I'm assuming Drouin is much close to being ready than anything we draft.
- SuperSchennBros

He's probably closer, unless it's a guy like Provorov. I'm not too worried about who is closer, though, worried more about who will be better.

Another factor is, Drouin has already burned a season off his nice cheap ELC, making his payday a year sooner

It makes sense why you would only offer #7 and in the end that's what it may only take. With this offseason, this summer could be very interesting. I do hope Hexy finds a way to get Zaitsev. I know he is going to have to move out a bunch of dmen, but I think getting a 23 year old dman who has played well in the KHL is worth the gamble.
- ravishingone

I'm all over Zaitsev if they go that route.

Not sure how this place didn't explode when someone suggested Laughton and a 2nd or 3rd for Drouin.

With all due respect that is the most outlandish trade proposal I've seen in a long time.

Not sure how this place didn't explode when someone suggested Laughton and a 2nd or 3rd for Drouin.

With all due respect that is the most outlandish trade proposal I've seen in a long time.
- hereticpride

Outlandish in which regard?

Thats the sad part. Two years ago Drouin was a cant miss prospect. He was gonna be the guy who put the Bolts over the top. Now he is consistently in the dog house, and there have been rumors swirling.

Hartnell trade is going to look very good in 12 years.

He's probably closer, unless it's a guy like Provorov. I'm not too worried about who is closer, though, worried more about who will be better.

Another factor is, Drouin has already burned a season off his nice cheap ELC, making his payday a year sooner
- Jsaquella

Yup, plus I really don't think Tampa is moving Drouin anyway.

Outlandish in which regard?

Thats the sad part. Two years ago Drouin was a cant miss prospect. He was gonna be the guy who put the Bolts over the top. Now he is consistently in the dog house, and there have been rumors swirling.
- jak521

Tampa has a stacked top 6. That is not Drouin's fault. And the coach isn't going to mess with lines when they're working.

But hey, Morin hasn't made it to the big club yet. Let's trade him for 28th overall and a 3rd while we still can.

I'm not completely sure if Drouin is really in the doghouse. I'm almost thinking that they're treating him like Ottawa did with Spezza. They're not just going to hand him the top line position (which he will undoubtedly get soon - who would break up that second line). He's got to show that he can deal with some adversity first and really put in the work ethic to earn that spot.

Maybe not a carbon copy of how Ottawa treated Spezza, but along the same lines, in my opinion.

Hartnell trade is going to look very good in 12 years.
- Streit2ThePoint

That's when 2015 draft pick Jens Lööke will be leading the Flyers to their 8th consecutive Stanley Cup while old man Hartnell is out of the game living with James "Logan" Howlett in some barren tundra in Western Canada.

I'm not completely sure if Drouin is really in the doghouse. I'm almost thinking that they're treating him like Ottawa did with Spezza. They're not just going to hand him the top line position (which he will undoubtedly get soon - who would break up that second line). He's got to show that he can deal with some adversity first and really put in the work ethic to earn that spot.

Maybe not a carbon copy of how Ottawa treated Spezza, but along the same lines, in my opinion.
- Coleman

Agreed. The guy oozes talent, but is prone to defensive lapses that can kill you in a tight playoff game. Does that mean that you give up on him and trade him? No. Hell, I'm just jealous that they have the offensive firepower to keep a guy like Drouin out of the lineup!

Agreed. The guy oozes talent, but is prone to defensive lapses that can kill you in a tight playoff game. Does that mean that you give up on him and trade him? No. Hell, I'm just jealous that they have the offensive firepower to keep a guy like Drouin out of the lineup!
- BiggE

Well, in the Flyers defense, they have been keeping Akeson out of their lineup as well.

Well, in the Flyers defense, they have been keeping Akeson out of their lineup as well.
- jmatchett383

He clearly doesn't try hard enough.

Also, peeing in Berube's coffee and crapping on Hextall's desk was most likely not the best path to career enhancement.

I'm very late but this article's headline has a typo. "Gus Refubbed" sounds funny, but I think you mean rebuffed.

I'm very late but this article's headline has a typo. "Gus Refubbed" sounds funny, but I think you mean rebuffed.
- Feanor

Nope, refubbed, as in "fubbed again." Example: "Man, the refs sure refubbed the Flyers last night."

From Matt Henderson's blog:

"A few days ago we took a look at the Oilers’ current roster looking for some kind of heaviness, be it playing style, hit totals, or just some actually heavy players. We did that because Chiarelli has expressed a desire to make the Oilers a heavier team. They need to be tougher to play against and this exercise should help pinpoint who among the skaters is most likely to move."

