well...because flyers.
- hammarby31

Flyera

The bottom line is, philosophy and what a person values. If you want a safe bet, bottom line NHLer with a low ceiling, draft Rinaldo. But understand, he'll never be a Zetterberg or even a Patric Hornqvist.

I'd rather draft a talented kid, like a Nick Cousins than a Tyrell Goulbourne. Even if Goulbourne reaches his potential, he's a 4th liner. If Cousins reaches his, he'll be a top 9 guy who can be a pest and solid two way player who can chip in 15 goals and help out on special teams.

In the case of Drozdetsky, he didn't fail to make the NHL for lack of talent, either. He had a solid career as a second line winger in Russia. Looks like he chose to stay in Russia more than lacking the talent to be a NHLer.
- Jsaquella

Doesn't matter why a player didn't make it. If the player doesn't, then it's a failed pick. I don't disagree that a team should be looking at some more talented players in it's drafting strategy then always taking a safe bet, in the later rounds.

Spent all day fighting for a guy, suctioning lungs, etc etc.

Only to have him pass at the end of it. Blah.

Spent all day fighting for a guy, suctioning lungs, etc etc.

Only to have him pass at the end of it. Blah.
- flyer_nutter

Sorry to hear that. That has to suck. That's why I could never do that kind of work. Just know that you did all you could do.

Would still like to see the Flyers add another sniper to this core of players in the future. Be it through draft, trade or FA signing. I think it's an element they sometimes lack. Maybe Aube Kubel is that guy?

And honestly, as long the the shoot out is a thing it can never hurt to have guys who can bury em top shelf.
- hereticpride

I'd love to see them find another guy on that top tier, a Giroux level.

Hopefully Couturier can become that but they do need a couple more of those war horses and players to look to after Giroux. A real 1a 1b combo.

Thankfully they may have found such players with the draft for the back end. A "Mackinnon" of sorts would be an amazing find. Help extend the window once Giroux ages or injuries take a toll.

Sorry to hear that. That has to suck. That's why I could never do that kind of work. Just know that you did all you could do.
- MJL

Ahhhh you always think you could do more that's the problem. Ahhh well.

Was a solid game by the Flyers last night

Morin and Bellemare looked solid. As did Grossmann.

I'd love to see them find another guy on that top tier, a Giroux level.

Hopefully Couturier can become that but they do need a couple more of those war horses and players to look to after Giroux. A real 1a 1b combo.

Thankfully they may have found such players with the draft for the back end. A "Mackinnon" of sorts would be an amazing find. Help extend the window once Giroux ages or injuries take a toll.
- flyer_nutter

I dont even think it needs to be another superstar player like Toews and Kane or Crosby and Malkin. If they had a Hossa type offensive threat on that 2nd line though. Man, it would make this team be a lot harder to defend.

Spent all day fighting for a guy, suctioning lungs, etc etc.

Only to have him pass at the end of it. Blah.
- flyer_nutter

Sorry to hear that man. It happens. You did what you could, and you should be proud for that.

Spent all day fighting for a guy, suctioning lungs, etc etc.

Only to have him pass at the end of it. Blah.
- flyer_nutter

Ahhhh you always think you could do more that's the problem. Ahhh well.

Was a solid game by the Flyers last night

Morin and Bellemare looked solid. As did Grossmann.
- flyer_nutter

You did the best you could, just can't save them all

I dont even think it needs to be another superstar player like Toews and Kane or Crosby and Malkin. If they had a Hossa type offensive threat on that 2nd line though. Man, it would make this team be a lot harder to defend.
- hereticpride

I don't want to deal the new found youth on D for such a player. Or overpay for some aging star who will fall to way of injuries and decline.
Drafting is slow and painful but a needed evil.

Edit: I do however like what Dallas did. Take Spezza on but for a nice short term so you can be rid of the player if need be once the contract is up.

I don't want to deal the new found youth on D for such a player. Or overpay for some aging star who will fall to way of injuries and decline.
Drafting is slow and painful but a needed evil.
- flyer_nutter

Agreed.

I'm really hoping that the next draft lands them a high skill winger. I think it's the one current spot in the prospect pool where there is a bunch of room for improvement.

Agreed.

I'm really hoping that the next draft lands them a high skill winger. I think it's the one current spot in the prospect pool where there is a bunch of room for improvement.
- hereticpride

Its ironic but I think they could use a JVR kind of guy with a little more consistent snarl if slightly less talent.

After Simmonds it gets thin up front for players with true grit and skill mixed to their game.

I do also see the need for a creative possession type of player though. An Ondrej Palat would be a god send find for them.

Spent all day fighting for a guy, suctioning lungs, etc etc.

Only to have him pass at the end of it. Blah.
- flyer_nutter

That sucks, sorry to hear, Nutter.

I'd love to see them find another guy on that top tier, a Giroux level.

Hopefully Couturier can become that but they do need a couple more of those war horses and players to look to after Giroux. A real 1a 1b combo.

