The question is: who sits when Timonen returns? At first, I think you dress 7 D for a game or 2 and make sure he is really ready to go under game conditions, but then it gets interesting. My gut says you scratch Luke, but that does leave you with a very small D corps as Timonen, Streit, MDZ and AMac are all under 200 lbs and none bring much of a physical element. The other option is scratching the 30 million dollar man.

So basically, IMO, the choice is:

Timonen-Coburn
Schultz-Streit
MDZ-AMac

or
Timonen-Coburn
Schultz-Streit
MDZ-Luke

decisions, decisions...
- BiggE

These things usually have a way of working themselves out. A dman will probably will break their foot blocking a shot in the next two games.

I'd play neither of them and bring someone up.
- BiggE

This!!!

If the Flyers get a great deal on Coburn or anybody else they should take it even if it hurts the playoff chances. Since the Allstar break, this has been the easiest stretch on the schedule. Out of the 12 games, 6 have been against nonplayoffs teams. Add Carolina and Toronto as the next two, and that's 8 out of 14. However, the next stretch of games is very hard. Starting with the Rangers, only 4 of the next 15 are against teams out of the playoffs.

And what's the point of getting in the playoffs if they have no shot of winning the cup except padding the coffers of comcast. Moving salary and acquiring picks for the future is more important.

The Canes have been giving the Flyers fits lately

They better (frank)ing win tonight or I'm throwing my sofa directly through my TV
- PhillySportsGuy

I was thinking the same. It's be just like them to win vs good teams and poop the bed vs a bottom team like Carolina. I'm still furious about the buffalo loss as well as 1 pt vs cbj.

These things usually have a way of working themselves out. A dman will probably will break their foot blocking a shot in the next two games.
- PLindbergh31

With our luck? Absolutely.

Honestly it was, and the odds are still stacked against them. If boston picks up 26 points in their last 23 games, which is not an unreasonable expectation, that would give them 93 points. Considering their advantage in Reg/OT wins, that means the Flyers would need 94 points to get in.

So, basically, the Flyers need to go something like 14-5-3 to finish the season. Impossible? No. Improbable? Yeah.
- BiggE

Heres the kicker. Flyers are getting healthy.

Over the past 2+ weeks they have added Grossmann, Coburn, White. They will be adding Timonen and Mason.

Our defense gets a heck of a lot better with all of those players.

I still would like to see them try to move a defender, but the Flyers making the playoffs isnt completely out of the picture.. Like I said two weeks ago.. there is still a ton of hockey to be played.

If the Flyers get a great deal on Coburn or anybody else they should take it even if it hurts the playoff chances. Since the Allstar break, this has been the easiest stretch on the schedule. Out of the 12 games, 6 have been against nonplayoffs teams. Add Carolina and Toronto as the next two, and that's 8 out of 14. However, the next stretch of games is very hard. Starting with the Rangers, only 4 of the next 15 are against teams out of the playoffs.

And what's the point of getting in the playoffs if they have no shot of winning the cup except padding the coffers of comcast. Moving salary and acquiring picks for the future is more important.
- psuhockey

Agreed. Every Dman should be available if the offer is good enough. The only exception, IMO, is Timonen, who has earned the right to finish his career in orange and black if that is what he wants.

The question is: who sits when Timonen returns? At first, I think you dress 7 D for a game or 2 and make sure he is really ready to go under game conditions, but then it gets interesting. My gut says you scratch Luke, but that does leave you with a very small D corps as Timonen, Streit, MDZ and AMac are all under 200 lbs and none bring much of a physical element. The other option is scratching the 30 million dollar man.

So basically, IMO, the choice is:

Timonen-Coburn
Schultz-Streit
MDZ-AMac

or
Timonen-Coburn
Schultz-Streit
MDZ-Luke

decisions, decisions...
- BiggE

This is assuming Grossmann gets traded right?

If not:

Coburn-Del Zotto
Striet-Grossmann
Timonen-Schultz
Amac-Luke.

Heres the kicker. Flyers are getting healthy.

Over the past 2+ weeks they have added Grossmann, Coburn, White. They will be adding Timonen and Mason.

Our defense gets a heck of a lot better with all of those players.

I still would like to see them try to move a defender, but the Flyers making the playoffs isnt completely out of the picture.. Like I said two weeks ago.. there is still a ton of hockey to be played.
- jak521

No doubt. It's not impossible by any means, but it's still unlikely. Still, they are in a MUCH better place than where they were just a week or 2 ago.

This is assuming Grossmann gets traded right?

If not:

Coburn-Del Zotto
Striet-Grossmann
Timonen-Schultz
Amac-Luke.
- jak521

Yup, I think if any dman gets moved, it will likely be Grossmann.

edit: Capwise, I don't think they have the room to hold on to all 8 of the above.

