I blame Laviolette for Timonen's 6 million dollar salary for next year. Holmgren wanted to give Kimmo 3 or 4 million, Laviolette demanded he get 6.
- PLindbergh31

Where did you hear that?

Fantastic to see Chicagos streak end last night. The 35 gamer stands. Unfortunately this is the only positive I can take from the team this week. I don't expect a win in Boston and it may be a blowout. If we lose today and tomorrow, no way we make the playoffs. Trade the vets you can and plan to fix the d for next year. If we're not going to make it. Sink to the bottom.
- Hextall271

what vets can you trade other than Talbot and Fedotenko? Briere and Timonen will not approve a trade

I hope he can make some huge saves today. I think he's going to need to for the FLyers to have a chance.
- MJL

Hate being negative but I think the Flyers get blasted today. I'm going with Boston 4-1.

The trouble is, you could probably get the same level of goaltending for a lot less cash. Granted you don't get the guy with the level of success Bryzgalov had, especially in Phoenix, but right now, the Flyers style of play, combined with the poor execution what does it matter?

They're paying Ferrari prices for a Corvette and using it to plow parking lots.
- Jsaquella

Yes sir. Excellent point. The caliber of play from the goaltender doesn't match the cap hit. That being said, they are also getting far less bang for their buck from other high paid players like Timonen and Briere to name a few.

The trouble is, you could probably get the same level of goaltending for a lot less cash. Granted you don't get the guy with the level of success Bryzgalov had, especially in Phoenix, but right now, the Flyers style of play, combined with the poor execution what does it matter?

They're paying Ferrari prices for a Corvette and using it to plow parking lots.
- Jsaquella

Looking at next season on Capgeek, I am getting more and more convinced that the Flyers may indeed buy out Briere AND BRYZGALOV.

Homer will try to make a deal for Ray Emery or something similar. It depends on who is the coach. I am convinced it will NOT be Laviolette.

Its just a feeling, I have no factual basis for it.


- MBFlyerfan

100% agree. I think they will look to free up that cap space.

He's been hung out to dry constantly. Not all his fault by any means. His play has to improve though as he hasn't been as good or consistent in the last few weeks.

I wouldn't rule out fatigue, killer schedule, and no credible backup.
- PLindbergh31

so when they signed leighton last summer, it actually was a pretty important decision after all? so the rap about "if bryz gets hurt it won't matter anyway" or "a team doesn't win a cup because of their backup goalie" was a lot of forum flatulence? who knew?

Hate being negative but I think the Flyers get blasted today. I'm going with Boston 4-1.
- stveshdy

I don't have much faith in the Flyers winning today either. That being said, stranger things have happened. Boston is one of those teams that play a disciplined game that gives the Flyers fits.

Looking at next season on Capgeek, I am getting more and more convinced that the Flyers may indeed buy out Briere AND BRYZGALOV.

Homer will try to make a deal for Ray Emery or something similar. It depends on who is the coach. I am convinced it will NOT be Laviolette.

Its just a feeling, I have no factual basis for it.


- MBFlyerfan

I've been kicking around a lot of different cap/moves scenarios on twitter with some Flyers bloggers I'm chummy with. That idea has been advanced, and also steps they'd need to take to fill the resulting holes.

I'm still against it this summer. I don't want to see Mike Smith with a huge cap hit, and I'm not sold Jimmy Howard can be an elite level goalie-but will get paid like one. I also don't know if a top young goalie would be available without massive overpayment.

The trouble is, you could probably get the same level of goaltending for a lot less cash. Granted you don't get the guy with the level of success Bryzgalov had, especially in Phoenix, but right now, the Flyers style of play, combined with the poor execution what does it matter?

They're paying Ferrari prices for a Corvette and using it to plow parking lots.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. That's why I think they change direction and get a new goalie.

The trouble is, you could probably get the same level of goaltending for a lot less cash. Granted you don't get the guy with the level of success Bryzgalov had, especially in Phoenix, but right now, the Flyers style of play, combined with the poor execution what does it matter?

They're paying Ferrari prices for a Corvette and using it to plow parking lots.
- Jsaquella

Maybe you could on about half a dozen games or so that Bryzgalov has played. But overall, and in a lot of games where Bryzgalov was the team's best player, you wouldn't get the same level for a lot less cash.

so when they signed leighton last summer, it actually was a pretty important decision after all? so the rap about "if bryz gets hurt it won't matter anyway" or "a team doesn't win a cup because of their backup goalie" was a lot of forum flatulence? who knew?
- isaiah520

only problem is it was Leighton

I don't have much faith in the Flyers winning today either. That being said, stranger things have happened. Boston is one of those teams that play a disciplined game that gives the Flyers fits.
- MBFlyerfan

Boston plays well in both ends and the Flyers struggle against a team that is strong on the boards. Flyers seem to be out of position a lot on defense and against a team like Boston the puck will end up in the net more often than not.

