Replacing Hall with Fiddler will accomplish nothing. You get a player who is better in some areas and worse in others and will command more money. At the end of the day the 4th line gets 5-8 minutes a game making Fiddler over Hall irrelevant. If Flyers are going to do anything they need an upgrade on D and maybe wing.

Niskanen could be a good pickup but will command around 6 mill, that is risky IMO for a guy who had one good season on Pittsburgh. Boyle would be a safer option but at 39 he is a short term option, the same goes for Markov. PK Subban is an RFA and I can say with 99% certainty that MTL will give him whatever he wasnts in terms of $$.

On Wing I'd like a better option on the 1st line than Hartnell. Hartnell is a good player but inconsistent, poor passer and not a very good skater. Problem is that you can't really add another forward unless you get rid of someone. The only people Philly would be willing to deal are Hartnell and Vinny. Maybe send Vinny to Tampa? They got destroyed in the playoffs because they were too young and Lindback. I could also see Nashville being interested.

apparently patrick maroon is a playoff star, with 7 points in 9 games for the ducks, according to their hb blogger.

discuss.
- hammarby31

Holmgren......

Is 1.1 millon too much of a cap hit for a 4th line punching bag?
- PLindbergh31

Who is a punching bag?

What do you think of the Patrick Sharpe trade?

Who is a punching bag?

What do you think of the Patrick Sharpe trade?
- MJL

Didn't you say it was comical and laughable to say Holmgren would be fired as GM? Low and behold, he's dunzo.

Replacing Hall with Fiddler will accomplish nothing. You get a player who is better in some areas and worse in others and will command more money. At the end of the day the 4th line gets 5-8 minutes a game making Fiddler over Hall irrelevant. If Flyers are going to do anything they need an upgrade on D and maybe wing.

Niskanen could be a good pickup but will command around 6 mill, that is risky IMO for a guy who had one good season on Pittsburgh. Boyle would be a safer option but at 39 he is a short term option, the same goes for Markov. PK Subban is an RFA and I can say with 99% certainty that MTL will give him whatever he wasnts in terms of $$.

On Wing I'd like a better option on the 1st line than Hartnell. Hartnell is a good player but inconsistent, poor passer and not a very good skater. Problem is that you can't really add another forward unless you get rid of someone. The only people Philly would be willing to deal are Hartnell and Vinny. Maybe send Vinny to Tampa? They got destroyed in the playoffs because they were too young and Lindback. I could also see Nashville being interested.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I agree 100% that the Flyers should focus their assets on more important areas of the team, that need to be upgraded.
As far as the forwards are concerned, it's all about the mix. They could use some more speed and skill, but have to be careful about becoming to small. And a player like Hartnell is one of those players, that is going to be missed when he's gone. He can be frustrating at times, but also effective. He's not the only inconsistent player on the team.

Didn't you say it was comical and laughable to say Holmgren would be fired as GM? Low and behold, he's dunzo.
- PLindbergh31

Holmgren was not fired.

Holmgren was not fired.
- MJL

He was removed as GM. Spin it any old way you want.

Replacing Hall with Fiddler will accomplish nothing. You get a player who is better in some areas and worse in others and will command more money. At the end of the day the 4th line gets 5-8 minutes a game making Fiddler over Hall irrelevant. If Flyers are going to do anything they need an upgrade on D and maybe wing.

Niskanen could be a good pickup but will command around 6 mill, that is risky IMO for a guy who had one good season on Pittsburgh. Boyle would be a safer option but at 39 he is a short term option, the same goes for Markov. PK Subban is an RFA and I can say with 99% certainty that MTL will give him whatever he wasnts in terms of $$.

On Wing I'd like a better option on the 1st line than Hartnell. Hartnell is a good player but inconsistent, poor passer and not a very good skater. Problem is that you can't really add another forward unless you get rid of someone. The only people Philly would be willing to deal are Hartnell and Vinny. Maybe send Vinny to Tampa? They got destroyed in the playoffs because they were too young and Lindback. I could also see Nashville being interested.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Getting a top or 2nd line LW is probably the only realistic move we can make this offseason that can be viewed as a "big" improvement. No one is trading big name D men. So it starts with finding a taker for Vinny or Hartnell and then shopping the 1st rounder and a young player. That might sound like it goes against Hextall's plan but at 17 you aren't getting a player that is reaching the NHL for at least a year and the team could really use another skill threat to help alleviate this "live and die by G" mentality.

Not entirely sure who could be had but I'd inquire about Spezza, Kesler and Ryan. So long as you arent selling the farm for these guys they could be real strong additions.

