Kovalchuk saved the NJD a huge buyout. Almost like Bryz retiring and going to the KHL except Kovalchuk is still a good player but not at a $6.7M cap hit with 12 years left.

They would've had to pay him $11M+ per year for the next four years and $10M in the 5th not counting the 7 yrs after that. Huge albatross of a contract.
- phillydentist

That's assuming they wouuld have to buy him out at all. As long as he kept playing at a high level, why would they have?

I do like that, though I'm also a fan of two of the city's old hockey names, either the Totems or the Metropolitans.



WHAAAATT? NO..NO.. DOES NOT COMPUTE....DOES NOT COMPUTE... NORMAN, COORDINATE!

*non-existent e-cookies for anyone who gets the last reference there*
- dilbert719

one team named the "Mets" is 1 too many IMO.

Bobby Sanguinetti is off to Russia as well... the sky is falling!!
- Tomahawk

Maybe it's a New Jersey thing......

no question jagr ends up in jersey now
- Crimsoninja

If Jagr's main motivation is to win a Cup, why would he choose NJ now?

If Jagr's main motivation is to win a Cup, why would he choose NJ now?
- MJL

sure seemed like his main motivation was the Cup when he signed in Dallas

sure seemed like his main motivation was the Cup when he signed in Dallas
- Crimsoninja

lol

If Jagr's main motivation is to win a Cup, why would he choose NJ now?
- MJL

I joked about Jagr going to NJ on twitter, but you're kinda right with that remark.

That's assuming they wouuld have to buy him out at all. As long as he kept playing at a high level, why would they have?
- MJL

Right. There is absolutely no way this turns out good for the Devils. Uncle Lou might have just had an anurism. Its bad enough they lost a 1st rounder for cap circumvention. Then they could have had the 29th pick taken away. Then you have to know if your losing Kovy, you dont trade for Schneider. You need that pick.

Not to mention the UFA's they lost out on.

Weber's contract isn't too bad if you only lose picks. If you have to give up a top 6 F or two and a top 4 dman, that contract is a boat anchor b/c you need cap space to replace said top 6 F(s) and top 4 dman.
- phillydentist

The cost of player assets to obtain Weber, would be the only thing that would stop me from acquiring the player. The contract isn't a boat anchor. 7.8M Cap hit for a franchise defenseman is a steal.

Right. There is absolutely no way this turns out good for the Devils. Uncle Lou might have just had an anurism. Its bad enough they lost a 1st rounder for cap circumvention. Then they could have had the 29th pick taken away. Then you have to know if your losing Kovy, you dont trade for Schneider. You need that pick.

Not to mention the UFA's they lost out on.
- youarewrong

They really should've forfeited their pick after that last cup run.

As for free agency, no two ways around it, Kovalchuk screwed the Devils.

I'm just gonna come out and say it. I love our goaltending tandem of Mason and Emery but I'm still worried about our goaltending. I like these two players a lot but I'm still well aware that these two guys are not Henrik Lundqvist, Cory Schneider or Jonathan Quick.

I'm just gonna come out and say it. I love our goaltending tandem of Mason and Emery but I'm still worried about our goaltending. I like these two players a lot but I'm still well aware that these two guys are not Henrik Lundqvist, Cory Schneider or Jonathan Quick.
- dingo8urbaby

i hear you bro
honestly think they could be good for us during the season and have the team play hard in front of them

but then i start to think about a 7 game series with a top team in the playoffs and i get scared

i hear you bro
honestly think they could be good for us during the season and have the team play hard in front of them

but then i start to think about a 7 game series with a top team in the playoffs and i get scared
- Crimsoninja

Agreed. I may even have more faith in Emery then Mason as well. Didn't we want to make Mason the guy?

Do we know for sure that it was strictly about faceoffs and not because Lavi preferred the defensive matchup?


- Tomahawk

What defensive matchup? Giroux is at best an average defensive player. When Giroux took 1,182 faceoffs, and the next closest player took 553. It's about faceoff ability. That much is obvious.

Konopka and Steckel have been regular healthy scratches over the past couple of years. Konopka was waived and sent down right after signing w/ the Lightning -- he hasn't been able to stick with a team for more than a year since.


- Tomahawk

Faceoff ability isn't enough to keep a player in the lineup. You have to play a solid checking game as a 4th line player also.

I don't disagree with you about not rushing Laughton, but the Flyers have historically wanted their 1st-rounders in the lineup asap, and indications seem strong that they're planning to give him every shot to make the team.

Even if he didn't, they already had Holmstrom and Newbury under contract.

Kind of beating this thing to death, but IMO Gagne helps the team in many more ways than Hall does. They could be mutually exclusive due to contract limits, so that's the reason why I was questioning the Hall signing.
- Tomahawk

Newbury was signed for the AHL. And Holmstrom is not proven in that role. For 600K, get the veteran in that role.

Agreed. I may even have more faith in Emery then Mason as well. Didn't we want to make Mason the guy?
- dingo8urbaby

i think/hope mason will establish himself as the starter by the end of the year

sure seemed like his main motivation was the Cup when he signed in Dallas
- Crimsoninja

Touche! Good point!

What defensive matchup? Giroux is at best an average defensive player. When Giroux took 1,182 faceoffs, and the next closest player took 553. It's about faceoff ability. That much is obvious.





Faceoff ability isn't enough to keep a player in the lineup. You have to play a solid checking game as a 4th line player also.






Newbury was signed for the AHL. And Holmstrom is not proven in that role. For 600K, get the veteran in that role.
- MJL

Plus Holmstrom is coming off a serious knee injury. Who knows what you have there yet.

I'm just gonna come out and say it. I love our goaltending tandem of Mason and Emery but I'm still worried about our goaltending. I like these two players a lot but I'm still well aware that these two guys are not Henrik Lundqvist, Cory Schneider or Jonathan Quick.
- dingo8urbaby

this is kind of off the wall and is just a gut feeling. But there is a lot of good karma at work with Ray Emery.

Hate to say it, but Gagne is a player that might do well in NJ.

This should be the flyers new music for the pregame skate. New Punk Pearl Jam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0iRcpS5z-g

It was Gordie Howe this morning. I am devastated that for the second time I've been mere feet away from greatness and not expressed my appreciation to the man.

Unless Lou can continue to somehow make whiskey from water Jersey is in the poop. I do however think we may be hearing the demise of the Devils.

this is kind of off the wall and is just a gut feeling. But there is a lot of good karma at work with Ray Emery.
- MJL

I loved his discussion of how the Flyers went to such lengths to find the best option for him when he needed surgery. He clearly was appreciative of their commitment to him. He seems truly delighted to be here (as does Vinny, actually...Streit is hard to read).

i think/hope mason will establish himself as the starter by the end of the year
- Crimsoninja

I'm a big Emery fan but I put Steve Mason right there with the young core. I'm hoping you're right.

this is kind of off the wall and is just a gut feeling. But there is a lot of good karma at work with Ray Emery.
- MJL

I also cannot disagree with this. I think both players are deserving. May the best man win.