According to one of the beat writers (I won't name names), I'm "just a blogger and not a professional hockey writer" although I've been credentialed in NHL press boxes since 2000 (and in the AHL since 1996) and hockey writing has encompassed 90 percent of my income since 2009, between HB, NHL.com, the Flyers official site, IIHF.com and the daily blog I did for two seasons at the now-defunct Versus official site before the NBC merger. The lockout was a severe financial blow to me, but hockey writing is still my job.

Anyway, apart from that one person who has always been nice to my face and then talked behind my back in order to deny me entry into the PHWA, I get along great with and have the utmost respect for the other beat guys in the city as well as the CSN folks.
- bmeltzer

That's great.

Bill, you're a stand up guy so you don't need to hear this from me, but writers are very stand-offish with other writers. It's an ego thing, worried that a better writer will take away their fanbase, and so the only way to keep them aback is to try and discredit them.

I'm just hoping it was one Randy Miller, who I just feuded with today. Guy can't take a joke...he actually tweeted me back after I told him that "You see? If we would have just traded Couturier for Ben Bishop, this would be a non-issue. I bet Bishop doesn't sleep during team meetings."

Yes. Now that's due to an aging owners impatience/mismanagement of Bob leading to impatience, or just a terrible decision. I'd like to think it was the most former, but who knows. Bob had flashes of being a game-changing goalie, with lighting quick agility and great reflexes. However they were just flashes, and I don't think the Flyers wanted to wait.
- GirouxForTheShow

The brass wanted the goaltending issue settled sooner than later. Unfortunately, Bobo's and Breeze's combined salaries were too much for the team to carry.

Personally, I lobbied for keeping Bobo and signing a veteran goalie to tutor him and buy him time to develop. Unfortunately (or fortunately as it may turn out eventually), my opinion was shot down.

The brass wanted the goaltending issue settled sooner than later. Unfortunately, Bobo's and Breeze's combined salary were too much for the team to carry.

Personally, I lobbied for keeping Bobo and signing a veteran goalie to tutor him and buy him time to develop. Unfortunately (or fortunately as it may turn out eventually), my opinion was shot down.
- 77rams

Now, in saying that, say we buy Bryz out either this year or next, what's that say to Snider about making the calls at the helm?

so sick of that friggin analogy, even if horvat said it himself
- Crimsoninja

I model all of my HB posts after Mike Richards

I model all of my HB posts after Mike Richards
- BringBack25

Always defensive with the slight chance of offensive characteristics? Not a bad analogy.

Now, in saying that, say we buy Bryz out either this year or next, what's that say to Snider about making the calls at the helm?
- GirouxForTheShow

It might say that he realized it was a no win situation, in a PR sense,or that he was worried about cap recapture or the dropping cap.

Or maybe Holmgren told him he needs to make a change and he stepped back.

Collectively we are the 2nd worst franchise in the league behind Florida/San Antonio Rampage

29. Phantoms/Flyers 100 pts.
30. Rampage/Panthers 98 pts.

Future looks bright
- Just5

It's very offset because we have so many young players in the NHL already. Next to the Oilers our top 6 might be the youngest in the league.

The Phantoms are terrible, but it's not like we are sporting a NHL club full of old men either. I guess I'm a glass half full type of guy.

Always defensive with the slight chance of offensive characteristics? Not a bad analogy.
- GirouxForTheShow

Um...almost. I meant I make most of them in a drunken haze while refusing to wear a Flyers hat and laughing at Dry Island.

Now, in saying that, say we buy Bryz out either this year or next, what's that say to Snider about making the calls at the helm?
- GirouxForTheShow

Mr. Snyder denied making the decision to sign Breeze. Said it was all Homer.

I hate to dredge this up if aint true but what's this business about bryzgalov sleeping in a meeting, true or false? Please serious reply I've been working in the heat all day, although not very hot my body isn't acclimated to warm weather yet and I'm really (frank)ing tired. Sorry but I had to throw myself at your mercy. Thanks in advance.

I hate to dredge this up if aint true but what's this business about bryzgalov sleeping in a meeting, true or false? Please serious reply I've been working in the heat all day, although not very hot my body isn't acclimated to warm weather yet and I'm really (frank)ing tired. Sorry but I had to throw myself at your mercy. Thanks in advance.
- JoeRussomanno

File it in the BS inconsequential much about nothing nonsense toilet and be done with it.

File it in the BS inconsequential much about nothing nonsense toilet and be done with it.
- MJL

Thanks. Really I don't know how that kind of reporting does not cause whatever media outlet to lose its press credentials.

