After last season, there's very few guys that can make the claim that they have a spot to lose.

I think Laviolette is in a tight spot and he's going to play whomever plays best, because he's going to want to stay employed.

I guess my bottom line is, I wouldn't dump Meszaros just to make it easier to sign Gagne or stay out of using LTIR. They're going to utilized the LTIR exemption from Pronger, there's really no way around that.

I'd like Gagne to return, and I do think it will happen. But they have to wait to make it work cap wise.
- Jsaquella

My belief that Meszaros could be on the outs has little to do with Gagne. It's been explained to me that Gagne can return regardless. It has more to do with the emergence of Gustafsson who I would like to see full time. Then we have cheaper options such as Gervias and Bourdon. Clearly it's not impossible Meszaros could stay but I like the idea of cap flexibility and Gustafsson being able to continue improving his game at the NHL.

Who's claiming Meszaros is fully healthy?

.
- dingo8urbaby

Luukko, Holmgren, and Laviolette for three.

After last season, there's very few guys that can make the claim that they have a spot to lose.

I think Laviolette is in a tight spot and he's going to play whomever plays best, because he's going to want to stay employed.

I guess my bottom line is, I wouldn't dump Meszaros just to make it easier to sign Gagne or stay out of using LTIR. They're going to utilized the LTIR exemption from Pronger, there's really no way around that.

I'd like Gagne to return, and I do think it will happen. But they have to wait to make it work cap wise.
- Jsaquella

Holmgren specifically said the Pronger would be LTIRed as soon as he'd appeared on the season opening roster.

Luukko, Holmgren, and Laviolette for three.
- bodiva88

Link

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 1h
"@andystrickland: Doug Armstrong hints STL will likely add D on PTO if Alex Pietrangelo remains unsigned."/Speculation is it's Ryan Whitney.

Why do teams do this to their superstars? Subban last year, now Piet this year? Teams need to take a hint from Pitt and Philly; give your stars the money they want, as soon as possible, cause one way or another, they will end up getting paid.

My belief that Meszaros could be on the outs has little to do with Gagne. It's been explained to me that Gagne can return regardless. It has more to do with the emergence of Gustafsson who I would like to see full time. Then we have cheaper options such as Gervias and Bourdon. Clearly it's not impossible Meszaros could stay but I like the idea of cap flexibility and Gustafsson being able to continue improving his game at the NHL.
- dingo8urbaby

The cheaper options can't be relied upon to fill a top 4 role in case of injury. And Meszaros staying doesn't mean that Gustafsson is necessarily the odd man out, it just means that Gustafsson has to earn the spot.

The cap flexibility would be nice, but assuming they add Gagne for $2mm, and recall Rosehill, they'd still have almost $2.3mm in LTIR exemption for wiggle room

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 1h
"@andystrickland: Doug Armstrong hints STL will likely add D on PTO if Alex Pietrangelo remains unsigned."/Speculation is it's Ryan Whitney.

Why do teams do this to their superstars? Subban last year, now Piet this year? Teams need to take a hint from Pitt and Philly; give your stars the money they want, as soon as possible, cause one way or another, they will end up getting paid.
- JAKEw1234

Because eventually the players usually cave and sign a bridge deal, which means the team gets to save cap room for a couple years. The pressure is really on the player. If he doesn't sign by a certain date-I forget what it is, but it's sometime in December-he's ineligible to sign for the rest of the season.

Not many players want to lose a season-and delay UFA-by sitting out a whole season.

The cheaper options can't be relied upon to fill a top 4 role in case of injury. And Meszaros staying doesn't mean that Gustafsson is necessarily the odd man out, it just means that Gustafsson has to earn the spot.

The cap flexibility would be nice, but assuming they add Gagne for $2mm, and recall Rosehill, they'd still have almost $2.3mm in LTIR exemption for wiggle room
- Jsaquella

Every player at some point has to earn a roster spot. Giroux was a lock in his first camp just to be beaten out by Steve Downie. I get that. At the same time if the Flyers didn't have cap complications and had to abide by the rules, do you think they would drop Meszaros today or keep him just to stay kind and loyal?

Everyone player at some point has to earn a roster spot. Giroux was a lock in his first camp just to be beaten out by Steve Downie. I get that. At the same time if the Flyers didn't have cap complications and had to abide by the rules, do you think they would drop Meszaros today or keep him just to stay kind and loyal?
- dingo8urbaby

I think they would keep him. If he's healthy, he's still a top 6 defenseman that can handle sizeable minutes. That's a valuable asset in today's NHL.

If it was a choice between a fully healthy Meszaros and a fully healthy Grossmann, for instance, I'd take Meszaros.

