The reason I believe Meszaros could be traded is if the Flyers do decide to keep Bryzgalov for one more year. If you do that, even with buying Daniel Briere out, you still probably need to loosen up a little cap space, and Meszaros, again, only has one year left on his deal.
- AllInForFlyers

It's for sure a possibility.

The reason I believe Meszaros could be traded is if the Flyers do decide to keep Bryzgalov for one more year. If you do that, even with buying Daniel Briere out, you still probably need to loosen up a little cap space, and Meszaros, again, only has one year left on his deal.
- AllInForFlyers

If the Flyers keep Bryz I agree they will need more cap space but I think a second rd pick for Meszaros is expecting too much because of the injuries he had this year.

betting on drej to get his poop together and have a good year may be a better gamble than testing the free agency waters. particularly if guys like mark streit are going to be getting multi years at around 6 mil per

and a positive: if it doesn't work out that's 10 mil in cap space btw him and kimmo alone coming off the books in an offseason where cap space should be very very important to the flyers. and this is before we even start talking about russian goaltenders

The reason I believe Meszaros could be traded is if the Flyers do decide to keep Bryzgalov for one more year. If you do that, even with buying Daniel Briere out, you still probably need to loosen up a little cap space, and Meszaros, again, only has one year left on his deal.
- AllInForFlyers

doubt if mez has much value w/ those health issues

the thing about hall is that he'd be an easy guy to move after the exhibition gms w/ a $650k salary. cheap plyrs that take f/o's, kill penalties and play physical have enuf value. it seems like such a no-brainer to sign him.

I hope the Flyers try to let some of the young guys come up. Im tired of them signing older D men for 1-2 years to be a 7ht dman. Give the young guys a shot and see how they do. This year should be interesting for the Flyers

doubt if mez has much value w/ those health issues
- isaiah520

Yeah, id say a 5th rounder for him... It sucks but Mez has been a unhealthy mofo. Hopefully he gets good and strong for the next year

I hope the Flyers try to let some of the young guys come up. Im tired of them signing older D men for 1-2 years to be a 7ht dman. Give the young guys a shot and see how they do. This year should be interesting for the Flyers
- bigmookalookie

Yup. Oliver L should be #7. Give him this season to hone his game in the AHL, then (if ever) he should be ready for the call up to the bigs.

5 million a year for Gonchar? Yikes...
- FlyerLifer

Market value deal, especially in a depleted UFA market.

Yeah, id say a 5th rounder for him... It sucks but Mez has been a unhealthy mofo. Hopefully he gets good and strong for the next year
- bigmookalookie

I certainly can admit perhaps a 2nd is aggressive, but Ottawa just got a 6th just for the right to negotiate with an 38-year-old Sergei Gonchar who they weren't even going to resign.

Again, I realize Meszaros has been hurt. I don't dispute that hurts his value. But, for instance, the Islanders are letting Mark Streit walk because they don't want to pay him $5 million-plus.

If you're them, you still need a defenseman who can play -- not just any defenseman, but somebody who can actually play. Doesn't mean it has to be Meszaros, but I would have to believe that if Ottawa got a sixth for a guy they weren't even going to sign, there's a little more value there for Meszaros, despite his injuries over the last season.

I don't like that signing either. Too much money for Gonchar.
- stveshdy

Again, it's the UFA market value for a veteran defenseman who still plays a lot of minutes and can produce points at a healthy clip. If you don't want your team to pay that much, then stay away from the open-market options.

5 mil for Gonchar? Youve got to be kidding me.


So are you guys ready to back off BPA and get behind best D man available given the defensive state of our franchise? If Lindholm or Monahan drops way down to 11 thats one thing but the price of getting solid D men on the open market is absolutely absurd.

I wouldn't be suprised if after the rumored CBO on Briere's contract, he signs a 2 year deal with Ottawa. 5 min away from his hometown/family.

I wouldn't be suprised if after the rumored CBO on Briere's contract, he signs a 2 year deal with Ottawa. 5 min away from his hometown/family.
- Chris48

I'm willing to bet he signs with the Devils for whatever they'll pay him and probably shack up somewhere halfway between Newark and Haddenfield .

5 mil for Gonchar? Youve got to be kidding me.


So are you guys ready to back off BPA and get behind best D man available given the defensive state of our franchise? If Lindholm or Monahan drops way down to 11 thats one thing but the price of getting solid D men on the open market is absolutely absurd.
- hereticpride

Yes, this is why I'm not a BPA guy. Now, I'm not saying reach for a player either. But defense is at a premium, so drafting D makes sense.

I'm willing to bet he signs with the Devils for whatever they'll pay him and probably shack up somewhere halfway between Newark and Haddenfield .
- hereticpride

Yep, also possible.

Yes, this is why I'm not a BPA guy. Now, I'm not saying reach for a player either. But defense is at a premium, so drafting D makes sense.
- TheGreat28

Agreed. I wouldn't reach either. But if Pulock, Ristoleinin or Zadorov are on you have to take one, assuming one of the top 4 forwards doesnt slide to 11.

I certainly can admit perhaps a 2nd is aggressive, but Ottawa just got a 6th just for the right to negotiate with an 38-year-old Sergei Gonchar who they weren't even going to resign.

Again, I realize Meszaros has been hurt. I don't dispute that hurts his value. But, for instance, the Islanders are letting Mark Streit walk because they don't want to pay him $5 million-plus.

