Fantasy Hockey '08-'09

[naum]

Therrien canned, Blysma in as interim coach for Pens… …after absolutely disgraceful HNIC performance Saturday night where they thought the game was over after going up 2-0 and ended up losing 6-2 or 7-2 or 8-2, I lost count, pucks were flying in their net at such a rapid rate… …can't even dog Fleury for it because he did look sharp early, made some nice saves, but when your netminder faces a barrage of 40+ shots, kind of hard to find total fault there…

Talking heads on NHL network were all lambasting the move, saying it not Therrien fault and focusing on missing Hossa and Malone from last season. But from watching all the Pens games over past couple months, they're really not biggest problem — the defensemen play has been pitiful. While Orpik is one of the few tough guys throwing out body checks, he really is no 1-2 D-man. Gill is probably only suited for PK duty. Eaton has probably been their best D-man, but on any other team would be 3-4 at best, probably 5-6 guy. Letang has good puck movement skills but he cannot handle opposing forwards and really should be relegated to PP play. Scuderi has been OK, but that means he is steady 5-6 guy…

While I don't know how much ice time decisions were the machinations of Therrien, or barked down from above from Shero, I'd say Therrien should be canned just on the basis of (a) assigning Letang to PK duty, (b) giving Whitney, who's been dreadful on D so much ice time, and (c) not getting Jordan Staal more cracks on a line w/Crosby/Malkin…

[Strazos]

Does anyone know where the Devils came from this year? No huge stand-outs that I can think of, no Brodeur, and they're running away with the Atlantic. Really frustrating.

[naum]

Does anyone know where the Devils came from this year? No huge stand-outs that I can think of, no Brodeur, and they're running away with the Atlantic. Really frustrating.

Quality (though Parise and Elias carry the scoring load) spread on multiple forward lines. Very capable, if unheralded defensemen corp - White, Oduya, Martin all having stellar season thus far… …and Clemmenson (sp?) has looked sharper than Brodeur at times this season…

[Azaroth]

The Therrien move was stupid, and made by awful management. Shero should be canned for more reasons than I can count. Holding off on signing our core until AFTER they made a run and then being forced to overpay comes to mind. Now we have a serious cap situation because we have a core of guys all being overpaid by about 1.5m each.

But so does this. Give me a motherfucking break.

This move needed to be executed two months ago, or not at all. And.. Bylsma?

Fucking really?

He's new to being an AHL HEAD COACH. I don't CARE how his team is doing. You don't know if he's any good. This is his first season as coach of an AHL team, as far as I've read.

So what, if he fails, you bring in ANOTHER coach? You're banking this season first on Therrien turning it around, and now on an unproven AHL coach to turn it around?

On top of all this, the powerplay is one of the biggest fucking problems we have. We can basically throw out a line of All-Stars on the powerplay, and we can't score. Here's a good idea - LET'S KEEP THE POWERPLAY COACH AROUND. So Yeo stays.

But fuck it. As sloppily executed as this move was, and as many wrong turns as I think Shero has made with this and everything else he's ever done with the Penguins, Therrien had to go. The guy got soundly outcoached in the finals last year, and that's enough for me.

But you attempt to improve and get the locker room listening again by bringing in a veteran coach that the guys can respect. You don't bring in 38 year old first-term head coach Dan cocksucking Bylsma, and you don't do it at 7pm on a Sunday night when the team has a game at 2pm the following afternoon on the road.

[cmlancas]

Does anyone know where the Devils came from this year? No huge stand-outs that I can think of, no Brodeur, and they're running away with the Atlantic. Really frustrating.

Quality (though Parise and Elias carry the scoring load) spread on multiple forward lines. Very capable, if unheralded defensemen corp - White, Oduya, Martin all having stellar season thus far… …and Clemmenson (sp?) has looked sharper than Brodeur at times this season…

This has been the mark of the Devils for years.  Play the trap, have solid d-men, and score a few goals in front of quality goalies.  Always really frustrating when I watch them -- makes for boring games (unless you're a NJ fan, I guess)!

