Dynamo 47

Not at all. Not only are we not missing their stats but also some of the baggage associated with them. The team is playing well and perhaps more importantly playing as a team. The veterans are not only leading the rookies and young players but providing great examples for them. Pronger is the ultimate NHL warrior, future hall of famer, who plays every game hard, works out religiously and is totally committed. Jagr, aside from the success he's had this season is a workout demon. Young players see a shoo-in first time Hall of Fame guy like Jagr, at his age, getting the salary he is, getting his own set of keys to the practice facility to skate on off days, after games, etc. is a great thing for the young guys to see. Much better then losing a game and then going out and hitting the Center City bars.

I think with both becoming free agents at the end of the year that it means the Flyers are choosing to sign Coburn and will let Carle walk OR my preference would be trade him. My thought is that the Flyers defense is too one dimensional with the majority being mobile, puck carrying guys with not enough physicality and stay at home defenseman types. Lets face it, when Pronger isn't on the ice there is no defenseman that opposing forwards fear in crashing the net and the crease. My thought was to trade Carle who is a free agent at the end of the year for Barrett Jackman, who is also a free agent. The salaries are basically awash and in exchange for Carle we add Jackman who adds toughness, a physical presence, leadership, and a great team player to the mix. It also helps to diversify the defensive corps so you still have your mobile puck carrying guys with Kimo and Coburn, a tweener in Mez, and two physical guys with Pronger and Jackman. If the team isn't happy with the contributions that Jackman makes, they let him walk at the end of the year.

That was Jon "Nasty" Mirasty. He is a total psycho. Used to have a mohawk and had some great bouts. Personally my vote for best fight would be the legendary Bob Probert - Marty McSorley bout. I remember being at a night club and while the dance floor was mobbed and the fight started and was several big screens. The entire club stopped talked and were riveted to the screen and even the people dancing stopped and watched. I NEVER saw that before but what a fight.

I think it's pretty much what I expected. A little bit of a roller coaster ride and probably will be for the first 20-25 games. I figured with all the new pieces and some of the youth on the team it would take some time to gel. At the beginning of the season I thought we would challenge for a 7-8 spot. If Pronger was healthy possibly challenge as high as 4. Despite all the horrible defensive play we are in a good position thus far, I still think/hope we need to make a deal to swap out either Carle or Coburn and bring in a physical, stay at home guy to complement Pronger.

That's it Andy Delmore. Had a rifle of a shot from the point. How do you feel about Marshall? I was excited when we drafted him as he sounded like he could develop into a physical stay at home defenseman who had leadership and character. He just keeps sliding down the charts.

That was my first thought. Cripes, Shelley could score 20 goals playing with those two. But I have to give credit where it's due and he has looked the best since he scored 30 goals a couple years ago.

He was a great pick but as others have said, he was the top player in the draft before getting mono. I'm still shocked he dropped to us at 8. I just wish he could get more time and play with more skilled wingers. I think he is capable of really putting up some points but hard to do when your linesmates are Shelley, Nodl, and even though he is playing great, Talbot.

But I think selecting Couterier was a no brainer. Overall I think Homer and the staff have done an excellent job of making the top picks count. One thing that is a huge problem for me is our drafting and development of our defensemen, We simply do a horrible job of drafting and developing impact defensemen. There were so many through the years that never panned out for us. I remember Mark Eaton to the guy with the huge slap shot, Andy? to acquiring Ryan Bast from Calgary. Bast was supposed to be a physical force on D and once he got with the Flyers organization never panned out. More recently Kevin Marshall and Bourdon.

