Luckily the Flyers are stacked with top pairing guys so they won't have to ask MacDonald to handle anything he isn't capable of doing.
- PLindbergh31

Like I said, he was all by himself in NYI. If he's on the top pair in Philly, he'll likely be with Coburn. While Coburn isn't exactly an elite defenseman, he's at least better than what AMac had in NYI.

With Timonen going down, Streit's age and the number of minutes Berube played him, I'm not sold that MacDonald's useage will be much different in Philly than NY.

I don't think he's as bad as the stats indicate, but I also know that I'm not sold he's capable of the role the Flyers seem to expect him to play. Looking at this team, he's basically the 2nd or 3rd defenseman. That means he's either facing top competition or he's anchoring the 2nd pair.

I hope he's up to it
- Jsaquella

I think Del Zotto could come in and surprise a lot of people in this regard. His defense can't be that much worse than the Kimmo "if you can't stop em, hold em." Timonen we've seen the past two years.

If the science is sound, then we have really nothing left to argue about, right?

Better data will be pursued and collected, we'll glean new insights into the game as a result, and the sport will be that much better for it. Meanwhile, scouts will still watch games, and GM's can still make decisions without having to pick up their TI-82's.

Defition of hunky dory.
- Tomahawk

I'll only add that teams have been collecting better data for years, and the analytics that NHL teams use, are years ahead of what the public views on analytic websites.

Like I said, he was all by himself in NYI. If he's on the top pair in Philly, he'll likely be with Coburn. While Coburn isn't exactly an elite defenseman, he's at least better than what AMac had in NYI.
- jmatchett383

Coburn is better than anything the Islanders had. But he's not a top pairing dman. With Timonen likely done, who is the Flyers second best defenseman?

I think Del Zotto could come in and surprise a lot of people in this regard. His defense can't be that much worse than the Kimmo "if you can't stop em, hold em." Timonen we've seen the past two years.
- hereticpride

Well I think Timonen has been much better then that, but as far as Del Zotto is concerned. Not that long ago he was a 22 minute a night defenseman on a team that was top 3 defensively in the entire league. So he can't be that bad defensively. Lots of reasons why a team is that good defensively, including goaltending. But clearly the talent is there. He just lost his way somewhere. Not uncommon for a young defenseman. Let's hope he finds it here.

Like I said, he was all by himself in NYI. If he's on the top pair in Philly, he'll likely be with Coburn. While Coburn isn't exactly an elite defenseman, he's at least better than what AMac had in NYI.
- jmatchett383

Hamonic got even heavier usage than AMac did... he didn't have a great year either, but his numbers looked like Shea Weber in comparison.

Coburn is better than anything the Islanders had. But he's not a top pairing dman. With Timonen likely done, who is the Flyers second best defenseman?
- PLindbergh31

Realistically? Probably AMac, possibly Schenn.

I'm not saying he won't see top competition, just that having a player like Coburn will, to some extent, ease a bit of the pressure.

Realistically? Probably AMac, possibly Schenn.

I'm not saying he won't see top competition, just that having a player like Coburn will, to some extent, ease a bit of the pressure.
- jmatchett383

Is it set in stone that he's playing with Coburn? Having AMac or Schenn as the second best dman, on a team without a top guy is frightening.

Is it set in stone that he's playing with Coburn? Having AMac or Schenn as the second best dman, on a team without a top guy is frightening.
- PLindbergh31

No it's not set in stone. It's not set in Stone that the Flyers won't trade for a top-pairing defenseman, that Chris Pronger won't magically heal and be ready for opening night, that AMac won't get hit by a bus tomorrow, or that Coburn won't be out for the season with a broken ass.

I am so sorry for coming onto HockeyBuzz to discuss possibilities for the upcoming Flyers' season. I'll go back to only discussing things which are hard facts that paint a terrible outcome for the Flyers in the near future.

I'll only add that some teams have been collecting better data for years, and the analytics that NHL teams use, are years ahead of what the public views on analytic websites.
- MJL

Fixed.

The others are scrambling to catch up... hello Toronto.

