Polaris922

No don't say that!! Lol

@B21 think they'll go after Semin? Or maybe Doan? I've been trying to think about this one for awhile... Since Parise went elsewhere I got nothing either. Dupuis had a good year but I dunno...

I don't regard him as dirty as in hits to the head and such, just an instigator that doesn't always answer the bell. I don't expect him to fight the McIntyre's and such, but to run away from Engelland? Just my opinion, obviously means a lot eh? Lol

@B21 I didn't Worry about it so much because Pronger's days are done I think and Cooke's aren't. You make valid points though in that Pronger clearly is no saint either. I'll stand behind my thinking on Hartnell though. Yes he drops em occasionally, but again I've seen him cower from it as well after playing instigator. Obviously Flyers fans have too because they watch every game. I think it probably gets justified as "not the right time" or whatever and forgotten. Lol. A valid argument once in awhile.

@jammer2 I bet you enjoy the Windsor games. I was stationed in Rome, NY ages ago and watched the Devils' farm team for years at $7 a seat. Loved the AHL stuff with Stephane Richer, Chris Terreri on rehab stints, all that stuff.

So that's my question... If you're Bylsma, who do you put with Sid?

I've never understood the league's tolerance of such players. Cooke seems semi-talented when he loses that side of his game. I dunno if one year of clean living convinces me he's changed. If he truly has, then I guess he got lucky and wasn't banned first. This league has allowed some pretty nasty crap to go on (Bertuzzi, McSorley, etc..) but seems to be changing. Hopefully...

I didn't defend Barnaby either.. I said he was an ass. Only thing I could say in his defense was he DID engage tougher guys and lost appropriately. His antics were pitiful most if the time. Players like him, Avery, Hartnell, Carcillo, Tucker, Cooke up till last year anyway... Jury remains out... No room for any of them in my eyes. Mojo I really try to see things without "homer" glasses involved. I know nobody can do it perfectly, but I do try. I don't see them in any better light than I view Hartnell. They're all clowns.

Sticking with a spade is a spade... Matt Cooke. Jammer I don't pay Matt Cooke so I can't get rid of him. Until this past season I didn't like having him on our roster. I don't like his style up till then either. I never liked Carcillo either and celebrated that we let him go. So no, you can't say I'm hypocritical because we're it up to me the Pens wouldn't have players like that. One season of clean play doesn't necessarily sell me on Cooke either. I guess we'll see how this next season goes.

Actually he IS very Avery-like in my eyes. Barnaby was an ass but dropped the gloves with pretty much anyone. He went with heavy-weights (and lost) fairly often. Yes Hartnell picks his spots, and no he doesn't answer every call. I specifically remember him turning away from Engelland and then trying to engage little Steve Sullivan, then Paul Martin. I don't see every Flyers game obviously, but I've seen him hide enough against Prust, Clarkson, and a few other middle weights. He's been the butt if a few jokes at the hockey fights sites. Sorry Mojo but a spade is a spade...

Bryzgalov may be a workhorse but if he doesn't perform better this year it could make for a long decade for you guys unless they swallow the money to be rid of him. I liked him in Phoenix, I just think they had a more defense minded system. Luongo has a stupid contract too but he's had some success for the 'Nucks. I wouldn't live Hartnell either. I don't like his style at all. Wouldn't be so bad if he pulled his stunts then stood up to tough guys, but he runs away then picks fights with little guys most of the time. I have to respect a guy before I like him, so Hartnell is out.

I'm with you!

Bryzgalov

"a straight swap"... That's gotta be in sarcasm font! I know it's wishful thinking... But I don't think anybody would absorb that contract. Nobody in their right mind anyway.

Glass will be tough to play against. McIntyre is for fighting.

I'm a MAF fan. I think part of why I like him has been his consistency in net. He'll have short stretches of bad play as every goalie does, but overall I like him. I too think Vokoun is about time off for Fleury without sacrificing games. Johnson just fell apart last year, sadly, after being good enough to push Fleury pretty hard the year before.

Also... I'd like to agree with you Van because Fleury is young and should be able to handle it as such a highly touted goalie on draft day. I think he's a good goalie but hasn't quite lived up to expectations. I still put him in the top handful playing right now but Fleury played in 67 games this past season, 65 in 2010-11, and 67 in 2009-10. All three years we had first round exits. And those were the highest game totals he's had. Not blaming the losses solely in MAF but I do feel it could be a contributing factor. I'm far from alone in that thinking.

Weak? Not every goaltender can play that many games and still be on their game. I think Fleury proved in that series he's one of the ones who can't. I honestly believe Shero agrees or they wouldn't necessarily have worried so much about Vokoun. Bet you Fleury is at least a half-dozen games less going into the playoffs next season.

In addition to everything you guys have covered, a major problem in that series was fatigue for Fleury. He clearly was exhausted. That won't happen again. They learned from that mistake.

I meant that he COULD be the ideal wing for Crosby the way he plays the game. Believe me I agree with you that the contracts being signed these days are hardly reasonable. Lol.

I think your Flyers are just at a different point in talent development. Yes you have good cap space but a lot of your talent is young and on low salary contract time. As they become RFA's and UFA's that will change. Fleury and Letang are Pens developed players, as was Staal. I think they got rid if the wrong D man (Michalek as opposed Martin) but they're making good moves with a locked up core of talent and mostly replaceable components around them. Couple more years your boys will be in the same position if they hold on to the youth movement like we did.

Or use the cap space cleared up by Suter's departure to lock in Weber. I think the Pens are looking at Parise reasonably. Simply trying to find a scoring winger who works the corners to be on Crosby's wing. I'm sure Detroit sees him that way too.

I dunno Van... I see your point and you're right that a guy can't wait forever or the market is closed. I find it hard to believe the Flyers had no communication with him though. There had to be SOME discussion. I don't think the Flyers were throwing up 4 million for him. I see what you're comparing stats to, and he did have a good season, but I'm also of the thinking the Giroux is largely responsible for Jagr's success. I think it's more than most GM's would say he's worth. But I guess we'll find out.

I give Suter the edge because he does everything well. I agree with the others here though in that I dunno if it's worth the extra $$ that edge is going to cost. Carle is a good defenseman on paper, and in my eyes he's right there with Suter in everything but physicality. But you guys watch him a lot more than I do, so I appreciate reading all of your opinions.

You seriously think they should have let Crosby go???