We’ve discussed and debated for months not only whether the Flyers should trade for a defenseman, but who they should go after. The long wait is over, as the Flyers have announced they have traded their 2nd round draft pick from the Los Angeles Kings and their 3rd round pick in 2013 from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Nicklas Grossman of the Dallas Stars.
Grossman, 27, is a 6′-4″ defensive defenseman with a $1.625 mil cap hit. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, but it is likely the Flyers resign him due to his experience and cost-effective cap hit.
The good news is that he has been used throughout his career as a top four defenseman that logs in over 18:00 a night. He has been used on the penalty kill and is reportedly a very good shot blocker.
The bad news is that, out of the eight defensemen who have played at least 10 games with the Stars this season, Grossman has been the worst in Corsi rating. That is to say, it is much more likely that the opposing team will fire shots on the Flyers net than vice versa when he is on the ice.
I said before that I wasn’t fond of Grossman because of this fact, and the loss of two high draft picks is further ingratiating. With the news that Andrej Meszaros now has an upper body injury, though, it had become even more prudent that the Flyers make a move. Paul Holmgren has also added to the team without affecting the existing chemistry.
Let’s just hope this works out better than Kris Versteeg did.
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There will be another trade. I believe it will be a package deal bringing in another dman and pking center with size. I like the move. Grossman needs to be partnered with a another good pucking moving dman. He most likely will be will carle. Dominos for the TDL.
Flyers keep mortgaging the future for what, a medicore body, this 2012 Flyers are not going anywhere come Playoff time anyways and will most likely get knocked out in the 1st Round as the continue to lose ground in the seedings and will proababy end up a 5th/6th or mayve even a 7th Seed by Seasons end..
Paulman, Snyder never trowels in the towel during any season. A 6th seed is perfect. All you need to do is get in. No 1rst seed has one a cup from the East in years. If the goalie gets hot and injuries go away, we will be a very dangerous team. Stick to football my friend.
Everyone that I talk to agrees with you, Deasr. Paul Holmgren also told reporters that he has not ruled out making another big trade, but depending on who reported it, he was either very excited or reluctant in his tone (so who knows).
The benefit of this trade at least is that Grossman can be more than just a rental. There is potential that he could stick around for awhile, unlike Hal Gill.
corsi rating, shove that stAt up your arze what other meaningless, contrived stats will the modern geek resort to, stick with algorithms and erector sets, they need a big body, stay at home defenseman, and that’s what he is, looking forward to this one
Agreed Josh j. I see another dman and a pk center comes in, we could be dangerous. I can see a package deal happening. I just don’t want a Nash player. I like him A LOT, I just don’t want to lose too much youth and chemistry for a guy who’s cap hit is 7.8 for like 6 more years.
Great a 6th Seed and 1st Round loss to the Penquins.. Big woopty doo…
I don’t know paulman if they start playing defense the could make a run
I can’t see this Flyers team as it is comprised and with the Play of their Goalies
beating the Bruins,Rangers,Penquins, NJ Devils or even Florida in a 7 Game Series.. There are a few teams on their heels that are playing much better hockey at this time of the season than the Flyers who are 9-11 in their last 20 games since the New Years … They seem to lack in player leadership again and Coach Lav is going to kepp pulling the yo-yo string with the Goalies so I see a pretty weak finish for this team… I stated way back in the off-season that it was a mistake to hold all the Leadership and Defense in the aging hands and legs of Chris Pronger who body has just given up on him , not that anyone saw or called for basically a missed Season…But this Team is thin along the Blue linme,has shaky Goaltending and is lacking in Leadership..
Regarding Corsi, it’s just another way to gauge players like +/-. I’m not a big stats guy, but I respect it as a tool to gauge players like Grossman that I don’t follow day in, day out.
For what it’s worth, by Corsi, Flyers defensemen rank Pronger (hah!), Timonen, Gustafsson, Carle, Coburn, Meszaros, Bourdon, Lilja.
I’ve also got to agree that the Flyers being a 6th seed isn’t actually a bad thing. In 2009-10, they were #7 seed. In 2007-08, #6. Sometimes they play better in the post-season when they’re fighting for the playoffs rather than coasting in.
Guys, don’t underestimate this trade. Although he won’t put up stats, he is big, young, a good defensive defense-men that hits, clears the porch, blocks shots, can skate OK, & passes very good. Not to mention it didn’t cost us an arm & a leg, & his cap hit is minimal. This can’t be, & better not be it though. I’m smelling either Schenn, or Weber. Weber is my pipe dream scenario.
This is a good move by the Flyers and they didn’t give up any of their young players. I would give up draft picks all day long considering the young talent that is currently on the roster.
Pman, how can you say that they continue to mortgage their future when they have so many rookies playing such important roles on the team. You are flat out wrong on that.
And while I agree that they don’t stack up against the Rangers and Bruins. They have played really well against Pitt and NJ this year. Neither of those teams scare me.
I cant believe some of you are angry about giving up a 2nd and a 3rd. Name the last 2nd or 3rd round draft pick of ours to actually make it to the NHL…
After the first round of the draft, its really luck,
Pitt/NJ and other Teams have improved as the Season has gone along, the Flyers have regressed
2009/2010 Playoff run was a fluke, with the #1,#2,#4 Seeds all losing in the 1st Round that year (Caps,Devils & Penquins) and then Boston choking on a 3-0 Series lead versus the Flyers… It won’t happen again and the Flyboys won’t see another Stanley Cup Finals for another generation… .
