also ate boogers at practice
- Don'tForgetTocchet

and played with a tiny stick.

So... In Toronto they get a two hour radio special on Locker Room Clean Out Day.
- mayorofangrytown

Hockey coverage on the radio in Toronto is unparalleled.

and played with a tiny stick.
- mayorofangrytown

least of his problems

So... In Toronto they get a two hour radio special on Locker Room Clean Out Day.
- mayorofangrytown

Let me guess as to what that sounds like:

"I still can't believe Dion Phaneuf is using the 25 gallon hefty bag to take his stuff out of his locker instead of the 34 gallon hefty bag. I bet Dougie Gilmour would have used a 50 gallon hefty bag and still cleaned the locker room on his way out the door".

I think it's more that Briere disappeared this last season ont he ice... And honestly we have a bunch of young centers who need his slot and Briere is even worse as a winger. I adore the guy, I really do but he has no place in Philly next year. Buying him out helps take pressure off the cap in case we do try and get someone else.... We also have to look at keeping some cap room next season for re-signing people...
But there is always a chance he stays. I just think it's a small one. Homer will be making moves this summer. It's Holmgren!
- FlyersGrace

Quite possibly you could be correct. I also think that if Briere is not bought out next season he will be the following one, simply because they will need to resign players. (really hoping they can keep Read.) But what I wanted to know is if it is a mathematical cap issue or a talent management decision that people are making. Either way I trust homer to make the hard decision here.

But he has since corrected a lot of those issues. I think they gave up on him too fast.
- MJL

Or maybe by giving up on him, it forced him to look harder at those issues. Sometimes you need to hit bottom before you can change.

Or maybe by giving up on him, it forced him to look harder at those issues. Sometimes you need to hit bottom before you can change.
- flyler

Possibly.

Still puzzled on why the Flyers traded Pitkanen.
- MJL

Too short of a stick.

Too short of a stick.
- leon neon

With the departure of Todd Fedoruk, punching bag was no longer needed.

Let me guess as to what that sounds like:

"I still can't believe Dion Phaneuf is using the 25 gallon hefty bag to take his stuff out of his locker instead of the 34 gallon hefty bag. I bet Dougie Gilmour would have used a 50 gallon hefty bag and still cleaned the locker room on his way out the door".
- johndewar

Doug McLean doesn't like being on the air for two hours. Brad May doesn't like being called Bradley unless it's by his Mom, Phaneuf is inconsistent, Kessel is great, James Reimer's your number one goalie and JVR was the only player ready to play in game one.

Edit: and the game 7 loss to the Brooons ate a piece of JVRs soul! (no lie)

Okay Question time. I think there is something I am missing. I've been retooling the Flyers lineup at Capgeek.com Once Pronger goes on LTIR and the RFA's head back to the AHL (except Gus) and we resign Gags. We still have just over a mil in cap space. Am I missing bonuses or something? Or is it possible to retain the team for next year including Briere and Bryz?

I realize a lot of people HAVE to add another player to justify fixing a team that diddn't make the playoffs. But dealing with the early difficulties of the season and the initial dropoff an then imrpovement in our younger players. I guess I'm of the oppinion that the best improvement this team can make is letting their younger players develop and their injured players heal.

FORWARDS
Simon Gagne ($2.500m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Scott Hartnell ($4.750m) / Danny Briere ($6.500m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Matt Read ($0.900m)
Maxime Talbot ($1.750m) / Scott Laughton ($1.107m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)
Jay Rosehill ($0.675m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m) / Luke Schenn ($3.600m)
Braydon Coburn ($4.500m) / Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m)
Erik Gustafsson ($0.851m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Bruno Gervais ($0.825m)
GOALTENDERS
Ilya Bryzgalov ($5.667m)
Steve Mason ($1.500m)
- flyler

We need to retool the defense, and we need money to do that... Healthy this defense doesn't look bad. I doubt that Timo, Meszaros, and Grossmann will play a full seasons next year. Timo is yet another year older. Coburn continues to be mediocre. Gus looks good, but small and never going to be a topline guy. Schenn is playing well. We need a number 1 guy, or at least another Schenn type.

Quite possibly you could be correct. I also think that if Briere is not bought out next season he will be the following one, simply because they will need to resign players. (really hoping they can keep Read.) But what I wanted to know is if it is a mathematical cap issue or a talent management decision that people are making. Either way I trust homer to make the hard decision here.
- flyler

Yes to both. If he was making that money but putting up 35/45/80 numbers, it wouldn't be an issue, and they'd find other avenues to keep him. However, with his below-average production, defensive shortcomings, and the team's current centers position, he just can't be kept.

