Will the Kings close it out tonight and sweep for the Cup? Or will the Rangers fight back and take a game?
- MJL

To be the best, you have to beat the best. The Kings have quietly already beat a really good Sharks team in one of the great comebacks in sports history. The Kings beat the best overall team in the West in the Ducks. Then they beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The LA Kings completely the sweep tonight.

Will the Kings close it out tonight and sweep for the Cup? Or will the Rangers fight back and take a game?
- MJL

As much as I'd love to see a sweep, I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the official end of the season.

Those 'classic' games from 3 years ago on the NHL Network in the summer just don't do it for me.

I fear for this defensive without Timonen and Coburn. At the same time, I don't want to delay the inevitable when it comes to Timonen. I didn't like that he was held out to rest in a number of games nearing the end of the year. One against a measuring stick like the San Jose Sharks when we needed to collect points the most. Coburn I'm a pretty big fan of and the only way I would move him is if he's apart of a bigger deal that sees the D get upgraded. Just the other day I made a couple suggests. Wrong or right, I was hoping to throw out something for everyone to think about. Would I add Coburn in a deal that brought Weber here if it meant keeping Grossmann and Luke Schenn. If it were even remotely possible, I would but I'm not so sure Weber alone upgrades a D that still features an odd bunch that still includes Grossmann, Schenn and Streit. I believe we should keep Coburn but it still begs the question, how do we get better? The signing of Streit in my mind didn't improve us by much if at all defensively. I also asked if anyone would consider moving Voracek for a pure shooter (JvR or Ryan) because I feel Giroux could be even better with a player who can naturally score. It's a tough question to ask because I like Voracek as much as Coburn but it still begs the question, how do we upgrade? What do we have to offer to upgrade?
- SuperSchennBros

Streit made the Flyers a better team by upgrading the puck skills and puck movement ability on the defense. Same as MacDonald will. The best way for the Flyers to improve defensively, barring any other player moves, is to get much better defensively as a team. Watching the Kings and to a lesser degree the Rangers play. The Kings especially are always in good position, always have back pressure in the neutral zone. And always have a sound gap between the forwards and defense. Not a lot of room out there against them.
Another way the Flyers get better as a team, is the growth and maturity of the younger players. If they take steps to further their development, that alone will make the Flyers better. And thirdly, other players such as Luke Schenn, Hartnell, Simmonds, etc, need to find better consistency.
I understand your point about Voracek, in that he's more play maker and puck carrier then a shooter. And that a pure goal scorer would look nice with Giroux.

Unless there is a rule that I'm unaware of, that would be a very smart move for the Flyers. Sign Timonen to a PTO, and then sign him right before the first game, after placing Pronger on LTIR. Again, not sure if there is a deadline to sign a player to an SPC when he's in camp on a PTO.
- MJL

I wouldn't if I'm Kimmo. I want guarantees. They already pulled this stunt on Gagne. Based on whatiI've read, Gagne was sure there was a deal coming and even turned down other offers.

Holy crap. Good thing he's got that arm to fall back on when he takes his eye off the ball.
- tangent_man

Those Cubans can really throw. Puig has a ridiculous arm too.

I hope the season ends tonight with Dorsett and Carcillo unconscious at the end of the game.
- jmatchett383

I believe Dorsett is injured and will not play.

Streit made the Flyers a better team by upgrading the puck skills and puck movement ability on the defense. Same as MacDonald will. The best way for the Flyers to improve defensively, barring any other player moves, is to get much better defensively as a team. Watching the Kings and to a lesser degree the Rangers play. The Kings especially are always in good position, always have back pressure in the neutral zone. And always have a sound gap between the forwards and defense. Not a lot of room out there against them.
Another way the Flyers get better as a team, is the growth and maturity of the younger players. If they take steps to further their development, that alone will make the Flyers better. And thirdly, other players such as Luke Schenn, Hartnell, Simmonds, etc, need to find better consistency.
I understand your point about Voracek, in that he's more play maker and puck carrier then a shooter. And that a pure goal scorer would look nice with Giroux.
- MJL

Wow, someone who actually gets it.

Jake Voracek is a very good player but I favour JvR because of his shooting. The two players in my mind are a bit of a wash. Both Voracek and JvR in my opinion will turn out to be better then Bobby Ryan. It's Ryan's consistent 30 goal seasons that make him tempting to any team looking for a scorer.

I think you hit it on the head with our team as a whole. Great teams know how to play team defense and to support one another. There is a serious lack of support on the ice and it sucks to watch some nights.

I wouldn't if I'm Kimmo. I want guarantees. They already pulled this stunt on Gagne. Based on whatiI've read, Gagne was sure there was a deal coming and even turned down other offers.
- SuperSchennBros

I hear you. But the team never told Gagne that they were going to definitely sign him to my knowledge. They would agree to a specific deal in principle with Timonen. But there is risk of course. But it would just be a way to play some salary cap games, if it's allowable.

I believe Dorsett is injured and will not play.
- bodiva88

That is fantastic news.

GMs vote to allow coaches challenge. Add an extra trip to the fridge to your viewing schedule.

