Is it just me or is it hard to watch the playoffs at this point? 4 teams that have recently won the cup and have some type of history with the Flyers. I know I definitely don't want to see Pitt win, but it's tough having a rooting interest at this point.
- funmaster18

Usually it takes me a week after the Flyers have been eliminated from the playoffs to get over it and rekindle my interest in hockey. This year, since the Flyers were pretty much eliminated when the schedule was made (3 games in 4 nights after a gruelling condensed training camp), I've been able to enjoy the entire playoffs.

I'm pulling for Boston, but I'd be ok with the Hawks.. the Kings not so much, and another Penguins Cup victory is a thing to be avoided at all costs.

The Penguins have won 3 playoff rounds in the past 4 years, despite having names like Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Letang on the roster. If they get swept this year, I'd find it hard to keep Bylsma or at the very least keep him without a very short leash.

To compound the issue, since they won the Cup, the only teams they have beaten in the playoffs are Ottawa and the Islanders. Hardly impressive.
- Jsaquella

And they just blew assets on Morrow and Iginla. Glorious, isn't it?

Honestly, I would not be surprised if they shopped Malkin or Neal in this draft. Get Nischuckin plus and free up a ton of cap room in the process.

A lot of Pens fans seem to think MAF is as good as gone. That will leave them a 37yrold Vokoun and little depth behind him in a year where Goaltending in FA is quite subpar. Gotta love it.

And they just blew assets on Morrow and Iginla. Glorious, isn't it?

Honestly, I would not be surprised if they shopped Malkin or Neal in this draft. Get Nischuckin plus and free up a ton of cap room in the process.

A lot of Pens fans seem to think MAF is as good as gone. That will leave them a 37yrold Vokoun and little depth behind him in a year where Goaltending in FA is quite subpar. Gotta love it.
- hereticpride

Fire up the Luongo rumors now.

Fire up the Luongo rumors now.
- Doc_Sarcasm

They dont even have the picks, prospects or caproom if they wanted to.

And they just blew assets on Morrow and Iginla. Glorious, isn't it?

Honestly, I would not be surprised if they shopped Malkin or Neal in this draft. Get Nischuckin plus and free up a ton of cap room in the process.

A lot of Pens fans seem to think MAF is as good as gone. That will leave them a 37yrold Vokoun and little depth behind him in a year where Goaltending in FA is quite subpar. Gotta love it.
- hereticpride

Ill be honest... if they are shopping Malkin, they are sending him out of the division. Sending him AND Staal to Carolina and the Canes joining the division would be kinda risky.

They dont even have the picks, prospects or caproom if they wanted to.
- hereticpride

Facts and logic have no place outside of Bill's blogspace on HockeyBuzz.

And they just blew assets on Morrow and Iginla. Glorious, isn't it?

Honestly, I would not be surprised if they shopped Malkin or Neal in this draft. Get Nischuckin plus and free up a ton of cap room in the process.

A lot of Pens fans seem to think MAF is as good as gone. That will leave them a 37yrold Vokoun and little depth behind him in a year where Goaltending in FA is quite subpar. Gotta love it.
- hereticpride

Not to mention the two 2nds they wasted on Douglas Murray.

But I highly doubt they're trading Malkin or Neal. They'll have to survive on finding good bargains to fill out their roster.

They dont even have the picks, prospects or caproom if they wanted to.
- hereticpride

If the Pens are smart and really want Bobby Lou, they will just wait until the Canucks buy him out, which they are up against the Cap next year with a TON of free agents they need to lock up, or open spaces they need to fill. Why trade for someone you know is going to be bought out....same thing with Briere.

I agree with Bill's point on the "Gentleman's Agreement" with respect to the RFA system in place in the NHL. It's a complete joke and I'm glad Holmgren (and even Clarke) ignored it and went after assets to make the Flyers better. At the end of the day, a GM should be beholden to making his franchise better and not worrying about making nice.

That said, I hope the Flyers stay away from this year's crop of RFAs. St. Louis isn't Nashville, with respect to the size and strength of their market, and I don't think Bogosian is worth an offer sheet.

I know he has had his fair share of injuries, but what do you guys think of a trade for Andrei Markov? Coburn or Mez for Markov + pick? I know he is older (34) and his contract is up this year, but salary wise its about an even trade with Coburn, and maybe he could be signed for a much lower amount after this year assuming it goes half decent? The injury factor is the biggest con for me, but it fills needs on the blueline.

Sign Pietrangelo to a $17mil contract? Anythings possible, but the GM who does that would probably be fired soon after.
- JAKEw1234

They could not sign Pietrangleo to a $17mil contract. Max salary is 20% of the Upper Limit.

I know he has had his fair share of injuries, but what do you guys think of a trade for Andrei Markov? Coburn or Mez for Markov + pick? I know he is older (34) and his contract is up this year, but salary wise its about an even trade with Coburn, and maybe he could be signed for a much lower amount after this year assuming it goes half decent? The injury factor is the biggest con for me, but it fills needs on the blueline.
- iroc4me2

I like Markov, but I'd be surprised if Montreal dealt Markov.

