Sam Carchidi
@BroadStBull
Asked about bringing up kids, Hexy says Flyers still trying to make playoffs.
- MJL

Hopefully the follow-up question was "Then why did you fire Reese?"

The offense should terrify you more.. On the defensive front we have lots of prospects on the horizon.

Giroux, Simmonds and Voracek are the only legit offensive players on the team right now.

We have seen what happens when they get shutdown or go cold. Honestly if the Flyers had any offensive depth at all this season they are probably much closer or in the playoffs.

To me, offense needs ot be their priority this draft or off season.
- opeth_pa

I think the offense will benefit from having mobile two way defenders who are a threat to score.

Just look at what MDZ has brought to the team.

I also think some moves will be made to 'balance' the offense.

I think a young center will be traded for a dynamic winger this summer. Would like to see this, anyway.

Also I think Read will hopefully recover some of his mojo next season, or they may decide to trade him and move on, hopefully upgrading that spot.

I think the problems with the offense are more easily fixed then the D. But I am concerned with both. Until 40 and 18 and 36 are no longer regular starters they will be at a disadvantage. Those guys are real anchors and not sure how 18 and 40 get solved. 36 can just go to the AHL.

We all want and expect changes. I'd even take Phaneuf in the right deal...we can't give up too much for him and the Leafs definitely need to eat some salary. We have differing opinions on the gap between the Leafs and the Flyers - this season, neither team is very good and they have a lot in common - and so I question the impact Dion would have on the Flyers. I just don't see him on par with Chara, Weber, Doughty, etc.
- wolfhounds

I don't think anyone sees him on par with Weber, Doughty, or Chara. If he was on that level, he wouldn't be available.

Hopefully the follow-up question was "Then why did you fire Reese?"
- wolfhounds

I don't know that Reese was fired.

Is there any standard that you go by, to say that a player is a legit offensive player or not? Just curious.
- MJL

Yup..For a forward either 20 goals or more or 50 points or more.

Couturier, Read and Schenn have not been legitimate offensive threats this season.

Please fans of 14 do not take that as me singling him out because like I have done all year I have said the same 3 players did not produce.

I think the offense will benefit from having mobile two way defenders who are a threat to score.

Just look at what MDZ has brought to the team.

I also think some moves will be made to 'balance' the offense.

I think a young center will be traded for a dynamic winger this summer. Would like to see this, anyway.

Also I think Read will hopefully recover some of his mojo next season, or they may decide to trade him and move on, hopefully upgrading that spot.

I think the problems with the offense are more easily fixed then the D. But I am concerned with both. Until 40 and 18 and 36 are no longer regular starters they will be at a disadvantage. Those guys are real anchors and not sure how 18 and 40 get solved. 36 can just go to the AHL.
- Marc D

All well said and all legit points.

I see possibilities with the 4 defensive prospects and I dont see anything close to that depth on forward.

The Flyersw do have 2 mobile defense men in Streit and MDZ so I am very excited to see MDZ over the course of a full season assuming the next coach doesn't bench him for a month.

All well said and all legit points.

I see possibilities with the 4 defensive prospects and I dont see anything close to that depth on forward.
- opeth_pa

They are going to load up this draft and next.

Aube Kubel and the Swedish kid may pan out.

Laughton is quality too.

I think Leier in a year or two will give them more then they are getting from some of the bottom six guys now (not saying much, I know)

Dude...

First of all I did not call you boy. Holy hell, was that taken out of context. Second of all... You know what? Neveremind. I see no point in this.

Just move on. I'm out for the night before I get myself banned. Share your opinions loudly boys err gentleman.
- hereticpride

What contact were you trying to use? By using the word boy, who were you referring to? How about you, shut it down?

I'd love to win the lottery and grab McDavid.
- Jsaquella

wouldn't that be just the (frank)ing greatest? i was i fantasizing about this today.

wouldn't that be just the (frank)ing greatest? i was i fantasizing about this today.
- hammarby31

I fantasize about equally unlikely things. But they involve scandinavian women and.. oh, nevermind.

regarding the Schultz deal I am kind of meh about it

I believe it is only for 2 more years, and he has been pretty dependable this year

I guess he could decline but it was short and not too expensive, so OK by me

About a week ago I speculated if they would include a draft pick to try and entice a team to trade for Amac and then use the cap space to upgrade in UFA. It was nearly unanimously panned as a bad idea by the group here. I like Amac (likely more then most on here) but he gets paid a lot for his role on the team. Just thinking about other ideas to upgrade the D without waiting for Sanheim/Morin and the rest.
- Marc D

Even UFA is becoming slim pickings. The best UFA Class I've seen in along time with the 2000 class, which brought us Jeremy Roenick. That was nearly 15 years ago. I believe free agency is becoming something to nolonger depend on.

Yup..For a forward either 20 goals or more or 50 points or more.

Couturier, Read and Schenn have not been legitimate offensive threats this season.

Please fans of 14 do not take that as me singling him out because like I have done all year I have said the same 3 players did not produce.
- opeth_pa

Based on that criteria, it looks like the Flyers will have 3 players this season who will meet that criteria.

Looking at the 16 teams who made the playoff last season, how many of them do you think had 5 or more forwards who met that criteria, last season?

Based on that criteria, it looks like the Flyers will have 3 players this season who will meet that criteria.