[Azaroth]

Opinions on Whitney for Kunitz/Tangradi.

I'll wait to tell you the real answer after you're done.

[naum]

Opinions on Whitney for Kunitz/Tangradi.

I'll wait to tell you the real answer after you're done.

Don't know enough about Tangradi to assess.

Kunitz — hearty Saskatchewan lad, proven 20+ goal scorer, 29 years old, (another!) left hand shot… …Pens already have 20+ goal scorers that are not producing… …who knows, they need wingers (when Fedotenko is your #1 LW, it is telling…)… …maybe he'll light it up skating w/Geno|Sid|Staal…

Still, addition by subtraction as the Pens can bring Gogoloski back up or give Letang a chance at 1-2 slot (which I am not sure he is capable of)… …and I was becoming incensed watching Whitney on the ice…

Whitney already laced 'em up in game w/Ducks last night, a 6-0 blanking where he tallied NOT (obviously) on the scoring sheet, but did post an Even +/- in 20+ minutes of ice time, which is a tremendous improvement over his recent Penguin travails…

Pens v. Blackhawks tonight

[Azaroth]

Kunitz is a 20 goal scorer.

On a good line, on a good team.

These types of players are not very hard to come by.

Addition by subtraction ain't good when you can get more.

In this case, Whitney was sold low and Kunitz was bought high. Since when in the flying chilibean fuck does a 20 goal scorer get 3.75 million dollars?  I mean, excluding Jordan Staal.

Problem is that Jordan is 20, and has potential to be more than what he is (and he's getting paid for that potential). Kunitz is being paid to keep a Stanley Cup winner together, which didn't exactly fucking pan out now did it.


The Ducks were DYING to get this guy off their roster at that price.

The picked up an 06-07 60 point Defenseman with a brilliant offensive upside. Top 4 offensive defenseman are one of the most sought after things you can have to trade this season, and Shero should have fucking waited.

Kunitz is a glorified third line winger. He's not even a right handed shot for fuck sakes.

Tangradi, if you're wondering, is second in OHL scoring. So everyone is creaming their pants over him.

Problem is that he's twenty fucking years old. Racking up points in the OHL is cool if you're 17.


His upside is a second line winger. But he's slow and his skating is poor. He's a decent prospect and nothing more. He'll pan out to be a third liner in 3-4 years.

So congrats. You sold Whitney for a 29 year old glorified third liner, and another third line winger four years from now (maybe).

As lazy and unmotivated as he can be sometimes, you honestly don't think you could have packaged him for more?

[Strazos]

No, you hit it right on the head.

[Azaroth]

Well, everyone in the media is talking about how great Kunitz is and how great a trade it is for the Penguins.

Why? Well, because Whitney missed a lot of time this season and hasn't been playing very well.

Sports media people have memories like goldfish.

Case in point, the Ovechkin/Crosby debate. It changes every year. Each year, one or the other is "HANDS DOWN THE BETTER PLAYER".

I couldn't stand watching the Versus broadcast of the WSH/PIT game a week ago. I've never, ever, EVER seen two guys lap at the balls of a player so hard and so long as Milbury and McGuire did with Ovechkin. I've seen a lot of things, especially watching broadcasts with Crosby in them, but this was fucking sickening.

Of course, Ovechkin had two guys ahead of him in points at the time - and they were both playing in that game. But never for a second did they shut their mouths about Ovechkin, creaming their pants over every move he made for ten minutes while other great things were happening all over the ice.

But the media is on #8 this season (And I mean ALL of the media - as though it were a planned move) - and Crosby has been turned into the villain.

Every sports talk show. Every hockey broadcast. He's on hockey magazines pulling his shirt open like Superman, even BEFORE the season. Hell, ESPN runs polls about "whiners".

I mean, Crosby used to dive. But now he whines. More or less than any other captain? Well, not really. Any number of guys yap at Refs as much or more than he does (See: Mike Richards).

