Right now, do the Flyers have a top 50 dman in the NHL on their roster? I guess Streit or MDZ might crack that list. I guess being that Streit is tied for 11th in dman scoring he would have to be included.
- PLindbergh31

Only 12 of his 40 pts have come at ES, tho.... that's kind of disturbing and not something you see with upper-echelon D.

MDZ, on the other hand, only has 4PP points all year... if he had Streit's spot on PP1, I'm guessing he'd be way ahead in overall points now. He's been doing most of his damage at ES, which is a great sign.

I love draft picks, but not at the expense of your best defenseman, especially considering the lack of talent that is left.

Whoever the Flyers take in the first round, likely won't be ready to help the big club for another three years. Coincidentally, it's also the next time the Flyers will likely sniff the playoffs now.
- bradleyc4

I understand, but Hextall has said all along he's looking 2-3 years down the road. So we can't be surprised that he's made moves that sacrifice the present for the future.

I have a feeling the advanced-stats crowd won't like him too much
- bmeltzer

His puck-pushing numbers are actually pretty good. His shot-suppression numbers, not so good.

Better than some of the current guys we have who fail miserably at both.

I love draft picks, but not at the expense of your best defenseman, especially considering the lack of talent that is left.

Whoever the Flyers take in the first round, likely won't be ready to help the big club for another three years. Coincidentally, it's also the next time the Flyers will likely sniff the playoffs now.
- bradleyc4

There isn't much the Flyers could do. What they did was get a little cap flexibility and also some good picks in a deep draft. The first rounder this year might not make the roster. But I think they are preparing for Morin/Haag/Gostisbiere/Alt/Sanheim t make a play for a spot next year.

We know they might not be a cup contender next season but I think Hextall has a plan and I'll let him work it. He did well for the limitations he has this year.

Moving Streit would have been a surrender the season move
- aflyerpower8

Trading Kimmo and Coburn wasn't?

Living up to the name.
- ob18

For me it was this simple.

You go into the off season cap strapped with a team that barely made the playoffs. You basically keep everyone. Trade your first line winger. Patch your D (less it's best producer) and bottom six with low rent band aids. Then you tell me that the kids, who out played several of your patches in the preseason, can't make this bubble roster out of camp.

They then tried to sell everyone on the fact that doing nothing or less than nothing wasn't a tank. Now here's the dead line and the team has managed to get within spitting distance of a playoff spot. Do I think they're going to make it? No. But you trade away the boost you had coming from returning D? BS...

Trading Kimmo and Coburn wasn't?
- bradleyc4

I don't think it was.

Kimmo hasn't played in ten months so you didn't know what you were getting.

Coburn was also out hurt. They played a lot of the season without them.

Trading Kimmo and Coburn wasn't?
- bradleyc4

Nope. Not even close.

Trading Kimmo and Coburn wasn't?
- bradleyc4

I don't think Hexy is trying to lose... don't think he's trying to win, either. He's being really even-handed and diplomatic -- taking into account the future, the present, the ticket-holders and team cache.

Good to have a smart man in the chair for a change.

Moving Streit would have been a surrender the season move
- aflyerpower8

They surrendered this season in September

Only 12 of his 40 pts have come at ES, tho.... that's kind of disturbing and not something you see with upper-echelon D.

MDZ, on the other hand, only has 4PP points all year... if he had Streit's spot on PP1, I'm guessing he'd be way ahead in overall points now. He's been doing most of his damage at ES, which is a great sign.
- Tomahawk

Streit has 16 ES points, not 12, and just last year he had 29.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...s&viewName=scoringLeaders

MDZ isn't nearly as good as Streit at getting a hard shot on net on the PP. I don't think it's fair to discount the role Streit has played in making this year's PP 3rd in the league overall despite the continued struggles of literally everyone on the 2nd unit. MDZ definitely has the edge when it comes to jumping in the play at ES, though. It's nice to have both of them.

Do I think they're going to make it? No. But you trade away the boost you had coming from returning D? BS...
- mayorofangrytown

but....but...but....Timonen...the Cup....

(I understand why they did it, but I don't like it)

Timonen and Coburn have been traded, Grossmann is injured, and yet MacDonald is on the third pairing. DOES.NOT.COMPUTE
- PLindbergh31

Patience. Hextall knows the score.

"We had to relieve it a little bit," Hextall said. "We're probably not quite there yet, either. In a perfect world, that's the way you do it [Gudas contract], but there's also entry-level contracts, where [the player's] contract doesn't necessarily reflect their play, so you have one contract who balances out the rest.

"It's a balancing act. It's a juggling act. And it's hard. You can't sign a guy now for 6 years and then all of the sudden in Year 1 you're going, 'Oh boy, what have I done? How am I going to get out of this one?' You've got to be cognizant of the year beyond."

