1) Gudas has unfortunately earned his rep, but that would have been a interference minor (and a very silly one to take, at that) by any other player. However, it was also an embellishment by Farnham, who has already been flagged and fined by the NHL for two dives/embellishments this year and carried a rep in the AHL of a guy who is not above doing that. Neither Gudas nor Farnham can be trusted. That's the bottom line. Farnham didn't miss a shift.

2) Blandisi himself admitted he embellished and should have reacted normally rather than, for the "benefit" of the officials, doing his aerial flip way after the fact. It was a needless and clear-cut slash. The sell was so over-the-top that it's going to be replayed whenever diving/embellishment videos are made -- and I don't mean by fans on Youtube, I mean by the NHL when they instruct their officials.

3) Glass houses, my friend. Devils are last in the NHL in scoring, live and die on the goaltending and special teams, have missed the playoffs four of the last five seasons and are in a precarious spot this season (especially having played more games than most of the teams right on their heels).

In the time since the Devils won their last Cup in 2003 -- with a trip to the Finals along the way and beating the Flyers in 2012, admittedly -- they've had four first-round exits, two second-round exits and four years out of the playoffs. In the same span, the Flyers have twice lost in the conference finals, once in a six-game Stanley Cup Final that could have gone either way, two second rounds, two first round and missed three times (quite possibly a fourth). Oh, and Philly won two of the three playoff series (2004, 2010 and 2012) played against the Devils in that span.

Neither team has all that much to be proud of as late. However, what would you call the Devils nucleus to build around? What's the state Lou left the farm system before Ray Shero came in? Who are the potential impact players so the team doesn't have to rely on veteran retreads such as the Lee Stempniaks and Mike Cammalleris of the league to be top line players?

The Flyers farm system was a mess a few years ago but has been rebuilt quickly, to the point that Gostisbehere isn't even the highest overall upside young defenseman in the system. They are not teeming in forward prospects but Konecny is a top-flight one and there a few other guys with top-nine upside. Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds are in their primes. Schenn and (prior to injury) Couturier finally seem to blossoming into what the Flyers projected they'd be.

If they were stock futures, the Flyers would be the smarter buy than the Devils. I think Ray is a good GM and the team will get more pieces in place. But to come in here trolling based on pumping the Devils' tires is false bravado.

Finally, consider this a warning that if you can't be civil on this board, you will disappear from it.
- bmeltzer

Also funny, Bill blog posters chiding others for coming here to troll. Because nobody from here would ever do such a thing, right?

franking hypocrites
- Scoob

I welcome any and all trolls

No secret. It's all about the feistiness. Feisty Schenn is best Schenn.
- Giroux_Is_God

They need to reaquire Luke in the offseason...so they can trade him again when Brayden is getting a little complacent.

1) Gudas has unfortunately earned his rep, but that would have been a interference minor (and a very silly one to take, at that) by any other player. However, it was also an embellishment by Farnham, who has already been flagged and fined by the NHL for two dives/embellishments this year and carried a rep in the AHL of a guy who is not above doing that. Neither Gudas nor Farnham can be trusted. That's the bottom line. Farnham didn't miss a shift.

2) Blandisi himself admitted he embellished and should have reacted normally rather than, for the "benefit" of the officials, doing his aerial flip way after the fact. It was a needless and clear-cut slash. The sell was so over-the-top that it's going to be replayed whenever diving/embellishment videos are made -- and I don't mean by fans on Youtube, I mean by the NHL when they instruct their officials.

3) Glass houses, my friend. Devils are last in the NHL in scoring, live and die on the goaltending and special teams, have missed the playoffs four of the last five seasons and are in a precarious spot this season (especially having played more games than most of the teams right on their heels).

In the time since the Devils won their last Cup in 2003 -- with a trip to the Finals along the way and beating the Flyers in 2012, admittedly -- they've had four first-round exits, two second-round exits and four years out of the playoffs. In the same span, the Flyers have twice lost in the conference finals, once in a six-game Stanley Cup Final that could have gone either way, two second rounds, two first round and missed three times (quite possibly a fourth). Oh, and Philly won two of the three playoff series (2004, 2010 and 2012) played against the Devils in that span.

Neither team has all that much to be proud of as late. However, what would you call the Devils nucleus to build around? What's the state Lou left the farm system before Ray Shero came in? Who are the potential impact players so the team doesn't have to rely on veteran retreads such as the Lee Stempniaks and Mike Cammalleris of the league to be top line players?

The Flyers farm system was a mess a few years ago but has been rebuilt quickly, to the point that Gostisbehere isn't even the highest overall upside young defenseman in the system. They are not teeming in forward prospects but Konecny is a top-flight one and there a few other guys with top-nine upside. Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds are in their primes. Schenn and (prior to injury) Couturier finally seem to blossoming into what the Flyers projected they'd be.

If they were stock futures, the Flyers would be the smarter buy than the Devils. I think Ray is a good GM and the team will get more pieces in place. But to come in here trolling based on pumping the Devils' tires is false bravado.

