I hope you are right, he is a great guy to have to pitch in some offense and skating from the back end. A bit expensive for his role in the #5 spot, but that is not really the issue. Its his shoulder health.

I am really worried about his shoulder.
2nd surgery for dislocation is a big deal.
- Marc D

He's a huge injury risk, no doubt. But only 1 year left on the deal and decent depth guys in the system for the bottom pairing.

And hopefully there's $12 million in cap money becoming available this summer.

I think you have to count Meszaros in for next year. He'll have a whole summer to heal.

If you have Meszaros, Coburn, Schenn, Timonen and Grossmann, plus Gustafsson, Lauridsen, Bourdon (hopefully), Manning and Gervais; and then potentially look for an upgrade....Huskins is way down on the depth chart.

I'd only go get a guy like that when needed.
- bradleyc4

See, I think Huskins right now would be ahead of Gusty, Lauridsen, and Manning for sure.

Bourdon I have no idea as he is out and may not get back.

He is slightly behind Gervais, but not by a lot.

He's a huge injury risk, no doubt. But only 1 year left on the deal and decent depth guys in the system for the bottom pairing.

And hopefully there's $12 million in cap money becoming available this summer.
- bradleyc4

imagine how many bargain bin FAs you can get with that!

See, I think Huskins right now would be ahead of Gusty, Lauridsen, and Manning for sure.

Bourdon I have no idea as he is out and may not get back.

He is slightly behind Gervais, but not by a lot.
- Marc D

For me, it's based on need/type of player. The need for a puckmover like Gustafsson is greater, imo.

imagine how many bargain bin FAs you can get with that!
- Crimsoninja

The narrative last season (and into the off-season) was that he was better when he played more games.

Now, after giving him the bulk of the workload, he's too tired.

I'm confused and can't keep up with the Bryz apologists.
- bradleyc4

The condensed schedule certainly is a big factor.

Let's say the league average for back-to-backs is 8, with 19 of the league's 30 teams having games scheduled on consecutive days 7 or 8 times each.

There are four teams (Florida, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh and San Jose) who have 6 or less, with the Rangers being the only team in the league with just 5 back-to-back matchups.

The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning have four late Sunday games (6PM or later) after back-to-backs, the most among any NHL club and Sunday is the day that teams usually play on short rest.

Buffalo also gets to enjoy some home cookin', as they catch both Philadelphia (last Sunday) and Tampa Bay (April 14) coming off of short rest (less than 23 hours between games) in Sunday games at HSBC.

And now for the less-fortunate.

Four teams had favorable schedules in terms of back-to-backs, so there are seven squads (Anaheim, Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Montreal and Philadelphia) who play 9 or more sets of games on consecutive days.
Columbus leads the league with 11, while Carolina and Detroit each have 10. Anaheim, Chicago, Montreal and Philly play 9 sets of back-to-backs each.

Another thing to consider with the condensed schedule are the short turnarounds (opening faceoffs less than 23 hours apart).

10 teams play games under this scenario, with the Red Wings and Flyers being the only teams who have to do it twice.

Detroit at least gets to stay home when they host the Oilers and Kings on February 9th & 10th, then Nashville and Vancouver two weeks later, even though those are four tough opponents.

The Flyers didn't have the same luxury, but at least the travel was fairly light, as they hosted the Penguins and went to Buffalo on January 19-20, then split a series in Florida against the Panthers and Lightning this past weekend. The Flyers, along with the Blackhawks and Blues, played 6 games in the first 9 days of the season...

The Flyers played 6 back-to-back games by February 21. Some teams play 6 the entire season.

This year's NHL schedule and "parity" don't belong in the same sentence...

And it's amusing as hell to me that 3 of the teams with the lowest number of back-to-back games are in the East. How the (frank) does that make sense when taking into consideration the distances the Western teams have to travel?

He's a huge injury risk, no doubt. But only 1 year left on the deal and decent depth guys in the system for the bottom pairing.

And hopefully there's $12 million in cap money becoming available this summer.
- bradleyc4

Buy out the Bs?

I will be sad to see them go if this happens.

There sure are. I guess they're a loud minority.

I'll still root for him as long as he's wearing the orange and black, but I have zero confidence in him. Whether he's to blame, or it's the system that has hung him out to dry; it's just not working. I would cut bait this summer.
- bradleyc4

i'd have to agree. i think it's inevitable that he'll get bought out because the performance hasn't been good enuf and the contract is an albatross. there's no good/bad guy here, it just hasn't worked out. you mentioned something about an offer sheet for bernier, i dunno, but bryz is not the guy.

