Toews for me. But of course you have the Slovak connection.
- rockychocbill

Toews is just another Winnipeg kid.

Toews is just another Winnipeg kid.
- flyer_nutter

Ahhh good one. Forgot about that.

i hate everything about crawford's face.
- hammarby31

Could not agree more - I hate it

Could not agree more - I hate it
- wilsonecho91

Luckily neither of you guys will have to marry him.

Could not agree more - I hate it
- wilsonecho91

Luckily neither of you guys will have to marry him.
- rockychocbill

i'd just resent him because he's a better goalie. it wouldn't work.

i'd just resent him because he's a better goalie. it wouldn't work.
- hammarby31

He's the NHL version of beatloaf

He's the NHL version of beatloaf
- wilsonecho91

- hammarby31

The Wideman one was bad. Calgary does some strange things.
- PhillySportsGuy

Earlier you correctly spoke about needing a dynamic defenseman, and the need to get pucks to the net by defenseman. While Wideman certainly isn't on the level of Dought and Keith. He does bring an element of those puck skills to the ice. That's why Calgary did what they did.

Chicago and Kane all the way.

Talent over 'system' any day. I really want Zeus to win again.
- flyer_nutter

Kopitar, Carter, Gaborik, Doughty, Voynov. Tons of talent on LA. And Chicago basically plays the same system as LA.

Q: You guys really had Patrick Kane's number early in the series. What do you do to get back to that in game 7?

Answer from Darryl "I swear I'm not drunk all the time" Sutter: We'll do our best

His pressers are just...they're a trainwreck and a half.

- Giroux_Is_God

That just shows being good with the press is not that important.

Earlier you correctly spoke about needing a dynamic defenseman, and the need to get pucks to the net by defenseman. While Wideman certainly isn't on the level of Dought and Keith. He does bring an element of those puck skills to the ice. That's why Calgary did what they did.
- MJL

Yeah, but Wideman doesn't have the skating ability and I won't even go into the differences in defense.

My main point is that it's so important to have those defenseman who do it all. The Flyers have a collection of guys who excel in only one area.

I just think it's so hard to win in the playoffs without a stud dman. It's not impossible, but it A LOT harder. You basically have to be perfect in every other aspect of the game.

That just shows being good with the press is not that important.
- Feanor

I think it's always good to keep a good relationship with them, but don't expect any loyalty. Once the first cold streak hits, the press will jump right down your throat. It's a lose lose situation.

I just think it's so hard to win in the playoffs without a stud dman. It's not impossible, but it A LOT harder. You basically have to be perfect in every other aspect of the game.
- PhillySportsGuy

True, but I think you stand a better chance at being good 5V5 with 6 Nik Hjalmarssons than you do with the a stud added to our current corps. That one guy at the top means a lot, but not if the rest of the support structure is crap. Even having a rock-solid top-4, anchored by a stud, and a replacement-level third-pair will leave you prone, as we witnessed in 2010.

True, but I think you stand a better chance at being good 5V5 with 6 Nik Hjalmarssons than you do with the a stud added to our current corps. That one guy at the top means a lot, but not if the rest of the support structure is crap. Even having a rock-solid top-4, anchored by a stud, and a replacement-level third-pair will leave you prone, as we witnessed in 2010.
- Tomahawk

Carolina won in 2006 because they had good team defense and 7 capable NHL defensemen who were all solid skaters (well except maybe Commodore) and had skill sets that complimented one another.

The Flyers defense, like the forward group, needs more cohesion as well as skill

Yeah, but Wideman doesn't have the skating ability and I won't even go into the differences in defense.

My main point is that it's so important to have those defenseman who do it all. The Flyers have a collection of guys who excel in only one area.

I just think it's so hard to win in the playoffs without a stud dman. It's not impossible, but it A LOT harder. You basically have to be perfect in every other aspect of the game.
- PhillySportsGuy

Like I said, Wideman is no where near the class of Doughty or Keith. But those players are hard to get. And players with the offensive puck skill like Wideman has, are a need, and that's why players like Wideman and Streit, can commnad salaries in the 5M range.

I agree completely with the last statement. How can you not when you watch the Conference finals and see the impact of Doughty, Keith, Subban, and McDonagh.

True, but I think you stand a better chance at being good 5V5 with 6 Nik Hjalmarssons than you do with the a stud added to our current corps. That one guy at the top means a lot, but not if the rest of the support structure is crap. Even having a rock-solid top-4, anchored by a stud, and a replacement-level third-pair will leave you prone, as we witnessed in 2010.
- Tomahawk

I'll go with having the stud in the lineup. One thing that is overlooked, is remove the stud from Chicago's lineup, and then play the "Hjalmarssons" in that role. All of a sudden they don't look so good. Hjalmarssson is a very good 2nd pair defenseman. But overplay him and overuse him, and that would lesson his effectiveness.

Carolina won in 2006 because they had good team defense and 7 capable NHL defensemen who were all solid skaters (well except maybe Commodore) and had skill sets that complimented one another.

The Flyers defense, like the forward group, needs more cohesion as well as skill
- Jsaquella

That's really an outlier. I would also add that Cam Ward stood on his head that playoff year.