We can no longer be friends
- Tomahawk

This team needs an infusion of skill with size. There are guys like Gallagher that find a way but I'd rather have a bigger player who can have more impact on a game if he isn't scoring.

Berubian thinking I know. Just not a fan of how (frank)ing soft this crew is. Need some nasty in the top 9 if not top 6.

I probably did. I thought he at least could be the guy he was in nyi. Now we're not even seeing that
- Just5

I don't want him to be the guy he was in NY. He's not capable of being the guy they wanted him to be there. I want him to continue being the player that he has been here the last 2-3 weeks. A very solid good all around puck moving defenseman. That's the player he is capable of being, and more realistic outlook.

This team needs an infusion of skill with size. There are guys like Gallagher that find a way but I'd rather have a bigger player who can have more impact on a game if he isn't scoring.

Berubian thinking I know. Just not a fan of how (frank)ing soft this crew is. Need some nasty in the top 9 if not top 6.
- flyer_nutter

They absolutely need to be a more consistent competitive team.

Philosoraptor, is that you?
- Tomahawk

"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone, somewhere is making a penny.”

~Steven Wright

IMO, these quotes that are coming out are just kabuki for the STH's and so ticket sales don't die out.
- Tomahawk

Tickets don't sell behind comments from the GM. I believe he is giving his honest opinion, and I agree with him 100%

This team needs an infusion of skill with size. There are guys like Gallagher that find a way but I'd rather have a bigger player who can have more impact on a game if he isn't scoring.

Berubian thinking I know. Just not a fan of how (frank)ing soft this crew is. Need some nasty in the top 9 if not top 6.
- flyer_nutter

Yeah, definitely would be nice to beef up a bit. With a top-5 pick tho... can't afford to let size into the equation if there's a huge discrepancy in skill-level. It would be akin to taking JvR over Kane b/c he's bigger.

I love Marner. You want skill, he's got buckets of it. Only concern is size.
- Jsaquella

Plenty of room on that wagon, I'm the driver.........You or Tomahawk can ride shotgun.

Read, McDonald, and coburn
- Just5

Those three, plus Luke Schenn and Umberger -- I am sorry, but expecting two veterans with their experience to at least not hurt the team wasn't unreasonable

It's absolutely ridiculous how Umberger played the first 30 games or so, and for Luke Schenn to be all but handed at least the role of No. 6 defenseman repeatedly and still fail to hold down a spot is borderline tragic

If those five players hadn't been so far under the bar from what their salaries dictatate should have been league average play, the Flyers would not be in this position today

Yeah, definitely would be nice to beef up a bit. With a top-5 pick tho... can't afford to let size into the equation if there's a huge discrepancy in skill-level. It would be akin to taking JvR over Kane b/c he's bigger.
- Tomahawk

That high you have to go BPA. If they can find a way to get into 15-20, via trade of other pieces, Paul Bittner would fit that bill

I don't want him to be the guy he was in NY. He's not capable of being the guy they wanted him to be there. I want him to continue being the player that he has been here the last 2-3 weeks. A very solid good all around puck moving defenseman. That's the player he is capable of being, and more realistic outlook.
- MJL

He looked better up there than he does down here regardless of role, but that's probably Bc the flyers were playing him when I've seen him. Guy makes 5 mil he should look respectable wherever we put him but that's asking too much

I do think he is a capable 2nd pairing if given a competent partner. For 5 mil yay

Those three, plus Luke Schenn and Umberger -- I am sorry, but expecting two veterans with their experience to at least not hurt the team wasn't unreasonable

It's absolutely ridiculous how Umberger played the first 30 games or so, and for Luke Schenn to be all but handed at least the role of No. 6 defenseman repeatedly and still fail to hold down a spot is borderline tragic

If those five players hadn't been so far under the bar from what their salaries dictatate should have been league average play, the Flyers would not be in this position today
- AllInForFlyers

What about if Lecavalier had been playing all season as he is now? Or if Del Zotto had kept his game at the level it was during that 2 week stretch?

Those three, plus Luke Schenn and Umberger -- I am sorry, but expecting two veterans with their experience to at least not hurt the team wasn't unreasonable

It's absolutely ridiculous how Umberger played the first 30 games or so, and for Luke Schenn to be all but handed at least the role of No. 6 defenseman repeatedly and still fail to hold down a spot is borderline tragic

If those five players hadn't been so far under the bar from what their salaries dictatate should have been league average play, the Flyers would not be in this position today
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, but given the way they have played over the last couple years, how much better could you reasonably expect them to play? Umberger was heavily rumored to be on his way to a buy out. Schenn's been inconsistent for years.

