If Snider did force the trades of Carter and Richards, he should be annoyed at himself
- Jsaquella

Im happy at the trades. Those guys are good role players, but not leadership material. The leadership in philly had to change and the only way it was going to happen was by trading those two. When you have other players mock snorting coke to Richards during a playoff game you know it must have been rampant.

I thinks it pretty simple to see that the Kings were the best team. They did everything well, but also had luck on their side. Here is a crazy fact.. They used the same 6 d-men the entire playoffs and only 22 guys total. Let's see them stay that healthy next year.
- jak521

They had a lot of injuries during the season. Not as much as the Flyers. They key is they go healthy at the right time. This next season is going to be interesting in the Atlantic. Pitt with a healthy Crosby and Malkin have to be the favorites. Flyers next. I would say Rangers after that, but with Gaborik hurt its a toss up with them and Devils. And Islanders are slowly becoming a good team... Its scary.

The way I see it, JVR for a package of picks, letting Jagr and Carle go, demoting Shelley to Adirondack, there is the cap space needed to take on Parise and Suter. Not saying it's going to happen, odds are it won't, but I like the idea.

Im happy at the trades. Those guys are good role players, but not leadership material. The leadership in philly had to change and the only way it was going to happen was by trading those two. When you have other players mock snorting coke to Richards during a playoff game you know it must have been rampant.
- Philly1980

Philadelphia Media is to blame.

By the way I think both players are more than role player (just my opinion).

Problem is we say this every year after a new team wins the cup. We continue to compare our team to the winner. When in reality we are nothing like the winning cup team. Teams change from year to year. Will the Flyers get better defensively? I understand what your saying but theres a good chance that the forwards dont improve defensively. Theres also a chance they do. I think they need to start holding the players accountable. If your not going to play at both ends of the ice then there needs to be consequences. Mistakes are going to happen over an entire season but when the same issues continue to happen from the beginning to the end something has to be done imo. So I'll stay patient with the young kids (who I think are better than the vets at both ends) and see what happens next year.
- stveshdy

If you have a team as young as the Flyers, the most important thing is to expect and nurture them to become better players.

If you don't expect a 21 year old Brayden Schenn to become a better player you don't trade Mike Richards for him. You don't trade a guy like Carter for a 1st rounder unless you expect the guy you pick to get better.

I'm not suggesting that Danny Briere will suddenly become a better defensive player. But I am suggesting that Couturier, Schenn, Simmonds, Voracek, Read, Giroux and other kids will do so.

If you throw 7 mill a year at him he might have no choice..



- Jimmygrazz

Or he might. Detroit has a lot more cap room, and it's reported Suter doesnt want to play for a Big East team.

The way I see it, JVR for a package of picks, letting Jagr and Carle go, demoting Shelley to Adirondack, there is the cap space needed to take on Parise and Suter. Not saying it's going to happen, odds are it won't, but I like the idea.
- PLindbergh31

Does it matter who we add? If the Flyers dont play "TEAM DEFENSE" they wont win. So why spend all this money on two players?

True. I know how badly Snider wants to win, and you have to figure he isn't going to show the most patience in the world at 80+ yrs of age.
- PLindbergh31

Perhaps he should stay out of it and let his hockey people make the decisions.

We're already stuck with Bryz's contract. Let's not make the situation worse.

Does it matter who we add? If the Flyers dont play "TEAM DEFENSE" they wont win. So why spend all this money on two players?
- stveshdy

Well, for one, Parise is a very solid two way forward, who plays a responsible defensive game.

Does it matter who we add? If the Flyers dont play "TEAM DEFENSE" they wont win. So why spend all this money on two players?
- stveshdy

Sure it matters. Adding those two players to the young nucleus the Flyers have in place would be enormous. They are premium players in their prime.

Every Stanley Cup winner has a nice big helping of good luck.
- Jsaquella

Perhaps he should stay out of it and let his hockey people make the decisions.

We're already stuck with Bryz's contract. Let's not make the situation worse.
- bradleyc4

I agree with you. Not the best idea for Snider getting involved in hockey decisions at his age, he signs the checks and can do what he wants. He is a passionate guy who wants to win, I understand why he gets involved.

The way I see it, JVR for a package of picks, letting Jagr and Carle go, demoting Shelley to Adirondack, there is the cap space needed to take on Parise and Suter. Not saying it's going to happen, odds are it won't, but I like the idea.
- PLindbergh31

If Carle is going to sign for under 5 million, why not just keep him? Why would you trade JVR for picks? This team has enough youth. Trading JVR for picks would just mean we have to start at the development stage all over again. Getting Suter and Parise is a nice idea, but it's not going to happen. Now if you tell me they are going to trade JVR + for a number 1 d-man that is still young and not a bad cap hit, then I say sure, go after Parise if he is even available. I wonder if Penner is staying in LA and how much he is going to cost...

I'm looking at the Kings defense and I dont see how they have more talent. Thats the part that makes me wonder. Like its been said sometimes finding the right mix and executing is more important then talent.

In no way am I saying the Kings dont have a nice core of defenseman, I just think the Flyers are more talented.

Doughty is head and shoulders above anyone we have though.
- stveshdy

It's about what happens when it all comes together. When a team totally buys into it's style of play and plays it very well. As well as making the right player moves. I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Defenseman look a whole lot better when they have forward support and quality team defense, with every line.

