I know he's still a borderline minor leaguer but the Flyers did bring back Danny Syvert. I know he's undersized as well but he's a pretty good offensive D man. I'm assuming he got brought to the Phantoms as a depth defense move but he's still only 27 and has 4 years and 20 pounds on Gus. Any chance Syvert could leapfrog at training camp?
- flyler

I sure hope not. He's overwhelmed at the defensive end in the NHL, and he's not a pretty good offensive D man at the NHL level. I see him as a career Minor Leaguer.

I sure hope not. He's overwhelmed at the defensive end in the NHL, and he's not a pretty good offensive D man at the NHL level. I see him as a career Minor Leaguer.
- MJL

ty

I sure hope not. He's overwhelmed at the defensive end in the NHL, and he's not a pretty good offensive D man at the NHL level. I see him as a career Minor Leaguer.
- MJL

Sounds well rounded.

Is it hockey season yet?

Is it hockey season yet?
- BulliesPhan87

no and keep the noise down you're disturbing my tanning.

corgibuzz?
- BulliesPhan87

- 77rams

- 77rams

this blog is going to the dogs

this blog is going to the dogs
- vejim

su pleh dog

this blog is going to the dogs
- vejim

will the heat repeat sir?

- 77rams

Crosby suffers another vicious hit to the head

I sure hope not. He's overwhelmed at the defensive end in the NHL, and he's not a pretty good offensive D man at the NHL level. I see him as a career Minor Leaguer.
- MJL

Syvret's exhibits all the classic traits of a tweener -- he's probably got more puck and distribution skills than a good number of dmen currently playing in the NHL, but he's not consistent and productive enough to merit a feature role, nor is he steady enough to hold down a limited bottom-pair job.

He'll be great for the Phantoms, though. That team needs all the help they can get, especially if Gus and/or MAB manage to stick with the big club out of camp.

will the heat repeat sir?
- Crimsoninja

sir, it is steamy here in the hell city

no and keep the noise down you're disturbing my tanning.
- JoeRussomanno

What time is gym and laundry Sitch?

Syvret's exhibits all the classic traits of a tweener -- he's probably got more puck and distribution skills than a good number of dmen currently playing in the NHL, but he's not consistent and productive enough to merit a feature role, nor is he steady enough to hold down a limited bottom-pair job.

He'll be great for the Phantoms, though. That team needs all the help they can get, especially if Gus and/or MAB manage to stick with the big club out of camp.
- Tomahawk

I see him as another John Slaney. Puts up good "A" numbers but cannot make the transition to the NHL.

sir, it is steamy here in the hell city
- vejim

I sure hope not. He's overwhelmed at the defensive end in the NHL, and he's not a pretty good offensive D man at the NHL level. I see him as a career Minor Leaguer.
- MJL

He is tied for the team lead in Winter Classic goals though...

Since some have suggested that no one on D can pass the puck, I would just have our D-men pass to the other team and then smash them ino the boards, taking advantage of the 220 lbs.

Sort of like that game when we were kids - "Stop hitting youself".
- Daman

I know this is super Leight but man I just spit my coke out all over my work comp. Thanks! I needed this image.

Bill have you heard what Couturier is doing this summer as far as an offseason workout program, or who he works with? I would love to hear that hes working on getting more explosive with his stride. I was hoping to hear he'd be working with Gary Roberts.

Syvret's exhibits all the classic traits of a tweener -- he's probably got more puck and distribution skills than a good number of dmen currently playing in the NHL, but he's not consistent and productive enough to merit a feature role, nor is he steady enough to hold down a limited bottom-pair job.

He'll be great for the Phantoms, though. That team needs all the help they can get, especially if Gus and/or MAB manage to stick with the big club out of camp.
- Tomahawk

I agree. Good depth player for the Organization. And a good minor League defenseman.

Bill have you heard what Couturier is doing this summer as far as an offseason workout program, or who he works with? I would love to hear that hes working on getting more explosive with his stride. I was hoping to hear he'd be working with Gary Roberts.
- Just5

I heard he was working with Tanya Roberts. In all seriousness, I found the concerns about Couturier's skating to be all about nothing.