I've been kicking around a lot of different cap/moves scenarios on twitter with some Flyers bloggers I'm chummy with. That idea has been advanced, and also steps they'd need to take to fill the resulting holes.

I'm still against it this summer. I don't want to see Mike Smith with a huge cap hit, and I'm not sold Jimmy Howard can be an elite level goalie-but will get paid like one. I also don't know if a top young goalie would be available without massive overpayment.
- Jsaquella

I think they stay with Bryz and try to become more defensive

I've been kicking around a lot of different cap/moves scenarios on twitter with some Flyers bloggers I'm chummy with. That idea has been advanced, and also steps they'd need to take to fill the resulting holes.

I'm still against it this summer. I don't want to see Mike Smith with a huge cap hit, and I'm not sold Jimmy Howard can be an elite level goalie-but will get paid like one. I also don't know if a top young goalie would be available without massive overpayment.
- Jsaquella

Maybe the Flyers take a chance for one year with Backstrom. They could also go for Hiller for a few years.

so when they signed leighton last summer, it actually was a pretty important decision after all? so the rap about "if bryz gets hurt it won't matter anyway" or "a team doesn't win a cup because of their backup goalie" was a lot of forum flatulence? who knew?
- isaiah520

That assumes that if there was a different backup, Bryzgalov would've played less. Which I think is more forum flatulence then the reality of if Bryzgalov get's hurt them it won't matter anyway, or the other statement.

The thing is people will say he's playing injured and thats really hurting his game right now. However, I been hearing this same story for three years now. Thats fantastic that he plays hurt but its not fantastic that he's constantly hurt.
- stveshdy

part of getting old. at some point, that's who the player is because he'll always be playing with some kind of injury

Hate being negative but I think the Flyers get blasted today. I'm going with Boston 4-1.
- stveshdy

I have the same thoughts, but I'm just not going to go there!

Looking at next season on Capgeek, I am getting more and more convinced that the Flyers may indeed buy out Briere AND BRYZGALOV.

Homer will try to make a deal for Ray Emery or something similar. It depends on who is the coach. I am convinced it will NOT be Laviolette.

Its just a feeling, I have no factual basis for it.


- MBFlyerfan

Right back to the yearly goaltender gamble, eh? I could see it.

I've been kicking around a lot of different cap/moves scenarios on twitter with some Flyers bloggers I'm chummy with. That idea has been advanced, and also steps they'd need to take to fill the resulting holes.

I'm still against it this summer. I don't want to see Mike Smith with a huge cap hit, and I'm not sold Jimmy Howard can be an elite level goalie-but will get paid like one. I also don't know if a top young goalie would be available without massive overpayment.
- Jsaquella

I think your right. Wait another year, you can still buy Bryzgalov out next year if you save the second buy out option. Better to get a good young back up goalie and take a longer term approach. They could buy out Bryzgalov and end up with a goaltender who is not as good as he is. Need to be patient.

As for today's game, simply put I'm dreading it. I don't like feeling this way.

Yes sir. Excellent point. The caliber of play from the goaltender doesn't match the cap hit. That being said, they are also getting far less bang for their buck from other high paid players like Timonen and Briere to name a few.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think any of the lifetime contracts given out that year panned out. Briere's contract, out of all given out that year has been the best by far but even so his regular seasons have not been worth his cap hit. One could argue that even in the playoffs where he is a prolific scorer that his scoring is offset somewhat by his defensive deficiences. When Danny is on the ice the scoreboard lights up at both ends.

Drury and Gomez who i believe were both signed at the same time as Briere have long been deemed horrible contracts yet GMs still roll the dice on the longterm contracts.

Timmonen at 6 mill was a panic move by Holmgren. Like others have said, he's never healthy and it isn't going to get better at his age.

I have the same thoughts, but I'm just not going to go there!

- MJL

Boston at home and their ability to play two way hockey is going to give the Flyers fits today.

so when they signed leighton last summer, it actually was a pretty important decision after all? so the rap about "if bryz gets hurt it won't matter anyway" or "a team doesn't win a cup because of their backup goalie" was a lot of forum flatulence? who knew?
- isaiah520

I didn't comprehend the Leighton signing. Why must the Flyers constantly re-cycle the same guys?

I didn't comprehend the Leighton signing. Why must the Flyers constantly re-cycle the same guys?
- PLindbergh31

Seems like they were trying to keep as much cap space available to land a player like Weber.