Some people love to play armchair GM. Other people hate it. The way I look at it, if we organize all the Flyers' trade proposals, etc. into one thread, it might make life easier for everyone. Here are the moves I'd make if I was Paul Holmgren.

1. When Ryan Parent and Randy Jones return:
Trade Kukkonen and an AHL d-man from our surplus for two top six AHL-caliber forwards with 2 way contracts. We lost a bit of offensive depth in the offseason and making a move like this could provide us with a few players who could be called up in case of injuries. That would leave our pairings looking like this:

Timonen - Vaananen
Coburn - Sbisa
Jones - Parent
Eminger

If Sbisa continues to play at the level he did in game one, I think our defense will actually end up being a lot better than I -- and many other people -- anticipated.

2. When Giroux is NHL ready:
Trade Knuble and Aubin for Ondrej Pavelec. He may not be as good as Price or Rask but he's a good prospect with franchise goalie potential. Would it take more than those two? Would they need to throw in a pick? I'll be the first to admit that I am not the best at gauging trade fairness.


With these two simple moves, I think the Flyers would fix any issues we have right now. The defense will be solid. They will have restocked the AHL offense a bit. We'll have a potential franchise goalie waiting in the wings, right before the contracts end on Biron and Niitty.

I think Knuble wouldn't be able to produce that much as and when Giroux is ready for the NHL anyway.

What do you think it would take to get Pavelec if he really wants out of Atlanta?

To be honest, Propp, I don't know much about him. If Atlanta regard him highly, then it could be a lot!

Purely for informational purposes:
Hockeydb stats
HF profile
FG's post regarding this SN article

I don't think this will give a sense of trade value necessarily, but it's some good info on him.

If I were GM I would leave tickets in your name tonight if I still have them past 5pm.

I vote for you to be GM!

Thanks for the info.

He sounds pretty good, obviously the flaws he has in the article can and are going to be worked on over the years, and was with a very dominant Chicago Wolves team so it'll be interesting to see how he develops this year. Although, being a top Thrasher prospect, he might be hard to prise away. Also will have a difficult job in muscling in between Hedberg and Lehtonen.

Top 4 defensemen aren't just going to be growing on trees 2 games into the season people. AA is okay for now.

I'm not sure I follow. AA?

Andrew Alberts? I think this is in the wrong thread...

Ah, that makes sense now.

If I was GM I'd trade Briere this summer to Vancouver for Kesler + Schneider and use the money saved towards signing Bouwmeester. I'd trade Upshall to move up in the draft to hopefully draft out goalie of the future, Olivier Roy.

My lines would be
Gagne - Richards - Hartnell
JVR - Carter - Giroux
Downie - Kesler - Lupul
Cote - Metro - Asham

Timonen - Bouwmeester
Coburn - Sbisa
Jones - Bartulis/Bodrov

Biron or Nitty
Schneider

No one wants Kesler!!

Sounds good but I doubt Vancouver would take that deal or Briere would allow it and I also doubt Bouwmeester would be available this offseason he will most likely get traded to a top team at the deadline and resign with them and if he doesn't resign he will most likely be looking for a big check which would burn you the next season when Coburn needs to be resigned.

Doesn't Briere have a NMC anyway?

Why don't they put Timonen and Coburn back together. Give them each 27-28 minutes.

Timonen Coburn
Sbisa Vanannen
Eminger Kukonnen

Yes.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story,

Though I will say just because he has a NMC doesn't mean he wouldn't waive it.

If I was GM, I would petition the NHL to have the Flyers take part in the European opener next year, so that their loyal European fanbase can see their heroes!

I doubt he'd waive it to go to Vancouver. Maybe to a team with a chance.

My vote is for you to be GM !
The only thing I would change is, I'd get rid of Jones and have Parent take his spot.

In that case I would make this blockbuster deal.

Panthers Get:
Danny Briere
Claude Giroux
Mike Knuble

Flyers Get:
Jay Bouwmeester
David Booth
Keith Ballard

I would also make

Flyers Get:
Dustin Brown

Kings Get:
Ryan Parent
Draft Pick (2nd or 3rd)

Which is obviously a realistic trade and Briere would be thrilled to go to Florida and relax on the beach on his pile of money.

Gagne - Richards - Brown
Booth - Carter - Lupul
Hartnell - Downie - Upshall
Cote - Metro - Asham

Timonen - Bouwmeester
Coburn - Ballard
Sbisa - Vaananen

Biron
Niittymaki

This is a flawless plan with absolutely no holes in it

I'd trade J-S Aubin and Knuble along with possibly a 1st or 2nd for Bouwmeester. I'd bring up Nodl or Giroux, sign Sbisa to a 4 year deal around 2 mil a year. And lock up Nodl and Giroux for a long time. I'd trade Koukkenen, Upshall and Jones, to move up in this years draft and shed some cap space and contracts. I would attempt to trade Hartnell for something worth my while so that we can shed his monster cap hit, and leave room for someone named JvR to step into a role on the team. Then offer Bouwmeester a huge contract.