No. While we gave up a ton for Lindros, at the time it was a great deal and if the Avs don't acquire Roy they might not have won a Cup either. The Avs despite having all that talent did not when a Cup with the players in the trade until they acquired Patrick Roy from Montreal. Had the Avs not acquired Roy they might not have won a Cup. If the Flyers had kept the team intact and the Rangers got him it would have been devastating. There would have been no guarantee the Flyers would have won a Cup as the team NEVER had a history of acquiring that top goaltender to push the team over the top. Plus look deeper at the trade and the players involved. Some of the key guys - Steve Duschene and Mike Ricci. Duschene played one season with the then Nordiques and was gone. Ricci while he had a nice career did not do anything spectacular. Kerry Hoffman played one season with the Nordiques. Ron Hextall did not last there either. The one player I hated to see included was Chris Simon as he had Flyer written all over him. But when you break it down, the players who had an impact and contributed to the Avs Cup were Forsberg, Ricci, and Simon. To me, Forsberg and Lindros cancel each other out. Rod Brindamour was better then Ricci so we have an edge there. Bottom line is that if the Avs didn't acquire Roy, they like the Flyers might have been good but might never have one a Cup. The Flyers with Forsberg, Ricci, Simon, Duschene, Hexy might have contended but again without a stud goalie, we might not have even gotten to the finals.

I regularly go to that site. I think it's a pretty good site. I particularly go when potential trades are considered to see what types of prospects might be available, While Homer and company have done a good job of rebuilding the system we are still lacking. We really have no big time impact prospect in the pipeline as many on the list are on the team or have gotten time with the Flyers. My biggest hope is for the Big O - Oliver Lauridsen to continue his development and become a competent physical, big defenseman. I also think Tye McGinn has some potential as a Paul Gaustad type guy. My biggest hopes are few years down the line and were taken in this years draft class. I think we have the potential for steals with Petr Placek and Marcel Noebels. I particularly think Placek can turn into a player. A huge kid (6'4 210) who played high school hockey in the US and is going to Harvard. At Harvard he is now up to 215 pounds and while no points thus far is playing.

I was under the same impression. While I was kind of ticked they even reviewed it; I thought there would be a realistic shot of overturning the goal. And why the hell wasn't Jagr one of the shooters? If not first? He scores it automatically puts the pressure on the Debs

I think there is one in the works and I sure as hell hope it's to address the defense. I think the D is too much finesse and we need another bull dozer that plays with an edge to compliment Pronger. Sort of like when we had Hatcher and Jason Smith. Seeing as Homer was at the Caps game and that their cap situation is even worse then ours, I would hope it might be for John Erskine. He is a big stay at home guy who will hit and drop the mitts if need be. He would definitely help to clear the porch and make opposing players pay the price for crashing the crease. He is also a VERY cap friendly 1.5 million dollars. He is who I wanted the Flyers to target more so then Lilja. The Caps might be unwilling to move him to a team within the conference however. Other moves or more significance that I would explore: A - Carle for Barrett Jackman - Both UFA's, similar salaries but while we swap out one of our finesse guys, we get leadership, solid defensive play and a physical presence on D. This is a deal that helps both teams. B - Possibly try to get either Bryan Allen or Gleason from the Hurricanes. Both are physical more stay at home guys. But salaries are an issue as Allen is at 2.9 and Gleason 2.7. Again either Carle or Coburn in exchange and we gain some needed cap space to give us some flexibility at the deadline. C - Total off the wall thought - Talk to Nashville. They have a ton of depth on defense and just about everyone is an RFA or UFA after the season is over. We have a history of dealing with them and due to their situation might be willing to deal either Suter or Weber. Nashville is going to have to do something. There is no way they will be able to retain Weber and Suter who will likely command 6-7m a season on defense. IF (BIG IF) there was ANY possibility of acquiring Weber I explore it. It would take a lot but if it took Meszaros, Schenn, and a first I would do it as get a franchise defenseman and the heir apparent to Pronger. Heck it might even take Mez, Schenn, Hartnell, and a 1st. Weber, Shea » $7,500,000 RFA Suter, Ryan » $3,500,000 UFA Bouillon, Francis » $1,350,000 UFA Klein, Kevin » $1,350,000 $1,350,000 UFA Blum, Jonathon » EL $941,667 RFA Laakso, Teemu » $675,000 RFA Hillen, Jack » $650,000 RFA

Thanks for the clip. Didn't notice at the time but that was cheap. I noted I expect Coburn to possibly receive something for the hit on Sykora (I believe) near the end of the game.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Shanny review tape of the Coburn hit at the end of the game last night. Clearly an elbow to the head and used a glove to kind of slam his head.

