Fayne-Schultz
Nikitin-Ference
Petry-???

Coburn-Streit
Amac-Schenn
Grossmann-MDZ
- PhillySportsGuy

I've seen that comparison over the last day or so, and while I can see why people want to make it, here's where I am with it:

Justin Schultz is brutal in his own zone. He plays the minutes he does because they had no one else. If he was playing under Fonzie or Vigneault, he'd be Michael Del Zotto right now.

Coburn and Streit are better than anyone on Edmonton's roster. Period. They're simply better, more viable, NHL defensemen.

Andrew MacDonald is no worse at playing the game than Andrew Ference -- their styles are different, but neither should be playing more than 17-18 minutes per night, in a sheltered role.

Nicklas Grossmann is Nikita Nikitin.

So, to me...while the Flyers have problems, they still are demonstrably better than Edmonton. Because, again, the Flyers are coming off a 94-point season where they made the playoffs. While the defense isn't the league's best, let's be honest about one thing: They're not the league's worst. Not even close.

Much like Carle, his gaffes get magnified because of the positions he's in. He's far from a legit top-pairing defender, but he's still the best from our current pool, with injuries taken into account (NHL14 is glorious, though).
- jmatchett383

When NHL 15 comes out I have already decided I am dumping Grossmann for cap space and inserting Morin.

Important question: at what point does Kimmo need to retire for his 2M to come off the cap? This is important because there is a good chance the Flyers wait and see with his condition. Timing is also key if they plan on making a trade or signing another UFA with regard to available cap.
- coffee junkie

The end of this upcoming season as he will be a UFA.

edit: As in if I was Timonen I would retire at the end of the season, so I get paid.

I've seen that comparison over the last day or so, and while I can see why people want to make it, here's where I am with it:

Justin Schultz is brutal in his own zone. He plays the minutes he does because they had no one else. If he was playing under Fonzie or Vigneault, he'd be Michael Del Zotto right now.

Coburn and Streit are better than anyone on Edmonton's roster. Period. They're simply better, more viable, NHL defensemen.

Andrew MacDonald is no worse at playing the game than Andrew Ference -- their styles are different, but neither should be playing more than 17-18 minutes per night, in a sheltered role.

Nicklas Grossmann is Nikita Nikitin.

So, to me...while the Flyers have problems, they still are demonstrably better than Edmonton. Because, again, the Flyers are coming off a 94-point season where they made the playoffs. While the defense isn't the league's best, let's be honest about one thing: They're not the league's worst. Not even close.
- AllInForFlyers

I wouldn't put Streit ahead of all of those guys. Nikitin and Fayne may have been a bit overpaid, but they are solid defenseman. Schultz is a year older and will have a real partner this year, so we'll see if that helps.

Unless Morin plays at some crazy as-of-yet-unseen level, he won't last past 9 games.
- jmatchett383

Im just hoping for a messiah....

Something close to Hedman would suffice

Important question: at what point does Kimmo need to retire for his 2M to come off the cap?
- coffee junkie

Before day 1 of the season, I believe.

Dmen in the NHL are like pitchers in baseball. They are at a premium, and you can never have too many.

The fact Del Zotto was still unemployed in early August isn't a great sign. Being it's only a 1 year deal, at minimal money it doesn't hurt giving him a shot. He's got some offensive ability, I'm afraid he's going to be a disaster in his own end.

I wouldn't put Streit ahead of all of those guys. Nikitin and Fayne may have been a bit overpaid, but they are solid defenseman. Schultz is a year older and will have a real partner this year, so we'll see if that helps.
- PhillySportsGuy

See, I would put Streit there.

I'll go to my grave saying that because of Mark Streit's age and contract, he doesn't get the credit that he deserves for the season he had last year.

That guy was GOOD for the Flyers last season, all season, with the exception of a handful of games. I think Kimmo Timonen runs the PP slightly better than Streit does, but I do expect Streit's production to be even better this year.

I watched maybe 30 Edmonton games last year. While Fayne and Nikitn are new to them, I feel comfortable saying this: the rest of Edmonton's defense was clearly outclassed by Mark Streit last year.

