I find this photo....disturbing. Something about the uncomfortable smile on the frat-boy.
I think Sajack is the one who looks uncomfortable. It looks to me like they're watching Vanna White undress...and the frat boy is smirking, like "this is awesome", while Sajack is like, "What is that tramp doing? We're on national tv here."
There maybe be a few options because of injuries. Because of Demitra going down, maybe Homer would move a forward for Bieksa.
I've been calling for the Flyers to trade for Pavelec for a while, but I still doubt it will happen (even with those rumors).
Pavelec would be a great fit here. I don't think Atlanta is in any rush to trade him though and I could see them asking for one of our top prospects back. I'm very iffy on giving up a Giroux, JVR, or Nodl for Pavelec.
As for trade bait on the team, I'm still of the opinion that out of our forward group that Knuble, Hartnell and Upshall are the most movable of the group. Can't see Lupul being moved because he has great chemistry with Richards.
Pavelec would be a great fit here. I don't think Atlanta is in any rush to trade him though and I could see them asking for one of our top prospects back. I'm very iffy on giving up a Giroux, JVR, or Nodl for Pavelec.
As for trade bait on the team, I'm still of the opinion that out of our forward group that Knuble, Hartnell and Upshall are the most movable of the group. Can't see Lupul being moved because he has great chemistry with Richards.
upshall's chemistry with carter is more then or at least equal to lupuls with richards. Lupul does not even play with him all the time. I love the way upshall compliemnts Carter, there speed benefits each other and they have a good connection
Pavelec would be a great fit here. I don't think Atlanta is in any rush to trade him though and I could see them asking for one of our top prospects back. I'm very iffy on giving up a Giroux, JVR, or Nodl for Pavelec.
As for trade bait on the team, I'm still of the opinion that out of our forward group that Knuble, Hartnell and Upshall are the most movable of the group. Can't see Lupul being moved because he has great chemistry with Richards.
If they are indeed looking for a goaltender, I would like to see them get someone who has proven themself at the NHL level and not someone in their second professional season. Pavelec may turn out to be a good NHL'er, but, for now, his pedigree is no better than Niittymaki's after he won a Calder Cup (Niitty's pedigree might have been a bit higher since he was MVP of the playoffs too).
But, as you say, Atlanta is in no rush to trade him, especially given how injury prone Kari Lehtonen has been.
That said, at this stage of the season, it seems highly unlikely that they could make a trade for a significant upgrade in net.
I'd rather just sit on it and deal with it than to do something stupid where it costs us down the road.
yeah, i agree. we're only in october for christ's sake.
i would do a smaller deal involving draft picks for a veteran to help settle things down for the younger players but also someone with some bite...our goalies were run into about 10 times in the SJ games...devries or jason smith type...
what would it take to get someone like beauchemin???
yeah, i agree. we're only in october for christ's sake.
i would do a smaller deal involving draft picks for a veteran to help settle things down for the younger players but also someone with some bite...our goalies were run into about 10 times in the SJ games...devries or jason smith type...
what would it take to get someone like beauchemin???
Beauchemin isn't that big at all and he's not that good.
Trade Jones and insert Parent for Alberts so I can finally feel good about this D.
give your head a shake, Jay is a first liner ANYWHERE in the nhl, accept for Anaheim... and they would just role 3 guys and tell everyone else to sit down...lol
he plays half a game, and is sooooooo friggin good... the guy would have norris's if he wasn't in florida... just like people were sayin bobby lou would be winning vezina's once he was outta there...
give your head a shake, Jay is a first liner ANYWHERE in the nhl, accept for Anaheim... and they would just role 3 guys and tell everyone else to sit down...lol
he plays half a game, and is sooooooo friggin good... the guy would have norris's if he wasn't in florida... just like people were sayin bobby lou would be winning vezina's once he was outta there...