But he stopped diving. So if he stops whining, I'm sure he'll smell funny. Or have his greasy playoff beard made fun of.

Ovechkin may showboat, run people, take cheapshots and headshots constantly and never get suspended, and he may be the most selfish player in league history with more shots than Malkin and Crosby COMBINED - but he'll go "SWARETAHGAHD!!!!" on camera and he has a stupid little lisp. Everyone hates our marketing of Crosby, so we'd better jump on this shit.

And yes, they'll eat it up with a spoon.

I guess I find it funny that people complain they hate Crosby because of overhyping by the media.

The fuck has been going on with Ovechkin lately.

Look. You were told to love Crosby. Then, you were told to hate Crosby and love Ovechkin. Let's just admit that your opinions are based on what you're told by the sports media and be done with it. Do you really watch 25% of the games both of them play and have enough experience with everything they do to be able to form a definitive opinion on either of them? Probably why you haven't seen the three separate incidents that should have had Ovechkin suspended for five to ten games this season.

But that's because he's a complete player. He hits AND scores. He hits AND scores. Complete player.

Now, don't get me wrong. Ovechkin is great. So is Crosby, and so is Malkin (who gets NO credit).

But I get fucking pissed with all sports fans being fickle mushheads who regurgitate all of the bullshit they see in the media.

Form your own opinions or shut the fuck up. Nobody needs another parrot adding background noise to conversations people are trying to have about shit.

[Strazos]

It's ok, Gary Bettmen still has a boner for Crosby. 

[Azaroth]

Based on what.

And everyone hates Bettman. Even if that were true, wouldn't that just help in making him the villain?

[naum]

Kunitz is a 20 goal scorer.

On a good line, on a good team.

These types of players are not very hard to come by.

Addition by subtraction ain't good when you can get more.

In this case, Whitney was sold low and Kunitz was bought high. Since when in the flying chilibean fuck does a 20 goal scorer get 3.75 million dollars?  I mean, excluding Jordan Staal.

Problem is that Jordan is 20, and has potential to be more than what he is (and he's getting paid for that potential). Kunitz is being paid to keep a Stanley Cup winner together, which didn't exactly fucking pan out now did it.

…

The picked up an 06-07 60 point Defenseman with a brilliant offensive upside. Top 4 offensive defenseman are one of the most sought after things you can have to trade this season, and Shero should have fucking waited.

Kunitz is a glorified third line winger. He's not even a right handed shot for fuck sakes.

Tangradi, if you're wondering, is second in OHL scoring. So everyone is creaming their pants over him.

Problem is that he's twenty fucking years old. Racking up points in the OHL is cool if you're 17.


His upside is a second line winger. But he's slow and his skating is poor. He's a decent prospect and nothing more. He'll pan out to be a third liner in 3-4 years.

So congrats. You sold Whitney for a 29 year old glorified third liner, and another third line winger four years from now (maybe).

As lazy and unmotivated as he can be sometimes, you honestly don't think you could have packaged him for more?

Eh, maybe you right, but sometimes these trades are not as clear cut as you imagine. Funny, I was watching a "replay" on the Fox Sports Pittsburgh network where they interviewed Craig Patrick, reviewing his trades (more on that in a second…), and the deal that brought Francis (best 2 way center in the history of 2 NHL squads…) and Ulfie Samuellson for Zalapski and Cullen was widely panned at the time (they flashed newspaper sports front pages, that panned the Pens for it, and in Hartford, they were triumphant over it…). Now, immediately I loved it because it was exactly what Pens needed at time — plus Zalapski never really blossomed into the star he was projected to be.

