Someone wrote the other day that this is clearly a rebuilding year for the Flyers, and somehow they have managed to be in 4th place despite the rebuild.

That is pretty good.
- Marc D

I'd call it more of a reloading year with a shorter than expected break-in period.

Someone wrote the other day that this is clearly a rebuilding year for the Flyers, and somehow they have managed to be in 4th place despite the rebuild.

That is pretty good.
- Marc D

Maybe not rebuilding, but retooling is how I saw it, and I gotta say I'm pleasantly surprised at how quickly they came together and got to where they are.

Someone wrote the other day that this is clearly a rebuilding year for the Flyers, and somehow they have managed to be in 4th place despite the rebuild.

That is pretty good.
- Marc D

Not a rebuild, a retool. The Flyers never rebuild, they retool, or restructure... If they really thought this was a rebuild year I doubt they go out and sign Jagr, Talbot, and Lilja.

That is really interesting stuff there, thanks for sharing, Bill.

Do you need a franchise defenseman to win a cup? A Chara/Weber/Pronger type or
is it better to have great depth and six or seven reliable guys on defense?

From reading the scout's take, Suter will be taking the highest bid.
I guess Matt Carle will be gone too.

I think it was you who said a while back that the Flyers would NOT be able to afford to re sign both Carle and Coburn. Maybe this is Carle's last season as a Flyer.
He has been really good this season, and I think will be very tough to replace. But he is not a franchise guy, just a very valuable player for them.
- Marc D

Do you believe that Kimmo Timonen is a "franchise" defenseman? I think most people outside of Philadelphia would say no. But he is vital to this teams success. They're a MUCH different/worse team without him.

I view Suter as a very similar player.

trust me when i say this situation is ok. NFG and i have been friends for 15 years, and they've met.

she actually asked me last night if she could go to one of the remaining games in my place and i said sure...you and NFG can female dog about me all night, you'll have a blast.
- hammarby31

I have a number of married friends who's wives lend them to me for sporting events. Even when I was younger and more voluptuous, it just wasn't an issue.

Yea, I forgot to mention the NTC/NMC part of thier contracts, but again it's the same idea... He made a decision that these guys weren't living up to what they hoped and he had a limited time to make things happen.

But seriously how bad did Homer screw over LA and Columbus?? In all reality Columbus needed a center that could come in and set Nash up, and play a defensive system... Richards would have been a perfect fit. LA needs scoring in a big way. They already have defensive players like Brown, and Kopitar is no slouch defensively... Carter would have been perfect in LA... And you can assume the packages would have been about the same... But NO, Homer said.. NO.
- RooNosHockey

Are you saying that they didn't know what they were trading for?

That's my kind of rebuild

There's still work to be done, though. The defensive corps needs something. The lack of Pronger's presence can be felt, and now we're looking at losing Carle. In another year, Timonen's contract is up. Holmgren's got some important decisions to make with this new-ish team.
- BulliesPhan87

I am strongly leaning toward keeping the picks and building the D through the draft.

I think Bourdon and Gusty can be NHL defenseman.
Coburn and Meszy will be back.

Maybe pick up a free agent this summer to replace Carle if he isn't resigned.
Find someone else the following year after Kimmo is done.

I hate the idea of getting a 34+ yr old UFA to be at this year's deadline for high picks or a promising forward.

Do you believe that Kimmo Timonen is a "franchise" defenseman? I think most people outside of Philadelphia would say no. But he is vital to this teams success. They're a MUCH different/worse team without him.

I view Suter as a very similar player.
- bradleyc4

Would you pay 7M on a long term deal with a NMC for him?

Do you believe that Kimmo Timonen is a "franchise" defenseman? I think most people outside of Philadelphia would say no. But he is vital to this teams success. They're a MUCH different/worse team without him.
I view Suter as a very similar player.
- bradleyc4

How can you say this... Timonen NEVER misses a game! Well at least not in a LONG time.

