Mad Dog

1. Hexy needed to react when the news of Timonen being out indeifinetly got out. 2. It's a low risk/moderate award deal. There is zero investment on the Flyers's part. By signing him only for one year for a minimum cots and not having a NMC/NTC attached gives DelZoto an incentive to perform. If he doesn't pan out, he is gone after this year. It's really a win/win deal.

Well, we don't have many of those... sadly.

That's probably going to be trial-and-error type of thing. At this point it's all on DelZotto. He wanted another opportunity to prove to the world he is a legit d-man in this league. Well, he got it. He will begin with a clean slate. For one year, and for this price, it's a solid move by Hexy.

Yes, reportedly DelZotto is a Flyer.

It's too early to start speculating whether they make the playoffs or not. The season has not even started yet. That said, as just about everybody else, I am worried about the defense. We don't have a bone fide #1 pairing, and that has to be a big concern. None of our guys are terrible, but none of them are great either. The acquisitions of Streit and, to a lesser degree AMac, didn't live up to at least *my* expectations. Homer's brutal management (or MISmanagement) of the cap absolutely hamstrung Hexy to the point he could do all but nothing to address the defense, which is unlikely to change unless Hexy does some creative maneuvering. I am less worried with the offense, but that’s really contingent on how they use Vinnie (no need to beat that horse again). B Schenn will be under the microscope, if he lasts that long with the Flyers. But let's be honest - too many cards have to fall right for this team to make the playoffs.

I would say he is getting there, especially if he repeats the season he has last year.

And trading our most important player will accomplish what exactly?

Well, I wouldn't go as far as saying he is not good right now. One unfamiliar with the team would read it and interpret as if he is basically useless. I like his instincts; he anticipates the game well enough for his age, I would say. And like I mentioned earlier, he seems to be pretty good at creating space for others. He absolutely needs to get better in many areas of the game; no two ways about it. The reason we are expecting so much from him is because the scouting report on him was very positive. He also came as a big piece for Richards, who happened to win 2 Cups shortly thereafter. I don't think the fans are unjustified expecting more than what we've gotten so far from him... And the only way he can capitilize on his potential is play more and keep working on polishing his game. But I don't think having Vinnie as his linesmate will better his development, based on what we've seen last year.

And that's actually one part that complicates the messed up situation the Flyers are in even more. From what I am hearing, they are very determined in trying to make room for Laughton. Publicly, Berube is saying they are going to do what's best for the team and put Laughton on the wing, if they have to. If one is to read between the lines though, they will NOT try him anywhere but a center position, at least not initially.

Well, I think it's more convoluted, unfortunately. For better or worse, Lecavalier was asked to play out of his natural position, keeping Schenn at center. It happened because the Flyers simply found themselves in a position of having way too many centers to spread amongst 4 lines. Why and how they did not think about that when they were signing VLC is beyond me, but the fact of the matter is they are in a bad spot. Schenn and Lecavalier did not play well together. Then they put Lecavalier back at center and switched Schenn to the wing, so this time they asked Schenn to be playing out of the position he was used to. It produced similar pitiful results. Ironically, I don't think Schenn is a good center. I think he would be better off adjusting to play the wing because he doesn't strike me as a player who possesses good qualities that a center should possess - good ice vision, being strong on the puck, above-average passing. Probably the only good quality as a center he has is creating space for others. But here is the problem. Schenn is clearly in future Flyers' plans. He was a big part of the Richards trade, Berube is giving him meaningful ice time, and the team has just invested in him financially, showing commitment. I agree with you that if Schenn wants to succeed in this league, he needs to start learning new ropes, showing he can at least try to adjust, and work on developing chemistry with other linemates. But that would be in the perfect world… Who is more important to the Flyers in a bigger picture: VLC or Schenn? We both know the answer. The Flyers must be at least smart enough to realize that Homer committed a colossal mistake by signing Lecavalier. They can’t undo that deal. But if they have *any* brain at all, and not just stupid pride and stubbornness, they will look to make things worked out, because at the long run, it's about the team.

When? At practice? Because I don't recall them doing it during games, but I didn't watch every single game of the season, although I imagine I would've heard of that...

