I won't be disappointed, per se, if they bring back, say, Coburn. Because Coburn playing well is something that this team could really have used.

But yeah, I will be disappointed if they don't find a way to make 4-6 moves -- this roster can't look the same next season. You will have missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons and finished seventh the year you did make it.

You can't bring the same team back and call this year an aberration. Other teams are getting better, and the parity is too great, to ice this roster for another go-round and expect the results to be different.

Because they won't be.
- AllInForFlyers

and thats what i mean about the perils of the so called tanking. moves will need to be made that cant happen via draft picks if you want to improve this team in the next 2 years.

or you go the youth route, and realize that it will probably be 3 or 4 years down the road to where you start to see some improvement via the infusion of the young defenders.

I think they are handcuffed by poor contracts sadly. I agree it will be more like 4 maybe 5 at the most. Could be as low as 3. My picks would be (takes out magic 8 ball):

1. Emery (easy pick)
2. VL (I think they find a taker during the offseason but have to add picks)
3. Grossman (redundant with Shenn and Shultz)
4. Streit (wild card, unlikely, but I think they should as he may never have higher value)

Anyone else want to play psychic?
- coffee junkie

I think Emery is gone. I see one of Grossmann/Schenn going. I think Coburn goes if they can get a good return. I think VdV is given his walking papers. Like you said, they're kinda hampered by the contracts they have.

and thats what i mean about the perils of the so called tanking. moves will need to be made that cant happen via draft picks if you want to improve this team in the next 2 years.

or you go the youth route, and realize that it will probably be 3 or 4 years down the road to where you start to see some improvement via the infusion of the young defenders.
- stayinthefnnet

The youth route doesn't always pay off, though. You need your youth to have superstar talent (Pit/Chi) and even then, it's not guaranteed to work (Edm). But with the Flyers, they need to stop chasing the shiny toy and try to build from within and make smart FA signings to fill needs.

I won't be disappointed, per se, if they bring back, say, Coburn. Because Coburn playing well is something that this team could really have used.

But yeah, I will be disappointed if they don't find a way to make 4-6 moves -- this roster can't look the same next season. You will have missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons and finished seventh the year you did make it.

You can't bring the same team back and call this year an aberration. Other teams are getting better, and the parity is too great, to ice this roster for another go-round and expect the results to be different.

Because they won't be.
- AllInForFlyers

My point was about the expectations of the Flyers making a bunch of moves at the deadline. I could be wrong, but I think the Flyers are in a far more likely position to make more moves around the draft and during the summer, then they are at the deadline, but I could be wrong. Just a sense I get.

I think they are handcuffed by poor contracts sadly. I agree it will be more like 4 maybe 5 at the most. Could be as low as 3. My picks would be (takes out magic 8 ball):

1. Emery (easy pick)
2. VL (I think they find a taker during the offseason but have to add picks)
3. Grossman (redundant with Shenn and Shultz)
4. Streit (wild card, unlikely, but I think they should as he may never have higher value)

Edit: CC will not be returning.

Anyone else want to play psychic?
- coffee junkie

In my opinion, the only two bad contracts are Umberger and Lecavalier.

I think they are handcuffed by poor contracts sadly. I agree it will be more like 4 maybe 5 at the most. Could be as low as 3. My picks would be (takes out magic 8 ball):

1. Emery (easy pick)
2. VL (I think they find a taker during the offseason but have to add picks)
3. Grossman (redundant with Shenn and Shultz)
4. Streit (wild card, unlikely, but I think they should as he may never have higher value)

Anyone else want to play psychic?
- coffee junkie

1. Agreed; think Zepp will make some sense financially, if he holds his own for the rest of the season with the Flyers and Phantoms

2. Wheels can still score; think he has a chance, maybe not a great one, of going at the TDL. Gonna be tough to thread the needle on that one

3. Schenn or Grossmann's gonna go -- too much salary for both when the team isn't markedly improved by having both

4. I wouldn't move Streit, but if the return is good, you have to look at everything

5. I'd keep MDZ, but I don't know if the Flyers will

6. I'd do my damnedest to see what's out there for MacDonald, even if I have to do a package deal or eat a pick. Just isn't the player the Flyers need him to be

