pretty sure that was similar to what they wrote about niskanen. And Ellis is better than nisk was at that point. Seems you've moved on from meyers is really good, to why would nashville trade ellis. This trade is done, lets move on to the next topic like who are we drafting lol. We keeping the pick?
- bradster

Niskanen did not have the injury history that Ellis has. Niskanen also only had two years left on his deal. If you're going to characterize my statements or positions, you need to be accurate. You aren't here. I also haven't moved on from anything.

I think we are in no worse if not a better cap situation then the Preds right now and Flyers are trying to move cap. People want to make moves and better their clubs. Preds we’re going to have a ton of cap on their blue line. They are talented there fir sure.

He does have a track record of missing time. He is no Provy in that respect. He is more skilled then Provy right now. Just a super smart player.
- peesinwind

Here is the bottom line as I see it. Poile chose to move Ellis due in large part to his injury history and how he perceives his career to progress. He also wanted to protect other defenseman. Poile could've no doubt gotten a better deal for Ellis after the ED but didn't want to wait due to protection concerns. Now GM's aren't infallible and he could be wrong about Ellis if that is indeed what his thinking was. This is all just speculation of course on my part.

pretty sure that was similar to what they wrote about niskanen. And Ellis is better than nisk was at that point. Seems you've moved on from meyers is really good, to why would nashville trade ellis. This trade is done, lets move on to the next topic like who are we drafting lol. We keeping the pick?
- bradster

I think Fletcher wants to move the pick for another veteran player. If the Flyers end up keeping the pick, its because every trade scenario that included the pick fell through which would be a bummer IMO. The Flyers do not need this number 1 pick, they have enough prospects coming up, I would rather see them use it to get an established player that can help this team now.

Ellis is better than Ekholm. Ellis is RH. Why didn't they trade Ekholm instead? Ellis is cost controlled and under contract. Ekholm could walk.
- MJL

I maybe wrong but I think he was referring to the Preds cap situation as to why they may have moved Ellis. He did bounce back and forth between the Preds and Flyers. But I think the whole idea was to stress why the Preds gave Ellis away for the cheap.

Niskanen did not have the injury history that Ellis has. Niskanen also only had two years left on his deal. If you're going to characterize my statements or positions, you need to be accurate. You aren't here. I also haven't moved on from anything.
- MJL

but they did write similar about nisky, that he had lost his touch. Played pretty well for us.

I think Fletcher wants to move the pick for another veteran player. If the Flyers end up keeping the pick, its because every trade scenario that included the pick fell through which would be a bummer IMO. The Flyers do not need this number 1 pick, they have enough prospects coming up, I would rather see them use it to get an established player that can help this team now.
- jd250

Might be better use it on another D man, i would like savard, but think he might be too expensive now. But i would like to keep our assets and sign a FA to fill our holes.

Here is what the Nashville blogger wrote who predicted that Ellis would be moved by the Preds. Take it with the usual grain of salt.



(This is a tough one. He seems to have lost his touch lately. Getting slower, no longer the dominant force he was before and the young stud we remember from leading the point for Team Canada and Windsor. I still have faith, but this one is on the edge for me. He’s under contract until he’s 37. If he's slow at 30, then well 37 doesn’t seem to look good, unless we suddenly get some Benjamin Button stuff going on).”
- MJL

Well, then that goes towards why the price was so minimal. Either way, the team is better now than it was before the trade.

Here is the bottom line as I see it. Poile chose to move Ellis due in large part to his injury history and how he perceives his career to progress. He also wanted to protect other defenseman. Poile could've no doubt gotten a better deal for Ellis after the ED but didn't want to wait due to protection concerns. Now GM's aren't infallible and he could be wrong about Ellis if that is indeed what his thinking was. This is all just speculation of course on my part.
- MJL

What other RHD would have been a better fit for what we gave up? I like this over a Seth Jones who only has 1 yr left. I'm not sure its a very long list. And most likely Ellis injury history is why we didn't have to pay that much to get him. Losing 2 of our worst players last year, isn't really losing that much.

