Richards, Carter, Bobrovsky, perpetual media circus, cap recapture penalty, possible compliance buy-out... any of that ring a bell?
- Tomahawk

I would have no problem saying that after two seasons the Bryzgalov signing has been a bust. He's been a below average to average goalie at best since signing here. I hope he can turn it around (if they keep him) but based on his performance over the last few seasons, I'm not confident.

if you could trade either richards or carter back for the pieces the flyers got back for them, would you seriously entertain that notion?
- stayinthefnnet

Probably not. Maybe Richards. Maybe. Definitely not Carter.

1. Briere is getting bought out with 25% of his contract left to go, having only topped 30-goals twice, and never having led the team once in scoring despite being paid to do so. The value return on the contract has been poor in terms of production, and is indirectly a part of the reason why players like Umberger and Lupul were let go because of cap reasons. The PO numbers are oft cited, but he's never come anywhere close to being the 95-point player he was signed to be.


- Tomahawk

Briere never led the team in scoring? Here is when he led the team in scoring. When it mattered the most.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...mary#?navid=nav-sts-indiv

And I disagree that he has never come close to being the player he was signed to be. He was that player in the playoffs. And you make no mention of the injuries that Briere has had, that is beyond anyone's control, that has affected his regular Seasons.

Briere signed for 52M. He has 5M left on it. The Flyers got their money's worth with the Briere signing, just by the playoff production alone. He was able to raise his game when it mattered most. And the CBO is not going to hurt the team in any way.

if you could trade either richards or carter back for the pieces the flyers got back for them, would you seriously entertain that notion?
- stayinthefnnet

They were good trades on paper, in terms of managing and accruing assets.

In practice, those trades pushed the window of competitiveness farther into the future -- aka they're no closer to the Cup than before. It's no coincidence that Richie and Carts have rings and the Flyers are left hoping and dreaming for better days ahead.

They were good trades on paper, in terms of managing and accruing assets.

In practice, those trades pushed the window of competitiveness farther into the future -- aka they're no closer to the Cup than before. It's no coincidence that Richie and Carts have rings and the Flyers are left hoping and dreaming for better days ahead.
- Tomahawk

And keeping them would have done what? Won us the Cup? Imagine what our prospects (and current team) would look like without those assets? No Voracek, Simmonds, Couts, Schenn, Grossman, Cousins... Thats a full offense and defensive line right there, and one that has a pretty young average age.

They were good trades on paper, in terms of managing and accruing assets.

In practice, those trades pushed the window of competitiveness farther into the future -- aka they're no closer to the Cup than before. It's no coincidence that Richie and Carts have rings and the Flyers are left hoping and dreaming for better days ahead.
- Tomahawk

That's nothing new. Both the Flyers Management and the fans knew, that in making those trades, they were taking a step back. But the Organization was at a point where it lacked top draft picks. Lacked top prospects, and had some Cap issues looming. The trades were how they corrected that. They felt that they had to go in a different direction. And as far as I'm concerned, the jury is still out on if they made the right decision.

They were good trades on paper, in terms of managing and accruing assets.

In practice, those trades pushed the window of competitiveness farther into the future -- aka they're no closer to the Cup than before. It's no coincidence that Richie and Carts have rings and the Flyers are left hoping and dreaming for better days ahead.
- Tomahawk

You have to wonder if they had won the cup here against Chicago how different things would be.

And keeping them would have done what? Won us the Cup? Imagine what our prospects (and current team) would look like without those assets? No Voracek, Simmonds, Couts, Schenn, Grossman, Cousins... Thats a full offense and defensive line right there, and one that has a pretty young average age.
- GirouxForTheShow

Probably not. Maybe Richards. Maybe. Definitely not Carter.
- GirouxForTheShow

yeah, i could see maybe richards. but still. the pieces the flyers got back in both trades were impressive hauls to say the least. and i thought those trades were done more to shift in a different team direction than to free up salary in the first place? yeah those guys went on to win a cup, but they were both parts of the machine as opposed to the main components in LA. perhaps the Flyers were too eager to overcompensate for a goalie and gave bryz too much money, but its hard to fault the team for the richards and carter trades. two of the better trades in recent league activity id say.

They were good trades on paper, in terms of managing and accruing assets.

In practice, those trades pushed the window of competitiveness farther into the future -- aka they're no closer to the Cup than before. It's no coincidence that Richie and Carts have rings and the Flyers are left hoping and dreaming for better days ahead.
- Tomahawk

on the flyers though, they would have had to be THE guys in order to win the cup. respect them both as players, especially richards, but i dont know if they are those kind of players. on the kings, they are quality players yes, but they are not relied upon to win the game night in and night out. i think its unfair to evaluate their tenure with the flyers through the same lens as with the kings.

And keeping them would have done what? Won us the Cup? Imagine what our prospects (and current team) would look like without those assets? No Voracek, Simmonds, Couts, Schenn, Grossman, Cousins... Thats a full offense and defensive line right there, and one that has a pretty young average age.
- GirouxForTheShow

exactly. stagnation is worse than taking a few steps back. those trades set the flyers up to only get better for at least the next five years, providing they remain patient and keep this young core intact for proper development.

Will find out what direction the Flyers take as soon as the NHL has a new champion. Then we will follow the direction of how that team was assembled.

