What are the rules governing LTIR? I'd rather the Flyers LTIR his $1.7M (even if it's pro-rated) as long as possible, then send him down for a pro-rated $800K after he's cleared.
- jmatchett

Walker won't go on LTIR. He'll be counting against the Cap every single day he's on the roster. Unless the Flyers make a roster change before the Season starts.

Yes, it's still a minor injury. And the injury occurred on Dec. 28. The original timetable was 2-3 weeks and has been pushed back up to one week.
- bmeltzer

Ok. I read the Flyers doctors haven't been able to look at the injury yet due to the CBA not being in place. Is that true? A sprained wrist, and bone bruise while not sounding dire, can linger for a long time.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Wednesday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Cosmonaut Bryzgalov will be fantastic this year

When he originally injured it, doctors in Germany said it was a 3-4 week injury, which seems to be close to the timeline he's on.
- Jsaquella

I thought 2 weeks was the prognosis. I stand corrected. Hopefully he's back fairly soon. In a shortened season every game is paramount.

Exactly. The league is very sensitive to any appearance of seeming weak, and they tend to respond with a lot of tough talk.

Meanwhile, over in the Czech Republic, Jagr originally was not planning to play yesterday but then decided it wouldn't be fair to all the people in Kladno who bought advanced tickets to the game. So he played, and had two assists (including the game-winner) and then got a three-minute ovation. He's so much more than just a hockey player in his home country. He's an icon.

Even when he was young and immature, Jagr took pride in his stature at home. But as he's grown up, he's also embraced all the responsibility that comes with it. Beyond that, I don't think there's a person alive who truly loves all aspects of hockey as much as Jagr does. Even at age 41 (next month), it's his all-consuming passion both as a player and as Kladno's team owner.

I have never changed my opinion of an athlete as much as my views on Jagr have changed in the last couple years. Sometimes his pride gets the best of him -- and that is why he'll be in Dallas this season instead of Philly, because he feared a diminished role on the Flyers -- but there is no questioning his devotion.
- bmeltzer

It's understandable that he'd have pride and be unwilling to accept a diminished role, especially given his history and accolades. I agree Jagr really seemed to be a great influence on the younger Flyers(and even some of the vets) during his shirt stay here.

It's funny, but the first thought I had when i read the Medvedev statement was that he sounded like a jilted lover, but your explanation absolutely makes sense.

I thought 2 weeks was the prognosis. I stand corrected. Hopefully he's back fairly soon. In a shortened season every game is paramount.
- PLindbergh31

Briere said he might miss a week of the season. Who knows, he could be playing in the second half of the home & home against the Pens.

What are the rules governing LTIR? I'd rather the Flyers LTIR his $1.7M (even if it's pro-rated) as long as possible, then send him down for a pro-rated $800K after he's cleared.
- jmatchett

The basics of LTIR:

* The full salary counts against the salary cap, BUT

* the Flyers will get an allowance to exceed to cap by the difference between their available cap space and the full cap hit of the player(s) on LTIR.

* If there is no bonus cushion in the salary cap -- and it sounds like there will not be one -- then it's not really a huge obstacle to manage around LTIR because the cap is fully accounted for. The problem comes when you've got players on LTIR and the combination of replacing these players plus paying out bonuses pushes a team in excess of the cap ceiling. That's when the league imposes cap penalties the next season.

* Another problem, however, with LTIR is that the allowance is use-it-or-lose it. Open cap space can be banked during the season and becomes increasingly valuable as the trade deadline approaches. LTIR, meanwhile, is NOT considered free cap space.

Absolutely it is minor. How many games is he expected to miss? But let's get all the doomsday posts in before the Season starts. Then maybe we can be positive about the Season.
- MJL

there will be a crack in the ice at WF ctr on opening day. G will have to come out and announce that the game will have to be cancelled. oh, the humanity...

I think the whole thing is being blown out of proportion. The media got word that staying in Russia COULD be a possibility for Kovalchuk, regardless of the actual probability, and ran with it. I fully expect him to play for the Devils this year. He's spent a decade in North America and returned from Russia in 04-05. He's not Alex Radulov.
- NickTheKid87

Well, the KHL is supposedly throwing a ton of cash and pressure at him, and in Russia, they can make that money tax free.

Local hockey prodigy, 14, drawing national notice

http://t.co/GEoG2DZk

Ok. I read the Flyers doctors haven't been able to look at the injury yet due to the CBA not being in place. Is that true? A sprained wrist, and bone bruise while not sounding dire, can linger for a long time.
- PLindbergh31

Correct. Flyers doctors can't examine him until there's a CBA. But he's been examined by specialists in Berlin.

