Braun and niskanen made us better. Both are top 40 in every defensive statistic in every one of the last 3 seasons. Both great PK. Both are hard to win puck battles against. Both are vocal guys and bring tons of playoff experience including playing in the cup.

I dont like the cost of either trade. I felt like we didnt negotiate from the position of strength which is what we had. However we gave up 0 parts of our future and got better today.

I expect more to come. Waiting and seeing

How so??? Kubina was almost 36 at the time he got traded to the Flyers. Braun is only 32 and is a good shutdown dman. Kubina was not
- Richieattack18

Kubina, Like Braun, was trending downward when traded. Braun, like Kubina, garnered more assets then what they are worth

Your mouth is a foot
- Richieattack18

That's a new one

New blog

Braun and niskanen made us better. Both are top 40 in every defensive statistic in every one of the last 3 seasons. Both great PK. Both are hard to win puck battles against. Both are vocal guys and bring tons of playoff experience including playing in the cup.

I dont like the cost of either trade. I felt like we didnt negotiate from the position of strength which is what we had. However we gave up 0 parts of our future and got better today.

I expect more to come. Waiting and seeing
- Tfaehner

Eh, picks are always part of the future so you can't really say zero but we didn't give up anything close to the NHL.

I don't think these are sexy moves by any means but I think it's going to clean up a lot of the nonsense in our own end that often asks way too much of our forwards and more importantly, our goalies.

How much better does it actually make them? How about next year? Should they go after a better older player to replace another younger player? What are they trying to do? You should make moves that make you a contender. Ask yourself what has a better chance of making the team a contender. Adding guys like Braun or continuing to develop younger players to have a deep core that opens a contending window over 7-8 year period? They have invested in young defenseman to this point. They should continue to play them to give them a chance to grow as players. Adding Niskanen was enough in my view.
- MJL

All valid and good points.

Next year who knows.

What I think they are trying to do is become a playoff team.

I think they really wanted an upgrade on Haag for the pk and bottom half of the D and Braun gives them that.

I still see them developing Provy, Sanheim and Myers and all 3 will get significant minutes even with Niskanen and Braun.

To take the next step to be a Cup contender depends on how much Provy and Sanheim and Myers and then Frost and the others still not in the NHL can improve. And then hitting on a draft pick to get the next Giroux. Takes some luck there.

I do think there is a good argument that adding 2 vet D while G and Jake are in their prime years is a positive thing to do.

I posted about the mandate that Fletcher is under previously. We have to understand that it's not just about what has happened to this point. Are we to believe that it won't be the same next season, and the season after? That's how they operated every year under Holmgren. Trying to win every season. The results of that are cumulative over time. The worst thing you can be is a cap team that is not quite good enough. Doing what they're doing this off season is how you get to that point. Yea, you make the playoffs and compete, maybe win a round or two. Ultimately though, you fall short. I'd rather remain patient and build the youth up to the point where your team is close. Then you identify a weakness at that point, not now cause it most likely will be different, and use the cap assets that you smartly saved for that key move.
- MJL

It would be foolish to think it won't be the same next season.

I feel like its simple to grasp no? I mean, i guess not so simple, but i thought it was.
- sjk540

Actually looking at it that way shows a lack if insight.

All valid and good points.

Next year who knows.

What I think they are trying to do is become a playoff team.

I think they really wanted an upgrade on Haag for the pk and bottom half of the D and Braun gives them that.

I still see them developing Provy, Sanheim and Myers and all 3 will get significant minutes even with Niskanen and Braun.

To take the next step to be a Cup contender depends on how much Provy and Sanheim and Myers and then Frost and the others still not in the NHL can improve. And then hitting on a draft pick to get the next Giroux. Takes some luck there.

I do think there is a good argument that adding 2 vet D while G and Jake are in their prime years is a positive thing to do.
- Marc D

Trading pick and taking away ice time from younger player just to become a playoff team is stupid team management. No other way around it.