AFA Kunitz goes, I watched him skate tonight (and now remember from Anaheim games too…), it might be just as you write ("glorified 3rd liner"), but OTOH he might just shine given a chance to skate with Sid | Jordan | Geno… …my initial impressions are he might be a missing piece, but they got holes bigger than that to plug… …the most obvious is a decrepit D-man corp. Individually, they all possess one piece of a solid game, but all of them are sorely deficient on basic D play. I thought maybe new coach, new scheme would result in improved performance, but they've been just as awful, if not more hideous, yet are nabbing wins because unlike Therrien's last month, they're scoring goals… …and it looks like they're putting Letang into bigger role (though on road game they have more D-minded pair as #1-#2), which he may be not be cut out for, but hey, he'll get a shot… …Good Gates, they took 3 "delay of game" penalties from D-men clearing the puck over the glass, and Fleury faced 45+ shots against the Hawks tonight…

Whitney? I hate to repeat it but I just don't see a great or even fairly solid D-man — granted, he is a superb passer and can be uncanny how he advances the puck halfway up the rink… …but he skates like he's got concrete in his boots, seems to be always out of position, commits far too many turnovers, doesn't seem to understand the concept of basic DEFENSEMAN play and really is a huge defensive liability… …I acknowledge they "sold low" but after this season, that price may dip even lower…

Reckon, Pens figure if one or the other pans out — Kunitz or Trangradi, deal works out… …we will see, but I don't think you can call it now…

Back to Patrick, and a stroll back through Pens history…

* As I stated, loved the Francis/Ulfie deal, it made the Pens a cup champ. It was his moment of Zen that he based his entire GM career on, yet afterwards, it was rare he made a deal that even figured near even for Pens…

* Next season, he made the trade that killed the dynasty before it had a chance to really get rolling… …giving up Recchi for Tocchet and Kjell Samuellson (they wanted to goon it up)

* Markus Naslund for Alek Stojanov WTF

* Sergei Zubov for Kevin Hatcher WTF (though rumor has it Mario did not like Zubov and this trade was at his bequest)

* Other questionable deals, only one (dealing Ulfie and Lucky Luc to Rangers for Nedved, Zubov) decent, all the others best slightly straightup until…

Post 2001 season where he just gave away the storehouse for bags of pucks… …Jagr for stiffs (though the Pens I think have acquired/traded Beech at least 3 or 4 times since  that trade to the Caps…), Kovalev for a bundle of skate-nothings (anyone remember Rico Fata?), after the stars were all traded away, he traded away any player that showed promise - Tarnstrom, Jackman, etc.… (not top tier players but any ray of light was blackened out in interest of keeping salaries down). Which Patrick (though at time, did not admit) confessed that he was simply dumping salaries with little regard for any return value — I was actually kind of shocked to hear him casually own up to it, yeah we all knew but teams never proclaim "WE'RE DUMPING SALARIES AND PURPOSEFULLY REPLACING THEM WITH SCRUBS THAT MAKE THE LEAGUE MINIMUM".

[naum]

I couldn't stand watching the Versus broadcast of the WSH/PIT game a week ago. I've never, ever, EVER seen two guys lap at the balls of a player so hard and so long as Milbury and McGuire did with Ovechkin. I've seen a lot of things, especially watching broadcasts with Crosby in them, but this was fucking sickening.

Good Gates, I pity you all whose only NHL coverage is thanks to Vs. (and now NBC game of the week). I simply cannot tolerate their broadcasts, or if I must, the volume is turned down. You'd think that the coverage teams would treat their coverage like a local crew would study their own club they carry, and actually be informed on the players on said teams. That is why they crow over the few stars (though yes they think they are "pimping" the NHL experience to the unwashed, by the gratuitous star adulation…). Compared to CBC/TSN/much of the local announcers (though a few of them grate on me too, particularly the Buffalo announcers,  and the Caps announcers too…) are so much more pleasant to endure…

Re: Ovechkin, come on, give him his due, he's a friggin MONSTER.

[Azaroth]

Now, don't get me wrong. Ovechkin is great. So is Crosby, and so is Malkin (who gets NO credit).

But I get fucking pissed with all sports fans being fickle mushheads who regurgitate all of the bullshit they see in the media.