I agree 100% that the Flyers should focus their assets on more important areas of the team, that need to be upgraded.
As far as the forwards are concerned, it's all about the mix. They could use some more speed and skill, but have to be careful about becoming to small. And a player like Hartnell is one of those players, that is going to be missed when he's gone. He can be frustrating at times, but also effective. He's not the only inconsistent player on the team.
- MJL

Well to straight out get rid of him yea Hartnell would be missed but if you can get another guy who is better player but still strong in the corners it is worth doing. Bobby Ryan would be a no brainer, unfortunately he is signed for 1 more year in OTT but is a FA next season and could be a potential deadline day pickup. Moulson is another guy rumoured as a player Philly would go after. I don't know about his strength in the corners but I would not say no to a 30 goal scorer along side Giroux

apparently patrick maroon is a playoff star, with 7 points in 9 games for the ducks, according to their hb blogger.

discuss.
- hammarby31

I would be too playing with Perry and Getzlaf

He was removed as GM. Spin it any old way you want.
- PLindbergh31

Doesn't require spin. Let's look at context. You and other Holmgren detractors wanted Holmgren fired as GM, for what was perceived as poor performance. Is that what happened? There was an obvious plan in place for Hextall to take over as GM at some point. It's pretty clear, that due to the threat of losing Hextall to another team. The Flyers advanced that timeline, and promoted Holmgren to team president, and made Hextall the GM. So what was the reason for the move? Poor performance by Holmgren, or just a natural progression? Holmgren is almost 60, he wasn't going to stay a GM forever.
But if it makes you happy, and need to say he was fired. Have at it!

And man doesn't it suck that Patrick Sharp is still playing in the playoffs for Chicago.

Getting a top or 2nd line LW is probably the only realistic move we can make this offseason that can be viewed as a "big" improvement. No one is trading big name D men. So it starts with finding a taker for Vinny or Hartnell and then shopping the 1st rounder and a young player. That might sound like it goes against Hextall's plan but at 17 you aren't getting a player that is reaching the NHL for at least a year and the team could really use another skill threat to help alleviate this "live and die by G" mentality.

Not entirely sure who could be had but I'd inquire about Spezza, Kesler and Ryan. So long as you arent selling the farm for these guys they could be real strong additions.
- hereticpride

I think Schenn will grow into that secondary threat. Yea I know it will be hard for both upgrades but Pens I don't think can afford Niskanen. So he is a viable option even though the risk. Finding a suiter for Vinny or Hartnell will only be as difficult as they are since they have a NTC

Well to straight out get rid of him yea Hartnell would be missed but if you can get another guy who is better player but still strong in the corners it is worth doing. Bobby Ryan would be a no brainer, unfortunately he is signed for 1 more year in OTT but is a FA next season and could be a potential deadline day pickup. Moulson is another guy rumoured as a player Philly would go after. I don't know about his strength in the corners but I would not say no to a 30 goal scorer along side Giroux
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

If you take him at his word, Hextall's last priority is upgrading on wing. It's probably more likely that he further weakens the team on wing to upgrade the D, instead of going after Moulson/Ryan and settling for another season of the same wretched D group.

Well to straight out get rid of him yea Hartnell would be missed but if you can get another guy who is better player but still strong in the corners it is worth doing. Bobby Ryan would be a no brainer, unfortunately he is signed for 1 more year in OTT but is a FA next season and could be a potential deadline day pickup. Moulson is another guy rumoured as a player Philly would go after. I don't know about his strength in the corners but I would not say no to a 30 goal scorer along side Giroux
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Hartnell is capable of scoring 30 goals playing with Giroux. If they can move out Lecavalier, and use that money to add a player that fits the mix better, then I'm fine with that. But I'd rather focus on the defense. And maybe look to add some lesser players that add some skill and speed to maybe the 3rd line.

Doesn't require spin. Let's look at context. You and other Holmgren detractors wanted Holmgren fired as GM, for what was perceived as poor performance. Is that what happened? There was an obvious plan in place for Hextall to take over as GM at some point. It's pretty clear, that due to the threat of losing Hextall to another team. The Flyers advanced that timeline, and promoted Holmgren to team president, and made Hextall the GM. So what was the reason for the move? Poor performance by Holmgren, or just a natural progression? Holmgren is almost 60, he wasn't going to stay a GM forever.
But if it makes you happy, and need to say he was fired. Have at it!

And man doesn't it suck that Patrick Sharp is still playing in the playoffs for Chicago.
- MJL

It really sounds like it was Homer's "goal" to be team Prez. That's what I got out of it. Once Luukko left, this was probably the plan all along.

I agree with you. I don't think it was a firing per se, but a promotion/repositioning. Like I said, I bet part of it was Homer- it seems like he would rather be President than GM the way he was talking after/during the presser.

EDIT: Wait was Luukko president of the Flyers? Or Comcast? I might be getting confused. My point still stands though.

