What about Alt? He's older and more experience. Ghost would be a good choice too. Although neither will fill our need for a #1 (next year).

I'm not so hung up about the capspace - not enough room argument. GM's always seem to find a way to get seemingly impossible deals done. Like when Homer was going after Parise and Suter at 8M each. Although, he didn't get it - he did have a plan to fit it in...
- leon neon

Unless he really shines in camp/preseason, I don't want Ghost anywhere near the roster opening night.

Bill also has a known soft spot for Grossmann, so gotta factor that in.

Unless Coburn and Luke are going anywhere, I'm not sure MDZ would turn them into a soft/small d-corps. He's actually decently physical, and well built, for a fancy-pants puckmover.
- Tomahawk

I agree with Bill. Moving out Grossmann for a player like MDZ is not the right move.

Blah, didn't realize you were already talking about Laughton. My apologies.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, that's right. You keep on walkin!!!

There is no doubt that the Flyers defense is missing that top pairing high minute all situations player. But I don't see why the defense in it's current makeup is so scary. It's actually a solid defense. I'm more worried about the team's ability to improve it's overall team defense, and 5 on 5 play.
- MJL

Which in a way is why the trade was made. I think Umbergers strong two way play can help the teams overall team d. Now if he can pull a Vinny trade we might see the roster and after the draft we might see the roster taking some shape.

I agree with Bill. Moving out Grossmann for a player like MDZ is not the right move.
- MJL

...in your opinion.

I'm talking about Grossmann, not Vinny.
- jmatchett383

Ahhh, my bad. I'm at work, pesky job keeps me unfocused from my HB life.

as a overager....
- PhillaBully

Next season is his overage season...

Which in a way is why the trade was made. I think Umbergers strong two way play can help the teams overall team d. Now if he can pull a Vinny trade we might see the roster and after the draft we might see the roster taking some shape.
- J35Bacher

Vinny Lecavalier for Vinny Prospal!
Vinny Lecavalier for Dainus Zubrus
Vinny Lecavalier for Janne Niinimaa!

edit:
Vinny Lecavalier for Colin Forbes

I think that covers the 96/97 Flyers rookies.

Yeah, that's right. You keep on walkin!!!
- jmatchett383

/movin' right along

Krug played 63 games in the AHL before making the Bruins team full time.
- MJL

He was playing NHL playoff games before all the AHL games. He played the majority of those games during the lock out. He then hurt himself and Boston waited a bit to bring him up in the spring post lock out.

Im in favor of Ghost seeing significant AHL time this year though.

With the Clarkson/Clowe/Burrows/Laich deals so roundly mocked, you'd think a GM would actually be praised for pro-actively moving a guy like that who's locked into too much term when the opportunity presented itself.

Guess not.
- Tomahawk

I think it's totally fine to like Hartnell for what he brings/brought to the team. He was a Flyer for seven years and a contributor to successful teams and lines.

The only problem, I feel, is when being a fan simply blinds someone to things that are either true, or more likely true than not. Because then criticism gets lodged that is out of line with what the player contributes and what the franchise actually accomplished with the trades.

It's OK to like Scott Hartnell as a player and still acknowledge that five more years is a tough, tough thing to have on the books with where the Flyers are, as a franchise.

I agree with Bill. Moving out Grossmann for a player like MDZ is not the right move.
- MJL

Correct. But if it comes down to getting and asset like MDZ for vinny I take that over taking on a bad contract just for the sake of taking it. At least MDZ might be able to be flipped or you bring him to camp on a i year deal and see what happens. If soneone goes down at leas you have someone that can play in the NHL there

Correct. But if it comes down to getting and asset like MDZ for vinny I take that over taking on a bad contract just for the sake of taking it. At least MDZ might be able to be flipped or you bring him to camp on a i year deal and see what happens. If soneone goes down at leas you have someone that can play in the NHL there
- J35Bacher

I have a hard time believeing we'll get a young offensive d-man for just Vinny.

I have a hard time believeing we'll get a young offensive d-man for just Vinny.
- Deasr1

Did you also think we'd have a hard time getting a fantastic skater who's a defensive stalwart with a good goal scoring touch for the worst player in NHL history?

Well, we didn't, we just let Roman Vopat go. But we did get that guy for Scott Hartnell, who's a useless pile of garbage.

I don't think you are either. My only point is that I think that the Flyers have made an obvious organizational shift to be more patient and stick with a core group of players, a number of years ago. So I don't think anything Hextall is doing or has done, indicates any radical change in the team's philosophy.
- MJL

I don't know if I agree with that. Holmgren talked like things were going to change, but they still traded away JvR and Bob and signed older guys for too much time, brought back former players, put former players in management and coaching positions. When I said Hextal was changing the culture of the Flyers I was kidding. I like what he's saying, so far, but it's way too soon to say things are going to change in Flyerland.

