Lilja was also a 36 year old guy that was rumored to be retiring, coming off a season where people figured he was washed up. Gervais is 27 and is coming off a season where he closed playing solid third pair minutes.

Lilja also missed about 20 games due to various injuries. Had he been healthy he could well have played in 65 or so games.
- Jsaquella

It just doesnt make sense to me... We had Bourdon and Gusty who played very well for their rookies seasons.. Bourdon played in around the same amount of games as Gervais..

At the time they already had a very solid top 5.. and two younger players who showed themselves capable of playing.. The sign Gervais. Interesting.

Then a few days later they go and OS Shea Weber... had they got him.. that would have pushed both MAB and Gusty out of the picture.. as well as Gervais..

So this is my train of thought...

The Flyers thought that they would get Weber all along.. whether by trade or OS. They knew it would be a waste for them to have both Bourdon and Gusty sitting up with the Flyers and not playing... That is just how it plays out in my head.. Probably wrong, but to me, Gervais is at the absolute best (and this i dont agree with) a minor improvement on either Gusty or MaB.

The only other thought I have is that the org might be worried about the Soph slump with D-men. Idk..

Yes. There's idiots in every fanbase. Not saying that Davies' friend is an idiot, but there's fans that have an irrational hatred of players from their teams in every town.
- Jsaquella

Philly is probably the worst though.. thats all I was saying.

I asked the same question about Lilja... and he ended up playing in 46 games. Thats a 7th d-man right there.
- jak521

Yeah, but remember that Lilja missed about six weeks with a high ankle sprain last season. He was actually pretty much the regular #6 when he was able to play.

The way I think it works is that as long as MAB is sent down prior to the season starting he can come up with out a problem.. being sent down during the season would be the only hurdle...

I dont believe the Flyers signed Gervais and knew they has immediately solved their 6th d-man woes... I think they signed him to a relatively low salary (825k per) because they knew he was a 6/7 guy. They know they have two young guys who played pretty well for them and might be ready to take that spot. Gervais was just a fail-safe... A guy that they would use as their 6th IF the younger guys werent ready for it.
- jak521

Whether it is before the Season starts, or during it. Bourdon would have to clear waivers first, to be sent down to the AHL.

Yes. There's idiots in every fanbase. Not saying that Davies' friend is an idiot, but there's fans that have an irrational hatred of players from their teams in every town.
- Jsaquella

i know him as well. you may say it.

He's a good player, no question. But I do think that the desire to have him be a Flyer for a lot of folks comes from his being a "local kid" who has expressed a desire to play here one day.

I mean people who were aghast at the possibility of Rick Nash were salivating over Ryan, although Nash has put up similar numbers playing next to guys that are no where near as good as the players Ryan has played with in Anaheim.

Sure some of that had to do with the cap hit difference, but Nash is also a better player than Ryan.
- Jsaquella

There's a lot of people who think that Bobby Ryan is a superstar players also.

Yeah, but remember that Lilja missed about six weeks with a high ankle sprain last season. He was actually pretty much the regular #6 when he was able to play.
- bmeltzer

Do you think he was surpassed by MaB or Gusty?

It just doesnt make sense to me... We had Bourdon and Gusty who played very well for their rookies seasons.. Bourdon played in around the same amount of games as Gervais..

At the time they already had a very solid top 5.. and two younger players who showed themselves capable of playing.. The sign Gervais. Interesting.

Then a few days later they go and OS Shea Weber... had they got him.. that would have pushed both MAB and Gusty out of the picture.. as well as Gervais..

So this is my train of thought...

The Flyers thought that they would get Weber all along.. whether by trade or OS. They knew it would be a waste for them to have both Bourdon and Gusty sitting up with the Flyers and not playing... That is just how it plays out in my head.. Probably wrong, but to me, Gervais is at the absolute best (and this i dont agree with) a minor improvement on either Gusty or MaB.

The only other thought I have is that the org might be worried about the Soph slump with D-men. Idk..
- jak521

I don't think that Bourdon had a great rookie season. He was certainly better than I expected, based on his underwhelming AHL play. But he also is a more physicaal, stay at home type on a defense suddenly heavy on those sort of players.

Gustafsson definitely has more of a game that fits the needs of the team, but he needs to get stronger and more solid in his own end. To me, he showed more than MAB, but both showed flashes more than consistently good play.

I will agree that by the second year, the Flyers may well have expected Gervais to drop to the 7th defenseman role and hoping that Gus or MAB or both had surpassed him.

As for Weber, they could easily send MAB and Gus to the Phantoms if they were not getting the ice time.

There's a lot of people who think that Bobby Ryan is a superstar players also.
- MJL

If Bobby Ryan played a good two game I would have been more interested.

It just doesnt make sense to me... We had Bourdon and Gusty who played very well for their rookies seasons.. Bourdon played in around the same amount of games as Gervais..

At the time they already had a very solid top 5.. and two younger players who showed themselves capable of playing.. The sign Gervais. Interesting.

Then a few days later they go and OS Shea Weber... had they got him.. that would have pushed both MAB and Gusty out of the picture.. as well as Gervais..

So this is my train of thought...

The Flyers thought that they would get Weber all along.. whether by trade or OS. They knew it would be a waste for them to have both Bourdon and Gusty sitting up with the Flyers and not playing... That is just how it plays out in my head.. Probably wrong, but to me, Gervais is at the absolute best (and this i dont agree with) a minor improvement on either Gusty or MaB.

The only other thought I have is that the org might be worried about the Soph slump with D-men. Idk..
- jak521

What they thought is that Timonen and Meszaros are both coming off back surgery. They lost Carle. There was no guarantee that they could get Weber. So you need a cheap veteran depth defenseman who can play every day. Hence Gervais.

