharks are in for some weepy lovin'.

The Sharks had the audacity to go to center ice and salute the crowd.

I think that Mac D deal is one that can really define things.

Is he a good player? Yes. Is he a guy who can help a Stanley Cup winner? Definitely.

However you give up a 2nd and 3rd for him, when you see just how dire it is to build a team from within, especially a defense. When you could make a run at him in the summer.

All to just increase your chances of making the playoffs. The other aspect is you make the move to get him now, so you don't overpay him in FA and essentially promise yourself the player. Yet MacDonald is probably still 'overpaid' with salary and years. What I am getting at and my focal point here, is I don't think those picks, and building from within is valued enough. Its shown most recently in MacDonald.

They know what they are getting in MacDonald. They desperately need more elite on that back end, instead of move 'top 4'. That's the problem with this team in general.
- flyer_nutter

A late second and 3rd rd pick isn't that big a price to pay imo, and I think it was a move made not just to increase chances of making the playoffs, but a move for the future as well...Mac D is entering his prime years as a D man and, while not your top paring guy, he's a top 4 who adds a lot of mobility, an element the team needed. I think they still know they could use someone more "elite" back there but it's easier said than done...who is looking to move their "elite" D man?
If a team is, I'm sure Homer would be wanting to talk to them...perhaps Ghost or Morin can be impact players in the next few years...we'll see.

Too old.
- rockychocbill

never stops the flyers

He will go on another little hot streak and all will be forgotten.

Until the pendulum swings the other way and he becomes a near liability.
- flyer_nutter

yeah... those hot streaks are going to become fewer and farther between. maybe he can redefine himself and be a useful third line guy. i dont know. but hes an anchor for giroux out there. guy just likes to float, and thats not what made him successful in the league

hartnell? yeah, he was virtually useless this entire post season. extremely disappointed in his play. and we get 5 more years! yay.
- hammarby31

I didn't follow the team that close this season. Was he pouting for not playing on the top line?

The Sharks had the audacity to go to center ice and salute the crowd.
- PLindbergh31

i guess they could have all just peed on the logo and left.

A late second and 3rd rd pick isn't that big a price to pay imo, and I think it was a move made not just to increase chances of making the playoffs, but a move for the future as well...Mac D is entering his prime years as a D man and, while not your top paring guy, he's a top 4 who adds a lot of mobility, an element the team needed. I think they still know they could use someone more "elite" back there but it's easier said than done...who is looking to move their "elite" D man?
If a team is, I'm sure Homer would be wanting to talk to them...perhaps Ghost or Morin can be impact players in the next few years...we'll see.
- exlund

No team is moving those elite d-men.

No worries to disagree here, and thanks for the input. I just personally value a 2nd and 3rd more. Its what it comes down to I suppose.

I didn't follow the team that close this season. Was he pouting for not playing on the top line?
- rockychocbill

not that i'm aware of. he's not that kind of player, so i highly doubt it.

never stops the flyers
- watsonnostaw

At least he wears a visor.

it is sensationally annoying the flyers lost tonight. other road teams gave up the first goal and won, as you mentioned. that vaunted flyers depth really came up big tonight. 1 goal from a rookie with less than 10 games of nhl experience. it's a joke.
- hammarby31

It's tough to take. Mason outplayed CSP and they still lost.

He will go on another little hot streak and all will be forgotten.

Until the pendulum swings the other way and he becomes a near liability.
- flyer_nutter

I remember his tussles behind the net with Orpik and the over zealous hits and all that. He even tried to fight Chara in one of the playoff series and then wisely turtled.

The part I do not understand is that there was almost no fire at all this time. Its not just the points but the way he played or rather, didn't play.

Injured or sated with new contract?

I got a question for you Flyer fans. Woukd you take...

Richards, Carter, JVR

or

B. Schenn, Simmons. Voracek, Coutorier, L.Shenn?

I remember his tussles behind the net with Orpik and the over zealous hits and all that. He even tried to fight Chara in one of the playoff series and then wisely turtled.

The part I do not understand is that there was almost no fire at all this time. Its not just the points but the way he played or rather, didn't play.

Injured or sated with new contract?
- PT21

I remember Jsaq alluding to this as well, as our Penguins friend here. Hartnell has increasingly stopped doing what has made him effective in the first place. The hard physical play, simple things, and agitating.

Believing his is more of a "skill guy". He has his defenders, and I haven't been one of them for a while. He makes it easy to forget when he has the hot streaks. Its just a problem that when you rely so heavily on players that tend to run so hot and cold.

Which the Flyers do.

It's tough to take. Mason outplayed CSP and they still lost.
- PLindbergh31

yep. i'm willing to bet if he had been healthy for the series, the flyers would have won in 6. he was great again tnight from what i saw. csp was a virtual non factor. i honestly hope the pens torch the living poop out of him.

I got a question for you Flyer fans. Woukd you take...

Richards, Carter, JVR

or

B. Schenn, Simmons. Voracek, Coutorier, L.Shenn?
- HabsRUs

door #2.

I got a question for you Flyer fans. Woukd you take...

Richards, Carter, JVR

or

B. Schenn, Simmons. Voracek, Coutorier, L.Shenn?
- HabsRUs

Hard to say I suppose. Have to see what bSchenn and Couturier do.

i guess they could have all just peed on the logo and left.
- hammarby31

They've never come close to winning a damned thing and they just blew a 3-0 series lead and they are raising their sticks to the fans?

Basically they are saying thanks for wasting your money on us you friggin saps

They've never come close to winning a damned thing and they just blew a 3-0 series lead and they are raising their sticks to the fans?

Basically they are saying thanks for wasting your money on us you friggin saps
- PLindbergh31

they are the official poster team for post season failure. it's embarrassing at this point.

Alright hooligans, good night and good hockey.

This off-season is probably going to be kind of annoying on here, so I'll be stepping aside for most of it.

Take care, and rock on. Its been fun with most of you.

I got a question for you Flyer fans. Woukd you take...

Richards, Carter, JVR

or

B. Schenn, Simmons. Voracek, Coutorier, L.Shenn?
- HabsRUs

The later group. Richards is getting tired. Carter is still Carter. Plays in the weeds but can score a big goal. JVR did surprise me this season though.

door #2.
- hammarby31

Im thinking the same, and theres a lot of young guys there. Just wondering what you guys thought.

Crazy though that only 4 teams have ever come back from a 3-0 hole in history, and Richards and Carter was part of 2 haha

san jose media blasting the players saying it's not the coaches fault at all they lost

yep. i'm willing to bet if he had been healthy for the series, the flyers would have won in 6. he was great again tnight from what i saw. csp was a virtual non factor. i honestly hope the pens torch the living poop out of him.
- hammarby31

Me too! Hope the Pens destroy them. Mase was great. At least we don't have to hear the same old tired goaltender narrative this summer.

That's an issue. This stupid thirst to try and stay competitive, and not being able to admit you aren't good enough hinders the overall development, and leads to stupid contracts that do impede them down the line.
- flyer_nutter

I hear you, but it's a balance...they could go full on youth movement and suck for a while, but it's not a necessity to build a winner that way...right now they have a lot of good young talent (more on its way) and a few older vets...they seem to find ways to change out the vets who aren't working out, so they will do that if necessary in due time.