Zubrus would be a good addition, if he was around Gagne's cap hit last season. Not sure they can fit that without other moves.
- Jsaquella

wouldn't be surprised at all if they go for zubrus

and i'd like to keep gagne, he can play on any line and brings some more vet presence

With read, talbot, Rinaldo as regulars I think they need to go up in size
- Just5

This

Marty Murray, Traded for Billy Freaking Tibbets We signed him again a few years later but he didnt play for us long before being traded/released (dont recall which)

I'm a proponent of not moving any of our key young forwards, mainly Couturier and Schenn, to land a defensman. I don't include Read in that group since he will be 27 next year. FWIW I would try to package Read with this years 2nd and next years 1st to VAN for Edler. Yes it sounds like a lot for Edler, but it's the going rate for an offensive top 4 defenseman.

With Schenn, Giroux, Laughton, Simmonds, Talbot and Rinaldo all under 200 lbs, I would be very happy with the addition of someone like Zubrus. It would be nice to have someone who can win a possession battle along the boards.

While I would love to have Nichushkin, I'm not going to blow up the club to get him. I would either stay at 11, or perhaps trade down to add a pick in the 1st half of the 2nd round, as long as the 1st rounder we end up with is no lower than 15.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Should Flyers Re-Sign Gagne? PLUS Multi-Stint Flyers
- bmeltzer

At say $1.5 per for 2 years I'd say yes.

I'm a proponent of not moving any of our key young forwards, mainly Couturier and Schenn, to land a defensman. I don't include Read in that group since he will be 27 next year. FWIW I would try to package Read with this years 2nd and next years 1st to VAN for Edler. Yes it sounds like a lot for Edler, but it's the going rate for an offensive top 4 defenseman.

With Schenn, Giroux, Laughton, Simmonds, Talbot and Rinaldo all under 200 lbs, I would be very happy with the addition of someone like Zubrus. It would be nice to have someone who can win a possession battle along the boards.

While I would love to have Nichushkin, I'm not going to blow up the club to get him. I would either stay at 11, or perhaps trade down to add a pick in the 1st half of the 2nd round, as long as the 1st rounder we end up with is no lower than 15.
- BiggE

You would have to re-sign Read before he has much trade value. As it is a pending ufa is not going to land you a D man signed long term.

I'm not entirely opposed to moving up for Nischuskin if it can be done with the 11th and BSchenn. The most I would add to that offer is a few 3rds. A team like the Oilers could easily outbid us though.

You would have to re-sign Read before he has much trade value. As it is a pending ufa is not going to land you a D man signed long term.

I'm not entirely opposed to moving up for Nischuskin if it can be done with the 11th and BSchenn. The most I would add to that offer is a few 3rds. A team like the Oilers could easily outbid us though.
- hereticpride

Read is signed thru next season.

Read is signed thru next season.
- BiggE

Yes, and that is not enough value for a team to part with a top pairing D man.

Also, trading next years 1st is very unlikely as we are hosting the draft.

Yes, and that is not enough value for a team to part with a top pairing D man.

Also, trading next years 1st is very unlikely as we are hosting the draft.
- hereticpride

Actually Read, with a cap hit of only 900k next year, is the kind of player VAN needs with the cap going down next season. As the cap should raise significantly for 14-15 and with Luongo almost certainly bought out or traded by then, resigning him may not be so hard for the Nucks.

Re: trading next years 1st: I doubt hosting the draft next year will effect any of Holmgren's decisions at this point. If they are that concerned by next spring, they could most likely package a player with their 2nd to acquire a 1st.

Actually Read, with a cap hit of only 900k next year, is the kind of player VAN needs with the cap going down next season. As the cap should raise significantly for 14-15 and with Luongo almost certainly bought out or traded by then, resigning him may not be so hard for the Nucks.

Re: trading next years 1st: I doubt hosting the draft next year will effect any of Holmgren's decisions at this point. If they are that concerned by next spring, they could most likely package a player with their 2nd to acquire a 1st.
- BiggE

They might trade next years 1st but it won't be before it, if anything it will be during the draft in which they host.