Step right up folks, get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime steal. We have, for a limited time, one slightly crippled Niklas Grossmann (with 2 "n"s no less) and one used Luke Schenn, who can shoot right-handed and really made some ill-timed big hits. Act now, as we're selling at 0% down on these guys, all we ask are that you take them and give us a few 2nd or 3rd round draft picks in return. Don't let these deals get away, because once they're gone...well, we have some similar deals, actually. Come to think of it, can you please call us? Please.

Tampa has a stacked top 6. That is not Drouin's fault. And the coach isn't going to mess with lines when they're working.

But hey, Morin hasn't made it to the big club yet. Let's trade him for 28th overall and a 3rd while we still can.
- hereticpride

Again, Im not saying its realistic. Im not defending it.

Im just saying that he isnt as slam dunk as he was expected to be. Kids still really good and still has an incredible ceiling. But there are trade rumors and what not. That speaks some volume.

I'm still back reading but all this Grossmann trade talk has me sad. I know his flaws - we all do - but I just enjoy watching the big man play. So I'll be sad to see him go. And screw you all I'm still gonna wear his jersey...

From Matt Henderson's blog:

"A few days ago we took a look at the Oilers’ current roster looking for some kind of heaviness, be it playing style, hit totals, or just some actually heavy players. We did that because Chiarelli has expressed a desire to make the Oilers a heavier team. They need to be tougher to play against and this exercise should help pinpoint who among the skaters is most likely to move."

Step right up folks, get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime steal. We have, for a limited time, one slightly crippled Niklas Grossmann (with 2 "n"s no less) and one used Luke Schenn, who can shoot right-handed and really made some ill-timed big hits. Act now, as we're selling at 0% down on these guys, all we ask are that you take them and give us a few 2nd or 3rd round draft picks in return. Don't let these deals get away, because once they're gone...well, we have some similar deals, actually. Come to think of it, can you please call us? Please.
- jmatchett383

- Nucker101

GTFO!

I'm still back reading but all this Grossmann trade talk has me sad. I know his flaws - we all do - but I just enjoy watching the big man play. So I'll be sad to see him go. And screw you all I'm still gonna wear his jersey...

- FlyersGrace

I like grossman too. I think he's brings some very valuable commodities to the team. I know in one of Bill's blogs much earlier in the year, mason is quoted saying something along the lines that grossman was/is our best dman, his positioning, shot blocking, crease clearing makes his (mason's) job a LOT easier.

Like I said, I like grossman a lot, but honestly, for a fair return, anyone not named Giroux, Voracek, Mason or Simmonds, I wouldn't mind seeing gone this offseason. We're trying to go through a mini on the fly rebuild, but that's not gonna work when we have so little cap space.

I like grossman too. I think he's brings some very valuable commodities to the team. I know in one of Bill's blogs much earlier in the year, mason is quoted saying something along the lines that grossman was/is our best dman, his positioning, shot blocking, crease clearing makes his (mason's) job a LOT easier.

Like I said, I like grossman a lot, but honestly, for a fair return, anyone not named Giroux, Voracek, Mason or Simmonds, I wouldn't mind seeing gone this offseason. We're trying to go through a mini on the fly rebuild, but that's not gonna work when we have so little cap space.
- benjichronic

I'm also a big supporter of Grossmann, but I think his time has come to an end on this team. Sadly, his knees are gone, and I think it's just time to move on.

I like grossman too. I think he's brings some very valuable commodities to the team. I know in one of Bill's blogs much earlier in the year, mason is quoted saying something along the lines that grossman was/is our best dman, his positioning, shot blocking, crease clearing makes his (mason's) job a LOT easier.

Like I said, I like grossman a lot, but honestly, for a fair return, anyone not named Giroux, Voracek, Mason or Simmonds, I wouldn't mind seeing gone this offseason. We're trying to go through a mini on the fly rebuild, but that's not gonna work when we have so little cap space.
- benjichronic

That's a big endorsement.

That's a big endorsement.
- Scoob

Mason also gave a lot of credit to Reese for his turnaround. So if that's any indication, management can't wait to rid itself of Grossmann's services.

That's a big endorsement.
- Scoob

It was a really big endorsement. I'd go through all the archives to find the blog because after that, I kinda had a different appreciation for big nik.

I'm all over Zaitsev if they go that route.
- Jsaquella

I'd still keep #7 and just use it on a forward which they still need players at for the future too.