Just roll with:

Provorov-Hagg
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Gostisbehere

Start the ball rolling to get them NHL experience for when it matters, all 3 have a combined 6 years AHL time so they're ready and not teenagers, Provorov is as pro as it gets, Ghost is in for a big bounce back, and Gudas can be the lead vet. I see no point in playing crappy defensemen to make the team worse and who have been key contributors in doing so in recent seasons, all under the guise of "veteran reliability." We don't need to acquire another league average vet either. I bet they end up outperforming another lineup anyway, and at worse, it's better long term and will be crazy entertaining. It's not like in each of the past two years our rookie defensemen have come in and been the most impactful on the team or anything. Ducks defense has managed fine in recent years doing something similar.

I don't think either guy would get taken, to be honest. All signs point to losing a forward.
- bmeltzer

Im afraid that they're going to lose Raffl.

Pens in 6, Cavs in 7

Just roll with:

Provorov-Hagg
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Gostisbehere

Start the ball rolling to get them NHL experience for when it matters, all 3 have a combined 6 years AHL time so they're ready and not teenagers, Provorov is as pro as it gets, Ghost is in for a big bounce back, and Gudas can be the lead vet. I see no point in playing crappy defensemen to make the team worse and who have been key contributors in doing so in recent seasons, all under the guise of "veteran reliability." We don't need to acquire another league average vet either. I bet they end up outperforming another lineup anyway, and at worse, it's better long term and will be crazy entertaining. It's not like in each of the past two years our rookie defensemen have come in and been the most impactful on the team or anything. Ducks defense has managed fine in recent years doing something similar.
- Mononoke

I'm in favor of promoting any of the young defenseman to the NHL is they're truly ready for it. I'm not in favor of feeding them to the wolves just to start the ball rolling.

Pens in 6, Cavs in 7


- StepfordSam

Poor Tay-Tay

Im afraid that they're going to lose Raffl.
- MJL

I think they might.

I do have a weird feeling that MacDonald could be in play. He could play some heavy minutes for Vegas and provide a little stability for them while starting out.

Wow didn't realize Kunitz is 37 years old. Hope Giroux is as good as him at that age. Fighting an uphill battle though, since hockey people around the league favor Kunitz, therefore making him a better hockey player.

Just roll with:

Provorov-Hagg
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Gostisbehere

Start the ball rolling to get them NHL experience for when it matters, all 3 have a combined 6 years AHL time so they're ready and not teenagers, Provorov is as pro as it gets, Ghost is in for a big bounce back, and Gudas can be the lead vet. I see no point in playing crappy defensemen to make the team worse and who have been key contributors in doing so in recent seasons, all under the guise of "veteran reliability." We don't need to acquire another league average vet either. I bet they end up outperforming another lineup anyway, and at worse, it's better long term and will be crazy entertaining. It's not like in each of the past two years our rookie defensemen have come in and been the most impactful on the team or anything. Ducks defense has managed fine in recent years doing something similar.
- Mononoke

Where's Myers at?

I would look into trading a forward we aren't protecting and trying to get back a defenseman that you could protect and play over manning and leave MacDonald unprotected.

Not sure of a name but that is something I would look into. He would have to be someone who can play maybe a 4/5/6 role in case MacDonald is taken by Vegas
- J35Bacher

The problem is that someone else would have to protect them. Ideally you would trade someone that is exempt to make it worth it for the other team, but who knows. A lot of interesting options appear to be out there. Tough to tell what these guys are thinking though

Just roll with:

Provorov-Hagg
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Gostisbehere

Start the ball rolling to get them NHL experience for when it matters, all 3 have a combined 6 years AHL time so they're ready and not teenagers, Provorov is as pro as it gets, Ghost is in for a big bounce back, and Gudas can be the lead vet. I see no point in playing crappy defensemen to make the team worse and who have been key contributors in doing so in recent seasons, all under the guise of "veteran reliability." We don't need to acquire another league average vet either. I bet they end up outperforming another lineup anyway, and at worse, it's better long term and will be crazy entertaining. It's not like in each of the past two years our rookie defensemen have come in and been the most impactful on the team or anything. Ducks defense has managed fine in recent years doing something similar.
- Mononoke

When the (frank) are you going to learn?

