Is it at least some silver lining that the Phantoms are doing well, or is it mostly a bunch of Peter Whites? What's the trajectory for some of those players looking ahead to next season and beyond?

I love Marchand, Bill. I really do.

I love how small he is, but how much swagger he has. He is not a guy who shies away from scrums and dirty areas. He sells out all the time: including PK. He is always clutch. I love how he always wants the puck on his stick when the chips are down.

That guy, ever since he came into this league, has never had a period I know where he has lacked confidence. He doesn't seem to know what self-doubt means.
- PT21

I can't stand the guy! Maybe it's because I want to punch him in that rat, smug looking face of his, but I think it's more because no one ever takes him to task for the nonsense he pulls and the refs give him an awful lot of leeway.

It was an okay move. Don't bite on the fake. Hart came up small on two goals in the game.
- MJL

So the brad sh goal is on hart?

What's cup winning got to do with it? It sorts 5-on-50/60 stats of centers now. Its not an opinion.

Eric Staal is cup winning. He is not on the list because his stats don't put him there.
- PT21

The stats are bogus lol and secondly you said Couts is not a Center to build a SC winning team around based on your list and I pointed out several that are not listed who lead their teams to a cup.

Another thing is the list has players that arent even #1 Cs.

Dylan Strome at #22 is currently 3rd line RW
Kuznetsov at #12 is 2nd line C
Yanni Gourde at #31 is a 3rd line C
William Karlsson at #26 is 2nd line C

Then you also ignore that players on this list also play for the same teams

Crosby/Malkin
McDavid/Draisaitl
Matthews/Tavares
Point\Stamkos

This means your claim that Couts is not a 1st line C on many teams is actually incorrect as 8 of those top players play on the same 4 teams meaning that the list of teams with Cs better than Couturier gets smaller.,

No worries, but I never said it was a should save/routine save, but that he could have saved it, needed to save it and it was a stoppable shot. The sequence leading up to the goal was a disaster, including Boston tying up the puck below the goalie for what seemed like an eternity. The Flyers never freed up the puck, even when they eventually outnumbered them.
- aantny88

He could have yes. For sure, I think 3 of our guys actually fell down

So every time they're out there, you wouldn't be putting your best PP players out there. You wouldn't have the job for long.
- MJL

Coaches that win games have jobs. Putting Jake on the point is not how to win games against the best PK in the league anchored by two of the best players in the league. My God, look at what happened, look where Jake ended up, look who was defending a 2 on 1. Are you that close minded?

I'd consider trading him depending on what the return is. I have zero faith in Fletcher being the architect in turning them into contenders. That is my biggest issue right now.
- PLindbergh31

Trading him will mean having to face the usual dilemma. Teams that are going to have lots of good prospects or high picks will be in a rebuilding phase. They won't sign him, most likely for giving up their future.

And teams near the top either do not have great prospects/high picks and are likely flush against the cap and will have to find $9 odd mil to fit him in.

Having said all that, I have no doubt he will bring back a decently hefty return.

Listen, I have stated and will continue to state that if the Flyers could obtain a truly legitimate top 4 defenseman like Ekholm, they should do it regardless of where they are in the standings. This would be a step in the right direction for a team that desperately needs legitimate top 4 defenseman right now. You can keep walking the plank and defending Sanheim and Myers if you want, but you are going to have to eventually face the fact that they both SUCK with a capital 'S'!
- jd250

A capital “S”...even.

That's the thing about great offensive players -- and Marchand is one, You can know or suspect what's coming and they'll still score anyway. Also, Marchand's ability to shoot from the bottom of the circle and score has to be respected as much as his ability to cut in front. That's part of what makes him so dangerous.

Marchand is hard to like, much of the time. But his gifts can't be denied.
- bmeltzer

I still want some one to plant him into the 3rd row, he is just so unlikable. In general I hate the Bruins, but how can you hate a player like Bergeron, the epitome of class. Well Marchand is the complete opposite.

I still want some one to plant him into the 3rd row, he is just so unlikable. In general I hate the Bruins, but how can you hate a player like Bergeron, the epitome of class. Well Marchand is the complete opposite.
- jd250

Like Wilson. Hate to play against but would prob be loved if he came to Philly.

Some teams track it as a proprietary stat. I remember Berube mentioning it once while he was here and also saying they tracked which D-men were better than others at locating and clearing rebounds. He said, basically, there was Timonen (who was stellar at it) and then there was everyone else.
- bmeltzer

Thank you, Bill! Guess it's something I won't be able to access, unless I become a statistician for a team

Like Wilson. Hate to play against but would prob be loved if he came to Philly.
- Peter Richards

Not so sure the fan base would embrace Marchand; I sure as hell wouldn't! Certain guys never would have been liked if they came here (Tie Domi, Matthew Barnaby, etc.).

