I think trading Mase in 2017 if the Flyers decide not to extend him is a lot more likely. If he wants an extension then playing 50+ games and being at least .915 is the minimum level of performance required.
- Feanor

gotta say, they FINALLY have good goaltending, the last thing I want to see is trading either of the goalies away. Besides, who replaces Mason? Certainly not Stolartz or anyone in the system that soon, if ever.

I would move Jake to LW at this point just to give him a different look. Something needs to change with his game and keeping him where he is comfortable sure isn't helping.

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Schenn
Raffl-Laughton-Gagner
Vandevelde-White-Umberger

when you can't even call up a player due to the cap, well, that is a mess. Obviously Umberger is on Hextall but at least that contract is done after next season whereas Hartnell's deal goes on for 2 more years beyond that.
- nastyflyergirl

I don't even know how the hell they shake free of this -- I thought losing Pronger was the answer, with the likelihood of moving Luke Schenn at some point this season would also help

But they just might need to just move a Streit, if they don't pick up the pace here pretty quickly, just to give themselves the kind of room that you need to operate normally in this league when injuries strike

If we are finally stable in net, why would we trade Mason? Neuvirth has had a couple of good games, but has bounced around a lot. I'd like to move forward knowing at least one position is set.
- funmaster18

Because for the next few years it doesn't matter much, he is tradeable, could bring back good value, and Neuv is more than capable of holding down the fort in the meantime..

That's why I look to get a physical forward in return as oppose to something else. If they could somehow clear the cap room I would not mind Lucic here at all. Big physical LW that can manage the puck well enough to cement himself in the top 6. A move like that would balance out the lineup. Simmonds at 3rd line RW is great and all but Lucic would greatly improve our left side.
- hereticpride

No thank you.

I would move Jake to LW at this point just to give him a different look. Something needs to change with his game and keeping him where he is comfortable sure isn't helping.

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Schenn
Raffl-Laughton-Gagner
Vandevelde-White-Umberger
- Baxter27

Simmonds does not have the puck skills to play line one hockey. Turns over the puck too often. Then G and Jake are wasting their time in their own zone as opposed to being on the rush.

I don't even know how the hell they shake free of this -- I thought losing Pronger was the answer, with the likelihood of moving Luke Schenn at some point this season would also help

But they just might need to just move a Streit, if they don't pick up the pace here pretty quickly, just to give themselves the kind of room that you need to operate normally in this league when injuries strike
- AllInForFlyers

If that was the answer, what was the question? Moving his contract didn't help at all because he was a LTIR exemption.

anyone find the Medvedev "injury" a little strange?

Holmgren made plenty of mistakes towards the end, but one good move that's not brought up much was trading Talbot for Downie. I always hated Downie for his lack of discipline, but that 13-14 Flyers team could not score to save their lives for the first month and a bit. But the Read-Couturier-Downie line gelled quickly and was the team's best line for a while until Giroux really got it going and Downie got hurt.

It might be time for Hextall to make a similar move to shake things up. It would be very easy for the Flyers to fall into a hole too deep to climb out of in November, and all the talk of this being a playoff team will start to hang heavy around his neck.

Because for the next few years it doesn't matter much, he is tradeable, could bring back good value, and Neuv is more than capable of holding down the fort in the meantime..
- Scoob

Is he? I haven't seen him stick anywhere long term. I don't want another goalie carousel. A solid net presence will make it easier for the team to develop, IMO. If at the end of this year, Neuvirth is still playing lights out, then maybe I'd think about it, but the Flyers never have good luck in the goalie department and I'm not looking forward to a mess there again.

anyone find the Medvedev "injury" a little strange?
- rinaldo

he's faking one to avoid being traded

he's faking one to avoid being traded
- funmaster18

I see a contract termination in his future!!!!!

he knew why he was scractehd, said so himself....then all of a sudden an "injury" and they send him home?

Simmonds does not have the puck skills to play line one hockey. Turns over the puck too often. Then G and Jake are wasting their time in their own zone as opposed to being on the rush.
- hereticpride

I would argue he has better puck skills than Raffl. I think he will also finish a lot more chances around the net.

But for the most parts when you consider usage and the fact that the leading scorer in the league last year had 87 points, his point totals are not all that different when compared to the league average for when they played. Plus Staal and Richards got plenty of PP time.

There has to be perspective.
- MBFlyerfan

You're right. At the same time, Couturier doesn't look comfortable on the man advantage. At least not as the guy who the PP filters through.

Holmgren made plenty of mistakes towards the end, but one good move that's not brought up much was trading Talbot for Downie. I always hated Downie for his lack of discipline, but that 13-14 Flyers team could not score to save their lives for the first month and a bit. But the Read-Couturier-Downie line gelled quickly and was the team's best line for a while until Giroux really got it going and Downie got hurt.

