They could amnesty them both.

Briere makes the most sense right now. He's ill-suited to playing wing, and there's a glut of young centermen. Even if one, like Brayden Schenn moved to wing, there's still 3 strong candidates for playing time in Couturier, Giroux and Laughton.

As for Bryzgalov, buying him out would necessitate getting another goalie that can at least split time with Mason. I'm not sold Mason can be a full time starter, but if the best Bryz can be is average, they can get that a lot cheaper and use the cap savings to address other areas.
- Jsaquella

Unless they trade for a UFA's rights and sign him prior to the buyout deadline this summer, I think they stick with Bryz. I'd like them to get Emery and buy out Bryz this year, but I also wanted them not to get Bryz and stick with Bob and a backup two summers ago...

Blues will be giving up forwards based on salary reasons well before giving up Petro or Shatty. But out of town bloggers never seem to realize, Blues have a strong history of their players taken below market value to stay in St. Louis, keep the good young team together. Look to see it happen again with Petro & Shatty.

Unless they trade for a UFA's rights and sign him prior to the buyout deadline this summer, I think they stick with Bryz. I'd like them to get Emery and buy out Bryz this year, but I also wanted them not to get Bryz and stick with Bob and a backup two summers ago...
- Flyskippy

I'm on the fence myself. I like Bryzgalov, but he hasn't played well enough. I wouldn't be amazed to see him and Mason as the tandem in 2013-14

Blues will be giving up forwards based on salary reasons well before giving up Petro or Shatty. But out of town bloggers never seem to realize, Blues have a strong history of their players taken below market value to stay in St. Louis, keep the good young team together. Look to see it happen again with Petro & Shatty.
- Antilles

From what I know, the Blues also have little need for young forwards, which would be the Flyers main trade chip. Much as I'd like to see a Blues-Flyers deal, I wouldn't be expecting it

I'm on the fence myself. I like Bryzgalov, but he hasn't played well enough. I wouldn't be amazed to see him and Mason as the tandem in 2013-14
- Jsaquella

I think that's the way they're going. I'm ok with it, just prefer cutting ties now.

Homer's done it before with Weber, I think he should try it again here on a larger scale. So hear me out. We know St.Louis will PROBABLY not be keeping all 3 of J-bo, Peter, and Shats. We know that Shats and Peter are both RFAs this offseason, and 1 of them is probably leaving due to the large cap amount they already have planted in their defense. Why not make BOTH of them offer sheets. This way, St.Louis will might decide to let 1 of them go, and we've got a great Dman at no cost to the teams roster. If St. Louis matches, than we go a different direction, no harm done.

Homer's done it before with Weber, I think he should try it again here on a larger scale. So hear me out. We know St.Louis will PROBABLY not be keeping all 3 of J-bo, Peter, and Shats. We know that Shats and Peter are both RFAs this offseason, and 1 of them is probably leaving due to the large cap amount they already have planted in their defense. Why not make BOTH of them offer sheets. This way, St.Louis will might decide to let 1 of them go, and we've got a great Dman at no cost to the teams roster. If St. Louis matches, than we go a different direction, no harm done.
- JAKEw1234

They couldn't offer sheet both at the same time. To issue an offer sheet, you need to own the picks needed for compensation. If they offer sheeted Pietrangelo, it would tie up the picks needed to offer sheet Shattenkirk and vice versa.

They could offer sheet one, then toss a sheet at the other if the Blues matched, But if the Blues matched both, the Flyers would have wasted two weeks of negotiation time for other FAs/trades

I think that's the way they're going. I'm ok with it, just prefer cutting ties now.
- Flyskippy

I lean that way some days, want to see Bryz get one more kick at the can on others.

I lean that way some days, want to see Bryz get one more kick at the can on others.
- Jsaquella

Same here. Must be the meds.

For once Tim, decent writeup.. and I agree.

Blues will be giving up forwards based on salary reasons well before giving up Petro or Shatty. But out of town bloggers never seem to realize, Blues have a strong history of their players taken below market value to stay in St. Louis, keep the good young team together. Look to see it happen again with Petro & Shatty.
- Antilles

You're probably right, we're just throwing scenarios around. Being out of the playoffs isn't a situation we're used to. I'd prefer to target Shattenkirk and Leddy, but I think we end up dealing for Yandle if/when those two are not available.

They couldn't offer sheet both at the same time. To issue an offer sheet, you need to own the picks needed for compensation. If they offer sheeted Pietrangelo, it would tie up the picks needed to offer sheet Shattenkirk and vice versa.

They could offer sheet one, then toss a sheet at the other if the Blues matched, But if the Blues matched both, the Flyers would have wasted two weeks of negotiation time for other FAs/trades
- Jsaquella

Well you could argue that wasting time on Parise and Suter was their downfall last offseason, but I think that if we didn't get either of Pietrangelo or Shatenkirk, then the solution would be to trade for someone like Yandle, Goligoski, Carlson, etc. and trading can happen all the way until March of next year. If I were them I would throw 1 offer sheet in on either player, go after the appropriate UFAs we would need to paste our last couple lines together in the meantime, and if it's matched then go ahead and throw the other one. It's really just a matter of time management, but this strategy could work if they pulled it off right, and save us a heck-of-a-ton assets on the team if it worked.

They couldn't offer sheet both at the same time. To issue an offer sheet, you need to own the picks needed for compensation. If they offer sheeted Pietrangelo, it would tie up the picks needed to offer sheet Shattenkirk and vice versa.