I'M not the biggest fan of JVR but i do think he can be something special but i wonder with the play of Read, Coutter and Simmonds... that he could be part of a deal to bring in a stud/young dman.... kinda like carter/richards without the locker room issues however JVR was a ranger fan growing up

Yea, I forgot to mention the NTC/NMC part of thier contracts, but again it's the same idea... He made a decision that these guys weren't living up to what they hoped and he had a limited time to make things happen.

But seriously how bad did Homer screw over LA and Columbus?? In all reality Columbus needed a center that could come in and set Nash up, and play a defensive system... Richards would have been a perfect fit. LA needs scoring in a big way. They already have defensive players like Brown, and Kopitar is no slouch defensively... Carter would have been perfect in LA... And you can assume the packages would have been about the same... But NO, Homer said.. NO.
- RooNosHockey

I doubt he did it intentionally, the "Carter to Columbus" talk had been floating around for quite a while, but what you say as far as player fit for each team is pretty spot on. I think he simply followed through on the Carter talks while putting out feelers to other teams, or fielding calls, on Richards. I bet Howson didn't even know Richards was an option.

Someone wrote the other day that this is clearly a rebuilding year for the Flyers, and somehow they have managed to be in 4th place despite the rebuild.

That is pretty good.
- Marc D

It's more than pretty good. It's a miracle. Who the Seravalli is a Matt Read? Did anybody outside of his mom know this was coming this season? Simmonds has been better than expected I think. Couturier, while known as a top prospect of course, has been a very pleasant surprise with his quick adaptation to the NHL game. Throw in solid, ongoing contributions from Schenn, Rinaldo, Scrabble, MAB and now Gus and it's been a perfect storm. 8 rookies in the lineup is unheard of in the NHL. Without all of the above happening, this team is battling for 8th spot imo.

Do you believe that Kimmo Timonen is a "franchise" defenseman? I think most people outside of Philadelphia would say no. But he is vital to this teams success. They're a MUCH different/worse team without him.

I view Suter as a very similar player.
- bradleyc4

Kimmo very much was a franchise guy the year they got him.

Now, he is a cornerstone of their D, but a true #1?
I don't think so.

Suter would be a great off season pick up. He would clearly help any team.

His salary will be huge.
I would love him as a Flyer but at 7M a year I would have a real tough time doing that.

Are you saying that they didn't know what they were trading for?
- lindros8888

I'm saying if LA and Columbus were givin the choice to which Center they wanted, I bet LA would have said Carter and Columbus would have said Richards... Just because of team needs.

Would you pay 7M on a long term deal with a NMC for him?
- coffee junkie

I'd give him a similar deal to what Kimmo got when he signed with the Flyers.

It's more than pretty good. It's a miracle. Who the Seravalli is a Matt Read? Did anybody outside of his mom know this was coming this season? Simmonds has been better than expected I think. Couturier, while known as a top prospect of course, has been a very pleasant surprise with his quick adaptation to the NHL game. Throw in solid, ongoing contributions from Schenn, Rinaldo, Scrabble, MAB and now Gus and it's been a perfect storm. 8 rookies in the lineup is unheard of in the NHL. Without all of the above happening, this team is battling for 8th spot imo.
- rockychocbill

Lavy gets alot of heat for various things but i think he deserves some credit here too 8 rookies in the lineup and still winning

He turned around and made the same mistake with Bryz. IMO of course.
- rockychocbill

To be fair, the logic was sound: They had an organizational hole years deep, a need that was imperative to fill. Holmgren treated it as a primary issue when he went and got the best guy available. Of course, handing out a nine year contract comes with known caveats. Assuming that Bryzgalov's struggles this season are the exception and not the rule, though, Holmgren's action taken was not what I'd call wrong. It takes a big commitment to attract a top available talent. It's a commitment we'll have to deal with, and we've seen Holmgren and other GMs are willing and able to find solutions.