I think Del Zotto could come in and surprise a lot of people in this regard. His defense can't be that much worse than the Kimmo "if you can't stop em, hold em." Timonen we've seen the past two years.
- hereticpride

People on this board were DYING to get MDZ on the Flyers back before last season.

I think MDZ will be better than some think.

And while Kimmo isn't quite what he was, he was still pretty damned good.

I think Del Zotto could come in and surprise a lot of people in this regard. His defense can't be that much worse than the Kimmo "if you can't stop em, hold em." Timonen we've seen the past two years.
- hereticpride

I'm a fan of the MDZ addition & I was happy to hear Hextall say he was not just a Timonen panic move, had they had more cap flexibility they would have targeted him sooner.

MDZ is Rod Langway, but he's not as bad in his own end as some have made out. He is a solid hitter for his size.

Hamonic got even heavier usage than AMac did... he didn't have a great year either, but his numbers looked like Shea Weber in comparison.
- Tomahawk

Minutes wise, they played relatively the same amount.

Coburn is better than anything the Islanders had. But he's not a top pairing dman. With Timonen likely done, who is the Flyers second best defenseman?
- PLindbergh31

Travis Hamonic is a good defenseman, not as good as Coburn, but very solid. I still see AMac's usage being similar to his NYI days

Travis Hamonic is a good defenseman, not as good as Coburn, but very solid. I still see AMac's usage being similar to his NYI days
- Jsaquella

As do I. Especially now with Timonen out of the picture. MacDonald is being thrown into the deep end of the pool, hopefully he knows how to swim. He was eaten alive by top competition on the Island. There is no disputing that.

Fixed.

The others are scrambling to catch up... hello Toronto.
- Tomahawk

Hello!


http://sports.nationalpos...-used-them-weve-had-them/

From best to worst, how would you rate these current contracts:

Jordan Staal - 26 years old, 9 years remaining at $6M/season
Blake Wheeler - 28 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.6M/season
Jason Pominville - 31 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.6M/seasonBrooks Orpik - 33 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.5M/season
Dave Bolland - 28 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.5M/season
David Clarkson = 30 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.25M/season
Andrew MacDonald - 28 years old, 6 years remaining at $5M/season
Vincent Lecavalier - 34 years old, 4 years remaining at $4.5M/season

Hello!


http://sports.nationalpos...-used-them-weve-had-them/
- MJL

The same Toronto that's contradicted themselves in the media several times in the past year or so

Travis Hamonic is a good defenseman, not as good as Coburn, but very solid. I still see AMac's usage being similar to his NYI days
- Jsaquella

With the loss of Timonen, pretty much expected. And if the Flyers don'[t improve as a team at 5 on 5 and defensively. I think it's going to be an issue for all the Flyers defenseman.

The same Toronto that's contradicted themselves in the media several times in the past year or so
- BulliesPhan87

It's all circumstantial. None of us truly know to what extent they have used analytics.

From best to worst, how would you rate these current contracts:

Jordan Staal - 26 years old, 9 years remaining at $6M/season
Blake Wheeler - 28 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.6M/season
Jason Pominville - 31 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.6M/seasonBrooks Orpik - 33 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.5M/season
Dave Bolland - 28 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.5M/season
David Clarkson = 30 years old, 5 years remaining at $5.25M/season
Andrew MacDonald - 28 years old, 6 years remaining at $5M/season
Vincent Lecavalier - 34 years old, 4 years remaining at $4.5M/season
- jmatchett383

Bolland
AMac
Clarkson
Vinny
Pominville
Staal
Wheeler

Bolland
AMac
Clarkson
Vinny
Pominville
Staal
Wheeler
- Tomahawk

Orpik doesn't even make the list?

Orpik doesn't even make the list?
- jmatchett383

Oops, he's at 1.

Oops, he's at 1.
- Tomahawk

sarcasm??? I hope. Sorry, sarcasm emoticon detector is broken.

sarcasm??? I hope. Sorry, sarcasm emoticon detector is broken.
- jmatchett383

No sarcasm.