I know macdonald has been bad, but if we could just get a 1 or 2 dman, then he can be slotted lower like 4-6 and I think he can handle that..
- Hextall271

IMO, he's Randy Jones on a $30M contract.

Only if Hextall could somehow rid this team of contracts such as Umbungler, VLC, and MacDonald, and get an acceptable return for LSchenn, it'd be a wonderful holiday.
- 77rams

I don't know why they'd want to get rid of MacDonald. It would only cost them more to replace him.

Luke in for who? The other Holmgren albatross MacDonald?
- PLindbergh31

Love your " Orange Tank".. " Tankadelphia"... Classic

Having a player that is elite defensively, while also being able to produce offensively, is an incredibly valuable player to have. And he's only 21. If they could get a #1 defenseman for Couturier, I'd trade him. But not for anything else.
- MJL

Except Couturier is not enough a to get a #1 dman and he would have to be part of a package.

Please note I am not saying cut him or trade him for another checking center but if you can make the team better by moving him then they should do it. If they could move him in a package for a younger then 30 number 1 dman then they should do it. If they could move him in a package for a 30-40 goal a year left wing under 30 then they should at least think about doing it.

I know macdonald has been bad, but if we could just get a 1 or 2 dman, then he can be slotted lower like 4-6 and I think he can handle that..I mean, we have like 5 # 4-6 dmen, so some will have to move on. The fact that MDZ has arguably been our best dman is beyond belief. We`re lucky to have 8 wins.
- Hextall271

Not sure how MacDonald has been bad. He missed a bunch of time, and has only recently come back from injury. Del Zotto has had one really good period of play, but struggled in the beginning of the season, and is struggling again. But I think right now for all of the defenseman, they aren't in an easy situation. Playing defense with the entire team broken down, is going to make most defenseman look bad.

Only if Hextall could somehow rid this team of contracts such as Umbungler, VLC, and MacDonald, and get an acceptable return for LSchenn, it'd be a wonderful holiday.
- 77rams

I'd be happy with moving out VLC now.

Umby can play on the 4th line and get bought out this summer.

One of the defense could be moved for picks at the TDL.

That would be a start.

IMO, he's Randy Jones on a $30M contract.
- Tomahawk

You didn't think Streit was any good either when he was signed.

Except Couturier is not enough a to get a #1 dman and he would have to be part of a package.

Please note I am not saying cut him or trade him for another checking center but if you can make the team better by moving him then they should do it. If they could move him in a package for a younger then 30 number 1 dman then they should do it. If they could move him in a package for a 30-40 goal a year left wing under 30 then they should at least think about doing it.
- opeth_pa

I would not trade Couturier for a goal scoring winger.

IMO, he's Randy Jones on a $30M contract.
- Tomahawk

Please, that's an insulting comparison...

AMAC is Lukas Krajicek with a $30M contract.

I'd be happy with moving out VLC now.

Umby can play on the 4th line and get bought out this summer.

One of the defense could be moved for picks at the TDL.

That would be a start.
- Marc D

I guess I could live with that.
I may be an alcoholic though..if I watch Zombie play the rest of the season

I know macdonald has been bad, but if we could just get a 1 or 2 dman, then he can be slotted lower like 4-6 and I think he can handle that..I mean, we have like 5 # 4-6 dmen, so some will have to move on. The fact that MDZ has arguably been our best dman is beyond belief. We`re lucky to have 8 wins.
- Hextall271

I agree with that but not a fan of paying him for 5 more years.

I agree with that but not a fan of paying him for 5 more years.
- FlyerFan16

The cost for nhl dman is out of this world though.. We'll see if he can pick it up I guess.

Not sure how MacDonald has been bad. He missed a bunch of time, and has only recently come back from injury. Del Zotto has had one really good period of play, but struggled in the beginning of the season, and is struggling again. But I think right now for all of the defenseman, they aren't in an easy situation. Playing defense with the entire team broken down, is going to make most defenseman look bad.
- MJL

Last game I thought he was terrible (lots of players were).. he was fumbling the puck and giving it away..

Last game I thought he was terrible (lots of players were).. he was fumbling the puck and giving it away..
- Hextall271

I didn't see the last game, but recently, the entire team stinks. And most can play a lot better.

Please, that's an insulting comparison...

AMAC is Lukas Krajicek with a $30M contract.
- Litepow

I guess I could live with that.
I may be an alcoholic though..if I watch Zombie play the rest of the season
- 3flyerkids

umby playing 7-8 min a game on the 4th line and a little PK is a role he could do

Seeing VLC playing 4th line wing is unbearable

They have to start somewhere fixing things
Moving on from Vinnie is the logical thing

I'm sure they are going to have to eat salary and throw in a prospect or something
But it's time to admit the mistake and move on

I know macdonald has been bad, but if we could just get a 1 or 2 dman, then he can be slotted lower like 4-6 and I think he can handle that..I mean, we have like 5 # 4-6 dmen, so some will have to move on. The fact that MDZ has arguably been our best dman is beyond belief. We`re lucky to have 8 wins.
- Hextall271

The cap hit/value conundrum exists with AMac, just like it does with Vinny and Umberger.

