And we'll have a high Draft pick in our building.
- twotoekenn

And possibly a new GM to make the pick

I think you are spot on there. With Pronger and Carle as the top 2, I think Lavy's style worked fine. You had Timo on the second pairing. Get the puck up to forwards with speed. That didn't happen this year.
- Hextall271

With speed is the key. That's what some who claim that the Flyers defenseman this past Season moved the puck just as well as those in the past, don't get. The NHL is a speed game.

And possibly a new GM to make the pick
- Jsaquella

I don't have a problem with holmgren, I think he's done a pretty good job. We'll see if luuko/snider and company agree

Look, I like to call Sid Crosby a diver and a whiner with the best of them.

But I do think this guy went a little overboard: http://newyork.cbslocal.c...ts-the-princess-in-black/

I actually thought that penalty was the right call. Sid may or may not have embellished it, but what Strait did certainly merited a minor penalty, IMO.

And possibly a new GM to make the pick
- Jsaquella

I think Holmgren has bought some good will with some of the moves he's made in the past such that I think he gets another mulligan if they miss the playoffs next year.

Laviolette, on the other hand, could be gone by Christmas if the Flyers are playing .500 hockey.

With speed is the key. That's what some who claim that the Flyers defenseman this past Season moved the puck just as well as those in the past, don't get. The NHL is a speed game.
- MJL

but we need to get bigger

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I can vaguely remember reading that it would actually be cheaper if the team bought out Bryz this summer instead of next.

I'm fine with Bryz coming back and working with Mason.
- johndewar

Here are the numbers:

If they buy him out this summer:

They owe him $23M over the next 14 years for a $1.63M/yr loss.

If they buy him out next summer:

$8M for next year's salary + $17.67M over the following 12 years for a $1.47M/yr loss.

This year = $23M
Next year = $8 + 17.67M = $25.67M but you get one more year of Bryz.

Essentially, keeping him for next year practically costs the Flyers $2.67M.

Edit: The premise of your question is correct. In total paid to Bryz, it is cheaper for the Flyers to just cut ties with him this summer. I think they will only do it if a scenario pops up they can get a player/s they would need Bryz cap hit for.

Here are the numbers:

If they buy him out this summer:

They owe him $23M over the next 14 years for a $1.63M/yr loss.

If they buy him out next summer:

$8M for next year's salary + $17.75M over the following 12 years for a $1.48M/yr loss.

This year = $23M
Next year = $8 + 17.75M = $25.75M but you get one more year of Bryz.

Essentially, keeping him for next year practically costs the Flyers $2.75M.
- phillydentist

Thanks!

I don't have a problem with holmgren, I think he's done a pretty good job. We'll see if luuko/snider and company agree
- twotoekenn

If they're a lottery team next year, Homer would be gone.

but we need to get bigger
- nastyflyergirl

I have no idea where that comment by Homer comes from. So we need to get bigger on D? Grossmann and Schenn are plenty big. Maybe a big winger would be a nice addition, but we need puck moving from the D.

Look, I like to call Sid Crosby a diver and a whiner with the best of them.

But I do think this guy went a little overboard: http://newyork.cbslocal.c...ts-the-princess-in-black/

I actually thought that penalty was the right call. Sid may or may not have embellished it, but what Strait did certainly merited a minor penalty, IMO.
- johndewar

Terrible call... Crosby skates through the entire team all game and goes down there? Come on. He is the strongest player on his skates in the game. Its OT in playoff hockey.. you let them play...

If they're a lottery team next year, Homer would be gone.
- Jsaquella

If he strikes out completely this summer on upgrading the D and we go into next year having signed another Fedotenko type, then we will be a bad team and he should be gone.

And possibly a new GM to make the pick
- Jsaquella

Am I crazy to say I think we might be a lottery team again next year?

Terrible call... Crosby skates through the entire team all game and goes down there? Come on. He is the strongest player on his skates in the game. Its OT in playoff hockey.. you let them play...
- jak521

Yeah, I agree....it was borderline at absolute best. If that was Dupuis or Kennedy, there's no call.

