When these gutless Caps get eliminated tomorrow night what is the excuse going to be? Can't win without Orpik?

Murray is eating Holtby's lunch.
- PLindbergh31

Don't know what they'll say, but it seems to me the reason they're losing is the same reason that almost everyone else has lost to Pittsburgh since January... their speed and pressure game. Also, the Caps have struck me this postseason as playing with a sense of entitlement... like, "we were #1 by far in the regular season, so of course we're supposed to win." But of course, it never actually works that way.

Yeah, I like him as a player, but he's gonna take a LOT of assets to acquire. Rather target somebody who 99% of other GMs won't be hot after... there's gotta be a RH MDZ this summer, right?
- Tomahawk

What do you think the flyers end up doing with MDZ? I don't think its a sure thing he's in their long term plans

Try and trade him soon on a favorable deal to move or lock him up and see where the chips fall with our LH prospects?

Not sure if the blues would listen on a shatty trade with MDZ being the main piece going back.

Bottom line is our two best dmen will be provorov and ghost. Our next best one very likely to be sanheim another LH. I can see the flyers dealing him now if he wants anything more than 2 years on his next deal

So, cause I've time on my hands and I thought it be fun, I'm going to a top ten list of the best Flyers of all time by era. We all know it can be very difficult to compare a guy who played in the 70s, from a guy playing today, so I thought breaking it into eras would be fun.

The eras will be:
1967-1979
1979-1992
1992-2004
2005-today

Hope you like them!

What do your think flyers end up doing with MDZ?

Try and trade him soon on a favorable deal to move or lock him up and see where the chips fall with our LH prospects?

Not sure if the blues would listen on a shatty trade with MDZ being the main piece going back.
- Just5

Sign him long-term

What do you think the flyers end up doing with MDZ? I don't think its a sure thing he's in their long term plans

Try and trade him soon on a favorable deal to move or lock him up and see where the chips fall with our LH prospects?

Not sure if the blues would listen on a shatty trade with MDZ being the main piece going back.
- Just5

Until one of the kids actually proves they're capable of replacing him, he's indispensable

Sign him long-term
- PhillySportsGuy

^

What do you think the flyers end up doing with MDZ? I don't think its a sure thing he's in their long term plans

Try and trade him soon on a favorable deal to move or lock him up and see where the chips fall with our LH prospects?

Not sure if the blues would listen on a shatty trade with MDZ being the main piece going back.
- Just5

I believe MDZ is a bridge dman. I think Gudas has a longer future as a Flyer then him. Only way I see him not being dealt is if Sanheim and Morin bomb in the AHL next season.

Until one of the kids actually proves they're capable of replacing him, he's indispensable



^
- Tomahawk

I wish we had two Gudas'.

Two Gudi?

Multiple Gudi?

I wish we had multiple Gudi.

Until one of the kids actually proves they're capable of replacing him, he's indispensable



^
- Tomahawk

Agreed, he is still young as well. I think it will be good to have him as a veteran presence who will grow with the kids yet still be young enough to relate to them as they grow.

It's a moot point. Winnipeg isn't dealing Trouba for the 17th/18th pick and a guy who projects more as a third liner. He's a nice player, but not worth targeting IMO. I think the more pressing need is finding young skill at the forward positions.
- PhillySportsGuy

The Flyers have interesting forward depth currently in the farm system.

Guys like Aube-Kubel, Leier, Cousins (just making the jump), Fazleev, and Maroody all look like they have 3rd liner potential. Thats important.

Now where we really need to improve is top 6 prospects..

As of right now I feel as though we only have one "real" top 6 prospect, but a couple of other guys who could probably play there way into that territory.

Konecny is a shoe in, but then you have Lindblom who I personally think could end up being our own Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson type player. Kid relishes in his role of being around the net and mucking it up. Strong player down low with great inside hands.

The third is already on the team. Laughton at wing. I have very high hopes for him. he has shown his abilities at times, and kinda got pushed out of the lineup because of not having a specific role, position, what have you. I think being given a specific position and developing within that role will do him wonders.

ultimately, our top 6 is missing one piece.

Simmonds-Giroux-Voracek
____-Couts-Schenn

So finding top talent shouldnt be that hard considering its already established.

So, cause I've time on my hands and I thought it be fun, I'm going to a top ten list of the best Flyers of all time by era. We all know it can be very difficult to compare a guy who played in the 70s, from a guy playing today, so I thought breaking it into eras would be fun.

The eras will be:
1967-1979
1979-1992
1992-2004
2005-today

Hope you like them!
- BiggE

follow up question...will it be their prime...or when they were drafted? Just kind of wondering how people who cross those times will fit

sign me up though...interesting to see what you come upw ith

Until one of the kids actually proves they're capable of replacing him, he's indispensable



^
- Tomahawk

I was very very vocal last year about getting him signed to a 4 year deal, but not many thought it was a smart move. Now we are kicking ourselves, because he should be in our future plans.

I wish we had two Gudas'.

Two Gudi?

Multiple Gudi?

