Sometimes stuff like that just happens. Remember when we got Alt for basically nothing because we took Boosh off the Canes hands?
- hereticpride

Agreed, losing both these guys has minimal risk. I'm confident Cousins has shown what he is at in the NHL. Goalie development is so unpredictable, so who knows. I thought this was a good draft for goalies. Wouldn't be surprised to see them draft another goalie. Luckily, the Flyers have about 10 more bottom six forwards in the organization to make up for Cousins. Less then a week away from Happy Patrick day.

Nesterov?

Have no problem at all with Cousins deal. He's a 4th line player on a bad team and a spare on an average team. A 5th rounder isn't much, but you never know. Getting any kind of asset back for a borderline NHL player and a non blue chip prospect who was probably not going sign a contract is a good move in my book.
- BiggE

Hextall should stick to drafting....this another deal that although Cousins is a probably a 3rd or 4th line guy, he is an NHL talent....and the Flyers on the surface did not get enough back. Actually it's close to nothing back.... I can't think of one trade he has done that I like. Thank god he doesn't do a lot of them.... As far as Madson, who knows, but Cousins was still a young developing forward who has shown he can play in this league.

Have no problem at all with Cousins deal. He's a 4th line player on a bad team and a spare on an average team. A 5th rounder isn't much, but you never know. Getting any kind of asset back for a borderline NHL player and a non blue chip prospect who was probably not going sign a contract is a good move in my book.
- BiggE

Hextall should stick to drafting....this another deal that although Cousins is a probably a 3rd or 4th line guy, he is an NHL talent....and the Flyers on the surface did not get enough back. Actually it's close to nothing back.... I can't think of one trade he has done that I like. Thank god he doesn't do a lot of them.... As far as Madson, who knows, but Cousins was still a young developing forward who has shown he can play in this league.

Agreed, losing both these guys has minimal risk. I'm confident Cousins has shown what he is at in the NHL. Goalie development is so unpredictable, so who knows. I thought this was a good draft for goalies. Wouldn't be surprised to see them draft another goalie. Luckily, the Flyers have about 10 more bottom six forwards in the organization to make up for Cousins. Less then a week away from Happy Patrick day.
- ravishingone

I'm kinda hoping for Patrick to....but Nico would be fine as well.

May have been a very small "thank you" for the Pronger/Grossman thingy.
- GeorgeBailey

Odd considering that was a different GM

Truthfully, I had forgotten he was even still in the system -- you can never have too many goalies, really, but Hart, Lyon, Sandstrom and Stolarz are enough for right this minute
- AllInForFlyers

with having Stolarz and Lyon already signed (well RFA's but will be qualified and eventually signed) and Hart with the Phantoms in 2018-2019 and most likely Sandstrom as well, the likelihood of signing Madsen was slim. so basically they got a former 3rd rounder who won't be more than a bottom 6 or 9 player if that and a 5th for a former 3rd rounder who has shown he can play in the NHL and a former 6th round draft pick who, by Bill's account, probably won't be more than a minor leaguer. perhaps its slightly below value but it was unlikely Cousins was going to be protected and possible he was not going to make the team and out of waiver options.

I personally liked Cousins. he agitated and while not fleet of foot, he always seemed to make something happen. that said, one of the things I want to see from the Flyers is getting faster. the NHL has become a fast team game. Realistically, they have enough cousins types

Agreed, losing both these guys has minimal risk. I'm confident Cousins has shown what he is at in the NHL. Goalie development is so unpredictable, so who knows. I thought this was a good draft for goalies. Wouldn't be surprised to see them draft another goalie. Luckily, the Flyers have about 10 more bottom six forwards in the organization to make up for Cousins. Less then a week away from Happy Patrick day.
- ravishingone

