But the grass in Winnipeg is so green (when it's not frozen).
- jmatchett383

They're not a bad team, and could be in the playoffs if they had a good starting goalie like Mason. Or Khudobin.

The most frustrating part of watching Emery struggle this year and now be our likely game 1 playoff starter is that I'm sure the Flyers never even considered signing Khudobin to play with Mason. They just went with the guy they knew.

Ugh, I'm hoping this is just to give Mason some maintenance time and not a bigger issue. We need him on his game!
- FlyersGrace

I hope so

That he does, and he deserves some credit for that.

But he's also responsible for some of the absolute stupidest things that any of us have ever seen a hockey player do. It was more tolerable when he was younger, but he's the old man in the room now, and he should be expected to carry himself better on and off the ice.
- Tomahawk

I'll give you things like throwing his glove at Malone on a breakaway. He definitely makes you scratch your head.
But, especially in the playoffs, his ability to toe the line fairly well and to generally be a net positive make him valuable.

Let me ask you: How many times have you heard other fan bases say, "We need a Scoot Hartnell type of guy?" We see him warts and all, but any player we get to replace him will likely carry his share of warts.

Hate to be a debbie downer but I have little hope in Game 1 now.
- GOA88

Emery can get it done, he just needs a little more defensive structure around him, and he has to be positionally sound because he can't recover as quickly as Mason.

Emery can help us win game 1, can keep us in it, but he likely isn't going to steal anything and I'd be much more comfortable with Mason.

The one good thing, Emery is a playoff veteran, so that helps a lot.

They're not a bad team, and could be in the playoffs if they had a good starting goalie like Mason. Or Khudobin.

The most frustrating part of watching Emery struggle this year and now be our likely game 1 playoff starter is that I'm sure the Flyers never even considered signing Khudobin to play with Mason. They just went with the guy they knew.
- Feanor

Yeah, I was actually hoping for Khudobin, but they signed Emery right out of the gate. Think Khudobin went like 10 minutes later.

That he does, and he deserves some credit for that.

But he's also responsible for some of the absolute stupidest things that any of us have ever seen a hockey player do. It was more tolerable when he was younger, but he's the old man in the room now, and he should be expected to carry himself better on and off the ice.
- Tomahawk

I agree. I'm just not ready to unload Hartnell for nothing.

Emery can get it done, he just needs a little more defensive structure around him, and he has to be positionally sound because he can't recover as quickly as Mason.

Emery can help us win game 1, can keep us in it, but he likely isn't going to steal anything and I'd be much more comfortable with Mason.

The one good thing, Emery is a playoff veteran, so that helps a lot.
- wolfhounds

With Emery I'm thinking we need at least 4 goals against the King to win. When was the last time we scored 4 in the garden?

So you want to trade a guy because you think his cap hit may hurt the team in 3-4 years?
- PhillySportsGuy

Nothing to do with cap hit. I think his skill set doesn't work on the bottom six. I guess I would rather move Hartnell before skills decline. I just don't see him being as effective year after year as some on the tope line.

Gotta be proactive, right? Let's trade Giroux, his play is bound to start deteriorating in 10-12 years.
- jmatchett383

We should really think about trading Couts now. His lack of speed is really going to hurt the team when he reaches 30.

That he does, and he deserves some credit for that.

But he's also responsible for some of the absolute stupidest things that any of us have ever seen a hockey player do. It was more tolerable when he was younger, but he's the old man in the room now, and he should be expected to carry himself better on and off the ice.
- Tomahawk

I listened to him explain why he speared the Carolina guy and I just shook my head. If he can't control himself in a meaningless playoff game then something is not right upstairs.

I knew it. I just knew it.

I agree. I'm just not ready to unload Hartnell for nothing.
- PhillySportsGuy

Thought we were getting Kane?

I agree. I'm just not ready to unload Hartnell for nothing.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think Hartnell holds more value than his stats would suggest. He still scored 20 in a bad year for most of the team though.......

But he did not directly crush the goalie. I don't think it was intentional to contact the goalie.
- MJL

He needlessly checked a defender into the goalie. It doesnt matter if it was intentional or not. You go to him right then and there.. not a period later after you lose your goalie to a (probable) concussion.

Nothing to do with cap hit. I think his skill set doesn't work on the bottom six. I guess I would rather move Hartnell before skills decline. I just don't see him being as effective year after year as some on the tope line.
- J35Bacher

So we should move Hartnell because he won't be a good third line player in 3-4 years?

Yeah, I was actually hoping for Khudobin, but they signed Emery right out of the gate. Think Khudobin went like 10 minutes later.
- jmatchett383

For less than half the price.

Thought we were getting Kane?
- Tomahawk

Kane for both Schenns

Hartnell to Toronto in order to open up cap space for Hemsky

Kane for both Schenns

Hartnell to Toronto in order to open up cap space for Hemsky
- PhillySportsGuy

Ah sorry, didn't back read.

Ah sorry, didn't back read.
- Tomahawk

Hemsky-G-Voracek. We'll be the best puck possession team, but the Corsi numbers will be terrible because none of them will shoot.

Think I'm gonna get a ban for telling the pens blog (where I'm usually very civil) that I hope a Blue Jackets player checks a defender into MAf and MAF goes down for the playoffs? I'm setting the odds at 3:2 in favor of a ban.

Tough guy, eh?
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't want to brag, but on the internet, I'm like a Navy Seal stopping bullets and pwning everybody in the Matrix.

Hemsky-G-Voracek. We'll be the best puck possession team, but the Corsi numbers will be terrible because none of them will shoot.
- PhillySportsGuy

I just cant help but think what Giroux could do with a player like Corey Perry

...could be worse.

Could be Leighton in net for game 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.

Perhaps this is fate giving emery his missed chance from 2010. That was a better team.

BLOW THE WHOLE TEAM UP WE'RE (frank)ED ANYWAY DON'T EVEN GO TO NEW YORK ABANDON SHIP!