Gillis is desperate to unload him for something. If we could trade a lower pick and prospect maybe to eat his salary i would consider it, but the issue is his contract is damn long and we'd be right back into the same situation as with Bryz if it doesn't work out. I would go hard for him if he's bought out. Wait til that period begins, if he's bought out, talk to the agent and if you could do 3 years like 12 mil, then immediately buy out Bryz and sign Lu. You upgrade goal, on a shorter contract and less money. Lu on Mason together would be a solid tandem IMO.
- Hextall271

I concur, Lu for 4 is not bad at all for that length.

Flyer goalie options are dwindling down as well unless Canucks take half of Lou's salary think its a bad move. I bet he gets bought out, Lou knows he has a bad contract and other teams know it too.
- flyerfan28

Even if they take some of the money, the deal is too long. It's an albatross and I think we'd be crazy to take him.

There is no question that the Flyers took a short term step back by trading Richards and Carter.
- MJL

I absolutely question that statement. There is every reason to question that statement. The fact that people keep saying it is totally incorrect. Absolutely, positively and completely incorrect.

The Flyers replaced the offense and defense that Richards and Carter provided. The Flyers could not replace the defense and transition game that Chris Pronger and Matt Carle provided.

The Flyers offered $110 million to Shea Weber. What does that tell you about what they're missing?

I will disagree, it was Lavi's mishandling of the goaltending before Bryz was even signed that led to the signing of Bryz.
- MBFlyerfan

We signed Bryzgalov because of years of mistakes made with goaltending. The entire organization has never picked a goalie and stuck with him.

We signed Bryzgalov because of years of mistakes made with goaltending. The entire organization has never picked a goalie and stuck with him.
- dingo8urbaby

Are you telling me the team who is owned by the guy with five wives is bad at committing to things?

Could someone clear this up for me please? The Flyers CAN still offer sheet Bernier if they wanted to, correct? Toronto traded for his rights, the same as we did Matt Streit? I doubt they would, but the option is there?

We signed Bryzgalov because of years of mistakes made with goaltending. The entire organization has never picked a goalie and stuck with him.
- dingo8urbaby

Pretty much... Lavi benching Bob in the PO's is just a drop in that bucket... the decision to get Bryz was a culmination of decades of futility in goal.

All he has to do then is tell Holmgren, Luuko, etc. that he wants out. I asked you this before, why would his agent have to go through all this. If a player wants out, simply request a trade, and make it known directly to the team that he'll be unhappy here. Versus what you speculate.

And one other question. The quote you provided from the Agent. Bryzgalov's rights were acquired on June 7th. He was signed to a 9 year deal on June 23rd. Why exactly would he have gotten another offer on July 1?
- MJL

- he doesn't want to just come out and demand a buyout. its bad form and reflects poorly on bryz.

- if vokoun was used as a hedge against bryz in an open negotiation, the results are obvious. no one has to know who the actual target is until it suits the flyers purposes. instead, they locked in and were at the mercy of the agent...like vokoun was at the mercy of a buyers mkt.

Could someone clear this up for me please? The Flyers CAN still offer sheet Bernier if they wanted to, correct? Toronto traded for his rights, the same as we did Matt Streit? I doubt they would, but the option is there?
- mikel33

Yes they can. But I see the situation as changed now. There was NO WAY LA could match an offer sheet, but TO has plenty of cap space to match any reasonable offer sheet. And I don't think the Flyers would OS Bernier for some outrageous cap hit.

Pretty much... Lavi benching Bob in the PO's is just a drop in that bucket... the decision to get Bryz was a culmination of decades of futility in goal.
- Tomahawk

Finally, someone who's been following the Flyers for most his life.

Could someone clear this up for me please? The Flyers CAN still offer sheet Bernier if they wanted to, correct? Toronto traded for his rights, the same as we did Matt Streit? I doubt they would, but the option is there?
- mikel33

Wont even be an option. Bernier will sign with Toronto before that happens. Besides even if he was offer sheeted Toronto would sign him easily. They have the space to do so.

I will disagree, it was Lavi's mishandling of the goaltending before Bryz was even signed that led to the signing of Bryz.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed. It all goes back to the way Lavi handled Bob (as a rookie) in the playoffs. That's where the situation got unnecessarily franked.

