We should protect Manning and dump Del Zotto IMHO. He's become basically the same player but cheaper. Playing AMac 30 more games is a small price to pay.
- Mononoke

we need to have a busy TDL this year fire sale!

My hesitation with MDZ is term. I don't think 4 years gets it done. I question his durability going forward. Not the biggest dman , plus injury issues the last couple of years. Not against bringing him back, but I could see why hexy would walk away. Spend more cap room to upgrade the third center position excuse organizationally not many options in the short-term.
- ravishingone

What center? The UFA list is unbelievably short. The only marquee center available is Hanzal, and if MDZ is injury prone, he's the walking wounded and older. Giving him a similar contract to MDZ is a questionable decision. He's really a top 6 C anyways. After him, it's pretty barren.

Once Cousins gets time at 3C and the bottom 6 is optimized, I think he'll be fine as a stopgap until Rubtsov or even Vorobyov.

SAD!
- 2Real

SAD!!

SAD!!
- Mononoke

if hes so good how come hes not doing anything to help the team lately? myth busted!
- BulliesPhan87

You should work for Snopes.com

Chris VandeVelde is Michael Myers. Or maybe Jason Voorhees. I'm sure of it. He is an unstoppable force that cannot be killed.
- Mononoke

Or that damn Harry Potter.

Welp, at least Del Zotto is expected to return Saturday.
- Jsaquella

trade him

Another back to back after a back to back

Another back to back after a back to back
- Landsbergfan

Only 15 more to go.

My hesitation with MDZ is term. I don't think 4 years gets it done. I question his durability going forward. Not the biggest dman , plus injury issues the last couple of years. Not against bringing him back, but I could see why hexy would walk away. Spend more cap room to upgrade the third center position excuse organizationally not many options in the short-term.
- ravishingone

I view MDZ as a nice piece but not a guy is going to fix the issues the Flyers are having on the blue line right now. I just don't feel one season prior to his injury months ago is enough of a sample size to call him our best defense. While I want him to return next season, I'm worried about the number and length on top of what it will take to bring back Mason.

With this said, I can't believe what Manning and Gudas has offered up this season and we still have a questionable defense because those two have been outstanding.

Another back to back after a back to back
- Landsbergfan

The league can probably eliminate back to back games, especially if they want better quality of play

The league can probably eliminate back to back games, especially if they want better quality of play
- ob18

eliminate ?? it's a good chunk of the schedule

I view MDZ as a nice piece but not a guy is going to fix the issues the Flyers are having on the blue line right now. I just don't feel one season prior to his injury months ago is enough of a sample size to call him our best defense. While I want him to return next season, I'm worried about the number and length on top of what it will take to bring back Mason.

With this said, I can't believe what Manning and Gudas has offered up this season and we still have a questionable defense because those two have been outstanding.
- SuperSchennBros

Defense, just talking about the defenseman, is about the sum of it's parts. If you add Del Zotto, you're increasing that sum. Of course he won't fix all of the issues, because that is team wide.

eliminate ?? it's a good chunk of the schedule
- -davies-

They can spread the games out, they often have multiple days off in between games. Don't need to play back to back days.

Defense, just talking about the defenseman, is about the sum of it's parts. If you add Del Zotto, you're increasing that sum. Of course he won't fix all of the issues, because that is team wide.
- MJL

I don't view him as a player who makes or breaks the defense or the team as a whole. I would also like to see more balance to his game. He joined the team as an offensive defenseman and when he started playing more defensively, I feel like we were seeing less of his dynamic offense. I just don't want to be fooled after seeing one season of steady defense after years of being point producer that took offensive risk over defense. Injuries are always a concern for every playing looking to cash in, this isn't mine.

eliminate ?? it's a good chunk of the schedule
- -davies-

It's the cost of the WCOH, the collectively bargained "bye week" and the Christmas break.

They are off December 23rd - 27th and then have a 5 day break in the middle of January

if someone offered us a 1st for gudas at the TDL would you take it?

if someone offered us a 1st for gudas at the TDL would you take it?
- 2Real

YES!

if someone offered us a 1st for gudas at the TDL would you take it?
- 2Real

Yup

if someone offered us a 1st for gudas at the TDL would you take it?
- 2Real

Unless it's a high first, and it wouldn't be, no. Flyers have a lack of righty d men. Gudas isn't a luxury; this team needs Gudas badly.

In his time here, it's gone from "he's an OK 3rd pair guy," to "playing like a top 4 but not on a contender," to "he's our top pair guy but not on a contender." He looks every bit as good to start the season, and with no MDZ. It's getting close to the point where we have to recognize we have a cost effective, 2-way RHD who looks the part of a top pair guy for the next 4 years to pair with and compliment one of our potential stud #1s in the making. And yes, on a contender.

if someone offered us a 1st for gudas at the TDL would you take it?
- 2Real

Tough to say. Florida offered the first overall pick for Simmonds three drafts ago and we didn't take it. I don't think I would and I know it sounds crazy but I am sick of taking steps back as we try to figure out and reshaping the defense.

Tough to say. Florida offered the first overall pick for Simmonds three drafts ago and we didn't take it. I don't think I would and I know it sounds crazy but I am sick of taking steps back as we try to figure out and reshaping the defense.
- SuperSchennBros

It was first OA for Simmonds, our first, +

It was first OA for Simmonds, our first, +
- Mordecai

What was the plus? Simmonds and our first I get and the point still stays to say no.

Unless it's a high first, and it wouldn't be, no. Flyers have a lack of righty d men. Gudas isn't a luxury; this team needs Gudas badly.

In his time here, it's gone from "he's an OK 3rd pair guy," to "playing like a top 4 but not on a contender," to "he's our top pair guy but not on a contender." He looks every bit as good to start the season, and with no MDZ. It's getting close to the point where we have to recognize we have a cost effective, 2-way RHD who looks the part of a top pair guy for the next 4 years to pair with and compliment one of our potential stud #1s in the making. And yes, on a contender.
- Mononoke

Minus the 2 way part, yes you're fairly accurate

Minus the 2 way part, yes you're fairly accurate
- Pelle31Forever

He's the single best play driving d on the team, and in his Flyers career one of the best in the NHL. He won't score a ton, but he will drive play and generate offense a ton. Not sure how he isn't a 2-way d.