Now, we can certainly make the statement, the true statement, that last year has no bearing on this season. I'd totally understand that.

But that's all I have to go on, and I know this: Streit was so much better for the Flyers than anyone on Edmonton's defense was for them last year, it's almost laughable.

See, I would put Streit there.

I'll go to my grave saying that because of Mark Streit's age and contract, he doesn't get the credit that he deserves for the season he had last year.

That guy was GOOD for the Flyers last season, all season, with the exception of a handful of games. I think Kimmo Timonen runs the PP slightly better than Streit does, but I do expect Streit's production to be even better this year.

I watched maybe 30 Edmonton games last year. While Fayne and Nikitn are new to them, I feel comfortable saying this: the rest of Edmonton's defense was clearly outclassed by Mark Streit last year.

Now, we can certainly make the statement, the true statement, that last year has no bearing on this season. I'd totally understand that.

But that's all I have to go on, and I know this: Streit was so much better for the Flyers than anyone on Edmonton's defense was for them last year, it's almost laughable.
- AllInForFlyers

I think Streit does his job admirably. He isnt expected to be a shutdown defender. He is an average defender that is expected to move the puck and provide offense. He does it well.

See, I would put Streit there.

I'll go to my grave saying that because of Mark Streit's age and contract, he doesn't get the credit that he deserves for the season he had last year.

That guy was GOOD for the Flyers last season, all season, with the exception of a handful of games. I think Kimmo Timonen runs the PP slightly better than Streit does, but I do expect Streit's production to be even better this year.

I watched maybe 30 Edmonton games last year. While Fayne and Nikitn are new to them, I feel comfortable saying this: the rest of Edmonton's defense was clearly outclassed by Mark Streit last year.

Now, we can certainly make the statement, the true statement, that last year has no bearing on this season. I'd totally understand that.

But that's all I have to go on, and I know this: Streit was so much better for the Flyers than anyone on Edmonton's defense was for them last year, it's almost laughable.
- AllInForFlyers

I thought streit was overrall our most solid dman last year. He had some struggles but so did kimmo. Streit was a rock in the rangers series against a deep rangers team. Many will say kimmo but I say streit

Dmen in the NHL are like pitchers in baseball. They are at a premium, and you can never have too many.

The fact Del Zotto was still unemployed in early August isn't a great sign. Being it's only a 1 year deal, at minimal money it doesn't hurt giving him a shot. He's got some offensive ability, I'm afraid he's going to be a disaster in his own end.
- PLindbergh31

It's different in a way but kind of similar to Mason. When we got him people just wrote him off as just taking a chance on a former calder winner. He went out, npoved he could play. I see the same with Del Zotto. Played well with the Rangers, had a sophmore slump and then was shipped off. I think with this prove it deal maybe we see him use his skills to hit on some of that potential that made him a first round pick.

NHL.com's 30in30 features the Flyers today:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=727280&navid=DL|NHL|home

I thought streit was overrall our most solid dman last year. He had some struggles but so did kimmo. Streit was a rock in the rangers series against a deep rangers team. Many will say kimmo but I say streit
- Just5

See, here's the thing: I don't know what metric anyone would use to say that Streit wasn't a really good player for the Flyers last year, with the exception of those handful of games that were noticeably below the bar.

Yes, we can slice stats up anyway we want, and yes, he was on the second pairing so he didn't face the beast matchups that Coburn drew.

But do people honestly realize that Streit finished 15th overall in defenseman scoring last season? And one of the players he finished behind was Brent Burns, who played forward the vast majority of the season but was still listed as a defenseman? And that Streit played 20:38 a night, without being on the top PP unit?

Feanor already posted a few of his advanced stats metrics that indicated he did what a good defensemen is supposed to do: Help his partner for the betterment of the team. I don't want to start a Grossmann diatribe, but Feanor was right: Streit carried Grossmann, in many ways.

Streit had a damn good season last year, folks -- one of the criminally underrated seasons, albeit on the second pairing, that I've seen get casually dismissed.

