I do think Hextall will make a trade in 2015 because he really seemed to believe his pre-season proclamation that this was a playoff team.
- Feanor

I disagree with you. I think Hextall knew that this team isn't very good but he can't exactly say that with 18000 season ticket holders. At least I hoped he knew because if he saw this roster as a playoff roster, I would have to question his judgement.

Yeah, the top three scorers in 1993 had 140+ points.



Especially Giroux since he has an NMC.

I think Read has a lot less trade value than BSchenn or Simmonds.
- Feanor

Probably true. I forgot Read's contract runs until '18.

I disagree with you. I think Hextall knew that this team isn't very good but he can't exactly say that with 18000 season ticket holders. At least I hoped he knew because if he saw this roster as a playoff roster, I would have to question his judgement.
- psuhockey

Nothing plays better in front of a crowd that pays about 10k a year for season tickets than "Hey, guys, we're gonna suck this year. You're gonna have to just deal with it."

ok sure...again good comeback...what's pointless trading claude? so do you disagree that good gm's can make deal like Giroux happen? do you disagree that st Louis or Nashville would rather have Giroux now then at the draft? your a chump
- rinaldo

Because I am bored, not because you are worth my time.

St Louis...do they have a good GM? not sure, don't know what magical criteria you will come up with for that. How does St Louis fit Giroux in? Who are we getting for him? Tarasenko? Good luck. Pietrangelo...still doesnt fit under the cap and then Sean Couturier becomes our #1 Center BUT HE IS REALLY A 3RD LINE CENTER!! Stasny? LOL okay. Not only that, but we can take STL really high draft picks or their highly touted prospect...I dont need to tell you who that is, everyone knows him

Nashville...they will continue their long history of making bold moves to contend for now and not focus on the future.

The Flyers weren't struggling then, though -- people forget, but they had made it to the second round of the playoffs when they moved them. That was about culture, not about the team being bad
- AllInForFlyers

It was about salary cap and a lack of young prospects in the system

I think Giroux and Voracek are bigger pieces than either of Richards and Carter were at the time of the trade, and I say that as an absolute Mike Richards fan.
- johndewar

I don't know about that, I think your forgetting the production those guys had here.
Richards could shut down like Coots, but lead you in scoring.
Carter had 2/30 goal, & a 40 goal season while he was here.

Cmon Joe let's be somewhat rational. Flyers should trade a top player in the league and eat 4 mil in salary?
- MJL

you're right, maybe the Flyers should throw in some high picks to sweeten the deal

The trades of Carter & Richards.
Maybe not top 10-15 players, but 2 franchise pieces in there prime, for 4 younger (wait 3-4 years) players.
- puckhead17

Very true

I disagree with you. I think Hextall knew that this team isn't very good but he can't exactly say that with 18000 season ticket holders. At least I hoped he knew because if he saw this roster as a playoff roster, I would have to question his judgement.
- psuhockey

He didn't move Hartnell & Coburn, for Umberger, & Gudas to win now.

I disagree with you. I think Hextall knew that this team isn't very good but he can't exactly say that with 18000 season ticket holders. At least I hoped he knew because if he saw this roster as a playoff roster, I would have to question his judgement.
- psuhockey

How many of them read this article, 100? I think Hextall is just saying what he honestly thinks, and he was very firm about there being "no excuses" for missing the playoffs.

http://articles.philly.co...al-neuvirth-claude-giroux

Q Do you expect this team to make the playoffs?

A I do. I do. When you look at it, there's a few teams you call elite teams in the East, and after that you say these chunk of teams, 60 or 70 percent, are going to make the playoffs. And we're in that group. To me, there's no excuse for us not to make the playoffs.

Exactly. That was what made those moves so shocking at the time.

And for all the "OMG WHAT DID THEY DO?" at the time, the move that Holmgren pulled that really made everyone laugh was getting Jagr to come back from Russia.

I'd say that one worked out ok.
- johndewar

They also had some established players to fall back on that enabled Homer to trade those two. Trading Richards and Carter signaled the beginning of Giroux/Briere/Pronger. Who does it go to if Giroux is traded?

It was a mediocre blueline tho... he was more akin to MDZ than he was to Doughty.

Dmen were still scoring point-per-game in that era.
- Tomahawk

I don't know, that team didn't win the cup by playing run & gun.
Schneider & Desjardins were as good a pairing as there was at that time.
Neither guy was a 60 point guy, but they were a top pairing.

Who does it go to if Giroux is traded?
- YuenglingJagr

Let the Brayden Schenn era begin!

