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

No, it's not close to that at all. Del Zotto, on a Cup caliber team, is a 2nd pair two way defenseman, and he's better than Gudas. Gudas would be okay on a 2nd pair, but is no where near a top pair guy, and definitely not on a contender. I think he's a good player, but if Gudas is on your top pair, you won't be a contender.

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.
- Mononoke

Doesn't play on the PP, and doesn't put up many points. He's a defensive, physical defenseman.

Doesn't play on the PP, and doesn't put up many points. He's a defensive, physical defenseman.
- MJL

Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you have to play on the PP to be 2-way at ES. I know you are just doing this to get a rise.

Andrew MacDonald is a "2-way, puck moving d man" as you so often put it. Here's his ES points in his full seasons: 6, 13, 7, 14, 9. Gudas in his 2 full seasons in the NHL has 15 and 13. One of those guys actually drives play on a whole in terms of shots and scoring chances. But Gudas is a "defensive defenseman." Bless your heart.

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

They can't eliminate, but they could definitely minimize them better than they do

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

I believe it was Simmonds+Schenn+17th overall

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.
- Mononoke

I wouldn't move him unless it was top 15. His level of play+contract makes him so (frank)ing valuable.

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
- Jsaquella

I (frank)ing hate this league

Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you have to play on the PP to be 2-way at ES. Can we call Michael Raffl a "defensive specialist," while we're at it? I know you are just doing this to get a rise.

Andrew MacDonald is a "2-way, puck moving d man" as you so often put it. Here's his ES points in his full seasons: 6, 13, 7, 14, 9. Gudas in his 2 full seasons in the NHL has 15 and 13. One of those guys actually drives play on a whole in terms of shots and scoring chances. But Gudas is a "defensive defenseman." Bless your heart.
- Mononoke

They'll never understand. It's ok. We have each other.

They'll never understand. It's ok. We have each other.
- PhillySportsGuy

He understands just fine. He's just pissy because someone mugged him while he was trick or treating and took all his candy.

But yes, we'll always have each other. And Paris.

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.
- Mononoke

He moves the puck fairly well, but I guess it's in how you prefer your 2 way ddefenseman. He's not Luke Schenn, but he's no Kimmo

No, it's not close to that at all. Del Zotto, on a Cup caliber team, is a 2nd pair two way defenseman, and he's better than Gudas. Gudas would be okay on a 2nd pair, but is no where near a top pair guy, and definitely not on a contender. I think he's a good player, but if Gudas is on your top pair, you won't be a contender.
- MJL

Agreed! I don't know why it is so hard to understand that Michael Del Zotto and Radko Gudas would be considered OUR one and two because of a serious lack of talent and development on the team. Everyone should by now know who the cream of the crop of first pair guys are on each team in the league, Del Zotto and Gudas do not fit this mold. A first pair, 2 way caliber guy plays all situations. Del Zotto and Gudas do not.

He moves the puck fairly well, but I guess it's in how you prefer your 2 way ddefenseman. He's not Luke Schenn, but he's no Kimmo
- Pelle31Forever

The threshold for being a 2-way d man isn't Kimmo or not though. Kimmo was a #1. Just because Matt Read is a solid 2-way winger doesn't mean he has to be Brad Marchand, or Sean Couturier be Anze Kopitar.

Fun fact. Timonen at 5v5 recorded these point totals as a Flyer: 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 8, 11. Greater as he was, he wasn't scoring any more points than Gudas per year at even strength.

The threshold for being a 2-way d man isn't Kimmo or not though. Kimmo was a #1. Just because Matt Read is a solid 2-way winger doesn't mean he has to be Brad Marchand, or Sean Couturier be Anze Kopitar.

Fun fact. Timonen at 5v5 recorded these point totals as a Flyer: 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 8, 11. Greater as he was, he wasn't scoring any more points than Gudas per year at even strength.
- Mononoke

But his offensive skill set was greater. I'm not trying to say I need them to be Ghost, but I sort of agree with MJL in the sense that if you have that 2 way game in you, you should be able to play all situations. PP and PK

The threshold for being a 2-way d man isn't Kimmo or not though. Kimmo was a #1. Just because Matt Read is a solid 2-way winger doesn't mean he has to be Brad Marchand, or Sean Couturier be Anze Kopitar.

Fun fact. Timonen at 5v5 recorded these point totals as a Flyer: 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 8, 11. He wasn't scoring any more points than Gudas per year at even strength.
- Mononoke

Radko Gudas' career high is 22 points in a season. This is also Luke Schenn's career high, which Schenn achieved twice in his career on a historically bad franchise within the last ten years. If you would like to call Like Schenn an offensive defenseman or two way caliber that's up to you.

