My thinking is twofold. I dont want to get into a long term deal for a free agent goalie. Id rather sign a stop gap player that will hopefully be a bridge to one of the young prospect goalies. Other than Bishop who will likely want long term, I dont see anyone better for that then Mason who I would hope will be motivated to show that this season was a fluke.
- MJL

Your right...look at the ufa market out there..wtf do you do?!

The flaw in your thinking is, Bellemare won't produce the same offensive numbers while checking opposing top talents like Couturier does. You're sour on Schenn because he's poor defensively at center. OK. Bellemare might do an alright job (I guess, I don't agree) but his game will also be one dimensional.
- SuperSchennBros

He's (frank)ing with you all about Couturier.

Just an FYI.

ARIZ is receiving a first-rounder, a second-rounder and a conditional pick that can become a second..

If these are the prices in this year's market I'd be looking to clean house.
- FlyerLifer

Sell baby sell.

I am not a huge Couts guy but I still think he will get better, and as a 3rd line center can be very good.....Bellemare is a good 4th line center.
- landros 2

He wont get better. He's 24 which is his prime.

Bull! You don't actually believe this.
- SuperSchennBros

Quite honestly, I go back and forth but I do believe it.

I think its time for once to fully rebuild. Not this re-tool nonsense that just will keep them in the middle of the pack.

I'd rather be picking top 3 for a few years and setting myself up for the future instead of being in the same poophole we are now in 'x' years with the defense 'ready' but no star power up front.

The current forward core is vastly overrated, and your main cog in Giroux is not the same man he once was. People need to look past the nostalgia.

Yeah that young GM killed it.
- Just5

throwing ryan white in must have really done it.


but seriously, hanzal is a good player. but for a strict rental that's a haul and a half if its a first and two seconds. he's not a franchise changer for a run all on his own.

throwing ryan white in must have really done it.


but seriously, hanzal is a good player. but for a strict rental that's a haul and a half if its a first and two seconds. he's not a franchise changer for a run all on his own.
- stayinthefnnet

Minny has to go for it.

Koivu, Parise, Dubnyk, Staal and Suter wont be around forever. Their time is now, good for them.

He wont get better. He's 24 which is his prime.
- Just5

I'm not talking 30 goal scorer....but I think he can be an 18 goal guy ...plus able to be a very good PK guy and play tough minutes against other team best guy. I think he can and will be a more consistent performer as he gets older....
Wishful thinking? Maybe.

Quite honestly, I go back and forth but I do believe it.

I think its time for once to fully rebuild. Not this re-tool nonsense that just will keep them in the middle of the pack.

I'd rather be picking top 3 for a few years and setting myself up for the future instead of being in the same poophole we are now in 'x' years with the defense 'ready' but no star power up front.

The current forward core is vastly overrated, and your main cog in Giroux is not the same man he once was. People need to look past the nostalgia.
- flyer_nutter

Picking top three might be the key for all currently successful teams.

Sidney Crosby and Joe Thornton. Two former first overall picks just faced in the Stanley Cup Final. Patrick Marleau and Evgeni Malkin are two former second over picks, support players to the two players I just mentioned. Patrick Kane and John Tavares, franchise changing first overall picks. Toronto's current situation with Austin Matthews. I don't believe anyone who says the picks are what's gonna get us over the top. I'm starting to buy into needing a franchise changing generational talent if we truly believe we can win it all. Steve Stamkos has seen a Cup Final. Connor McDavid is trending in this direction. Alex Ovetchin's team I believe is a contender every year.

He wont get better. He's 24 which is his prime.
- Just5

Not faster on his skates i guess,he is more suited for the old red line hockey.

Minny has to go for it.

