Are The Flyers Better Or Worse?

by Flyersfan94 on Jul 6, 2010 3:40 PM EDT

Paul Holmgren had made changes to his roster this off-season. Many rumors are swirling that we should also expect more from the Flyers' General Manager. But are all these moves really making the Flyers a better team, or is the GM breaking up a team that was 2 wins away from the Stanley Cup. So

So far this off-season, the Flyers have made 3 aquistions minimal aquisitions, and have parted with three players who were on the roster in their during their playoff run.

Aquisitions: Andrej Meszaros, Sean O'Donnell, and Jody Shelley.

Departs: Lukas Krajicek, Ryan Parent, and Arron Asham

So it's obvious that Paul Holmgren upgraded his defense in a big way. Meszaros is a guy that is very capable of playing top four minutes (even though he'll probably be playing on the third pairing), and O'Donnell is a veteran guy with a lot of grit and is able to give you a solid 12-15 minutes a game. These two are a lot more reliable than Parent and Krajicek. On the other hand, I believe that Asham is a much better player than Shelley. He has great offensive skills, can provide toughness and would probably be about a 300k cheaper. But I think that Shelley can help this team with his ability to intimidate and his large amount of toughness. I the article about giving Shelley a chance really made me think about how he will protect our stars from heavyweights like Colten Orr and no Derek Boogard in way like Carcillo and Laperriere maybe cannot.

So overall, I do believe the Flyers upgraded, but I have a bad feeling that they may make a bad trade in the near future, hence trading Simon Gagne. I say this not because I think Gags is better than guys like Richie and Carter, 'cause he's not, but the fact that he is our best winger, where we are weak on right now. I also say to upgrade the goaltending, and to upgrade it is not hard to do.

Poll

As of right now, are the Flyers better or worse since last season?

Better

61 votes

Worse

9 votes

Not sure, need to wait and see

42 votes

112 votes | Poll has closed

This item was written by a member of this community and is not necessarily endorsed by Broad Street Hockey.

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Comments

Right now, we’re better. Meszaros and O’Donnell are easily better than Krajicek and Parent. Asham had a little skill for a tough guy, but not so much that losing him is a big deal. If we deal Gagne and don’t get a winger in return, we’ll be a little thin there… but with the defense we have, it’s likely we won’t have to score 4-5 goals a game to win.

by Kyle_Martin on Jul 6, 2010 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

We’re definitely better. We lost to D-men who were terrible in the playoffs, lacked experience and I’m tired of praying they start playing well. We got Mezzaros who underperformed in Tampa, but that was poor team for developing. Regardless he has much more upside then those two guys. Odonnel is a warrior and former captain, he is old but his experience will come in handy. Jody Shelly is questionably. I assume that they offered the same money to carcillo but he declined. I still like Carcillo but he hurt us just as many times as he helped us. Asham is steady and tough. I hate to lose him. I think the Gange trade will decide if we get better.

by SkookFlyerfan on Jul 6, 2010 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed it’s all about the possible Gagne trade. What do we get in return? (bernier?simmonds?) How do we use the extra cap space?(keep powe and carcillo? sign nabby? sign turco? sign a winger like afinegenov?)

by historywillbemade on Jul 6, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure it's

A) a question

B) a question worth asking — so many more moves are left, that it’s almost pointless to say are the flyers better or worse right now. Yes, they’re better, but they’re also not a completed hockey team. We’ll get several more players, and then it’ll be worth asking

by Alon on Jul 6, 2010 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

What do you mean several more players we are at best going to had a winger and goalie or move Gagne and get 2 wingers and a goalie. That is it. Several means like more than 5 where I come from.

by chrislanci on Jul 7, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

woah

okay, fine, would you have preferred i said “a few”?

done and done.

regardless of the semantics, we’re going to add AHL players too, and I bet you a milliion trillion nothings that there are 5 new players in the Flyers roster or system by September.

by Alon on Jul 7, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

As the team stands right now I would be comfortable with them going into the season. I know that’s not entirely possible due to how close we are to the cap and still waiting on our RFA’s Carcillo and Powe. We still need one more forward to complete the team, not to mention who will fill in with injuries?

There has to be another move made due to that. Will it be Gagne or Carter? Who knows but as of now we are better, I just hope whatever moves we make in the future will not weaken the team.

#1 Flyers Fan in New York

by Lindbergh 31 on Jul 7, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

yep

I know that’s not entirely possible due to how close we are to the cap and still waiting on our RFA’s Carcillo and Powe.

it’s not just not entirely possible, it’s completely impossible

by Alon on Jul 7, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we are better, our blue line is the best in hockey. Leighton sucked in the Finals and we were fine. JVR and Giroux will take a step forward, Gagne will be gone but he wasn’t that effective last year anyways and I think a full year of Hartnell-Briere-Leino makes this a better team.

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Jul 7, 2010 6:18 PM EDT reply actions