I do agree with that Paulman, this team needs to mature big time. The defense needs major upgrades.
Wild_BK- took the words right out of my mouth with the picks. But of course they need to mature. They are rolling out what 6 rookies a night. Might have some consistency issues there.
Did you honestly expect them to win the cup before the season started with the turnover on the team? Then with the loss of Pronger? So for you it is Stanley Cup or bust. I don’t look at it that way. I like the direction this team is headed in because of the young talent that they have.
They will compete in the playoffs this year, but they won’t be able to get passed NY or BOS. They have a combined record or 4-1-1 against Pitt and NJ so far this year, so even if those teams are better that doesn’t make them invincible. They are far from it.
The thing that separates those top teams is the goaltending. The best goalies in the league play for NY and Boston. That will be the difference in the playoffs.
Paulman, week after week, month after month, you are a douche bag when it comes to the Flyguys. A 2 and 3 is a good price in the current market for what Grossman brings to the table. I’m happy we have him.
Your probably right Boyer, I jam probably a little harder on the FLyers than every other Team and it’s probably because their Team gets pass and free pass every Season but the local media and even many of it’s fans..
They have been one of the most succesful Franchises in all of SPorts and have no Championships to show for in 40 years… Look the Bugsyhawk’s comments above that he had realitic expectations about this years Flyers Team due to many changes, new players, etc,etc.. How come it’s SUper Bowl of Bust when it comes to the Eagles, but not the Flyers..
Who says it’s not? I only hear you, Paulman, barking about that. Just you. Fact is, this is the Eagles town, always was and always will be, no matter how Garry might paint it from time to time. The louder uproar you hear is the collective disappointment of a fanbase that’s a lot larger than the Flyers’.
I am one of the few Flyer Fans who is critical and honest enough to to question many of teh moves and decisions of how the Franchise is run by Owner Ed SMider and GM Holmgrem.. 40 Years and no Championshiop is not very impressived when they have been in the Top 5 for Money $$$ Spent on players, In Attenfdance and Popularity and overall Financial Revenue & Stability and how come they can never get the Goalie Positoin right, or developed their own Top-Notch Defensemen… What keeps holding them back and why do most the FAns and the local media give this Team a Freee-Pass all the time, and say, they are youn, they are getting better, there’s always next year,… And not to bring it up, but I think Race has something to do with it too. There are very few black players for the fans and media to jump opn who get lableld as as lazy,arrogant,cocky and overpaid.. Most Hockey players go unnoticed to the general public and many are facless behind those masks and are from Canadien/Eurpoean and even Ruissia that the avaerage fan is just is not connected with many of these players..
Who knows why, but Fans of the Phils/Eagles want Championships and anything less is considered a failure, then why with the Flyers, is it ok just to make the Playoffs and see what happens.. why is this.. Are Flyer Fans smarter, more realistic, have lower expectations, know their competition better and know how difficult it is to win a Championship.. Why are there not fans/media calling out Ed Snyder and GM Holmgrem after every Playoff Exit.. Are the wine and cheese crowds from the suburbs who have more disposable income that the blue collar gritty football/baseball fans of the City just more patient, and looking for a little enjoyment and not as a life and deather situation… Whats the deal here.. QUestion for everyone
Why do Flyers get a pass from most Fans and Local Media every years as opposes to the Eagles & Flyers
Interesting observations, questions Paul, remember when the flyers had a larger cross section of fans the city was starved for any champion, and that team had recognizable, likable, identifiable players that fit the city, Schultz, dupont , Kelly, Saleski ,ashbee, but with a baseball championship in 1980, followed by the sixes in ’83’, runs by the eagles with buddy Ryan, the flees are now and for the most part on the back burner of the Philly sports conscience, and will always be that way especially with the lack of identifiable players, “foreigners” as you intimate
I wonder if there is a more deeper,subliminal reason (As Schiller would like)
Most FAns played Baseball<Basketball & Football and maybe somehow envison that they coupld make plays as a PRO Athlete so when an Eagles,PHillie or Sixer miss a shot,drop a pass, strikeout , many Fans are like WTF, how could you fail in the spot like that… WHere as in Hockey, not people have played the sport, in fact many people have a hard time just being able to skate let alone play the sport, also many Fans are not as familiar with the rules of the SPort.. Wonder is any Pshycologists have looked at this… When we as fans have done something ourselves, we may expect that Professionals whould be perfect and never make a mistake or bad play.. When fans are not as familiar with a sport, maybe there is a underlining resptect where we are less to criticize knowing we could make the play either.. you know what I mean…
How was the new Defenseman… Goalie Bryz gives up 3 Goals on 13 Shots..
These Flyers are dropping fast in the East and will be a 7th Seedn within the next 2 weeks… They are just not a very good team since late December…
The new defenseman was pretty good, honestly. Not “great” but solid. Timonen, Meszaros, Carle, Bourdon? Not so much.
Flyers acquired 34 Year Old Defenseman Pavel Kubina from TB Lightning for 2 Draft Picks– Kubina is a 13 Year Veteran at 6-4 258lbs and a stay at home Defenseman who has 110 Career Goals in 953 Career Games so he’s not a Offensive threat, but he gives the Fylers a rent-a-player for the Stretch Drive.. Kubina is also a unrestricted Free-Agent come July.. Not Sure what his Salary # is …
Coburn, & Carle are flat out garbage. Meszaros has been up & down. Both of our goalies are nauseating, & terrible.