i have had this sneaking feeling about this year.....i can see montreal somehow beating boston (after being outshot 8000-150 for the series) and the pens just walking over them (kind of like this series) and minnesota making it to the scf.....i think they could win another cup this year......i just puked a little
- hogweed

i would love to see minny pull that off. even if the pens were out. that be great for them. but i just cant see it.

someone sure is being a swell fellow this evening. the pens and phillies have pretty much provided some of either the bleakest or just crushingly mediocre seasons imaginable. i think i know how to watch a team even if they suck. it happens. sports are cyclical.
- stayinthefnnet

if you're really loyal it must really gall you to see all of the rats come back onto the ship. it's the same way with the pirates: when they suck the stadium is vacant. if the steelers had never won a SB that team would be in memphis or somewhere.....philly fans get poop all the (frank)ing time and all we do is consistently support our losing teams. really pisses me off that frontrunners like chicago fans and pittsburgh fans get rewarded

if you're really loyal it must really gall you to see all of the rats come back onto the ship. it's the same way with the pirates: when they suck the stadium is vacant. if the steelers had never won a SB that team would be in memphis or somewhere.....philly fans get poop all the (frank)ing time and all we do is consistently support our losing teams. really pisses me off that frontrunners like chicago fans and pittsburgh fans get rewarded
- hogweed

ive always lived in philadelphia. so i really dont see that many pens fans. the ones i do, honestly they really dont even seem to know enough about hockey for me to take seriously. ask some lax bro in a crosby jersey about alex kovalev, or hell even recent guys. im not nearly old enough to trot out like random names from teams gone by. but still. i guess the analogous situation for me would be the phillies and all of the crap people they picked up after their run. and yes, it irks the (frank) out of me.

honestly. i dont even really resent people too much for newly getting into things. you cant help when you may get exposed to something. what gets me though, is if you have the passion for it, then have the passion for it. that is what will bother me. dont claim to love team x, when you cant recognize anyone but the 2 or 3 team stars.

montreal will beat boston. who comes out of the ecf - i think it's a toss up, but i'd favor montreal.
- hammarby31

Hextall wants that 3rd rd pick to be a 2nd rd pick +. Sick that I am voting for the Bruins+Mez.

Hextall wants that 3rd rd pick to be a 2nd rd pick +. Sick that I am voting for the Bruins+Mez.
- jstross

it might happen. if it does, it won't be because of mez that's for sure.

ive always lived in philadelphia. so i really dont see that many pens fans. the ones i do, honestly they really dont even seem to know enough about hockey for me to take seriously. ask some lax bro in a crosby jersey about alex kovalev, or hell even recent guys. im not nearly old enough to trot out like random names from teams gone by. but still. i guess the analogous situation for me would be the phillies and all of the crap people they picked up after their run. and yes, it irks the (frank) out of me.

honestly. i dont even really resent people too much for newly getting into things. you cant help when you may get exposed to something. what gets me though, is if you have the passion for it, then have the passion for it. that is what will bother me. dont claim to love team x, when you cant recognize anyone but the 2 or 3 team stars.
- stayinthefnnet

i've only been to pukesburgh once or twice but 6 or 7 years after winning 2 cups the arena is empty and the second greatest player that ever played the game is grovelling at the state capital begging ed rendell for money to keep the team there?? wtf is that?? it isn't like 30 years went by, it was less than a decade and nobody gave a (frank) about them.....sickening. then when the flyers actually suck we don't even get the first pick......i'm off to bed to dream of every crosby, malkin and fleury jersey simultaneously spontaneously combusting

Erik Gustafsson
Shayne Gostisbehere
Samuel Morin
Robert Hagg

These are the names of our top prospects on defenseman. Gustafsson is already considered a Philadelphia but has yet to become a regular. Many for whatever reason believes Gostisbehere we ill make the team but I have no idea why, when we need to find a spot for Gustafsson first. Even if Gustafsson does make the team and Timonen retires, my guess is Hagg would be nexted up. Haggiis already a phantom.

Scott Laughton I'm assuming sadly replaces Hall for next season. It's sad because Hall was already established at his role and now we're choosing this bring along another inexperienced young center, while Schenn and Couturier are still continuing to grow, while we all await their first break out season.

My question is, do we stand by our youth or do we use assets to get the number one defenseman we all desire? Can we get the number one defenseman we all desire...without hurting the team's chances at a bright future and winning a Cup?

so much anger/hatred/scorn for hextall and the flyers over in the oilers blog. guess hextall made some thinly veiled comments about edmonton - his point being that even if you suck for many years in a row, it's no guarantee to winning in the future, and that it's difficult to be competitive on a consistent basis. he's right. and they're all butthurt over there when the truth is they despise their ownership and management and curse the fact they haven't been relevant for nearly 25 years. it's not like it's a shock they won 5 cups in 7 seasons since they were a virtual hall of fame team with some of the greatest players in nhl history at a time when goaltending was generally atrocious. they're now a carbon copy of the franchise they unseated. frankly, it's too bad. the league would be more entertaining if both organizations were still competitive.

they all think hextall will fail, and be a terrible gm because he was physical, sometimes dirty goalie who never won a cup. it's as comical as their franchise.

Erik Gustafsson
Shayne Gostisbehere
Samuel Morin
Robert Hagg

These are the names of our top prospects on defenseman. Gustafsson is already considered a Philadelphia but has yet to become a regular. Many for whatever reason believes Gostisbehere we ill make the team but I have no idea why, when we need to find a spot for Gustafsson first. Even if Gustafsson does make the team and Timonen retires, my guess is Hagg would be nexted up. Haggiis already a phantom.

