This offseason they could see what Ottawa wants for Bishop.

But I think they wait till summer 2014 and see who's available then. Six more years of Bryz after that with a NMC and a 5.67m cap hit is a scary thought.
- Feanor

It is a very scary thought..... He is too inconsistent and in most games he is guaranteed to let in at least one soft goal. At a salary of 5.6.....simply not getting value

Yeah, buy out Bryz, because there is a long line of readily available NHL-caliber goaltenders with Brodeur/Roy-level skills just waiting in the wings to be signed.

You're a genius.
- Rliable

Let me know when Bryz starts looking like Roy or Brodeur You are right though in that there's noone out there to replace him with. You can't trade him unless you have an upgrade available. The Flyers had a guy but they traded him and I don't think the Flyers have the ammunition to get him back even if they were so inclined.

IMO they do not have a glut of forwards. They have at most 1 NHL caliber forward graduating to the NHL next year and that would be Laughton. If Briere get's bought out/traded then that's it. There's noone to replace Schenn or Couterier.

The Flyers were so desperate at forward this year they brought in Knuble and Fedotenko in the middle of the year. This depth the Flyers have to offset the loss of a forward, i'm not seeing it. In addition, Gagne is a UFA. While he has been useful for the Flyers, the Kings thank the Flyers for giving them a 4th round pick for a 3.5mill/yr healthy scratch. The last time Gagne was dealt in a salary dump the Flyers had to take salary back in the form of Matt Walker (who the Flyers are still paying in the minors). The Kings seem to be far better at dumping salary than the Flyers.
- Flyers_01

Feds was signed in the off season. Knubs was brought in because of injury. McGinn will be back next year and has shown good promise at being an effective 2nd line player. Matt Read spends a lot of time on the 3rd line because he can play that role very well, but fact is he is a 2nd line player on almost any other team.

If you're trading Schenn or Coots for a D man it makes a lot of sense to draft a forward tho (assuming Jones is off the board)

This offseason they could see what Ottawa wants for Bishop.

But I think they wait till summer 2014 and see who's available then. Six more years of Bryz after that with a NMC and a 5.67m cap hit is a scary thought.
- Feanor

From what I remember the UFA market for goalies in 2014 is a lot better than this summer's, so I think they definitely keep him on for at least one more year.

ever?
- isaiah520

Not this summer. Certainly you can reevaluate next year.

Feds was signed in the off season. Knubs was brought in because of injury. McGinn will be back next year and has shown good promise at being an effective 2nd line player. Matt Read spends a lot of time on the 3rd line because he can play that role very well, but fact is he is a 2nd line player on almost any other team.

If you're trading Schenn or Coots for a D man it makes a lot of sense to draft a forward tho (assuming Jones is off the board)
- hereticpride

You are correct on Feds. Assuming Briere is bought out/traded and knowing that Gagne, Fedotenko, Knuble are all UFAs, tell me who your top 14 forwards are. I'm going with 14 because there will be injuries (ie. why knuble was brought in).

Bill, as always...great read and excellent points in this reply.
I think that the sad reality is that what has kept Flyer fans so loyal for so long, the "WIN WIN WIN, NOW, NOW, NOW" attitude from Ed Snyder on down...means they can't get over the hump and really win.

And please lets not all forget Justin Williams and Patrick Sharpe in the "OMG" of Flyers trade history/givig up on youth.
- wbon22

The Justin Williams trade would have looked better if the Flyer actually resigned Danny Markov, it was a good trade, but the aftermath not so much.

Its funny about Sharpie, everyone is all up in arms about that trade, but he was never going to really crack the LU with the Flyers in the forseeable future because of the depth the team had. No one cared about the trade until he started playing well, a FULL YEAR after the trade. It is also unclear if he would have had the same success in Philly if 1 he had gotten into the LU and 2 with the players he would have played with. The people who were up in arms about the trade were Phantoms fans, he was a fan favorite down there.

Not this summer. Certainly you can reevaluate next year.
- Just5

fair enuf

Posted this late last night in the last thread. Curious to see what others think of these two unsigned college players from Miami?

There are two undrafted players at Miami that I think Holmgren should look at closely. Although the signing of Flanagan might make them think twice about one of them, since he's also a smallish forward.

The forward is Austin Czarnik:
Represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, handing out two assists in pool play for Team USA. CCHA Player of the Month for October, as well as the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week (11/26-12/2) ... tied for fourth in the CCHA with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) ... tied for the national lead with three short-handed goals ... has 10 multi-point games this season, the most recent being a two-assist effort against Alaska (2/2) ... has three multi-goal games this year (10/20, 11/3 and 2/1) after recording just one all of last season ... leads the RedHawks with 22 assists and a +18 rating ... one of just six RedHawks to play in all 36 games.


