Really good question/s. This defense is s l o w and o l d. Coburn is a good 2-3 defesseman. Age has caught up with Timmo. Schenn is a slow 2-4 defenseman. Grossmann was really good when he first came over from Dallas, but age and injuries have taken their toll. Streit and McDonald are mobile decent 2-4 defensemen. They do not have a true 1-2 defenseman at this time. Not a pretty picture. I really think that the Flyers have finally learned that you have to build through the draft and hold on to those draft choices. I'm really excited about the future Flyers defense. Ghost, Hagg, Morin, Alt, Gus, maybe the Russian, Vaseliev and Larrsen. Additionally, I would not be surprised if they traded for a high draft pick this Summer and went after a d'man, or baring that they trade for a true number 1 d'man. Given time for this group to mature and meld together, and I think that Mason will have a super defense in front of him in 2-3 years. If the Flyers do go heavily for defense this Summer, my only worry is what will the forwards look like in five years? BTW: Are there any good European d'men and or forwards who might be lured to Philly?