[Azaroth]

Eh, maybe you right, but sometimes these trades are not as clear cut as you imagine. Funny, I was watching a "replay" on the Fox Sports Pittsburgh network where they interviewed Craig Patrick, reviewing his trades (more on that in a second…), and the deal that brought Francis (best 2 way center in the history of 2 NHL squads…) and Ulfie Samuellson for Zalapski and Cullen was widely panned at the time (they flashed newspaper sports front pages, that panned the Pens for it, and in Hartford, they were triumphant over it…). Now, immediately I loved it because it was exactly what Pens needed at time — plus Zalapski never really blossomed into the star he was projected to be.

Not at all. Basically my opinion is the exact opposite of everything I've seen from the talking heads, and everyone in Pittsburgh seems extremely happy.

If Whitney starts hitting 50 and 60 points again, we got the Hartford end of this deal.

Most especially if Tangradi doesn't pan out to be fucking Bertuzzi Prime +++ like all of the Penguins fans are sexually mewling about. The big hint is that it's not gonna fucking happen like that. Third line, mark it down.

Guess what's more likely:

A) Whitney doing something again that he did before last season, when he had a foot problem that needed surgery.

B) Kunitz, 29, ~50 points in his prime on a stacked Ducks top 6, having his best days ahead of him on a first line and somehow being worth a cap hit of 3.75m, which we could have put toward a real star.

C) Tangradi, a 20 year old in the OHL that wasn't even considered the Duck's best prospect (FYI, it's Jake Gardiner. Don't recognize the name? Yeah me either. He's currently playing at the University of Wisconsin and scoring at about a 0.5 point per game pace). By the way, the Ducks organization is rated, with Tangradi, has having the 22nd best prospect pool in the NHL. Tangradi is listed as prospect level 7.5C at hockeysfuture.com -- for reference (and for Penguins fans who know anything about their team), Luca Caputi is rated as 7.0C. Yeah, Tangradi is really something to call home about guys. He's mildly better than fucking Luca Caputi.

D) THE FUCKING ANSWER IS A.

[Strazos]

SO what is stopping Mario from going out and hiring people who know wtf they are doing in the front office? I mean, the Flyers suffered under Clarke for YEARS, but they were still in the playoffs every year.

[Azaroth]

Everyone thinks this is a good trade. Pittsburgh people are happy.

Cuz, you know. Gritty 20 goal scorers are rare snowflakes.

Bylsma is a money saving hire. They're waiting to hire SJ's assistant in the offseason, and Bylsma will either go back to WBS or become an assitant with the Pens.

Shero and Mario disagree currently about a winger for Sid. The prices for Hossa-type guys out there right now are STEEP. Shero doesn't want to pay the premium, Mario does.

Count on it happening. When Mario AND Sid want something done? Yeah. Expect a winger for Sid at the deadline.

It won't be Kunitz. I honestly can't guess who it'll be, though.

[Strazos]

Over in PHL...Briere is coming off the IR, so they had to make just a TAD more room.

So they send Kukonen (which is fine) and Giroux (WTF!?) down to the Phantoms, and recall Guenin while they are at it.

Ugh. Pretty sure Homer should have sent Cote down instead; Asham is just as good a fighter, and has some actual hockey skills.


Still would have liked to have seen Jones traded. Instead they lost Metropolit and Vananen to waivers, and had to shuffle people down to the minors.

[Azaroth]

Asham is awful and Cote is by far the better fighter.

[naum]

Everyone thinks this is a good trade. Pittsburgh people are happy.

Cuz, you know. Gritty 20 goal scorers are rare snowflakes.

Not all the sports beat writers.

Bylsma is a money saving hire. They're waiting to hire SJ's assistant in the offseason, and Bylsma will either go back to WBS or become an assitant with the Pens.

Shero and Mario disagree currently about a winger for Sid. The prices for Hossa-type guys out there right now are STEEP. Shero doesn't want to pay the premium, Mario does.

Count on it happening. When Mario AND Sid want something done? Yeah. Expect a winger for Sid at the deadline.

It won't be Kunitz. I honestly can't guess who it'll be, though.

