It's total B.S. if the finalists aren't G, Hall and MacKinnon. I could see any of them winning it though.
- BiggE

You mean the award for player judged most valuable to a team judged to be good enough to make a player valuable?

The only positive I can find if G doesn’t win: He May be pissed like he was when he got snubbed from Canada and comes back with even more fire.
- arichardson22

Did they stay at a Holiday Inn Express?
- BiggE

yes and they shared what they learned with Gudas and Manning

yes and they shared what they learned with Gudas and Manning
- wcorvette

DON'T YOU HATE PANTS!!!

DON'T YOU HATE PANTS!!!
- jmatchett383

Da fuq?

That’s the impression I was under, but hey they surprised me when they traded Statsny. Not as stunning as not differing a lotto pick though. Speaking of Blues, man that team must be rattled. Schenn was vocal about the team trading Statsny and they miss the playoffs by one point, on the last game of the season. Can’t be a happy lockerroom. I wonder how Schenn feels seeing his former team extend their season without him...
- arichardson22

I would bet he expected the opposite to happen out of training camp. I do get why they made the trade tho wanting to get back that first rounder for a guy that was probably going to walk. obviously the pick is really late first round but its still a first rounder. they only dropped to 94 points from 99. its just really tight with parity and 3 point games. Think about it that Florida missed with 96 points. that's crazy

DON'T YOU HATE PANTS!!!
- jmatchett383

no but the chick at the Cosby trial hated shirts and bras...

Possibly from wind burn as he gave up a 6 spot in his first start back this year.
- johndewar

zzzzing

I would bet he expected the opposite to happen out of training camp. I do get why they made the trade tho wanting to get back that first rounder for a guy that was probably going to walk. obviously the pick is really late first round but its still a first rounder. they only dropped to 94 points from 99. its just really tight with parity and 3 point games. Think about it that Florida missed with 96 points. that's crazy
- nastyflyergirl

Have no doubt he expected it. Hell I expected that after the way StL looked early in the season. It seemed their pick was gonna be in the 20s! I do agree trade who you think will walk, but that division was so close at the time and they were right there. But I guess GM took a hard honest look in the mirror and accepted they weren’t a true contender.

Oh I think you've got to wait to see over the longer term exactly how it pans out, but so far, with frosts play and the fact well get a reasonably high first, it's looking good.
- Hextall271

How it affects the team, yeah, but Hextall made the trade knowing he was getting two firsts (and knew one of them would be Morgan Frost). He gets credit for making good picks

Have no doubt he expected it. Hell I expected that after the way StL looked early in the season. It seemed their pick was gonna be in the 20s! I do agree trade who you think will walk, but that division was so close at the time and they were right there. But I guess GM took a hard honest look in the mirror and accepted they weren’t a true contender.
- arichardson22

Even if the Blues made the playoffs they weren't going to get through the WC. I really liked the Stasny trade for them.

If the Flyers make this a 7 game series, that is about all you can ask. I think their lack of depth will hurt them. There are no Lehtera's, Reads in the Pens lineup. Penguins do give up a lot of scoring chances up 5x5 so there is some hope. Stay out of the damn box.
- PLindbergh31

That last line is critical.

5 v 5 the Flyers are statiscally speaking a better performing team than the Pens.

Special teams are a much different story. Give up a lot of power play chances to Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang and you are asking to lose.

McDavid at 9/1, Giroux 20/1. I get that there are a lot worthy candidates and G is not the favorite, but that’s ridiculous. Those odds need to be flipped between the two.
- Sublime55

making the playoffs should be a requirement for the award. I mean, if you want to call it the player of the year then I get McDavid. but if its most valuable to his team i just think making the playoffs should be required.

That last line is critical.

5 v 5 the Flyers are statiscally speaking a better performing team than the Pens.

Special teams are a much different story. Give up a lot of power play chances to Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang and you are asking to lose.
- opeth_pa

The Flyers dreadful PK vs. a PP that is 25+% on the season is a recipe for disaster. Whenever the Pens are on the PP against the Flyers it feels like they will score every time.

making the playoffs should be a requirement for the award. I mean, if you want to call it the player of the year then I get McDavid. but if its most valuable to his team i just think making the playoffs should be required.
- nastyflyergirl

They already have the Pearson/Lindsay award for the "Most outstanding player." So I agree.

If the Flyers can keep the games 5x5 and get solid goaltending it can be a long series.
If it's a special teams series they will get cut to ribbons. Obviously not rocket science.

I don't see anyone bringing up the fact the Penguins have played 44 games more than the Flyers the last two seasons counting their playoff runs. That's more than half an NHL season. That has to take a toll on them.
- PLindbergh31

who are you?

Bill, have you heard any rumbling about Amorosa? It would seem like he is not going to sign with the Flyers and will become a UFA on August 15th.

Labarge and Rattcliffe join LHV

- YuenglingJagr

Bill, have you heard any rumbling about Amorosa? It would seem like he is not going to sign with the Flyers and will become a UFA on August 15th.
- Feanor

i was surprised Drake got an ATO and not Amorosa not that I know anything about either just based on the fact that one seems to be just a defensive dman while the other seemingly moves the puck better.

I would guess that Drake would at best get an AHL deal after his ATO expires, but Amorosa is holding out for an ELC.

You mean the award for player judged most valuable to a team judged to be good enough to make a player valuable?
- YuenglingJagr

Bob McKenzie said one of his five votes will go to McDavid, and I'm sure he's not alone in that.

Bill or others,
How important do you see the line match ups in this series?
In the past we saw G vs Crosby and Couts vs Malkin.
What will the Flyers try to do?
I think I’d like G and Couts to play against Crosby and Patrick and Voracek vs Malkin.

I would guess that Drake would at best get an AHL deal after his ATO expires, but Amorosa is holding out for an ELC.



Bob McKenzie said one of his five votes will go to McDavid, and I'm sure he's not alone in that.
- Feanor

I'm fine with him being voted 5th but that means every one has to put the same people in the top 4 on their ballots or He's going to be top 3 and we know that's a joke.

Bill, have you heard any rumbling about Amorosa? It would seem like he is not going to sign with the Flyers and will become a UFA on August 15th.
- Feanor

I am curious to see if Allison or Laczynski leave college. I thought Allison was gone after the year he was having this year but then he got hurt so not sure if he goes back another year.