I expected both of them to stay on that trajectory, especially after seeing Umberger after the first five games or so.

That high you have to go BPA. If they can find a way to get into 15-20, via trade of other pieces, Paul Bittner would fit that bill
- Jsaquella

In the 15 - 20 range I'd more go with

Travis Konecny, Daniel Sprong, Jansen Harkins, Colin White, then maybe Bittner.

I love Marner. You want skill, he's got buckets of it. Only concern is size.
- Jsaquella

If they are in the 5 to 8 range.

Zacha, Marner, Strome, Kylington, Roy, & Svechnikov all should be considered.

In the 15 - 20 range I'd more go with

Travis Konecny, Daniel Sprong, Jansen Harkins, Colin White, then maybe Bittner.
- ob18

I like Sprong, too. I'm just saying if you want size...none of those guys have much of it.

He looked better up there than he does down here regardless of role, but that's probably Bc the flyers were playing him when I've seen him. Guy makes 5 mil he should look respectable wherever we put him but that's asking too much

I do think he is a capable 2nd pairing if given a competent partner. For 5 mil yay
- Just5

He looks pretty solid to me right now. Very happy with MacDonald's level of play right now, and he's been trending up for a while now. He was inconsistent to start the season like the rest of the team was. Now, he's defending well, moving the puck quickly and efficiently, and he's becoming more aggressive offensively. He's never going to live down that contract in some fans eyes. Watch him play, and despite the overpayment, he's a solid defenseman. Once he starts using the tools he has and outgrows the habits he formed in trying to be a shut down defensive defenseman, he'll get better and better. He was always miscast in that role with the Isles.

What about if Lecavalier had been playing all season as he is now? Or if Del Zotto had kept his game at the level it was during that 2 week stretch?
- MJL

I absolutely don't give Lecavalier a pass for how he played, but at the same time, I had limited expectations for him because he is clearly on the downside of his career. He should have played better because he was always capable of exactly what he is doing now, but he was sulking, but I wasn't expecting much from him

Del Zotto would have been a pleasant surprise if it had panned out, but I didn't know what to expect, so I didn't have him being a difference maker, either

I like Sprong, too. I'm just saying if you want size...none of those guys have much of it.
- Jsaquella

True, nobody should prefer size though if the player that's best on the board is the more skilled player.

I like Sprong, too. I'm just saying if you want size...none of those guys have much of it.
- Jsaquella

And that's if they felt forward in the BPA.

If they are in the 5 to 8 range.

Zacha, Marner, Strome, Kylington, Roy, & Svechnikov all should be considered.
- ob18

I didn't think Svechnikov was that high, the little I have seen of him has been good.

I didn't think Svechnikov was that high, the little I have seen of him has been good.
- Jsaquella

He's rising but the Russian factor could play a factor when he gets selected.

He looks pretty solid to me right now. Very happy with MacDonald's level of play right now, and he's been trending up for a while now. He was inconsistent to start the season like the rest of the team was. Now, he's defending well, moving the puck quickly and efficiently, and he's becoming more aggressive offensively. He's never going to live down that contract in some fans eyes. Watch him play, and despite the overpayment, he's a solid defenseman. Once he starts using the tools he has and outgrows the habits he formed in trying to be a shut down defensive defenseman, he'll get better and better. He was always miscast in that role with the Isles.
- MJL

He got very good #2 money. He is a solid #4. Unfortunately it's a cap world and that's part of the equation

He's rising but the Russian factor could play a factor when he gets selected.
- ob18

Doesn't really play a "Russian" game though. He doesn't shy away from the rough going.

I absolutely don't give Lecavalier a pass for how he played, but at the same time, I had limited expectations for him because he is clearly on the downside of his career. He should have played better because he was always capable of exactly what he is doing now, but he was sulking, but I wasn't expecting much from him

Del Zotto would have been a pleasant surprise if it had panned out, but I didn't know what to expect, so I didn't have him being a difference maker, either
- AllInForFlyers

Regardless of what individual expectations we each had, obviously if either player, along with many others had played better, it would've impacted the team.

Personally, have to guard against looking at the short term over the long term. Lecavalier is just hot right now, but how he is skating and working, is a good sign if he remains a Flyers. Can he keep that up over the 2nd half of the season.

With Del Zotto, he teased us during that period. Haven't given up hope yet, but there has been far more down periods then up with Del Zotto the last 3 seasons

He got very good #2 money. He is a solid #4. Unfortunately it's a cap world and that's part of the equation
- Just5

I rate him as a #3 puck moving all around defenseman. I only wish he had more of a physical edge to his game.