Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC
Canadiens announce no Carey Price tonight -- stomach flu

I'm not calling for the firing. But when Snider mentions the lack of adjustments against the Devils in the playoffs, and then re-iterates it after the team stumbles out of the gate, it's not exactly a ringing endorsement.

My issue with Laviolette is, there seems to be no willingness to adapt his system to the personnel on hand. It's not as if no effort was made to get better personnel. The Flyers offered $200mm in contracts to Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. They didn't manage to land either. It happens sometimes.

That's when the coach has to adapt. Nobody's arguing that Laviolette didn't get dealt a crap hand. But a large part of coaching is making adjustments.
- Jsaquella

They swung for the fences and whiffed...multiple times. The should have signed Carle and signed or replace Jagr. To make matters worse, all of their divisional rivals got better. The team last year wasn't quite good enough and now they are worse. We knew this going into the season. We knew Lavi's system when we hired him. Unfortunately you can't be honest with fans and say, folks, we aren't going to be that good this year because our youngsters haven't quite developed and we let our vets get paid elsewhere. We tried to bring in better players, but they didn't chose us because every time we sign players to long term deals, we get tired of waiting for them to take us to the promised land and ship them out of town (Carter, Richie, JVR, JR, Lindros, and probably Bryz to come).

If Timonen's injury is serious. Holmgren will look like a total fool for handing him 6 million for next season 10 games into this season. Guy is coming off back surgery and other injuries. How bout seeing how he holds up for at least 3/4 of the season before extending him next year. And totally overpaying him to boot.

Signing Timonen for next year this early in the season is completely asinine.
- PLindbergh31

If Timonen is THAT badly injured, he could retire without cap penalty since he'd be on a one-year deal (for which over-35 rules do not apply).

His one-year deal has an interesting structure. His base salary is the same as this year -- $3 million -- but he's also due a $3 million signing bonus this summer which pulls the cap hit up to $6 million.

To be honest, I'm not sure of the CBA rules related to his cap hit for what would happen in the event he was medically deemed unable to play after collecting his signing bonus, which the Flyers must pay him regardless.

Foster does one thing extremely well. Shooting the puck. The rest of his game is average to poor. The rest of the group Gervais, Lilja, Manning, and Gustafsson do not have one above average skill they bring to the table.
- PLindbergh31

Much younger players. I'm not saying they will improve but its been said many times that a defenseman takes more time to come around. Manning and Gustafsson can't be any worse IMO. They may lack skills but both need the opportunity to get some serious playing time to find out. We are all making assumptions about their games (based on what we know) but sometimes evaluations can be wrong over time.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC
Canadiens announce no Carey Price tonight -- stomach flu
- PLindbergh31

Thanks. Hadn't seen it. Will update blog.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC
Canadiens announce no Carey Price tonight -- stomach flu
- PLindbergh31

There's probably zero NHL teams that have a kid in the AHL that can step in and replace a Kimmo Timonen right now.

I don't disagree that Gus and Manning are more appealing options than Lilja, Foster and Gervais. But they're not replacing Timonen. If Weber goes down, Nashville can't replace him and they are a defenseman factory.
- Jsaquella

Weber is arguably, the top defenseman in the league. You can't replace that. But you should be able to replace a 37 year old, injury riddled, worn out, d-man like Timmo. But not this year because there is no one on the roster or in the pipeline who can come close to what Timmo brings. So, you better have plan B in place soon.

And that's the rub. And that's Homer, not Lavi.

Timmo's injury is no surprise. It didn't sneak up on anyone. I'll go so far as to say it was expected at some point, as it will be next year. It's a product of his age, the minutes he plays, who he plays against, and in what situations he's on the ice for.

Draft me a top two defenseman, for goodness sake already! If you can't, move over and find me a GM who can.

Sorry. Breakfast tasted funny.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC
Canadiens announce no Carey Price tonight -- stomach flu
- PLindbergh31

Who was that giant freak the Rangers had as back-up that always seemed to own the Flyers?

Budaj runs hot and cold.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC
Canadiens announce no Carey Price tonight -- stomach flu
- PLindbergh31

Thats good news. Briere has a good history in that building so hopefully he lights the lamp to get things going for himself.

If Timonen is THAT badly injured, he could retire without cap penalty since he'd be on a one-year deal (for which over-35 rules do not apply).

His one-year deal has an interesting structure. His base salary is the same as this year -- $3 million -- but he's also due a $3 million signing bonus this summer which pulls the cap hit up to $6 million.

To be honest, I'm not sure of the CBA rules related to his cap hit for what would happen in the event he was medically deemed unable to play after collecting his signing bonus, which the Flyers must pay him regardless.
- bmeltzer

Understood Bill. Don't you think it would have made more sense to let the season play out and revisit with Timonen later? Why extend him so early is where I can't see the sense in it.