Read more at http://www.philly.com/phi....html#5u8I2plEXL6IUxTF.99

Bill,

With them now having Gudas, who I see as similar to Grossmann but younger and cheaper, does that make it more likely they could move Grossmann at the draft?
- J35Bacher

Grossmann is the better player. But, yes, it does mean they could move Grossmann or Luke Schenn by the draft.

Streit has 16 ES points, not 12, and just last year he had 29.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...s&viewName=scoringLeaders

MDZ isn't nearly as good as Streit at getting a hard shot on net on the PP. I don't think it's fair to discount the role Streit has played in making this year's PP 3rd in the league overall despite the continued struggles of literally everyone on the 2nd unit. MDZ definitely has the edge when it comes to jumping in the play at ES, though. It's nice to have both of them.
- Feanor

Oops, my math.

They definitely turned out to be a lot less similar/redundant than most would have figured.

I don't think Hexy is trying to lose... don't think he's trying to win, either. He's being really even-handed and diplomatic -- taking into account the future, the present, the ticket-holders and team cache.

Good to have a smart man in the chair for a change.
- Tomahawk

He only looks that way to people who aren't following. The tank was on. The deadline cemented it.

Is he doing the right thing? He is IMO.

This team would never come out and be complete sellers. If he wasn't PR aware he would have sold more. He would have loved to. He couldn't for the team, the fans and ticket sales. He'll finish up at the draft.

I don't think Hexy is trying to lose... don't think he's trying to win, either. He's being really even-handed and diplomatic -- taking into account the future, the present, the ticket-holders and team cache.

Good to have a smart man in the chair for a change.
- Tomahawk

I'm encouraged. I admit, I hated the Rinaldo extension and disagreed with the Schultz one. But overall I think he's done well. He got good value for Timonen and Coburn, but it does leave a hole to fill next season.

I guess he figured, too, that to simply gut the team at the TDL says to the rest of the guys, go ahead and bag it. This way, they still have mostly the same team, and at the very least should go down swinging, or provide an easy to see guidpost to what is a crop andwhat is a weed.

You're right, I'm sure the ~17,000 fans tonight are hoping to see their favorite team get smoked 18-0. That would make them all happy.
- jmatchett383

1-0 loss improves the draft position.

His puck-pushing numbers are actually pretty good. His shot-suppression numbers, not so good.

Better than some of the current guys we have who fail miserably at both.
- Tomahawk

When the forwards are providing support and keeping their feet moving, he'll be OK. When they don't he won't. Have seen enough of Gudas to know he is not a good long-range passer and struggles with getting himself way out position.

I think you're underating the effectiveness of a Gudas-Schenn pairing
- PhillySportsGuy

Oh yea. Put your head down for just one second and you are done!

I have no problem if the Flyers lose, but the team and players should go into every game hoping to win and trying their best. That's all I ask.

Apparently, I'm a bad fan for that.
- jmatchett383

I completely agree.. Neither you nor I are bad fans.. I'd be fine if they won the rest of their games and made the playoffs.

I love draft picks, but not at the expense of your best defenseman, especially considering the lack of talent that is left.

Whoever the Flyers take in the first round, likely won't be ready to help the big club for another three years. Coincidentally, it's also the next time the Flyers will likely sniff the playoffs now.
- bradleyc4

hey there sunshine

I'm encouraged. I admit, I hated the Rinaldo extension and disagreed with the Schultz one. But overall I think he's done well. He got good value for Timonen and Coburn, but it does leave a hole to fill next season.

I guess he figured, too, that to simply gut the team at the TDL says to the rest of the guys, go ahead and bag it. This way, they still have mostly the same team, and at the very least should go down swinging, or provide an easy to see guidpost to what is a crop andwhat is a weed.
- Jsaquella

What I like is next season they have Gudas and Shultz both with cap hits under 2.5mil. Schultz has been solid and if he plays the same way could be a perfect vet to play with one of the young guys if they make it. Now you have 3 d on cheap contracts. I just think what they did gives them more flexibility moving forward and add the draft maybe he creates some more.

When the forwards are providing support and keeping their feet moving, he'll be OK. When they don't he won't. Have seen enough of Gudas to know he is not a good long-range passer and struggles with getting himself way out position.
- bmeltzer

I'm more concerned with getting another guy with a rep for borderline hits.

Only 12 of his 40 pts have come at ES, tho.... that's kind of disturbing and not something you see with upper-echelon D.

MDZ, on the other hand, only has 4PP points all year... if he had Streit's spot on PP1, I'm guessing he'd be way ahead in overall points now. He's been doing most of his damage at ES, which is a great sign.
- Tomahawk

Del Zotto is not much of a power play D, though. He didn't do much in that role in NY when he got chances and hasn't shown here that he should be moved up from the second to first unit. He generates much of his offense by joining the rush. Streit is better at the top of the umbrella -- gets his shots through, distributes well.