PhilsFanDrew

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"Flyerville has lost its charm to attract better players."

Really? Then why does Bobby Ryan want to come here and Rick Nash would accept a trade here?

I don't see how the Flyers compare to the 2012 Phillies at all. The Flyers are a young upstart team. They are more comparable to the 06/07 Phillies if anything. The Phillies are an older broken down team. The loss of JVR and Jagr is overblown IMO. JVR was out most of their year and our offense didn't miss a beat. Jagr got off to a nice start but then hit a wall midseason and his production went down. I think with more ice time and more prominent roles, guys like Schenn and Courterier can increase their offensive output to make up for those losses.

Definitely a depth guy. He was a healthy scratch for TB in a few games last year. He averaged 15 mins for the Islanders while he was there. Only around 12 with TB. Apparently he and Max Talbot are pretty good friends. I'm not opposed to bringing him on so long as its low money and not more than one year.

@TimKerrFan12

Colaiacovo would definitely come much cheaper than Carle and wouldn't be a bad fit. I would rather just pick up another depth guy or stay pat with what we have now. I think the team barring a catastropic injury is in good enough shape to be buyers at the trade deadline. I would like to see Homer keep this team under the cap and re-evaluate mid season when more players will be made available via trade.

@AlaskaFlyerFan

Who is suggesting that MAB, Gus, etc fill #1 ice time? I think what is being suggested is to let these guys back fill the #5/6 and elevate guys like Meszaros and Schenn to more top 4 minutes. I'm sorry no one is going to convince me that Matt Carle is worthy of a 6 yr/$33 million contract. You suck up the years and money on a contract for superstars and all stars. You don't for complimentary players.

I am kind of encouraged for our young guys like Manning, Gusts and Bourdon. I think they wiill do fine now with the addition of Luke and a right handed shot this d corp will do fine. I think Gus will fill into Carles shoes nicely.

I agree. Gus, MAB, and to a lesser extent Manning got their feet wet last year. Lets see what we are working with on the current roster and see if guys developed over a year instead of trying to fulfill all needs in the FA market. Other than adding another depth D-man or a veteran winger I would like to see the Flyers stay right where they are. I really hope Homer doesn't spend to the cap right now and saves some in case a deal needs to be done at the deadline.

Clemenson first then Ellis would be my next choice from that list.

I'm thinking the asking price for an established D-man from other teams is Schenn not JVR as the centerpiece. This may explain why they drafted a center. With the loss of Pronger this team needs an established veteran. Most defenseman prospects don't make an immediate impact in the NHL. Guys like an Erik Karlsson who were able to make the immediate jump are the exception not the rule. Many take a few years to pan out. With the Flyers depth at Center they can afford to wait a couple years for Laughton to pan out.

I agree right up to the end of the sentence, it was those complementary players that put the Kings over the top, the core of brown kopitar doughty williams johnson quick stoll and greene had been together for a few years and were not having success beyond making the tournament the addition of playoff Mike and" how did he have 8 goals Carter" were exactly what put that team over the top.

bitterness aside the ex flyers on that roster were instrumental to the kings success, they were not the go to guys that's kopitar brown and williams but they were on the PK , 2nd unit PP with Richards playing some point on the first unit occastionally they scored big goals and made plays that needed made the Kings don't win without Richards and Carter.

I disagree. It was the play of Quick, Brown, and Doughty that put them over the top. You mention that they played together in previous years, however, none of them played at the level they did during this particular postseason run. They all peaked together when it counted most and in my opinion that is why they won. Richards and Carter definitely contributed but those contributions really could have came from any 2 similarly talented players. Without Quick, Brown, and Doughty playing at a level they never had prior Richards and Carters play would have been irrelevant as they would not have won a cup.

I do think he has a point though - didn't Ed actually say he didn't think the team would go further with Richards and Carter on the team? If so, ouch, less than a year.

It's only ouch if not having Richards and Carter prevented us from a Cup run this year. That is simply not the case. Richards and Carter were nice complimentary players for LA and definitely contributed to their run but they aren't what put LA over the top.

@idahophilly

Pretty convenient that the guy that wrote that blog ignored Carter's performance in the postseason for the Flyers. He never came through in the clutch and outside of the Montreal series in 2008 he was pretty much a no show. The partying thing may have been a bit overblown. But there were certainly games that Jeff Carter took off and you had to wonder if it was because he went on a big bender the night before. I never hated Carter in Philly although after last season I saw him as an expendable piece because of his hesitancy and struggles to adapt to the wing. I dislike him more for what he did in Columbus. He milked an injury and pouted like a baby until he got his way to rejoin Richie in LA and he gets rewarded with a Cup? That just won't ever sit well with me.

Flyers fans shouldn't be too upset if the Kings win the Cup this year. Realistically the Kings made moves last offseason for now where the Flyers made moves for the future. The way the regular season played out changed fans expectations of the Flyers team. However, it is one thing for Bryz to give up 3-4 goals against weaker teams that we can score 4-5 on and get the win. Quite another when every night in the playoffs you are playing the best teams. I'm optimistic as long as defense is upgraded and gets younger and Bryz has a bounce back season next year.

@flyercanuck

Well sure with the benefit of hindsight the Richards contract is more palatable but at the time of the trade the Flyers needed a franchise goalie more than a franchise Center because they realized they had one in house with Giroux.