Yep, today is every bit as amazing as it projected to be

I have a serious question, though, for anyone who can answer, and I promise I am not being an ass about it because I have racked my mind and come up blank:

Can anybody name a trade of the like that is being described, where a struggling club trades an in-prime, Top 10-15 player, at Giroux's age, because of what they might get that would be aligned with two or three years down the line?

I can't think of one off the top of my head, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Just trying to see what examples those who want to move Giroux are drawing from, or if they are wanting the Flyers to boldly go where no franchise has gone
- AllInForFlyers

I suggested trading G, VLC, Read and our first last year for Buffalo's 1st. Get's you out of cap hell, gives you a future world class player that you have under control for a few years.

So sick of hearing how well they played and deserved a better fate. Bottom line is they lost, they stink. Is this what us Philly fans are accepting now? Effort but lose? Everyone on this team should be available for trade...especially Giroux! So overrated!
- Williamc5468

Awesome first post......hopefully its your last

I suggested trading G, VLC, Read and our first last year for Buffalo's 1st. Get's you out of cap hell, gives you a future world class player that you have under control for a few years.
- Jimmygrazz

There is no way Buffalo or any team in the NHL would make that trade

Because I am bored, not because you are worth my time.

St Louis...do they have a good GM? not sure, don't know what magical criteria you will come up with for that. How does St Louis fit Giroux in? Who are we getting for him? Tarasenko? Good luck. Pietrangelo...still doesnt fit under the cap and then Sean Couturier becomes our #1 Center BUT HE IS REALLY A 3RD LINE CENTER!! Stasny? LOL okay. Not only that, but we can take STL really high draft picks or their highly touted prospect...I dont need to tell you who that is, everyone knows him

Nashville...they will continue their long history of making bold moves to contend for now and not focus on the future.
- YuenglingJagr

worthy of your time. as I said your a chump. thanks for your valued opinion. it made my day

I disagree with you. I think Hextall knew that this team isn't very good but he can't exactly say that with 18000 season ticket holders. At least I hoped he knew because if he saw this roster as a playoff roster, I would have to question his judgement.
- psuhockey

I'm not in Hextall's head but I believe if he truly felt this was a playoff team and was last year, he would have made moves to help more immediately rather than down the road. I think saying this is a playoff team is showing his players support but I think his actions state otherwise

worthy of your time. as I said your a chump. thanks for your valued opinion. it made my day
- rinaldo

YOU'RE welcome

Schneider & Desjardins were as good a pairing as there was at that time.
Neither guy was a 60 point guy, but they were a top pairing.
- puckhead17

People knew he was a pretty good, but not sure many predicted he'd be able to be a #1 guy for a powerhouse team.

Hell, even in his Flyers days, there were no shortage of people who insisted that he wasn't a true #1.

That trade was crazy risky -- it could have easily blown up in the Flyers' face.

I'm not in Hextall's head but I believe if he truly felt this was a playoff team and was last year, he would have made moves to help more immediately rather than down the road. I think saying this is a playoff team is showing his players support but I think his actions state otherwise
- nastyflyergirl

Like Hartnell & Coburn for Umberger & Gudas.
Not the kind of moves one would make trying to win now.

How many of them read this article, 100? I think Hextall is just saying what he honestly thinks, and he was very firm about there being "no excuses" for missing the playoffs.

http://articles.philly.co...al-neuvirth-claude-giroux
- Feanor

And Tim Murray said over and over again to the press that buffalo wasn't tanking to get McDavid.

Hockey is a gate driven business and the other tenant in the building is openly trying to be the worst team in their league for 3 years now. In case you were wondering, the company that owns the Flyers owns the arena. So how many suites do you think are going to sell if he says the Flyers will be bottom 10 again this year?

Like Hartnell & Coburn for Umberger & Gudas.
Not the kind of moves one would make trying to win now.
- puckhead17

hextall likes umberger as a player. wasn't all about that great cap space 2 years earlier

It was a mediocre blueline tho... he was more akin to MDZ than he was to Doughty.

Dmen were still scoring point-per-game in that era.
- Tomahawk

In comparison, Del Zotto isn't half the player that Desjardins was, in any era.

And Tim Murray said over and over agin to the press that buffalo wasn't tanking to get McDavid.

Hockey is a gate driven business and the other tenant in the building is openly trying to out the worst team in their league on the floor for 3 years now. In case you were wondering, the company that owns the Flyers owns the arena. So how many suites do you think are going to sell if he says the Flyers will be bottom 10 again this year?
- psuhockey

the flyers will sell either way....what will hurt them is people not going and buying stuff....the tickets are sold but no additional $ is coming in if people stay home, and they ae.