Shero will be the odd man out if that is true. And, thus far, Shero really has not really distinguished himself as standout GM.

I liked the Hossa trade, it got them a chance to play for the cup. But all other moves have been dubious…

* Gave up Dominic Moore who I liked yeah, he got lost in the shuffle of forwards last season, but they could really use him this season and they didn't get squat for him (3rd round pick I believe…)

* Carcillo for LaRaque. If they gave up Carcillo, they should have tried to keep Big Georges — the guy that replaced him, Godard, is a stiff (he may be the better fighter, but in 2009 NHL even your enforcer should have decent hands)…

They don't need a FLASHY winger, just need to replace/upgrade Ryan Malone. They need a Kevin Stevens/Rich Tocchet, or even a Thomas Holmstrom or somebody that can crash the net and screen the goalie and bang up the opposing D-men. I cannot tell you how many times I've screamed at the TV as I've watched Sid or Geno look to dish the puck to in the goal mouth, and no forward is anywhere in the vicinity…

Even if Blysma is a money saving move, that doesn't mean he doesn't have the goods to be a successful NHL coach. By all indications, he was succeeding at AHL level, and according to the players he's coached, is an extraordinary study of the game… …I like the way they're skating post-Thierrien, Thirrien handcuffed the O trying to allot for their defensive deficiencies. And I'd rather see them lose 5-4 or 6-5 than 2-1/1-0. It was an exciting game v. Hawks as Hawks played even more aggressive, thrusting a D-man deep on every rush it seemed (though their D seem a lot nimbler in getting back…)…

[Azaroth]

Worst move so far is the Whitney trade.

The trade itself is bad, but I'll make it worse for you.

In the offseason, Malone signed with Tampa Bay for 4.5m. "Not worth it", people said. They were right.

What kind of player is Malone?

He grinds, he sticks up for team mates, he has pretty good offense. He's in his late 20s. He's a home town guy with a lot of heart.

Now, we didn't want him for 4.5. But I'm sure we could have had him at 4. And if Shero had a brain rattling around in his noggin, we'd have had him at 3 earlier in the season. But he waited to sign everyone until AFTER a cup run. Great idea.

So now, we trade Whitney for Kunitz.

What type of player is Kunitz?

He grinds, he sticks up for his teammates, he has pretty good offense - but not as good as Malone. He's in his late 20s. He has a lot of heart, but he's not a home town guy with passion for Pittsburgh that'll cry in the locker room after a SCF loss because he knows he won't be back.

He's making 3.75.

So, basically we just accomplished acquiring Malone with less passion and less offense. And we had to give up Whitney.

Or we could have signed Malone at 4m and NOT given up Whitney.

Great work so far, Shero.

Please don't make any more idiotic moves.

But he will. He'll trade Staal for some garbage. Even though Staal has as many goals as Kunitz and is only 20 years old, and extremely good defensively.

[naum]

Worst move so far is the Whitney trade.

The trade itself is bad, but I'll make it worse for you.

In the offseason, Malone signed with Tampa Bay for 4.5m. "Not worth it", people said. They were right.

What kind of player is Malone?

He grinds, he sticks up for team mates, he has pretty good offense. He's in his late 20s. He's a home town guy with a lot of heart.

Now, we didn't want him for 4.5. But I'm sure we could have had him at 4. And if Shero had a brain rattling around in his noggin, we'd have had him at 3 earlier in the season. But he waited to sign everyone until AFTER a cup run. Great idea.

Yeah, Malone being a hometown boy… …tough to see them let him go, but they were penciling that money for Hossa, who spurned them to take less money with Red Wings!

And Malone does have a lot of heart, saw him go at it tonight w/Regehr after Regehr sticked Lecavialier's face, but he got taken down easily…

So now, we trade Whitney for Kunitz.

What type of player is Kunitz?

He grinds, he sticks up for his teammates, he has pretty good offense - but not as good as Malone. He's in his late 20s. He has a lot of heart, but he's not a home town guy with passion for Pittsburgh that'll cry in the locker room after a SCF loss because he knows he won't be back.

