It's gotten to the point where it was either a move for cap space or to rid the team of drunks. The middle ground has been flushed down the toilet. Couldn't it have been a hockey move for depth and youth, with the cap space and partying habits as additional factors? I don't know what will be worse in here, the kings winning or losing?
- funmaster18

I can accept this a lot more easier than I can when I read and did just a few pages back, that those moves were to clear salary.

It's gotten to the point where it was either a move for cap space or to rid the team of drunks. The middle ground has been flushed down the toilet. Couldn't it have been a hockey move for depth and youth, with the cap space and partying habits as additional factors? I don't know what will be worse in here, the kings winning or losing?
- funmaster18

Kings winning. But only for an hour or so.

Ive said before that I feel that it was a combination of factors. I think the Flyers didnt have who they hoped they had. They hoped that by giving these guys the contracts they would grow up and faze out some of the wild stuff... instead it didnt happen.. and the stats went down.. they had big contracts about to kick in, and the team didnt wanna get trapped.

Also, they had Giroux blossom, and JvR show what he was capable of. Two guys stepped up.. guys who arent known for hard partying, but are known for hard serious work. They obviously wanted to change direction... and all i can say now is THANK YOU GOD---err-- Paul Holmgren!
- jak521

To say that those two did not have a hand in their demise here is stuffing your head in the sand that's all I'm really saying.

Kings winning. But only for an hour or so.
- rockychocbill

I'm not rooting for them but if they do, I won't be all up in arms either. Thats a good team with or without Richards and Carter.

It's gotten to the point where it was either a move for cap space or to rid the team of drunks. The middle ground has been flushed down the toilet. Couldn't it have been a hockey move for depth and youth, with the cap space and partying habits as additional factors? I don't know what will be worse in here, the kings winning or losing?
- funmaster18

Spot on, Mr. Master.

I have nothing of interest to say.

No one probably cares what I have to say.

But I am happy and leaving happy comments.

I am rooting for the Kings. I liked both Richards and Carter while they were here - and they are excellent players. Gagne also served his time here and I met his father at the pub in the WFC. Very nice man (not his first beer though).

These are my thoughts and opinions and although no one cares they are not meant to insult or degrade anyone.

Go Kings.

I'm not rooting for them but if they do, I won't be all up in arms either. Thats a good team with or without Richards and Carter.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm cool with every ex-Flyer winning it except Carter.

Ive said before that I feel that it was a combination of factors. I think the Flyers didnt have who they hoped they had. They hoped that by giving these guys the contracts they would grow up and faze out some of the wild stuff... instead it didnt happen.. and the stats went down.. they had big contracts about to kick in, and the team didnt wanna get trapped.

Also, they had Giroux blossom, and JvR show what he was capable of. Two guys stepped up.. guys who arent known for hard partying, but are known for hard serious work. They obviously wanted to change direction... and all i can say now is THANK YOU GOD---err-- Paul Holmgren!
- jak521

Definitely a combination of factors, whether or not one chooses to believe the off ice bit. I see a team that took big steps to restore a pipeline of talent, and to build around a player they felt was very special in Giroux. I'm happy with this team, and harbor no ill will towards frick and frack (though I'm not going to jump for joy if they win, though I'll be a bit happy for them).

I'm cool with every ex-Flyer winning it except Carter.
- rockychocbill

If this was another year or two I probably wouldn't care. Seeing those two have mediocre seasons, then ride the bus to a Finals kind of irritates me too.

If this was another year or two I probably wouldn't care. Seeing those two have mediocre seasons, then ride the bus to a Finals kind of irritates me too.
- JoeRussomanno

At least Richards was there all season. Carter's best contribution has been as decoy.

Definitely a combination of factors, whether or not one chooses to believe the off ice bit. I see a team that took big steps to restore a pipeline of talent, and to build around a player they felt was very special in Giroux. I'm happy with this team, and harbor no ill will towards frick and frack (though I'm not going to jump for joy if they win, though I'll be a bit happy for them).
- BulliesPhan87

To replenish their pipeline they could stop trading away draft picks like candy and draft better. Also on paper I feel this team would have been worlds better with those two on here however the off ice things were driving factors behind those trades. THis wasn't an aging team by any stretch of the imagination before the trades, to suddenly have to get younger while the two faces of your franchise are in the early stages of their primes, just months after you gave one a massive extension speaks volumes.

oh well guess it'll be two more years now before we get a cup. Hope you video game guys are happy.
- JoeRussomanno

Stamkos had 60 goals this year.. Didn't seem to affect him.

Stamkos had 60 goals this year.. Didn't seem to affect him.
- Richieattack18

yea and he got to work on his golf handicap real early too.