I know he's still a borderline minor leaguer but the Flyers did bring back Danny Syvert. I know he's undersized as well but he's a pretty good offensive D man. I'm assuming he got brought to the Phantoms as a depth defense move but he's still only 27 and has 4 years and 20 pounds on Gus. Any chance Syvert could leapfrog at training camp?
- flyler

With Lilja, Walker, MAB, Gus, Gervais, Manning... Don't we have enough defensemen that can play the 6th/7th spot? Right now we're at go big or go home stage. The only trade or FA signing they should think about is one that would replace one of the top four guys.

I'm a little late to the overall defense debate - but, here is my 2 cents. Last year the defense started off fine, but then we lost Pronger. The defense quickly declined. Sure we could move the puck, but not enough meat on the blue line. We were beating teams by scoring more than them (not playing defensively). Enter Grossmann/Kubina. Grossmann played great, and I didn't think Kubina did a bad job to start. Playoffs, the team did ok - I think Mez being out was a very underrated reason why the playoffs ended for us.

This year. Hopefully Timmo and Mez are ok healthwise. If so, we have pretty good core. Sure we are lacking Carles puck moving, but we gain on the defensive side with Schenn. Most of the core can "move" the puck, but only Timmo is a QB for the powerplay. This is a cause for concern, but not the end of the world - and something Lavy can deal with.

With Lilja, Walker, MAB, Gus, Gervais, Manning... Don't we have enough defensemen that can play the 6th/7th spot? Right now we're at go big or go home stage. The only trade or FA signing they should think about is one that would replace one of the top four guys.

I'm a little late to the overall defense debate - but, here is my 2 cents. Last year the defense started off fine, but then we lost Pronger. The defense quickly declined. Sure we could move the puck, but not enough meat on the blue line. We were beating teams by scoring more than them (not playing defensively). Enter Grossmann/Kubina. Grossmann played great, and I didn't think Kubina did a bad job to start. Playoffs, the team did ok - I think Mez being out was a very underrated reason why the playoffs ended for us.

This year. Hopefully Timmo and Mez are ok healthwise. If so, we have pretty good core. Sure we are lacking Carles puck moving, but we gain on the defensive side with Schenn. Most of the core can "move" the puck, but only Timmo is a QB for the powerplay. This is a cause for concern, but not the end of the world - and something Lavy can deal with.
- leon neon

I see the pairings as

Coburn-Timonen
Mez-Grossman
Schenn-Gervais/Bourdon

They've got a puck mover on each pairing. I'll be disappointed if MAB can't beat out Gervais for the 6th slot because I think he's better. They will miss Carle, maybe the concern about mobiliy on the back end will activate our forwards in their own zone a little more instead of overly relying on our Dmen to figure it out

I see the pairings as

Coburn-Timonen
Mez-Grossman
Schenn-Gervais/Bourdon

They've got a puck mover on each pairing. I'll be disappointed if MAB can't beat out Gervais for the 6th slot because I think he's better. They will miss Carle, maybe the concern about mobiliy on the back end will activate our forwards in their own zone a little more instead of overly relying on our Dmen to figure it out
- Just5

I'd rather see

Coburn-Schenn
Mez-Grossmann
Kimmo-Gervais

Keep Kimmo fresh please.

With Lilja, Walker, MAB, Gus, Gervais, Manning... Don't we have enough defensemen that can play the 6th/7th spot? Right now we're at go big or go home stage. The only trade or FA signing they should think about is one that would replace one of the top four guys.

I'm a little late to the overall defense debate - but, here is my 2 cents. Last year the defense started off fine, but then we lost Pronger. The defense quickly declined. Sure we could move the puck, but not enough meat on the blue line. We were beating teams by scoring more than them (not playing defensively). Enter Grossmann/Kubina. Grossmann played great, and I didn't think Kubina did a bad job to start. Playoffs, the team did ok - I think Mez being out was a very underrated reason why the playoffs ended for us.

This year. Hopefully Timmo and Mez are ok healthwise. If so, we have pretty good core. Sure we are lacking Carles puck moving, but we gain on the defensive side with Schenn. Most of the core can "move" the puck, but only Timmo is a QB for the powerplay. This is a cause for concern, but not the end of the world - and something Lavy can deal with.
- leon neon

In the defensive zone they should be OK.

They still lack the bomb from the point.

Bill pointed this out after the NJ series loss, the Devils did not really have to worry about the point shots getting through, and especially on the PP they concentrated on stopping the Flyers forwards. It was very effective for them. The Flyers did nothing to remedy that, except maybe getting a healthy Mezsaros back.

I think Coburn and Mez both have heavy shots, but aren't very accurate, especially Coburn.