I remember reading somewhere that Montreal's record with Markov is far, far better than their record without him in the lineup.

I know he has had his fair share of injuries, but what do you guys think of a trade for Andrei Markov? Coburn or Mez for Markov + pick? I know he is older (34) and his contract is up this year, but salary wise its about an even trade with Coburn, and maybe he could be signed for a much lower amount after this year assuming it goes half decent? The injury factor is the biggest con for me, but it fills needs on the blueline.
- iroc4me2

I would not do that. And I think Markov is a very good player. But he's likely to want big money going forward.

I agree with Bill's point on the "Gentleman's Agreement" with respect to the RFA system in place in the NHL. It's a complete joke and I'm glad Holmgren (and even Clarke) ignored it and went after assets to make the Flyers better. At the end of the day, a GM should be beholden to making his franchise better and not worrying about making nice.

That said, I hope the Flyers stay away from this year's crop of RFAs. St. Louis isn't Nashville, with respect to the size and strength of their market, and I don't think Bogosian is worth an offer sheet.
- johndewar

Yes, and no in my opinion. Bill makes an excellent point in stating how can a player be any type of free agent, if there is no mechanism to go to another team. But he also states how the Flyers attempted to do it. They tried to bully a team financially, that is a weaker team, into taking their top player. That was never in the spirit of the intent of an offer sheet. And the Flyers abused it with the structure of the deal. Not illegal according to the rules, but dirty nonetheless. And that's likely what irks other team's management. Not that they offr sheeted another player, but how they did it.

Yes, and no in my opinion. Bill makes an excellent point in stating how can a player be any type of free agent, if there is no mechanism to go to another team. But he also states how the Flyers attempted to do it. They tried to bully a team financially, that is a weaker team, into taking their top player. That was never in the spirit of the intent of an offer sheet. And the Flyers abused it with the structure of the deal. Not illegal according to the rules, but dirty nonetheless. And that's likely what irks other team's management.
- MJL

At the end of the day, it's still a business and the Flyers operated in those bounds. I don't see how it's Philly's problem that Nashville is a small market team with fewer resources.

And I still don't care about irking other team's management. It's not personal.

I would not do that. And I think Markov is a very good player. But he's likely to want big money going forward.
- MJL

Even with the fact he has played more than 15 games once in the last 3 years, you think he would command more than what he makes now?

At the end of the day, it's still a business and the Flyers operated in those bounds. I don't see how it's Philly's problem that Nashville is a small market team with fewer resources.

And I still don't care about irking other team's management. It's not personal.
- johndewar

You feel it's okay that one team can try and force another team into giving them a star player, because they are in better shape financially? And here's how it is Philly's problem. Do you want the Cap to go up or down? So the Flyers can spend more money on players? Well the better the League as a whole does financially, the higher the Cap will go. The reason the Cap is going down to 64.3M is because team's like Nashville are struggling. So let's pile on and bury them some more. It has an effect across the entire League.

At the end of the day, it's still a business and the Flyers operated in those bounds. I don't see how it's Philly's problem that Nashville is a small market team with fewer resources.

And I still don't care about irking other team's management. It's not personal.
- johndewar

Its a bad business practice.

Even with the fact he has played more than 15 games once in the last 3 years, you think he would command more than what he makes now?
- iroc4me2

There is a premium on quality 2 way defenseman. There aren't many of them available.

Its a bad business practice.
- jak521

How they did it, is a very bad business practice for sure for the health of the League.

Its a bad business practice.
- jak521

It's a bad business practice to take what someone did that was within the rules personally.

If the NHL GMs don't like the offer sheet process, then by all means, they should have worked with their ownership to eliminate it during CBA negotiations.

Problem solved and everyone go back to being pals again.

How they did it, is a very bad business practice for sure for the health of the League.
- MJL

Well, that's a different issue.

Again, the league should have gotten rid of it if it's not an avenue that a team could and should pursue to obtain assets.

How they did it, is a very bad business practice for sure for the health of the League.
- MJL

Multiple reasons really. Look at Brian Burke and Edm... When Edmonton OS'd Penner Burke nearly blew a gasket. The resentment was open. Do you think the Ducks and Oilers were gonna be good trading partner from that point on? Nope.

Flyers and Preds have had a notable trading history. Not any more.

Also, like you stated.. in essence, its the reason we have a cap. So big teams cant just buy their way to the players they want... to know we have deeper pockets, and basically tell another org.- "Listen, dont be big headed and try to keep your heads up... were gonna out bid ya, just let the guy go."- gives a terrible vibe around the league... especially in smaller markets.

The night of the draft, and for the next several nights it is probably in your best interest that you stay away from sharp objects.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I really think they should do what it takes to move up into the top 5 and get Nichushkin. Top 6 forward, #11, and a future pick would do it I think.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: RFAs, Swiss Sleepers
- bmeltzer

I'd rather not give up picks if possible, I'd try the Switzerland route first.