I wish we had multiple Gudi.
- PhillySportsGuy

Clone him, his head is kind of shaped like a minion.

Ok, so first up, the top ten Flyers from 1967-1979

The top 3 were really no brainers!

1. Bobby Clarke
2. Bernie Parent
3. Bill Barber

Now it gets interesting!

4. Rick Macleish
Bedrock was the perfect complement to Clarke and the 2 gave the Flyers the best one, two punch up the middle in the league in the mid 70s. He also had one of the nastiest wrist shots I ever saw.

5. Ed Van Impe
Van Impe was the Captain before Clarke and a physical, nasty shut down Dman. He really stepped it up in the finals vs Boston and was never an easy guy to play against. He was also a great leader in the room as well.

6. Reggie Leach
His often maddening, and usually alcohol fueled, inconsistency keeps him from finishing higher on this list. But when he was on, he was one of the best pure scorers in the league

7. Jimmy Watson
The best pure all around Dman of this era, he played well in all situations and was highly underrated.

8. Gary Dornhoeffer.
The Flyers first true power forward, he gave his all every minute of every shift of every game and he often played through crippling injury

9. Barry Ashbee
Sadly, his career was cut short by injury and tragically, he life was cut short by cancer. However from 72-74, he was the best defenseman on a very good team. Another true warrior, he played an entire season with a pinched nerve in his neck and never missed a shift.

10. Dave Schultz
The Hammer set the tone for the Broad Street Bullies and provided a sense of security and confidence that helped them become a powerhouse. He has to be on this list

Just missed the cut:
Ross Lonsberry
Andre "Moose Dupont
Andre Lacroix
Joe Watson

follow up question...will it be their prime...or when they were drafted? Just kind of wondering how people who cross those times will fit

sign me up though...interesting to see what you come upw ith
- YuenglingJagr

Going by what era they played the bulk of their career, however a player or 2 may overlap into 2 eras, we shall see.

I believe MDZ is a bridge dman. I think Gudas has a longer future as a Flyer then him. Only way I see him not being dealt is if Sanheim and Morin bomb in the AHL next season.
- ravishingone

But he's not going to sign another 2 year deal.

He's going to want and will earn a minimum of 4-5 years on his UFA contract.

With so many LH guys in the pipeline, I don't want to have to deal him from a position of weakness.

I'd find a hockey trade this summer if I'm Hexy

Agreed, he is still young as well. I think it will be good to have him as a veteran presence who will grow with the kids yet still be young enough to relate to them as they grow.
- MBFlyerfan

Manning and MDZ are the same age. I feel like if Manning burst onto the scene and played similarly to MDZ, everyone would be labeling him as a major part of the future.

I understand the trepidation about signing him long term, but he's been good for two years and seems to have figured things out. I think they can get him at a pretty good rate by signing him a year before his FA while he's coming off an injury and down (unlucky) year from a points standpoint.

The Flyers have interesting forward depth currently in the farm system.

Guys like Aube-Kubel, Leier, Cousins (just making the jump), Fazleev, and Maroody all look like they have 3rd liner potential. Thats important.

Now where we really need to improve is top 6 prospects..

As of right now I feel as though we only have one "real" top 6 prospect, but a couple of other guys who could probably play there way into that territory.

Konecny is a shoe in, but then you have Lindblom who I personally think could end up being our own Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson type player. Kid relishes in his role of being around the net and mucking it up. Strong player down low with great inside hands.

The third is already on the team. Laughton at wing. I have very high hopes for him. he has shown his abilities at times, and kinda got pushed out of the lineup because of not having a specific role, position, what have you. I think being given a specific position and developing within that role will do him wonders.

ultimately, our top 6 is missing one piece.

Simmonds-Giroux-Voracek
____-Couts-Schenn

So finding top talent shouldnt be that hard considering its already established.
- jak521

I would just like to add more skill. I don't really think of it in terms of filling out the lines. They just need more playmakers and guys who can carry the puck. They need guys like that who will hit their prime as Giroux and Jake begin to really decline.

And now, 1979-1992

1. Mark Howe
Hands down, the best Dman to ever wear the orange and black. He could simply control the game from the back end and he excelled in all situation.

2. Tim Kerr
Best pure scorer in team history. Strong as an ox, he was unstoppable on the pp even though he was constantly held, hooked and mugged. Quickest release on a snap shot I ever saw.

3. Brian Propp
Propper excelled in all facets of the game and was a mainstay on the top line, the pp and the pk. He also had a nasty wrist shot.

4. Ron Hextall
He edged out Lindbergh for 4th mainly due to his longetivity and his stellar play in the 87 playoffs. He was one of the firiest guys to ever play for the Flyers.

5. Pelle Lindbergh
Second best pure goalie in club history. Sadly his life and career were cut tragically short in 1985.

6. Brad McCrimmon
Excellent all around Dman and team leader. He and Howe formed the best pair in the NHL for a few seasons.

