Mdz was a good player for us this year. Where does he fit in 2 3 years though ? Power play ? You got gost prov sanheim. Pk? He's not a great pk and he gets bodied by the bigger teams. Anything more than a bridge contract would be a detriment to us. I really feel like he's not a flyer by 2017 at the latest.

That being said. Who are the two veterans you keep to help build our prospects !?

my impression of this year for him was one where he learned how to play correctly again.
regardless of what I think of Berube, he did bench the guy for quite a few games.

He is a fine puck move and skater. I just don't know that I trust him as an actual D man. I am not an advanced stat guy, so maybe those will bare that out.
I also don't think you need more than one guy like MDZ on a team and I get the impression that Ghost is the next MDZ. If Ghost is ready next year (16-17) then you don;t need DZ.

If Hexy wants to sign him longer than 2 years, I am fine with it if it is without a movement clause.
- nails

This sums up my argument.

Disagreeing is fine, but there isn't much to support it. If the Flyers needed to make room for some younger players, they wouldn't have much of an issue trading Schultz, Schenn, Del Zotto, and even Medvedev. MacDonald and Streit would be harder based on the term of cost of their deals, but they could even be dealt. Defenseman are at a premium.
- MJL

cool

I haven't seen.

I do like him.

I still have a feeling that Matt Read gets moved. Not sure why. Just have this feeling of a deal where we get a young winger back.
- J35Bacher

I'm sorry but "your feelings" are never right

If we have players who are in the system who can do what they do better for cheaper, assuming we're not in a win-now (or next year) mode, and none of the players are good fits that the team needs at that position, then yes.

We have players in the system who, by the time we are in a "win-now" mode should be able to match or come close to matching his play for a fraction of the price. He does not fill a position of need, as we already have 6 NHL defensemen (7 if you count Manning). Therefore, I don't want to give him a contract past 2 years.
- jmatchett383

Who within the system bring the element of offensive production that Michael Del Zotto brings? I'm not gonna arrogantly call you a stupid person because I wouldn't have signed both Schultz and Medvedev. Maybe one of them but not both. With this said, Del Zotto is easily the second best offensive defenseman on the Flyers and no other prospect is anywhere near ready to bring the same production or even play in the league.

This sums up my argument.
- jmatchett383

+1

My apologies, 4 seasons. He had a great rookie season.
- SuperSchennBros

Year 1 he was pretty good.
years 2/3 he was 500 with a 901 SV%. Not great, but those were some terrible teams in front of him.
year 4 was terrible
but since then, he's been pretty good.
oddly, MDZ's stats path isn't terribly different. one extra good year.

Disagreeing is fine, but there isn't much to support it. If the Flyers needed to make room for some younger players, they wouldn't have much of an issue trading Schultz, Schenn, Del Zotto, and even Medvedev. MacDonald and Streit would be harder based on the term of cost of their deals, but they could even be dealt. Defenseman are at a premium.
- MJL

The idea that certain players are holding other players back is just laughable.

If Morin comes into camp and dominates, I bet you every dollar I have that Schenn or Schultz would be traded.. They are not gonna hold players back because a vet is on the team in that role.

my impression of this year for him was one where he learned how to play correctly again.
regardless of what I think of Berube, he did bench the guy for quite a few games.

He is a fine puck move and skater. I just don't know that I trust him as an actual D man. I am not an advanced stat guy, so maybe those will bare that out.
I also don't think you need more than one guy like MDZ on a team and I get the impression that Ghost is the next MDZ. If Ghost is ready next year (16-17) then you don;t need DZ.

If Hexy wants to sign him longer than 2 years, I am fine with it if it is without a movement clause.
- nails

I didn't see anything last season that would suggest Ghost is ready.

A Richards update: http://espn.go.com/los-an...lves-mike-richards-source

According to the report, he's part of an ongoing investigation by RCMP. I guess they aren't done yet as no charges have been filed.
- johndewar

Dudley Do-Rright don't play

Who within the system bring the element of offensive production that Michael Del Zotto brings? I'm not gonna arrogantly call you a stupid person because I wouldn't have signed both Schultz and Medvedev. Maybe one of them but not both. With this said, Del Zotto is easily the second best offensive defenseman on the Flyers and no other prospect is anywhere near ready to bring the same production or even play in the league.
- SuperSchennBros

I wouldn't have extended Schultz, either. Medvedev, I don't know, but I believe he's only signed for 1 year.

