the only player that might be on the market in the offseason that i would be curious about acquiring is Jaroslav Halak. The Blues have Elliott and their future in Jake Allen. So i could see Halak being on the market.
- 215mike

I thought about this watching the Canucks/Blues game last night. Allen is playing the majority of games for them, something like 8-2 record. Elliott is decent as a back-up, and Allen is one of their many RFAs this summer. If Allen keeps this solid run up into the playoffs, I could see them going with Allen/Elliott, and trading Halak. That would save them cash, Allen would definitely be cheaper than Halak.

I'm still on the fence about using a buyout on Bryz this summer. It is a short season, it clearly isn't going well for us as a whole, so buying him out would be a knee-jerk reaction to this season's failure. Now, depending on what becomes available over the summer, I could be swayed. Halak, Bernier, Backstrom, Bishop, and Hiller are names that interest me.

im excited to see what he can bring to the ahl next year....the team around him will be poopty though
- Philly1980

Yeah same, I have a good feeling about him.

not a firesale but briere, feds, knuble, should go...
- Philly1980

Exactly. There is some dead weight and Homer has to be a seller (for the right prices) at the deadline.

I thought about this watching the Canucks/Blues game last night. Allen is playing the majority of games for them, something like 8-2 record. Elliott is decent as a back-up, and Allen is one of their many RFAs this summer. If Allen keeps this solid run up into the playoffs, I could see them going with Allen/Elliott, and trading Halak. That would save them cash, Allen would definitely be cheaper than Halak.

I'm still on the fence about using a buyout on Bryz this summer. It is a short season, it clearly isn't going well for us as a whole, so buying him out would be a knee-jerk reaction to this season's failure. Now, depending on what becomes available over the summer, I could be swayed. Halak, Bernier, Backstrom, Bishop, and Hiller are names that interest me.
- Rocktane

My problem with Bryz is not that he is playing really poorly.
It is that he is not playing really well.
He was brought in to be the guy that delivered every night. His salary and term say that.
There are other teams that have challenges where the goalies are always (not occasionally) the key - some are New Jersey, Columbus and Ottawa. The salaries there are very manageable.
I know there are many Bryz supporters ('not Bryz fault') but I'm not sure that is a winning formula.

Bryz for Mike Green.

Bryz for Mike Green.


- KGBflyers10

?

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.
- Pyzik

I agree.

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.
- Pyzik

He has, I would have no problem bringing him back. My only thought is that out of the 2 players they brought in as role players and PKers. Fedetenko and Talbot. Neither is a faceoff specialist. I think one of the players in that role should be.

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.
- Pyzik

He has but if you can get something for him, why not?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Patience and Prospects
- bmeltzer

Thank you Bill. Your sentiments echo my own. Whatever moves this team makes, they should be with purpose and aimed at getting a replacement for Kimmo as well as stocking the cupboard. But making rash judgements about young players on a weird half seasons is foolish. Coots is worth just as much to an outside team as he always was.

He has but if you can get something for him, why not?
- NickTheKid87

Thats my thinking as well

He has but if you can get something for him, why not?
- NickTheKid87

Bingo

My problem with Bryz is not that he is playing really poorly.
It is that he is not playing really well.
He was brought in to be the guy that delivered every night. His salary and term say that.
There are other teams that have challenges where the goalies are always (not occasionally) the key - some are New Jersey, Columbus and Ottawa. The salaries there are very manageable.
I know there are many Bryz supporters ('not Bryz fault') but I'm not sure that is a winning formula.
- strongsupporter

Exactly! I agree the defense in front of him (team defense) is very poor, yet one on one chances need to be stopped. Teams can get such a huge lift when the goalie bails them out. He isn't doing that!

My 2 cents after back-reading, on today's agenda:

Briere and Feds at the deadline for whatever we can get.

Fire Laviolette the day after the season ends.

Explore acquiring a top-end defenseman at the draft, no earlier. Let the season run its course, then make the adjustments after. As painful as it would be, you have to give to get. Nobody is going to give us a Yandle, Shattenkirk, Bogosian, or Leddy for peanuts. Those would be the four I would target the most.

I would inquire about the likes of Bernier, Halak, and Bishop at the draft and leading up to the UFA period as well. If the asking price doesn't make Homer hang up right away, at least consider making the change from Bryz. In all likelihood, we keep Bryz for next season.

Once UFA starts, peace out Shelley, Knuble, Foster, Walker, Lilja, Leighton, and Boucher. Re-sign Gagne at a cheaper rate. See what teams would offer for Coburn and Meszaros. Depending on the moves made, pencil in McGinn and Laughton on the big club full-time next season, and fill out the roster as needed via UFAs.

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.
- Pyzik

Once they dropped him down to the 4th line (he was playing on a higher line earlier in the year), he's been fine.

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.
- Pyzik

Only forward with a positive plus/minus rating...

Exactly! I agree the defense in front of him (team defense) is very poor, yet one on one chances need to be stopped. Teams can get such a huge lift when the goalie bails them out. He isn't doing that!
- aantny88

Funny how quickly that tone changes when we have G, Briere, Read or any other forward going in on a one on one and not cashing in.

"A forward NEEDS to score on one on ones"

Exactly! I agree the defense in front of him (team defense) is very poor, yet one on one chances need to be stopped. Teams can get such a huge lift when the goalie bails them out. He isn't doing that!
- aantny88

What did you think of Bryz in our last game against New Jersey?

Only forward with a positive plus/minus rating...
- aantny88

Who cares? They won't win anything this year. Rusty has been good for this team but the present is now irrelevant.

What did you think of Bryz in our last game against New Jersey?
- BulliesPhan87

Or how about him keeping the Flyers in the TB game. He made a number of huge saves...

Or how about him keeping the Flyers in the TB game. He made a number of huge saves...
- jak521

Did you notice any other games where he didn't make the saves?

Few Thoughts:

-The Flyers are very, very impatient. They have spent a lot of time chasing last year's Stanley Cup. It's a curse and a blessing. Rather than rehash past deals, it's best to look ahead and see how they can fix the situation they are in....which actually isn't that dire.

-The Flyers have a lot of good young talent that is learning to play at the NHL level. They will get better. This is not just limited to Schenn and Couturier. Guys like Simmonds and Voracek are still learning and getting better.

-I have stated often that I would actively shop Danny Briere, Simon Gagne and Ruslan Fedotenko and listen to offers for Scott Hartnell, Max Talbot, Bryadon Coburn and Andrej Mesazaros. It would take a lot for me to move Hartnell and Coburn. Despite his short comings, it would be really difficult to replace Coburn at a reasonable price.

-As for compliance buyouts, I wouldn't use one on Bryzgalov this summer. Perhaps the summer of 2014. I really want a new coach, and want to see how Bryzgalov plays behind a team that isn't an overaggressive undisciplined mess. That's not to say he's blame free.

-Scott Laughton doesn't replace Couturier. Ultimately, I think that Bryaden Schenn moves to a wing, Couturier is the 2nd line center and Laughton is the 3rd line center.

Did you notice any other games where he didn't make the saves?
- strongsupporter

Bryzgalov's lows are always well publicized, to make an understatement.

Trying to understand why everyone is trying to dump Rusty....he has done EXACTLY what he was brought in to do.
- Pyzik

Because he has some value. They're not making the playoffs and he's a UFA. Trading him for a pick or prospect gets them something for the future, and they can try to re-sign him in the summer.

I'd do the same with Gagne. Trade him, tell him that you're very interested in re-signing him in the summer, but this way he gets a chance for another Stanley Cup.

If you can re-sign either, it's not crippling.