I know this might not be popular but this is what I want:
FORWARDS
Scott Hartnell ($4.750m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)

Aleksander Barkov ($1.250m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Jaromir Jagr ($4.550m)

Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Scott Laughton ($1.138m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)

Simon Gagne ($1.750m) / Ruslan Fedotenko ($1.750m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.750m)

DEFENSEMEN
Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Keith Yandle ($5.250m)
Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m) / Erik Gustafsson ($1.000m)
Oliver Lauridsen ($0.800m) /

GOALTENDERS
Tim Thomas ($5.000m)
Steve Mason ($1.500m)

OTHER
Buyout: Oskars Bartulis ($0.100m)
LTIR: Chris Pronger ($0.000m)
Buyout: Ilya Bryzgalov ($0.000m)

TRANSACTIONS
Matt Read + Danny Briere + 3rd Round (maybe) --> Keith Yandle
Braydon Coburn --> Picks/Prospect/Something?
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,266,500; BONUSES: $3,012,500
CAP SPACE (24-man roster): $3,046,000


Tell me what you think? I hate loosing Matt Read but you have to give to get and we need to get defense. Not to mention next year read will need a substanial raise.

And the Tim Thomas deal would be a two year deal or 1 year so he could mentor Mason in the ways of being a belligerent tea party redneck...oh and also how to be a good goaltender I wouldnt be opposed to that being Backstrom though...
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

No idea if Thomas wants to make a return. I'm open to it, provided he just comes in and plays. No BS, or political commentary on facebook, just play. The idiots in the media here would eat that kind of stuff up. I could care less what his politics are, but he's can't be a distraction if they buy out Bryz. They need stability.

I also highly doubt Phoenix considers Read, Briere 3rd for Yandle for more than 10 seconds before giggling. They have zero need for Briere and Briere still would have to agree to go there.

I'd rather hold onto Coburn than just dump him for whatever, because as it stands now, you have an inconsistent kid(Gustafsson) and a guy who has missed more games than he's played over the past two years(Meszaros) in your top six and another guy who is having concussion related issues(Grossmann).

I like Barkov and have few, if any, issues with Jagr.

Jaromir Jagr is disgusting.

How the Flyers refused to re-sign him is baffling to me.

Every two way center with decent offensive ability equals=Mike Richards
- GirouxForTheShow

So glad I'm not the only person who's noticed this.

I hate to dredge this up if aint true but what's this business about bryzgalov sleeping in a meeting, true or false? Please serious reply I've been working in the heat all day, although not very hot my body isn't acclimated to warm weather yet and I'm really (frank)ing tired. Sorry but I had to throw myself at your mercy. Thanks in advance.
- JoeRussomanno

There's a report where unnamed players told Seravalli and some clown from 97.5 that he dozed off in a meeting, after 4 guys went on the record saying he didn't.

I'm much more concerned about the level of compete on the ice last night than Bryz napping, if it did happen. If there's truth to it, I'm sure Bryzgalov will be bought out this summer.

At this point it's academic anyhow.

I can't stomach Kyle Kendrick.

Jaromir Jagr is disgusting.

How the Flyers refused to re-sign him is baffling to me.
- KGBflyers10

A. They didn't refuse. Jagr and his agent didn't want to wait and took a good offer when it came their way.

B. We have a top 5 power-play without him. If he were here what would he improve besides the locker room presence?

Also if he were here no way Jake has the breakout season.

Jaromir Jagr is disgusting.

How the Flyers refused to re-sign him is baffling to me.
- KGBflyers10

He wanted to be guaranteed top PP unit time and to be Giroux's RW

He wanted to be guaranteed top PP unit time and to be Giroux's RW
- Jsaquella

I would have given it to him.

Seravalli and some clown
- Jsaquella

Two clowns.


You call that two clowns.

I can't stomach Kyle Kendrick.
- 77rams

How are you preparing it? That can make a big difference...

How are you preparing it? That can make a big difference...
- BringBack25

It KK only molded is game after Mike Richards

According to one of the beat writers (I won't name names), I'm "just a blogger and not a professional hockey writer" although I've been credentialed in NHL press boxes since 2000 (and in the AHL since 1996) and hockey writing has encompassed 90 percent of my income since 2009, between HB, NHL.com, the Flyers official site, IIHF.com and the daily blog I did for two seasons at the now-defunct Versus official site before the NBC merger. The lockout was a severe financial blow to me, but hockey writing is still my job.

Anyway, apart from that one person who has always been nice to my face and then talked behind my back in order to deny me entry into the PHWA, I get along great with and have the utmost respect for the other beat guys in the city as well as the CSN folks.
- bmeltzer

I hope it wasn't SanFilippo. He is only other writer in town who seems to know the game of hockey. For what it's worth, yours and Elliotte Friedman's columns are the only must read articles out there in my opinion.

It KK only molded is game after Mike Richards
- ob18

He does. He's angling for a trade to LA so he can win a championship there.