But his offensive skill set was greater. I'm not trying to say I need them to be Ghost, but I sort of agree with MJL in the sense that if you have that 2 way game in you, you should be able to play all situations. PP and PK
- Pelle31Forever

It's pretty basic to understand, yes. Gudas has been really good, nobody is denying this but let's get back to reality and not over hype our players. If Streit, Ghost or Provorov went down, I would insert Del Zotto, Manning and MacDonald on PP ahead of Gudas.

But his offensive skill set was greater. I'm not trying to say I need them to be Ghost, but I sort of agree with MJL in the sense that if you have that 2 way game in you, you should be able to play all situations. PP and PK
- Pelle31Forever

We don't really know for a fact that Gudas can't play on the PP. I think people seem to have preconceived notions about certain players. He continues to produce pretty well at even strength and the team does better offensively when he's on the ice. He may not be a traditional point scorer, but he's certainly producing.

A first pair, 2 way caliber guy plays all situations. Del Zotto and Gudas do not.
- SuperSchennBros

They only don't play on the PP, and MDZ used to. There are no easier minutes than PP. They play top ES and PK minutes. They don't play on the PP because Shayne Gostisbehere is one of the most dynamic point men in the entire league and Mark Streit, who is 1 point off the NHL lead for d men in PP scoring over the last 9 seasons, is on PP2, along with our top prospect. Then add in Sanheim and Myers coming in too. It's the luxury the team has. On many teams they, especially MDZ, could be playing PP. They are 2-way d men just like Hjalmarsson or Hamonic, who don't get PP time really.

Claude Giroux doesn't play PK now. I guess we can't consider him a #1C, all situations 2-way player. I'm just really unsure why people include special teams under "2-way" play. By definition, special teams is "1-way" play. It's like counting PP points to determine if you're a "top line" vs "second line" player. You are only a line at ES.

We don't really know for a fact that Gudas can't play on the PP. I think people seem to have preconceived notions about certain players. He continues to produce pretty well at even strength and the team does better offensively when he's on the ice. He may not be a traditional point scorer, but he's certainly producing.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yep. Do we really think Gudas couldn't play one point and just shoot the poop out of a puck? Second unit PPs aren't exactly fancy and dynamic. They're meat and potatoes.

Yep. Do we really think Gudas couldn't play one point and just shoot the poop out of a puck? Second unit PPs aren't exactly fancy and dynamic. They're meat and potatoes.
- Mononoke

I'd probably try him over Schultz, Manning and MacDonald

They only don't play on the PP, and MDZ used to. There are no easier minutes than PP. They play top ES and PK minutes. They don't play on the PP because Shayne Gostisbehere is one of the most dynamic point men in the entire league and Mark Streit, who is 1 point off the NHL lead for d men in PP scoring over the last 9 seasons, is on PP2, along with our top prospect. Then add in Sanheim and Myers coming in too. It's the luxury the team has. On many teams they, especially MDZ, could be playing PP. They are 2-way d men just like Hjalmarsson or Hamonic, who don't get PP time really.

Claude Giroux doesn't play PK now. I guess we can't consider him a #1C, all situations 2-way player. I'm just really unsure why people include special teams under "2-way" play. By definition, special teams is "1-way" play. It's like counting PP points to determine if you're a "top line" vs "second line" player. You are only a line at ES.
- Mononoke

Look, I don't have to rashionalize my thinking. I don't want G on the PK because I want him well rested for offensive opportunities and I want to limit the pucks flying at him by other teams trying to score.

You're right, the PP isn't hard minutes but you have to be creative and talented to produce points on a nightly basis. Gudas is not that guy. Gudas has the advantage of a hard shot but does he have soft hands and the ability to create plays?

But his offensive skill set was greater. I'm not trying to say I need them to be Ghost, but I sort of agree with MJL in the sense that if you have that 2 way game in you, you should be able to play all situations. PP and PK
- Pelle31Forever

Michael Raffl doesn't PK. Is he not a 2-way player? Is Jake Voracek not a 2-way player? They are at ES. It's not their fault the coaches don't use them on the PK. 100 bucks says they'd blow all of our PKers minus Coots out of the water.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson was #6 on his team last year in PK time. Is he not a 2-way #1D? I think most people would include him around top 5 d men in the league. He's more an exception, but to my point, what you're describing...an all-situations top d man isn't the definition of a "2-way player." That's the definition of a through and through #1 d man.

Michael Raffl doesn't PK. Is he not a 2-way player? Is Jake Voracek not a 2-way player?

Oliver Ekman-Larsson was #6 on his team last year in PK time. Is he not a 2-way #1D? I think most people would include him around top 5 d men in the league. He's more an exception, but to my point, what you're describing...an all-situations top player isn't the definition of a "2-way player." That's the definition of a through and through #1 d man.
- Mononoke

Thank you for bearing the torch while I'm gone

Thank you for bearing the torch while I'm gone
- YuenglingJagr

Say hey to Yvonne for me.

Say hey to Yvonne for me.
- Mononoke

That's a French-ass name, Yvonne

Are you guys really arguing that Gudas is a two-way dman?