My point was about the expectations of the Flyers making a bunch of moves at the deadline. I could be wrong, but I think the Flyers are in a far more likely position to make more moves around the draft and during the summer, then they are at the deadline, but I could be wrong. Just a sense I get.
- MJL

It depends on what contending teams see as needs. If a contending team has a big hole for a 3/4 defender, they Flyers may get a deal they can't refuse for Coburn. Or if a team needs some bottom-pair depth, one of Grossmann or Schenn could go. Heck, I even think Vinny may have a suitor at the TDL. But I don't see a 1/2 roster turnover from here on out.

My point was about the expectations of the Flyers making a bunch of moves at the deadline. I could be wrong, but I think the Flyers are in a far more likely position to make more moves around the draft and during the summer, then they are at the deadline, but I could be wrong. Just a sense I get.
- MJL

No, I hear you -- it could easily shake out like that. I was just saying that from now to the fall of next year, I would hope they find a way to make those 4-6 moves -- need a little more size, and Lord knows they have got to find a puckmoving defenseman who Berube trusts, if he's going to be the coach

It depends on what contending teams see as needs. If a contending team has a big hole for a 3/4 defender, they Flyers may get a deal they can't refuse for Coburn. Or if a team needs some bottom-pair depth, one of Grossmann or Schenn could go. Heck, I even think Vinny may have a suitor at the TDL. But I don't see a 1/2 roster turnover from here on out.
- jmatchett383

I think teams are going to be more interested in acquiring players on expiring deals then players with term left. A player with future years on his deal is far more likely to move, once teams know the cap picture, and have had a look at their needs in off season evaluations heading into the draft and later.

The youth route doesn't always pay off, though. You need your youth to have superstar talent (Pit/Chi) and even then, it's not guaranteed to work (Edm). But with the Flyers, they need to stop chasing the shiny toy and try to build from within and make smart FA signings to fill needs.
- jmatchett383

oh i agree.

even when you get the guys like crosby and malkin, it doesnt work without those glue acquisitions. guys like kunitz are invaluable in the right deal.

but i agree. i really dont think the flyers need more top end talent up front. i mean it certainly wouldnt hurt, but the flyers desperately need a guy like doughty more than they need a guy like mcdavid. the forward core is there. as myself and MJL were discussing earlier, it really is only a player away from a really solid top 9. cutting the dead wood will be difficult.

the defense is an entirely different story. its damn near impossible to make smart FA signings anymore.

My point was about the expectations of the Flyers making a bunch of moves at the deadline. I could be wrong, but I think the Flyers are in a far more likely position to make more moves around the draft and during the summer, then they are at the deadline, but I could be wrong. Just a sense I get.
- MJL

I don't get the feeling that there will be many buyers for some of this poop they'll be trying to sell, aka guys w/ term.

When Nick Schultz is arguably your most valuable rental, you're probably not in line for much in the fireworks dept.

oh i agree.

even when you get the guys like crosby and malkin, it doesnt work without those glue acquisitions. guys like kunitz are invaluable in the right deal.

but i agree. i really dont think the flyers need more top end talent up front. i mean it certainly wouldnt hurt, but the flyers desperately need a guy like doughty more than they need a guy like mcdavid. the forward core is there. as myself and MJL were discussing earlier, it really is only a player away from a really solid top 9. cutting the dead wood will be difficult.

the defense is an entirely different story. its damn near impossible to make smart FA signings anymore.
- stayinthefnnet

Even if they could have 2 of Morin, Ghost, Sanheim, and Hagg pan-out as top-4 NHL defenders, it would help immensely.

I don't get the feeling that there will be many buyers for some of this poop they'll be trying to sell, aka guys w/ term.