The other is goalie Ryan McKay:
Named to the CCHA 2012-13 All-Rookie Team ... CCHA Goaltender of the Month for both December and February ... HCA National Rookie of the Month for December ... leads all of college hockey with a 1.17 GAA, the next closest player has a 1.49 GAA ... also leads in save percentage (.957) ... has made 17 starts, compiling a record of 10-4-2 ... started the season opener against Colgate (10/12), leading the team to a 3-0 shutout victory ... only allowed one goal total in his first three starts ... his 3 shutouts this year tie for third in the CCHA and 12th in NCAA.

Czarnik and Flanagan seem like similar players, so I'm not sure we need them both, and Czarnik is even a little lighter than Flanagan. But I think McKay is the real deal. Seen him play several times and he always seems to make the big save. Also, since most of the other goalies in the CCHA have already been drafted, it seems like a reasonable idea to sign the kid that is clearly the best goalie in that league, and quite possibly the best goalie in all of college hockey.

Chicago Tribune article on McKay: http://t.co/BrfoKt3faR

Bill,

Great article. You have much more eloquently stated what a number of us have said (and sometimes have been called out on) over the last few months or so.

Two points. First, I think the reason most knowledgable fans prefer to trade Couturier is not because of his down season but rather is because he has a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings in Laughton. It's like Pittsburgh trading Staal and getting Sutter, except we already have Laughton. Yes Sutter was a little bit if a downgrade as will be Laughton, but we get other assets and can play Schenn at 2nd center, his more natural position.

Second, a minor point but if you hold the position of taking the best payer in the first round, even if it is a position where you have a glut of players, then you shouldn't take the organization to task for trading that player early. The premise would be that forwards reach the NHL sooner so take one, build his value in first one or two years, then trade for multiple assets. I think where the Flyers could be dinged is for WHO they received in return, or rather, which positions they play. The inability to get a solid top line D (Schenn is a 3/4 in my book) is where they have failed.

What a fantastic read!

The lack of patience has been our best friend and worst enemy. We have one of the greatest records of all time (win%). We are practically in the playoffs EVERY year.. and very rarely are projected to not make the playoffs. That is because we are always in a win now state of mind.

Its our worst enemy because we never allow our players to fully blossom before moving them for more established (but often lesser skilled/lower ceiling) players. For example...

Bernie Parent in 1971... traded after 3 and a half mediocre seasons.. Imagine if he was never brought back a few seasons later where he lead the team to our only two cups.

JJ Daigneault- played 900 career NHL games... traded for a guy who ended playing 25...

Scott Mellanby and Craig Berube traded for Dave Brown and the rights to Jari Kurri (who never played a game for the Flyers)... Mellanby would go on to play another 15 seasons in the NHL

Justin Williams for Danny Markov.. and I understand that we needed defense to make a push for the cup... however.. Williams: 2 cups - Flyers:0

Patrick Sharp for Matt Ellison

Dennis Seidenberg for Peter Nedved

Kris Versteeg for a 2nd rd pick

Sergei Bobrovsky

I dont want to add Couts or Schenn to that list.

I agree with what you wrote. I'd hate to see the Flyers "sell low" on some of these young guys they have right now.

As for the Flanagan signing.....I like what Homer has done with hitting the college ranks to find talent that doesn't require giving up assets (other than Ed Snider's money, that is).

Posted this late last night in the last thread. Curious to see what others think of these two unsigned college players from Miami?

There are two undrafted players at Miami that I think Holmgren should look at closely. Although the signing of Flanagan might make them think twice about one of them, since he's also a smallish forward.

The forward is Austin Czarnik:
Represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, handing out two assists in pool play for Team USA. CCHA Player of the Month for October, as well as the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week (11/26-12/2) ... tied for fourth in the CCHA with 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) ... tied for the national lead with three short-handed goals ... has 10 multi-point games this season, the most recent being a two-assist effort against Alaska (2/2) ... has three multi-goal games this year (10/20, 11/3 and 2/1) after recording just one all of last season ... leads the RedHawks with 22 assists and a +18 rating ... one of just six RedHawks to play in all 36 games.


The other is goalie Ryan McKay:
Named to the CCHA 2012-13 All-Rookie Team ... CCHA Goaltender of the Month for both December and February ... HCA National Rookie of the Month for December ... leads all of college hockey with a 1.17 GAA, the next closest player has a 1.49 GAA ... also leads in save percentage (.957) ... has made 17 starts, compiling a record of 10-4-2 ... started the season opener against Colgate (10/12), leading the team to a 3-0 shutout victory ... only allowed one goal total in his first three starts ... his 3 shutouts this year tie for third in the CCHA and 12th in NCAA.