Here is the bottom line as I see it. Poile chose to move Ellis due in large part to his injury history and how he perceives his career to progress. He also wanted to protect other defenseman. Poile could've no doubt gotten a better deal for Ellis after the ED but didn't want to wait due to protection concerns. Now GM's aren't infallible and he could be wrong about Ellis if that is indeed what his thinking was. This is all just speculation of course on my part.
- MJL

Yes, let's hope Poile panicked and made a dumb move. I will say this, the last few games I watched Ellis play in the playoffs, he didn't look slow or injured. They were all OT games and in some games Ellis played over 30 minutes. Hopefully that is the Ellis the Flyers are getting.

Might be better use it on another D man, i would like savard, but think he might be too expensive now. But i would like to keep our assets and sign a FA to fill our holes.
- bradster

I don't see Savard making more than $5M per, he is not an elite defenseman by any means, but a solid and physical player. Thus somewhere around where is he is now in salary is right for him.

Saw this comment from someone at the bottom of an article I was reading, I thought it was a very interesting scenario, drat, I lost it from my buffer, oh well, the gist of it was:

1. Seattle trades for Tarasenko
2. They then flip Tarasenko to the Flyers for Jake + a 2nd or 3rd round pick
3. Seattle selects Hagg in the ED

What do you think of this? For me, if Tarasenko was healthy and motivated to play as well as he did during the St. Louis cup run, I would definitely consider this trade.
- jd250

Not sure that you will ever see that Tarasenko again. But maybe. He is not out of his prime. He has had a lot of wear and tear with a serious shoulder issue.

I like the trade if he is healthy to play most of the season the next couple years. He is a talented player. Not that Jake isn’t. I just think Tarasenko has a high ability and is a sniper.

The other thing is he is cheaper and he is one less year so that risk of health is mitigated some for me.

Not sure that you will ever see that Tarasenko again. But maybe. He is not out of his prime. He has had a lot of wear and tear with a serious shoulder issue.

I like the trade if he is healthy to play most of the season the next couple years. He is a talented player. Not that Jake isn’t. I just think Tarasenko has a high ability and is a sniper.

The other thing is he is cheaper and he is one less year so that risk of health is mitigated some for me.
- peesinwind

Yes, good points. In comparison to Jake, assuming Tarasenko's shoulder is somewhat attached correctly, he will at least shoot the puck, which in itself makes him better than Jake. Still, a lot of risk here, so I can see where the Flyers would stay away.

Here is the bottom line as I see it. Poile chose to move Ellis due in large part to his injury history and how he perceives his career to progress. He also wanted to protect other defenseman. Poile could've no doubt gotten a better deal for Ellis after the ED but didn't want to wait due to protection concerns. Now GM's aren't infallible and he could be wrong about Ellis if that is indeed what his thinking was. This is all just speculation of course on my part.
- MJL

All a fair statement. It’s a good opinion backed up with some facts.

It will be interesting to watch it play out. I will be still here cheering the black and orange.

Here is what the Nashville blogger wrote who predicted that Ellis would be moved by the Preds. Take it with the usual grain of salt.



(This is a tough one. He seems to have lost his touch lately. Getting slower, no longer the dominant force he was before and the young stud we remember from leading the point for Team Canada and Windsor. I still have faith, but this one is on the edge for me. He’s under contract until he’s 37. If he's slow at 30, then well 37 doesn’t seem to look good, unless we suddenly get some Benjamin Button stuff going on).”
- MJL

The fact you don't like the deal is very satisfying. What ever move is next I also hope you do not like.

The fact you don't like the deal is very satisfying. What ever move is next I also hope you do not like.
- hello it's me 2050

I don't understand this comment. I haven't read anything from MJL that says he didn't like the deal, but he is rightly questioning why Poile would get such an apparent low return for a player like Ellis. I think this is an interesting point and discussion.

