I wonder what it's like to sit next to a teammate knowing he's making in a game and a half the same money I'm making in an entire season
- Just5

Eapecially when they are probably almost or just as good as he is

Maybe. Laughton is young, and misused (in my opinion) but has yet to be more than a bottom-6 player. Morin is young and may become a top-4 guy, but has yet to do anything at the NHL level. The first will likely be a top-10 pick.

Trouba is a proven, yet young, NHL defenseman who can be your top-pair anchor. He'll never be Chris Pronger or Rob Blake, but he could be a Scott Stevens/Kevin Hatcher type.
- jmatchett383

I dont think you pick guys in the first round and give up on them before they turn 22. That is 3 first round picks essentially for Jacob Trouba, which is basically a phil kessel trade. There isnt much incentive for either side to make that trade

I wonder what it's like to sit next to a teammate knowing he's making in a game and a half the same money I'm making in an entire season
- Just5

I think it is something like 61k every time he laces the skates up.

I'm a firm believer that the first responsibility of a defenseman is to play defense. That said, is there any way that you don't give the Norris to Erik Karlsson this year? He's second in the NHL in scoring and, while he's not Larry Robinson, he's at worst average defensively. The guy is unreal.

I'm a firm believer that the first responsibility of a defenseman is to play defense. That said, is there any way that you don't give the Norris to Erik Karlsson this year? He's second in the NHL in scoring and, while he's not Larry Robinson, he's at worst average defensively. The guy is unreal.
- jmatchett383

It all depends on the true meaning of the Norris trophy, but precedent says it would go to him for sure. The best at "defense" is debatable and there is no one that takes over a game like he can from the back end.

I dont think you pick guys in the first round and give up on them before they turn 22. That is 3 first round picks essentially for Jacob Trouba, which is basically a phil kessel trade. There isnt much incentive for either side to make that trade
- YuenglingJagr

It's a lot of potential for a proven (at least to a large extent) commodity. It's the same reason I wouldn't trade Giroux for McDavid this offseason: Giroux is a proven star, McDavid had yet to play 1 NHL game. Morin, Laughton, and the player chosen may or may not be more than bottom-6 forwards/bottom-4 defenseman. Trouba is young but it already a #1 defenseman.

It all depends on the true meaning of the Norris trophy, but precedent says it would go to him for sure. The best at "defense" is debatable and there is no one that takes over a game like he can from the back end.
- YuenglingJagr

Since it's given to "the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position," I think he had to. Part of being a defenseman is to be able to handle the puck after you've gotten possession, and no one in the NHL does that better than him, and he's better at it by A LOT. That more than makes up for the difference in defensive play between him and a guy like Weber/Doughty/etc.

It's easier than ever to see which Flyers players are waiver-exempt. So easy, even a Seravalli should be able to do it.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flyers

It's a lot of potential for a proven (at least to a large extent) commodity. It's the same reason I wouldn't trade Giroux for McDavid this offseason: Giroux is a proven star, McDavid had yet to play 1 NHL game. Morin, Laughton, and the player chosen may or may not be more than bottom-6 forwards/bottom-4 defenseman. Trouba is young but it already a #1 defenseman.
- jmatchett383

I wouldnt call him a #1 already, but he certainly looks to have that ability. I wouldve traded Giroux for McDavid

Were that player me, I'd be happy knowing that I'm making more than the average person annually by playing a game.
- jmatchett383

Not me. I'd remind him about it all the time no matter how he took it

Since it's given to "the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position," I think he had to. Part of being a defenseman is to be able to handle the puck after you've gotten possession, and no one in the NHL does that better than him, and he's better at it by A LOT. That more than makes up for the difference in defensive play between him and a guy like Weber/Doughty/etc.
- jmatchett383

I agree with you and I think most voters do as well. But some people view it as the best at defense, which he certainly is not. I dont think he is the best all around either. He is the most talented

It's easier than ever to see which Flyers players are waiver-exempt. So easy, even a Seravalli should be able to do it.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flyers
- Feanor

Somewhat related:

When Matt Read entered the NHL as a 25-year-old (you can use Panarin, too), he had to sign an ELC as if he had been picked in the NHL draft. However, Evgeni Medvedev came in as a 33-year-old and was able to sign for however many years and whatever term he wanted. What is the cut-off for ELC vs. UFA if you're undrafted?

