what about rielly? all the injuries to these top guys is what really throws a wrench into the whole thing.
- OrangeBlack27

i like him but i'm not sold on his upside. i like derrick pouliot better than rielly

1. I dont believe this has much to do with Weber. He hasn't emerged as the top guy until 3-4 years ago. Also who do they have offensively? David Legwand?

2. The Pronger deal sounds very similiar IMO, but what happened when we got Pronger... He took us to the cup... with Leighton and Boucher in net.

3. I think if we hold onto Giroux, Schenn, and Couturier are future will be fine for the next 5-6 years. Homer will continue to make the most of later picks and UFA signings. Weber will still be 32-33, and Giroux, Schenn, and Couts wont even be 30 yet. We will be fine. Don't worry.
- RooNosHockey

We were also much better in the team defense department that year...

1. I dont believe this has much to do with Weber. He hasn't emerged as the top guy until 3-4 years ago. Also who do they have offensively? David Legwand?

2. The Pronger deal sounds very similiar IMO, but what happened when we got Pronger... He took us to the cup... with Leighton and Boucher in net.

3. I think if we hold onto Giroux, Schenn, and Couturier are future will be fine for the next 5-6 years. Homer will continue to make the most of later picks and UFA signings. Weber will still be 32-33, and Giroux, Schenn, and Couts wont even be 30 yet. We will be fine. Don't worry.
- RooNosHockey

Not worried homer is a magician with acquiring good forward talent. with that core you just need to plug in a few support players. Getting a younger defense should be the goal now.

so the red wings just resigned darren helm for 4 years and 8.5mm (2.125 cap hit). how do they get their players to re-sign for so cheap? a player of his production on the flyers would cost nearly twice that IME

Weber has played for the Preds for 7 years and they've how many cups have they won? It's obvious it takes a total team effort to play sound defensively.

My concern would be giving up another round of "future" to chase that elusive big name/big game player the Flyers feel they need. I was opposed to the Pronger move and I'd be weary of this one - depending on the players/picks involved of course, but it would have to hurt.

The Flyers have four solid defensemen (assuming Carle signs) and a nice young team who have some issues on the defensive side of the ice. That, regardless of who they bring in, will need to be addressed.

Personally, I'd love to have a young stud d-man on the backline, especially since Timmo will be leaving next year and Pronger all but done. But if it guts our future again for the second time in the last three years, it may come back to haunt us very soon. That'll be 4 first round picks and 5 pretty good young players traded since 2009 if this deal goes down with only one darn good d-man to show for it.

Tough call.
- 77rams

The Flyers have only picked 10th and earlier 3 times since 2000 and one of them was Coots. I am fine with giving up 2 first rounders in the trade for Weber because chances are they will be late 1st round picks.

We were also much better in the team defense department that year...
- jak521

And much worse on offense IMO.

I think the Flyers are in a position that they can go in any direction they want. They can try and get the big defenseman, they can stay with the defense they have and address it next year when Timonen's and Hartnells cap hits are off the books. They can keep all thier forwards, or they can spare 1-2 for a trade. I bet Homer has about 4 different senarios in his mind, and will take which ever one plays itself out first.
- RooNosHockey

Bummer that we're not going to re-sign Hartnell. I loved that guy.

1. I dont believe this has much to do with Weber. He hasn't emerged as the top guy until 3-4 years ago. Also who do they have offensively? David Legwand?

2. The Pronger deal sounds very similiar IMO, but what happened when we got Pronger... He took us to the cup... with Leighton and Boucher in net.

3. I think if we hold onto Giroux, Schenn, and Couturier are future will be fine for the next 5-6 years. Homer will continue to make the most of later picks and UFA signings. Weber will still be 32-33, and Giroux, Schenn, and Couts wont even be 30 yet. We will be fine. Don't worry.
- RooNosHockey

I wouldnt make a move for Weber without a new contract in place. I just would not chance him walking after one year.

I wouldnt make a move for Weber without a new contract in place. I just would not chance him walking after one year.
- nastyflyergirl

I think him signing an extension would be part of that deal.

I don't think the move guts our team for the future. They still have a solid nucleus of young players to build around. One of them is already a star.
- MJL

It has the potential to seriously set us back.

The 2009, 2010, 2012 and (assuming) 2013 first round picks traded away along with an all star (Lupul), two young d-men with a nice upside (Sbisa and MAB), a young power forward with unlimited potential (JvR) and a young solid secondary scorer (Voracek).

If that doesn't gut our future, as I said, it'll certainly hurt.