Beauchemin isn't that big at all and he's not that good.
yeah, he isn't that big but he plays with an edge and won't play patty cakes with a guy in the crease or runnignhis goalie...guys like beauch and bieksa aren't huge (both @ 6'1" 210lbs) but play a physical game..
beauch isn't great but is a solid 2nd pairing dman
If they are indeed looking for a goaltender, I would like to see them get someone who has proven themself at the NHL level and not someone in their second professional season. Pavelec may turn out to be a good NHL'er, but, for now, his pedigree is no better than Niittymaki's after he won a Calder Cup (Niitty's pedigree might have been a bit higher since he was MVP of the playoffs too).
But, as you say, Atlanta is in no rush to trade him, especially given how injury prone Kari Lehtonen has been.
That said, at this stage of the season, it seems highly unlikely that they could make a trade for a significant upgrade in net.
Niitty did have a good pedigree before coming into the league. However, there are a lot of factors to take into account when evaluating whether a goalie can be a consistent starter in the NHL.
I would argue that the most important factor when looking for a starting goalie is not pure talent, but mental stability. There is so much goaltending talent in the league that backups can go on hotstreaks and outplay Brodeur, but a week later they fall from their pedestal back to mediocrity. The raw "talent" is there in guys like Niittymaki as we see from his flexibility and reaction time. However, he doesn't have the mindset to be a starter in the NHL as he will be hot and cold too often.
These psychological "breakdowns" of sorts can last more than a few weeks. If a goalie loses confidence, he loses focus, which weakens his play, which weakens his confidence even more. For a goalie to be successful, they need to be able to escape the cycle with efficiency.
One thing to also point out is that these goalies will definitely let in some weak goals and lose confidence. It is inevitable. There are certain goalies who have a great rookie season, then face new challenges as teams become more accustomed to them (through familiarity, scouting, etc.). Goalies will have to correct their flaws without over-thinking in games. If the goalie is not strong mentally, the cycle begins.
I'll call it the Raycroft Effect, though it can be applied to many other goalies (in recent memory, Budaj, Mason, Esche, Aebischer, Theodore?, others). Last year was Biron's "breakout" season of sorts, so I'm really hoping the same doesn't happen to him.
Now look at the best goaltenders of our time (Brodeur, Roy, Hasek, etc.). They all had HUGE egos compared to the best skaters. That is not a coincidence at all. It is simply part of the mental makeup that makes them so successful.
Observing Pavelec, I believe he has the talent and mental makeup to be a consistent starter for years. The good thing for Atlanta is Lehtonen does too (and the injury factor is overplayed). Although its possible for Lehtonen to go down, keeping such a valuable asset as a fallback option doesn’t make much sense. Hypothetically, if they move him for a forward of equal trade value, they can play him in the NHL right now. Having the forward help you for a longer period of time will maximize the value of the assets they own.
Now, although some may point to the rarity of prospect-for-prospect trades, that is mostly due to it hardly making sense. It makes sense here. The Flyers have NHL-ready wingers in the minors due to the lack of depth. Guys like Giroux, Downie and Nodl would be in Atlanta’s lineup right now, while Lehtonen will prevent Pavelec from being called up.
I’m sure most disagree with me, but hey, that’s what I think the Flyers should do.
I assume you anticipate that 2009 #1 will be one of the top 2 picks? If not, I can't for the life of me understand why you'd propose such a lopsided deal in favor of the Flyers. I mean, never mind the fact that this doesn't even come close to working out under the salary cap... it's just silly.
I see what you are saying. But the Flyers, and every other organization, have believed that their goaltending prospects had the "talent and mental makeup to be a consistent starter for years" (Boucher, Pelletier and Ouellet). That being said, if I were Holmgren, I wouldn't mortgage the future on yet another goaltender that hasn't proven anything at the NHL level yet (this includes Halak as well).
We can agree to disagree on the topic of whether Lehtonen being prone to injury is overblown or not. The Thrashers know it and that is why, unless they are offered the stars and the moon, they won't trade Pavelec. I would go so far to say that they would trade Lehtonen before Pavelec, and, no I don't want him either.
I think Sajack is the one who looks uncomfortable. It looks to me like they're watching Vanna White undress...and the frat boy is smirking, like "this is awesome", while Sajack is like, "What is that tramp doing? We're on national tv here."