Not me. I'd remind him about it all the time no matter how he took it
- Just5

Well, you'd be what is known as a "locker room cancer" in that case. It doesn't matter what your teammates make, you just worry about yourself and do your best to help your team win.

I agree with you and I think most voters do as well. But some people view it as the best at defense, which he certainly is not. I dont think he is the best all around either. He is the most talented
- YuenglingJagr

Guys like Ray Bourque/Nicklas Lidstrom/Bobby Orr don't come around often, guys who can dominate at both ends of the ice. He's not the best at playing on the defensive side of the puck, but his sheer ability once he gets the puck, to me, outweights any/all defensive shortcomings he has.

Or we can just give it to the defenseman with the best CA60

Guys like Ray Bourque/Nicklas Lidstrom/Bobby Orr don't come around often, guys who can dominate at both ends of the ice. He's not the best at playing on the defensive side of the puck, but his sheer ability once he gets the puck, to me, outweights any/all defensive shortcomings he has.

Or we can just give it to the defenseman with the best CA60
- jmatchett383

bro do you even dCorsi

Mason has been a top-10 NHL goalie, behind a patchwork defense, since he became a Flyer. If you want a top-10 goalie, you need to pay him like one.
- jmatchett383

I suppose if you put Mason at 10th he's a top ten guy. I don't have the numbers in front of me but based on both team and personal success, I like these guys better.

Price
Lundqvist
Quick
Schneider
Rask
Lunongo
Crawford
Fleury
Rinne

Hiller in Calgary I feel is apart of the Flames turn around and I like Bishop a lot too. Rinne might be having an off season but he's been solid most of his career.

Couturier is their Filppula. If they can get a playmaker like Konecny with him and say Schenn I think you'll see them really take off.

I would have tried to get Kassian off waivers as I think a guy like him would be great on the 4th line. He has more skill then people think and has size. I think he would be an upgrade to White.
- J35Bacher

I've been saying this about Kassian since forever.

It all depends on the true meaning of the Norris trophy, but precedent says it would go to him for sure. The best at "defense" is debatable and there is no one that takes over a game like he can from the back end.
- YuenglingJagr

Doesn't say anything about having to be the best defender, just the best player at that position, right? Karlsson is far and away the best/most-talented/most-irreplaceable player on D... bar none.

If available, would you do:

Laughton
Morin
2016 1st (top-3 protected to 2017)

for Trouba?
- jmatchett383

No.

A week or two ago, a couple of SXM NHL Network guys (I think it was Kouleas and Gage) were talking about the whole "don't give the Norris to the highest scoring dman" debate. It was pretty boiler plate, but one of them asked if it should be split into two trophies, one for best offensive defenseman and the other for best defensive defenseman. The reaction was, "No, no, then we're pretty much giving out participation trophies."

Which raised two questions from me:
1. Um, what?
2. What is with the fascination with participation trophies?

Ghost
Provorov
Morin
Sanheim
Myers and Friedman, even

Stolarz
Sandstrom

Aube-Kubel
Konecny
Lindblom

It's time for a paradigm shift, people

I'm sure it's been said already but Buff getting locked up can only help Streit's value at the deadline. Maybe just marginally but still...

Glad they didn't get Byfuglien at that contract

Doesn't say anything about having to be the best defender, just the best player at that position, right? Karlsson is far and away the best/most-talented/most-irreplaceable player on D... bar none.
- Tomahawk

And the thing about Karl's Son is that he knows how to play to his strengths. He isn't the best coverage d man, and no one would mistake him for a shutdown guy, but he's basically a more experienced, better Ghost back there: tries hard and does what he can, but relies on superior NZ defense and unreal hockey sense to get the puck out of there as quickly as possible or to prevent it from ever entering.

He carries his team laughably so. Without him they'd go from dumpster fire to 1945 Dresden. He's the most dynamic player in the league. Not just for defenseman imo.

Luke Schenn was selected 10 spots ahead of Karlsson. Guys. If you think about it REALLY hard, the Flyers traded Erik Karlsson for Jordan Weal and a 3rd.