They've sort of become the Flyers of the West. They always get out goaltended in the playoffs. I don't see how moving a Joe Thornton makes them any better. You aren't going to replace the guy no matter how he 'chokes' playoffs - he still takes on all the tough matchups for them.
That said - they lose their best defenseman. No one likes excuses but Vlasic was probably the one guy they couldn't afford to lose.
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