Howie58

Howdy; good to hear from you. Well, we see in a few minutes if there is any "juice" in the first round. But I guess we have to see. Peace, Howie

Greetings: The trade is no surprise. What we got in return is fairly significant. I wonder if we keep all these picks or flip some of them. Meanwhile, Scott Howson and Homer seem to have rapport. Best, Howie

Look, Rux is correct if we think about Flyers over their history but Podein is accurate as well. Homer is bright enough to know that we are in a new era. There have been no repeat champs since the strike and I think player turnover under the cap will be higher, and youth is important in that structure. That said, Homer may be tempted to get a senior statesman for fear his current D is lacking to the point we fall apart. I and most other fans would take a year or two of sub-par play to build the D through draft and marginal trades (like Grossman). But Snider and others may not. On paper, our forward corps is darn good and should get better. I hope Homer preserves it. Peace, Howie

HF & Sar: I hope we don't give up too much to pick up a top-four D-Man. For once in my life I'd like to see a group of young players grow together and be a contender for several years. Howie

Greetings: I am sure you've been reading the Inquirer and whomever about our lack of D, Pronger's LTIR, etc. With some fermented red stuff and a bad commute from downtown Miami under my belt, I think it boils down to a long- or short-term fix. Does Homer sacrifice a forward and maybe our #20 + Bob to get a blue chipper with immediate return or does he give up assets for another pick that he uses defensively, and maybe he goes for two picks on D, hoping that with a Carle resigning, Bourdon, and a cheaper pick up he has a respectable D while he grows his forwards. No Cup this coming year but he retains a nucleus of excellent forwards and builds a defense slowly, knowing that with Kimmo off the books next year (and certainty about the cap) he goes after big buck mid-career type. OK, just a thought.

Let him walk. Mentoring is good. But the dough is better spent elsewhere. We need help on D. Who the heck knows about the CBA? Best, Howie

Howdy: Here is a recent post. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=634809 If we believe NHL and Columbus Dispatch, almost half the league has some interest. Columbus desperately needs scoring so you reckon that this guy has to fetch lots of goals in return. ....so, a pick, Simmonds, Read....maybe even Bobo, for Nash... Interesting thing on this thread--Howson has the ability to move his number one pick to next year...may do so because LA will be number 30. Ha Peace, Howie

I can't figure this one out. My only read would be that Homer wants a dominating set of forwards and is willing to give up assets to acquire a "man mountain" who is probably chomping at the bit to get out of the market. On face, it doesn't make sense. But Homer is part of an organization that has always wanted big dudes up front... Howie

Podein: Thanks for the clarification. The guy has talent. Whether it will be put to use is a different story. Given the Poile-Holmgren relationship, I guess we rule it out. Peace, Howie

Greetings Mojo and Podein: I just checked Yahoo sports, it looks like he signed with someone in the KHL. We know he won't go to the Rangers. Well, I will reflect further. Peace, Howie

Greetings: I think another possibility is Radulov, especially if Homer parts with another forward to obtain a defender. OK, the guy may have some behavioral issues but there is talent. Maybe he, Bobo, and Bryz become the "The Three Comrades" or something like that....Snider needs defib, but there is bonding. Best, Howie

Howdy: I think Homer might package Bobo + JVR for pick, sound backup, and a defensive forward. I am not sure who fits the bill...that is outline. I've thought about my backyard Panthers. Clemmenson is a superb career backup. Tallon throws in a pick and Bergenheim. But with Homer, we need to expect the unexpected. Something else to think about that I posted on another thread is the CBA uncertainty. Will Homer or any other GM want to take on significant cap without knowing where that may head? Picks for future development may mean more this year than we think. Our farm club is bit depleted given how much we've pulled out of there. If Homer wants to preserve his cadre of forwards he may lay lower than we think. Best, Howie

thanks for the excellent post. Logic says this is true. Homer may defy logic. I also wonder how CBa plays out in terms of caution on long term contracts? All the best, Bowie.

Maybe we are learning that patience may matter. Or that we build and draft well but don't nurture.

Greetings: Summarizing this thread says that intangibles may mean as much as goals, etc. That's consistent with what I said in another thread--Homer is keeping this guy around as "insurance" if there's another big roster shuffle. My gut says that one of our roster forwards (JVR, Schenn, whoever) and a pick go for defensive help. Jagr's production is likely to drop with age. It's the other stuff keeping him around. I agree with others--his playing time will reduce time of others. So I have mixed feelings about this.