Yeah, I agree....it was borderline at absolute best. If that was Dupuis or Kennedy, there's no call.
- Jsaquella

Exactly.. and thats what bothers me the most. As soon as it happened my brother and I turned to each other and pretty much at the same time went... well so much for a good finish to a great game

If he strikes out completely this summer on upgrading the D and we go into next year having signed another Fedotenko type, then we will be a bad team and he should be gone.
- Hextall271

I still think the current team has enough talent to be a playoff team, if coached well and if the players abilities and skills are utilized properly. If Laviolette had started the year using the simplified system he employed after the deluge of injuries, I think the Flyers are playing the Caps now, if not Montreal.

did we get bullocks yet?

If they're a lottery team next year, Homer would be gone.
- Jsaquella

Gms almost always get a reprieve when firing coach in season.

If he strikes out completely this summer on upgrading the D and we go into next year having signed another Fedotenko type, then we will be a bad team and he should be gone.
- Hextall271

I honestly think that the expectations for improving the defense need to be tempered. We already know the UFA market is pretty dry. And the right situation needs to present itself for a trade to be made. Defenseman are at a premium. I still beleive that if they change how they play, they can be a playoff team without major upgrades to the personell. Which is not to say that they can be a realistic contender without doing so. The Flyers puck movement has to be improved. There's a huge difference from being able to make a decent first pass, to moving the puck with speed, quickness, and efficiency. That gives forwards that extra step to get free, or creates odd man rushes and transition attacks.

Am I crazy to say I think we might be a lottery team again next year?
- jak521

I don't know if we would have been a lottery team this year - IF it had been a whole season. The main issue was health, which is a killer in a shortened season.

I don't know if we would have been a lottery team this year - IF it had been a whole season. The main issue was health, which is a killer in a shortened season.
- leon neon

Well.. next season making the playoffs is going to be a hell of a lot harder... so I hope its either boom or bust

I don't know if we would have been a lottery team this year - IF it had been a whole season. The main issue was health, which is a killer in a shortened season.
- leon neon

Gee, Ottawa is in the playoffs, and they lost their best offensive player, their best goal scorer, their dynamic, Norris trophy winning defenseman and their Vezina caliber goalie for stretches this year and are currently leading their playoff series.

The Flyers came in and tried to put on a trapeze act with dancing bears on defense, and waited too long to change. When they had an AHL caliber defense, they simplified things and played much better. Had they simply done that from the start, they're a playoff team now.

I honestly think that the expectations for improving the defense need to be tempered. We already know the UFA market is pretty dry. And the right situation needs to present itself for a trade to be made. Defenseman are at a premium. I still beleive that if they change how they play, they can be a playoff team without major upgrades to the personell. Which is not to say that they can be a realistic contender without doing so. The Flyers puck movement has to be improved. There's a huge difference from being able to make a decent first pass, to moving the puck with speed, quickness, and efficiency. That gives forwards that extra step to get free, or creates odd man rushes and transition attacks.
- MJL

I found not getting the puck with speed really hurt players like Giroux. It always seemed like they needed to come out of the zone and beat three players. Good defensive teams killed them.

I still think the current team has enough talent to be a playoff team, if coached well and if the players abilities and skills are utilized properly. If Laviolette had started the year using the simplified system he employed after the deluge of injuries, I think the Flyers are playing the Caps now, if not Montreal.
- Jsaquella

Very possibly. I expected them to be in a 6-8 seed this year even with the departures.

Question, if we buy out Briere, we should be able to keep Matt Read after his deal expires correct?

I have no idea where that comment by Homer comes from. So we need to get bigger on D? Grossmann and Schenn are plenty big. Maybe a big winger would be a nice addition, but we need puck moving from the D.
- Hextall271

I believe he meant the forwards, if not bigger, certainly the current crop needs to get stronger:
Couturier 193 lbs, needs to work on upper and lower body strength.
Schenn 192 lbs could use another 5-10 lbs of upper body strength
Simmonds 182 lbs, guy is tough as nails, but he seems to wear down as the season goes. He could really use another 10 lbs of muscle

and other guys are what they are:
Giroux 172 lbs
Read 185 lbs
Talbot 190 lbs

Outside of Hartnell and Voracek, the Flyers have no forwards taking a regular shift that are over 193 lbs. This is why they lose so many board battles. While they certainly don't need more size on D, another top 6 winger 215 lbs or bigger wouldn't be the worst addition in the world, especially if they re-sign Gagne and expect Laughton to make the roster. At the very least Couturier, B Schenn and Simmonds could all use a little time in the gym.