BTW, Danny and Ville Leino were both playing banged up during their magnificent 2010 playoff run together, and I believe Briere had a wrist issue then, too (I know Leino's issue was a hip). So he has a way of playing through those sorts of injuries without much problem on the ice. It's been after concussions where he seems to struggle for awhile.

Cosmonaut Bryzgalov will be fantastic this year
- ob18

Correct. Flyers doctors can't examine him until there's a CBA. But he's been examined by specialists in Berlin.

BTW, Danny and Ville Leino were both playing banged up during their magnificent 2010 playoff run together, and I believe Briere had a wrist issue then, too (I know Leino's issue was a hip). So he has a way of playing through those sorts of injuries without much problem on the ice. It's been after concussions where he seems to struggle for awhile.
- bmeltzer

Very true. Thanks Bill. I suppose I'm paranoid due to the rotten luck with injuries the Flyers have had. Part of me expects the Flyers doctors to find a fracture in his wrist.

Briere said he might miss a week of the season. Who knows, he could be playing in the second half of the home & home against the Pens.
- Jsaquella

Do you expect the Flyers to bring in a veteran dman before the season starts? With the uncertainty of Meszaros, and with MAB, or Gusty not being options, the depth is very thin right now.

The basics of LTIR:
* the Flyers will get an allowance to exceed to cap by the difference between their available cap space and the full cap hit of the player(s) on LTIR.
- bmeltzer

So, seeing as the Flyers cap space is $4.141M, and the combined cap hits of Walker and Pronger are $6.821, why wouldn't it make sense to LTIR them both for a savings of $2.68M (assuming Walker fits the description of LTIR) and then send him down once he's healthy? Doesn't seem to make sense to keep him around, unless that last part about it not being "free cap space" at the deadline comes into play.

The Hawks blogger Jaeckel has a story that the Hawks may be shopping a couple of d-men. Hjmarlsson & Leddy (sp). Any thoughts on these guys Bill? Upgrades to what we have or more or less 5-7th guys?

- bradleyc4

what

Do you expect the Flyers to bring in a veteran dman before the season starts? With the uncertainty of Meszaros, and with MAB, or Gusty not being options, the depth is very thin right now.
- PLindbergh31

I'd be surprised if they don't add somebody before the TDL.

The Hawks blogger Jaeckel has a story that the Hawks may be shopping a couple of d-men. Hjmarlsson & Leddy (sp). Any thoughts on these guys Bill? Upgrades to what we have or more or less 5-7th guys?
- fnmjoe13

Leddy is a smallish, but good young defenseman. If he's available, I'd think the Flyers have to kick the tires.

Hjalmarsson is a more developed(i.e. more proven) defenseman, but he is a more defense first guy with a bigger cap hit

The Hawks blogger Jaeckel has a story that the Hawks may be shopping a couple of d-men. Hjmarlsson & Leddy (sp). Any thoughts on these guys Bill? Upgrades to what we have or more or less 5-7th guys?
- fnmjoe13

I think we all realize that the Flyers could use an upgrade on D, maybe even more so due to the injuries.

But realistically, do you think there will be a lot of movement of players before the start of the season? My guess would be no.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

It's "expected" tho not official yet that the 10-game rule for called up juniors will become the six-game rule.



Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

That is, team could play underage junior for 5 games without burning a year of his entry level contract. A 6th game, tho, would burn year.

I'd be surprised if they don't add somebody before the TDL.
- Jsaquella

I'd love to pry Visnovsky from NYI/Slovakia.

The basics of LTIR:

* The full salary counts against the salary cap, BUT

* the Flyers will get an allowance to exceed to cap by the difference between their available cap space and the full cap hit of the player(s) on LTIR.

* If there is no bonus cushion in the salary cap -- and it sounds like there will not be one -- then it's not really a huge obstacle to manage around LTIR because the cap is fully accounted for. The problem comes when you've got players on LTIR and the combination of replacing these players plus paying out bonuses pushes a team in excess of the cap ceiling. That's when the league imposes cap penalties the next season.

* Another problem, however, with LTIR is that the allowance is use-it-or-lose it. Open cap space can be banked during the season and becomes increasingly valuable as the trade deadline approaches. LTIR, meanwhile, is NOT considered free cap space.
- bmeltzer

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that the bonus cushion would be available for every year of the deal.

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that the bonus cushion would be available for every year of the deal.
- MJL

That's what I heard, that it is.

I'd be surprised if they don't add somebody before the TDL.
- Jsaquella

With a 48 game schedule, might not be afforded the luxury of waiting to the TDL. As it stands right now Gervais and Lilja are in the lineup, and an injury away from having a Brandon Manning in there as well.