It's hard to imagine that free agency is around the corner. If this goes down, it might happen sooner than we think. Best to all, Howard

Greetings: First, it's nice to see folks here. And I hope Flyers West wins the Cup, if only to remind us that the Flyers staff must do some reasonably good drafting...whether they give people enough time to grow and mature...different story. OK, this is not a drug- or Merlot-induced brain turd, but something seems strange here. Why do we want Jagr back? Points aside, I think it is presence. I am sticking my neck out here but have to wonder if Homer is going to do something other than a tweak? Seriously--does he want a senior presence because there may be a new set of cards in the deck? I would hate to see a Voracek go. Even more so with Simmonds. But if Homer wants a defensive rebuild with a lost Carle and a depleted Timmonen and Pronger pseudo-retired...will he need to give up some of our young forwards and bring in others? It's just a thought. Frankly, I don't see the need for Jagr if the same crew was around. They have had their father figure and G is the new one. Peace, Howie

Greetings: I like your reasoning. My gut says they go with a bargain type like Johnson per yesterday's article. Bobo gets traded as part of a package--I could JVR bundled with him. Best, Howie

Greetings: Thanks for your condolences and it is nice to see some familiar "faces." Homer will have his hands full. But its probable he has cap space if Timonen retires, Jagr is unsigned (or resigned for less, something I wouldn't rule out), Pronger goes LTIC or retires, and "other." God knows about Bryz. Yikes. One possibility here is either go with a 1A, 1B system (assuming we are stuck with him) for two to three seasons. That may or may not mean Bobo, who is being wasted on the bench or as trade bait. Gus and Bourdon have some potential. But it wouldn't surprise me to trade for a someone mobile or lots of draft picks for them. I may not live to see another Cup. Best, Howie P.S. I just ordered a case of wine over the net...a first time for everything. And yes, it is red...doubt if it is all Merlot...(smile), but it's fermented...not demented.

Greetings: I have been away for a long time. Work and personal issues including father's passing have kept me away. Some of the pundits felt we would be a marginal playoff performer...Sporting News saw is 8-11. We were better. Tonight's loss and play this series are painful. My take: 1) Our forward corps is OK. I wonder if the D is persistent enough. 2) Bryz misses Tippett's system. Homer's trades for Coots, etc. may be offset by this signing. 3) Our forwards broke Pitt's back. Against a disciplined team we got whacked. 4) Grossman is a good add but I suspect Homer will make a D shake-up. Lavy could not figure out how to beat DeBoer's system. I wonder if we see a coaching change; if not the head coach, elsewhere? Peace and I hope all is well with the folks here. Howie

Bear: Up north, my dad is not well. I am getting used to Philadelphia Intl. Yes, we are not an elite team. I would like to think that by next year, 2014 at the latest, we are of that caliber. Peace, Howie

I am not used to a Flyers squad that give up goals in bunches. We have reversed from where we were a few years back--the team couldn't get the puck out of its own zone. Now it invades the attack zone but leaves the lousy goaltender ripe for easy goals.

I will reply to my own post. 1) You could say that with all the young players on this team, we are playing better than expected, particularly given the new faces. 2) You could also say that this team's D was supposed to be among the league's best. I cannot believe that Pronger's absence is the only problem. Bottom line, I think the fans who cringe at every shot heading in Bryz's direction are rational. And I agree that playoff hockey doesn't allow for the defensive lapses. The last quarter of the season might raise more questions than it answers. If adding Grossman and Kubina doesn't toughen things up or lower GAA, Homer may have a lot of thinking to do. And I also think Lavy is going to need a cattle prod to get his forwards to be more "Rangerlike." Howie

Greetings: 1. Let's start with Bryz. He made some tough saves and looked engaged. But it was right where he is statistically, 3 goals and an .875 save percentage. 2. We get scored upon again up front. Lavy has to call a time out to settle the troops. What gives? 3. I thought Grossman and Kubina looked pretty good. Mez was in top form. Bottom Line: I guess we can outscore the low-to-mid tier but that might not be the case against the elite. Bryz doesn't look as disengaged but his numbers are not that great. This team really is a work in progress. Best, Howie