So what’s the thought. Do we actually trade Scott raffl Haag or any at the deadline?

Not so sure the fan base would embrace Marchand; I sure as hell wouldn't! Certain guys never would have been liked if they came here (Tie Dome, Matthew Barnaby, etc.).
- aantny88

If he was a Flyer you’d buy his jersey....just admit it...

This veteran leadership stuff is nonsense. You don't sign a guy to what is going to be a 60m+ deal to provide veteran (frank)ing leadership.

Kooleus, over on Ek's thread, when we were talking about signing Ekholm to protect Hart's confidence, said it very well. He said you guys are not even a playoff team right now. Why the hell would you sign an expensive vet to a long term deal for that reason. Want to protect Hart's confidence? Play him less, and play Elliott and Lyon.

Here is your veteran leadership. Resign Giroux: 3 years, 18 mil.

People need to understand that you have to bite the bullet on a possible few bad to horrible seasons. See who develops among the prospects. Build a (frank)ing core out of something other than optimism. Build it on performance. THEN do those big money signings.
- PT21

But Couturier has way more upside at this stage in his career than Claud Giroux or Jake V, why would I pay G $6M/year when I can pay Couts $8M/year and get a much better player for several more years? Look at how well Bergeron is playing his this stage of his career. Why couldn't Couts do the same thing? Bergeron is 13th on your list, but you are telling me you wouldn't want him anchoring the centers on your team? I say resign Couts to a team friendly deal, jettison G, Jake and JVR and build around Couts with better veterans and good young players.

If he was a Flyer you’d buy his jersey....just admit it...
- landros 2

I would buy it just to burn it!

So what’s the thought. Do we actually trade Scott raffl Haag or any at the deadline?
- Peter Richards

Fletch has to figure our if they factor into next year....is there any replacements in house for theses guys....well, there should be...but they seemed to think the in-house replacements were good enough for Niskanen....and how has that played out ?

If he was a Flyer you’d buy his jersey....just admit it...
- landros 2

LOL! I would rather have someone kick me in the nuts and take my money than buy a Marchand Flyers jersey. That's how much I hate that rat faced wiener

A capital “S”...even.
- landros 2

Yes, my hyperbole knows no bounds it seems ...

But Couturier has way more upside at this stage in his career than Claud Giroux or Jake V, why would I pay G $6M/year when I can pay Couts $8M/year and get a much better player for several more years? Look at how well Bergeron is playing his this stage of his career. Why couldn't Couts do the same thing? Bergeron is not on your list that I saw, but you are telling me you wouldn't want him anchoring the centers on your team? I say resign Couts to a team friendly deal, jettison G, Jake and JVR and build around Couts with better veterans and good young players.
- jd250

I have no doubt coots will be a good player into his 30s. But at Bergeron a age I don’t think he will be as good as Patrice is. He will still be effective but not the number one.

So what’s the thought. Do we actually trade Scott raffl Haag or any at the deadline?
- Peter Richards

best time to trade raffl was years ago next best time is now

LOL! I would rather have someone kick me in the nuts and take my money than buy a Marchand Flyers jersey. That's how much I hate that rat faced wiener

- aantny88

Ok...so your not a fan. I have the rat faced bastard in my pool this year, so maybe I’m being a little easy on him. As Bill suggests though the guy is lights out a fantastic all around hockey player.

I'm retired so I always get to everything late unless it's an appointment.
Nobody has commented on the officiating? Did I miss that comment?
Anyway, it sucked. it sucked when they called penalties and when they DIDN'T.
If all of the calls were made I suspect we never would have been at 5v5 and we would have had the advantage.
The call on Morin was a result of what infraction? Playing hockey?
That the lil' SOB named Marchand was allowed to live AGAIN is a travesty and should have been remedied by now.
I want him savagely beaten by somebody near his size. Beaten for being him.
I like when the players finally get retribution and pummel jerks. Even when they are members of this team.
I hate jerks and cheap shotters. That defines Marchand.

Just my opinion, but I think the doom and gloom on Hart is really premature. He is super young to be a starting goalie in the NHL and, if we're being honest with ourselves, the team is poop. Everything points to him working through his growing pains. He supposedly works his butt off and takes the sport and his job like a maniac. I have a feeling (hope) that he will still be a stud for us for years to come.

I would buy it just to burn it!
- jd250

Like I’m going to do with my Wentz jersey.