If you take him at his word, Hextall's last priority is upgrading on wing. I'd even go as far to say that he might be more willing to further weaken the team on wing to upgrade the D, instead of going after Moulson/Ryan and settling for another season of the same wretched D group.
- Tomahawk

I agree with the premise. But calling the D a wretched group is hyperbole. Every member of that defense is a good player. It may not be the right mix together, but they're all solid NHL defenseman.

Doesn't require spin. Let's look at context. You and other Holmgren detractors wanted Holmgren fired as GM, for what was perceived as poor performance. Is that what happened? There was an obvious plan in place for Hextall to take over as GM at some point. It's pretty clear, that due to the threat of losing Hextall to another team. The Flyers advanced that timeline, and promoted Holmgren to team president, and made Hextall the GM. So what was the reason for the move? Poor performance by Holmgren, or just a natural progression? Holmgren is almost 60, he wasn't going to stay a GM forever.
But if it makes you happy, and need to say he was fired. Have at it!

And man doesn't it suck that Patrick Sharp is still playing in the playoffs for Chicago.
- MJL

Oh so it's age and natural progression that were the factors in Holmgren being replaced. Same thing happened to Lou Lamoriello.

Funny how you keep bringing Sharp up, trading a perennial all star and getting a bag of poop in return is part and parcel to why it's going on 40 years without getting the job done. Mismangaement.

I agree with the premise. But calling the D a wretched group is hyperbole. Every member of that defense is a good player. It may not be the right mix together, but they're all solid NHL defenseman.
- MJL

Except for Grossmann.

The Wins Above Replacement doesn't lie. Neither does the BABIP. Both low...that's a bad sign.

It really sounds like it was Homer's "goal" to be team Prez. That's what I got out of it. Once Luukko left, this was probably the plan all along.

I agree with you. I don't think it was a firing per se, but a promotion/repositioning. Like I said, I bet part of it was Homer- it seems like he would rather be President than GM the way he was talking after/during the presser
- Giroux_Is_God

I think he would have ideally liked to have been a Pres./Senior VP of Hockey Ops, like a lot of other GM's have been "promoted" to in the past (including Clarke)... it's just weird that they'd tab him for the leader of the business side of things, when he admittedly has very little practical experience at that sort of thing. Does he really want to be fund-raising for the Flyers Carnival, setting popcorn prices, and setting strategy for season ticket renewals? He seems like a hockey guy, first and foremost. It's just an odd situation.

Works for me!

I'd be fine with:
Hartnell-G-Voracek
Read-Schenn-Simmonds
UFA TBD-Couturier-Akeson
Raffl-Laughton-Rinaldo
- BiggE

Couturier should be 2nd line center

It really sounds like it was Homer's "goal" to be team Prez. That's what I got out of it. Once Luukko left, this was probably the plan all along.

I agree with you. I don't think it was a firing per se, but a promotion/repositioning. Like I said, I bet part of it was Homer- it seems like he would rather be President than GM the way he was talking after/during the presser.

EDIT: Wait was Luukko president of the Flyers? Or Comcast? I might be getting confused. My point still stands though.
- Giroux_Is_God

He was so great as GM, he earned a promotion. When he sets the world ablaze as Team President, I think he will be promoted to head of the Raccoon Lodge.

Oh so it's age and natural progression that were the factors in Holmgren being replaced. Same thing happened to Lou Lamoriello.

Funny how you keep bringing Sharp up, trading a perennial all star and getting a bag of poop in return is part and parcel to why it's going on 40 years without getting the job done. Mismangaement.
- PLindbergh31

Yes, if you read the news on why the move was made.


In reply to a post on the makeup of next years team, you brought up a player that is no longer with the team, and has nothing to do with forming next years team. So why not discuss Sharp, as well as other old news that is repeatedly dug up? Why stop there? Any trades made back in the 90's you didn't like?

I think he would have ideally liked to have been a Pres./Senior VP of Hockey Ops, like a lot of other GM's have been "promoted" to in the past (including Clarke)... it's just weird that they'd tab him for the leader of the business side of things, when he admittedly has very little practical experience at that sort of thing. Does he really want to be fund-raising for the Flyers Carnival, setting popcorn prices, and setting strategy for season ticket renewals? He seems like a hockey guy, first and foremost. It's just an odd situation.
- Tomahawk

That part of it is certainly odd. But it's pretty clear that it was not only Holmgren's wish, but he had a large part in facilitating the move.

He was so great as GM, he earned a promotion. When he sets the world ablaze as Team President, I think he will be promoted to head of the Raccoon Lodge.
- PLindbergh31

Your insight is very much appreciated and noted. Thank you.

Except for Grossmann.

The Wins Above Replacement doesn't lie. Neither does the BABIP. Both low...that's a bad sign.
- Giroux_Is_God