I don't understand how Doug Armstrong's the greatest thing since sliced bread in signing Patrick Berglund to a one-year bridge deal at $3.25 million but Paul Holmgren's a bad GM for obtaining cost certainty in the deals he made with Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux.

The Giroux contract was genius.

But locking up Wayne Simmonds for the next six years at less than $4 million per season, with the cap likely back at $70 million in two years...if Paul Holmgren had done a one or two-year bridge deal with Simmonds, he's looking at paying him $5 million -- or more -- next season.

For anyone who thinks I'm delusional, wait until folks see what David Clarkson and Bryan Bickell get.
- AllInForFlyers

I just get stunned when people compare a UFA deal to a RFA deal. It's not quite apples and oranges, but it's oranges and tangerines.

Schenn for JVR made sense, youth for youth. Strength for weakness, I'm fine with that. Grossmann fits the younger bill, no issues with that at all. I am not on board with streit, I'd rather they just go with what they have. Maybe there'll be a better option next year...
- FlyerLifer

Go with what they have?

Timonen- who is 1 year from retirement
Schenn- a rock thus far
Coburn- chronically inconsistent
Grossmann- an injury question mark
Mez- see Grossmann; also, an injury waiting to happen
Gustafson- we don't know what we'll get with this guy. Face it. We don't.
--OTHERS-- all borderline NHL 3rd pairing guys

You want to "go with what we have"? At least Streit brings SOMETHING even SLIGHTLY reliable...

I don't recall reading anyone not liking the giroux and Simmonds deals...
- FlyerLifer

But you equated Doug Armstrong doing a one-year deal with Berglund as a smart move, while saying that Paul Holmgren's a bad GM.

How smart is Armstrong if Berglund goes off for 30 goals, 70 points and the Toronto Maple Leafs hit him with a 6 year, $40 million offer sheet because he went bridge deal with his top-line center?

This is great! Shows what clowns the Media are in this town. Think Holmgren wants to kick his ass!

http://the700level.com/fl...comes-to-bad-goaltending/

I don't have any issues with those returns either.
- FlyerLifer

anyway, my point is im glad we have a GM that "reacts"

some see that as a negative. i dont.

the obvious "plan" would have been to stick with richards and carter and continue building the team around them with their decade-long deals. Now maybe it would have worked out in the end, but the GM evaluated the situation, reacted, and pulled the trigger to get good value before the NTCs kicked in.

im not saying Homer hasnt made mistakes, but i cant stand hearing people talk like he's throwing darts at a dartboard while other GMs are supposedly following some perfectly mapped-out 20-step plan toward building a Cup team.

I just get stunned when people compare a UFA deal to a RFA deal. It's not quite apples and oranges, but it's oranges and tangerines.
- Jsaquella

I've said these exact words here before:

The contract that Bickell is going to get is going to make me puke.

And get someone fired.

Go with what they have?

Timonen- who is 1 year from retirement
Schenn- a rock thus far
Coburn- chronically inconsistent
Grossmann- an injury question mark
Mez- see Grossmann; also, an injury waiting to happen
Gustafson- we don't know what we'll get with this guy. Face it. We don't.
--OTHERS-- all borderline NHL 3rd pairing guys

You want to "go with what we have"? At least Streit brings SOMETHING even SLIGHTLY reliable...
- Giroux_Is_God

He was on the isles' third pairing last year.

I'm also not against looking at them...I do believe that the timeframe to sign them has passed for this year, though.
- Jsaquella

My only concern with them is that I've heard nothing of them and the NHL. You'd think if they were as good as they seemed, or if bringing them to NA was an option, then we would have heard rumors linking them to NHL teams. But there's nothing.

dont forget that in 2010 they came within a shootout loss in the final game of the season to even making the playoffs.

and even then they had to make NHL history to somehow get passed the 2nd round.

its not like they were some juggarnaut team.

then they get swept in the 2nd round the next year.
im glad he made those trades and still love the return he got for Richards and Carter.
- Crimsoninja

truth

He was on the isles' third pairing last year.
- FlyerLifer

he was still their captain and one of the leading defensive scorers in the league.

This is great! Shows what clowns the Media are in this town. Think Holmgren wants to kick his ass!

http://the700level.com/fl...comes-to-bad-goaltending/
- MJL

The beat guys in this town make me want to carpet bomb things.

But you equated Doug Armstrong doing a one-year deal with Berglund as a smart move, while saying that Paul Holmgren's a bad GM.

