2007 Flyers Offseason Thread

[Geowhizzer]

Let it go, IGY.

Joni's gone and he's not coming back.  EVER.

Sure he will.  For big $$$ when he hits free agency. 

[Geowhizzer]

i dont agree but at least i can see your point of view in defendiung what they got in return but how can you possibly say that its not happening here for him...he had two really good years and one bad year...is it not happening here for richards or carter...or how about the 15 other players on the team last year that it wasnt happening for...i just dont get how you completely cast off a potential stud defenseman after a sub par year on what was the worst team in the nhl

igy speaks the truth.

[SD_Eagle5]

i dont agree but at least i can see your point of view in defendiung what they got in return but how can you possibly say that its not happening here for him...he had two really good years and one bad year...is it not happening here for richards or carter...or how about the 15 other players on the team last year that it wasnt happening for...i just dont get how you completely cast off a potential stud defenseman after a sub par year on what was the worst team in the nhl

I'm just going by what I read and hear from people in the organization. Supposedly he didn't 'get it' and they had lost their patience with him. What I'm gathering is he's mentally soft and the Flyers thought it best to part ways with him. I'll reiterate, I wanted to keep him, even if he's a Hoyda his skill was worth the risk of suffering through some more growing pains...I just think it went deeper than the usual.

[ice grillin you]

my thing is id like to see him skate with a much improved team that they hopefully will have over the next few years...i undertand the thought that you find out whats in a guy when times are at their worst but at the same time i think good players are brought down by really bad teams and i would have liked to have seen him given another few years

that said he could be niinamaa or he could be wade redden...well find out in the next several years

[Eagles_Legendz]

my thing is id like to see him skate with a much improved team that they hopefully will have over the next few years...i undertand the thought that you find out whats in a guy when times are at their worst but at the same time i think good players are brought down by really bad teams and i would have liked to have seen him given another few years

that said he could be niinamaa or he could be wade redden...well find out in the next several years

He needs to learn to play defense to become Wade Redden. 

He has great offensive ability, but his defense is severely lacking.  Even when he was 'good' it was for his offensive production.

He has a lot of talent, but let's not pretend he's gawd and lupul is nothing, considering they were picked three selections apart.

And Coburn will be very good as well.  He's very fluid for a big guy and actually uses his size, unlike Pitkanen.

[ice grillin you]

He needs to learn to play defense to become Wade Redden

redden wasnt always with ottawa...he was traded before he blossomed..thats what i was speaking of...



And Coburn will be very good as well.  He's very fluid for a big guy and actually uses his size, unlike Pitkanen.

you didnt know who braydon coburn was before the flyers traded for him and in the few games youve ever seen him play youre somehow sure hes gonna be good...but pitkanen who youve seen have entire good years youre glad is gone...can you say homerism

[Eagles_Legendz]

He needs to learn to play defense to become Wade Redden

redden wasnt always with ottawa...he was traded before he blossomed..thats what i was speaking of...



And Coburn will be very good as well.  He's very fluid for a big guy and actually uses his size, unlike Pitkanen.

you didnt know who braydon coburn was before the flyers traded for him and in the few games youve ever seen him play youre somehow sure hes gonna be good...but pitkanen who youve seen have entire good years youre glad is gone...can you say homerism

Please.  Coburn and Pitkanen are completely opposite players.  The fact that I'm from Philadelphia doesn't automatically disqualify what I say.  Pitkanen is a gifted offensive defenseman who has a strong shot, plays with no physicality, and is NOT good defensively.  You are comparing him to Wade Redden?  It's a joke.  At least sound knowledgable when ranting by comparing him to someone more of his ilk like Schneider or Souray.  Coburn will probably not ever possess Pitkanen's potential offensively, but he was picked 9th overall by ATL because he has TALENT as well--it's just more suited for a defensive game.  However, he does have an OK shot and can skate.  He uses his body and has great potential.  Can you say uninformed?

[ice grillin you]

You are comparing him to Wade Redden?  It's a joke.

can you effin read...i posted once and you didnt undertand what i was saying in calling out two defensemen that were traded young...one in niinamaa that didnt pan out and one in redden that did...you didnt undertand the analogy the first time then i spelled it out for you that i brought up reddens name not cause pitkanen plays like him but because they were both guys that were traded befofre they blossomed and you still ignored what i said

god dammit ignornace annoys me

[Eagles_Legendz]

You are comparing him to Wade Redden?  It's a joke.

can you effin read...i posted once and you didnt undertand what i was saying in calling out two defensemen that were traded young...one in niinamaa that didnt pan out and one in redden that did...you didnt undertand the analogy the first time then i spelled it out for you that i brought up reddens name not cause pitkanen plays like him but because they were both guys that were traded befofre they blossomed and you still ignored what i said

god dammit ignornace annoys me

I don't care about Wade Redden or how he relates to Pitkanen.  That deviates so far from the main point that it is irrelevant.  You are correct that Redden became a much better player when he arrived in Ottawa.  Maybe Pitkanen will be better in EDM, but he has never showed the defensive ability to become a Norris Candidate or a #1 defenseman.  Maybe they should have given him more time to develop, but I can see Pitkanen becoming a great offensive Dman with a great point shot to man PPs than I can a top DMan (ala Redden, regardless if you were comparing their skillset you were certainly compairing Pitkanen to Redden in that his level of play is something Pitkanen can reach--which I disagree with). 

I see Pitkanen's ceiling as something more along the lines of Sheldon Souray.  I would have said that two weeks ago and I would have said it six months ago.  Maybe he'll prove me wrong, but I doubt it.

[Eagles_Legendz]

Also IGY, and as I said, the point is not that important, Redden has played his entire NHL career with the Sens, despite being drafted by NYI.  So your "point" is void.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8462033&tab=crst

[SD_Eagle5]

Redden...Niinamaa...Norris trophy candidate aside...if Pitkanen ever plays close to his potential it'll be when he's closer to 30.

[Seabiscuit36]

I thought Mike Richards was "the gawd"...?

He's Not?

[Phanatic]

i will not

i will hold on to my prediction that he will one day win a norris and i will never let go of it.....EVER

I would predict that he turns into a power play specialist but Norris? Never would have nailed him for that. Still he's a nice player and it would have been nice to see the Flyers keep him, but don't listen to me. I fealt the same way about Niinimaa. 

[ice grillin you]

im half joking about him winning a norris but it wouldnt suprise me and i did predict it...i think he can be that good and he showed that direction his first two years...i just think its risky to cast a young defensemen off after one down year...i was never as high on niinamaa as pitkanen but i admittedly was concerned when they traded him as well...time will tell

[Seabiscuit36]

im half joking about him winning a norris but it wouldnt suprise me and i did predict it...i think he can be that good and he showed that direction his first two years...i just think its risky to cast a young defensemen off after one down year...i was never as high on niinamaa as pitkanen but i admittedly was concerned when they traded him as well...time will tell

I'm with IGY on the Joni trade, I understand that the guy is a moron, and may never get it.  But if he does, it will go down as one of the worst trades in team history.  He was a leading canidate for the first quarter of the season last year before the groin/hernia injury.