All you have to do is look back at Flyers history. Don't have to go back that far.
- MJL

They almost won the Cup with Michael Leighton in net.

Sure, but that money goes on the team's cap that is retaining the salary.
- MJL

That's why it would have to be a team that is not in cap trouble.

They almost won the Cup with Michael Leighton in net.
- bradleyc4

Came fairly close with Robert Esche, too.

They almost won the Cup with Michael Leighton in net.
- bradleyc4

Almost being the key word. What is your goal? To almost win it? Or to win it?

This is just my idiot opinion and I reserve the right to be wrong*, but... In my idiot opinion, the Flyers would've won the Cup if they hadnt run out of healthy defensemen in the Conference Finals in '03/'04.






*memory is largely fiction, but in my fictitious memory I recall virtually everyone on the Flyers blueline going down by the end of that series against Tampa.
- Doc_Sarcasm

A lot of Flyers fans feel that way, yes.

That's why it would have to be a team that is not in cap trouble.
- jmatchett383

The Flyers would be the team retaining the salary.

Almost being the key word. What is your goal? To almost win it? Or to win it?
- MJL

My goal is to almost win it.

My goal is to almost win it.
- bradleyc4

Okay then. Your plan of going on the cheap in net, is sound then!

The Flyers would not be allowed to trade for Briere at next Season's TDL if they buy him out in June.
- MJL

My bad. I thought the player just couldn't resign with the team that bought him out. He cannot REJOIN the team that bought him out for one season. Got it.

My bad. I thought the player just couldn't resign with the team that bought him out. He cannot REJOIN the team that bought him out for one season. Got it.
- Jimmygrazz

Yeah, I thought it was just that they couldn't resign him as well. Oh well.

On to why Shea Weber will be a Flyer next year...

My bad. I thought the player just couldn't resign with the team that bought him out. He cannot REJOIN the team that bought him out for one season. Got it.
- Jimmygrazz

Yes, whether it's via waivers, trade, re-signing, etc. One Season.

Okay then. Your plan of going on the cheap in net, is sound then!
- MJL

Let's compromise: buyout Ilya, and offer an identical contract to Leights.

Legal to my knowledge. No all you need to do is find a team willing to shell out about 3.5M or so for a player that isn't going to play for them. Those considerations better be lofty.
- MJL

$3.5MM = What draft pick...

Yes, whether it's via waivers, trade, re-signing, etc. One Season.
- MJL

So, he could be bought-out, retire for a season (travel the world with his kids)... Then, come back the following year as a UFA and sign with the Flyers?

Let's compromise: buyout Ilya, and offer an identical contract to Leights.
- BulliesPhan87

If they do buy out Bryz any chance of them trading for Bernier? He is an RFA. Have him and Mason compete for the starting job?

Almost being the key word. What is your goal? To almost win it? Or to win it?
- MJL

I can tell you this...

Those "almost" parades you have for almost winning? They aren't much fun.

So, he could be bought-out, retire for a season (travel the world with his kids)... Then, come back the following year as a UFA and sign with the Flyers?
- leon neon

Yes!

My goal is to almost win it.
- bradleyc4

I'm telling you...the only thing they do at parades where you "almost" win is drink warm zima and eat stale potato chips.

Not. Fun. At. All.

If they do buy out Bryz any chance of them trading for Bernier? He is an RFA. Have him and Mason compete for the starting job?
- Jimmygrazz

Bernier would likely come at a high cost. Not sure I'd want to pay that for a player to compete for a starting job.

They did. That's why Sami Kapanen was playing defense. Kim Jonsson played but was basically dead. I think Desjardins, Weinrich, and Therien were out.
- jmatchett383

johnsson broke his hand in the waning minutes of game 5 against the devils when it got hit with a puck. ragnarsson went down in game 1 or 2 against tampa. malakhov played through a concussion. desjardins was out with a broken forearm which he apparently re-injured while rehabbing. markov and pitkanen were healthy, i guess. seidenberg was a rookie and on the shortest of leashes. therien and weinrich were both jettisoned by the deadline. had either of them been on the team they may have been able to squeak through.

it's a bloody (frank)ing shame they were so depleted on the blueline. i'm 1 billion percent convinced they win the cup if they had gotten through tampa, who by contrast lost something like 10 games due to man-injury all (frank)ing year. one of my favorite flyers teams ever.

i'm still (frank)ing mad.

I can tell you this...

Those "almost" parades you have for almost winning? They aren't much fun.
- johndewar

I went down to Broad St after the Flyers almost won it. There was nothing going on. Couldn't figure it out. But look at how much Cap space the Flyers saved by using Leighton.

If they do buy out Bryz any chance of them trading for Bernier? He is an RFA. Have him and Mason compete for the starting job?
- Jimmygrazz

It's an option, but the price for Bernier won't be nominal.

They did. That's why Sami Kapanen was playing defense. Kim Jonsson played but was basically dead. I think Desjardins, Weinrich, and Therien were out.
- jmatchett383

Ragnarsson was out, too.

http://sports.espn.go.com...004/news/story?id=1801564

They didn't make the Finals, but I think that was the best Flyers team in the 20 years I've been a fan.

Here is my ideal off season... (assuming we buy out both Bryz and Briere)

Buyout Bryz and Danny... do not re-sign any current FA's besides Gag (2.0 mil)..
Right off the bat you are saving right around 16 mil...

Trade Hartnell to Van. for Edler (add .8 to the cap) right around 15 mil.

Sign Mason Raymond (3.25), Emery (1.5, let him split time with Mason like he did with Crawford) and Zubrus(2.5-3). That would leave you with around 7.25 mill... add in Simmonds raise (around 2 mill) and Laughton (1.1) and you would be left with about 4 mill in cap space.

Gags-G-Voracek
Simmonds-Schenn-Read
Raymond-Couts- Zubrus
Rinaldo-Laughton- Talbot/Rosehill?

Edler/Schenn
Timonen/Coburn
Meszy/Grossmann
Gusty?

Mason
Emery

It's an option, but the price for Bernier won't be nominal.
- BulliesPhan87

We traded them half their team to win a cup, least they could do is throw us a bone