How do you know that you can pay someone far less and get similar production? I think you can pay someone far less, and it could be worse. Bryzgalov has kept the Flyers in a lot of games they had no business being in.
- MJL

has kept the Flyers in a lot of games they had no business being in. Is this a bit of a stretch?

Save % can be a good indicator ....not always a true one though....I mean you've watched with the rest of us....the mental mistakes in their own end are embarrassing.
They just keep happening.....I am not sold on Bryz....but his attitude has been top notch this year.....he's had his moments for sure....it's a tough call either way if he gets amnestied ....Both Briere and Mezsaros have to be on that list as well.
- landros 2

No need to waste one on Mezaros when he only has one year left. Briere and Bryz are the bryout candidates.

So he is absolved from the numbers he has because of the team in front of him?
- ggunky

No, he's absolved from the numbers because he's not Dominik Hasek, duh!

in my opinion, no. The Cap means so much in terms of the team you can build, if the player isnt playing up to the dollars they are paid then they are a liability to the team.

In an uncapped world, sure. Not so much in a capped world and especially next season when the cap shrinks.

It is like splitting hairs here too though, what equals good enough versus playing up to the contract?

I am in no way a Bryz hater, but compared to players in his position at similar dollar amounts he is a disappointment.
- ggunky

That's the whole problem. How can you can compare players in his position at similar dollar amounts, when they don't play on this team. And they don't play behind this horrendous team defense? A Goalie does not play in a vaccum, independent of the rest of the team.

This particularly isn't a comment directed at anybody on this thread, but among the fanbase in general I think unrealistic expectations were an inevitability, not just for Bryzgalov, but for any goaltender that was signed to be our number one goalie. There's been an unmet demand to fill that role for so long, that nobody short of a literal brick wall built between the pipes was going to quell the impatience on that front.
- BulliesPhan87

and how easy it is to jump on and off the bandwagon as it permits....people loved Biron...then hated him....then they loved Emery, then hated him....then loved Leighton for a playoffs, then hated him....loved Bryz for a June-Sept, then hated him. etc etc etc

I am happy with sticking with Bryz and fixing the rest....you have a compitent goalie, you just need some other pieces....like some actually good d-men ( I dont think we need a real #1 just a bunch of mid level to slightly above mid level talent would be FINE)....some meshable forwards...the rest will fall into place.

Why did they trade carter and richards? Did their contracts not play a part in them being moved?
- ggunky

Because they didn't invite Lavy out for beers after the games...

Save % can be a good indicator ....not always a true one though....I mean you've watched with the rest of us....the mental mistakes in their own end are embarrassing.
They just keep happening.....I am not sold on Bryz....but his attitude has been top notch this year.....he's had his moments for sure....it's a tough call either way if he gets amnestied ....Both Briere and Mezsaros have to be on that list as well.
- landros 2

why buy out mesz? only one year left on his contract

So he is absolved from the numbers he has because of the team in front of him?
- ggunky

It's not about absolving him of anything. It's about looking at the complete picture, and all the variables. Instead of looking blindly at SV% and GAA, and rating him solely on that. The team play in front of a Goalie has a huge effect on his numbers.

and how easy it is to jump on and off the bandwagon as it permits....people loved Biron...then hated him....then they loved Emery, then hated him....then loved Leighton for a playoffs, then hated him....loved Bryz for a June-Sept, then hated him. etc etc etc

I am happy with sticking with Bryz and fixing the rest....you have a compitent goalie, you just need some other pieces....like some actually good d-men ( I dont think we need a real #1 just a bunch of mid level to slightly above mid level talent would be FINE)....some meshable forwards...the rest will fall into place.
- Pyzik

At the moment I think, in the end, Bryz will end up bought out. I do not think it will be an indictment of the player, but of the contract and the circumstances leading up to it.

No need to waste one on Mezaros when he only has one year left. Briere and Bryz are the bryout candidates.
- Feanor

The fact that this team has 3 buyout candidates makes my point perfectly.

Who are the buyout options on Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh?

has kept the Flyers in a lot of games they had no business being in. Is this a bit of a stretch?
- strongsupporter

Not at all.

Maybe I'm overstating things, but this type of product is unacceptable for the resources this franchise has. How can you spend the most money in the NHL and be at the bottom? That is poor management, and terrible allocation of resources.
- PLindbergh31

So the Flyers should completely gut the team, and start over?

That's the whole problem. How can you can compare players in his position at similar dollar amounts, when they don't play on this team. And they don't play behind this horrendous team defense? A Goalie does not play in a vaccum, independent of the rest of the team.
- MJL

So we can't compare his play or his numbers to that of any other goalie because no other golaie, except for the backup, plays on that team?

