I thought Couturier played well last night.

If I needed Couturier or Schenn to play the rest of the season as a top line center so be it. As long as I get what I want out of a Giroux deal.
- J35Bacher

Exactly.

I don't think Giroux is going anywhere, but if he is moved a potential 1C will have to be coming back the other way.

And if he is moved before this deadline the team is clearly giving up on the 16-17 season so it really doesn't matter who plays center for the last 20 games of it.

So salary cap aside if Chicago was asked hey you can either have Couerier or Giroux for a cup run you honestly think they'd say Couterier????? If so please stop watching hockey.
- ClaudeFather

Yea. Couturier is the better player on the ice right now.

So salary cap aside if Chicago was asked hey you can either have Couerier or Giroux for a cup run you honestly think they'd say Couterier????? If so please stop watching hockey.
- ClaudeFather

Considering that they have enough skill guys to play on the pp, I think they'd much rather have the shutdown guy that can kill penalties, is a good possession player and can match up against the opponents top center, over a guy that was -19 over his last 22 games and generating absolutely nothing at ES, has clearly lost a step, and is also struggling on the pp right now.

So salary cap aside if Chicago was asked hey you can either have Couerier or Giroux for a cup run you honestly think they'd say Couterier????? If so please stop watching hockey.
- ClaudeFather

Chicago probably has more of a need for what Couturier brings than what Giroux brings at the present. So, yes, they'd probably say Couturier.

This is not saying that Giroux is done or that he won't rebound, and it's not saying that he will rebound either. It's simply saying that, given their play over the past 2 months and given Chicago's roster, they'd take Couturier tight now given the choice.

Edit: Basically, what BiggE said.

By the time this team is ready to compete for a Cup, here are the current players that I think will still be on the roster:

Goal: none

Defense: Provorov for sure, and Ghost if he isn't traded before then.

Forwards: Couturier and Konecny are probably here and maybe Cousins is a 4th line center. Jake will probably still be here, he's big and can skate and those guys last a long time. Simmonds, may be here if extended, but I think it's more likely he gets traded before they are true contenders.

It's gonna be at least another 3 years boys. Hexy knows Dmen don't usually hit their primes til there mid 20s and goalies the same or even later. He has a deep pool of top prospects to fill those needs all set to go. He'll now look to start loading up on skilled forwards who develop faster and can fill in the top 6 in 3 or 4 years. I understand what he's doing, it's just difficult from a fan's perspective to wait.

It even, to some degree, explains his hiring of Hakstol. I think he is here to set a foundation of 200 foot play for the younger players as they break in. If he can do that, and evolve as a better game day coach, perhaps he's still here when they reach the top. If not, he'll likely be out after his 3rd or 4th season, and the guy that Hexy thinks can get them to a Cup will be brought in.

Patience, easy to say, not so easy to do.
- BiggE

Look at the recent drafts. Tons of guys that are big and "200" ft type players with skill.

So salary cap aside if Chicago was asked hey you can either have Couerier or Giroux for a cup run you honestly think they'd say Couterier????? If so please stop watching hockey.
- ClaudeFather

How can you spell his name incorrectly two different ways in the same post.

How can you spell his name incorrectly two different ways in the same post.
- Feanor

"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can't think of at least two ways to spell any word." - Andrew Jackson

Exactly.
- BiggE

And look at what he is signed for. Money matter in a salary cap world.

By the time this team is ready to compete for a Cup, here are the current players that I think will still be on the roster:

Goal: none

Defense: Provorov for sure, and Ghost if he isn't traded before then.

Forwards: Couturier and Konecny are probably here and maybe Cousins is a 4th line center. Jake will probably still be here, he's big and can skate and those guys last a long time. Simmonds, may be here if extended, but I think it's more likely he gets traded before they are true contenders.

It's gonna be at least another 3 years boys. Hexy knows Dmen don't usually hit their primes til there mid 20s and goalies the same or even later. He has a deep pool of top prospects to fill those needs all set to go. He'll now look to start loading up on skilled forwards who develop faster and can fill in the top 6 in 3 or 4 years. I understand what he's doing, it's just difficult from a fan's perspective to wait.

It even, to some degree, explains his hiring of Hakstol. I think he is here to set a foundation of 200 foot play for the younger players as they break in. If he can do that, and evolve as a better game day coach, perhaps he's still here when they reach the top. If not, he'll likely be out after his 3rd or 4th season, and the guy that Hexy thinks can get them to a Cup will be brought in.

Patience, easy to say, not so easy to do.
- BiggE

As long as the Cup drought doesn't reach 50 years. I mean at that point there won't be anyone who defends things at that point right?

Yea. Couturier is the better player on the ice right now.
- Just5

LMAO come on son, get your head in the game.