I think Fletcher wants to move the pick for another veteran player. If the Flyers end up keeping the pick, its because every trade scenario that included the pick fell through which would be a bummer IMO. The Flyers do not need this number 1 pick, they have enough prospects coming up, I would rather see them use it to get an established player that can help this team now.
- jd250

Picking at 13 is a good pick. They should be able to pick a good future asset. Not sure I move this pick. I loved the banter between out GM and his top guy about moving or keeping the pick. Good to not just have a yes guy as your number one staff member.

Only move it if the return is a strong win.

I don't understand this comment. I haven't read anything from MJL that says he didn't like the deal, but he is rightly questioning why Poile would get such an apparent low return for a player like Ellis. I think this is an interesting point and discussion.
- jd250

Can be many reasons why he got the return he got. That can be speculated all day. From good reason to bad reasons.

What do you think the market was for Ellis pre ED? Who else was possible interested?

What other RHD would have been a better fit for what we gave up? I like this over a Seth Jones who only has 1 yr left. I'm not sure its a very long list. And most likely Ellis injury history is why we didn't have to pay that much to get him. Losing 2 of our worst players last year, isn't really losing that much.
- bradster

I liked Seth Jones as a trade option. His 5M plus AAV next year for what he would bring would have been awesome. But he was not going to sign and test FA. So that is not something that CF wanted and I agree. But even if we were to sign him it was going to cost a lot. 8-9M with a ling term is my guess. I would have been in favor of it but I like Ellis at 6.25 a lot more. 😎

I think Fletcher wants to move the pick for another veteran player. If the Flyers end up keeping the pick, its because every trade scenario that included the pick fell through which would be a bummer IMO. The Flyers do not need this number 1 pick, they have enough prospects coming up, I would rather see them use it to get an established player that can help this team now.
- jd250

There is no such thing in the world of hockey as having enough prospects coming up.

I maybe wrong but I think he was referring to the Preds cap situation as to why they may have moved Ellis. He did bounce back and forth between the Preds and Flyers. But I think the whole idea was to stress why the Preds gave Ellis away for the cheap.
- peesinwind

I'm aware. I was talking about the Preds there, not the Flyers. So not sure why you think this needed to be explained.

Well, then that goes towards why the price was so minimal. Either way, the team is better now than it was before the trade.
- MBFlyerfan

No doubt. The question is just how much better and for how long. What is the goal. Should the team be looking and acting like contender and make deals for now? Or should they be looking toward the future? Or a balance. It all depends on your perspective.

Yes, let's hope Poile panicked and made a dumb move. I will say this, the last few games I watched Ellis play in the playoffs, he didn't look slow or injured. They were all OT games and in some games Ellis played over 30 minutes. Hopefully that is the Ellis the Flyers are getting.
- jd250

I think he scored 6 points in 7 games and was a plus +\- He was skating fast. Hard to tell though. His positioning was really good. Didn’t seem to have to use his speed to much. He is an elite player. Those that say he is a not a good top pairing D guy most likely hasn’t watch him much.

I don't understand this comment. I haven't read anything from MJL that says he didn't like the deal, but he is rightly questioning why Poile would get such an apparent low return for a player like Ellis. I think this is an interesting point and discussion.
- jd250

He said he didn't like the deal. Which is fine ,he values Meyers higher than most, so doesn't like losing him. I liked meyers too, but we needed a better RHD

I don't understand this comment. I haven't read anything from MJL that says he didn't like the deal, but he is rightly questioning why Poile would get such an apparent low return for a player like Ellis. I think this is an interesting point and discussion.
- jd250

I'm not crazy about the deal. I certainly don't think it's a bad deal. It makes the Flyers better. I have concerns about Ellis' ability to stay healthy and I don't like that they had to move Myers.

No doubt. The question is just how much better and for how long. What is the goal. Should the team be looking and acting like contender and make deals for now? Or should they be looking toward the future? Or a balance. It all depends on your perspective.
- MJL

2 years away. Patience.

Clearly this is the direction the GM is headed. He knows he has a short shelf life and the next couple of years are crucial. My guess is he really isn't worried about the last couple years of Ellis and his contract or 3 years down the line.

You can disagree with that philosophy/direction which is a very valid point.