I agree that no prospect, at the moment, can take his place. But I'd bet that that's not the case in 2-3 years. That's why I don't want to sign him for more than 2 years.

Year 1 he was pretty good.
years 2/3 he was 500 with a 901 SV%. Not great, but those were some terrible teams in front of him.
year 4 was terrible
but since then, he's been pretty good.
oddly, MDZ's stats path isn't terribly different. one extra good year.
- nails

I don't disagree.

Who within the system bring the element of offensive production that Michael Del Zotto brings? I'm not gonna arrogantly call you a stupid person because I wouldn't have signed both Schultz and Medvedev. Maybe one of them but not both. With this said, Del Zotto is easily the second best offensive defenseman on the Flyers and no other prospect is anywhere near ready to bring the same production or even play in the league.
- SuperSchennBros

But possibly in a year or two.

Eleventy.
- johndewar

But Boston will win, so...insert page-breaking video here

Mdz was a good player for us this year. Where does he fit in 2 3 years though ? Power play ? You got gost prov sanheim. Pk? He's not a great pk and he gets bodied by the bigger teams. Anything more than a bridge contract would be a detriment to us. I really feel like he's not a flyer by 2017 at the latest.

That being said. Who are the two veterans you keep to help build our prospects !?
- Tfaehner

Streit for sure, and maybe Schultz or Medvedev. I say streit because he's a leader and I think he'd be a great role model. Schultz same thing, and depending on how Medvedev pans out, he could take that job from Schultz, but I know nothing about the guy yet.

I didn't see anything last season that would suggest Ghost is ready.
- SuperSchennBros

Maybe not this year, but what about in 2-3 years? How about Sanheim or Provorov in 2-3 years?

I'm sorry but "your feelings" are never right
- PhillySportsGuy

remember how many in here "had a feeling" the flyers would get the first pick on lottery night

I wouldn't have extended Schultz, either. Medvedev, I don't know, but I believe he's only signed for 1 year.

I agree that no prospect, at the moment, can take his place. But I'd bet that that's not the case in 2-3 years. That's why I don't want to sign him for more than 2 years.
- jmatchett383

It's not like we cannot have Del Zotto until he's 27-28 and dump him. The Flyers have nothing but time in terms of developing Travis Sanheim for example.

I disagree, but don't feel like a 90-page discussion with you about it.
- jmatchett383

I've already had that one.

Streit for sure, and maybe Schultz or Medvedev. I say streit because he's a leader and I think he'd be a great role model. Schultz same thing, and depending on how Medvedev pans out, he could take that job from Schultz, but I know nothing about the guy yet.
- benjichronic

I do like Streit for his leadership as well. I'd make Ghost room with him in the preseason and give them lockers next to each other in camp.

Year 1 he was pretty good.
years 2/3 he was 500 with a 901 SV%. Not great, but those were some terrible teams in front of him.
year 4 was terrible
but since then, he's been pretty good.
oddly, MDZ's stats path isn't terribly different. one extra good year.
- nails

MDZ has always been a highly productive NHL d-man, from an offensive standpoint. There was one year where he struggled.. His defensive is always gonna be secondary to his offense, but to look at his defense and say it isnt NHL quality is just plain wrong.

So we're keeping Gagner....

remember how many in here "had a feeling" the flyers would get the first pick on lottery night
- Crimsoninja

6.5% and everyone felt good about our chances

See: My wife.


I made a comment, you argued it, I defended it, you got angry and irrational.

Never did I say, I would sign him long term. Never did I say what I (me personally) think he is worth.

All I have said is that I think its gonna be more than 2.5.

If he signs for 2.5 million, I'll be very happy.

EDITED: Just saw your edit. MDZ might not be Lidstrom, but he is also not Mike Green. He plays a sound defensive game. Any d-man who has offensive flair will get caught from time to time.
- jak521

Mike Green is a much improved overall defenseman. Money aside, if I had to choose between the two, I'd take Green. I personally wouldn't label Del Zotto as sound defensively, I'd label him as competitive defensively. Honestly, the one trait that Del Zotto has that is above average is his ability to score and jump into the play at ES. In every other category, he's a below average defenseman. That's why he had trouble getting a job last year, and why as Bill mentioned, there isn't much threat of an offer sheet for Del Zotto.

Maybe not this year, but what about in 2-3 years? How about Sanheim or Provorov in 2-3 years?
- jmatchett383

I didn't see anything that would suggest Ghost is ready at all. He's going to have to prove himself first.