jammer2

Boucher....I WILL PUKE if this comes true....but, honestly, this move has Homer written all over it....Hedberg waaay before the bum Bouuuuuch.

The drafting seems a tad extreme....like Homer and the Flyers are being a bit to cute in shooting for long shots. Our first round pick most likely would have been around in the second rd and our 2nd rounder could have been avail in round #4 or 5.

@Polaris922 I'll go on the record as saying I'm surprised, but I trust Homer's drafting, if he says he's the real deal....he is. As for the Pens, they just totall rebuilt their defense in a few years. Ollie Matta does so many little things right....very smooth, graceful even. The kind of guy who does nothing spectacular, but everything is efficient. Very cerebeal d-man with a ton of poise. You don't notice him in his own end because he is so reliable. Last time I saw him he saved his defensive partner (the hulking Jarrod Tinordi, Montreal first rounder) more times than I could count. Combined with Pouliot, the Pens had a really, really strong day. Perfect blend offense in Pouliot and smooth execution in Matta. The fact we let Matta slip to a division rival is sickening.....but I still trust Homer.

@hf101 First off, it's always fun for us Ontario guys to have a Flyers first round pick reside in the OHL. I'll only get one shot to see Oshawa next year, but fc will get to see him numerous times in his conference. I honestly don't know to much about Laughton other than what I just read.....he was really not on my radar. I get the feeling he *might* have still been there in the 2nd...but who knows. We passed up on 2 good players in Ollie Matta and Brendan Gaunce. Comparing the two center ice guys, I see Gaunce's skill set a bit more likely to suit the NHL game. Bigger, stronger although both excel at the defensive side of the game. Gaunce chipped in 28 goals to Laughton's 21. Both excellent numbers for 17 year old's with an eye for the defensive aspects of the game. I'm really hoping Laughton is a all world face off guy, that would explain a lot, a BIG weakness with our team. So we have Giroux, Briere, Couts, Schenn, Laughton....quite the crowd. It's super imporant to be strong down the middle, but the Flyers are taking it to the extreme. One guy who cannot be happy about this at all is Nick Cousins.....yet another center who will undoubtedly get lost in the shuffle. Even if Schenn gets moved to the wing,.....do we now have a 4th line 1st round pick in a few years?. In a lot of ways, this makes no sense except for the fact (I'm hoping) the Flyers honestly thought he was the best player on the board and picked him regardless of our depth at that postion. You never really get burned doing that. Like another poster said in the shout box...this kid better have off the chart intangibles! I guess 5 years down the road you ideally have Giroux, Couturier as 1-2 guys and Laughton filling the checking role shut down 3rd line defender. I see him as a heart and soul type, the kind of gritty enthusiam you need to win the cup. Guess Schenn is moving to the wing. If that's the case, let's not waste anytime and let him learn his position and not have him playing center.

I'm just going to operate under the assumption that it will be a short two week layoff vacation...LOL! The messed up part, I have a 4 or 5 grand tucked away in a company run pension fund....I pull it out, not only do I get taxed 15% on it....I also get any money I recieve taken dollar for dollar off any potential unemployment claim....corrupt as all hell I'd say!!

@ Thanks aziz, appreciate that. One thing I've learnt over time, don't fret or worry about things that are not under your control...it's one thing to say it, quite another to be able to practically apply it. Another little gift sobriety gave me, the ability to live life on life's terms and to accept the things I cannot change.

Just getting home, seems I'm always at work when these trades go down. Happy about the return, bummed out because I just got laid off for the first time in 3 years. They *say* it's only temporary....but still, scary.

Mason, Brent Johnson or ol' man Hedberg would be fairly cheap options if Bob were dealt. Not stellar, but not bums either, assuming last season was an anomoly for Johnson.

Gotta wonder if Bernier is still on the table, it's more obvious than ever Quick is blocking his way. Other than that, Montoya is prob one of the best talents available. I'd have to see a UFA list, but pretty sure the pickings are slim, esp since Lindback and Vokoun are off the market.

Think Block's guy is different, but I could be wrong.

Anyone hear the rumor about Grigerenko dropping so far in the first round due to a rumor that he is actually 20 instead of 18.....which would make a WORLD of difference. Apparently, as rumors have it, his mother worked in the Soviet Govt and he was born in Siberia, where records are not kept so well.....suppose it might be true, will be interenting to see if it is disproven or actually effects his draft position.

This mock has us taking Matt Finn if we stay put at #20, I could see that happening. http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

Montoya's a pretty decent goalie, was decent with the Isles sad sack defense last year, would be better on the Flyers. Not my first option, but better than Bob in my books.

