A future 40 goal guy if you are talking to some Leaf fans
- blizzzard

Don't know about that but I thought he would be a 30 goal guy. I like Luke Schenn but I said it the day the trade happened....happy to get schenn, very unhappy it cost them JVR

not that I am remotely giving up on this season but just curious.,....to all of the people who follow the draft closely, how deep in the 2014 draft?
- nastyflyergirl

I personally haven't heard much outside of Max Reinhart and Aron Ekblad but I am sure there are plenty more those two I think are pegged to battle it out for number 1 overall. Ekblad being a Defense man for the Barrie Colts and getting exceptional player status and I believe Reinhart is a center but I don't know to much about him.

its actually a large part of why I hated moving JVR. while he isn't a physical player, he is a big guy with speed and skill.
- nastyflyergirl

losing Lupul, Sbisa and JVR for basically Schenn is pretty sickening

Bill, 3-2-3 and 3-2-2 are not losing records. What the heck are you thinking?
- Mittin

Hmm, they have lost more games than they won. That is the definition of a losing record.

Don't know about that but I thought he would be a 30 goal guy. I like Luke Schenn but I said it the day the trade happened....happy to get schenn, very unhappy it cost them JVR
- nastyflyergirl

I like JVR as well and he should be able to hit 30 I was saying before the season started I thought this year would be the year he really had some sort of break out season.

not that I am remotely giving up on this season but just curious.,....to all of the people who follow the draft closely, how deep in the 2014 draft?
- nastyflyergirl

nothing like last year from what i've read. top players are forwards (centers, i think) which we don't need.....unless a bid trade happens, he writes hopefully

losing Lupul, Sbisa and JVR for basically Schenn is pretty sickening
- vejim

How do you figure we lost lupul and sbisa for Schenn?

its actually a large part of why I hated moving JVR. while he isn't a physical player, he is a big guy with speed and skill.
- nastyflyergirl

i called that trade "horrid" the day it went down and there's nothing i've observed since that makes me feel any different. really calls into question whether homer knows how to build a team anymore. he did it before, but maybe he had better pieces in place back in '07.

it was his neglect in getting a young dman that had him pull what i consider a knee-jerk move w/ JVR...even when he had carle in tow.

losing Lupul, Sbisa and JVR for basically Schenn is pretty sickening
- vejim

sbisa and 2 first rounders for pronger was a high price but i think we see how much of a stud pronger actually was now that he is missing. i can't blame anybody for his injury

I have been vocal about this roster's shortcomings, but I do want to reiterate a couple of things:

1. I don't think they are as far off from winning consistently as a team that has looked as awful as they have, at times;

2. But...I'm not quite quite certain the franchise has the appetite to make a big move that requires assets.

Are they possibly feeling a little gun-shy right now? Is Paul Holmgren on a tighter leash? Are they simply going to draft and develop?

I say this because, again, they clearly recognized the need for another forward by attempting to get Daniel Cleary in here, and that meant that they weren't necessarily comfortable with their in-house solutions.

If they are going to simply draft and develop, then fine -- I'm OK with that, as I said yesterday, as long as we aren't bad with aging or maxed-out players.

But if they're gonna do something, then please, do it now -- because Bill is right; the Metro hasn't gotten away from them yet. But this team has acute weaknesses and needs. If they're going to do it, please get someone quickly, today or tomorrow, so they can practice with the team and be ready for the Rangers on Thursday.

Either way. If we're in, go all in. If we're out, be all the way out.

But don't be "kinda, mostly bad," because you don't want to acknowledge the team's weaknesses.

losing Lupul, Sbisa and JVR for basically Schenn is pretty sickening
- vejim

I get that upgrading the defense was done mainly because Pronger got hurt but you can't really lump Lupul and Sbisa with Schenn.

I get that upgrading the defense was done mainly because Pronger got hurt but you can't really lump Lupul and Sbisa with Schenn.
- nastyflyergirl

bottom line, we have Schenn

Bill's quote
Realistically, however, I am still not enamored of the mix on the roster

I am surprised Bill, (your quote above), I thought most of us were thinking irrationally when it came to the current structure of the roster & seeking change.

Do you think with the record at hand they they could possibly reshape this team with some moves? (I know your doing trade possibilities on your next blog), but the more "anemic" the offense looks, the more lack of defensive structure they exhibit, seems they are open to get fleeced on any deals they would look to make, ie: dealing from a weakness.
As well, teams that are structurally sound wouldn't care to deal with any significance, (why would they mess with good chemistry?) Therefore the only possible trade partners would be other struggling teams.

bottom line, we have Schenn
- vejim

But lupul and sbisa have nothing to do with it. Unless were watching butterfly effect

Bill's quote
Realistically, however, I am still not enamored of the mix on the roster

I am surprised Bill, (your quote above), I thought most of us were thinking irrationally when it came to the current structure of the roster & seeking change.

