They are so close.

You can see it. They aren't perfect, but you can freaking see the finish line

My opinion: You don't really need to do anything crazy for a scoring forward right now. If someone gets hurt, it's a tough break, but it happens. No team is perfect. Injuries happen.

But would I do Sanheim, Myers, the STL first and our 2019 first for Erik Karlsson? And consider TK if I thought I could get by?

Maybe I would
- AllInForFlyers

I just don't know if we could afford to pay him and Provorov that much money. That is 20 million plus tied up in just two defensemen.

Yes, I think Karlsson get a max deal and Provy gets the rest.

Dale's wife.


- flyer_nutter

Well at least he's winning in one aspect of life

woah woah woah hold on

you are suggesting Sanheim, Myers, 2 1st round picks and maybe TK all for Karlsson?
- Mordecai

I would look at it. Wouldn't be scared to do it if I thought he could dominate -- he's younger than Giroux and Voracek.

Yeah, the return seems like a lot. It always feels that way. Then the next thing you know, Luca Sbisa is playing for his fourth team, you ride Chris Pronger all the way to the finals so that draft pick turns into Emerson Etem

Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Karlsson is one of the three best defensemen in the world

I just don't know if we could afford to pay him and Provorov that much money. That is 20 million plus tied up in just two defensemen.

Yes, I think Karlsson get a max deal and Provy gets the rest.
- MBFlyerfan

EK is turning 28 this year. He's not exactly an old player but he has a lot of miles on him.

I know nothing about orthopedics but the dude apparently had like half of his ankle bone removed.

I'd rather just not go there. See what you have in Sanheim/Morin/Myers.

I think Laughton would be fine, with good support. Ideally, Raffl would be with him, i think

The fourth line...basically unplayable in the playoffs. We all know that. Spot minutes here and there, try to survive those shifts

Are they flawed. Yes. They are. But honestly, they all are. Boston and Tampa have advantages in areas. Pittsburgh has high-end talent and role players who fit what they do.

The question is do you believe, if you add talent, that your 23 can beat their 23 over seven games?

I think...the Flyers are close enough to where you can make the argument. You don't have to do anything. Can always let it ride

But right now, you have two of the top five scorers in the league, a 50-point defenseman and a 40-point defenseman. It might not get better than that, though we all hope it will
- AllInForFlyers

The 4th line will not be unplayable in the playoffs.

Here's what the Flyers need to do to get there. Further development of Nolan Patrick to the level of a 2nd line center on a contending team. Won't happen this season and may take a number of seasons.

At least two defenseman that can come in and play a game much closer to what Provorov and Gostisbehere plays, rather than what the rest of the current defense corps plays. That will take a number of seasons.

That's just a start. It's great that the Flyers are a competitive team and playing well but for the most part they squeak out wins by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin. Anything can happen in the playoffs but in my view they're a couple of seasons away from being a true powerhouse and contender. That's not that close.

I would look at it. Wouldn't be scared to do it if I thought he could dominate -- he's younger than Giroux and Voracek.

Yeah, the return seems like a lot. It always feels that way. Then the next thing you know, Luca Sbisa is playing for his fourth team, you ride Chris Pronger all the way to the finals so that draft pick turns into Emerson Etem

Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Karlsson is one of the three best defensemen in the world
- AllInForFlyers

I'd look at for a nano-second and quick hang up the phone. It's absurd.

They aren't that close in my opinion. More to the point, hell no to that trade. That's flat out absurd.
- MJL

So was signing Dale Weise

So was signing Dale Weise
- AllInForFlyers

Irrelevant to your trade suggestion for Karlsson.

Irrelevant to your trade suggestion for Karlsson.
- MJL

Relevsnt to your assessment on talent

So was signing Dale Weise
- AllInForFlyers

Will say, did anyone expect this out of Weise? I was iffy with the contract but the guy is just really bad out there.

I'd honestly like a psych input on him. Is the dude depressed or something?

Relevsnt to your assessment on talent
- AllInForFlyers

First of all, I didn't say anything about Karlsson's talent level. Second of all, I didn't sign Weise to the contract.

As a true 4C, he’s fine. Both he and Laughton would be great at the 4C spot, but neither really has the total package needed to be a good 3C.
- BiggE

Respectfully of course, I don't agree with any of this. I don't think Flip is good enough anymore to be an effective NHL center.

IMO, Laughton is good enough to be the true 3rd line center, he's got 17 ES points in a defensive responsible role, his advanced stats are good. He's shooting at a high percentage, but his linemates are shooting considerably lower than him. If he was playing with better linemates, he could have a few more points.

First of all, I didn't say anything about karlsson's talent level. Second of all, I didn't sign Weise to the contract.

- MJL

Oh, but you did defend it. Vigorously. So, so, vigorously. Much like you defended current fourth-liner Val Filppula. To the degree that I question your ability to judge talent just like you judge my ability to craft a trade

woah woah woah hold on

you are suggesting Sanheim, Myers, 2 1st round picks and maybe TK all for Karlsson?
- Mordecai

Sweet mother of Hell there isnt a single player in the league right now not named McJeebus that I would do that deal for.