It might be time for Hextall to make a similar move to shake things up. It would be very easy for the Flyers to fall into a hole too deep to climb out of in November, and all the talk of this being a playoff team will start to hang heavy around his neck.
- Feanor

For 1 million there is absolutely no question I would brought back Downie. He's a decent age, decent skill, can grind it out and would have only added to the team's toughness.

If that was the answer, what was the question? Moving his contract didn't help at all because he was a LTIR exemption.
- Scoob

I was under the impression, though, that using LTIR was actually a restriction based on esoteric crap like "banked cap space"

I see a contract termination in his future!!!!!

he knew why he was scractehd, said so himself....then all of a sudden an "injury" and they send him home?
- rinaldo

so how do you treat an injured ego?

I would move Jake to LW at this point just to give him a different look. Something needs to change with his game and keeping him where he is comfortable sure isn't helping.

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Schenn
Raffl-Laughton-Gagner
Vandevelde-White-Umberger
- Baxter27

Looks great on paper but this is really up to Voracek.

Voracek is as likely to move to LD as he is LW. His whole game is based around playing the off-wing, just like his idol Jagr.

gotta say, they FINALLY have good goaltending, the last thing I want to see is trading either of the goalies away. Besides, who replaces Mason? Certainly not Stolartz or anyone in the system that soon, if ever.
- nastyflyergirl

I'm a big Mason fan but if his performance level drops below the standards of a starter then I don't want to re-sign him. I'm not saying it will, or predicting it will, or hoping it will, I'm just saying - if.

Given how wacky & unpredictable goalies are, would anyone really be shocked if Neuvirth outplayed Mason this season and they went into next season in open competition for the starter's job? The goalie contract situation is pretty much perfect for the Flyers. They just have to let them play and act according to how they perform. There's no need to rush.

gotta say, they FINALLY have good goaltending, the last thing I want to see is trading either of the goalies away. Besides, who replaces Mason? Certainly not Stolartz or anyone in the system that soon, if ever.
- nastyflyergirl

Problem is the Flyers aren't going to get anything for the bad players. So it's rinse repeat for the next few seasons. The Flyers defense isn't going to magically improve by adding kids. They will need seasons to get acclimated to the NHL. Since not one is on the roster now, you are looking at 2018-2019 before the team is competing again.

And then the Flyers will be sending old Giroux to outscore the top young players in the league in their prime from teams that have tanked. But the Flyers will never get one of those franchise players because they will have been trapped in mediocrity and wil have to rely on drafting another Giroux outside the top 5 picks just to compete for a cup. And the Flyers turn into Nashville...... That is a possible future.

Or the Flyers get lucky and win the lottery this year and no changes are needed.

Holmgren made plenty of mistakes towards the end, but one good move that's not brought up much was trading Talbot for Downie. I always hated Downie for his lack of discipline, but that 13-14 Flyers team could not score to save their lives for the first month and a bit. But the Read-Couturier-Downie line gelled quickly and was the team's best line for a while until Giroux really got it going and Downie got hurt.

It might be time for Hextall to make a similar move to shake things up. It would be very easy for the Flyers to fall into a hole too deep to climb out of in November, and all the talk of this being a playoff team will start to hang heavy around his neck.
- Feanor

This team is going to test the limits of Ron Hextall's mantra about patience.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a deal like that, but I'm not sure who would be the one to go, unless you're looking at a guy like Matt Read or even Brayden Schenn in something of a "hockey deal".

For 1 million there is absolutely no question I would brought back Downie. He's a decent age, decent skill, can grind it out and would have only added to the team's toughness.
- SuperSchennBros

I can't speak for him, but I don't think bringing back Downie, specifically, was the proposal in that post.

For 1 million there is absolutely no question I would brought back Downie. He's a decent age, decent skill, can grind it out and would have only added to the team's toughness.
- SuperSchennBros

nope nope nope

so how do you treat an injured ego?
- funmaster18

by going back to russia

Holmgren made plenty of mistakes towards the end, but one good move that's not brought up much was trading Talbot for Downie. I always hated Downie for his lack of discipline, but that 13-14 Flyers team could not score to save their lives for the first month and a bit. But the Read-Couturier-Downie line gelled quickly and was the team's best line for a while until Giroux really got it going and Downie got hurt.

It might be time for Hextall to make a similar move to shake things up. It would be very easy for the Flyers to fall into a hole too deep to climb out of in November, and all the talk of this being a playoff team will start to hang heavy around his neck.
- Feanor

Yeah, that line was great for like 11-12 games in December/January until Steve Downie turned into the anchor that dragged Read/Couturier down. Over his final 32 games that year, he had 1 goal and 4 assists and was a -6 with 28 SOG. So yes, he helped provide a spark, but then he sucked for the rest of the year until he was mercifully scratched for a career AHLer in the playoffs.

Edit: I agree with your premise. And I'm not saying it was a horrible, crippling trade, but everyone seems to remember his good, short stretch and forget his awful, (much) longer stretch.