MacDonald isn't bad, despite his very noticeable struggles since returning from injury, but he is what he is. But he's making a big chunk of cash. That means he needs to be a solid second pair guy at worst. That cap hit is taking away money that could be spent on a number one or two defenseman.

It's the same Catch-22 the Flyers often find themselves in. Paying a premium for solid depth means you have less to spend on top level players. Without top level players, the solid depth guys need to play bigger roles than they can handle.

Last game I thought he was terrible (lots of players were).. he was fumbling the puck and giving it away..
- Hextall271

Over/under on how many goals against AMAC is directly responsible for today?

Not sure how MacDonald has been bad. He missed a bunch of time, and has only recently come back from injury. Del Zotto has had one really good period of play, but struggled in the beginning of the season, and is struggling again. But I think right now for all of the defenseman, they aren't in an easy situation. Playing defense with the entire team broken down, is going to make most defenseman look bad.
- MJL

That's one of the reasons I wouldn't be making a trade right now (unless it is a no-brainer). Dealing from weakness, most of the team looks bad right now. I wouldn't trade just to trade. Let's see how the guys respond knowing there is no one coming to their rescue.

He's not playing well right now. But I don't think he's easy to knock off the puck. I can't wait to see this kid when he's 25. Look at Jake Voracek. Coming into stardom at 25. I'm not saying that Couturier is going to be an offensive player on that level. But I fully expect him to be a top 2 way second line center, that can score in the 20 goal, 50 point range.
- MJL

I'm not saying I want the flyers to trade him. I just don't see him as a second line center. He's smart and seems to have good hand, but doesn't have the speed or strength to get to the net enough to be much of a scorer.

AMac and Coburn have both struggled since coming back.

Read has been not himself all year and Couts can be better.

4 key guys struggling plus getting nothing from the two high paid vets.

Not a recipe for success.

If Read, Amac, and Coburn can play how they have in the past it would go a long way.

Still a bubble team at best though.

The cap hit/value conundrum exists with AMac, just like it does with Vinny and Umberger.

MacDonald isn't bad, despite his very noticeable struggles since returning from injury, but he is what he is. But he's making a big chunk of cash. That means he needs to be a solid second pair guy at worst. That cap hit is taking away money that could be spent on a number one or two defenseman.

It's the same Catch-22 the Flyers often find themselves in. Paying a premium for solid depth means you have less to spend on top level players. Without top level players, the solid depth guys need to play bigger roles than they can handle.
- Jsaquella

MacDonald is a #3 puck moving solid defenseman. Not a comparable situation to Umberger and Lecavalier. Umberger is playing at a 4th line level at best. And if Lecavalier doesn't produce offensively, he doesn't bring any other value to a team. Where you get the money for a #1 defenseman, is with player like Luke Schenn and Grossmann. Because if they're able to acquire that player, that is where you get the cap savings, and go with players like Schultz on the 3rd pair. The Flyers need solid puck moving defenseman such as MacDonald and Streit, even if they have a #1. Money spent on MacDonald is not taking money away that could be spent on #1 or #2 defenseman. A team needs solid all around puck moving defenseman like MacDonald. I'm glad they have him.

I'm not saying I want the flyers to trade him. I just don't see him as a second line center. He's smart and seems to have good hand, but doesn't have the speed or strength to get to the net enough to be much of a scorer.
- Dkos

I see him as not only as a 2nd line center, but a pretty dam good one in the future. And too good of a player to give up, except for something that is very difficult to get, such as a #1 defenseman.

That's one of the reasons I wouldn't be making a trade right now (unless it is a no-brainer). Dealing from weakness, most of the team looks bad right now. I wouldn't trade just to trade. Let's see how the guys respond knowing there is no one coming to their rescue.
- FlyerFan16

The cap hit/value conundrum exists with AMac, just like it does with Vinny and Umberger.

MacDonald isn't bad, despite his very noticeable struggles since returning from injury, but he is what he is. But he's making a big chunk of cash. That means he needs to be a solid second pair guy at worst. That cap hit is taking away money that could be spent on a number one or two defenseman.

It's the same Catch-22 the Flyers often find themselves in. Paying a premium for solid depth means you have less to spend on top level players. Without top level players, the solid depth guys need to play bigger roles than they can handle.
- Jsaquella

This is all true.
I want to believe Hexy has a plan to move away from overpaying for mediocre high priced vets.

But he was here when Amac was signed, even if he wasn't the GM.

Also the Umby trade was in his watch.

Kind of scary.