It makes 0 sense and weakens the team this year and for years to come.

That is with me thinking EK is a top 3 dman in the league also.

Dale's wife.


- flyer_nutter

Now I hate him even more

Respectfully of course, I don't agree with any of this. I don't think Flip is good enough anymore to be an effective NHL center.

IMO, Laughton is good enough to be the true 3rd line center, he's got 17 ES points in a defensive responsible role, his advanced stats are good. He's shooting at a high percentage, but his linemates are shooting considerably lower than him. If he was playing with better linemates, he could have a few more points.
- VladDrag

Good points, would like to see Laughton skate with Simmonds on the right and some combo of Weal/Raffl on the left. That should be a pretty damn good 3rd line.

Now I hate him even more
- BiggE

he's probably got a horse cock on him. it's either that or the money.

Sweet mother of Hell there isnt a single player in the league right now not named McJeebus that I would do that deal for.

It makes 0 sense and weakens the team this year and for years to come.

That is with me thinking EK is a top 3 dman in the league also.
- opeth_pa

Weakens the team this year? How? Sanheim isn't up. Myers has never played a shift in the league. TK is another story but Karlsson makes up for that and more

Dude is a two-time Norris winner at 28 years old. Let's not overstate what we have in favor of what you get.

It's OK to like TK. Erik Karlsson is worthe TK and more

woah woah woah hold on

you are suggesting Sanheim, Myers, 2 1st round picks and maybe TK all for Karlsson?
- Mordecai

If Karlsson was signed long term to a manageable salary and if he was 3 years younger....that’s the type of payment it would take. But he’s not and he ain’t. I haven’t seen the same d man this year. I’m sure Hextall had a chat but that trade would change the course of the franchise that he has set out.

You mean 4 years of a vastly overpaid Ryan for the "dead cap weight" that is expiring after this season?

Cherry Hill in shambles. I know.
- hereticpride

We still got King of Pizza and Kaminski's Happy Hour.

We'll get by...

Oh, but you did defend it. Vigorously. So, so, vigorously. Much like you defended current fourth-liner Val Filppula. To the degree that I question your ability to judge talent just like you judge my ability to craft a trade
- AllInForFlyers

You're making a strawman argument to deflect away from the ridiculous and absurd trade suggestion you made for Karlsson. As far as when Weise was signed, at the time of the signing I didn't have much of a problem with it. Neither did Hextall apparently.

Since you want to use revisionist history, let's recall the conversation we had before the season and your ability to judge talent when it came to the expected point production of Nolan Patrick. You stated that Patrick would score 50 points this season. I told you in rebuttal that was not reasonable to expect that production from him and that I thought that 30 would be a far more reasonable expectation. Here Patrick sits with 18 points in 53 games, which comes out to a 27 point pace over 82 games. Who was closer? Who properly evaluated the situation better?

As far as Filppula is concerned. The Flyers are fortunate to have had Filppula as a bridge to when younger players such as Patrick could be ready to take a bigger bite. I doubt the Flyers would be in as good of a playoff position without Filppula and having to use other players instead in his role and deployment. Though his offensive game is declining, he remains a trusted player of the coaching staff and a valuable role player.

What else do you have?

he's probably got a horse cock on him. it's either that or the money.
- Mordecai

Nothing makes a dude's johnson bigger than money, bruh

You're making a strawman argument to deflect away from the ridiculous and absurd trade suggestion you made for Karlsson. As far as when Weise was signed, at the time of the signing I didn't have much of a problem with it. Neither did Hextall apparently.

Since you want to use revisionist history, let's recall the conversation we had before the season and your ability to judge talent when it came to the expected point production of Nolan Patrick. You stated that Patrick would score 50 points this season. I told you in rebuttal that was not reasonable to expect that production from him and that I thought that 30 would be a far more reasonable expectation. Here Patrick sits with 18 points in 53 games, which comes out to a 27 point pace over 82 games. Who was closer? Who properly evaluated the situation better?

As far as Filppula is concerned. The Flyers are fortunate to have had Filppula as a bridge to when younger players such as Patrick could be ready to take a bigger bite. I doubt the Flyers would be in as good of a playoff position without Filppula and having to use other players instead in his role and deployment. Though his offensive game is declining, he remains a trusted player of the coaching staff and a valuable role player.

What else do you have?
- MJL

I have "Jori Lehtera isn't a throw-in."

Dale's wife.


- flyer_nutter

That’s his sister.

Good points, would like to see Laughton skate with Simmonds on the right and some combo of Weal/Raffl on the left. That should be a pretty damn good 3rd line.
- BiggE

Agreed. Weal has been so damned snake-bitten this year. He's playing the very close to the way he was at the end of last season, but the puck just isn't going in for him right now.