Wow didn't realize Kunitz is 37 years old. Hope Giroux is as good as him at that age. Fighting an uphill battle though, since hockey people around the league favor Kunitz, therefore making him a better hockey player.
- StepfordSam

Respect you, but just think that war is over

The problem is that someone else would have to protect them. Ideally you would trade someone that is exempt to make it worth it for the other team, but who knows. A lot of interesting options appear to be out there. Tough to tell what these guys are thinking though
- YuenglingJagr

Unless the other team has a spot to protect a forward.

I'm in favor of promoting any of the young defenseman to the NHL is they're truly ready for it. I'm not in favor of feeding them to the wolves just to start the ball rolling.
- MJL

I think a player with 3 years AHL time, 2 years AHL time, and our most purely talented defenseman who was the Phantoms's best defenseman in the second half are not being fed to any wolves. Most top tier prospects who excel in the AHL, like Sanheim, don't spend multiple years down there. Each is ready, and there's no point in getting cold feet because you'll have a lot of rookies. I imagine they just keep Sanheim, who is the one who should have the most impact, down though because they won't want 3 rookies on the back end and the others have played longer in the AHL. Cold feet.

When the (frank) are you going to learn?
- YuenglingJagr

I am a big Pickard fan. I think Avs keep him though. I think it will be a smaller goaltender signing though
- YuenglingJagr

The rumor out of Colorado is that they prefer to protect varlamov. Vegas could facilitate a trade with the flyers to take somebody and than trade him to us at goalie. Or devoid of talent Colorado could make a trade directly with us knowing they can't protect both.

Only to try and spice things up because we've talked about these moves ad nauseam, what's your predictions for the Stanley Cup? I'm going out on a limb and saying the refs will be complained about.

I think a player with 3 years AHL time, 2 years AHL time, and our most purely talented defenseman who was the Phantoms's best defenseman in the second half are not being fed to any wolves. Most top tier prospects who excel in the AHL, like Sanheim, don't spend multiple years down there. Each is ready, and there's no point in getting cold feet because you'll have a lot of rookies. I imagine they just keep Sanheim, who is the one who should have the most impact, down though because they won't want 3 rookies on the back end and the others have played longer in the AHL. Cold feet.
- Mononoke

Sanheim has played one season in the AHL. You don't look at prospects in terms of what most prospects have done. You look at that player individually and where he is at in his development. What has happened with most is irrelevant.

I agree. Flyers will most likely lose a forward anyway. But from a CYA planning perspective, it makes more sense to protect MacD than Manning.
- bmeltzer

Yup, I think the only reason to protect MacDonald is if you hope Vegas might just take Manning instead of Raffl or Laughton.

Sanheim has played one season in the AHL. You don't look at prospects in terms of what most prospects have done. You look at that player individually and where he is at in his development. What has happened with most is irrelevant.
- MJL

Okay, so where is Sanheim at in his development? That is what he is saying. There isn't a timer that goes off that says they're done cooking. A player as good as Sanheim (who has played well in the AHL) can do well in the NHL without spending much time in the AHL. A trend that is noticeable among top end defense prospects

place your bets....do you think the Flyers make a trade in the next 3 weeks?

- Mononoke

imagine how old those guys are now...you think they still sing it?

Sonny Sandoval is 43

Okay, so where is Sanheim at in his development? That is what he is saying. There isn't a timer that goes off that says they're done cooking. A player as good as Sanheim (who has played well in the AHL) can do well in the NHL without spending much time in the AHL. A trend that is noticeable among top end defense prospects
- YuenglingJagr

This doesn't make sense. Where I think he is or any other poster on HB thinks, is irrelevant. It matters what the Flyers think. Make all the generalizations you want. Duncan Keith spent two years in the AHL. Everyone wants the shiny new toys. If he's ready then he should make the team. To be determined. I want what is best for the player.

place your bets....do you think the Flyers make a trade in the next 3 weeks?
- YuenglingJagr

I do.

I think there will be a lot of movement in trying to organize rosters and protect certain players or move players instead of losing them for nothing.

This doesn't make sense. Where I think he is or any other poster on HB thinks, is irrelevant. It matters what the Flyers think. Make all the generalizations you want. Duncan Keith spent two years in the AHL. Everyone wants the shiny new toys. If he's ready then he should make the team. To be determined. I want what is best for the player.
- MJL

The 2nd year was the 04-05 lockout. Also Keith was more similar in size and pedigree to Ghost, than to Sanheim.

The more relevant point is that Sanheim outplayed Morin and Hagg on the phantoms this season.

place your bets....do you think the Flyers make a trade in the next 3 weeks?
- YuenglingJagr

Yes. A massively mediocre and underwhelming trade that we female dog about until the draft.