How can you spell his name incorrectly two different ways in the same post.
- Feanor

He is not worthy

At this point having seen what he's become over the last couple of years, especially at ES. I'd trade Giroux straight up for a 2nd round pick if the other team would take the entire contract off our hands. I really think that in another year or 2, he'll be a right handed version of VLC minus the size and killer wrister.

It's sad, because I really like and respect the guy, but he just looks like he's damned close to being done. I really focused on him last night, and he was, by far, the Flyer's worst skater. He has no jump or acceleration at all. Unless he's hurt (and if he is, get him the hell out of the lineup), he needs to go asap.
- BiggE

I'm not a doctor or in the medical field so I have NO clue but a few people have mentioned he may not be 100% from his surgery. good enough to play but not good enough to be good as new. I have no idea tho. All I do know is he seems to lack that explosiveness he once had. Remember when he had that burst to the net, the breakaways and sweet moves? when is the last time we've seen that? as a person who really loves the player, its really disappointing.

I don't think Giroux is going anywhere, but if he is moved a potential 1C will have to be coming back the other way.

And if he is moved before this deadline the team is clearly giving up on the 16-17 season so it really doesn't matter who plays center for the last 20 games of it.
- Feanor

Nobody is trading a potential #1C for a 29 year old Giroux. At most someone like Galchenyuk.

Not only would the Flyers be giving up the 2016-2017, but also the 2017-2018 season as well. Without a #1C and a young defense would equal a bottom 5 year. Are Flyers fans willing to do that?

LMAO come on son, get your head in the game.
- ClaudeFather

Yes Claudefather

I don't think Giroux is going anywhere, but if he is moved a potential 1C will have to be coming back the other way.

And if he is moved before this deadline the team is clearly giving up on the 16-17 season so it really doesn't matter who plays center for the last 20 games of it.
- Feanor

He isn't bring back a number one center.

I see a Giroux trade two ways.

1) Keep money retained add a prospect and maybe you get a top notch prospect.

2) Keep no money and get something like Phaneuf or Nash got their respected teams.

Yes, there is. Oskar Lindblom.



Yes. If Read goes to Vegas, they could have over $13m in space to add a top 6 forward and a goalie.

Giroux ~ 8.275
Voracek ~ 8.25
MacDonald ~ 5
Schenn ~ 5.125
Couturier ~ 4.33
Simmonds ~ 3.975
Ghost ~ 3.5
Gudas ~ 3.35
Raffl ~ 2.35
Weise ~ 2.35
Umberger BUYOUT ~ 1.5
Cousins ~ 1.5
Lyubimov ~ 1.5
Stolarz ~ 1
Manning ~ 0.975
Lindblom ~ 0.925
Leier ~ 0.9
Laughton ~ 0.9
Konecny ~ 0.894
Provorov ~ 0.894
Sanheim ~ 0.863
Morin ~ 0.863
TOTAL (21 players) = 59.219
- Feanor

Vegas does not want garbage players

Considering that they have enough skill guys to play on the pp, I think they'd much rather have the shutdown guy that can kill penalties, is a good possession player and can match up against the opponents top center, over a guy that was -19 over his last 22 games and generating absolutely nothing at ES, has clearly lost a step, and is also struggling on the pp right now.
- BiggE

Okay, you don't have to stop watching hockey.

Nobody is trading a potential #1C for a 29 year old Giroux. At most someone like Galchenyuk.

Not only would the Flyers be giving up the 2016-2017, but also the 2017-2018 season as well. Without a #1C and a young defense would equal a bottom 5 year. Are Flyers fans willing to do that?
- psuhockey

What Flyers fans think or want doesn't matter.

Vegas does not want garbage players
- Streit2ThePoint

But they have to take one of them from the Flyers.

Nobody is trading a potential #1C for a 29 year old Giroux. At most someone like Galchenyuk.

Not only would the Flyers be giving up the 2016-2017, but also the 2017-2018 season as well. Without a #1C and a young defense would equal a bottom 5 year. Are Flyers fans willing to do that?
- psuhockey

The player that I would target would be Vincent Trocheck (spelling?). I've liked him since I saw him at the WJC. He's not a #1C, but he's a good, young #2C. Maybe they'd try to reunite Jagr and Giroux (and Flyers would have to give more).

Nobody is trading a potential #1C for a 29 year old Giroux. At most someone like Galchenyuk.

Not only would the Flyers be giving up the 2016-2017, but also the 2017-2018 season as well. Without a #1C and a young defense would equal a bottom 5 year. Are Flyers fans willing to do that?
- psuhockey

Yes.

But you also can play better then expected. I think this could turn quickly with a few shrewd moves and better play out of some guys.

Yes.

But you also can play better then expected. I think this could turn quickly with a few shrewd moves and better play out of some guys.
- J35Bacher

When you say "some guys," are you talking about basically everyone not named Provorov and Simmonds?

Vegas does not want garbage players
- Streit2ThePoint

I think vegas takes cousins

I think vegas takes cousins
- Just5

Who is Hextall protecting ahead of Cousins?