Exactly why they need to remove it. Another good reason was Gaustad going after Giroux. Sorry but instigator or no instigator, someone goes after your best player they have to answer the bell.

I think this game will be tough as the Jackets are down but the Flyers have shown an infuriating tendency to play down to the level of their competition. They faced a team that was down in the Devils last night and my keys to the game were to get an early lead on them and take away their will. Well they did that but again, horrible defensive zone play allowed them to get back in it. I agree with some others about Carter's reception. I don't think he would have been received nearly as warmly as Richards.

I was one of the ones who was ecstatic to see him go because it meant bringing the Flyers a first time hall of famer and our first Norris Trophy candidate since Mark Howe in Pronger. I thought Sbisa was a nice defenseman but certainly not a top pairing and I had concerns he was even a top 4.

I agree that the defense needs to be upgraded. The issue I have is that there are too many puck carriers and finesse guys and not enough physicality as only Pronger provides that. One move I might explore is almost a cap wash and would give us the physical defensemen with a nasty edge without a long term commitment is trading Carle to the Blues for Barrett Jackman. Both are UFA's and while the Flyers would get their physical guy who plays nasty, they also get leadership. If they are happy with him they resign him if not he walks. But either way they fill a big need. Both Carle and Coburn are UFA's this offseason. Suter of Nashville is a UFA. I would rather have one Suter for the combined salaries of C&C then resigning both of them.

I like the fact that Couterier is getting time on a scoring line. What I would like to see is for Simmonds to be moved to the second and drop Voracek to the third line. I'd be curious to see how Couterier does with two bulls on his wings. I think the team has to totally jump on the Devils right away and try and get some quick ones (like last night) unlike last night we need to step on their throat and not let up

Yes he does. What kind of ticked me off is that I believe it was Gaustad goes after Giroux and there is no retaliation? Sorry but screw the NHL and their rules. When you have a big guy like that who is several skating strides above a goon going after your best player it calls for swift and immediate retaliation. I thought that Shelley would at least talk to him and try to get him to go

I will do the same. I think it will be hilarious when all that are left on the Philly forum are trolls. They can insult each other all day

That is my issue. I think he is going to be a darn good player but like Richards might be better suited to be a third line center where he can provide offense but win faceoffs, go against the other teams top lines. Would you consider NOT signing Carle and Coburn and going after Ryan Suter for 6.5 million? Or knowing that Nashville is in a position where they could possibly lose Weber and Suter, make a pitch for one of them?

Totally agree. I like their goaltending and defense but they are going to struggle to score goals. Nice win last night. I learned my lesson from the this season that no lead is safe so when it was 3 - 0 I just sat back and waited. Apparently so did the Flyers. Still a nice quality road win when missing some keep players.

I am picking up from a philly post where people were all but trading Schenn for Sbisa. We need defense but there is no way I make a Schenn for Sbisa trade. How do you feel about Schenn? Trade him? Keep him? Potential? My thoughts are that the Flyers fans are being totally impatient. Trading him would be a total mistake. To me Schenn is an awful lot like Mike Richards. He is a little bit bigger and I think he has a higher offensive upside. I think he will give the Flyers exactly what Richards did and that is 25 - 30 goals a year, play well defensively, win the majority of his face offs and play with a physical edge. I think the biggest thing hurting Schenn right now was being traded for Richards obviously but the media. When the trade was made it seemed like everyone tried to justify it by saying he was the top prospect not in the NHL. For a lot of fans it seems like they assumed that to be someone like Lindros, Crosby, or someone like that who would come in and score 30 goals their rookie season. Fans need to realize he is a rookie and it will take time. I noted to look at Richards rookie season. Richie's number were hardly legendary - 11 goals 23 assists and 34 points, it was a sign of things to come. By his third season he was putting up 28 goals 47 assists for 75 points. Look at Giroux - he went from 27 to 47 to 76 points last year and in this his third full season has become one of the best players in the league While I don't think he has looked great but he is player with a ton of potential and if given time and patience to develop will give the Flyers 3 of the top centers in the league within 3 years with Giroux, Schenn, and Couterier. What are your thoughts on Schenn?