Koivu, Parise, Dubnyk, Staal and Suter wont be around forever. Their time is now, good for them.
- flyer_nutter

I bet that Ari GM tried so hard to pry one of their forward prospects out of them. It sounds like a lot but if you just look at it as where these assets rank on Minnesotas prospect/pick board, the first rounder slides in behind Ericksson-Ek, Kunin, Kaprizov, and Greenway. So from Minn perspective prob not so steep

Just saw the insane return for Hanzal. He's so hot right now.

Bishop to L.A. is very odd. They couldn't possibly be considering moving Quick, right?

Picking top three might be the key for all currently successful teams.

Sidney Crosby and Joe Thornton. Two former first overall picks just faced in the Stanley Cup Final. Patrick Marleau and Evgeni Malkin are two former second over picks, support players to the two players I just mentioned. Patrick Kane and John Tavares, franchise changing first overall picks. Toronto's current situation with Austin Matthews. I don't believe anyone who says the picks are what's gonna get us over the top. I'm starting to buy into needing a franchise changing generational talent if we truly believe we can win it all. Steve Stamkos has seen a Cup Final. Connor McDavid is trending in this direction. Alex Ovetchin's team I believe is a contender every year.
- SuperSchennBros

Sadly its the only way. Sure you can get lucky and find a gem - but its about odds unfortunately.

FA is dead. I am not talking about sitting on your hands and doing nothing. You find creative moves with some of the valuable pieces you do have (Simmonds, Schenn, etc) and make this a team that will rise as one. The Lindblom's and Rubstov's are not what will get this club over the hump.

I will put it this way, lets say we go back a bit in history and say the Flyers finished a bit better than they did. If you could trade Simmonds for the 7th overall pick and get Provorov - trusting your scouts that he's a damn good player. You dont do it?

With the decline of Giroux, star power up front is an even more pressing need. You aren't getting that drafting 12th year after year by hanging on to and watching Simmonds rot just so you can win a handful more games. It gets you no closer to a cup.

All teams will go through this. Its the stupid one's that try to hang on to something that is not there. Detriot is going through it now, and you can bet your ass that Chicago, San Jose and Pittsburgh will all go through it.

Hell LA and Minny are just about to close their window, its why they are going all in.

Toews is back

Giroux is not
- Just5

He has 1 more point than Giroux and plays on a far more talented team

He has 1 more point than Giroux and plays on a far more talented team
- PhillySportsGuy

Curious sir, your thoughts on a 'rebuild', seem to remember you thought along similar lines but a little less radical.

Curious sir, your thoughts on a 'rebuild', seem to remember you thought along similar lines but a little less radical.
- flyer_nutter

I have been calling for a radical rebuild for a while. The treadmill of mediocrity is my nightmare

The Canucks should have traded the Sedins when the club faltering was obvious. Get some pieces to help for the future and in turn be in a better drafting position.

What has holding on to the Sedins done for Vancouver if not only won them a handful more games.

Flyers have a similar choice.

Sadly its the only way. Sure you can get lucky and find a gem - but its about odds unfortunately.

FA is dead. I am not talking about sitting on your hands and doing nothing. You find creative moves with some of the valuable pieces you do have (Simmonds, Schenn, etc) and make this a team that will rise as one. The Lindblom's and Rubstov's are not what will get this club over the hump.

I will put it this way, lets say we go back a bit in history and say the Flyers finished a bit better than they did. If you could trade Simmonds for the 7th overall pick and get Provorov - trusting your scouts that he's a damn good player. You dont do it?

With the decline of Giroux, star power up front is an even more pressing need. You aren't getting that drafting 12th year after year by hanging on to and watching Simmonds rot just so you can win a handful more games. It gets you no closer to a cup.

All teams will go through this. Its the stupid one's that try to hang on to something that is not there. Detriot is going through it now, and you can bet your ass that Chicago, San Jose and Pittsburgh will all go through it.

Hell LA and Minny are just about to close their window, its why they are going all in.
- flyer_nutter

I agree with your approach, what I don't believe is that Flyers fans can be anymore patient than they have been. That's why I call bull. This message board alone is a nightmare during and after a major loss.