He's making 3.75.

So, basically we just accomplished acquiring Malone with less passion and less offense. And we had to give up Whitney.

Or we could have signed Malone at 4m and NOT given up Whitney.

Well, again, that stems from them not getting Hossa back — can't look at it as Kunitz v. Malone, Pens figured Hossa > Malone (and let's not debate that…) and offered that bank to Hossa…

But you're missing the point that with the D-man composition they have, really Whitney is expendable — with Letang stepping his game up, and not any more a defensive liability than Whitney, they needed to address the winger hole.

But he will. He'll trade Staal for some garbage. Even though Staal has as many goals as Kunitz and is only 20 years old, and extremely good defensively.

Rumors floating that indeed this might be the case. I sure hope not, as only an imbecile would trade a talent like Staal away — they need a solid #1 stay at home defenseman and I don't see any team in the league looking to give up (at least someone in their young 20s with the immense upside Staal has) one… …they paid him like a star, but it's like they protecting him and not giving him the full star detail — on a squad that lacks depth, you'd think he'd get some double shift action like Geno & Sid. Or at least some cracks to skate with top scoring lines.

If they have to trade one of the three (Sid, Jordan, Geno), this might sound like sacrilege, I'd part with Sid. I've always thought Malkin > Crosby, and last 2 seasons have confirmed it for me. Not that Sid isn't worthy of all the hoopla, just I'd rather have Malkin. And I'd rather have Staal than Crosby, even if he's never going to be as gifted a scorer as Sid, he's the better 2-way player…

[Azaroth]

But you're missing the point that with the D-man composition they have, really Whitney is expendable

Not really missing any point. Just because we have a wealth of offensive defenseman doesn't mean that trading Whitney for a handjob from a crackwhore is something to be happy about just because he was expendable.

More could have been had. If we kept Malone, the $4m cap space wouldn't need to go toward a player attempting to fill Malone's shoes that we also had to give up Whitney for.

Also, if you'd rather have Staal then Sid you're a nutbar.

But Hossa was a huge part of the problem as well. Or, shall I say, Shero's failure to have a plan B.

Now we need to trade assets to replace Malone, and we need to trade even more to replace Hossa. In the end, we end up a much worse team than when we started.

And why?

Because Mr. Shero failed spectacularly at his job.

[Azaroth]

Oh, by the way?

This mysterious Guerin deal?

If it's Shero trading Staal for Guerin I'll shit my motherfucking drawers.

[Strazos]

What if the Flyers traded you Jones for Staal? 

[Special J]

I don't want to say I told you so, but. Oh, wait a minute, actually I do.

If Shero needed another forward that badly, I would have taken a look at Nik Antropov.

As far as shipping off Whitney, you'll have to wait and see what Eric Tangradi does, but there's reason to be optimistic.  No help right now obviously.

[naum]

Oh, by the way?

This mysterious Guerin deal?

If it's Shero trading Staal for Guerin I'll shit my motherfucking drawers.

He should be lynched or at least given a Rodney King style beating for even pondering that…

The reasoning on keeping Staal over Sid is not that Staal > Sid, but that given salary cap considerations, only room for one huge star salary on the team and presently, I'd have to go with Geno over Sid…

[Strazos]

Reading the comments section for any online article from a local site on the Flyers is....painful.

Trade Gagne? Really? REALLY? Sure, trade away one of the best players on the team, one of the best 2-way players in the game...For who? People say he is trade bait, but for who? Fucking Bouwmester? Sure, he puts up points on a dreadful FLA team, but so what? Don't see him as a shut-down dman, which the Flyers could use. And I just KNOW Gagne would be a Flyer-killer on any other team.

Or Briere? Yeah, good luck getting ANYTHING of value for a guy who has only played 10 games this year....and getting him to waive that no-trade clause. All that fucking hype getting him here, at least let the guy TRY to earn his worth. Sure, his injuries sucked this year, but most players go through injuries throughout their career. When he's healthy, Danny is a huge weapon - don't fucking jump the gun and give him away.