Looking at the 16 teams who made the playoff last season, how many of them do you think had 5 or more forwards who met that criteria, last season?
- MJL

point totals for everyone seems to be way down. at the very least, spread out a bit more.

there is a realistic shot of no one in the league this year breaking 90.

Based on that criteria, it looks like the Flyers will have 3 players this season who will meet that criteria.

Looking at the 16 teams who made the playoff last season, how many of them do you think had 5 or more forwards who met that criteria, last season?
- MJL

Yes that would be correct.. Like I said Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds are the only legit offensive threats on this team this season.

Couturier, Read and Schenn were not legit offensive threats this season.

I don't know but what's your end game..Just come right out and say it if you want..Couturier = legit offensive threat to you.

Yes that would be correct.. Like I said Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds are the only legit offensive threats on this team this season.

Couturier, Read and Schenn were not legit offensive threats this season.

I don't know but what's your end game..Just come right out and say it if you want..Couturier = legit offensive threat to you.
- opeth_pa

you really won't be happy until somebody picks a fight with you over couturier, will you?

We all want and expect changes. I'd even take Phaneuf in the right deal...we can't give up too much for him and the Leafs definitely need to eat some salary. We have differing opinions on the gap between the Leafs and the Flyers - this season, neither team is very good and they have a lot in common - and so I question the impact Dion would have on the Flyers. I just don't see him on par with Chara, Weber, Doughty, etc.
- wolfhounds

Chara, Weber, Suter, Keith and Doughty I would say are the best of the best today. I wouldn't even say either one of Desjardins or Timonen were considered one of the best of number 1 defensemen when we first acquired them but they stabilized things. I never suggested Phaneuf was as good as Chara, nor am I suggesting that he's a team to build around. What I am suggesting is that it might be half a decade until we see a true number one defenseman if we leave everything up to the draft. We just traded Timonen and I think it will be 5 years at minimum until Travis Sanhiem reaches full speed. I'm within the belief that we need something in between.

I will say that I would consider trading one of Tampa's first round pick and ours (Most likely Tampa's) to get an effective defenseman in a package at the draft. Of course there is an exception to every rule. If the Flyers feel like they can get the next Corey Pretty with a late first pick such as Tampa's, obviously you do that.

I fantasize about equally unlikely things. But they involve scandinavian women and.. oh, nevermind.
- Doc_Sarcasm

i had a swedish/spanish girlfriend named maria when i lived in stockholm. oy vey.

Yes that would be correct.. Like I said Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds are the only legit offensive threats on this team this season.

Couturier, Read and Schenn were not legit offensive threats this season.

I don't know but what's your end game..Just come right out and say it if you want..Couturier = legit offensive threat to you.
- opeth_pa

coots, read and schenn needed to be counted on this season, as we discussed in the beginning of the year, especially with the loss of hartnell's production.

didn't get it.

Yes that would be correct.. Like I said Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds are the only legit offensive threats on this team this season.

Couturier, Read and Schenn were not legit offensive threats this season.

I don't know but what's your end game..Just come right out and say it if you want..Couturier = legit offensive threat to you.
- opeth_pa

Not at all, simply using your criteria. Nothing to do with Couturier.

Out of the 16 playoff teams last year, 7 teams, less then half had 5 or more forwards that meet your criteria. The Flyers led the way with 7 of those players, which led to a first round exit. Detroit was the lowest with 1 forward who met that criteria. LA, who won the Cup, had 2 players who met that criteria. The other finalist, the Rangers, had 4 of those players that met that criteria.

In the entire league last year, there was a total of 110 forwards who met that criteria. That averages out to 3.6 forwards per team meeting that criteria.

I think the Flyers do need to add some skill and speed to the lineup for the 2nd line, and they need a better balance of forwards. They also have some players who could very well meet that criteria in future seasons, already on the team, that have that potential.

In conclusion, I think the fire alarm pertaining to the Flyers forwards is a false alarm. They have other much higher priorities that need to be addressed.

Next if you like, we can look at the forwards who probably won't meet that criteria this season, and look at their potential of doing so moving forward.

Is that the same Holmgren that was the GM, or part of the player personnel staff that acquired Timonen, Coburn, Hartnell, Briere, Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, Mason, and Couturier? To name a few? Players that were or are the core nucleus of this team?
- MJL

It was tongue in cheek, I didnt use an emoticon

you really won't be happy until somebody picks a fight with you over couturier, will you?
- BulliesPhan87

Why because I have consistently said all year that Couturier, Read and Schenn didn't produce this season?

In conclusion, I think the fire alarm pertaining to the Flyers forwards is a false alarm. They have other much higher priorities that need to be addressed.
- MJL

You see it your way , I will see it mine.

The Flyers have 4 legit defensive prospects on the horizon and nothing close to that when it comes to offense.

If you are trading for a Shea Weber, OEL, Pieterangelo type then I think their top priority this offseason needs to be on offense.

In conclusion, I think the fire alarm pertaining to the Flyers forwards is a false alarm. They have other much higher priorities that need to be addressed.
- MJL

You see it your way , I will see it mine.

The Flyers have 4 legit defensive prospects on the horizon and nothing close to that when it comes to offense.

If you are trading for a Shea Weber, OEL, Pieterangelo type then I think their top priority this offseason needs to be on offense.

Phaneuf just made a huge mistake. Yes I saw it.

Why because I have consistently said all year that Couturier, Read and Schenn didn't produce this season?
- opeth_pa

You did?