I dont think Briere is tradable. And when he does become a free agent, I dont think staying in the area is the absolute deciding factor. I think Briere will have many teams bidding on his services, and I see his next cap hit probally being around 5 million. I could see him going to Montreal, Buffalo, Islanders, Devils or DC. The reason I included Buffalo and Montreal is because a 3 hour plane flight would take just as long from there as a 3 hour car drive from DC or Brooklyn. Only the Devils really offer that close proximity. And the Rangers are in too much cap trouble to go after Briere.

We need to retool the defense, and we need money to do that... Healthy this defense doesn't look bad. I doubt that Timo, Meszaros, and Grossmann will play a full seasons next year. Timo is yet another year older. Coburn continues to be mediocre. Gus looks good, but small and never going to be a topline guy. Schenn is playing well. We need a number 1 guy, or at least another Schenn type.
- leon neon

I think Coburn can play on the same level that Schenn has played at. I think Coburn had a subpar 33 games. But calling him mediocre is selling him short. I'm expecting a bounce back Season. They don't need another Schenn type. They need a defenseman with puck moving ability, that can provide offense.

I think Coburn can play on the same level that Schenn has played at. I think Coburn had a subpar 33 games. But calling him mediocre is selling him short. I'm expecting a bounce back Season. They don't need another Schenn type. They need a defenseman with puck moving ability, that can provide offense.
- MJL

Agreed.

Schenn, Coburn, Grossmann = similar players.

Timonen is good for 1 more year. Gus is improving, but still just a 3rd pairing mobile guy. We need a mobile guy for the top pairing, let Timonen reunite with Coburn on the 2nd pairing. After next season, maybe Gus shows he can be a 2nd pairing guy to replace Timonen.

Hartnell was coming off of a 37 goal Season. Two choices. If you want to sign him to a shorter deal. The Cap hit goes up. A player is willing to take a deal that results in a lesser Cap hit in exchange for longer term security.
- MJL

They actually had a 3rd choice. Wait to reup him. The flyers IMO give out to many contracts when the player is in a position to ask for the moon. Could hartnell ask for this type of contract in April? I wonder.

Everybody thought that hartnell prob had a career year last year. Just wish the flyers played a little more hardball

I dont think Briere is tradable. And when he does become a free agent, I dont think staying in the area is the absolute deciding factor. I think Briere will have many teams bidding on his services, and I see his next cap hit probally being around 5 million. I could see him going to Montreal, Buffalo, Islanders, Devils or DC. The reason I included Buffalo and Montreal is because a 3 hour plane flight would take just as long from there as a 3 hour car drive from DC or Brooklyn. Only the Devils really offer that close proximity. And the Rangers are in too much cap trouble to go after Briere.
- youarewrong

youareback?

They actually had a 3rd choice. Wait to reup him. The flyers IMO give out to many contracts when the player is in a position to ask for the moon. Could hartnell ask for this type of contract in April? I wonder.

Everybody thought that hartnell prob had a career year last year. Just wish the flyers played a little more hardball
- Just5

Waiting would not have changed much. Hartnell can still demand the same money. One bad year with the injuries and the lockout would have been taken into consideration. Hartnell can play hardball also.

Backstrom just had sports hernia surgery. IN PHILADELPHIA.

Decision made.
- bradleyc4

the fix is already in...

Too short of a stick.
- leon neon

Mini Stickanen

Waiting would not have changed much. Hartnell can still demand the same money. One bad year with the injuries and the lockout would have been taken into consideration. Hartnell can play hardball also.
- MJL

Sure it would've. You think he'd turn down a 5 year deal at the same rate as opposed to a 6 year of they were in negotiations right now? Maybe, ok then Scotty we'll move on to iginla. It wouldn't change it "much" but the flyers wouldve been in better position Bc they counted on hartnell not being able to sustain last years level.

Sure it would've. You think he'd turn down a 5 year deal at the same rate as opposed to a 6 year of they were in negotiations right now? Maybe, ok then Scotty we'll move on to iginla. It wouldn't change it "much" but the flyers wouldve been in better position Bc they counted on hartnell not being able to sustain last years level.
- Just5

Changing from 5 years to 6 years isn't a big change. And yes, he could turn it down. Did you remember what happened with Carle once the Flyers waited and he hit the open market? The price goes up! Waiting pretty much insures you're going to pay more. Hartnell signed at less then market value in exchange for 6 years. Waiting wouldn't have changed that.

Mini Stickanen
- hammarby31

Trade him for J-Bo

Mini Stickanen
- hammarby31

i miss the Icon R18

Mini Stickanen
- hammarby31

reijmo helmetanen

edit: with the way they make those new one piece mini-sticks, you might actually be able to use them.