If you have a team as young as the Flyers, the most important thing is to expect and nurture them to become better players.

If you don't expect a 21 year old Brayden Schenn to become a better player you don't trade Mike Richards for him. You don't trade a guy like Carter for a 1st rounder unless you expect the guy you pick to get better.

I'm not suggesting that Danny Briere will suddenly become a better defensive player. But I am suggesting that Couturier, Schenn, Simmonds, Voracek, Read, Giroux and other kids will do so.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. Will see if these young kids get any better. How much of an improvement do you see them making from last year to this upcoming year? Is it enough to really contend for a championship? This is why I think its important that your defense and goaltending be experienced. Those players are the first to touch the puck in your own zone. If the forwards dont help out the defenseman have to make the right play. Whether that is sending the puck off the boards, glass, floating it out, or even icing. Its a team sport no question and everyone needs to take care of their job first. I'm just alittle concerned with how they play in their own end. Being ranked in the bottom 10 in GAA is something that wont win a cup imo.

If Carle is going to sign for under 5 million, why not just keep him? Why would you trade JVR for picks? This team has enough youth. Trading JVR for picks would just mean we have to start at the development stage all over again. Getting Suter and Parise is a nice idea, but it's not going to happen. Now if you tell me they are going to trade JVR + for a number 1 d-man that is still young and not a bad cap hit, then I say sure, go after Parise if he is even available. I wonder if Penner is staying in LA and how much he is going to cost...
- RooNosHockey

if Parise can be signed to replace JVR that is a no brainer. Not to mention the package of picks JVR would fetch would help the Flyers stock the pipeline.

And the point remains the same, Bryzgalov is a veteran with a huge contract and a ton of pressure, while Quick is a young goaltender with a small contract with very little pressure.

Pretty easy to comprehend.
- PLindbergh31

What's easy to comprehend is that playing in the playoffs and in the Cup Finals is a ton of pressure. Your kidding yourself if you don't think that's the case. While it is true that Quick didn't have the weight of the big deal, and being the savior in net, and a tough City to play goal in. He still had plenty of pressure.

If Carle is going to sign for under 5 million, why not just keep him? Why would you trade JVR for picks? This team has enough youth. Trading JVR for picks would just mean we have to start at the development stage all over again. Getting Suter and Parise is a nice idea, but it's not going to happen. Now if you tell me they are going to trade JVR + for a number 1 d-man that is still young and not a bad cap hit, then I say sure, go after Parise if he is even available. I wonder if Penner is staying in LA and how much he is going to cost...
- RooNosHockey

Name me a young #1 D-man with a low cap hit?

Key phrase "Flyers team defense"...We saw what happened in march when they played some of that.
- Philly1980

Need to play that way all Season, especially in April and June.

I agree with you. Not the best idea for Snider getting involved in hockey decisions at his age, he signs the checks and can do what he wants. He is a passionate guy who wants to win, I understand why he gets involved.
- PLindbergh31

Truth be told the Flyers did need to address the goalie situation. It had been too many years with marginal starters IMO, and Snider putting his foot down was the right thing, maybe at the wrong time. But there is no point boo-hoo ing about it. Bryz is our guy. He is a solid starter in the NHL, and when he is on his game a top goalie. Flyers need to work a system that takes advantage of Bryz's style.

Sure it matters. Adding those two players to the young nucleus the Flyers have in place would be enormous. They are premium players in their prime.
- PLindbergh31

Will see what happens. I honestly dont see the Flyers adding either player in free agency.

Agreed. Will see if these young kids get any better. How much of an improvement do you see them making from last year to this upcoming year? Is it enough to really contend for a championship? This is why I think its important that your defense and goaltending be experienced. Those players are the first to touch the puck in your own zone. If the forwards dont help out the defenseman have to make the right play. Whether that is sending the puck off the boards, glass, floating it out, or even icing. Its a team sport no question and everyone needs to take care of their job first. I'm just alittle concerned with how they play in their own end. Being ranked in the bottom 10 in GAA is something that wont win a cup imo.
- stveshdy

That's the fun, you don't know how much they will improve in one year or in three years. It took the Kings several years of being patient and letting their kids grow into very good players, and then augmenting those kids when they reached the right spot.

They also had great luck. That's part of the game, too

Agreed. Will see if these young kids get any better. How much of an improvement do you see them making from last year to this upcoming year? Is it enough to really contend for a championship? This is why I think its important that your defense and goaltending be experienced. Those players are the first to touch the puck in your own zone. If the forwards dont help out the defenseman have to make the right play. Whether that is sending the puck off the boards, glass, floating it out, or even icing. Its a team sport no question and everyone needs to take care of their job first. I'm just alittle concerned with how they play in their own end. Being ranked in the bottom 10 in GAA is something that wont win a cup imo.
- stveshdy

This team was built thinking they would have Chris Pronger on D for the whole season. There was nothing to make them think otherwise. Don't you think the GAA would have been better with him? That was something the team had no controll over.

Will see what happens. I honestly dont see the Flyers adding either player in free agency.
- stveshdy

Probably not. But it makes sense imo. It's not far fetched.

I thinks it pretty simple to see that the Kings were the best team. They did everything well, but also had luck on their side. Here is a crazy fact.. They used the same 6 d-men the entire playoffs and only 22 guys total. Let's see them stay that healthy next year.
- jak521

Absolutely a huge factor. Jeff Carter as far as I know was healthy. And he produced. Coincidence?