No doubt. It's not impossible by any means, but it's still unlikely. Still, they are in a MUCH better place than where they were just a week or 2 ago.
- BiggE

The biggest difference, and honestly a real reason they have made such a big jump IMO, is the play of MDZ. He is literally been our missing top pair d-man. Do I expect him to continue to play at that level? No, I think he will settle back in a bit, but his hot play over the past month and a half, and the Flyers resurgence do go hand in hand.

Yup, I think if any dman gets moved, it will likely be Grossmann.

edit: Capwise, I don't think they have the room to hold on to all 8 of the above.
- BiggE

(frank)ing capgeek. Why did you have to abandon us!

(frank)ing capgeek. Why did you have to abandon us!
- jak521

I blame Bettman.

The biggest difference, and honestly a real reason they have made such a big jump IMO, is the play of MDZ. He is literally been our missing top pair d-man. Do I expect him to continue to play at that level? No, I think he will settle back in a bit, but his hot play over the past month and a half, and the Flyers resurgence do go hand in hand.
- jak521

He has played very well, but I don't consider him a top pair dman. Would you really want MDZ on the ice, protecting a 1 goal lead in the last minute of the game?

That being said, I still hope they can re-sign him. He is a valuable skilled top 4 guy without a doubt.

Vegas has Carolina installed as a -120 favorite tonight.

The biggest difference, and honestly a real reason they have made such a big jump IMO, is the play of MDZ. He is literally been our missing top pair d-man. Do I expect him to continue to play at that level? No, I think he will settle back in a bit, but his hot play over the past month and a half, and the Flyers resurgence do go hand in hand.
- jak521

The most exciting thing to me about MDZ is that he is still young.
So assuming he can find a way to remain consistent he should be a large part of the defensive core when the prospects get here over the next few years.

Really good signing.

Heres the kicker. Flyers are getting healthy.

Over the past 2+ weeks they have added Grossmann, Coburn, White. They will be adding Timonen and Mason.

Our defense gets a heck of a lot better with all of those players.

I still would like to see them try to move a defender, but the Flyers making the playoffs isnt completely out of the picture.. Like I said two weeks ago.. there is still a ton of hockey to be played.
- jak521

I'm still floored at the Bruins stumbling as badly as they did. That was biggest reason I expected the Flyers to have no shot. They definitely took care of business, but the Bruins rough stretch helped immensely.

If the Flyers get a great deal on Coburn or anybody else they should take it even if it hurts the playoff chances. Since the Allstar break, this has been the easiest stretch on the schedule. Out of the 12 games, 6 have been against nonplayoffs teams. Add Carolina and Toronto as the next two, and that's 8 out of 14. However, the next stretch of games is very hard. Starting with the Rangers, only 4 of the next 15 are against teams out of the playoffs.

And what's the point of getting in the playoffs if they have no shot of winning the cup except padding the coffers of comcast. Moving salary and acquiring picks for the future is more important.
- psuhockey

In the Flyers last 13 games, 7 (more than half) have been against playoff teams. Their record is 5-1-1 in those games. But yes, they're playing weak competition and it's all a mirage. SELL SELL SELL!

I'm still floored at the Bruins stumbling as badly as they did. That was biggest reason I expected the Flyers to have no shot. They definitely took care of business, but the Bruins rough stretch helped immensely.
- Jsaquella

True. Watching the Bruins completely dismantle the Hawks does not make me happy though.

I love the fact they finally moved B Schenn to center. Hes playing a lot better. Seems to be best suited for playing center. Need to stop putting him on the wing and allow him to actually play his position of strength and see how he does for the remainder of the season

True. Watching the Bruins completely dismantle the Hawks does not make me happy though.
- BiggE

Yeah. Losing Krejci is a big blow to them though.

You truly enjoy stating the obvious, don't you?
- BiggE

Stating that they need 4 points in the next two games wasn't obvious?

Looking at the schedule, every game is a must win. If it was so obvious, why single out the importance of the next two games? They're all important at this point, regardless of the opponent.

He has played very well, but I don't consider him a top pair dman. Would you really want MDZ on the ice, protecting a 1 goal lead in the last minute of the game?

That being said, I still hope they can re-sign him. He is a valuable skilled top 4 guy without a doubt.
- BiggE

Absolutely. Hell, he has been doing it routinely for us for the past month. Im not saying he IS a top pairing d-man, but he sure as poop has been playing like one..

Offensively since he got back in the line up he has been one of the most productive d-men in the game.

And what's the point of getting in the playoffs if they have no shot of winning the cup except padding the coffers of comcast. Moving salary and acquiring picks for the future is more important.
- psuhockey

Did you think they had a shot of getting to the finals in 2010?
What about being done 3-0 to Boston , did you think they had a shot then?
If you can get in the playoffs then you have a chance.

If you clearly are going to miss the playoffs then I am all for focusing all of the attention on the subsequent years but right now they have a chance so I cant just do a wholesale move of assets .

If you can move 1 of Kimmo, Grossman, L Schenn or Coburn for a good return then yah..do it but just a firesale right now makes literally no sense for a team that is 4 points out of the playoffs with 20 games left.