For me, it's based on need/type of player. The need for a puckmover like Gustafsson is greater, imo.
- bradleyc4

He is turning over pucks at an alarming rate.

I think he needs time and patience, he definitely has good offensive instincts and skills.

i'd have to agree. i think it's inevitable that he'll get bought out because the performance hasn't been good enuf and the contract is an albatross. there's no good/bad guy here, it just hasn't worked out. you mentioned something about an offer sheet for bernier, i dunno, but bryz is not the guy.
- isaiah520

i never mentioned bernier. i wouldn't offer sheet him. (work out a trade? sure)

gut feeling is the flyers covet Luongo.

i never mentioned bernier. i wouldn't offer sheet him. (work out a trade? sure)

gut feeling is the flyers covet Luongo.
- bradleyc4

I think they could get Lu without giving up a lot this summer.
Well, they give up cap space but I see Vancouver's demands dropping as far as players coming back.

He is turning over pucks at an alarming rate.

I think he needs time and patience, he definitely has good offensive instincts and skills.
- Marc D

I'd give him the opportunity to grow at this level, though. We'll see how the defensive depth chart shakes out this summer.

i never mentioned bernier. i wouldn't offer sheet him. (work out a trade? sure)

gut feeling is the flyers covet Luongo.
- bradleyc4

oh god I don't want that contract at all. 9 more years at the age of 34? meh

I think they could get Lu without giving up a lot this summer.
Well, they give up cap space but I see Vancouver's demands dropping as far as players coming back.
- Marc D

Luongo's cap hit is less than Bryz. but its the 9 years left on the deal and the fact he is 34 already that gives me the shakes.

Look at Luongo if and only if he gets bought out.

Luongo's cap hit is less than Bryz. but its the 9 years left on the deal and the fact he is 34 already that gives me the shakes.
- nastyflyergirl

did you see his press conference on deadline day?
"Lu, why weren't you traded yet... My contract sucks"

Luongo's cap hit is less than Bryz. but its the 9 years left on the deal and the fact he is 34 already that gives me the shakes.
- nastyflyergirl

Who in their right mind would want to get out from under Bryz to turn around and acquire Luongo?

Talk about the grass being greener, what an absurd thing to consider.

i never mentioned bernier. i wouldn't offer sheet him. (work out a trade? sure)

gut feeling is the flyers covet Luongo.
- bradleyc4

sorry, thought that was you. def want to bring in another young guy w/ some NHL exp and have him compete w/ mason...kinda what i wanted to do w/ bob before we went w/ bryz. ultimately, i think a younger guy is the way to go...gotta stop w/ these LT contracts. no interest in luongo.

I'd give him the opportunity to grow at this level, though. We'll see how the defensive depth chart shakes out this summer.
- bradleyc4

If Meszy is healthy, they really could get by with one high end puck mover.

Might have to give up a lot but I can't see Homer not making a move to get one this summer.

Look at Luongo if and only if he gets bought out.
- Feanor

+1

Those D-Pairings are like being at a bar at closing time and realizing you could either go home alone or pound that last round to get you beyond the edge of sensibility and go home with one of those girls you wouldn't have looked at when you walked into the bar sober. The flyers don't have the option of going home alone so they have pounded that last round and taken home the stragglers.
- Lexington Flyer

I really, REALLY wish I didn't understand this analogy as well as I do.

The condensed schedule certainly is a big factor.



The Flyers played 6 back-to-back games by February 21. Some teams play 6 the entire season.

This year's NHL schedule and "parity" don't belong in the same sentence...

And it's amusing as hell to me that 3 of the teams with the lowest number of back-to-back games are in the East. How the (frank) does that make sense when taking into consideration the distances the Western teams have to travel?
- wolfhounds

this whole season, including the lockout itself, is a f'ng clown show. lose and get a top pick. it's fine.

Who in their right mind would want to get out from under Bryz to turn around and acquire Luongo?

Talk about the grass being greener, what an absurd thing to consider.
- wolfhounds

The Flyers haven't exactly been adept at finding good value for their goaltenders.

i never mentioned bernier. i wouldn't offer sheet him. (work out a trade? sure)

gut feeling is the flyers covet Luongo.
- bradleyc4

the canucks could buy him out the summer. the flyers could get him at a bargain bin price, and dispatch bryz themselves. mason stays on as back up.

the canucks could buy him out the summer. the flyers could get him at a bargain bin price, and dispatch bryz themselves. mason stays on as back up.
- hammarby31

I would be ok with that. Just want no part of his current contract.