Are we pretty much worse after this offseason compared to last offseason?
We've lost JVR, Matt Carle, Bobrovsky, & Jagr. It seems like we've gained very little this offseason with only signing Voracek, Leighton and getting Luke Schenn via JVR. Holmgren did make a good attempt to get Weber, but now I feel like I have even less expectations for this season (whenever it starts) than last season, and last season I didn't even know what to expect with Richards and Carter leaving.
But what about our defense though? Wasn't that what we needed to improve badly this offseason and all we got was Luke Schenn. I know it's not Holmgren's fault or anything what with Suter wanting to play in Minnesota and Nashville unexpectedly matching Weber's offer sheet, but damn I was really hoping we'd bulk up the defense this offseason. Now there's no one left. I'm no scout, did we at least get some good defensive prospects in the draft?
Oh yeah I completely forgot about him lol. It feels like 10 years too late though, especially since he beat up on us in that 04 ECF. But his addition doesn't hurt at all.
Like others have said, Schenn was injured throughout the season. If he plays nearly an entire season, he should help fill the gap lost by Jagr and JVR. I'm really hoping we sign another winger though.
If we don't sign another winger, I'd like to possibly see Read on the second line.
Something along the lines of Read - Briere - Schenn could be pretty damn good.
That would leave a Fedatenko - Couturier - Simmonds third line. All hard workers, but may be the weak link in the offensive chain. If we don't sign another winger, Fedatenko is stuck filling the gap. I'm still crossing my fingers for Doan, and in that case I'd say we'd be slightly better than last season. Without him, I think we're slightly worse.
We added Rusty, too. The guy works hard every night and will be significant.
We also signed Bruno Gervais, who is a decent RHS Dman with decent size, speed and skill. He can play the PP. Always liked his resiliency, and he played well for Tampa apparently down the stretch. As Max Talbot's childhood bestfriend, he'll have all the motivation he needs to have a good season with his buddy's team.
I think the organization sees Gervais starting ahead of Gus and Bourdon.
Gervais probably isn't as good as Carle, but Luke Schenn was brought in to fill those minutes, with a different skillset.
Assuming Grossman/Coburn, Timonen/Schenn, Meszaros/Gervais-Bourdon are the pairings with Lilja as #8.
We also signed Bruno Gervais, who is a decent RHS Dman with decent size, speed and skill. He can play the PP. Always liked his resiliency, and he played well for Tampa apparently down the stretch. As Max Talbot's childhood bestfriend, he'll have all the motivation he needs to have a good season with his buddy's team.
I think the organization sees Gervais starting ahead of Gus and Bourdon.
Gervais probably isn't as good as Carle, but Luke Schenn was brought in to fill those minutes, with a different skillset.
Assuming Grossman/Coburn, Timonen/Schenn, Meszaros/Gervais-Bourdon are the pairings with Lilja as #8.
It's Gervais vs. Lilja vs. Bourdon vs. Gustafsson vs. Manning for that #6 spot.
That spot and our 4th line center race are probably the most interesting of the camp.
I don't except us to be worse than last season, but it's hard for me to say we've gotten better...
I'm just hoping that Schenn makes up for Jagrs production, and 2 of Voracek, Couturier, Simmons or Read can improve on their offense numbers significantly from last year and break out. Voracek I think will hit 20-25 goals and I think Simmonds can crack 30.
I think we lost a little on offense but I also think that the D as well as Bryz greatly underperformed for the majority of last season. If the back end tightens up i think we'll be better then last year given the rookies will now have a year of NHL action under their belts. If the D and Bryz underperform again I think were slightly worse off then last year but come playoff time I expect the Flyers to be in a similar position.
The only question was whether or not Giroux and vanRiemsdyk would step up.
Now we are once again "worse."
But if Couturier and Schenn(s) step up then we could be better.
This. It's not all about players acquired vs players lost. For instance, 2011-12 Giroux > 2010-11 Giroux. I expect Couturier, Schenn, Voracek, Read, Wellwood, etc to be better next year than they were this year. Even Giroux hasn't peaked yet imo.
This. It's not all about players acquired vs players lost. For instance, 2011-12 Giroux > 2010-11 Giroux. I expect Couturier, Schenn, Voracek, Read, Wellwood, etc to be better next year than they were this year. Even Giroux hasn't peaked yet imo.
I don't know for Giroux, he sure got to a really high level, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him being even better. It's just a gut feeling, though. And I don't see why Read would be worse.
Bryz
Leighton why did I have to write him in our lineup again...
Seems to me that our backup goalie is worse. Our defense got better. If not better more physical...which I am not opposed to, I like the Schenn trade more then most I suppose. And it seems like our young forwards all get to step up into a more offensive role and develop further. None of that sounds bad to me. The Fedotenko signing is really underrated too btw.
Anyone have any ideas on who'll replace Carle on the PP? By replace I don't mean shooting soft wristers into PK'ers shins, rather who'll take his place on the point.
Kimmo will anchor the first unit, I guess. But the 2nd? Coburn? Pretty safe to say we can scratch Grossmann, Schenn and Lilja. I don't know about Gervais, but he won't play 82 games. Mesz has a bomb of a shot, but his breakout pass and O-zone smartness lacks a little for him to be manning the point, IMO.
Read does a nice job, but he's not shooting enough. Voracek I liked, but same thing with him, doesn't shoot enough. Brayden Schenn? Can't see him as a fit, really.
Serious question... Does anyone expect that this is the roster we take into the season?
I definitely think there are at least 1-2 more semi- significant moves coming.
We can certainly debate whether we should make a move, but I doubt very much that Holmgren sits back and can't get anything at all done.
I agree. With LTIR space, we have WAY too much cap room. Unless the Flyers brass are happy waiting until the 2013 class of UFA I can't see us not doing anything. With Kimmo's 6+ mil coming off the books next year, I doubt we'll have a hard time singing both him and Hartnell (if Kimmo wants to come back).
I don't know what more we could do in regards to trades. There isn't anything I'd be comfortable giving up for Ryan now that Voracek is signed
why did I have to write him in our lineup again...