Gags-Richie-Briere
JvR-Carts-Lupul
Nodl-Downie-Giroux
Cote-Metro-Asham

Timmonen-Bouwmeester
Coburn-Sbisa
Parent-Vaananen
Eminger/Alberts

Biron
Nitty

Also maybe we can get someone with more of a scoring touch for Hartnell. Edited.

I would try and find a goaltender for the future. I think the defense on out seem to be set for the future. Goaltending doesn't seem to much of a lock right now. I know goaltending is a bigger hit or miss position, it's just I don't feel comfortable with who we have in the wings.

or so we can all go to europe on vacation?? lol

I would trade just about whatever ATL wants for the right to sign Kari Lehtonen next year. He's a RFA.

There's going to be a lot of FA goalies after this season, but he seems like the one with the biggest upside. He's only 25.

Everyone else that looks like a decent pickup is over 30.

Lehtonen does have a ton of upside but he worries me a bit because he seems injury prone.

James VanRiemsdyk for Roberto Luongo. No I'm just kidding(not really) how about a prospect and either Mike Knuble or Scottie Upshall for Bill Guerin and Brendan Witt late in the season? New York seems like a somewhat classy team they 'oughta give a guy like Witt who's given so much for that team a shot at the cup.

Guerin could fit in on the third or fourth line and Witt could be a top 4 guy or a supporting guy depending on how the season goes for that defense. That trade I think would blow peoples minds but I wouldn't put it past a guy like Paul Holmgren.

Besides if things don't go well a team like the Islanders would really be in need of a late season collapse. Edmonton did it(possibly on purpose) and they got Sam Gagner.

Ah I totally forgot about Parent. I agree let's get rid of Jones and plug Parent in.


Luongo might not be that unrealistic next summer if Vancouver fails to make the playoffs again. There's a good chance he may want to move on. I'd do something like Hartnell + Upshall for Luongo. Vancouver obviously needs forwards and we need to move salary to fit in Luongo.

Gagne - Richards - Briere
JVR - Carter - Giroux
Downie - Metropolit - Lupul
Cote - Matsumoto/Powe - Asham

Timonen - Vaananen
Coburn - Sbisa
Parent - Bodrov/Bartulis

Luongo
Nitty/FA backup

As for your other trade suggestion I think they would be a good move for a playoff run.

Yeeeah, that sounds like a top idea. But I won't be in Europe lol.

Holmgren has already said he's interested in bringing the Flyers to Europe to start the next season.

If we did come over to Europe next season, how far would you travel, Kappy?

If Vancouver would take that, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Depends on my money situation. Helsinki or Stockholm could be affordable. I have no idea how poor I'm going to be this time next year, though. (I'm probably living in the gutter. )



Me too, but I doubt they would.

Agreed!

I guess Scandinavia is a big place

Yeah, it actually is. Finland alone is bigger than the UK. So are Sweden and Norway. For me just a trip to Helsinki would need some planning and arrangements to do.

I think they'll probably go to Switzlerand next year, and Finland is definitely a possibility.

I think Vancouver would take that Vanriemsdyk deal. They have a guy named Cory Schneider who is going to be without question a top 5 goalie in the league in the near future. He is just an amazing goalie. He can win games singlehandedly even when he is not at his best. No doubt in my mind they would do that trade.

I still like the Bill Guerin and Brendan Witt for upshall and prospects trade deadline idea though. The Islanders will do it if they really need to tank.

EDIT:not to blow my own whistle but those 2 trade ideas I thought of are probably the best, most realistic trades that anyone on this board has thought of.

How about we trade all of our team to Detroit for all of their team plus a bucket of pucks.

How about we trade the faithless fans to Detroit for a bucket of pucks?

WOW! I smell a burn! Better get FFF some Sun Screen.

You can't trade me. I won't go!

If I were the GM I wouldn't have signed Jones to that ridiculous contract (and no, this has nothing to do with the injury).

I've heard that Germany and Finland are basically locks to have season openers next year. The thing is that the Helsinki Jokerit owner wants to have the Ducks and the Red Wings in Finland. If he gets his wish, no Flyers in Finland.

The Ducks? Do you think they'll go over for a second time?

I don't know. If as much as 8 teams are coming over next year, I guess it's possible.

Only reason I said that is because they got off to a bad start after coming over from Europe didn't they? Was just wondering if they want to risk that again.

I really feel it's an economic situation why they are not sold out every night. The fans in detroit are great.