Stamkos had 60 goals this year.. Didn't seem to affect him.
- Richieattack18

the number 13 was not featured prominently below his picture

Is that really the cover? That picture is amazing..with the splatter of the Flyers colors around him and the face paint. Sick! I don't even play video games and that is sick!
- coffee junkie

It isn't really the cover. Just a fan made cover

yea and he got to work on his golf handicap real early too.
- JoeRussomanno

You forgot that Stamkos is one of 4 actually decent players on his team

[quote=Richieattack18]
he was on a team that got within a game of a finals appearance last year.

he was on a team that got within a game of a finals appearance last year.
- JoeRussomanno

Last year they had a full team, and Roloson was on some crazy stuff.

- rockychocbill

the upper body makes me question the actual birth gender of this specimen

I don't know how else to say it, it's like sitting in the passenger seat of vehicle and suddenly the driver starts doing everything but paying attention to the road, you tell them to watch the road and they shrug you off, finally you slam into a telephone pole. THere was stuff coming out all season about them off the ice and even in prior seasons which have been listed ad nauseaum, then suddenly they both get traded on the same day! Now people want to say that stuff had nothing to do with it!? This wasn't trading a Scotty Upshall (still can't get over how people bemoan his departure from town) they traded the captain and co-captain of their team, the Faces of their Franchise. Do players drink and party? Sure. Do they get out of hand, embarrass their team, and let it affect their play on the ice? Not all of them. Know what happens to athletes who do let those things happen? They get traded, released, waived etc. Sometimes they get the message and turn it around but unfortunately the teams paying millions of dollars don't and shouldn't always be willing to take the risk. To sit here and deny that what I'm saying has any truth to it and totally unfounded is A wrong because their issues have documented and reported on, B yes imo it is being unable to face the facts. They did things that let us down as a fanbase. I'm not talking about making stupid comments like in the case of Bryzgalov, I'm talking about totally disregarding their image and well being for the sake of Merry making so much to the point that the higher ups deemed a change of scenery was necessary.
To say that the moves were made in hope of clearing salary is just preposterous in itself. The FLyers needed 2-3 million in space to sign Bryzgalov, all they had to do and did was move Chris Versteeg. Not trade both Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. That's a fact
- JoeRussomanno

I don't think it's some strange telephone pole incident to suggest the trades were purely hockey. And to say the only purely hockey reason behind it is salary clearing, whether by you or somebody else, is blatantly misconstruing that point of view. There's a perfectly reasonable case for those trades being to even out the team's commitments, salary, and talent, that Holmgren saw a crossroads with big contracts and had a big decision to make about the future of the franchise. Calling this viewpoint 'just getting salary space' is a misunderstanding.

I'm not saying it's entirely unreasonable to believe some off ice rumors here, either, I just think your regard for the opposite viewpoint was insulting, the whole "can't face facts" spiel. It's completely reasonable to not hold concrete belief in the stories about frick and frack, regardless of some pictures.

To replenish their pipeline they could stop trading away draft picks like candy and draft better. Also on paper I feel this team would have been worlds better with those two on here however the off ice things were driving factors behind those trades. THis wasn't an aging team by any stretch of the imagination before the trades, to suddenly have to get younger while the two faces of your franchise are in the early stages of their primes, just months after you gave one a massive extension speaks volumes.
- JoeRussomanno

I don't think it's some strange telephone pole incident to suggest the trades were purely hockey. And to say the only purely hockey reason behind it is salary clearing, whether by you or somebody else, is blatantly misconstruing that point of view. There's a perfectly reasonable case for those trades being to even out the team's commitments, salary, and talent, that Holmgren saw a crossroads with big contracts and had a big decision to make about the future of the franchise. Calling this viewpoint 'just getting salary space' is a misunderstanding.

I'm not saying it's entirely unreasonable to believe some off ice rumors here, either, I just think your regard for the opposite viewpoint was insulting, the whole "can't face facts" spiel. It's completely reasonable to not hold concrete belief in the stories about frick and frack, regardless of some pictures.
- BulliesPhan87

This whole line of discussion came out of me because someone did in fact say that just a few pages back. I will also say and stand behind the fact those two had a hand in there demise. Jak has done a good job all day of outlining the mess they were creating here. Fwiw I find him to be a rather credible poster despite the fact I do not know him personally.

- Jimmygrazz

If Flyers kept those two, dropped Versteeg and added Bryzgalov yes, they would been better on paper. Schenn and Couturier were rookies coming into this season, Jagr was 39 y/o and hadn't played in the NHL for over three years also Simmonds had never even scored 20 goals. Don't get me wrong I felt better about this team at the time and still do but I won't deny having those two on the roster going into this season would have made them better on paper.