-The Pens got slammed for the Neal trade, and it is a downgrade, but Hornqvist is hardly a bad player. put him with Malkin or Crosby and he could score 30. The worst deal was the Leafs trading for Roman Polak. Gunnarsson is a solid defenseman, despite hip woes over the past couple of years. Polak is little more than Douglas Murray.


- Jsaquella

Polak is better then that. And he's a RH shot. And the deal allows players like Gardiner to play on his favored side, and allows Gardiner and Rielly to take on a bigger role.

Thoughts on the weekend:

-Really happy with Flyers draft overall. Sanheim looks like a really good pick-size and skating are definitely there and he seems like an intelligent kid. Aube-Kubel has blazing speed and is a very agile skater. Friedman is another good value pick in the third round-most of the stuff I read on him says the only question is size. Even the later rounds brought in skilled guys who can skate well-or are working on getting better. There were no Garrett Klotzes or reaches of questionable value. That in and of itself was a breath of fresh air.

-The rumor about the top pick seems to be genuine. As good as Ekblad looks-and as nice as it would be to see Lecavalier's entire deal picked up by Florida-the Flyers simply couldn't surrender their entire second scoring line from last season for him and Gudbranson.

-I really enjoyed how Gary Bettman handled the boos. He made a "bring it on gesture", cupped his hand to his ear and played the role to the hilt. Especially when, after he was cheered for announcing the Flyers' pick, he got booed again for Minnesota's. He heard the boos starting, went to the mic and said, "i thought we had an understanding!" He was like a mini-Vince McMahon.

-The Pens got slammed for the Neal trade, and it is a downgrade, but Hornqvist is hardly a bad player. put him with Malkin or Crosby and he could score 30. The worst deal was the Leafs trading for Roman Polak. Gunnarsson is a solid defenseman, despite hip woes over the past couple of years. Polak is little more than Douglas Murray.

-I wish the Flyers took advantage of the trend of good teams trading "energy players" & "agitators" for 3rd rounders. Chicago and the Rangers cleared cap room and got solid assets for Dorsett & Bollig.

-OB18 & I got to take a photo with Bill Daly. Security must be very lax for somebody like me to get near the number two man in the NHL
- Jsaquella

Agree with all of this. Would have been nice to take a shot at Gunnarsson too. Leafs seemed hell bent on dealing him for a big guy.

Right now, their top pairing will be Phaneuf with Gardiner or Reily. Thats scary for them.

Thoughts on the weekend:

-Really happy with Flyers draft overall. Sanheim looks like a really good pick-size and skating are definitely there and he seems like an intelligent kid. Aube-Kubel has blazing speed and is a very agile skater. Friedman is another good value pick in the third round-most of the stuff I read on him says the only question is size. Even the later rounds brought in skilled guys who can skate well-or are working on getting better. There were no Garrett Klotzes or reaches of questionable value. That in and of itself was a breath of fresh air.

-The rumor about the top pick seems to be genuine. As good as Ekblad looks-and as nice as it would be to see Lecavalier's entire deal picked up by Florida-the Flyers simply couldn't surrender their entire second scoring line from last season for him and Gudbranson.

-I really enjoyed how Gary Bettman handled the boos. He made a "bring it on gesture", cupped his hand to his ear and played the role to the hilt. Especially when, after he was cheered for announcing the Flyers' pick, he got booed again for Minnesota's. He heard the boos starting, went to the mic and said, "i thought we had an understanding!" He was like a mini-Vince McMahon.

-The Pens got slammed for the Neal trade, and it is a downgrade, but Hornqvist is hardly a bad player. put him with Malkin or Crosby and he could score 30. The worst deal was the Leafs trading for Roman Polak. Gunnarsson is a solid defenseman, despite hip woes over the past couple of years. Polak is little more than Douglas Murray.

-I wish the Flyers took advantage of the trend of good teams trading "energy players" & "agitators" for 3rd rounders. Chicago and the Rangers cleared cap room and got solid assets for Dorsett & Bollig.

-OB18 & I got to take a photo with Bill Daly. Security must be very lax for somebody like me to get near the number two man in the NHL
- Jsaquella

agreed, bettman was awesome. probably my favorite part about being there.
a perfect heel.

not to nitpick but i think his line was "i thought we got this straigtened out!"


and what exactly was the rumor about the #1? i missed the details

agreed, bettman was awesome. probably my favorite part about being there.
a perfect heel.

not to nitpick but i think his line was "i thought we got this straigtened out!"


and what exactly was the rumor about the #1? i missed the details
- Crimsoninja

B Schenn, Simmonds, VL for Gudbranson and #1

or

B. Schenn/Simmonds, VL and 17th pick for #1

Panthers wanted Simmonds. Flyers didn't want to give him up. Thats what stopped the deal.

Agree with all of this. Would have been nice to take a shot at Gunnarsson too. Leafs seemed hell bent on dealing him for a big guy.

Right now, their top pairing will be Phaneuf with Gardiner or Reily. Thats scary for them.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's really a bad deal. Polak has been regressing for some time now and he's not likely to get better or really help the Leafs with their issue of getting heavily outshot at ES on a regular basis.

You're paying him for the future though. He's a one dimensional player. What happens when he signs a 6 year deal and loses his ability to score at a 30 goal pace? He becomes VL.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well that's a pretty unreasonable picture you're painting. Ryan gets paid based on previous accomplishments.