Czarnik and Flanagan seem like similar players, so I'm not sure we need them both, and Czarnik is even a little lighter than Flanagan. But I think McKay is the real deal. Seen him play several times and he always seems to make the big save. Also, since most of the other goalies in the CCHA have already been drafted, it seems like a reasonable idea to sign the kid that is clearly the best goalie in that league, and quite possibly the best goalie in all of college hockey.

Chicago Tribune article on McKay: http://t.co/BrfoKt3faR
- BringBack25

Dan dekeyser and andrej sustr we should try hard to sign one or both of these guys

Good blog, Bill. Waiting for Couturier for Bouwmeester though.

Dan dekeyser and andrej sustr we should try hard to sign one or both of these guys
- griouxmvp2012

Everyone agrees, including about 28 other GMs

What a fantastic read!

The lack of patience has been our best friend and worst enemy. We have one of the greatest records of all time (win%). We are practically in the playoffs EVERY year.. and very rarely are projected to not make the playoffs. That is because we are always in a win now state of mind.

Its our worst enemy because we never allow our players to fully blossom before moving them for more established (but often lesser skilled/lower ceiling) players. For example...

Bernie Parent in 1971... traded after 3 and a half mediocre seasons.. Imagine if he was never brought back a few seasons later where he lead the team to our only two cups.

JJ Daigneault- played 900 career NHL games... traded for a guy who ended playing 25...

Scott Mellanby and Craig Berube traded for Dave Brown and the rights to Jari Kurri (who never played a game for the Flyers)... Mellanby would go on to play another 15 seasons in the NHL

Justin Williams for Danny Markov.. and I understand that we needed defense to make a push for the cup... however.. Williams: 2 cups - Flyers:0

Patrick Sharp for Matt Ellison

Dennis Seidenberg for Peter Nedved

Kris Versteeg for a 2nd rd pick

Sergei Bobrovsky

I dont want to add Couts or Schenn to that list.
- jak521

If Parent wasn't traded I bet he doesn't lead us to back to back cups. His time with Jacques Plante in Toronto was HUGE in turning Bernie into a Vezina, Conn Smythe and Cup Winner.

Dan dekeyser and andrej sustr we should try hard to sign one or both of these guys
- griouxmvp2012

With respect to those 2 as well as any other player, aren't the Flyers now at 50 contracts after signing that forward?

Everyone agrees, including about 28 other GMs
- TheGreat28

Haha yea I know well the redwings are favorite to sign dekeyser but the other guy is 6'8 sounds like he's a beast lol

Anyone noticed Rinne's numbers recently?

IMO they do not have a glut of forwards. They have at most 1 NHL caliber forward graduating to the NHL next year and that would be Laughton. If Briere get's bought out/traded then that's it. There's noone to replace Schenn or Couterier.


- Flyers_01

The Flyers have Laughton, McGinn, Wellwood, and Harry Z, all capable of playing in the NHL that they can promote full time to the Flyers. They can also sign a free agent with the Cap space gained. The Flyers are very deep at the forward spot.

The Flyers were so desperate at forward this year they brought in Knuble and Fedotenko in the middle of the year. This depth the Flyers have to offset the loss of a forward, i'm not seeing it. In addition, Gagne is a UFA. While he has been useful for the Flyers, the Kings thank the Flyers for giving them a 4th round pick for a 3.5mill/yr healthy scratch. The last time Gagne was dealt in a salary dump the Flyers had to take salary back in the form of Matt Walker (who the Flyers are still paying in the minors). The Kings seem to be far better at dumping salary than the Flyers
- Flyers_01

They didn't bring Fedtenko in, in the middle of the year. He was signed as a Free Agent. And Knuble was signed due to injuries. And now that the Flyers are healthy, he's not playing. Bringing Gagne back was a solid move, and I hope they re-sign Gagne.

With respect to those 2 as well as any other player, aren't the Flyers now at 50 contracts after signing that forward?
- jmatchett

We'll just trade Harry Z and and third rounder for a 6th.

With respect to those 2 as well as any other player, aren't the Flyers now at 50 contracts after signing that forward?
- jmatchett

I'm sure there is pruning to be done at the bottom end of the minor league level if they need to ditch a contract or two.

If Parent wasn't traded I bet he doesn't lead us to back to back cups. His time with Jacques Plante in Toronto was HUGE in turning Bernie into a Vezina, Conn Smythe and Cup Winner.
- Pyzik

Im not denying that... My point was that after only 2 and a half years.. the org had already moved him. I guess what I was trying to get at is that the problem the org. had in 1971... is still the same problem they have today. If history is any indicator... we will see one of our young stars moved for an older more established player. Unfortunately our history has shown those moves mostly have backfired.... even the Pronger trade.

Anyone noticed Rinne's numbers recently?
- Scoob

He's been awful.

He's been awful.
- NickTheKid87

If they trade us Weber we'll take him off their hands