•Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators could have a busy offseason.

“I think you have to put everything in perspective, exactly where we are,” Trotz said. “You have to be realistic in everything that we do. Let’s not sugarcoat it. We want to be a top-level team. We have to go there. We’re going to have to do what’s necessary to do that.

“Obviously (GM David Poile) has a game plan. It’s probably inappropriate for me to comment on it, but I know we’re going to have to have a very busy summer and make sure we fill holes. I know he has a game plan for that. When he wants to divulge that game plan, we’ll unleash him on you I guess.”

The Predators could have close to $22 million in cap space, with only Patric Hornqvist and Roman Josi as their only main free agents.

Toilet Papering Holmgren's place is definately on the list somewher in there...

was interesting last night hearing Dreger (I think, could've been McKenzie) on NHL Tonight saying that it's likely either Bryz stays and Lavy goes or Lavy stays and Bryz goes.
- wilsonecho91

Was he insinuating that the two cannot play nice together, or one of them will have to fall on the Flyers' sword?

IMO, if Snider is calling the shots Lavi goes and Bryz stays.
If Homer is I think Bryz goes and Lavi stays. Going to be an interesting summer.
- FlyersGrace

it's been beaten to death here, but my own feeling is one of damend if you do, damned if you don't. With all of his quirks, I feel that Bryz is finally a guy you can have confidence in night in, night out, and over time, would put the goaltending question to bed in Philadelphia. Having said that, his deal was somewhat risky before the lockout and is now a virtual noose around the neck of the franchise if they keep him. Given the need for $ to spend on D, I think you see him get bought out after next year, unless they can swing a trade for a young up and comer during the offseason.

Was he insinuating that the two cannot play nice together, or one of them will have to fall on the Flyers' sword?
- steelydan

that they can't play nice together.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20130418_Gagne_hopes_he_can_stay.html
- nastyflyergirl

"This is a place, I always say, that's maybe the best place for me to play," Gagne said. "Is that because it's the only place I've really played? I don't know. Philly is one of the places that I have good memories, good friends, and my family is comfortable there.

"It would be an easy choice if 'Homer' would come to me and ask me to stay. We'll see. I'm not sure if they're going to want to make a lot of changes, or what they are thinking. It's tough to look at our team, tough to judge why we play so poorly sometimes. We don't have a full lineup, it's a shortened season."

For veterans accustomed to high salaries, money can be a sticking point, especially with a salary cap dropping nearly 9 percent this summer. Gagne vows money will not be an issue, saying he's willing to accept less than the $3.5 million he's making this year. Perhaps, somewhere in the $2 or $2.5 million range would work for all.

"I'm at the point of my career where I made really good money for a while," Gagne said. "As a player, your goal is to win the Stanley Cup. I did that [with the Kings last season]. I still want to win the Stanley Cup. At the end of the day, money is just a small question. Being happy is important. If I like the place, I'll make things work - for everyone to be happy, to make sure that it doesn't hurt the team."

-----

This sounds very promising...I think some underrate the impact a healthy Gagne can have. At the prices quoted in that piece, it would be an outstanding value (barring extended injury). BIg props to Simon for realizing certain things are more important than $$$ (especially when you already have boatloads of it)...I'm happy Simon wants to be Flyer but I will be even happier when I see a deal signed with that type of number.

This. Losing helps you get a better draft position and teaches the kids that sometimes losing is OK. Not the kind of culture I want. Battle, fight hard, every shift every game no matter what. We have a .4% chance of making the playoffs, so battle for it. Regardless of likelihood.
- GirouxForTheShow

it's too late for the loser culture on this team they already blew it this season just give your team the best chance to win next season and in the future

This sounds very promising...I think some underrate the impact a healthy Gagne can have. At the prices quoted in that piece, it would be an outstanding value (barring extended injury). BIg props to Simon for realizing certain things are more important than $$$ (especially when you already have boatloads of it)...I'm happy Simon wants to be Flyer but I will be even happier when I see a deal signed with that type of number.

- exlund

i do too, so long as there is not a NTC attached.

