I'm pretty sure VL could have gotten more money and same or better term from some other teams...4.5 mm per year for him is a steal imo...especially wth the cap likely going up in future seasons it will be seem quite affordable for his production and intangibles imo.
- exlund

I like the deal. I think the flyers are looking to strike a balance between youth and win now. We will see how it plays out as it can go either way with this deal, but I'm interested/excited.

OHL Prospects Blog ‏@BrockOtten

Stephen Harper will be attending the Philadelphia Flyers camp. (he went undrafted in this past draft but will go back into the 2014 draft, good free look)

That's a bit more money then I was hoping for. Hmmm. Almost a million dollars more.
- Flyers1218

That million dollars is worth it.

I would? Sounds like you're making assumptions about me. And you know nothing about me.
- funmaster18

I think he's got the wrong guy, lol. At least, when last I checked you were a card carrying member of the optimist's club around here.

That million dollars is worth it.
- BulliesPhan87

This is how you avoid Shea Weber type situations. You pay high end players like it and move on

Coots for Kane? I might be the only Flyers fan who thinks Coots is WAY overrated.
- MeThatsWho

I wouldn't say WAY, but yeah, seems people are pretty much taking it for granted that he's going to be in Selke contender. His exceptional work against Malkin notwithstanding, he's got a long way to go to be considered anywhere near a Selke level player. His GA-ON/60 (goal against per 60 mins on ice 5v5) is mediocre...he also has a poor faceoff win %...not exactly the hallmarks of a future Selke level forward. I like him alot, but he's way to young to make those kinds of conclusions. I understand though, fans tend to get carried away with how they value their own prospects in trade scenarios etc.

Ryan Bright ‏@philabright

At $8.3m, Claude Giroux's cap comparables are Ryan Getzlaf (8.25) and Eric Staal (8.25)
- ob18

Didn't those guys win cups? What has Claude done?

That's what Ritch Winter said, when he told the Philly media that Bryzgalov had no other suitors and they were bidding against themselves.
- AllInForFlyers

Breeze had no other bidders.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough. Re-read part of your post...

"We could have had a much more significant contract if he made the decision solely on money,"

I think he's got the wrong guy, lol. At least, when last I checked you were a card carrying member of the optimist's club around here.
- BulliesPhan87

That's because all you care for is a player's offensive game when it's Coot's two-way game that makes him such a special player.
- JAKEw1234

Only, his defensive game isn't all that special either, yet...

This is how you avoid Shea Weber type situations. You pay high end players like it and move on
- eayost

Agreed -- get it done, pay market value, move on.

The Flyers didn't set the market with the Getzlaf and Staal deals, but it has been set. There's no reason for Giroux to take less -- he's a better player than Getzlaf right now, and Giroux and Staal are both great.

This is how you avoid Shea Weber type situations. You pay high end players like it and move on
- eayost

I definitely don't have a problem with showing Claude the money. Do it, get the maximum eight years, and I'm happy.

Their draft position is the only thing that is comparable and it's irrelevant 5 years later

Evander kane has been a star and is on the verge of superstardom

B schenn can't hold his jock strap. And trust me b schenn has no shown ability to be what e Kane is right now
- Just5

Keep in mind Schenn has played about 150 games less than Kane...their numbers through their first 100 NHL games or so are similar.

Only, his defensive game isn't all that special either, yet...
- exlund

lol

I wouldn't say WAY, but yeah, seems people are pretty much taking it for granted that he's going to be in Selke contender. His exceptional work against Malkin notwithstanding, he's got a long way to go to be considered anywhere near a Selke level player. His GA-ON/60 (goal against per 60 mins on ice 5v5) is mediocre...he also has a poor faceoff win %...not exactly the hallmarks of a future Selke level forward. I like him alot, but he's way to young to make those kinds of conclusions. I understand though, fans tend to get carried away with how they value their own prospects in trade scenarios etc.
- exlund

Other teams value him highly too

Didn't those guys win cups? What has Claude done?
- Dkos

Played beer pong with shattered wrists? I'm impressed, anyway.

While I agree the NHL is the toughest/demanding league to play in, it's not like streit spent years 18-27 of his life not playing hockey somewhere... It just wasn't in the NHL
- eayost

He played in Europe the first 10 years of his career. Bigger ice surface, less physical game and only 40-50 games a year vs 80ish in the NHL.

lol
- BulliesPhan87

You beg to differ I guess? Evidenced by what?

Didn't those guys win cups? What has Claude done?
- Dkos

You need more than one player to win a cup

Other teams value him highly too
- JAKEw1234

Yeah, he's still very young and has a good draft pedigree, thus has a significant youth premium built in...GMs may indicate interest, but it doesn't seem like he has such value where teams are willing to take him straight up for the names we hear about...the Yotes wanted Coots + Schenn + ? for him...

You beg to differ I guess? Evidenced by what?
- exlund

Not up for the detailed debate today. But we must be watching two different teams to think his defensive game isn't anything special.

EDIT: I'll offer this, for the sake of conversation: if Couturier's defensive game isn't anything special, why is his name literally the first one that's come up in every trade rumor for the Flyers over the past several months? Are other teams just easily fooled by a toothless young man? I think the attention speaks for itself.

Edler is not a similar guy to Mez. Mez isn't even fit to skate on the same ice Edler does. He's about 3 tiers above Mez. He hits hard, a skates smoothly, he can quarterback a PP with the best of them, and he plays shutdown D. There is just no comparison between him and Mez. There are no health questions. He had a back problem, he fixed it. Some nights he feels a little stiff, but like Timonen he battles through it because he's a warrior.
- JAKEw1234

Incorrect...there are lingering issues with his back...as recently as December he was considering (more) surgery, after the other one that you think "fixed" him. With Philly being a lightning rod for defensman injuries, tha last thing I want to expend considerable assets for is a player with a chronic back issue...these things usually don't get better over time on their own. If he can be had for a package of a prospect or two (not Morin) and 2nd/3rd rd pick, or in the of Mez/Coburn sacrifice scenario, I'd take a chance, but not for the top kids on the roster.

OHL Prospects Blog ‏@BrockOtten

Stephen Harper will be attending the Philadelphia Flyers camp. (he went undrafted in this past draft but will go back into the 2014 draft, good free look)
- ob18

I believe we already had a lengthy conversation about him on the last blog's comments

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

Huge trade in the works. Boston and Dallas close on a deal sending Tyler Seguin to Stars for Loui Eriksson. Other parts involved as well.

From Darren Dreger via Twitter

Yeah, he's still very young and has a good draft pedigree, thus has a significant youth premium built in...GMs may indicate interest, but it doesn't seem like he has such value where teams are willing to take him straight up for the names we hear about...the Yotes wanted Coots + Schenn + ? for him...
- exlund

But the Yotes were asking for a stupid amount seeing as the price for Weber was Coots + Schenn + a pick I believe.