I see Streit as a 4/5 defenseman. I think you see him as more.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's a solid 2nd pairing defenseman with the skills to play a key role on the power play.

Hopefully he doesn't age too quickly.

I think Streit is a North-South puck mover, someone who can lead the play coming out of the zone, much like AMac. He makes good reads, and can headman the puck to center ice. However, I don't think his offensive zone puck movement/patience are as good as Kimmo. And I'm fine with that because Timonen was probably a top-10 defender over a large stretch of his career, and Streit's in the next class. Not a knock on Streit, who is effective as well, I just think Timonen's offensive-zone came is better when it comes to puck movement.
- jmatchett383

Timonen does a real nice job on the PP, and always makes great decisions with the puck. Everywhere on the ice. I think Streit is a little more dynamic and may try and make the riskier play on occasion, as where Timonen would just dump it deep. But let's be honest, a lot of what Timonen does is just pass the puck to Giroux on the half wall.

I see Streit for exactly what he is. A top 4 puck moving offensive defenseman, who is reliable in his own end.
- MJL

Yeah. I don't agree with that assessment. I don't see him as reliable in his own end and I'm not sure he's top 4 on a good group of defenseman.

He's a solid 2nd pairing defenseman with the skills to play a key role on the power play.

Hopefully he doesn't age too quickly.
- bradleyc4

I think his skating stride looks pretty good, especially for his age -- he's been pretty physical the last two games, as well.

I think...he might age OK. I'm not saying he's blazing fast. But his stride is still fluid, he still turns pretty well, which is going to be the key.

I definitely don't see his skating falling off a cliff for next season, at least.

I don't really mind the 1st-unit composition that much... that 2nd-unit is really ugly, though... good thing they only see the ice for 30 seconds at a time.
- Tomahawk

Well, that's the question. Do you want to continue to load up on the top PP and continue to give them the bulk of the PP TOI? I'm not against it, but I just don't like the idea that the 2nd unit is largely ineffective.

Timonen does a real nice job on the PP, and always makes great decisions with the puck. Everywhere on the ice. I think Streit is a little more dynamic and may try and make the riskier play on occasion, as where Timonen would just dump it deep. But let's be honest, a lot of what Timonen does is just pass the puck to Giroux on the half wall.
- MJL

He always seems to get it there though.

Yeah. I don't agree with that assessment. I don't see him as reliable in his own end and I'm not sure he's top 4 on a good group of defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

Two things. The Flyers have a good group of defenseman. And his play on the ice clearly shows that he is reliable defensively. It is what it is.

I think his skating stride looks pretty good, especially for his age -- he's been pretty physical the last two games, as well.

I think...he might age OK. I'm not saying he's blazing fast. But his stride is still fluid, he still turns pretty well, which is going to be the key.

I definitely don't see his skating falling off a cliff for next season, at least.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm hoping they get another good year or two out of him.

Offensive defensemen usually stick around awhile longer than their defensive counterparts, barring that they're still NHL-calibre skaters.

Well, that's the question. Do you want to continue to load up on the top PP and continue to give them the bulk of the PP TOI? I'm not against it, but I just don't like the idea that the 2nd unit is largely ineffective.
- jmatchett383

Most teams don't have great second units. The Caps are a great PP team and completely rely on their top unit.

Well, that's the question. Do you want to continue to load up on the top PP and continue to give them the bulk of the PP TOI? I'm not against it, but I just don't like the idea that the 2nd unit is largely ineffective.
- jmatchett383

The 2nd unit needs another player that can distribute the puck. And having a player that is better at carrying the puck up ice would help also. But at this point of the Season, not sure changing is a good idea.

Well, that's the question. Do you want to continue to load up on the top PP and continue to give them the bulk of the PP TOI? I'm not against it, but I just don't like the idea that the 2nd unit is largely ineffective.
- jmatchett383

Dunno, I don't think most teams can boast an reliable 2nd-unit, so not sure it dampens their chances that much. I'd be more concerned about ES secondary scoring... they got Vinny going a bit, and the Schenn line looked better last night... but the 2nd/3rd lines need to be able to pot goals at ES for them to do anything in the PO's.

The Flyers had all of two power plays last night. They had good puck movement on the first one, just couldn't generate a goal. The second one, late in the third period, was a mess that could have proved very costly. But that had nothing to do with Streit specifically.
- bmeltzer

I think one of the major reasons why the second PP was atrocious was the bouncing puck. The ice was terrible by the end of the third. However, the Flyers didn't have a sense of urgency either on that powerplay, which is obviously the main culprit.

I'm hoping they get another good year or two out of him.

Offensive defensemen usually stick around awhile longer than their defensive counterparts, barring that they're still NHL-calibre skaters.
- bradleyc4

I truly felt if they got three years of solid value, they were playing with house money for the rest of the contract. The Flyers just needed his skill-set so badly.

I don't know why the 2nd PP is so bad -- I have a couple of theories, but they're not fully formed -- but I do feel that Streit's probably short 4-6 points this season based on how ineffective that unit's been, as a whole, as well.