Do you think with the record at hand they they could possibly reshape this team with some moves? (I know your doing trade possibilities on your next blog), but the more "anemic" the offense looks, the more lack of defensive structure they exhibit, seems they are open to get fleeced on any deals they would look to make, ie: dealing from a weakness.
As well, teams that are structurally sound wouldn't care to deal with any significance, (why would they mess with good chemistry?) Therefore the only possible trade partners would be other struggling teams.
- puckhead17

just take your losses this year then make some moves at the draft. The draft in Philly is a perfect scenario for hoopla and hopefully a new GM

Bill's quote
Realistically, however, I am still not enamored of the mix on the roster

I am surprised Bill, (your quote above), I thought most of us were thinking irrationally when it came to the current structure of the roster & seeking change.

Do you think with the record at hand they they could possibly reshape this team with some moves? (I know your doing trade possibilities on your next blog), but the more "anemic" the offense looks, the more lack of defensive structure they exhibit, seems they are open to get fleeced on any deals they would look to make, ie: dealing from a weakness.
As well, teams that are structurally sound wouldn't care to deal with any significance, (why would they mess with good chemistry?) Therefore the only possible trade partners would be other struggling teams.
- puckhead17

Is it time to take another run at Weber ? maybe Coburn, B. Schenn or Couts plus some other player maybe Read? I know that they are likely set on keeping Weber to teach and mentor Jones but it can't hurt to try and that's not to say he hasn't made calls about him this year either.

sbisa and 2 first rounders for pronger was a high price but i think we see how much of a stud pronger actually was now that he is missing. i can't blame anybody for his injury
- hogweed

Looking back Pronger really conned this organization into a 5 year signing when there was no way his game was going to get or be any better over the age of 35.

That may have been the first of the line of questionable decisions by our GM, Pronger was (I think), the best in the business at one time (St. Louis & Anaheim), but was he really going to elevate his game over 35, in the next 5 years?

But lupul and sbisa have nothing to do with it. Unless were watching butterfly effect
- funmaster18

watching butterflies would be more exciting at this time

Is it time to take another run at Weber ? maybe Coburn, B. Schenn or Couts plus some other player maybe Read? I know that they are likely set on keeping Weber to teach and mentor Jones but it can't hurt to try and that's not to say he hasn't made calls about him this year either.
- blizzzard

i think they can't afford to keep him. truthfully i would seriously consider giroux for weber at this point. i think we have enough forward depth and i think weber and morin (plus almost anyone else with them) make a outstanding top 4 D scenario. i love giroux but i think they made the same mistake making a young guy captain again here again like the did with richards.

Is it time to take another run at Weber ? maybe Coburn, B. Schenn or Couts plus some other player maybe Read? I know that they are likely set on keeping Weber to teach and mentor Jones but it can't hurt to try and that's not to say he hasn't made calls about him this year either.
- blizzzard

I don't know what was confirmed as to the trade offer before the offer sheet, (rumored Couts & Schenn) i don't know, but again, did it make sense to hold on to young players that were 2-4 years away, when a team & city wants to win now?
I think that ship sailed

watching butterflies would be more exciting at this time
- vejim

The flyers could use your deflecting skills in front of the net

The flyers could use your deflecting skills in front of the net
- funmaster18

if they could get a shot on net?

just take your losses this year then make some moves at the draft. The draft in Philly is a perfect scenario for hoopla and hopefully a new GM
- vejim

No, this city, fans, OWNER, will not patiently rebuild, thats the thing & I can't say that I'm patiently enough to go in that direction, anyone can say to do that, but living with it for 5 years is another thing

i think they can't afford to keep him. truthfully i would seriously consider giroux for weber at this point. i think we have enough forward depth and i think weber and morin (plus almost anyone else with them) make a outstanding top 4 D scenario. i love giroux but i think they made the same mistake making a young guy captain again here again like the did with richards.
- hogweed

If they can't afford Weber how can they afford G? that's my only question. How differen't are their contracts other then Weber has gotten like half of his money already. I was thinking about swapping Read with Hartnell but I wasn't sure on Hartnells status and how long he is injured for. I think if You are getting Weber you need to try and keep Giroux here or you end up with a team who loses a lot but only by 1 goal.

Looking back Pronger really conned this organization into a 5 year signing when there was no way his game was going to get or be any better over the age of 35.

That may have been the first of the line of questionable decisions by our GM, Pronger was (I think), the best in the business at one time (St. Louis & Anaheim), but was he really going to elevate his game over 35, in the next 5 years?
- puckhead17

i disagree. he may not have been the same player he once was but he was awesome at moving the puck, crushing guys in front of the net and as a leader. most people see his departure from the lineup as the major reason for the team's current issues; both in his actual loss and in the moves made (mostly bad) to try to fill the hole