I'd buy that, if there wasn't already a clear downward trend in his production going back some years.
- Tomahawk

In addition to the missing time each of the last 5 seasons.

I know. Were making a case for what he'll be like over the next 4 years not for the Hall of Fame.
- PhillySportsGuy

You know, his career overall points rate and Gagne's aren't even really that different. With the tools that he was blessed with, he's actually had a pretty mediocre career. He was supposed to be Mario Lemieux come again.

such beer league defending the front of the net for anaheim. only one dman there and he basically put the puck in his own net. how does this happen at the nhl level?
- hammarby31

the Ducks have sort of a patch work D, but somehow it works

Well except for that goal with 7 seconds left

They've been pretty solid

salami had a nice goal tonight to put the ducks up 2-1. unfortunately for the ducks, they don't know how to defend the front of the net.
- hammarby31

He's been used a lot on the 4th line and the PP. He gets looks with other lines on certain offensive zone situations, but isn't a fixture.

watching Getzlaf go head to head with Kopitar is amazing
- Marc D

Kopitar >> Getzlaf

How confident is the organization that he will improve upon last season?

I know Snider mentioned some things closing out.
- puckhead17

He was hurt, and none of us really know how much that impacted his play.

I understand giving a player another chance -- no one should just get jettisoned for one poor year.

But no one, including the Flyers, should be confident. Because of his age. Skating and skill...this isn't rocket science, you know? Erosion takes place.

I have no idea what Vinny will do next year. Because as an aging player...how can anyone confidently predict a better season from a 34-year-old center who doesn't skate well?

And he can still wheel around, Vinny cannot, there's another determining factor when limiting his time.
- puckhead17

The more stationary the play, the better for VL. THats why I think he excels on the PP

I'd buy that, if there wasn't already a clear downward trend in his production going back some years.
- Tomahawk

He scored at a 67 point pace in the strike shortened season. There is nothing wrong with a decline, as long as the player is still productive. Not expecting him to be a 50 goal 100 point player anymore. 25 goals and 50-60 points would be good production from Lecavlier. He's still capable of that. Even if those are declining numbers.

Kopitar >> Getzlaf
- Tomahawk

I think its close

Kopitar >> Getzlaf
- Tomahawk

Maybe better but I wouldn't give it two >>

Getz had a spectacular year

He was hurt, and none of us really know how much that impacted his play.

I understand giving a player another chance -- no one should just get jettisoned for one poor year.

But no one, including the Flyers, should be confident. Because of his age. Skating and skill...this isn't rocket science, you know? Erosion takes place.

I have no idea what Vinny will do next year. Because as an aging player...how can anyone confidently predict a better season from a 34-year-old center who doesn't skate well?
- AllInForFlyers

I mentioned earlier, the 17 years of mileage, he's been injured, & missed significant time time each of the last 5 seasons.

Streit has a much better chance of beating a goaltender from the point them Timonen does. Streit could take some off the shot, and just throw some of the weak shots at the net, similar to Timonen, and raise that percentage. But in my opinion, that is not what is needed. He's a much better threat from the point then Timonen is. Streit had more PP goals, and scored 15 PP points to Timonen's 20 PP points. While playing on the 2nd unit, and significantly less time.
Streit didn't drop the ball at all. He's a better PP point man then Timonen is at this point, and should've been on the top unit. How many ore PP points does Streit pick up playing on the top unit with Giroux?
- MJL

I'd be more than happy to replace Jake on the right-wall w/ Streit, if you want one-time options on both sides.

As the QB over Kimmo? Chief gave him a chance, he wasn't as good.

He was hurt, and none of us really know how much that impacted his play.

I understand giving a player another chance -- no one should just get jettisoned for one poor year.

But no one, including the Flyers, should be confident. Because of his age. Skating and skill...this isn't rocket science, you know? Erosion takes place.

I have no idea what Vinny will do next year. Because as an aging player...how can anyone confidently predict a better season from a 34-year-old center who doesn't skate well?
- AllInForFlyers

A broken back isn't like a broken arm either. There is a good chance, he'll never feel like he did before the injury.

The more stationary the play, the better for VL. THats why I think he excels on the PP
- PhillySportsGuy

He excels on the PP because of his big time shot.

I think its close
- PhillySportsGuy

I think Kopitar is a more complete player than Jonathan Toews... true 200-ft domination.

A scoring line doesn't have to be tailored around Lecavalier. He just has to be part of the right mix, and used correctly. Like a lot of players. Not every player is going to, or has to make his linemates better. A line just has to be complimentary, to work.
How many of the Flyers forwards "drive possession" and make their linemates better?
- MJL

The ones who the Flyers depend upon to help win hockey games -- you can't justify a $4.5 million cap hit for a complementary player.

Vincent Lecavalier wasn't brought here to be Adam Hall. He was brought here to be a 60-point player and anchor that second line, not be an anchor.

I'd be more than happy to replace Jake on the right-wall w/ Streit, if you want one-time options on both sides.

As the QB over Kimmo? Chief gave him a chance, he wasn't as good.
- Tomahawk

I disagree that he wasn't as good. Let's look at PP points per 60.

You know, his career overall points rate and Gagne's aren't even really that different. With the tools that he was blessed with, he's actually had a pretty mediocre career. He was supposed to be Mario Lemieux come again.
- Tomahawk

Yeah. I've always thought St. Louis was the best player on that team. I felt Vinny relied more on MSL than MSL on Vinny.

The ones who the Flyers depend upon to help win hockey games -- you can't justify a $4.5 million cap hit for a complementary player.

Vincent Lecavalier wasn't brought here to be Adam Hall. He was brought here to be a 60-point player and anchor that second line, not be an anchor.
- AllInForFlyers

Not sure who said he was brought here to be Adam Hall, so where's that coming from? Nor did I say that he was complimentary. He was brought into to be a 2nd line center, and he can still be that, if he's healthy. And he can still produce offensively at a 2nd line center rate.

I disagree that he wasn't as good. Let's look at PP points per 60.
- MJL

You can't just look at it that way. The 2nd unit (when they can actually get setup) is run through VL and Streit. I bet each of them had a point on almost every ppg scored by the second unit.

The top unit is run through Giroux.

I disagree that he wasn't as good. Let's look at PP points per 60.
- MJL

Probably a better measure would be the PP% for the top-unit with Kimmo, and with Streit, but I'm way too lazy to assemble that.

A broken back isn't like a broken arm either. There is a good chance, he'll never feel like he did before the injury.
- PhillySportsGuy

That is an issue to be concerned about.

the Ducks have sort of a patch work D, but somehow it works

Well except for that goal with 7 seconds left

They've been pretty solid
- Marc D

that kind of goal infuriates me, especially with 7 seconds left while protecting a 1 goal lead. it's what happens in my games...shouldn't happen in the nhl.

Yeah. I've always thought St. Louis was the best player on that team. I felt Vinny relied more on MSL than MSL on Vinny.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's the 4th-best player that Tampa's ever had:

Stamkos > MSL > Brad Richards > VL.

So who pots the game winner?