"This is a place, I always say, that's maybe the best place for me to play," Gagne said. "Is that because it's the only place I've really played? I don't know. Philly is one of the places that I have good memories, good friends, and my family is comfortable there.

"It would be an easy choice if 'Homer' would come to me and ask me to stay. We'll see. I'm not sure if they're going to want to make a lot of changes, or what they are thinking. It's tough to look at our team, tough to judge why we play so poorly sometimes. We don't have a full lineup, it's a shortened season."

For veterans accustomed to high salaries, money can be a sticking point, especially with a salary cap dropping nearly 9 percent this summer. Gagne vows money will not be an issue, saying he's willing to accept less than the $3.5 million he's making this year. Perhaps, somewhere in the $2 or $2.5 million range would work for all.

"I'm at the point of my career where I made really good money for a while," Gagne said. "As a player, your goal is to win the Stanley Cup. I did that
- exlund[with the Kings last season]. I still want to win the Stanley Cup. At the end of the day, money is just a small question. Being happy is important. If I like the place, I'll make things work - for everyone to be happy, to make sure that it doesn't hurt the team."

-----

This sounds very promising...I think some underrate the impact a healthy Gagne can have. At the prices quoted in that piece, it would be an outstanding value (barring extended injury). BIg props to Simon for realizing certain things are more important than $$$ (especially when you already have boatloads of it)...I'm happy Simon wants to be Flyer but I will be even happier when I see a deal signed with that type of number.

if gagne is willing to stay here at a low cap it keep him
if we still stink next year ask him if he wants to stay or have another shot at a cup

it's too late for the loser culture on this team they already blew it this season just give your team the best chance to win next season and in the future
- 2Real

So blowing it some more just to get a better draft position helps the team next season? Or does it teach Couts, Schenn, Gusty, Lauridson, et al. that every game doesn't matter and if you suck well the more you suck the better. This is a draft year where after the top-3, maybe even top-5, there isn't THAT much of a difference in picks 5-15. Losing just for a better draft position doesn't guarantee a better player. I'd be just as happy winning every game here on out, missing the playoffs by 1 point and drafting Pulock as I would be losing every game and drafting Nurse.

if gagne is willing to stay here at a low cap it keep him
if we still stink next year ask him if he wants to stay or have another shot at a cup
- 2Real

I'd go up to 3 yrs in that 2.5mm range...

Yeah, that contract was ridiculous.

Maybe Garrison in Vancouver? Hasn't been bad, but hasn't continued with last year's #s. He and Boyle are the 2 that seem to make the most sense.
Maybe Hamhuis too.
- jmatchett383

Zero chance Hamhuis gets bought out. He plays a lot of tough minutes against other clubs' best players. Also, Garrison has still remained very solid defensively, and he'd be on about a 14-goal pace in an 82-game season.

So blowing it some more just to get a better draft position helps the team next season? Or does it teach Couts, Schenn, Gusty, Lauridson, et al. that every game doesn't matter and if you suck well the more you suck the better. This is a draft year where after the top-3, maybe even top-5, there isn't THAT much of a difference in picks 5-15. Losing just for a better draft position doesn't guarantee a better player. I'd be just as happy winning every game here on out, missing the playoffs by 1 point and drafting Pulock as I would be losing every game and drafting Nurse.
- GirouxForTheShow

i'd rather win the cup with nurse than be a fringe team with pulock
as a player you have to know realistically where the team stands

•Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators could have a busy offseason.

“I think you have to put everything in perspective, exactly where we are,” Trotz said. “You have to be realistic in everything that we do. Let’s not sugarcoat it. We want to be a top-level team. We have to go there. We’re going to have to do what’s necessary to do that.

“Obviously (GM David Poile) has a game plan. It’s probably inappropriate for me to comment on it, but I know we’re going to have to have a very busy summer and make sure we fill holes. I know he has a game plan for that. When he wants to divulge that game plan, we’ll unleash him on you I guess.”

The Predators could have close to $22 million in cap space, with only Patric Hornqvist and Roman Josi as their only main free agents.

Toilet Papering Holmgren's place is definately on the list somewher in there...