Scott Laughton I'm assuming sadly replaces Hall for next season. It's sad because Hall was already established at his role and now we're choosing this bring along another inexperienced young center, while Schenn and Couturier are still continuing to grow, while we all await their first break out season.

My question is, do we stand by our youth or do we use assets to get the number one defenseman we all desire? Can we get the number one defenseman we all desire...without hurting the team's chances at a bright future and winning a Cup?
- SuperSchennBros

laughton doesn't necessarily push hall out. vinny/schenn/hartnell/couts - that all comes into play.

based on what i read today, i think hextall will be patient with our prospects, and keep our picks, hopefully drafting well.

Erik Gustafsson
Shayne Gostisbehere
Samuel Morin
Robert Hagg

These are the names of our top prospects on defenseman. Gustafsson is already considered a Philadelphia but has yet to become a regular. Many for whatever reason believes Gostisbehere we ill make the team but I have no idea why, when we need to find a spot for Gustafsson first. Even if Gustafsson does make the team and Timonen retires, my guess is Hagg would be nexted up. Haggiis already a phantom.

Scott Laughton I'm assuming sadly replaces Hall for next season. It's sad because Hall was already established at his role and now we're choosing this bring along another inexperienced young center, while Schenn and Couturier are still continuing to grow, while we all await their first break out season.

My question is, do we stand by our youth or do we use assets to get the number one defenseman we all desire? Can we get the number one defenseman we all desire...without hurting the team's chances at a bright future and winning a Cup?
- SuperSchennBros

Alt.

I hope they retain Hall. He did exactly what was expected of him and more. You always need a solid faceoff and PK guy, and he comes cheap. Short of a 4th line veteran upgrade, he should be on the roster next season.

SuperSchennBros...no relation to the regular SchennBros who haunts this board I assume.

laughton doesn't necessarily push hall out. vinny/schenn/hartnell/couts - that all comes into play.

based on what i read today, i think hextall will be patient with our prospects, and keep our picks, hopefully drafting well.
- hammarby31

Could make the draft all the more interesting because not only is it in Philly, Hexy could be looking to put his stamp on the team in a big way. He might flip tables and challenge other GMs to a fight like Roy and his first game as the Avs head coach.

F'n awesome.

Wonder if there isn't a way to trade with Calgary/Burke -
Own the 4th overall. Always liked the Schenn boys.

Wonder if there isn't a way to trade with Calgary/Burke -
Own the 4th overall. Always liked the Schenn boys.
- wilsonecho91

Just saw the pic you posted the other night...I know the movie.

Just saw the pic you posted the other night...I know the movie.


- wolfhounds

for the love of god, though, did he really need special nipple protection?

Could make the draft all the more interesting because not only is it in Philly, Hexy could be looking to put his stamp on the team in a big way. He might flip tables and challenge other GMs to a fight like Roy and his first game as the Avs head coach.

F'n awesome.
- wolfhounds

or tackle chris chellios!

for the love of god, though, did he really need special nipple protection?
- wilsonecho91

Maybe he has these big fat earthworm nipples and they need extra protection. Nothing wrong with that.

or tackle chris chellios!
- 2Real

Can we throw Shanny into the mayhem to make it really interesting?

Pronger was a point-per-game player in junior hockey when he was drafted. He was an absolute, can't miss prospect when he was drafted.

If Sam Morin had that kind of offensive output at his size, the Flyers wouldn't have had the chance to draft him.
- johndewar

Pronger also struggled quite a bit (on and off ice) in his early days in Hartford and got booed during a real tough first year in St. Louis. Success in the NHL took time.

You are right about offensive pedigree but there are also players like Chara who were late-bloomers.

i have had this sneaking feeling about this year.....i can see montreal somehow beating boston (after being outshot 8000-150 for the series) and the pens just walking over them (kind of like this series) and minnesota making it to the scf.....i think they could win another cup this year......i just puked a little
- hogweed

Wonder if there isn't a way to trade with Calgary/Burke -
Own the 4th overall. Always liked the Schenn boys.
- wilsonecho91

I dont think this draft is worth trading up that far. A guy like Honka may end up being as good as a top 10 pick. This is a draft where there are good players to be found, but it will be up to the scouts to find them.

Pronger also struggled quite a bit (on and off ice) in his early days in Hartford and got booed during a real tough first year in St. Louis. Success in the NHL took time.

You are right about offensive pedigree but there are also players like Chara who were late-bloomers.
- bmeltzer

I feel like GMs bring up players too early in order to validate their selections. It gives the perception that their selections are further ahead.

Tom Wilson has played 45 more NHL games than Laughton. Does anyone, truly, believe Wilson is ahead of Laughton?

for the love of god, though, did he really need special nipple protection?
- wilsonecho91

i don't understand the gap in forearm protection. the exposed areas have nothing to do with increasing mobility. who designed that (frank)ing thing? and why does his entire mouth/lower face need to be exposed?

I feel like GMs bring up players too early in order to validate their selections. It gives the perception that their selections are further ahead.

Tom Wilson has played 45 more NHL games than Laughton. Does anyone, truly, believe Wilson is ahead of Laughton?
- PhillySportsGuy

i don't even know who tom wilson is, or what team he plays for. jeeez. i think i'm losing interest.

Wonder if there isn't a way to trade with Calgary/Burke -
Own the 4th overall. Always liked the Schenn boys.
- wilsonecho91

the flyers are slotted to draft at 17. aren't there rules in place to prevent from jumping up that high?

i don't even know who tom wilson is, or what team he plays for. jeeez. i think i'm losing interest.
- hammarby31

Washington. He was picked in the same draft as Laughton. Instead of staying in Juniors, they called him up and played him in a Rinaldo role on the 4th line. He played 82 games, had 10 points and 151 PIM