I don't know if anybody remembers the undrafted rookie that attended Flyer camp last fall, Thomas Hyka. Well, apparently he really impressed the Flyer brass with his speed and potential....and is now slated to be drafted #39 overall....look for the Flyers to be interested if he is there in the 3rd or the Panthers give us a second this year instead of next for the Versteeg deal. Something to watch for anyways. He's only 5'11 and 160, but as one scout says " he's one of the best pure skaters in the whole draft". 20-44-64 toalts in 50 games for Gatineau as a 17 year old...pretty impressive.

@TimKerrFan12 First off welcome...I live a few miles from where Tim Kerr grew up, nice guy. I have heard a bit about Frk, know he's mid to late first round material that got bumped into the second round due to injuries. Guess the sccop on him is great hands, just average (at best) skater. Hockey News has him rated #45....but list him as a goal scoring threat....that usually translates into a bit of move up, late first would not shock me. Somebody gets him in the second, that's a nice start to a draft right there.

You still owe the player the money, but I believe he comes off the cap....I think...some guys have to be on the opening night roster to make a certain amount....if not maybe an AHL pro rated version of 1.1 mill even...

If the Flyers did go Griffin then maybe a deal can be worked out with often injured UFA Sami Salo. If you could get him for 2 years on the cheap it would make a pretty nice insurance policy on Timmonen getting hurt. Sami runs a nice pp when healthy. Another option, (although far less of a proven commodity) is Carlo Colavachio. This kid still has upside, would like to see what he would do surrounded with better talent. He's a UFA also.

I think it was in one of Metzler's columns draft tidbits....not sure but I remember reading the Flyers are targeting a specific player and may move up if he is still there at #6. My guess is either Griffin Rienhart or Morgan Riley. While it would be great to have the big physical presence of Griffin, the Flyers do have a long term problem with the power play point on the top unit. When Kimo goes next year, who will step into that role? Morgan Riley would be AWESOME in that role. Great offensive instincts....some would say electric skill set....pretty underrated through the whole draft process....was out most of the year with an injury. Still had 18 pts in 18 games this season. I can't WAIT for this draft!!

@radoran "what does Anahiem get out of this?" I've been wondering the same thing myself. To give up a 4 time 30 goal scorer for a guy who has cracked 20 only once (and just barely).....that is a either a awkward leap of faith or signifigant commodities go along with JVR. The 20th would go a long way to evening that trade up, with a mid-level prospect or lower draft pick finishing off the transaction. I'd rather throw in a Gustafson/Bartulis/Laurdenson (really any defensive prospect other than Boudon for me) than a young forward like Welly/Read/ or a Harry Z. I know you have to give to get, but keep our young wingers and even it out some other way.

@Digityman It's outrageous to even suggest waiving Bob, here we have a perfectly healthy commodity....this report makes no sense. Wondering if Steve Mason would be coming back in a potential Blue Jackets deal....if not who plays back up? Is Leighton the plan? LOL! Already let Vokoun and Lindback slip though our fingers (acquired for very reasonable low costs I might add)....who is left?

@idahophilly Always great to have Brian's astute hockey mind break down a situation. He added a lot of background info that was really helpful in forming an opinion on the topic. If he's positive about the situation as a whole, who am I to have a different train of thought? Metzler equates to a hockey genuis in my mind, for that reason alone, colour me cautiously optimistic on the Bryz front.

@TedZep It's almost like the hockey Gods have enforced some type of kharmic curse on us.....literally anyone we do not show undivided loyality to goes on to win the cup and rub it in our collective noses. I know other teams *must* have the same issues, having guys traded come back to show you up....but not to the extent it happens to the Flyers. It's uncanny....really. This large LA contigent just enforced what we already knew...we are cursed....lol.

@radoran In general, the Flyer fanbase is just as you describe, with a distinct " grass is always greener" type of mentality. Perhaps the extra player movement that came with he salary cap era has made us colder than usual. Everybody seems expendable in some way. Sign of the times I guess..... When pondering about the job our current GM has done, I wonder...does he have a master plan? Seems like he is kinda freestyling, by the seat of his pants and does not give enough forethought to the cap in a long term kind of way. I believe you are stating you don't make a deal just to make a deal, there has to be some kind of need or cap implication addressed. I wonder if Homer adheres to this line of thinking?

@OH1FlyersFan I'm thinking it's better to have longer road trips grouped together. Get the games and the travelling out of the way in one fell swoop.

@JackStraw That would have been AWESOME to see Bruce Jenner achieve that Gold Medal!! Wow, that is quite impressive, to have actually witnessed that piece of history.