When Nick Schultz is arguably your most valuable rental, you're probably not in line for much in the fireworks dept.
- Tomahawk

Agreed -- Schenn/Grossmann are draft deals, and more likely than not, if VLC goes, that's when that would go down, as well, or right after FA begins

You could move Coburn at the TDL, Schultz, probably Streit if you wanted, without too much difficulty

Even if they could have 2 of Morin, Ghost, Sanheim, and Hagg pan-out as top-4 NHL defenders, it would help immensely.
- jmatchett383

I'm about ready to offer prayers for Morin to make it -- man, this team needs some "talented size"

I don't get the feeling that there will be many buyers for some of this poop they'll be trying to sell, aka guys w/ term.

When Nick Schultz is arguably your most valuable rental, you're probably not in line for much in the fireworks dept.
- Tomahawk

I agree in principle to the basic premise. I don't view any of the Flyers players as "poop"

I'm about ready to offer prayers for Morin to make it -- man, this team needs some "talented size"
- AllInForFlyers

I don't know, the hockey gods have it in for the Flyers. We're probably talking 11 goats, maybe 7 sheep, a virgin or two, and probably selling a soul to Satan, just to be safe.

Agreed -- Schenn/Grossmann are draft deals, and more likely than not, if VLC goes, that's when that would go down, as well, or right after FA begins

You could move Coburn at the TDL, Schultz, probably Streit if you wanted, without too much difficulty
- AllInForFlyers

I think the disappointment will come into play when they have to take some iffy contracts back in return for some of these guys -- a la Umberger. There's just not very many free dumping grounds for cap dollars these days.

Agreed -- Schenn/Grossmann are draft deals, and more likely than not, if VLC goes, that's when that would go down, as well, or right after FA begins

You could move Coburn at the TDL, Schultz, probably Streit if you wanted, without too much difficulty
- AllInForFlyers

I don't think there would be a big market for Coburn or Streit at the deadline. Nothing to do with the quality of players that they are, just the situation.

Even if they could have 2 of Morin, Ghost, Sanheim, and Hagg pan-out as top-4 NHL defenders, it would help immensely.
- jmatchett383

it definitely would. and im not ruling out that possibility. theres no reason to do such right now.

but at the same time, if you want improvement next year, you cant bank on that happening so soon.

I think the disappointment will come into play when they have to take some iffy contracts back in return for some of these guys -- a la Umberger. There's just not very many free dumping grounds for cap dollars these days.
- Tomahawk

One way or another, the Flyers aren't getting off clean with Lecavalier and Umberger. They are going to take some kind of a hit.

I think the disappointment will come into play when they have to take some iffy contracts back in return for some of these guys -- a la Umberger. There's just not very many free dumping grounds for cap dollars these days.
- Tomahawk

I have little doubt they'll have to eat something they don't want, but what I'm hoping is that they at least get players, while flawed, who do certain things or have certain characteristics that the Flyers don't already have.

Like, say, for instance, you trade VLC. Just say they find a way to do that, and they have to take a tough contract back in return.

In that hypothetical scenario, I sure as hell hope that the contract they take would be a player who is a natural winger, with some size. I understand the guy won't be a difference-maker, but at least get somebody who is a better fit on the roster.

Piratebay...
- Giroux_Is_God

popcorn-time

I have little doubt they'll have to eat something they don't want, but what I'm hoping is that they at least get players, while flawed, who do certain things or have certain characteristics that the Flyers don't already have.

Like, say, for instance, you trade VLC. Just say they find a way to do that, and they have to take a tough contract back in return.

In that hypothetical scenario, I sure as hell hope that the contract they take would be a player who is a natural winger, with some size. I understand the guy won't be a difference-maker, but at least get somebody who is a better fit on the roster.
- AllInForFlyers

So, Vinny to Toronto for Clarkson?

One way or another, the Flyers aren't getting off clean with Lecavalier and Umberger. They are going to take some kind of a hit.
- MJL

I'd be down with a buyout of Umberger in the offseason. I know he's played at the level of "competent NHL player" lately, but for the $$ he makes, I'd be tempted to swallow the pill for the next 4 (right) years.

I agree in principle to the basic premise. I don't view any of the Flyers players as "poop"
- MJL

Not even unicorn poop?