I doubt he did it intentionally, the "Carter to Columbus" talk had been floating around for quite a while, but what you say as far as player fit for each team is pretty spot on. I think he simply followed through of the Carter talks while putting out feelers to other teams, or fielding calls, on Richards. I bet Howson didn't even know Richards was an option.
- Lexington Flyer

Or Howson didn't want to pay more for Richards. To get Simmonds and Schenn (who was arguably the best prospect not in the NHL) was a great return. Voracek had taken a step back developmentally and they were giving the 8th pick in a lackluster draft. It just so happens that Cooter fell and is playing way above expectations. The outlook on the trade might be very different if the Flyers ended up with someone else or had to send Coots back to juniors.

I am strongly leaning toward keeping the picks and building the D through the draft.

I think Bourdon and Gusty can be NHL defenseman.
Coburn and Meszy will be back.

Maybe pick up a free agent this summer to replace Carle if he isn't resigned.
Find someone else the following year after Kimmo is done.

I hate the idea of getting a 34+ yr old UFA to be at this year's deadline for high picks or a promising forward.
- Marc D

I'm torn as well. But I am leaning towards adding Allen. I would give up MAB and a 2nd. I think this team deserves to have a chance this year and will need an immediate upgrade for next year. Getting an Allen type this year is that upgrade and gives us an option to resign if Pronger is a no go for next year. We will have access to him to see his salary demands before he hits the market. Guy isn't the franchise D man so many covet but he is a solid big crease clearing machine that we could use.

Kimmo very much was a franchise guy the year they got him.

Now, he is a cornerstone of their D, but a true #1?
I don't think so.

Suter would be a great off season pick up. He would clearly help any team.

His salary will be huge.
I would love him as a Flyer but at 7M a year I would have a real tough time doing that.
- Marc D

Considering it would cost 5+ to sign Carle, I don't think a cap hit in the 6.3-6.7 range for Suter would be outrageous.

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ping-clock-163522195.html

Didn't back read if it already was posted

Clock stopping lol

It's more than pretty good. It's a miracle. Who the Seravalli is a Matt Read? Did anybody outside of his mom know this was coming this season? Simmonds has been better than expected I think. Couturier, while known as a top prospect of course, has been a very pleasant surprise with his quick adaptation to the NHL game. Throw in solid, ongoing contributions from Schenn, Rinaldo, Scrabble, MAB and now Gus and it's been a perfect storm. 8 rookies in the lineup is unheard of in the NHL. Without all of the above happening, this team is battling for 8th spot imo.
- rockychocbill

I totally agree.
I had very low expectations this year.

Bryz has been inconsistent.
Pronger gone.
Briere is having an off year.
Jvr has not been the beast he was showing signs of.

And still they are competitive.

On the plus side, Giroux, Hartnell, and Simmonds are all having career best seasons (so far).

Read came out of the blue like you said, and Couts looks like one of the best of this year's draft.

Considering it would cost 5+ to sign Carle, I don't think a cap hit in the 6.3-6.7 range for Suter wouldn't be outrageous.
- PLindbergh31

agreed

Lavy gets alot of heat for various things but i think he deserves some credit here too 8 rookies in the lineup and still winning
- Slammed81

I was listenen to WIP last night before the Flyers game (first mistake) and they were talking about how great the Sixers are, and its al thanks to Collins. I so just wanted to call in and say, "Where has the praise been for Lavi?" The Flyers turn over half thier roster, have lost more man games then any team except the penguins, Traded away their number 1 and number 2 centers, and Lost thier Captain and top 5 defenseman for the year, and they are in 4th place, just outside of 1st."

Second mistake is i didnt call.

I totally agree.
I had very low expectations this year.

Bryz has been inconsistent.
Pronger gone.
Briere is having an off year.
Jvr has not been the beast he was showing signs of.

And still they are competitive.

On the plus side, Giroux, Hartnell, and Simmonds are all having career best seasons (so far).

Read came out of the blue like you said, and Couts looks like one of the best of this year's draft.
- Marc D

3 points out of the top spot in the Conf. is far more then just competitive.