Philly is probably the worst though.. thats all I was saying.
- jak521

We are certainly more aware of Philly fans that are irrational idiots, and from the sample of other cities fans I have seen, Philly is more irrational than most

I don't think that Bourdon had a great rookie season. He was certainly better than I expected, based on his underwhelming AHL play. But he also is a more physicaal, stay at home type on a defense suddenly heavy on those sort of players.

Gustafsson definitely has more of a game that fits the needs of the team, but he needs to get stronger and more solid in his own end. To me, he showed more than MAB, but both showed flashes more than consistently good play.

I will agree that by the second year, the Flyers may well have expected Gervais to drop to the 7th defenseman role and hoping that Gus or MAB or both had surpassed him.

As for Weber, they could easily send MAB and Gus to the Phantoms if they were not getting the ice time.
- Jsaquella

That was my point.. sending them to the AHL, you need a 7th d-man.. which is where Gervais would come in.

Bourdon was an offensive force when he was in juniors.. and IIRC acutally led all d-men in goals a few years..

He was tied with Timonen, Carle and Coburn for goals with 4, despite only playing 45 games. He does have some offense to his game, but he isnt a superb puck mover... yet. I think that he can be a good puck mover though.

Maybe its just me being excited to see what these guys can do... IDK

What they thought is that Timonen and Meszaros are both coming off back surgery. They lost Carle. There was no guarantee that they could get Weber. So you need a cheap veteran depth defenseman who can play every day. Hence Gervais.
- MJL

I sure a poop hope he can play everyday then.. It seems TB and the Isles didnt think so.

As for Weber, they could easily send MAB and Gus to the Phantoms if they were not getting the ice time.
- Jsaquella

If they try to send Bourdon to the Phantoms, he'll most likely be playing for someone else.

I sure a poop hope he can play everyday then.. It seems TB and the Isles didnt think so.
- jak521

He's an experienced veteran. What do you think your going to get for that kind of money and Cap hit? You get a servicable veteran. And he is a better choice to play every day then Lilja.

It's not anywhere near as bad as last time. There is always ominous rhetoric and hardline stances in these sorts of negotiations. I would not be shocked if there is a lockout but I WOULD be shocked if it's a lengthy one this time.

For one thing, the owners are NOT nearly as united front this time around (as you note above) except for their agreement that they want a larger slice of the larger revenue pie. I do expect the cap floor to drop fairly significantly and the revenue sharing to be sliced more in the owners' favor when all is said and done. I really don't think the cap ceiling is growing to drop THAT much, though, and you may even see some sort of luxury tax system implemented if the ceiling does drop significantly.
- bmeltzer

if the cap drops, would that affect this season or next?

What they thought is that Timonen and Meszaros are both coming off back surgery. They lost Carle. There was no guarantee that they could get Weber. So you need a cheap veteran depth defenseman who can play every day. Hence...
- MJL

He's a good player, no question. But I do think that the desire to have him be a Flyer for a lot of folks comes from his being a "local kid" who has expressed a desire to play here one day.

I mean people who were aghast at the possibility of Rick Nash were salivating over Ryan, although Nash has put up similar numbers playing next to guys that are no where near as good as the players Ryan has played with in Anaheim.

Sure some of that had to do with the cap hit difference, but Nash is also a better player than Ryan.
- Jsaquella

Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought in my accident but I would take Ryan over Nash. I think Ryan could be a more dominate player. Nash is awesome. But I like Ryan better

Yeah, but remember that Lilja missed about six weeks with a high ankle sprain last season. He was actually pretty much the regular #6 when he was able to play.
- bmeltzer

am i the only one who thought lilja was perfectly serviceable before the injury? i don't mind him as a #6/7 at all.

Lilja was also a 36 year old guy that was rumored to be retiring, coming off a season where people figured he was washed up. Gervais is 27 and is coming off a season where he closed playing solid third pair minutes.

Lilja also missed about 20 games due to various injuries. Had he been healthy he could well have played in 65 or so games.
- Jsaquella

i still don't get the Lilja signing. not for 2 yrs. would not surprise me if they expose him to waivers

i know him as well. you may say it.
- Crimsoninja

Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought in my accident but I would take Ryan over Nash. I think Ryan could be a more dominate player. Nash is awesome. But I like Ryan better
- Deasr1

How so?

Nash has put up similar numbers to Ryan, while playing next to guys like Derrick Brassard, David Vyborny, Vinny Prospal, RJ Umberger and Andrew Cassels.

Ryan has played most of the time with Ryan Getzlaff and Cory Perry. I think we'd see Nash's numbers jump playing with Giroux, while Ryan's would likely stay roughly the same.

i still don't get the Lilja signing. not for 2 yrs. would not surprise me if they expose him to waivers
- nastyflyergirl

I don't get it being 2 years. I understood one year, but two made it count this season on the cap no matter what.

That was my point.. sending them to the AHL, you need a 7th d-man.. which is where Gervais would come in.

Bourdon was an offensive force when he was in juniors.. and IIRC acutally led all d-men in goals a few years..

He was tied with Timonen, Carle and Coburn for goals with 4, despite only playing 45 games. He does have some offense to his game, but he isnt a superb puck mover... yet. I think that he can be a good puck mover though.

Maybe its just me being excited to see what these guys can do... IDK
- jak521

I hope that both turn out to be better than I expect and push Gervais to the press box, honestly. I just don't see Gus or MAb ever being much more than 5th defensemen that can play as a 4th defenseman for limited periods.

Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought in my accident but I would take Ryan over Nash. I think Ryan could be a more dominate player. Nash is awesome. But I like Ryan better
- Deasr1

I completely disagree.. He is exciting and what not, but not near the total player that Nash is.