We only need a number one and number two or three defensemen. No biggie.
- hereticpride

Who said we need a #2 or 3 defenseman? We're pretty good on defensive depth.

Will find out what direction the Flyers take as soon as the NHL has a new champion. Then we will follow the direction of how that team was assembled.
- stveshdy

It's going to be very interesting. Maybe even a few surprises along the way.

Will find out what direction the Flyers take as soon as the NHL has a new champion. Then we will follow the direction of how that team was assembled.
- stveshdy

i think the direction is certainly there already. the flyers have a great young core. it takes time. the only major personnel addition i see being imperative is a good young puck moving defender. other than that, the current core just has to grow together and play better themselves.

Will find out what direction the Flyers take as soon as the NHL has a new champion. Then we will follow the direction of how that team was assembled.
- stveshdy

Where'd you get that from?

i think the direction is certainly there already. the flyers have a great young core. it takes time. the only major personnel addition i see being imperative is a good young puck moving defender. other than that, the current core just has to grow together and play better themselves.
- stayinthefnnet

Consistency is the biggest factor for this young team.

And keeping them would have done what? Won us the Cup? Imagine what our prospects (and current team) would look like without those assets? No Voracek, Simmonds, Couts, Schenn, Grossman, Cousins... Thats a full offense and defensive line right there, and one that has a pretty young average age.
- GirouxForTheShow

The only reason there was a dearth of assets in the first place was because they traded all their picks and prospects away trying to win now. And they couldn't hold on to guys like Bob, Lupul, Upshall, Umberger, JvR, Carle and Leino because they dedicated all their cap space to adding (or trying to add) "top" guys like Briere and Bryz and Suter/Parise and Weber.

I'd contend that in the absence of chasing after the biggest name available, if Snider had allowed Homer to go through a proper rebuild from the start, the Flyers would have already won a Cup by now with the amount of affordable and home-grown talent that has passed through this team.

Where'd you get that from?
- JAKEw1234

That's when things are going to start happening. And very quickly. Waivers for buyouts will be announced. Possible trade announced. Usually lots of activity around the draft. And the one week interview period for UFA's. Leading up to UFA on July 5th.

Where'd you get that from?
- JAKEw1234

Flyers always try to copy the last Cup winner/team they last lost to in the PO's... it never fails... and never works.

yeah, i could see maybe richards. but still. the pieces the flyers got back in both trades were impressive hauls to say the least. and i thought those trades were done more to shift in a different team direction than to free up salary in the first place? yeah those guys went on to win a cup, but they were both parts of the machine as opposed to the main components in LA. perhaps the Flyers were too eager to overcompensate for a goalie and gave bryz too much money, but its hard to fault the team for the richards and carter trades. two of the better trades in recent league activity id say.
- stayinthefnnet

Id have to agree on all accounts. I don't think it was as much as a salary dump as some like to say. You don't trade your capt as a salary dump. It was a organizational change to say the least.

And yes, those who cracks jokes are the funniest! And then they get reminded that Carter was traded to CBJ first and then Howson decided to contribute to the jackass-ery of his legacy. Richards and Carter are good players, but they aren't "the reason" LA won the cup

The only reason there was a dearth of assets in the first place was because they traded all their picks and prospects away trying to win now. And they couldn't hold on to guys like Bob, Lupul, Upshall, Umberger, JvR, Carle and Leino because they dedicated all their cap space to adding (or trying to add) "top" guys like Briere and Bryz and Suter/Parise and Weber.


- Tomahawk

That is just not correct. Those were all choices that the Flyers made. They weren't forced into any of those moves. Any top team is going to have to make those choices. Look at what Chicago had to do after they won the Cup? The Flyers traded away a lot of picks in effort to try and win. I'd rather have a team that goes all out to try and win. Then a lot of the teams that don't go all out to try and win.

I'd contend that in the absence of chasing after the biggest name available, if Snider had allowed Homer to go through a proper rebuild from the start, the Flyers would have already won a Cup by now with the amount of affordable and home-grown talent that has passed through this team.
- Tomahawk

That's really a nice thought. But it's complete speculation.

Consistency is the biggest factor for this young team.
- stveshdy

i agree. but things like that take time. but that is the beauty about having such a young core. they HAVE that time

Flyers always try to copy the last Cup winner/team they last lost to in the PO's... it never fails... and never works.
- Tomahawk

What's the definition of working? Winning the Cup. There's 30 teams in the League who all have a plan. 29 of them fail. The Flyers went to the Finals in 2010. No one thinks that they Flyers are perfect and don't have to do better in some areas. But this picture that they are a dysfunctional franchise that you are painting, just isn't accurate.

Id have to agree on all accounts. I don't think it was as much as a salary dump as some like to say. You don't trade your capt as a salary dump. It was a organizational change to say the least.

And yes, those who cracks jokes are the funniest! And then they get reminded that Carter was traded to CBJ first and then Howson decided to contribute to the jackass-ery of his legacy. Richards and Carter are good players, but they aren't "the reason" LA won the cup
- GirouxForTheShow

exactly. as a pens fan, i will admit there was some humor in seeing them win the cup. however, for someone to think that they were the reason and to resent the trades is being a little delusional. the flyers managed to change the culture of the team while bringing in a ridiculous amount of young talent that is good enough to be competitive now, but with the realization that this team is still only going to get better with a year or two's time