I like the pairs but don't really see why Emery is starting. The first goal against Pittsburgh was as bad as any Mase gave up against Chicago.
- Feanor

If not worse. I have no issues starting Emery today, though.

I vote for Coburn

In a few years:

Coburn-Sanheim
Morin-Ghost
Hagg-Alt

Make it so.
- BiggE

I think another key is going to be how they phase the rookies in. You obviously can't bring all four up at the same time, even if they were ready. Playing 3 rookies in a lineup isn't going to work either.

It will come down to who is ready and what skillsets are needed on the team as to how they're phased in. Ghost may be closest, though it seems like with Streit and MacDonald handling the more offensive role they might need Morin sooner. He just might not be ready yet.

Unless Ryan Whitney found the Fountain of Youth and it gave him two new legs, I sure hope it isn't him -- that guy looked done-like-dinner to me...two seasons ago
- AllInForFlyers

Can someone help me out on what happened to Ryan Whitney?

At one time, he was a pretty good player. He's only 31; hardly a gray beard.

Did injuries mess him up?

FWIW, I like the idea of calling up someone (could have been Alt, too) in lieu of getting taken advantage of in the trade market, because the Flyers aren't exactly dealing from a position of strength, both with respect to the cap or assets to deal.

I vote for Coburn

In a few years:

Coburn-Sanheim
Morin-Ghost
Hagg-Alt

Make it so.
- BiggE

Yea. Or macdonald/hagg. Alt as a 7. Either way it way younger better and cheaper

Do the Flyers defensemen wear skate guards or fenders to protect their feet from getting hurt by hard shots?

If not, why?
- Feanor

Guys like MacDonald, who got a nice paycheck specifically from blocking shots, should especially be wearing them.

I like the pairs but don't really see why Emery is starting. The first goal against Pittsburgh was as bad as any Mase gave up against Chicago.
- Feanor

Wow. Throwing ghost to the wolves off the bat

Can someone help me out on what happened to Ryan Whitney?

At one time, he was a pretty good player. He's only 31; hardly a gray beard.

Did injuries mess him up?

FWIW, I like the idea of calling up someone (could have been Alt, too) in lieu of getting taken advantage of in the trade market, because the Flyers aren't exactly dealing from a position of strength, both with respect to the cap or assets to deal.
- johndewar

He's had a series of foot problems, robbed him of his explosiveness.

Can someone help me out on what happened to Ryan Whitney?

At one time, he was a pretty good player. He's only 31; hardly a gray beard.

Did injuries mess him up?

FWIW, I like the idea of calling up someone (could have been Alt, too) in lieu of getting taken advantage of in the trade market, because the Flyers aren't exactly dealing from a position of strength, both with respect to the cap or assets to deal.
- johndewar

I read a lot of stuff coming out of Edmonton, which was where I saw him playing. It's injury-related; he had something similar to what Forsberg had going on with his ankle/skate boot, where his foot simply never felt stable in the skate.

From what I saw -- and this is just me, as a fan: His burst is gone. His turn-and-go is gone. His skating stride is just...it's just not at a level where he can help an NHL team.

Again, that's just what I saw. The Edmonton stuff mentioned some character concerns, but some stuff I read mentioned that he was really down about the ankle/injury problems and that might have been the cause of his personality turning a little sour -- he thought he should've been allowed to play through it, and management felt he couldn't be out on the ice with the way he was performing.

The nice thing is that there is some interchangeability there. Figure Sanheim and Ghost will be the most offensive, and Morin and Hagg would be the most defensive of the group.

Morin's size obviously complements Ghost's lack of size so that is an option.

Sanheim could be paired with one of the existing defenseman in a #1 role. Or he could be paired with Morin down the road as a true shutdown pair.

It sounds like Hagg as the tools to be a solid #3/4 defenseman if he can work on his consistency issues. Hopefully maturity will help there.

A lot of it will come down to who stays out of the Streit/MacDonald/Coburn/Schenn group.
- TheGreat28

Hagg has offensive upside as well as defensive. I am glad Murray is giving him power play time and encouraging him to set the bar high for himself. I wrote a blog related to that topic during rookie camp.

Hagg has offensive upside as well as defensive. I am glad Murray is giving him power play time and encouraging him to set the bar high for himself. I wrote a blog related to that topic during rookie camp.
- bmeltzer

Good point Bill. Morin seems to be able to move the puck as well. And Sanheim also seems more than capable as a complete, two-way defenseman too.

Lots of good options with the combinations!

Isn't Tom Wilson on that team? Is that the MOAT development method?
- PhillySportsGuy

I honestly don't know. He wasn't last year. I don't pay much attention to the AHL as I should or at least not to the Bears (Caps affiliate). Hershey is a half hour drive from me so I hit up games when I can. I'll root for them tonight since they are playing the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Pens.

Isn't Tom Wilson on that team? Is that the MOAT development method?
- PhillySportsGuy

Tom Wilson is in the AHL right now.

http://www.pennlive.com/h...own_bodies_and_knock.html

Jack Bruce, legendary rock bassist & vocalist, best known for his work in Cream, has died at age 71. RIP.

Tom Wilson is in the AHL right now.

http://www.pennlive.com/h...own_bodies_and_knock.html
- johndewar

Adam Larsson and Wilson are prime examples of how to (frank) up prospects.

Emery expected to start, D pairs:

Streit-Grossmann
MDZ-Schultz
Gostisbehere-Schenn
- Jsaquella

jfc.

Adam Larsson and Wilson are prime examples of how to (frank) up prospects.
- Jsaquella

Other than being a Devil, Larsson would be a great target for Hexy to take a chance on. I would love to make that move. Throw him in a mix with our prospects a few years down the line...

It sounds like Deboer really has it in for him too. I think he can be had.

jfc.
- hammarby31

You were expecting the midnight addition of Duncan Keith?

If not worse. I have no issues starting Emery today, though.
- Jsaquella

bill has the monster starting in net for detroit. that's probably a good thing for the flyers.

You were expecting the midnight addition of Duncan Keith?
- Jsaquella

no. i was REALLY hoping for dennis wideman.

Jack Bruce, legendary rock bassist & vocalist, best known for his work in Cream, has died at age 71. RIP.
- Jsaquella

Other than being a Devil, Larsson would be a great target for Hexy to take a chance on. I would love to make that move. Throw him in a mix with our prospects a few years down the line...

It sounds like Deboer really has it in for him too. I think he can be had.
- hereticpride

That's my fear with kids, no faster way to screw a kid up than jerking him up and down, in and out. Larsson needed to play, Wilson needed to play. They both got buried, either on a 4th line or the press box.

Cost dependent, I'd be all over Larsson

no. i was REALLY hoping for dennis wideman.
- hammarby31

Wait should you even be talking to me?

Completely forgot about Ryan Whitney. I'll take him over Morris.

That's my fear with kids, no faster way to screw a kid up than jerking him up and down, in and out. Larsson needed to play, Wilson needed to play. They both got buried, either on a 4th line or the press box.

Cost dependent, I'd be all over Larsson
- Jsaquella

With the age of some of their forwards I think the Devils would be all over a BSchenn for Larsson deal. With the emergence of Gelinas and that other kid they've got, I totally think they'd be willing to deal Larsson.

With the age of some of their forwards I think the Devils would be all over a BSchenn for Larsson deal. With the emergence of Gelinas and that other kid they've got, I totally think they'd be willing to deal Larsson.
- hereticpride

I can't see the Devils and Flyers doing a deal of that magnitude.

I'm all for trading Brayden Schenn in the right deal.