Edit: Changes to the draft lottery but not for next season.

I hear you. But the team never told Gagne that they were going to definitely sign him to my knowledge. They would agree to a specific deal in principle with Timonen. But there is risk of course. But it would just be a way to play some salary cap games, if it's allowable.
- MJL

Would if have been a good idea to sign Gagne looking back? One year deal, lesser cash then Lecavalier, a hole at LW, Schenn players center full time?

That is fantastic news.
- jmatchett383

I'm ready for it to end tonight. I'm tired of watching other teams play.

GMs vote to allow coaches challenge. Add an extra trip to the fridge to your viewing schedule.

Edit: Changes to the draft lottery but not for next season.
- mayorofangrytown

ugh (frank) that

I hear you. But the team never told Gagne that they were going to definitely sign him to my knowledge. They would agree to a specific deal in principle with Timonen. But there is risk of course. But it would just be a way to play some salary cap games, if it's allowable.
- MJL

They never said they were "definitely" going to sign him, but according to Gagne, Homer had strongly implied that was going to be the case:

“All summer, the Philadelphia Flyers kept hinting that they wanted to offer me a new contract, and I even told Robert Sauve, my agent, not to negotiate with other teams,” Gagne told LaPresse. “We trusted them. We put all our eggs in one basket and we got caught. We never thought we’d be stuck in this situation at this time of the year.”

“I knew that hockey was a business, but with all the positive discussions we had with Paul Holmgren, I can’t believe I’m not back with them,” said Gagne, who was drafted by the Flyers in 1998 and spent parts of 11 seasons with the organization.

All depends on how technical you want to get on the whole thing, and how important it is to be right.

They never said they were "definitely" going to sign him, but according to Gagne, Homer had strongly implied that was going to be the case:

“All summer, the Philadelphia Flyers kept hinting that they wanted to offer me a new contract, and I even told Robert Sauve, my agent, not to negotiate with other teams,” Gagne told LaPresse. “We trusted them. We put all our eggs in one basket and we got caught. We never thought we’d be stuck in this situation at this time of the year.”

“I knew that hockey was a business, but with all the positive discussions we had with Paul Holmgren, I can’t believe I’m not back with them,” said Gagne, who was drafted by the Flyers in 1998 and spent parts of 11 seasons with the organization.

All depends on how technical you want to get on the whole thing, and how important it is to be right.
- jmatchett383

More important than anything else in the world

More important than anything else in the world
- PhillySportsGuy

Even more important than cute 15 lb dogs?

Even more important than cute 15 lb dogs?
- jmatchett383

Well, lets not get out of hand here

GMs vote to allow coaches challenge. Add an extra trip to the fridge to your viewing schedule.

Edit: Changes to the draft lottery but not for next season.
- mayorofangrytown

Any word on what those lottery changes will be?

Well, lets not get out of hand here
- PhillySportsGuy

Okay
1. Cute 15 lb dogs
2. Being right
3. Free internet pornography
4. Miniature American flags
5. Being right again.

GMs vote to allow coaches challenge. Add an extra trip to the fridge to your viewing schedule.

Edit: Changes to the draft lottery but not for next season.
- mayorofangrytown

I'm willing to try anything. Losing games unfairly leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Best example this year was the Hartnell goal waived off against the Devils in the dying seconds in the third.

I'm willing to try anything. Losing games unfairly leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Best example this year was the Hartnell goal waived off against the Devils in the dying seconds in the third.
- SuperSchennBros

I wonder how far they're going to extend it. Can it be used only for goalie interference, or for anything (offside calls, puck deflecting over glass, high sticks, etc). It could get really messy really quickly.

Any word on what those lottery changes will be?
- jmatchett383

I think they were just discussing the possibility of increasing the odds and making it possible for all non-PO teams to get a shot at the #1 pick.

Any word on what those lottery changes will be?
- jmatchett383

Not yet, they just got some snippets on the way out from the meetings end. Some teaser stuff. I'm sure in a few hours someone will turn the leaky faucet on full.

They never said they were "definitely" going to sign him, but according to Gagne, Homer had strongly implied that was going to be the case:

“All summer, the Philadelphia Flyers kept hinting that they wanted to offer me a new contract, and I even told Robert Sauve, my agent, not to negotiate with other teams,” Gagne told LaPresse. “We trusted them. We put all our eggs in one basket and we got caught. We never thought we’d be stuck in this situation at this time of the year.”

“I knew that hockey was a business, but with all the positive discussions we had with Paul Holmgren, I can’t believe I’m not back with them,” said Gagne, who was drafted by the Flyers in 1998 and spent parts of 11 seasons with the organization.

All depends on how technical you want to get on the whole thing, and how important it is to be right.
- jmatchett383

There isn't a single franchise I love on the face of the earth that I love more then the Philadelphia Flyers but how they treated Gagne last summer was awful.

I think they were just discussing the possibility of increasing the odds and making it possible for all non-PO teams to get the #1 pick.
- Tomahawk

Aren't all non-PO teams able to get the #1 pick now, it's just ridiculously hard? I know it used to be a 5-spot move, but I thought they changed that.