- FlyersGrace

The Preds have the 5th lowest payroll in the league. They had approx 20 mill in cap space this year and didn't use it. I don't see that changing, especially with them missing the playoffs and another $12 mill balloon payment on weber this offseason. Then again the owners seem to like to throw money away on the team so who knows.

They have 10 forwards, 4 defensemen and 1 goalie under contract for next year. Other than the backup goalie pretty much everyone is an RFA(including defenseman J. Blum) so I really don't see where they are going to add people if they resign all their RFAs.

Most likely the Preds will just resign their own RFAs, call it a day, and tell everyone how busy they were signing people.

i'd rather win the cup with nurse than be a fringe team with pulock
as a player you have to know realistically where the team stands
- 2Real

Pulock might end up the better player. Defensemen are too hard to predict. Look at 2008. Colten teubert was ranked and picked higher than Erik Karlsson. So was Zach Bogosian.

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!
- ggunky

Bump

i'd rather win the cup with nurse than be a fringe team with pulock
as a player you have to know realistically where the team stands
- 2Real

Who says that you're gonna win the Cup with Nurse and not Pulock? If you could say that they will lose these next 5 games, but win the cup next year I'd say fine. But no one can say that. The draft can be a crapshoot, especially this year where its a pretty deep draft class.

Pulock might end up the better player. Defensemen are too hard to predict. Look at 2008. Colten teubert was ranked and picked higher than Erik Karlsson. So was Zach Bogosian.
- psuhockey

what if the best player at the time is a foward arg my head hurts GO FLYERS!

Who says that you're gonna win the Cup with Nurse and not Pulock? If you could say that they will lose these next 5 games, but win the cup next year I'd say fine. But no one can say that. The draft can be a crapshoot, especially this year where its a pretty deep draft class.
- GirouxForTheShow

homer just needs to draft the next shea weber is all

•Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators could have a busy offseason.

“I think you have to put everything in perspective, exactly where we are,” Trotz said. “You have to be realistic in everything that we do. Let’s not sugarcoat it. We want to be a top-level team. We have to go there. We’re going to have to do what’s necessary to do that.

“Obviously (GM David Poile) has a game plan. It’s probably inappropriate for me to comment on it, but I know we’re going to have to have a very busy summer and make sure we fill holes. I know he has a game plan for that. When he wants to divulge that game plan, we’ll unleash him on you I guess.”

The Predators could have close to $22 million in cap space, with only Patric Hornqvist and Roman Josi as their only main free agents.

Toilet Papering Holmgren's place is definately on the list somewher in there...

- FlyersGrace

hey he could have just given up weber

So blowing it some more just to get a better draft position helps the team next season? Or does it teach Couts, Schenn, Gusty, Lauridson, et al. that every game doesn't matter and if you suck well the more you suck the better. This is a draft year where after the top-3, maybe even top-5, there isn't THAT much of a difference in picks 5-15. Losing just for a better draft position doesn't guarantee a better player. I'd be just as happy winning every game here on out, missing the playoffs by 1 point and drafting Pulock as I would be losing every game and drafting Nurse.
- GirouxForTheShow

The reality is that nobody within the Flyers is going to be preaching to tank or not trying to compete and win. Everybody should have ample motivation. By no means will the young players be taught that it's ok to lose or whatever you're implying.

Really, the debate is, as fans, how do we feel about the result of each of these remaining games, given the potential impact on draft position etc....but fan feelings should have little to no bearing on how the players themselves go about doing their jobs.

Who says that you're gonna win the Cup with Nurse and not Pulock? If you could say that they will lose these next 5 games, but win the cup next year I'd say fine. But no one can say that. The draft can be a crapshoot, especially this year where its a pretty deep draft class.
- GirouxForTheShow

This. Now I'm taking a nap cause I'm tired as (frank).

what if the best player at the time is a foward arg my head hurts GO FLYERS!
- 2Real

Then I would take a forward

Then I would take a forward
- funmaster18

would it matter if they were right or left handed?

would it matter if they were right or left handed?
- wilsonecho91

As long as they can stickhandle away from the puck I don't care.

I hope mez and Coburn can bounce back next year. Mez has been hurt an awful lot lately and they weren't simple injuries.