They might trade next years 1st but it won't be before it, if anything it will be during the draft in which they host.
- ob18

You may be right, who knows. Since the Flyers seem to excel at doing the unexpected I have a feeling they will make a move at this draft that NONE of us have seen coming.

You may be right, who knows. Since the Flyers seem to excel at doing the unexpected I have a feeling they will make a move at this draft that NONE of us have seen coming.
- BiggE

Nobody should be too shocked at anything they try or even actually get done. Personally I'd stay put or possibly move back to land some more picks. The system could use some depth and decent depth at that, it will be needed when they don't want to hand out several long term deals and can have an in house replacement ready.

Marty Murray, Traded for Billy Freaking Tibbets We signed him again a few years later but he didnt play for us long before being traded/released (dont recall which)
- GPerogie

He had a 2nd stint in the organization, but I don't think he appeared in another RS game for the Flyers the second time.

Nobody should be too shocked at anything they try or even actually get done. Personally I'd stay put or possibly move back to land some more picks. The system could use some depth and decent depth at that, it will be needed when they don't want to hand out several long term deals and can have an in house replacement ready.
- ob18

I completely agree!

I'm a proponent of not moving any of our key young forwards, mainly Couturier and Schenn, to land a defensman. I don't include Read in that group since he will be 27 next year. FWIW I would try to package Read with this years 2nd and next years 1st to VAN for Edler. Yes it sounds like a lot for Edler, but it's the going rate for an offensive top 4 defenseman.

- BiggE

I would be hesitant to pay too high a price to land Edler. While I think the Flyers could certainly use a player with his skillset, he has a chronic back problem that could continue to limit the hard minutes he can play before starting to provide diminishing returns. Edler's game has been inconsistent as it is and his game tends to suffer when playing too many minutes. He's not an anchor type, 25+ minute guy.

Now, with that said, I'd be open to a move for Edler...he can be useful as a top 4 ( PP specialist (20-24 mins/gm), but don't want to part with top young players to get him, so as to limit the downside impact if his back goes out and the worst case scenario plays out...so, I'd do like Hartnell or even Coburn and a 2nd...something like that. I'd feel more comfortable including top youngsters like Coots or Schenn, Simmonds or even Read for someone like Yandle, who offers as much or more, but doesn't have the question mark regarding his health. Unfortunately, Phoenix is likely to be asking too high a price for him. I don't blame them.

If Gagne will do a 1 year deal I think it's a no brainer to resign him.

I would be hesitant to pay too high a price to land Edler. While I think the Flyers could certainly use a player with his skillset, he has a chronic back problem that could continue to limit the hard minutes he can play before starting to provide diminishing returns. Edler's game has been inconsistent as it is and his game tends to suffer when playing too many minutes. He's not an anchor type, 25+ minute guy.

Now, with that said, I'd be open to a move for Edler...he can be useful as a top 4 ( PP specialist (20-24 mins/gm), but don't want to part with top young players to get him, so as to limit the downside impact if his back goes out and the worst case scenario plays out...so, I'd do like Hartnell or even Coburn and a 2nd...something like that. I'd feel more comfortable including top youngsters like Coots or Schenn, Simmonds or even Read for someone like Yandle, who offers as much or more, but doesn't have the question mark regarding his health. Unfortunately, Phoenix is likely to be asking too high a price for him. I don't blame them.
- exlund

Yandle offers marginally more points, but is much softer and much less of a "two-way" guy. Here's a pretty good roster for next year:

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Matt Read ($0.900m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
Simon Gagne ($2.000m) / Scott Laughton ($1.107m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.750m)
Tye McGinn ($0.775m) / Adam Hall ($0.650m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)
Jay Rosehill ($0.675m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Alexander Edler ($5.000m)
Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m) / Erik Gustafsson ($1.500m)
Braydon Coburn ($4.500m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Chris Pronger ($4.941m) / Bruno Gervais ($0.825m)
GOALTENDERS
Ilya Bryzgalov ($5.667m)
Steve Mason ($1.500m)
OTHER
Buyout: Oskars Bartulis ($0.100m)
Buyout: Danny Briere ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,199,762; BONUSES: $2,800,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $4,900,238