Schenn gets paid for future accomplishments.

If he signs a 6 year deal with the Flyers next year, he'll be 28 years old at the time of the signing. Which is way too old, you're right.

FYI, Schenn is a -15 and has been a pretty weak defensive player.

B Schenn, Simmonds, VL for Gudbranson and #1

or

B. Schenn/Simmonds, VL and 17th pick for #1

Panthers wanted Simmonds. Flyers didn't want to give him up. Thats what stopped the deal.
- PhillySportsGuy

i see
ty

It's really a bad deal. Polak has been regressing for some time now and he's not likely to get better or really help the Leafs with their issue of getting heavily outshot at ES on a regular basis.
- Jsaquella

He makes them worse in that regard!

agreed, bettman was awesome. probably my favorite part about being there.
a perfect heel.

not to nitpick but i think his line was "i thought we got this straigtened out!"


and what exactly was the rumor about the #1? i missed the details
- Crimsoninja

Yeah, you're right...that was the line. He was brilliant.

The rumor I got from a couple of media types I managed to chat with was that Florida wanted Schenn, Lecavalier & Simmonds for the top pick & Gudbranson and would eat the entirety of Vinny's deal.

That can't be a serious question.
- MJL

No more serious than any of the asinine questions you ask.

Well that's a pretty unreasonable picture you're painting. Ryan gets paid based on previous accomplishments.

Schenn gets paid for future accomplishments.

If he signs a 6 year deal with the Flyers next year, he'll be 28 years old at the time of the signing. Which is way too old, you're right.

FYI, Schenn is a -15 and has been a pretty weak defensive player.
- archion113

WHen he's not with Briere or VL, he's adequate defensively. I'm not saying he's better than Ryan. I'm just not interested in giving a giant contract to a RW when we already have Simmonds and Voracek at RW.

He makes them worse in that regard!
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah. I saw a chart...weakest QoC and Worst CF%...that's a horrible mix

Well that's a pretty unreasonable picture you're painting. Ryan gets paid based on previous accomplishments.

Schenn gets paid for future accomplishments.

If he signs a 6 year deal with the Flyers next year, he'll be 28 years old at the time of the signing. Which is way too old, you're right.

FYI, Schenn is a -15 and has been a pretty weak defensive player.
- archion113

Somehow this debate got to be about who is the better player between Schenn and Ryan. I don't recall anyone stating that Ryan isn't right now, a better player then Schenn.
If the Flyers get Ryan, does that mean they have to get rid of Schenn? So why the comparison?

Yeah, you're right...that was the line. He was brilliant.

The rumor I got from a couple of media types I managed to chat with was that Florida wanted Schenn, Lecavalier & Simmonds for the top pick & Gudbranson and would eat the entirety of Vinny's deal.
- Jsaquella

Yeah Bettman was fun to watch. They really boo'd the crap out of him. Was great to see.

Yeah. I saw a chart...weakest QoC and Worst CF%...that's a horrible mix
- Jsaquella

If Bernier and Reimer dont stand on their heads again, it could be a rough season for the Leafs

WHen he's not with Briere or VL, he's adequate defensively. I'm not saying he's better than Ryan. I'm just not interested in giving a giant contract to a RW when we already have Simmonds and Voracek at RW.
- PhillySportsGuy

Simmonds could move to the Left side.

Simmonds/Giroux/Ryan

Somehow this debate got to be about who is the better player between Schenn and Ryan. I don't recall anyone stating that Ryan isn't right now, a better player then Schenn.
If the Flyers get Ryan, does that mean they have to get rid of Schenn? So why the comparison?
- MJL

You're smart, you'll figure it out.

Yeah Bettman was fun to watch. They really boo'd the crap out of him. Was great to see.
- archion113

The entire three minute opening speech was completed overwhelmed. I have no idea what he said...just straight booing

The entire three minute opening speech was completed overwhelmed. I have no idea what he said...just straight booing
- Jsaquella

He was stumbling and bumbling through it. I think he had expected the booing to stop after a few seconds, but I think even he was getting flustered.

Simmonds could move to the Left side.

Simmonds/Giroux/Ryan
- archion113

Wouldn't you rather spend the money on a defenseman though?

If Bernier and Reimer dont stand on their heads again, it could be a rough season for the Leafs
- PhillySportsGuy

I did like-really like-their Nylander pick. He could be a legit 1st line center. Everyone was convinced they'd end up taking Ritchie

Simmonds could move to the Left side.

Simmonds/Giroux/Ryan
- archion113

Ryan played LW almost exclusively in Anaheim. Hes a righty but can play both sides.

I did like-really like-their Nylander pick. He could be a legit 1st line center. Everyone was convinced they'd end up taking Ritchie
- Jsaquella

I was convinced they'd take Ritchie too. They will (frank) up Nylander somehow. He'll be centering their top line next year.

Am I the only one who is worried about the cap situation? If Vinny doesn't get traded we are over the cap without a full roster. We need a backup goalie and a winger to fill the lineup and buying out Vinny is not an option as it Franks us hard next season when the cap penalty jumps to 3 mill for the next two seasons, while Schenn and Voracek also come up for resigning. The only solution I see is to destroy the blueline.....

I was convinced they'd take Ritchie too. They will (frank) up Nylander somehow. He'll be centering their top line next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

From what I've seen, he might be the most NHL ready pick. If he can be ruined, the Leafs are the team that can do it.