@Clarke2Leach

You pretty much hit it out of the park. Richards in an all star, Giroux is a superstar. The organization wanted to rid lifetime contracts to players they decided weren't the franchise. Giroux is the franchise. Its actually a good thing when you think how bad the Bryz contract can turn out and how the number of years and money remaining on the Pronger deal.

No I don't want him back under any scenario. Less money, less minutes, doesn't matter. Jagr is only really effective as a 1st or 2nd line player playing with more talented offensive forwards. He's not a checking line or energy line forward. Plus he will take ice time away from developing youngsters. He was nice to bring in this season for veteran leadership but I think we are better off looking elsewhere for next season.

@Mad Dog

As bad as Bryz was at times in the playoffs I don't know that we can just blame goaltending to why the season has ended. The Flyers got handled by the Devils. Bryz wasn't spectacular by any stretch but given how much we had to defend I don't know that it is really fair to say that we went as far as goaltending would take us. Losing in 5 games to that team showed there are more issues besides goaltending.

@PhilsFanDrew

no it wasn't "grind it out" but it was high intensity, extremely physical and emotionally charged.... you didn't see that ?

It wasn't really playoff hockey though. It was physical and emotional but it wasn't structured. Unfettered chaos is not playoff hockey. It was entertaining as hell I just think it was bad preparation for a structured team like Jersey who doesn't play with edge or emotion.

@Howie58

Condolences to you and your family for the loss of your father.

I like the energy and youth of our forwards. I too question whether Lavy's system is sustainable and viable in the postseason when you are constantly up against worthy opponents. Homer will definitely address the D due to injury (Pronger)and age (Timonen).

Was the Pittsburgh series really grind it out playoff hockey? I just think the Flyers were ill prepared to battle with a team coming off a hard fought grind it out 7 game playoff series.

@orange_crush

I don't know if he is a superstar. All star definitely. I would put Richards on par with like a Callahan from the Rangers. Great role player that does the little things but not a superstar that can carry a team. Giroux is more of a superstar because he has prolific scoring to go along with a great two way game and strong leadership skills.

Have you been watching the Kings games, or just looking at the score sheet?

And go back & re-read what I said - the Kings have had a very talented team for a few years now, but could never get out of the first round.

Until this season. Until Richards showed up.

And don't forget - Dustin Brown was trade bait at the deadline this year. He's been terrific this postseason, but he wasn't exactly leading the way all season.

Watch the ends of these playoff games Richards is ALWAYS on the ice at the end of these tight games. Why? Defense, experience, grit, leadership.

I haven't watched all of their games but yes I have watched a few of their games. I just disagree with your assessment. No reason for you to attack my knowledge of the game and question whether I just read stat sheets. I like Mike Richards. He's a good player and yes he is one of the pieces contributing to the Kings this postseason. In my opinion there are at least 2 players that are having more of an impact on the Kings moving to the Conference Finals.

And don't forget - Mike Richards was actually traded this offseason. Again a great player but he wasn't exactly the best of leaders while in Philly either.

why do people always feel like they have to do these comparisons based on right this very second? richards was a gamer for the flyers two years ago, but was pretty much a no-show last season. remember that, the 7pts in 11gms? remember how much of a "gamer" he was in those playoffs? simmonds hasn't done a lot, but schenn has 8 points in 10 playoff games as a rookie. which, incidentally, is the same as richards, albeit in one extra game, so i'm not entirely sure how you get the "average" thing.

I think its not so much that they would rather trade Schenn and Simmonds back to LA for Richards as much as they would like to trade positions with the Kings. Having advanced to the Western Finals LA is in an enviable position. They are mistaking their desire to be on to the conference finals with Richards who just happens to play for the Kings.

Without Richards, the Kings are not in the Conference Finals.

His playoff experience & leadership have made a huge difference in LA. He took a very talented team that could never get out of the first round & convinced them that they could win.

It's no accident that he is always on the ice in crunch time for them to close out games.

Wow I totally disagree with that. Mike Richards is a great player and is having a nice postseason but I think you are selling Dustin Brown's leadership and Quick's play in net very short. I would even put Drew Doughty's play and physicality ahead of what Richards is doing right now. Lets be honest the Flyers made their run to the Stanley Cup Finals mostly because of Danny Briere, Ville Leino, Scott Hartnell, and Michael Leighton. Richards was further down that list. He made his great play on "the shift" but in actuality that was his biggest contribution. I think we and a lot of people really overrated Richards for a long time here.

so who really won in the Mike Richards trade? Sure during the regular season it looked like the Flyers but we all know Richards is a gamer come playoff time and he's doing it again....Simmonds has been a huge dissapointment and Schenn has been just average..

I would take RIchards right now over those 2 guys..just saying

Richards has had a nice postseason but he isn't the biggest reason or arguably even the 2nd biggest reason his team is on to the Western Conf Finals. Their best player has been Quick by a wide margin and their second best player has been Dustin Brown.

Would Richards help the Flyers right now? I don't think so because the Flyers problems are bigger than one player and no one player can fix what they are going through right now.

The Flyers will now be broadcasting on 97.5 The Fanatic. Listening to Mike Missanelli and he said major announcement at 5:15. Last week they had a similar announcement for the Sixers.