Speaking of goalies, Primeau's kid is the 6th ranked goalie./

Madsen isn't the second coming, and he might just be a good college goalie. With how goalies work, that is the likeliest scenario. Size is his standout trait. The Warren kid looks like a total nothing and not even good at that level, so we'll see. He was the 11th forward on a terrible team who regressed. Probably little potential there. I think Cousins is a low end NHLer and has proved that. He's the one sure thing. So we essentially got a 5th to clear up the logjam. I thought Cousins was worth a 4th/5th alone, but per usual, we are not privy to actual back room dealings and maybe Hextall's hands were tied and wanted to just get SOME value. I would've hoped adding Madsen bumped it up to a 4th or something, but really that is small potatoes and quibbling. Value slightly in their favor but likely none of these four actually matter.
- Mononoke

Flyers scouts must really like Warren... at least that's what I have to say to myself to not feel bad about the trade -- logjam, expansion and Cousins' ceiling aside.

Hextall should stick to drafting....this another deal that although Cousins is a probably a 3rd or 4th line guy, he is an NHL talent....and the Flyers on the surface did not get enough back. Actually it's close to nothing back.... I can't think of one trade he has done that I like. Thank god he doesn't do a lot of them.... As far as Madson, who knows, but Cousins was still a young developing forward who has shown he can play in this league.
- landros 2

Cousins is a very average tweener. I don't know what you're expecting to get back for him. And you're ignoring the fact that the expansion draft effects trade value.

Teams aren't lining up to give away 2nd or 3rd rounders for guys like this. They're hoping they hit in those picks and get the better NHL prospect. Imagine if Hextall gave up a 3rd to acquire a guy like this. You'd probably be livid.

Can't believe we got Warren!





(Who is Warren)
- PhillySportsGuy

Flyers scouts must really like Warren... at least that's what I have to say to myself to not feel bad about the trade -- logjam, expansion and Cousins' ceiling aside.
- Tomahawk

That was my point. It was a give away.

Cousins is a very average tweener. I don't know what you're expecting to get back for him. And you're ignoring he fact that the expansion draft effects trade value.

Teams aren't lining up to give away 2nd or 3rd rounders for guys like this. They're hoping they hit in those picks and get the better NHL prospect. Imagine if Hextall gave up a 3rd to acquire a guy like this. You'd probably be livid.
- hereticpride

the expansion draft definitely plays into moves. Would Vegas have taken Cousins? maybe, maybe not but it was obvious Cousins was going to be left unprotected and kids like Leier, Laughton and Cousins all have to pass thru waivers to be sent down so I imagine Hextall just decided to get something for him. if that is the best deal out there then so be it.

Hextall should stick to drafting....this another deal that although Cousins is a probably a 3rd or 4th line guy, he is an NHL talent....and the Flyers on the surface did not get enough back. Actually it's close to nothing back.... I can't think of one trade he has done that I like. Thank god he doesn't do a lot of them.... As far as Madson, who knows, but Cousins was still a young developing forward who has shown he can play in this league.
- landros 2

The Pronger/Grossmann trade was pretty slick. I'm pretty sure we were all slobbering all over Hextall on that day.

This trade could be any of a number of things:

1.) Hextall was fairly certain he was going to lose Cousins for nothing in the expansion draft and wanted to get something.

2.) They wanted to dump a contract because they are about to add another one in a separate deal.

3.) A combination of 1 and 2?

And are people really getting their panties in a bunch over Merrick Madsen? We have a few young goalies in the system at this point and I doubt if anyone would know Madsen if he was punching them in the face.

Some trades are hockey trades (i.e.--acquiring a player for an on ice need). Some are about asset management. I think this one was about the latter.

Cousins is a very average tweener. I don't know what you're expecting to get back for him. And you're ignoring he fact that the expansion draft effects trade value.

Teams aren't lining up to give away 2nd or 3rd rounders for guys like this. They're hoping they hit in those picks and get the better NHL prospect. Imagine if Hextall gave up a 3rd to acquire a guy like this. You'd probably be livid.
- hereticpride

Then why not just keep him? If he's the guy taken in draft...so be it...now you probably lose Raffl or Laughton...it is hardly a deal I would be lIvid over...I just don't see the value. Just my take.

