Vanflyer

Problem is, he's a hard guy to teach. He may have to sit idle for a year and realize that stubborn attitude of his will have to go, or he will soon find out what working in the *real* world entails.

Much easier to drill lessons on how to play wing into a players head than how to play d. The only thing I would ponder (you would know this), is a large part of his offensive prowess generated off the rush where he is carrying the puck out and playing dipsy doodle, or is power play where he is already set-up.

I have no qualms with moving a guy like that to wing and playing him on point on the PP (particularly if he has d experience- regardless how good he is at it- if he can skate, the times he would have to get back should not be that much on a PP).

It sounds a bit crazy, but I'd give the kid a look at LW or just W in general. He's bad enough in his own end, he just might need to reinvent himself to stick in this league.

If he already has an offensive game and can skate, why not. wing is significantly easier to play than D. 

The league pretends it does not exist and comes down hard, drug testing regularly once you admit the problem.

Reading some other sites, apparently regreational drug use is quite prevalent in the NHL (cocain and the green stuff). particularly with the 20 something single guys. The ribieros, Proberts and Fleury's are the extreme, particularly because they are using while playing whereas allot of the stories from the recreational user are mostly during the off-season. while the stories are allot of conjecture and hearsay, where there is smoke, there tends to be fire. these guys are multi-millionaires and even if they don't intentionally seek it out, its easily presented to them clubs, bars, etc.  

This part I know for sure, Del Zotto has tremendous offensive upside. He can run a top pp. That is a very valuable skill in this league...so the fact he is still available. is curious to say the least.....has me worried.

Can he play left wing? 

What about trading Laughton?

why? and for what?

I just don't see how this really improves the team if you bring one asset at the expense of another. 

We are in agreement on all points / sides. 

I love you haha

get a room. 

his cheap shots and then score a goal on a feed from Crosby.

Downie will never sniff the day of Crosby's jock strap. From a Flyers fan you should take that with the utmost complement and insult. 

It might be a long shot,but I'd love to see him in the hall of fame. He will be missed

1000 points in 1300 games is HOF worthy. The issue will be his disappearing. It could have been 1500 points in 1300 games. If I was a votee, I would be on the fence. 

doesnt hurt to pick up the phone and ask. its pretty obvious whoever takes him the flyers are eating some of the money anyway

Thats a valid point, but it will not be greater than a buyout amount. 

No balls to be punched, huh?

 

or teeth to be smashed. 

Crosby would have to be arrested in a hotel room with a transvestite to top this one.  I think I'm safe.

you are giving away way too much private information!!! Carry on. 

he surely wasn't horrible last season especially when he was healthy.

Just lazy. Truthfully, I am on your boat. Having your name bantered about for trades has to sting. I also would like to believe that both Berube and Hextall had a heart to heart and stated "we gave you allot, now deliver". That includes conditioning.

Nash, Fla, and Ott. Is it maybe cuz Vinny won't go there so Hextall didn't even make the phone call for that reason?

Vinny has a list of teams he will go to. 

I just wonder if Hextall mutters eff you to Homer when they pass each other in the hallways. 

replacement for Schenn or Grossmann.

It would have to be the later. If its Schenn, then that makes Macdonald negligible. 2 steps backwards for one step forward. 

Here's the first "explanation" I've seen...guess that'll have to do

I just have to say (if I have not already said it), so what? Its not like he was snorting lines of cocaine (quo probert), or giving a beat down, or tipping a taxi driver pennies. He was having fun. 

So what about kidnapping Weber?

ok, but where do you hide him?? 

Well, that's a differerence of opinion, I guess.  Obvioulsy, Weber is a premier d-man... perhaps even the best right now.  Nobody would ever argue that.  The problem with trading G away is a sudden void created on the offense.  Robbing Peter to pay Paul rarely works.  Nashville is the living example - they *do* have Weber and nothing else. 
 
I just don't see what good can possibly come from trading a 90-point forward.  Sorry.

Nashvilles problems have nothing to do with weber. While his cap hit is significant, it is a far cry from the straw that broke the camels back. For whatever reason, Nashvilles problem has always been offence- since their inception. Maybe its Trotz thing, but I am not so sure. I think its a personnel thing. Maybe under Lavy the culture can change. 

As for a 90 pt forward v a weber, its a wash. I don't do it because its more entertaining for me to watch a G v. a weber, thought I can respect both aspects of the game and their impacts. While we do not have a weber in our system, we certainly have a couple of players that will be fun to watch (hopefully), on the defensive side. I hope its not before all my hair is grey. 

Giroux just came 3rd in Hart voting. I think his value is equal. Giroux isn't our cornerstone? 
 
 I'm not saying it should or would happen (and him being drunk has zero effect on it) but Claude Giroux is every bit as valuable as Shea Weber, and vice versa. The one way i could see more value in Weber is great defencemen are harder to come by. Unless you're Nashville, then it's great forwards.

You and I are on the same page. Of course an offenseman of his caliber are more flashy and sells tickets v. a weber. So, from a business stand point, you have to stay status quo.

my wife just gave me the same black eye for laughing too loud!! Send a bag of peas for me please. 

I disagree.  I think the Flyers win that trade.  Again Giroux is a great player, but Weber is a rare breed of defenseman, and much harder to come by with a much bigger role on his team.  I know it's purely subjective, but if I'm Nashville it takes more than Giroux straight up.  

did you make one like that for Crosby and Malkin?? hmmmmm

I disagree.  I think the Flyers win that trade.  Again Giroux is a great player, but Weber is a rare breed of defenseman, and much harder to come by with a much bigger role on his team.  I know it's purely subjective, but if I'm Nashville it takes more than Giroux straight up.  

You and I are on the same page again. How about G + a 2nd for weaber? I still think the years are too long, but I as an arm chair GM, I will bite that bullet. 

So I guess a Subban for Giroux suggestion would be frowned upon as well?

greatest wrists of a hockey player ever (Kerr). Bummer about his back and knees. 

I was incorrect in thinking Weber's cap hit was higher. The big numbers were his bonuses. It's still not happening. Weber is their cornerstone. They just gave him $24 million in bonuses BECAUSE of the Flyers right? And Giroux is a great talent, but Weber is more vital to the Preds than Giroux would be. Both as a player and as a marketing point.

Add this one to the never ending we want Weber bullsharts...

yes to all of the above. Particularly the flyers drove the price up with the offer sheet. It would be bittersweet to see that deal, but not unfathomable. If said deal was to go down, both teams win- just change their dynamics. 

It seems to me that the captain should be held to higher standards and I don't think mgmt will accept this. So why not get the coveted defenseman?

I liked your initial thought, but now that I see you are throwing g. under the bus, I think you are just a flamer. I could care less what he does in the summer time. As long as he shows up to camp in shape / fit. You are making a mountain out of a mole hill. 

Its canada day, he is drunk and probably got a dare from his buddies. All it means is he is human. He was living life and having some fun. Who cares. Nothing to see here.