Are you telling me the team who is owned by the guy with five wives is bad at committing to things?
- feelingkettle

and not to count the many statues he has of himself at the mansion

Are you telling me the team who is owned by the guy with five wives is bad at committing to things?
- feelingkettle

We signed Bryzgalov because of years of mistakes made with goaltending. The entire organization has never picked a goalie and stuck with him.
- dingo8urbaby

they even traded Bernie back in the day

Pretty much... Lavi benching Bob in the PO's is just a drop in that bucket... the decision to get Bryz was a culmination of decades of futility in goal.
- Tomahawk

Not just benching, but putting the rookie goalie who got the Flyers into the POs that season up in the Press Box. There's no understating that.

Lavi couldn't have screwed that any more had he tried.

Not just benching, but putting the rookie goalie who got the Flyers into the POs that season up in the Press Box. There's no understating that.

Lavi couldn't have screwed that any more had he tried.
- wolfhounds

+1


It was a move that wreaked of pure unadulterated panic.

Finally, someone who's been following the Flyers for most his life.
- dingo8urbaby

So if we don't agree with you on Bob and Bryz, we haven't been following the Flyers for most of our lives?

How'd ya work that one out?

Edit: NM, I see your point wasn't solely about Bob and Bryz...

Not just benching, but putting the rookie goalie who got the Flyers into the POs that season up in the Press Box. There's no understating that.

Lavi couldn't have screwed that any more had he tried.
- wolfhounds

He was given Leighton, Boucher and a rookie who had never played in NA prior to that season... and you're surprised he was left grasping at straws after all three took turns crashing and burning?

Leighton should have never been re-signed before July 1. Bob should have never been rushed into the lineup, no matter how well he played early on.

It was a total organizational failure.

Not just benching, but putting the rookie goalie who got the Flyers into the POs that season up in the Press Box. There's no understating that.

Lavi couldn't have screwed that any more had he tried.
- wolfhounds

It was only an issue because of how embarrassing the goalie situation has been here for years. Homer and Snider still didn't have to go balls out and (unfortunately) get an "answer" in goal. If they were patient, they could've chalked it up to Bob's first year in NA and admittedly falling apart in the playoffs, and see how he did next year. Sadly, because of the mess the goaltending has been for years, no one in the front office could give it one more year. They were judging things by the past, but they haven't had a goalie prospect like Bob for years, so guess they had no idea what to do with him.

He's no Manny Malhotra, but for a top-10 offensive forward in the league, he's well above average. His two-way game is still a work in progress, but I wouldn't discount his persistent desire to always get better, as we've seen with his consistent improvement at the dot.

Crosby, Datsyuk, Toews... none of them entered the league as completely polished defensive players. G's only entering his 5th year in the league... I don't really see any reason why he can't improve to the point where his defensive game is a real asset.
- Tomahawk

I don't for a second doubt his work ethic or desire. Nor do I doubt that he will improve in that area. But he's not a very good defensive players at this point of his career.

+1


It was a move that wreaked of pure unadulterated panic.
- MBFlyerfan

Bryzgalov's track record before coming to the Flyers earned him the contract he has today. Being nominated for the Hart and Vezina will do that. It's called potential. Did it fail? Looks that way. On the other hand, anything Bob did in Philadelphia never screamed Vezina.

Bryzgalov's track record before coming to the Flyers earned him the contract he has today. Being nominated for the Hart and Vezina will do that. It's called potential. Did it fail? Looks that way. On the other hand, anything Bob did in Philadelphia never screamed Vezina.
- dingo8urbaby

2 years in NA and I'd imagine most goalie prospects don't scream Vezina. Ironically, Mason did.

Bryzgalov's track record before coming to the Flyers earned him the contract he has today. Being nominated for the Hart and Vezina will do that. It's called potential. Did it fail? Looks that way. On the other hand, anything Bob did in Philadelphia never screamed Vezina.
- dingo8urbaby

No, but that is not the point. Bob played very well in game 1, and for most of the season. Then he had a bad first period in game 2 and never saw the ice again until the final game of the playoffs. To me that is panic.

From the Bruins morning skate. Shades of 1988 at the Boston Garden.

Make it so hockey gods.