Thankfully they may have found such players with the draft for the back end. A "Mackinnon" of sorts would be an amazing find. Help extend the window once Giroux ages or injuries take a toll.
- flyer_nutter

I don't know how realistic that is for a team to have more then one Hart trophy level player. Voracek is heading in the direction of becoming one of the top wingers in the game.

I dont even think it needs to be another superstar player like Toews and Kane or Crosby and Malkin. If they had a Hossa type offensive threat on that 2nd line though. Man, it would make this team be a lot harder to defend.
- hereticpride

Lecavalier is going to have a bounce back year!

I don't know how realistic that is for a team to have more then one Hart trophy level player. Voracek is heading in the direction of becoming one of the top wingers in the game.
- MJL

I can see Voracek doing for Giroux what Zetterberg helped to do for Datsyuk.

I would be in favour of something like that down the line, but still see the need for a nice top tier offensive threat up there. Hopefully Couturier develops that offensive game and becomes the missing piece.

Lecavalier is going to have a bounce back year!
- MJL

I get a bit of a vibe Giroux could have some injury question marks coming up. Just a feel.

The groin reaper hasn't wanted someone so bad since Forsberg/Gagne/Briere.

NHL.com just did a piece citing a player being in the hot seat for each team in the East. For the Flyers they picked Mason.


He is the absolute last guy I would put in "the hot seat." right now. Even behind Giroux. All they did was cite his numbers. That doesn't put any of the blame on suspect D and spotty defensive play from the forwards.

Talk about phoning it in.

Lecavalier is going to have a bounce back year!
- MJL

Here's hoping. I think he can still tear it up on the PP no problem. I think he's going to continue to struggle at 5 on 5, though I must say he looked much quicker on the ice last night.

Here's hoping. I think he can still tear it up on the PP no problem. I think he's going to continue to struggle at 5 on 5, though I must say he looked much quicker on the ice last night.
- hereticpride

I think, or at least I hope, he's going to be a solid player for the Flyers this year. As long as his back holds up. He looks healthy. Wouldn't shock me if he pumped in 30 this year.

NHL.com just did a piece citing a player being in the hot seat for each team in the East. For the Flyers they picked Mason.


He is the absolute last guy I would put in "the hot seat." right now. Even behind Giroux. All they did was cite his numbers. That doesn't put any of the blame on suspect D and spotty defensive play from the forwards.

Talk about phoning it in.
- hereticpride

Based on this board, Coburn is on the hot seat.

NHL.com just did a piece citing a player being in the hot seat for each team in the East. For the Flyers they picked Mason.


He is the absolute last guy I would put in "the hot seat." right now. Even behind Giroux. All they did was cite his numbers. That doesn't put any of the blame on suspect D and spotty defensive play from the forwards.

Talk about phoning it in.
- hereticpride

Will always be a question mark with the team, but we also saw what a strong defense, with a top 4 of Pronger, Timonen, Carle and Coburn can do for a not so great goaltender.

There isn't a better alternative out there available for Mason that would substantially warrant a trade even if he falters on his ass this upcoming year. The best UFA's for next year are Neuvirth, MAF and Niemi. Not one a real true upgrade.

NHL.com just did a piece citing a player being in the hot seat for each team in the East. For the Flyers they picked Mason.


He is the absolute last guy I would put in "the hot seat." right now. Even behind Giroux. All they did was cite his numbers. That doesn't put any of the blame on suspect D and spotty defensive play from the forwards.

Talk about phoning it in.
- hereticpride

Maybe he is in the hot seat because of the suspect D.

So you think it's better to draft a more talented player, who fails to develop into an NHL player, over a lesser talented player, who makes it to the NHL as a role player?

If you "go home alone" from the NHL draft, you go home a loser!

To put the analogy in perspective, the team you "draft" at the bar, needs both fat chicks as well as the pretty "10" and the 7 & 8's.

And sometimes what you thought was a "10" turns out to be a ZERO
- MJL

Yes, I do. They're all assets. Players are assets. A draft pick is an asset. FA dollars are assets. Contracts are assets, and you have 50 of them. I don't trade a high value asset (draft pick) for a low value asset (4th line agitator).

You are defining success by a specific pick making it to the NHL. I'm defining success by having a couple of picks over the course of a draft, or even a couple of drafts, performing a significant role in the NHL.

Sometime over the last year, we had a similar discussion. I criticized the Flyers for not having a draft pick after round 1 make a significant contribution at the NHL level. I did a half objective, half subjective analysis of every team's drafts going back 10 years or so. Teams scored a point for each player that was a 1st/2nd line kind of player, 1-3 dman or starting goalie. The Flyer were at the bottom of the rankings.

We then had the argument about the Rinaldo's that have had their cup of coffee, or even more. At the time we discussed Lauridsen. My view is the same now as it was then.

I really do believe the last couple of drafts will change their rankings. And that includes Holmgren's last couple of drafts, assuming Hextall develops these guys better than they have done in the past.