7. Dave Poulin
The consummate captain and teammate. He was also a highly skilled player who played a fantastic 200 foot game. He was one of the classiest players to ever wear the orange and black and one the best PKers of all time.

8. Rick Tocchet
The best combo of toughness and skill during his prime. Tocchet had a quite a few Gordie Howe hat tricks and he always played hard.

9. Ken Linseman
One of the best players in the early 80s, the Rat could pile up points almost as fast as he could piss off opponents. He would be traded for Mark Howe.

10. Brad Marsh
A fantastic person, teammate and a great shot blocking stay at home Dman. A true warrior, he wore his heart on his sleeve.

Just missed the cut
Paul Holmgren
Murray Craven
Bobby Clarke
Bill Barber
Pelle Eklund
Ron Sutter

And now, 1979-1992

another list.........
- BiggE

2nd piece of good news for the flyers offseason after the umberger buyout!

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...rangers-bench-in-2016-17/

But he's not going to sign another 2 year deal.

He's going to want and will earn a minimum of 4-5 years on his UFA contract.

With so many LH guys in the pipeline, I don't want to have to deal him from a position of weakness.

I'd find a hockey trade this summer if I'm Hexy
- Just5

Yes, I don't think Hexy will pony up the contract of $4.5 million on a multi-year deal for MDZ. If he's looking for a cheap mentor over the next couple of years, he can resign Schultz to a one year deal and keep him around. There's nothing to suggest to me that Morin can't make the jump to the NHL some time next season.

Gudas has more value to me because he is a RH dman who has a physical edge. I know it is going to just get people annoyed, but it sure looks like AMac is going to be here. Realistically by the end of next year there will be 4 spots filled - Provorov, Gudas, Ghost, and Morin. It would be nice to get one more righty in the top 6.

Moving right along, we come to 1992-2004

1. Eric Lindros
Pretty much a no brainer, from 1994-1999, he was simply the best player in the NHL. (frank) you Scott Stevens!!

2. John Leclair
The Yin to Lindros' Yang. Leclair was the perfect linemate for the big guy and a great player in his own right.

3. Eric Desjardins
Arguably the 2nd best all around Dman in team history. Desjardins was a class act who excelled in all situations.

4. Rod Brindamour
Brindy was born to be a Flyer, no one worked harder. He was a great all situation player.

5. Mark Recchi
One of the best pure offensive players to wear the orange and black.

6. Jeremy Roenick
He brought life back to a franchise that had gone through some painful years at the end of the Lindros era, he was also a big game player too.

7. Simone Gagne
Another great all around foward, he excelled at ES and on all special teams.

8. Michael Renberg
Sadly, injuies robbed him of his explosive stride early in his career. However, from 93-96, he was truly a star player and a key cog on the Legion of Doom line.

9. Ron Hextall
Hexy makes on this era's list as well, mainly because his re-acquistion in 1995, brought them stability in goal and allowed them to take the next step and become a legit Cup contender.

10. Keith Primeau
Hey, it's not Primeau's fault they traded Brindamour for him. Keith was a fine 2 way center who really excelled under Hitchcock and had one of the great Flyer playoff performances of all time in the 2004 playoffs.

Just missed the cut
Chris Therien
Shjon Podein
Kim Johnsson
Sami Kapanen

What do you think the flyers end up doing with MDZ? I don't think its a sure thing he's in their long term plans

Try and trade him soon on a favorable deal to move or lock him up and see where the chips fall with our LH prospects?

Not sure if the blues would listen on a shatty trade with MDZ being the main piece going back.

Bottom line is our two best dmen will be provorov and ghost. Our next best one very likely to be sanheim another LH. I can see the flyers dealing him now if he wants anything more than 2 years on his next deal
- Just5

Del Zotto has made himself into a much better defenseman than he has in the past. He was good offensively in the past, but now, he's better, all around. He's a very good 2nd pair defender, who can play up in the lineup in a pinch, or with a #1. No reason for the Flyers not to look into locking him up to a reasonable deal. He's still fairly young. If he can keep the all around game he had last year, and find his offensive touch again, could be even better. Like a few players though, Del Zotto was asked to give up some offense and sacrifice for more of what the team needed.

I believe MDZ is a bridge dman. I think Gudas has a longer future as a Flyer then him. Only way I see him not being dealt is if Sanheim and Morin bomb in the AHL next season.
- ravishingone

What makes up a big part of Gudas value was the relationship between the level of play they received, versus his cap hit. If his contract demands rise to high, he loses value as a player. Del Zotto is the better player.

But he's not going to sign another 2 year deal.

He's going to want and will earn a minimum of 4-5 years on his UFA contract.

With so many LH guys in the pipeline, I don't want to have to deal him from a position of weakness.

I'd find a hockey trade this summer if I'm Hexy
- Just5

Prospects are just that, until they prove otherwise. Not sure what being LH as to do with the Flyers being in a position of weakness. Good defenseman are at a premium. Del Zotto is a good defenseman, who if the Flyers chose to trade, would have value. The only reason the Flyers should look to deal him is if they feel they can't re-sign him due to salary demands.