Yandle offers marginally more points, but is much softer and much less of a "two-way" guy. Here's a pretty good roster for next year:

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Matt Read ($0.900m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
Simon Gagne ($2.000m) / Scott Laughton ($1.107m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.750m)
Tye McGinn ($0.775m) / Adam Hall ($0.650m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)
Jay Rosehill ($0.675m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Alexander Edler ($5.000m)
Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m) / Erik Gustafsson ($1.500m)
Braydon Coburn ($4.500m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Chris Pronger ($4.941m) / Bruno Gervais ($0.825m)
GOALTENDERS
Ilya Bryzgalov ($5.667m)
Steve Mason ($1.500m)
OTHER
Buyout: Oskars Bartulis ($0.100m)
Buyout: Danny Briere ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,199,762; BONUSES: $2,800,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $4,900,238
- JAKEw1234

Yandle isn't bad defensively, and we have physical, stay at home types that complement his game with which we can pair him. You didn't address Edler's chronic back issue.

Yandle offers marginally more points, but is much softer and much less of a "two-way" guy. Here's a pretty good roster for next year:

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Matt Read ($0.900m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
Simon Gagne ($2.000m) / Scott Laughton ($1.107m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.750m)
Tye McGinn ($0.775m) / Adam Hall ($0.650m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)
Jay Rosehill ($0.675m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Alexander Edler ($5.000m)
Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m) / Erik Gustafsson ($1.500m)
Braydon Coburn ($4.500m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Chris Pronger ($4.941m) / Bruno Gervais ($0.825m)
GOALTENDERS
Ilya Bryzgalov ($5.667m)
Steve Mason ($1.500m)
OTHER
Buyout: Oskars Bartulis ($0.100m)
Buyout: Danny Briere ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,199,762; BONUSES: $2,800,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $4,900,238
- JAKEw1234

Then again, it looks like you traded Hartnell for him in this lineup...I can get on board with that...just gotta be careful with Edler, not to put too much pressure or minutes on him...

Yandle isn't bad defensively, and we have physical, stay at home types that complement his game with which we can pair him. You didn't address Edler's chronic back issue.
- exlund

I think someone in here nailed the point perfectly that his back issues were from what, 2 years ago? With modern sports medicine, a back issue from a couple years ago should have little to no effect on him, and even if it is that noticeable, it's not enough for him to be a deal breaker. Even with his back issues I consider Edler > Yandle. Even if we were were limited to keeping him playing 20-25 mins/game, I think we have other dmen that have been proven able to eat big minutes. Gus, L Schenn, Kimmo, Grossmann are the major ones whom I think can handle any minutes Edler leaves behind.

At say $1.5 per for 2 years I'd say yes.
- ob18

I agree. Anything more let him walk.

I think someone in here nailed the point perfectly that his back issues were from what, 2 years ago? With modern sports medicine, a back issue from a couple years ago should have little to no effect on him, and even if it is that noticeable, it's not enough for him to be a deal breaker. Even with his back issues I consider Edler > Yandle. Even if we were were limited to keeping him playing 20-25 mins/game, I think we have other dmen that have been proven able to eat big minutes. Gus, L Schenn, Kimmo, Grossmann are the major ones whom I think can handle any minutes Edler leaves behind.
- JAKEw1234

I agree with you. Edler is a very good defenseman. His back issues are not a concern. He played in 45 games last year (shorten season) and all playoff games. He would immediately upgrade the blue line and be an instant threat.

Then again, it looks like you traded Hartnell for him in this lineup...I can get on board with that...just gotta be careful with Edler, not to put too much pressure or minutes on him...
- exlund

I guess the bottom line is, barring acquiring one of the very few "alpha" #1s in the league, the Flyers need a top 4 offensive-defenseman/PP QB type, or even two. They can use one this season, and most certainly one or two by next season with Timonen's likely departure. The market is very tight for these kinds of players...it's not a good UFA crop and the best guys aren't being shopped. Edler, Yandle, Buff, Shattenkirk...odds are they all stay with their current teams imo, so all of this back and forth about these guys and trade scenarios is just speculation anyway...it's not going to be easy to obtain proven players of that ilk.