Hextall should stick to drafting....this another deal that although Cousins is a probably a 3rd or 4th line guy, he is an NHL talent....and the Flyers on the surface did not get enough back. Actually it's close to nothing back.... I can't think of one trade he has done that I like. Thank god he doesn't do a lot of them.... As far as Madson, who knows, but Cousins was still a young developing forward who has shown he can play in this league.
- landros 2

If Nick Cousins is skating regularly on your 3rd line, enjoy your top 10 draft pick. He's a 4th liner on an average team, a healthy scratch on a good one and off the roster on a great one. His value is negligible and will be absolutely nada in another year or 2.

Fans tend to vastly overrate their own players. Cousins has both below average speed and size, and that alone really hampers him. Add to that average skills and hockey sense, and you get a borderline NHL player. He was often a healthy scratch last year and that was on a team that missed the playoffs by 7 points. Getting anything for him is a positive.

When it comes to Madsen, Bill has clearly pointed out in the past how few goaltenders from his conference have ever had success at the NHL level. Even if he was willing to sign, and my gut feeling is he wasn't, he would have likely spent the next 2 seasons in the ECHL. The Flyers gave up little and they got little, it's not even a deal worth arguing over.

As to your point about Hextall's trading prowess, well I guess you didn't like any of these deals:

Timonen to Chicago for a 2nd+
Coburn for Gudas and a 1st
Trading up to get Konecny
Unloading Grossman and Pronger to Arizona
Getting Weal and a 3rd for Schenn and Vinny
Getting a 7th for a former prospect Straka
Swapping Tye McGinn for a 3rd which was used to draft top goal prospect Sandstrom
Getting a 3rd for the pretty much useless Rinaldo

If you think all of the above are bad trades, then there is just no point in continuing this discussion.

But who will the Phillies take with the #1 in 2018!?
- PhillySportsGuy

Brady Singer
Seth Beer
Kumar Rocker
Brice Turang

Then why not just keep him? If he's the guy taken in draft...so be it...now you probably lose Raffl or Laughton...it is hardly a deal I would be lIvid over...I just don't see the value. Just my take.
- landros 2

Teams have been allowed to talk to Vegas. There is a good chance Hextall already knows who he is losing.

Flyers are overstocked on bottom six forwards. Keeping him would've added to the logjam and it likely would've ended with him walking for nothing.

Brady Singer
Seth Beer
Kumar Rocker
Brice Turang


- ob18

Kumar Rocker is too good of a name to pass up on. Although anyone with the name Beer comes close imo.

Kumar Rocker is too good of a name to pass up on. Although anyone with the name Beer comes close imo.
- hereticpride

Rocker is committed to Vandy, it's normally been very tough to convince players committed to that program to not honor that offer

Kumar Rocker is too good of a name to pass up on. Although anyone with the name Beer comes close imo.
- hereticpride

Seth Beer will immediately become John Kruk's favorite all time player.

Seth Beer will immediately become John Kruk's favorite all time player.
- BiggE

OF/1B Seth Beer, Clemson – In his first two college seasons, Beer batted .333 with 1.157 OPS. The lefthanded power hitter bashed 16 homers this year and drove in 53 runs in 218 at-bats. Beer might have been the No. 1 pick after his freshman season if he had been eligible. His strong arm could allow him to play in right field.

Brady Singer
Seth Beer
Kumar Rocker
Brice Turang


- ob18

You're the worst

OF/1B Seth Beer, Clemson – In his first two college seasons, Beer batted .333 with 1.157 OPS. The lefthanded power hitter bashed 16 homers this year and drove in 53 runs in 218 at-bats. Beer might have been the No. 1 pick after his freshman season if he had been eligible. His strong arm could allow him to play in right field.
- ob18

And his name is beer.

OF/1B Seth Beer, Clemson – In his first two college seasons, Beer batted .333 with 1.157 OPS. The lefthanded power hitter bashed 16 homers this year and drove in 53 runs in 218 at-bats. Beer might have been the No. 1 pick after his freshman season if he had been eligible. His strong arm could allow him to play in right field.
- ob18

Plus they sign Otani