They could offer sheet one, then toss a sheet at the other if the Blues matched, But if the Blues matched both, the Flyers would have wasted two weeks of negotiation time for other FAs/trades
- Jsaquella

Your last point is very valid. Last year's big issue at UFA time was that we were waiting on several different plans and by the time Weber was sorted out and Suter/Parise decided, we had lost out on bringing Jagr back and or Carle. This year, I hope they can swing a trade for a dman. The offer sheet route is very risky and if they strike out on Dmen, we could be in for another non playoff year.

HAving said this, I amnesty Briere, and see what transpires with Mason/ Bryz over a full year with an upgraded D. I can`t see prying away one of the St Louis dmen as much as I`d like it, but I can see a deal for Yandle.

Homer's done it before with Weber, I think he should try it again here on a larger scale. So hear me out. We know St.Louis will PROBABLY not be keeping all 3 of J-bo, Peter, and Shats. We know that Shats and Peter are both RFAs this offseason, and 1 of them is probably leaving due to the large cap amount they already have planted in their defense. Why not make BOTH of them offer sheets. This way, St.Louis will might decide to let 1 of them go, and we've got a great Dman at no cost to the teams roster. If St. Louis matches, than we go a different direction, no harm done.
- JAKEw1234

There are basically 2 levels of defensemen:

1) Those named Shea Weber
2) Those not named Shea Weber

It's only imperative to go all-out trying to acquire players on the first level. It's the same reason they didn't offer sheet Subban or Carlson.

Homer's done it before with Weber, I think he should try it again here on a larger scale. So hear me out. We know St.Louis will PROBABLY not be keeping all 3 of J-bo, Peter, and Shats. We know that Shats and Peter are both RFAs this offseason, and 1 of them is probably leaving due to the large cap amount they already have planted in their defense. Why not make BOTH of them offer sheets. This way, St.Louis will might decide to let 1 of them go, and we've got a great Dman at no cost to the teams roster. If St. Louis matches, than we go a different direction, no harm done.
- JAKEw1234

You need to have the draft picks to make an offer sheet to both players. How can the Flyers do that?

Well you could argue that wasting time on Parise and Suter was their downfall last offseason, but I think that if we didn't get either of Pietrangelo or Shatenkirk, then the solution would be to trade for someone like Yandle, Goligoski, Carlson, etc. and trading can happen all the way until March of next year. If I were them I would throw 1 offer sheet in on either player, go after the appropriate UFAs we would need to paste our last couple lines together in the meantime, and if it's matched then go ahead and throw the other one. It's really just a matter of time management, but this strategy could work if they pulled it off right, and save us a heck-of-a-ton assets on the team if it worked.
- JAKEw1234

Flyers will have limited Cap space.

Your last point is very valid. Last year's big issue at UFA time was that we were waiting on several different plans and by the time Weber was sorted out and Suter/Parise decided, we had lost out on bringing Jagr back and or Carle. This year, I hope they can swing a trade for a dman. The offer sheet route is very risky and if they strike out on Dmen, we could be in for another non playoff year.

HAving said this, I amnesty Briere, and see what transpires with Mason/ Bryz over a full year with an upgraded D. I can`t see prying away one of the St Louis dmen as much as I`d like it, but I can see a deal for Yandle.
- Hextall271

The entire comment was very valid. The Flyers face cap issues and really can't afford another summer of waiting around with offer sheets.

My own opinion with an offer sheet is if it ain't a stud level superstar, then don't bother

Briere for Jbow
buy out bryz and Mez

They could amnesty them both.

Briere makes the most sense right now. He's ill-suited to playing wing, and there's a glut of young centermen. Even if one, like Brayden Schenn moved to wing, there's still 3 strong candidates for playing time in Couturier, Giroux and Laughton.

As for Bryzgalov, buying him out would necessitate getting another goalie that can at least split time with Mason. I'm not sold Mason can be a full time starter, but if the best Bryz can be is average, they can get that a lot cheaper and use the cap savings to address other areas.
- Jsaquella

that's the way i see it. why pay twice as much for goaltending that biron gave us?

Briere for Jbow
buy out bryz and Mez
- nails

Blues would never make that trade. Only reason we would give up one of our defensemen is salary. No way we trade one for equal salary coming back. And that's ignoring the fact we'd give up a forward, not a D, IF we have to because of salary.

Blues would never make that trade. Only reason we would give up one of our defensemen is salary. No way we trade one for equal salary coming back. And that's ignoring the fact we'd give up a forward, not a D, IF we have to because of salary.
- Antilles

you guys have a lot of RFAs, it should be an interesting summer to see how they get things done

you guys have a lot of RFAs, it should be an interesting summer to see how they get things done
- Marc D

We have a lot of cap space too. Realistically, we'll get Petro for 6m, Shatty for 4m, Stewie for 4m, and Berglund for 3.5m. But even if they all cost more than that we will be fine. For instance:

Petro 7m
Shatty 5m
Stewie 5m
Bergie 4.5m

Plus our current contracts, and the minor raises Cole, Cracknell, and Russell are due, and we are still a million under the cap. Rumors of St. Louis needing to give up a player because of the cap have been greatly exaggerated. Just lots of wishful thinking from teams who would love to have some of our players without giving up anything of value.

Blues would never make that trade. Only reason we would give up one of our defensemen is salary. No way we trade one for equal salary coming back. And that's ignoring the fact we'd give up a forward, not a D, IF we have to because of salary.
- Antilles

Wasn't serious.
it would make zero sense.
I am waiting for them to amnesty jbow

that's the way i see it. why pay twice as much for goaltending that biron gave us?
- isaiah520

Because if the team defense can be improved, Bryzgalov may again play to a Vezina Trophy level as he has in the past. Or is that not possible? Has Biron ever played at a Vezina level?

Why can't the blues keep both young defensmen? Why can't the afford both? If Pittsburgh can have Crosby and Malkin why can't they both defensmen?