How deep did adding MacDonald get the Flyers last year? They were pretty much a lock to make the playoffs when he was added. He was a slight upgrade to a team with little more than a puncher's chance to make a deep playoff run

Rather than augment an already flawed team with yet another flawed player, they could have stood pat & had more draft picks in the next couple years. Win now is great, teams should try to win. But they should also look at things realistically and with an eye to a few years down the road, not just a few months.

EDIT: in Holmgrens time as GM he made 3 second round picks. When guys like Subban, Weber & Keith are taken in the 2nd round, I'd say it's important to hang onto those picks, rather than trade them for depth guys
- Jsaquella

I don't think they were really a lock were they? Also MacDonald is 27 so the move was made with an eye to the future. Once Kimmo is done you still have a solid dman there for when the prospects come up.

YUP
Step one: Collect underpants
Step two: ???????
Step three: Win Stanley Cup
- BiggE

Holds up hand.
I have a lot of questions around Step 1. 2 and 3 are of course self evident.

I don't think they were really a lock were they? Also MacDonald is 27 so the move was made with an eye to the future. Once Kimmo is done you still have a solid dman there for when the prospects come up.
- J35Bacher

Personally, I don't think they make the playoffs playing Mez and Schenn as the third pairing down the stretch.

I don't think they were really a lock were they? Also MacDonald is 27 so the move was made with an eye to the future. Once Kimmo is done you still have a solid dman there for when the prospects come up.
- J35Bacher

If I recall correctly, their chances of making the playoffs at the time of the McDonald trade were around 92%

If the idea was to make a trade with an eye to the future, I would rather see them go after a more complete or younger guy that wasn't a pending unrestricted free agent

That should be the top end, not the floor, to me -- and I like the guy and want him on the team.

But Hextall needs to hold the line, here.
- AllInForFlyers

I hope he does, but let's be realistic. Killorn doesn't have the draft status, the same track-record of post-draft success, and he's only scored about 1/2 the career goals than our guy has.

Holds up hand.
I have a lot of questions around Step 1. 2 and 3 are of course self evident.
- FlyersGrace

Not a South Park fan?

Not a South Park fan?
- BiggE

Sorry most of my cartoon amusement is based around dark anime.
I was trying to make you laugh...

Personally, I don't think they make the playoffs playing Mez and Schenn as the third pairing down the stretch.
- Feanor

Probably do with Gustafsson & Schenn. Meszaros was traded the day after MacDonald was acquired.

Or look at what Montreal did. They traded a fifth round draft pick for Mike Weaver and got more mileage out of him in the playoffs than the Flyers got from MacDonald

Sorry most of my cartoon amusement is based around dark anime.
I was trying to make you laugh...
- FlyersGrace

No worries, I laughed

I'm easily amused, as my wife is fond of saying, we didn't need to have children cause she has me!!

Probably do with Gustafsson & Schenn. Meszaros was traded the day after MacDonald was acquired.

Or look at what Montreal did. They traded a fifth round draft pick for Mike Weaver and got more mileage out of him in the playoffs than the Flyers got from MacDonald
- Jsaquella

True, sad, but true

Personally, I don't think they make the playoffs playing Mez and Schenn as the third pairing down the stretch.
- Feanor

Who was going to take our spot away? Toronto? The teams w/ double-digit OTL's?

From Josh Rimer's blog here on HB:

"Also look for former Lightning & Coyotes Coach Rick Tocchet to be named an assistant coach with the Penguins."

REALLY!?!

From Josh Rimer's blog here on HB:

"Also look for former Lightning & Coyotes Coach Rick Tocchet to be named an assistant coach with the Penguins."

REALLY!?!
- FlyersGrace

Trader

Probably do with Gustafsson & Schenn. Meszaros was traded the day after MacDonald was acquired.

Or look at what Montreal did. They traded a fifth round draft pick for Mike Weaver and got more mileage out of him in the playoffs than the Flyers got from MacDonald
- Jsaquella

Weaver fit a need for them. We talk about reduntancy but wouldn't getting Weaver be more reduntant with Schenn and Grossmann?

Weaver fit a need for them. We talk about reduntancy but wouldn't getting Weaver be more reduntant with Schenn and Grossmann?
- J35Bacher

FYI Mike Weaver is 5'9 180... a mobile defensive specialist who can make a first pass... lot like AMac.

I find your lack of faith in our plan disturbing
- BiggE

Why?

FYI Mike Weaver is 5'9 180... a mobile defensive specialist who can make a first pass... lot like AMac.
- Tomahawk

I think of him more of a smaller Schenn. And also 36 years old.

I think of him more of a smaller Schenn.
- J35Bacher

I wish Schenn were that dependable... Weaver likes to throw hits, maybe that's where you're getting that from.

Quick Question.

If the Flyers had Nate Guenin and Luca Sbisa as there 3rd pairing for next year. Would people be happy with that when compared to what we currently have going into next year?

I use them because we drafted both and they currently play minutes with playoff teams.

I understand Sbisa was part of the Pronger trade. Lets say he was not for the purpose of this exercise.

If I recall correctly, their chances of making the playoffs at the time of the McDonald trade were around 92%

If the idea was to make a trade with an eye to the future, I would rather see them go after a more complete or younger guy that wasn't a pending unrestricted free agent
- Jsaquella

I would've loved for them to have gone after Rundblad. Cheaper, younger option with potential. He could've fit with Grossmann or even Schenn despite both being righties. I get why they didn't as he was a bit of a wildcard, but he did run into a numbers game in Phoenix. And he didn't really play all that much for Chicago, so I wonder if they'll even qualify him.

Quick Question.

If the Flyers had Nate Guenin and Luca Sbisa as there 3rd pairing for next year. Would people be happy with that when compared to what we currently have going into next year?

I use them because we drafted both and they currently play minutes with playoff teams.

I understand Sbisa was part of the Pronger trade. Lets say he was not for the purpose of this exercise.
- mickel25

Hasn't Sbisa been a bit injured?

Quick Question.

If the Flyers had Nate Guenin and Luca Sbisa as there 3rd pairing for next year. Would people be happy with that when compared to what we currently have going into next year?

I use them because we drafted both and they currently play minutes with playoff teams.

I understand Sbisa was part of the Pronger trade. Lets say he was not for the purpose of this exercise.
- mickel25

Sbisa/Guenin would be brutal... and not because of Guenin.

When Luca's not riding shotgun w/ Beauchemin, he gets exposed pretty badly.

I would've loved for them to have gone after Rundblad. Cheaper, younger option with potential. He could've fit with Grossmann or even Schenn despite both being righties. I get why they didn't as he was a bit of a wildcard, but he did run into a numbers game in Phoenix. And he didn't really play all that much for Chicago, so I wonder if they'll even qualify him.
- TobyFlenderson

I would have liked to get Del Zotto but know way rangers are trading to Philly. Maybe a deal with NSH could be made. Vinny to NSH for del zotto

Sbisa/Guenin would be brutal... and not because of Guenin.

When Luca's not riding shotgun w/ Beauchemin, he gets exposed pretty badly.
- Tomahawk

I thought it was interesting to ponder. They would be cheaper but the team would be worse. Just wish they had a Guenin or two to take the 6th or 7th spot in the defensive rotation at a low cost.

I would've loved for them to have gone after Rundblad. Cheaper, younger option with potential. He could've fit with Grossmann or even Schenn despite both being righties. I get why they didn't as he was a bit of a wildcard, but he did run into a numbers game in Phoenix. And he didn't really play all that much for Chicago, so I wonder if they'll even qualify him.
- TobyFlenderson

I like Rundblad, but I get feeling Berube would not