Finally, consider this a warning that if you can't be civil on this board, you will disappear from it.
- bmeltzer

Remember when the Devils skipped over Provorov then the Flyers ended up with the better player on Sarnia with the 25th pick. Lololololol

Also funny, Bill blog posters chiding others for coming here to troll. Because nobody from here would ever do such a thing, right?

franking hypocrites
- Scoob

yeah no one ever goes to say, the Rangers blog and trolls

Ek has us as interested in PA Parenteau on his rumor chart.
Thoughts?

Ek has us as interested in PA Parenteau on his rumor chart.
Thoughts?
- FlyersGrace

I think he finally may have gotten one right

Ek has us as interested in PA Parenteau on his rumor chart.
Thoughts?
- FlyersGrace

Don't see it.

Toronto wants picks. Not sure Hextall gives them what they are looking for.

Ek has us as interested in PA Parenteau on his rumor chart.
Thoughts?
- FlyersGrace

I actually live under the assumption that Ek attaches the Flyers name to every rumor

Remember when the Devils skipped over Provorov then the Flyers ended up with the better player on Sarnia with the 25th pick. Lololololol
- PhillySportsGuy

Ek has us as interested in PA Parenteau on his rumor chart.
Thoughts?
- FlyersGrace

Can't see why we'd add a veteran that would cost us an asset when he can be signed in the summer as a FA

I actually live under the assumption that Ek attaches the Flyers name to every rumor
- YuenglingJagr

Since Hextall came in we've dropped off the board for Ek. We are few and far between on his chart now. In years past we were all over the place. Makes me think that many of his "sources" have been threatened termination for leaked info. Of course that's just my opinion.
Only other player we are up there with is Gagner and that's us shopping him.

Ek has us as interested in PA Parenteau on his rumor chart.
Thoughts?
- FlyersGrace

Of course, this is the same guy who had us trading for Byfuglien on a daily basis for about 5 years or so.




Don't see Hexy being a buyer at the deadline.

I actually live under the assumption that Ek attaches the Flyers name to every rumor
- YuenglingJagr

yup, pretty much.

Of course, this is the same guy who had us trading for Byfuglien on a daily basis for about 5 years or so.




Don't see Hexy being a buyer at the deadline.
- BiggE

Yeah me neither. I would be curious to see if he can move Umberger, MacDonald, Medvedev, or Streit at the trade deadline.

Of course, this is the same guy who had us trading for Byfuglien on a daily basis for about 5 years or so.




Don't see Hexy being a buyer at the deadline.
- BiggE

I can in certain situations.

If it landed a young player to help with the future. But not a buyer as rentals or older vets.

Just as an example since his name is out there. Drouin. A player that is young and could fill a future need.

But not a buyer in the traditional sense.

A suspension will probably take care of this, can't see him dodging this one.
- puckhead17

I don't see him getting a suspension. It was a stupid interference penalty. It should not have been a match penalty. He needs to be scratched though, just to help him get his head on straight. I think that the organization sending him a message is more potent than a suspension anyway.

It takes two to tango and he's got plenty of dance partners who somehow don't meet the same demise.
- Scoob

But that was the point. There's things called "tact" and "politeness" that you can use to say the same thing a different way. When you go on the offensive and smugly talk down to people on a constant basis with an air of superiority, you're gonna get treated differently than your dance partners.

Vinnys last 6 games.....0 G 1 A -4

Of course, this is the same guy who had us trading for Byfuglien on a daily basis for about 5 years or so.




Don't see Hexy being a buyer at the deadline.
- BiggE

It's obviously a sign and trade with Buff. More to come

I don't see him getting a suspension. It was a stupid interference penalty. It should not have been a match penalty. He needs to be scratched though, just to help him get his head on straight. I think that the organization sending him a message is more potent than a suspension anyway.
- Lexington Flyer

I agree. I think that he should sit on the airplane to Montreal next to MacDonald so he can talk about all his AHL time as a reminder that playing at this level is a privilege and not guaranteed.
I had enough of this crap from Rinaldo I don't mind hitting or standing up for teammates but the stupidity HAS to end.

Since Hextall came in we've dropped off the board for Ek. We are few and far between on his chart now. In years past we were all over the place. Makes me think that many of his "sources" have been threatened termination for leaked info. Of course that's just my opinion.
Only other player we are up there with is Gagner and that's us shopping him.
- FlyersGrace

Makes sense.

On an expiring deal. Has good hands and can be a good player in the right situation.

Flyers next 8 games are against teams who currently are not in the playoffs. If they are going to make a run, now would be the time.

I don't see him getting a suspension. It was a stupid interference penalty. It should not have been a match penalty. He needs to be scratched though, just to help him get his head on straight. I think that the organization sending him a message is more potent than a suspension anyway.
- Lexington Flyer

Although it was a dumb play by Gudas I do not see how it is suspendable unless it has to do with how many match penalties he has this year. He did not target the head and was basically just beside him when he hit him. He did not take a run or anything from what I could see. This is a tough one because if they do not suspend him they are basically admitting that the wrong call was made on the ice, which it was.

No hearing for Gudas.