How smart is Armstrong if Berglund goes off for 30 goals, 70 points and the Toronto Maple Leafs hit him with a 6 year, $40 million offer sheet because he went bridge deal with his top-line center?
- AllInForFlyers

He could match at that point because he is better at managing the cap and he will have the cash available.

He was on the isles' third pairing last year.
- FlyerLifer

And he put up 50 points consistently in the last handful of years.

On an ABYSMAL Islanders team.

But you equated Doug Armstrong doing a one-year deal with Berglund as a smart move, while saying that Paul Holmgren's a bad GM.

How smart is Armstrong if Berglund goes off for 30 goals, 70 points and the Toronto Maple Leafs hit him with a 6 year, $40 million offer sheet because he went bridge deal with his top-line center?
- AllInForFlyers

That's the risk. Holmgren has done some deals with JVR and Simmonds where they might be overpaid initially in the early years of the deals. Further down the line, their deal will be a flat out steal. Like the situation with Simmonds that you referenced. I think he can be a 30-30 player. You and I both know what that kind of player would cost you as a UFA. But if he continues to grow as a player, they have Simmonds locked up in a deal that get's better and better as time goes on.
I keep reading about all the bad deals that Holmgren has made. While all the good one he has made are ignored.

No, but what we read is that there is no plan. That doesn't fly in my opinion. You may not like the plan or agree with it. But there definitely is one.
- MJL

Like it or not the flyers have unseated the leafs as the leagues new laughing stock

Its gone from the Rangers to the leafs to the flyers


Wooooooooooo

anyway, my point is im glad we have a GM that "reacts"

some see that as a negative. i dont.

the obvious "plan" would have been to stick with richards and carter and continue building the team around them with their decade-long deals. Now maybe it would have worked out in the end, but the GM evaluated the situation, reacted, and pulled the trigger to get good value before the NTCs kicked in.

im not saying Homer hasnt made mistakes, but i cant stand hearing people talk like he's throwing darts at a dartboard while other GMs are supposedly following some perfectly mapped-out 20-step plan toward building a Cup team.
- Crimsoninja

I support this 100%. And let's face it. The Flyers aggressiveness put them in that spot. They traded away a lot of draft picks in an attempt to win. I like that. Yea, he's not Chiarelli, or Holland. But I'd much rather be a fan of a team that spends the money, is aggressive in trying to win. Then one of the teams that is always under the Cap, with holes in the lineup. Coming up short every year.

Like it or not the flyers have unseated the leafs as the leagues new laughing stock

Its gone from the Rangers to the leafs to the flyers


Wooooooooooo
- Just5

With torts in Van he might just carry the torch over to the Couv.

He hit 20 goals, 22 to be exact, in 48 games. Not 82 games. That's scoring at a 37 goal pace over a full Season. And Voracek hasn't just done this Season, he continued from a very good second half of the previous Season. Every player develops at their own individual pace. The Flyers have all the star power they need.
- MJL

I'm sorry, has Voracek not played 82 games in one season before? It always comes down to doing it again. It always comes down to grinding it out, avoiding injury and fighting through long stretches of gaming and while being tired. I'm not interest paces a player could have scored at (Not down play Jake's actual production). I disagree you. I as a fan would like to see a splash.

Like it or not the flyers have unseated the leafs as the leagues new laughing stock

Its gone from the Rangers to the leafs to the flyers


Wooooooooooo
- Just5

Says who?

He was on the isles' third pairing last year.
- FlyerLifer

Really? How did a 3rd pair defenseman average the 2nd most TOI for them last year? He was just 11 seconds per game behind Andrew MacDonald.

Also, why did they offer him a 3 year deal for near $5mm per if he was that awful?

The beat guys in this town make me want to carpet bomb things.
- Giroux_Is_God

Lighten up. I hate barkann but that was funny

He was on the isles' third pairing last year.
- FlyerLifer

Thank you Donny.

Not as high or Nurse. Wennberg is intriguing, but I have other names in mind. Depending on what is available, I'd love to trade down and try to get a second 1st rounder.

I wonder if the Blue Jackets would be willing to trade the two later first rounders they hold for the 11th pick.
- Jsaquella

Interesting idea. I'm sure there's not much of a drop off with a few of the D-men around 20 and around 11.

Say who?
- MJL

Its out there. If you dare to venture outside of bill's thread

And he put up 50 points consistently in the last handful of years.

On an ABYSMAL Islanders team.
- Giroux_Is_God

Come on, they're not that bad but I get your point.