Compounding the issue is the abundance of question marks surrounding many of the team's roster defensemen:

-Coburn - does he come back healthy, and if so, will he be good Coburn or bad Coburn?

Timonen - another hard year, a step slower, old bones breaking...he's the ultimate warrior, so he'll gut it out, but it remains to be seen how effective he'll be.

Grossmann - coming off injuries, including concussion issues...he's bounced back strong before, can he do it again?

Meszaros - Coming off multiple injuries...how likely is it he can come in and be an impact player, and for how long?

-Gustafsson - his stock is rising and so are expectations...it's a stretch to say he can jump right into the top 4 mix but he's a bit of an X factor with his speed and mobility...even if he plays well he's not likely to be the offensive force or PP qb the team needs.

Gervais - sucks in defensive coverage...ok puck mover, limited offense... a sub at best.

-Bourdon - he's been working very hard, is skating and making progress...he could make some noise at camp...can he earn a spot? Another X factor.

What else can they do?

They recently signed guys like Alt and LaMarche...it's good that they're keeping their feelers out for guys like this...maybe one or two will break through and be the proverbial diamond in the rough.

They can draft a guy like Nurse, Pulock, Morrissey, Zadorov etc. but it will likely take at least a couple of years for them to start to have an impact...with the young Flyer core, that's not such a terrible thing, but they need some more mature, proven talent to shore things up near term.

Homer has his work cut out for him. It's going to be an interesting summer.

in this tumbleweed era of Philly sports, gotta give it up for Dom Brown and, while he's still here, Cliff Lee

the Flyers are the team in town that has the best chance to make the playoffs if they mostly stay the course. teams like TOR and NYI are not flukes though.

I guess the bottom line is, barring acquiring one of the very few "alpha" #1s in the league, the Flyers need a top 4 offensive-defenseman/PP QB type, or even two. They can use one this season, and most certainly one or two by next season with Timonen's likely departure. The market is very tight for these kinds of players...it's not a good UFA crop and the best guys aren't being shopped. Edler, Yandle, Buff, Shattenkirk...odds are they all stay with their current teams imo, so all of this back and forth about these guys and trade scenarios is just speculation anyway...it's not going to be easy to obtain proven players of that ilk.

Compounding the issue is the abundance of question marks surrounding many of the team's roster defensemen:

-Coburn - does he come back healthy, and if so, will he be good Coburn or bad Coburn?

Timonen - another hard year, a step slower, old bones breaking...he's the ultimate warrior, so he'll gut it out, but it remains to be seen how effective he'll be.

Grossmann - coming off injuries, including concussion issues...he's bounced back strong before, can he do it again?

Meszaros - Coming off multiple injuries...how likely is it he can come in and be an impact player, and for how long?

-Gustafsson - his stock is rising and so are expectations...it's a stretch to say he can jump right into the top 4 mix but he's a bit of an X factor with his speed and mobility...even if he plays well he's not likely to be the offensive force or PP qb the team needs.

Gervais - sucks in defensive coverage...ok puck mover, limited offense... a sub at best.

-Bourdon - he's been working very hard, is skating and making progress...he could make some noise at camp...can he earn a spot? Another X factor.

What else can they do?

They recently signed guys like Alt and LaMarche...it's good that they're keeping their feelers out for guys like this...maybe one or two will break through and be the proverbial diamond in the rough.

They can draft a guy like Nurse, Pulock, Morrissey, Zadorov etc. but it will likely take at least a couple of years for them to start to have an impact...with the young Flyer core, that's not such a terrible thing, but they need some more mature, proven talent to shore things up near term.

Homer has his work cut out for him. It's going to be an interesting summer.
- exlund

yandle and edler are in play...not a guarantee that they will be moved, but reliable sources suggest they could be had.