It's different in a way but kind of similar to Mason. When we got him people just wrote him off as just taking a chance on a former calder winner. He went out, npoved he could play. I see the same with Del Zotto. Played well with the Rangers, had a sophmore slump and then was shipped off. I think with this prove it deal maybe we see him use his skills to hit on some of that potential that made him a first round pick.
- J35Bacher

I think it's a tremendous opportunity for the flyers. The rangers moved on from him in favor of a more defensive guy for the mix. I don't know how Nashville handled him, but they are a deep defensive team, and their coach was on the chopping block so that situation may not have been ideal for MDZ

I am excited for the guy

I think it's a tremendous opportunity for the flyers. The rangers moved on from him in favor of a more defensive guy for the mix. I don't know how Nashville handled him, but they are a deep defensive team, and their coach was on the chopping block so that situation may not have been ideal for MDZ

I am excited for the guy
- Just5

He played well in NY. So the talent is there. Hope for the best

Streit had a damn good season last year, folks -- one of the criminally underrated seasons, albeit on the second pairing, that I've seen get casually dismissed.
- AllInForFlyers

He came on late.. but man, was he a mess in the first couple of months. I hope that guy never pops his head back up, because it'll really sink us.

Streit had a damn good season last year, folks -- one of the criminally underrated seasons, albeit on the second pairing, that I've seen get casually dismissed.
- AllInForFlyers

The problem was he had a slow start to the season at a time when the whole team looked awful, and that impression lingered. The fact he was a 35+ signing and had the highest cap hit on the team after Kimmo meant he was squarely in the crosshairs.

He came on late.. but man, was he a mess in the first couple of months. I hope that guy never pops his head back up, because it'll really sink us.
- Tomahawk

I'm not going to run his splits, but I'd disagree with that on this point: The whole damn team was bad the first three to four weeks of the season, and while I can't parse the numbers, I'd argue that he and Coburn actually were much better than their teammates.

To me, you described Timonen's season -- Timo was brutal early, bad for a segment, then started playing the way he finished the season.

I personally felt that the Meszaros/Gus debacle, Timo's start, Schenn's inability to impact the game and Grossmann's struggles were far more glaring than Streit's weaknesses, early in the season.

The minute I saw that Nashville let him walk I was hoping the Flyers would take a chance on him but knew our cap space was limited. I was honestly surprised no team had given this guy a shot with a prudent contract. Now, he's part of the Flyers and I'm extremely excited. He's shown that he can be a good player in his career and if he can show maturity and a willingness to play in Berube's system, he will have opportunities to play some premium powerplay minutes.

I remember watching him on the Rangers and wishing the Flyers would have a young d-man like him. Yeah, he's slumped recently but I think the comparisons to Mason are accurate as far as how this is a low-risk/high-reward kind of situation.

I don't see how you can hate this deal based on what's available and the cap space we have. This is the kind of move that at best could be a steal and at worst is a temporary patch while we build and not trade away core pieces in a panic to rapidly improve.

The problem was he had a slow start to the season at a time when the whole team looked awful, and that impression lingered. The fact he was a 35+ signing and had the highest cap hit on the team after Kimmo meant he was squarely in the crosshairs.
- Feanor

Agreed, but man, I'll tell you what: I don't know what Year 4 is gonna look like, but that guy totally earned his money in Year 1.

Before day 1 of the season, I believe.
- Tomahawk

What is the likelyhood that happens? Seems the Flyers are in a bad place with the cap to me.

Edit: worse place

Look Coburn is solid but he is far from being a reliable 1st pairing d-man. His +/- proves it
- GOA88

Dont you think if you are a "Great" D-man you should be on the plus side? I know its not a end all, be all. But it gives you a pretty good idea about that players defense. I.E. Lecavalier -16 and -5 (playoffs)
- GOA88

Unreal

NHL.com's 30in30 features the Flyers today:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=727280&navid=DL|NHL|home
- Streit2ThePoint

I think they have both Laughton and Haag on the Flyers roster this season from the looks of their Top 10 Prospect breakdown.

NHL.com's 30in30 features the Flyers today:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=727280&navid=DL|NHL|home
- Streit2ThePoint

Prediction: Zepp comes in and wins the Vezina.

Prediction: Zepp comes in and wins the Vezina.
- jmatchett383

Del Zotto wins Norris