You're right, you won't become a cup contender by trading for players like Braun. Who might only be here after this season. Let Haag play and continue to develop and try to become as good as Braun and have him for the next 5 years or whatever. It is a positive thing but there is a big picture to look at.

its funny that 2 of this boards biggest trolls are on the same side. go figure #teamnegative

I see that window we were about to open shrinking as we type.
- MBFlyerfan

How do you figure. One guys cap hit is gone after this season. The other the season after? I don’t love the trade, but it’s a little dramatic.

How do you figure. One guys cap hit is gone after this season. The other the season after? I don’t love the trade, but it’s a little dramatic.
- Flyers1218

These guys need to audition to be on broadway

How do you figure. One guys cap hit is gone after this season. The other the season after? I don’t love the trade, but it’s a little dramatic.
- Flyers1218

Do you think that comment was based on one move or the apparent mindset of how the team is going to operate moving forward based on everything that has been done to this point.

Do you think that comment was based on one move or the apparent mindset of how the team is going to operate moving forward based on everything that has been done to this point.
- MJL

You act like they ruined our entire future by trading a 2nd and 3rd round pick to improve our D and give them a player who has more playoff experience than pretty much everyone on our team combined.

Daryl Stanley is already on the top of my list for people you shouldn’t listen to because he seems to be fine with the deals makes. So I wouldn’t waste the potential Carpal tunnel syndrome typing to him.

However, arguing picks we should have gained is also a ridiculous argument, especially when you add those phantom picks to the actual picks we actually lost.
- SuperSchennBros

Pot meet kettle.

I love that people keep saying amacs buyout is hurting our cap when it is saving us almost 4mil.

Do you think that comment was based on one move or the apparent mindset of how the team is going to operate moving forward based on everything that has been done to this point.
- MJL

I don’t know. I’m not a part of management. But is $3.8 million spending to the cap?

Or is it more plausible they looked at the train wreck that was their defense last year and wanted to bring in veterans to help? Kinda like what they want to do with their goaltending.

I don’t love the trade, but I just don’t get people around here. It’s (frank)ing pathetic. Cry about everything and act all high and mighty. You’re commenting on a hockey website, you have no (frank)ing idea what the Flyers are thinking.

Dude you're losing the battle on that front. Go read most of the responses to the trade. You said "everyone" will support fletcher no matter what, and that's not true. So stop trying to retract your comment
- bulet13

At what point did I retract my statement?

I’m not losing anything. There are still a lot of stupid people who think these are good moves.

What’s funny is, you actually think what you say matters. Notebook this age and file this comment away.

Braun and niskanen made us better. Both are top 40 in every defensive statistic in every one of the last 3 seasons. Both great PK. Both are hard to win puck battles against. Both are vocal guys and bring tons of playoff experience including playing in the cup.

I dont like the cost of either trade. I felt like we didnt negotiate from the position of strength which is what we had. However we gave up 0 parts of our future and got better today.

I expect more to come. Waiting and seeing
- Tfaehner

We’re going to have to give up a future piece now, it’s just a matter of when!!

Provorov, Sanheim, Gostisbehere, Myers, Hagg, Morin. That’s six! We added Niskanen and Braun.

Guess what, someone has to go!

Your mouth is a foot
- Richieattack18

Damnit it was right there too!

We’re going to have to give up a future piece now, it’s just a matter of when!!

Provorov, Sanheim, Gostisbehere, Myers, Hagg, Morin. That’s six! We added Niskanen and Braun.

Guess what, someone has to go!
- SuperSchennBros

Good. We trade from a position of strength (young d with potential) to upgrade a position of weakness (top6fwd) yay simple!

Good. We trade from a position of strength (young d with potential) to upgrade a position of weakness (top6fwd) yay simple!
- Richieattack18

Unless they flip an old guy and retain salary.

Good. We trade from a position of strength (young d with potential) to upgrade a position of weakness (top6fwd) yay simple!
- Richieattack18

Unless they flip an old guy and retain salary.

Unless they flip an old guy and retain salary.
- Sinisalo4vr

Seems unlikely that they will trade one of their ancient 32 year old dmen that they just traded to get. Don’t you think?

Kubina, Like Braun, was trending downward when traded. Braun, like Kubina, garnered more assets then what they are worth
- corduroy

2nd and 3rds are very rarely going to turn into a top 4 dman. Sorry