Then why is it that when it is contract time, this is the exact metric the agent\player\team uses to determine their pay?

Myers and Regher for Couturier and a 1st

flame away.

I'm glad lauridsen had been called up. Best move by Holmgren all year

So we can't compare his play or his numbers to that of any other goalie because no other golaie, except for the backup, plays on that team?

Then why is it that when it is contract time, this is the exact metric the agent\player\team uses to determine their pay?
- ggunky

A contract negotiation is a completely different situation then evaluating a player on the ice. Do you think a team when it's choosing who to sign as a free agent simply goes on NHL.com and looks at his stats? Or do they send their pro scouting and player personell people to actually watch the player, play?

You're blindly comparing stats of players on different teams. And ignoring all the variables that are involved. How many Goalies that play on solid defensive teams, wouldn't come here and have their numbers suffer? it involves some speculation, but I'd say a lot of them.

The fact that this team has 3 buyout candidates makes my point perfectly.

Who are the buyout options on Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh?
- PLindbergh31

Well there are lots of buyout candidates around the league for different reasons.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...ntial-compliance-buyouts/

Mezaros isn't really a buyout candidate because if he's hurt he can't be bought out, and if he's healthy he can play out one more year year here.

I'm glad lauridsen had been called up. Best move by Holmgren all year
- Just5

Yep... Call up the kids, play Leighton for a few games and try to catch Florida...Cmon lottery!

why buy out mesz? only one year left on his contract
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Why buyout Mez anyway? He is a proven NHLer with over 500 games played.
He has had a bad year with injuries but has shown that he is working hard to overcome them and get back.
He is probably coming back too soon.
I hope they shut him down for the season, get the repairs needed on the shoulder and let him recover.
I respect others who have different views but I think this young man is quite capable of coming back strong next year.

why buy out mesz? only one year left on his contract
- Don'tForgetTocchet

If guess if they decide to keep either Briere or Bryzgalov....my reasoning would be because he's terrible....cant't stay healthy, and looks out of shape. He handles the puck in his own end like its a grenade.....IF...and I don't think it will happen...the flyers don't use them else where, then I think the 4 mil cap hit could be put to better use.....just my opinion.

So the Flyers should completely gut the team, and start over?
- MJL

i hate to say it, but maybe it is time for a gutting and a total rebuild...thats not saying they wont be better then this year with a gutting.

when i say gut this is my view..

keep-g, jake, read, coots, simmons, gagne, knuble, rinaldo, bschenn, lschenn, coburn,grossman, bryz

trade-kimmo, briere, mez, feds, talbot, hartnell (guys hurt will have to be bought out or traded after the season) guys with ntc+nmc should go to a contender.

not sure thats a gutting but seems doable

At the moment I think, in the end, Bryz will end up bought out. I do not think it will be an indictment of the player, but of the contract and the circumstances leading up to it.
- BulliesPhan87

I think they give him next season before a buyout is done....I think Briere is the buyout this offseason.

A contract negotiation is a completely different situation then evaluating a player on the ice. Do you think a team when it's choosing who to sign as a free agent simply goes on NHL.com and looks at his stats? Or do they send their pro scouting and player personell people to actually watch the player, play?

You're blindly comparing stats of players on different teams. And ignoring all the variables that are involved.
- MJL

I am not blindly comparing anything. I have watched 90% of the games this season. I watched 90% of the games last season. I see what Bryz has provided for the team. I want nothing more than for the Flyers 20+ years of goaltending issues to be resolved by Bryz!

But if he isnt playing up to the level, i believe he is capable of, i will speak up.

The team in front of him hasn't been fantastic but i have seen enough uneven play from Bryz to know that he isn't playing up to his contract.

Why buyout Mez anyway? He is a proven NHLer with over 500 games played.
He has had a bad year with injuries but has shown that he is working hard to overcome them and get back.
He is probably coming back too soon.
I hope they shut him down for the season, get the repairs needed on the shoulder and let him recover.
I respect others who have different views but I think this young man is quite capable of coming back strong next year.
- strongsupporter

Proven yes....but that was two years ago.....he was terrible last year and couldnt stay healthy. differing opinions I guess.

Why buyout Mez anyway? He is a proven NHLer with over 500 games played.
He has had a bad year with injuries but has shown that he is working hard to overcome them and get back.
He is probably coming back too soon.
I hope they shut him down for the season, get the repairs needed on the shoulder and let him recover.
I respect others who have different views but I think this young man is quite capable of coming back strong next year.
- strongsupporter

i am a big fan of meszaros and think he really brings a style of play that the flyers really need. i guess people are thinking they'd rather put the 4 million toward a player with a better recent health record. still not a buyout candidate in that case imo.