If you're them, you still need a defenseman who can play -- not just any defenseman, but somebody who can actually play. Doesn't mean it has to be Meszaros, but I would have to believe that if Ottawa got a sixth for a guy they weren't even going to sign, there's a little more value there for Meszaros, despite his injuries over the last season.
- AllInForFlyers

I really hope they don't trade mez unless they are a seller at the tdl (which I don't see happening). They don't need to do anything but buy out or trade Briere to get a couple million under the cap. Go into the season with spots the young guys can actually earn. The more I think about it the more I like this team as is for another season. A bounce back from Schenn, Coots, Hartsy, and some others is not impossible. If the defense can stay healthy and with mason challenging bryz in net I think the flyers can compete. Reassess the team midseason. Jmo.

Sergei Gonchar signing for that is actually GREAT NEWS for the Flyers.

Because as of this moment, Andrej Meszaros, with one year left on his contract at a cap hit of $4 million...there's no way he can't be valued at less than a second-round pick in this year's draft. It's impossible!

I understand completely that Sergei Gonchar had a statistically strong season with a playoff team, and yes, his camp could easily argue that he was worth $5 million, which clearly they did and the Stars agreed. Good for them.

But at the same time, you can't tell me that if the Flyers decide to trade Meszaros for salary cap flexibility, SOMEBODY isn't going to look at what you have to pay defensemen in today's NHL and pony up a second for Meszaros, at $4 million for one season.

I know he's been injured. I know, I know, I know.

But there is NO WAY that there isn't one team in the league who is looking around and saying, "Oh, my gosh. We can't pay that kind of money. Who's available for $4 million who can actually play?"
- AllInForFlyers

If I thought that Meszaros was a bad player, I'd agree with you. But as I happen to have a very high oppinion of his play when healthy (being only 3 years older than gus and have 8 years of nhl xp) And the fact that Homer & Co also have high opinions of him as well. (Plus the fact that he's been injured.) Unless there is a massive movement for a true puckmoving #1 in the realm of Weber. I think the idea of them moving their only Young 2-way defensemen with skill, Speed and experience is pretty much between nil and "you must be joking".

So as we stand on the precipice of a (knock on wood) full healthy season of Meszaros playing and being used on the top line (giving Kimmo more rest) and finally as a regular on the power play. Please do not act shocked when he breaks 40 points this year.

I thought the salary cap was suppose to help from having these ridiculous cap hits but obviously I was wrong.
- stveshdy

Free Agents are still going to get paid top dollar. The middle class player is going to feel the crunch.

If I thought that Meszaros was a bad player, I'd agree with you. But as I happen to have a very high oppinion of his play when healthy (being only 3 years older than gus and have 8 years of nhl xp) And the fact that Homer & Co also have high opinions of him as well. (Plus the fact that he's been injured.) Unless there is a massive movement for a true puckmoving #1 in the realm of Weber. I think the idea of them moving their only Young 2-way defensemen with skill, Speed and experience is pretty much between nil and "you must be joking".
- flyler

Again, I think it's the money -- Briere alone isn't going to get it done, as far as the cap is concerned, right?

It doesn't mean it has to be Meszaros -- though I tend to disagree somewhat with your assessment on how much the Flyers like him, based on quotes I saw during his Achilles rehab and his willingness to get back in the mix after being cleared -- but I'm not certain that just buying out Briere gives them enough room to fill out the last two spots on the roster, depending on if they bring in an upgrade to Simon Gagne who costs money, as opposed to resigning him for less, or, again, buying out Ilya Bryzagalov.

Again, I certainly have no knowledge about what they might do with Meszaros. I'm just speculating that his value, with one year left on his deal at a salary that most teams can absorb, might be high enough where you can't say no, if presented the opportunity and you aren't going to resign him.

Just curious, how is Andrew Johnston shaping out?

Just curious, how is Andrew Johnston shaping out?
- pharcyde

Well, he had at least one concussion last year that cost him some time. The Phantoms coverage indicated that while he has physical ability, including skating ability, he was having trouble with the pace of play (albeit, as a rookie.)

I watched three Phantoms games last year; he was active for two of them. He just looked...like a raw rookie. I think it would be harsh to call him anything worse than that.

This year will likely provide a better assessment (with, hopefully, Johnston having a better idea what pro hockey is, as far as pace and space, or lack thereof.)

Bill,
Any thoughts on Marc Andre Bourdon? I know he is not a call up, but he is in that 6th-8th spot on Defense (once Gus is resigned and barring a Pronger comeback).

Quick thoughts:

If a 39 year old Gonchar is going for 2years at 5 mil per, Timonen is a steal at 1 year for 6 million.

After seeing what Gonchar got, some GM is going to give Streit 18 million over 3 years, it better not be Holmgren

All of a sudden, making a deal for JayBo, who St. Louis is not going to want to pay after re-signing Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk, is looking like a good move even with 1 year left at 6.7 million

Now, more than ever, I am fine at going with Timonen, Schenn, Coburn, Grossmann, Mez and Gus to start the season.

Still want to see them take the B.PA. with the 11th pick, however I am not opposed to trading down as long as they don't fall below pick #18.

Loved seeing the Pens getting swept last night, somewhere Pierre Maguire and Sidney Crosby are consoling each other.

Don't you love the way the Bruins play team defense? Don't you hope Lavy and the Flyers are taking notes?

Only 22 days til the draft!!

Finally, I have lost over 25lbs and 4 inches off my waist!! Am soon going to have to change my name to NotquitesoBiggE!