Did you also think we'd have a hard time getting a fantastic skater who's a defensive stalwart with a good goal scoring touch for the worst player in NHL history?

Well, we didn't, we just let Roman Vopat go. But we did get that guy for Scott Hartnell, who's a useless pile of garbage.
- jmatchett383

You are on fire today!!

There is no doubt that the Flyers defense is missing that top pairing high minute all situations player. But I don't see why the defense in it's current makeup is so scary. It's actually a solid defense. I'm more worried about the team's ability to improve it's overall team defense, and 5 on 5 play.
- MJL

Playing at the top of their game... I agree. However, looking at a long 82 game season. Timmo is older. Grossmann health is troublesome, I don't think he'll play 82 games (I hope I'm wrong). Schenn is the only physical guy. I like the puck-handling of the group, but this group isn't the greatest defensive-dman group. I'd like to see Schenn bloom a bit more into a better defense player (I don't care if he scores a goal). And, I'd like to see some one else on the blue line that would scare opposing forwards. Would the top opposing star be afraid of this group, Would the top opposing star have an easy time scoring?

I don't know if I agree with that. Holmgren talked like things were going to change, but they still traded away JvR and Bob and signed older guys for too much time, brought back former players, put former players in management and coaching positions. When I said Hextal was changing the culture of the Flyers I was kidding. I like what he's saying, so far, but it's way too soon to say things are going to change in Flyerland.
- Dkos[/img]

Flyers sign Bob Kelly, Dave Schultz, Don Saleski, and trade a 2nd rounder for a time machine. We either win the Cup or kill no less than 43 NHL players.

I don't know if I agree with that. Holmgren talked like things were going to change, but they still traded away JvR and Bob and signed older guys for too much time, brought back former players, put former players in management and coaching positions. When I said Hextal was changing the culture of the Flyers I was kidding. I like what he's saying, so far, but it's way too soon to say things are going to change in Flyerland.
- Dkos[/img]

The Hartnell trade was the anti-flyer deal. They traded a player many would consider a prototypical flyer for a well rounded player and fixed a future problem right now.

I am convinced there is a new direction

Playing at the top of their game... I agree. However, looking at a long 82 game season. Timmo is older. Grossmann health is troublesome, I don't think he'll play 82 games (I hope I'm wrong). Schenn is the only physical guy. I like the puck-handling of the group, but this group isn't the greatest defensive-dman group. I'd like to see Schenn bloom a bit more into a better defense player (I don't care if he scores a goal). And, I'd like to see some one else on the blue line that would scare opposing forwards. Would the top opposing star be afraid of this group, Would the top opposing star have an easy time scoring?
- leon neon

FWIW, I hate the nickname "Timmo."

The Hartnell trade was the anti-flyer deal. They traded a player many would consider a prototypical flyer for a well rounded player and fixed a future problem right now.

I am convinced there is a new direction
- Just5

Wait until they lose a few games in a row or don't make the playoffs.

Playing at the top of their game... I agree. However, looking at a long 82 game season. Timmo is older. Grossmann health is troublesome, I don't think he'll play 82 games (I hope I'm wrong). Schenn is the only physical guy. I like the puck-handling of the group, but this group isn't the greatest defensive-dman group. I'd like to see Schenn bloom a bit more into a better defense player (I don't care if he scores a goal). And, I'd like to see some one else on the blue line that would scare opposing forwards. Would the top opposing star be afraid of this group, Would the top opposing star have an easy time scoring?
- leon neon

Think defensive dmen are a mostly a function of their team D.

Guys like Scuderi, Murray, Regehr, Komisarek, etc shine if your team is good at containment and funneling the puck into the SAH guy's area so he can do his thing separating the puck from the attacker, blocking shots, or taking the attacker out with the body.

If your team sucks defensively, and you leave those kinds of guys with little/no help and force them to chase the puck around, they're going to be awful.

So yeah, bringing in a good defensive player like Umberger will help to get more out of the SAH guys we have, than bringing in "better" or more SAH guys.

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 6m
Hexy gives high grades to Milano, Larkin and Tuch. A couple may be available at No. 17.

Next season is his overage season...
- Tomahawk

Man, not directed at you but the conversation going on, what's the deal with bashing our prospects before they even take a regular shift? Some people can't find anything to be positive about even if they've rarely seen the kid play. Meanwhile, a guy who is big in the prospect scene just threw the kid a compliment and this thread spends parts of pages ripping the kid and the compliment. I think I need a break.

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 6m
Hexy gives high grades to Milano, Larkin and Tuch. A couple may be available at No. 17.




- aightwebang17

Doesn't matter who they take, he'll immediately suck.