Sadly its the only way. Sure you can get lucky and find a gem - but its about odds unfortunately.

FA is dead. I am not talking about sitting on your hands and doing nothing. You find creative moves with some of the valuable pieces you do have (Simmonds, Schenn, etc) and make this a team that will rise as one. The Lindblom's and Rubstov's are not what will get this club over the hump.

I will put it this way, lets say we go back a bit in history and say the Flyers finished a bit better than they did. If you could trade Simmonds for the 7th overall pick and get Provorov - trusting your scouts that he's a damn good player. You dont do it?

With the decline of Giroux, star power up front is an even more pressing need. You aren't getting that drafting 12th year after year by hanging on to and watching Simmonds rot just so you can win a handful more games. It gets you no closer to a cup.
- flyer_nutter

Im not following this...its probably obvious but Im not getting it right now.

Giroux's decline is just such a massive situation right now. prohockeytalk's article about typical regression is insanely laughable. Crosby is scoring more now than at any point in his career and leads the league in goals. Giroux looks passable as a 3rd line scoring center. Giroux's decline might lead to Simmonds departure. Its crazy.

I agree with a large part of what you said because Giroux is just not that guy anymore. They could retool before...now it's a rebuild, or it should be a rebuild barring some unforeseen injury in Giroux that's really hampering him.

There's no real reason to dig into any situation but this Giroux one. Not the coach, the goalies, etc. Giroux is it

He has 1 more point than Giroux and plays on a far more talented team
- PhillySportsGuy

and he's back. Watch him not the stat board.

I agree with your approach, what I don't believe is that Flyers fans can be anymore patient than they have been. That's why I call bull. This message board alone is a nightmare during and after a major loss.
- SuperSchennBros

Haha I think we all just vent here. Hell I do, I find it therapeutic. A journal of sorts, as (frank)ed up as that sounds.

If the fanbase cannot be patient then so be it. I dont think so though. I think fans would be fine watching a team of young kids learning to win instead of what we have seen this year.

That goes for next season as well.

The Canucks should have traded the Sedins when the club faltering was obvious. Get some pieces to help for the future and in turn be in a better drafting position.

What has holding on to the Sedins done for Vancouver if not only won them a handful more games.

Flyers have a similar choice.
- flyer_nutter

Its not that your read on the state of the team is wrong but you discount the difficulty of executing it

Im not following this...its probably obvious but Im not getting it right now.

Giroux's decline is just such a massive situation right now. prohockeytalk's article about typical regression is insanely laughable. Crosby is scoring more now than at any point in his career and leads the league in goals. Giroux looks passable as a 3rd line scoring center. Giroux's decline might lead to Simmonds departure. Its crazy.

I agree with a large part of what you said because Giroux is just not that guy anymore. They could retool before...now it's a rebuild, or it should be a rebuild barring some unforeseen injury in Giroux that's really hampering him.

There's no real reason to dig into any situation but this Giroux one. Not the coach, the goalies, etc. Giroux is it
- Just5

Its not only Giroux. I think the club really expected more from Couturier and Schenn. Both have been largely underwhelming in my eyes watching them grow.

The lack of development in those two set the club back more than anything else. Speaking of forwards anyway.

throwing ryan white in must have really done it.


but seriously, hanzal is a good player. but for a strict rental that's a haul and a half if its a first and two seconds. he's not a franchise changer for a run all on his own.
- stayinthefnnet

Maybe it has to do with people feeling this upcoming draft is kind of weak? Even then it's quite a bit to give up.

Its not that your read on the state of the team is wrong but youndiscount the difficulty of executing it
- MJL

I think trading Simmonds and Schenn will be fairly easy and the Flyers will get good value.

I would consider hanging on to Jake as I think he can be productive into the future and what the club would get back may not offset that.

Giroux? I have no idea.

Let me put it this way, radical sure... I just have no issues fully cleaning house in terms of that forward core.