Who was that giant freak the Rangers had as back-up that always seemed to own the Flyers?

Budaj runs hot and cold.
- flyer_nutter

Steve Valliquette.

- feelingkettle

- feelingkettle

They swung for the fences and whiffed...multiple times. The should have signed Carle and signed or replace Jagr. To make matters worse, all of their divisional rivals got better. The team last year wasn't quite good enough and now they are worse. We knew this going into the season. We knew Lavi's system when we hired him. Unfortunately you can't be honest with fans and say, folks, we aren't going to be that good this year because our youngsters haven't quite developed and we let our vets get paid elsewhere. We tried to bring in better players, but they didn't chose us because every time we sign players to long term deals, we get tired of waiting for them to take us to the promised land and ship them out of town (Carter, Richie, JVR, JR, Lindros, and probably Bryz to come).
- section32

The team currently leading the division lost it's leading scorer, yet somehow got better? If it did, it's because it's coaching staff made adjustments to account for the loss of Parise.

The Pens got better? They lost Jordan Staal and a very solid defensive defenseman in Zybenek Michalik. Brandon Sutter has replaced Staaal's defensive ability, but they lack his offense and nobody's replaced Michalek.

Shea Weber DID sign the offer sheet, which Nashville matched. So the fear of signing here is sort of a myth.

Who was that giant freak the Rangers had as back-up that always seemed to own the Flyers?

Budaj runs hot and cold.
- flyer_nutter

shake your Budaj

Much younger players. I'm not saying they will improve but its been said many times that a defenseman takes more time to come around. Manning and Gustafsson can't be any worse IMO. They may lack skills but both need the opportunity to get some serious playing time to find out. We are all making assumptions about their games (based on what we know) but sometimes evaluations can be wrong over time.
- stveshdy

Fair enough. Have Gustafsson and Manning play and send Gervais and Lilja to the glue factory.

Understood Bill. Don't you think it would have made more sense to let the season play out and revisit with Timonen later? Why extend him so early is where I can't see the sense in it.
- PLindbergh31

The timing of the Timonen re-signing is certainly valid, although I doubt very much the price would have dropped as the season went on. In fact, had some of the FAs to be had re-signed, it might have cost more to re-sign Timonen.

- feelingkettle

Maybe Giroux spilled the salt.

The timing of the Timonen re-signing is certainly valid, although I doubt very much the price would have dropped as the season went on. In fact, had some of the FAs to be had re-signed, it might have cost more to re-sign Timonen.
- Jsaquella

I hear you, I don't think you would have gotten a discount if you waited, but if he struggles somewhat with his play, or has a problem staying healthy you say thank you Kimmo for being a rock for this franchise and move on.

Fair enough. Have Gustafsson and Manning play and send Gervais and Lilja to the glue factory.
- PLindbergh31

I wish but it probably won't happen.

I hear you, I don't think you would have gotten a discount if you waited, but if he struggles somewhat with his play, or has a problem staying healthy you say thank you Kimmo for being a rock for this franchise and move on.
- PLindbergh31

His point is who replaces him if you let him walk?

I hear you, I don't think you would have gotten a discount if you waited, but if he struggles somewhat with his play, or has a problem staying healthy you say thank you Kimmo for being a rock for this franchise and move on.
- PLindbergh31

I was of the understanding that this was his last year. I thought he stated his desire to return home after the season.

Maybe I was wrong.

Weber is arguably, the top defenseman in the league. You can't replace that. But you should be able to replace a 37 year old, injury riddled, worn out, d-man like Timmo. But not this year because there is no one on the roster or in the pipeline who can come close to what Timmo brings. So, you better have plan B in place soon.

And that's the rub. And that's Homer, not Lavi.

Timmo's injury is no surprise. It didn't sneak up on anyone. I'll go so far as to say it was expected at some point, as it will be next year. It's a product of his age, the minutes he plays, who he plays against, and in what situations he's on the ice for.

Draft me a top two defenseman, for goodness sake already! If you can't, move over and find me a GM who can.

Sorry. Breakfast tasted funny.
- 77rams

Timonen, as a 36 year old last season, was 16th in the NHL in scoring by defensemen. He's also still a very good defensive defenseman and plays a ton of minutes. Age aside, one doesn't reach down to the AHL and replace that.

His point is who replaces him if you let him walk?
- stveshdy

After striking out swinging last summer, it would've looked REALLY bad if they ended up unable to replace Kimmo.

His point is who replaces him if you let him walk?
- stveshdy

If he has an injury plagued season, or doesn't play up to his standards this year, you have an injury plagued, aging dman, in decline at a 6 million dollar cap hit next season.

That doesn't need to be replaced.