Well, it is time once again for everyone to climb aboard the D-Train.
Just as we looked at the Flyers goaltending situation a few weeks ago, DGS is now taking a look at the defense corps. This time, we include best case scenario stat predictions for our Defensemen.
As in the Flyers defense, and this is a somewhat serious post as to what we can expect from our Flyers defensemen this year.
Once again, I have to make this perfectly clear: There is a huge DGS thank you to Don't Trade Vinny for his help with a lot of what you're seeing this week. I honestly could not have come up with all this without him.
Defensemen
3 Oskars Bartulis
6' 2" 184
Jan 21, 1987
Ogre, LVA
09-10 regular season stats
PHL: 53GP 1G 8A 9P 28PIMs
Review in a word: Ordinary
In a sentence: Bartulis didn't wow anyone, but for the most part, he also avoided major mess ups as well.
Forecast: he's gonna spell the 6 regulars and be the first guy inserted due to injury.
10-11 Numbers: 20GP 0g 5A 5P 10PIMs but plays solid D when we need him to
25 Matt Carle
6' 0" 205
Sep 25, 1984
Anchorage, AK, USA
09-10 regular season stats
80GP 6G 29A 35P 16PIMs
Review in a word: Suprising
In a sentence: Carle lived up this 3.437 cap hit and proved that he can be a future #2 NHL d-man.
Forecast: Can he repeat with improvements, Pronger and Timonen are both turning 36 this year, which means Carle and Coburn need to step it up and take on bigger minutes.
10-11 Numbers: 80GP 10g 35A 45P 20PIMs
5 Braydon Coburn
6' 5" 220
Feb 27, 1985
Shaunavon, SK, CAN
09-10 regular season stats
81GP 5G 14A 19P 54PIMs
Review in a word: Dissappointing
In a sentence: Coburn was horribly inconsistent during the regular season and honestly got way more than he should have on his contract.
Forecast: Like Matt Carle, Braydon Coburn needs to step up if the Flyers have a shot at repeating as Eastern Conference Champions.
10-11 Numbers: 80GP 7g 18A 25P 70PIMs
41 Andrej Meszaros
6' 2" 223
Oct 13, 1985
Povazska Bystrica, SVK
09-10 regular season stats (w/ TBL)
81GP 6G 11A 17P 50PIMs
Review in a word: Disaster
In a sentence: He can only go up, right?
Forecast: $4 million for #5 D-man, I swear, he better be good at something before Holmgren convinces Sutter to take Mesz for a first rounder
10-11 Numbers: 80GP 5g 15A 20P 50PIMs
6 Sean O'Donnell
6' 2" 237
Oct 13, 1971
Ottawa, ON, CAN
09-10 regular season stats (W/ LAK)
78GP 3G 12A 15P 70PIMs
Review in a word: Dependable
In a sentence: Solid proven winner with great leadership skills, enough said.
Forecast: Just needs to hold down the fort like he did in 2007 when the Ducks won the cup, I am not asking for much, just to be better than Ryan Parent.
10-11 Numbers: 70GP 2g 8A 10P 80PIMs
20 Chris Pronger
6' 6" 220
Oct 10, 1974
Dryden, ON, CAN
09-10 regular season stats
82GP 10G 45A 55P 79PIMs
Review in a word: Divine
In a sentence: Chris Pronger is awesome, divine and amazing.
Forecast: He turns 36, can he still keep it going.
10-11 Numbers: 80GP 7g 33A 40P 90PIMs
44 Kimmo Timonen
5' 10" 194
Mar 18, 1975
Kuopio, FIN
09-10 regular season stats
82GP 6G 33A 39P 50PIMs
Review in a word: Dependable
In a sentence: I love Kimmo, I do, but, at the same time, I'm reminded that Kimmo carries a 6.33 cap hit, then I don't love him so much anymore.
Forecast: He's old, and on the downside, this could be scary, or amazing.
10-11 Numbers: 80GP 5g 25A 30P 40PIMs
8 Matt Walker
6' 4" 215
Apr 7, 1980
Beaverlodge, AB, CAN
09-10 regular season stats (w/ TBL)
66GP 2G 3A 5P 90PIMs
Review in a word: Suck
In a sentence: It's Jimmy Vandermeer version 2.
Forecast: Should spend most of his time in the AHL.
10-11 Numbers: 30GP 0g 0A 0P 70PIMs
Other thoughts:
Meszaros's career numbers are like Coburn's so, I'm hoping that if the 2 of them get their stuff together then, good things will happen, if not, well, then I'm hoping we can pass them off to Calgary for something good.
Holmgren does have a habit of trading horrible defensemen for good things:
Case 1: Zhitnik for Coburn
Case 2: Downie/Eminger for Carle
Case 3: Tollefsen for Leino
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