OK. I need to get this out there even if some are going to completely rip me for it.

I've seen several entries that can be summarized as Pronger was the reason the Flyers went to the SCF 2010. Here are a few reasons why I question that position.

1) Pronger was not the reason the Flyers squeaked into the post season on the last day of the year via a shootout
2) Pronger had nothing to do with the Canadians run (beating Pitt and Wash) along the way to knock out stronger competition for the Flyers to have a more favorable matchup in the ECF
3) IIRC, there were at least 2 - 3 games that playoff year that Pronger was a -3 or -4 for the Flyers. Yes, he also had some great games.

All I'm saying is the argument that Weber will be the sole reason the Flyers make it back to the finals, and thereby a rationale for trading away at least 2 top-6 forwards and another few years with no top end drafts is really stretching it a bit.

Put me squarely in the camp of stand pat, draft smartly, add another #3-4 M D man and wait until the CBA, Pronger, Timo and young guys have another year to be evaluated and understood what value the Flyers truely have / don't have.

I wouldnt make a move for Weber without a new contract in place. I just would not chance him walking after one year.
- nastyflyergirl

I dont think the Flyers will have a difficult time signing Weber. Big city with nice suburbs in the area, a history of winning and a team set up to win now and in the future... and willingness to spend on thier players.... I cant see a reason he wouldnt sign.

Bummer that we're not going to re-sign Hartnell. I loved that guy.
- BringBack25

Gone by Thanksgiving, book it.

It has the potential to seriously set us back.

The 2009, 2010, 2012 and (assuming) 2013 first round picks traded away along with an all star (Lupul), two young d-men with a nice upside (Sbisa and MAB), a young power forward with unlimited potential (JvR) and a young solid secondary scorer (Voracek).

If that doesn't gut our future, as I said, it'll certainly hurt.
- 77rams

But your adding a dominant #1 defenseman to your future. Who is in his absolute prime. I don't disagree with the argument against it. It's reasonable and totally understandable. But I have to make the move if it is available.

The Flyers have only picked 10th and earlier 3 times since 2000 and one of them was Coots. I am fine with giving up 2 first rounders in the trade for Weber because chances are they will be late 1st round picks.
- Jimmygrazz

Weber was a second round pick. Chara was a third. Don't discount the value of a late first round pick.

Gone by Thanksgiving, book it.
- BulliesPhan87

wait, you have an anonymous inside source too!!??!

dammit, am I the only person that doesn't have one?

And much worse on offense IMO.
- RooNosHockey

Id disagree..

i like him but i'm not sold on his upside. i like derrick pouliot better than rielly
- flyerscup2011

wow, really? looks like rielly is higher on all lists, iirc. pouliot screams high risk/high reward to me. you never know with those smallish, offensive dmen whose coaches really set them free in juniors.

Try this: Chicken salad, on rye, untoasted ... and a cup of tea.
- Scoob

so the red wings just resigned darren helm for 4 years and 8.5mm (2.125 cap hit). how do they get their players to re-sign for so cheap? a player of his production on the flyers would cost nearly twice that IME
- flyerscup2011

sounds about right for a bottom-six forward.

wait, you have an anonymous inside source too!!??!

dammit, am I the only person that doesn't have one?






- BringBack25

Be careful what you wish for. It's a dangerous business, being an insiderr.

But your adding a dominant #1 defenseman to your future. Who is in his absolute prime. I don't disagree with the argument against it. It's reasonable and totally understandable. But I have to make the move if it is available.
- MJL

And I understand your thinking as well.

I've never been opposed to making a bold move if it improves the team's chances for the Cup, either in the short or long run. Acquiring Weber would be a bold move (especially coming on the heels of the Pronger trade) that would definitely shore up the defensive side of the puck and give us a terrific physical presence on the back end for years to come.

But for the record, I was opposed to the Pronger deal to a lesser extent for what we gave up, but even more so because of the horrendous contract. A inexcusable blunder by the front office.

Yeah, true. I like Eklund's manner. He writes about what he hears, stays away from trashing others and doesn't bother engaging in the whole battle of bullpoop.

He also stays away from patting himself on the back.
- Jsaquella

true.. mostly

he did demand credit for creating and coining the phrase "Free Agent Frenzy"

Be careful what you wish for. It's a dangerous business, being an insiderr.
- BulliesPhan87

i know, all those random double consonants scare the crap out of me. diabolical.

true.. mostly

he did demand credit for creating and coining the phrase "Free Agent Frenzy"
- Crimsoninja

I remember the days when Tim p was the main source of flyers information on this site