And people crying about Holmgren's "poor cap management"....it's fucking simple math you newbs. Sure, I wish he could keep Giroux up too, but  since Kimmo can't go on LIR, you need space to call up a dman because your 7th guy got swiped on waivers. Fucking newbs.

I really want to see the Flyers go after a goalie in the draft, if possible. Sure, there MIGHT be someone on the block in FA this summer...Khabie...But, I dunno, not seeing anyone on the block who blows me away. At this point, unless something crazy happens, I'd be ok with them sticking with the two that they have, though I know they will not (both UFA this summer).

[naum]

Reading the comments section for any online article from a local site on the Flyers is....painful.

Trade Gagne? Really? REALLY? Sure, trade away one of the best players on the team, one of the best 2-way players in the game...For who? People say he is trade bait, but for who? Fucking Bouwmester? Sure, he puts up points on a dreadful FLA team, but so what? Don't see him as a shut-down dman, which the Flyers could use. And I just KNOW Gagne would be a Flyer-killer on any other team.

Or Briere? Yeah, good luck getting ANYTHING of value for a guy who has only played 10 games this year....and getting him to waive that no-trade clause. All that fucking hype getting him here, at least let the guy TRY to earn his worth. Sure, his injuries sucked this year, but most players go through injuries throughout their career. When he's healthy, Danny is a huge weapon - don't fucking jump the gun and give him away.

And people crying about Holmgren's "poor cap management"....it's fucking simple math you newbs. Sure, I wish he could keep Giroux up too, but  since Kimmo can't go on LIR, you need space to call up a dman because your 7th guy got swiped on waivers. Fucking newbs.

I really want to see the Flyers go after a goalie in the draft, if possible. Sure, there MIGHT be someone on the block in FA this summer...Khabie...But, I dunno, not seeing anyone on the block who blows me away. At this point, unless something crazy happens, I'd be ok with them sticking with the two that they have, though I know they will not (both UFA this summer).

Flyers are stacked with forwards and really strong at C, especially w/Briere returning. And between Nittymaki and Biron, one of them will standout as #1, though I think Nittymaki the better, but Biron the more XP (and neither has performed well in post-season)…

Rumors swirling… …Andropov, Gaborik, St. Louis, Ryan Smyth, Recchi, Kaberle, Scott Niedermayer, Jokkinen, Chris Neil all on the block. Yahoo sports "puck daddy" says St. Louis nixed a deal to Pens earlier in season.

[Phildo]

In relation to the topic of this thread, it appears my fantasy season has gone down in flames along with two of my goalies.  Welp.

[Special J]

In relation to the topic of this thread, it appears my fantasy season has gone down in flames along with two of my goalies.  Welp.

Don't feel too bad. I had Martin Brodeur. And Brendan Morrow.  My season ended months ago.

Or Briere? Yeah, good luck getting ANYTHING of value for a guy who has only played 10 games this year....and getting him to waive that no-trade clause. All that fucking hype getting him here, at least let the guy TRY to earn his worth. Sure, his injuries sucked this year, but most players go through injuries throughout their career. When he's healthy, Danny is a huge weapon - don't fucking jump the gun and give him away.

You may as well give him time.  You would be hard pressed to move Dan Briere with that contract when he's healthy unless he starts putting up some consistent numbers.

I guess Gagne's name comes because you know the Flyers could easily trade him for a good return.  But that doesn't mean they should.

You can draft a goalie, that's fine, but you'll be waiting 3-4 years (or more) for him.

[naum]

Hockey's crazy uncle rips Ovechkin…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5ZPa_wmkyI

[Fordel]

I love that crazy old man.

[Strazos]

He's not entirely wrong, though I think his comparisons to soccer are a bit off.

Also, to a degree I say so what to his celebrations; at least he's not directly insulting the other team when he does it, though sometimes he's a bit over the top.


As much as I love watching the kid, I'd also like to see someone maul him, at least once.