@canoli You mean put VLC on LW and let him adjust to it? I don't know my friend I thought we'd "been there done that" with Lecavalier on wing. I figure the best spot for him is 2nd-line center and let the rest of the chips fall where they may. No. What I had in mind was keeping Vinnie at his natural position (the center that is) and asking G to switch to the wing. Again, this is far from ideal, but given the alternatives, this at least has a chance of working out. I am cutt'n-pasting a quote from the man himself, "If you'd ask me what position I'd want to play, obviously I'd say center," said Lecavalier, who played his whole life at that position before this season. That was after one of the games last season, when VLC has visibly shown a frustration. If this quote doesn't paint the whole gruesome situation the Flyers found themsleves in, I am not sure what will. Am I missing something with the "He can't and won't play with B Schenn" thing? Or did you mean - they tried that and it didn't work out. Yeah they did - though I don't think they got very many games together did they? Umm, yeah, you are missing something. Berube tried him on the second line, constantly switching between him and Schenn. Schenn was asked to play a wing and showed he was having a tough time adjusting. From the quote above and everyhting else we've witnessed, we already know how *Vinnie* feels about playing wing. But, the bigger issues us, it was very obvious, he and Schenn just didn't work well together, irrespective of who played what position. These two have no chemistry at all. I don't think there is any sense in keeping trying. That boat has sailed; no point in trying to catch it. In fact, I am almost positive they asked Vinnie to play all three forward positions last season, and the reality is he can't play wing, which is not necessarily because he is lazy. Some players just can't play any other position from what they are accustomed to. My point is, we don't know if Giroux can play wing either. But this is one thing they didn't try last season... I don't think. Both the Flyers and VLC are out of options.

Well, there are always ways. With some creativity they can find a way to move the player *and* his NMC. Thre rest of your post I agree with. I think as much as the whole situation blows, they can work it out... which is why the best thing they can do is to put him on the first line and see if he clicks with G and Jake. At least this is really their best option, as it seems... There are simply no better alternatives. It makes sense financially and it makes sense hockey-wise. He can't and won't play with B Schenn. And he can't play on the 3rd line with Couturier.

Trying him with G and Jake is the only possible place for him. If they do it and it fails too, I am really not sure *what* they can or will do... One thing I know, I don't envy Hexy right now.

@peter puck No way. Coots is the future of this team. Coots is quietly becoming one of the better young defensive forwards. He is a natural center and there is no way I am asking him to change his position to accomodate an aging, over-the-hill player who is *not* in this team's future plans. The other aspect of this - it will hardly matter... Vinnie will not succeed playing on the 3rd line with Cooter. He needs a skilled winger to be successful, especially at this point in his career. Playing with Coots and Raffl (or Reid) will not help Vinnie, hence the team. It's bad. It really is. Signing VLC is a bow tie on Homer's disastrous tenure as the Flyers' GM.

I sort of agree with @canoli. If I can put blinders on injuries and inconsitent effort, and look *just* at stats, I don't know if it's fair to say he had "bad years". You laso need to take into consideration an aging factor. Not saying this was a brilliant contract or signing him was even remotely justified in the first place. But given the fact he is already here and that getting rid of him would be an equivalent of a miracle, the Flyers need to figure out the way to find a solution.

If G gets off to another slow start, mark my words - this team will be dismantled early on in the season. Not saying this would be the right decision, but that's what will happen.

That's some disastrous GM'ing right there. And the most amazing thing is, the guy is still with the team making some executive decisions. There is just no sense of accountability with this franchise.... EVER. Yet, in the words of The Old Man, "We don't need a fresh perspective". Disgusting.

That's what I was thinking. G can adjust switching position; Vinny can't.

You know... I will be probably get laughed off this board, but I think the best place they can put Vinny is on the 1st line with G and Voracek. Honestly. There is just absolutely no other spot for him. He can't replace Coots on the third line because playing on a checking/shut-down line is just not his specialty. He can't play on the 2nd line with Simmer and Schenn either; they tried that experiment and it failed. And you can't play the guy who makes so much money on the 4th line as it just doesn't make any sense... You can yell at me and you can laugh at me, but what do the Flyers have to lose at this point? I know it's not ideal, but I really believe the 1st line would be the best of two worlds.

No, thank YOU!

I'll pass on Setoguchi. A drama quinn with an attitude problem and a sense of entitlement. Flyers fans will boo him of the arena after 10 games tops.

Like many said, at the very least it sounds like he won't have an issue in the motivation department. To gain 20 pounds of muscles is not a joke. I hope the Flyers handle him with care and not rush to make the roster.

@Vanflyer 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. That's kind of my point; I probably didn't express it well. Deliberately or not (I am guessing not), Nashville seemed to put all their eggs in one basket. They had always had a great defense - maybe one of the best in the league. But they didn't address goal scoring.... ever. Not adequately anyway. Weber is not their problem; lack of offense is. And that's not what I want to see with my team. I want to see balance. From goaltending all teh way down to offense. 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. In a sense of a true value, sure, it probably *is* a wash. And if the Flyers had another pure scorer who can do basically everything on the ice, I would say get Weber here as soon as you can. I don't think it's all about entertainment - at least not for me. Believe me, I am a big fan of Weber. I mean what's not to like? I just don't see how this really improves the team if you bring one asset at the expense of another.

I am all for it! Let's do it.