Two things. The Flyers have a good group of defenseman. And his play on the ice clearly shows that he is reliable defensively. It is what it is.
- MJL

I guess thats it. He's reliable because you said he's reliable.

I'm hoping they get another good year or two out of him.

Offensive defensemen usually stick around awhile longer than their defensive counterparts, barring that they're still NHL-calibre skaters.
- bradleyc4

IMO, he's managed to tread water his first season. Started out badly, recovered nicely.

But the inherent trade-offs to deploying him in the top-4 are still there -- I'm not sure Streit/Grossmann can hold up in a 7-game series against a team with a really good 2nd line.

At least they have AMac who can stand in for him in defensive situations now... but if Kimmo retires, and both AMac and Streit are in the top-4? I'd be sweating bullets over that.

Dunno, I don't think most teams can boast an reliable 2nd-unit, so not sure it dampens their chances that much. I'd be more concerned about ES secondary scoring... they got Vinny going a bit, and the Schenn line looked better last night... but the 2nd/3rd lines need to be able to pot goals at ES for them to do anything in the PO's.
- Tomahawk

This.

Their even-strength scoring hasn't been what you'd like to see for a few years now -- some of that's the maturation process for Brayden Schenn, some of that was simply ridiculous usage of Sean Couturier and roster composition.

It'll be interesting to see how they approach this offseason. There might be some deals for second-line scoring, or a third-line two-way winger who can score, who would might help this team more than we might think, because at the very least, there's going to be a spot or two available in the Top 9, depending on what happens with Vinny.

I guess thats it. He's reliable because you said he's reliable.
- PhillySportsGuy

No, he's reliable because he has played reliably defensively.

IMO, he's managed to tread water his first season. Started out badly, recovered nicely.

But the inherent trade-offs to deploying him in the top-4 are still there -- I'm not sure Streit/Grossmann can hold up in a 7-game series against a team with a really good 2nd line.

At least they have AMac who can stand in for him in defensive situations now... but if Kimmo retires, and both AMac and Streit are in the top-4? I'd be sweating bullets over that.
- Tomahawk

Streit is very reliable though. No need to worry about having him deployed against Malkin.

No, he's reliable because he has played reliably defensively.
- MJL

He needs to be sheltered. Flyers still do shelter him.

IMO, he's managed to tread water his first season. Started out badly, recovered nicely.

But the inherent trade-offs to deploying him in the top-4 are still there -- I'm not sure Streit/Grossmann can hold up in a 7-game series against a team with a really good 2nd line.

At least they have AMac who can stand in for him in defensive situations now... but if Kimmo retires, and both AMac and Streit are in the top-4? I'd be sweating bullets over that.
- Tomahawk

It's not uncommon for a free agent to have to adjust to a new team. He's playing at a high level, and has been for a while. He's doing far more then treading water. he's added elements to this team that were missing. A player is judged best over a large sample of games.

Streit is very reliable though. No need to worry about having him deployed against Malkin.
- PhillySportsGuy

His foot speed, stick skills, and positioning will allow him to effectively shut down Martin St. Louis over 7 games.

His foot speed, stick skills, and positioning will allow him to effectively shut down Martin St. Louis over 7 games.
- jmatchett383

He needs to be sheltered. Flyers still do shelter him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Most defenseman who aren't top pair defenseman have to be used properly. When the Flyers signed Striet, they weren't getting Keith or Doughty. Using a player in the correct role and in the best matchups for the player to succeed doesn't mean he hasn't played reliably defensively.

IMO, he's managed to tread water his first season. Started out badly, recovered nicely.

But the inherent trade-offs to deploying him in the top-4 are still there -- I'm not sure Streit/Grossmann can hold up in a 7-game series against a team with a really good 2nd line.

At least they have AMac who can stand in for him in defensive situations now... but if Kimmo retires, and both AMac and Streit are in the top-4? I'd be sweating bullets over that.
- Tomahawk

If Kimmo retires...I don't know how they do it. But I think they'll be burning phone lines all summer until they get a guy.

I think they like it how it is. I think they'd like for Luke Schenn to maybe play a bit better from the season's start so they could give that MacDonald-Schenn pairing a few more minutes, so you could give Grossmann-Streit a few less.

But right now...Coburn would need a partner, and while I truly do have hope for some of the players in the system, that person who would replace Timonen...hell, we all know that person is not currently in the system.

If Kimmo retires...I don't know how they do it. But I think they'll be burning phone lines all summer until they get a guy.

I think they like it how it is. I think they'd like for Luke Schenn to maybe play a bit better from the season's start so they could give that MacDonald-Schenn pairing a few more minutes, so you could give Grossmann-Streit a few less.

But right now...Coburn would need a partner, and while I truly do have hope for some of the players in the system, that person who would replace Timonen...hell, we all know that person is not currently in the system.
- AllInForFlyers

I fully expect the Flyers to make some kind of move this Summer. Only thing that would prevent that is a deal not being available that they're willing to do.