I think they would keep him. If he's healthy, he's still a top 6 defenseman that can handle sizeable minutes. That's a valuable asset in today's NHL.

If it was a choice between a fully healthy Meszaros and a fully healthy Grossmann, for instance, I'd take Meszaros.
- Jsaquella

Grossmann I believe still has a few years on his deal and I have more faith in Grossmann staying healthy at this point then Meszaros. It is within my belief Meszaros is done after this season no matter what. Maybe the Flyers are okay with delaying the inevitable but I wouldn't. Since Grossmann has been here, if he plays, he impresses every game. This isn't the case with Meszaros. It's also within my belief that Mark Streit has replaced Meszaros. Not officially but meszaros' time is coming to an end. Whether I'm right or wrong, the organization would never blatantly come out in status, hints the Carter and Umburger situation a number of offseasons back.

Still not nearly as horrible as the Nashville abominations.
- Scoob

Dear God, those Sabres jerseys are beyond hideous. How is it a good idea to have two different shades of yellow on the same jersey???

Link
- dingo8urbaby

THesportsdiva.com three reports on the Season Ticket Holder Town Hall meetings. All linked in the last few Meltzes.

Said by each man, in my presence. And in the presence of King Kenzo and about 70 other people.

The cheaper options can't be relied upon to fill a top 4 role in case of injury. And Meszaros staying doesn't mean that Gustafsson is necessarily the odd man out, it just means that Gustafsson has to earn the spot.

The cap flexibility would be nice, but assuming they add Gagne for $2mm, and recall Rosehill, they'd still have almost $2.3mm in LTIR exemption for wiggle room
- Jsaquella

One of the telling things said by Laviolette was that Meszaros was "outstanding" before his injury woes and Homer said he was one of their best defensemen before them. Now, it's possible each of the three execs was trying to talk up Meszaros to make him seem more valuable to other teams, but considering the expected audience for the comments, that was unlikely. I doubt there were any secret scouts in the crowd.

Dear God, those Sabres jerseys are beyond hideous. How is it a good idea to have two different shades of yellow on the same jersey???
- Hextall271

The worst part of those jerseys is that Buffalo has had some nice jerseys in their history.

This one is just abysmal. I hate it more than the Team USA jerseys that were recently unveiled and I REALLY hated those Team USA jerseys.

If it was a choice between a fully healthy Meszaros and a fully healthy Grossmann, for instance, I'd take Meszaros.
- Jsaquella

Agree completely. Grossmann's injury history actually scares me more than Meszros'

THesportsdiva.com three reports on the Season Ticket Holder Town Hall meetings. All linked in the last few Meltzes.

Said by each man, in my presence. And in the presence of King Kenzo and about 70 other people.
- bodiva88

Need list of names of those 70 people or it didn't happen. In fact if I don't get them by EOD, most likely truth is really that Paul Holmgren doesn't even exist.

Thank you...........

Edit:
PS want them in alphabetical order too.

NEW BLOG

That thing actually makes the Buffaslug look good
- Jsaquella

Never thought I'd think that was possible, but yeah.

"My eyes! The goggles -- they do nothing!"

Reports say that Brian Burke is joining the Calgary Flames in some capacity. Bob McKenzie tweets that he's deep in discussions with the Flames.
- Jsaquella

He's gonna slap sense into Feaster?

Need list of names of those 70 people or it didn't happen. In fact if I don't get them by EOD, most likely truth is really that Paul Holmgren doesn't even exist.

Thank you...........

Edit:
PS want them in alphabetical order too.
- hockeylover

Agreed. Everyone knows Homer wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey before moving to Springfield. There's no way he's in Philadelphia.

THesportsdiva.com three reports on the Season Ticket Holder Town Hall meetings. All linked in the last few Meltzes.

Said by each man, in my presence. And in the presence of King Kenzo and about 70 other people.
- bodiva88

I'm quoting myself because a PM I got appears to show some misunderstanding.

a) I am TheSportsDiva
b) I am the source in that I heard with my own ears in person the comments by Luukko, Holmgren, and Laviolette, which has been made clear on earlier threads here
c) each of the three execs said in separate sessions that Meszaros is on track to be ready to play at the beginning of the season and that he sees him as an important piece of the Flyers defense

I don't think any of that could be considered particularly cagy or baiting on my part.

I'm quoting myself because a PM I got appears to show some misunderstanding.

a) I am TheSportsDiva
b) I am the source in that I heard with my own ears in person the comments by Luukko, Holmgren, and Laviolette, which has been made clear on earlier threads here
c) each of the three execs said in separate sessions that Meszaros is on track to be ready to play at the beginning of the season and that he sees him as an important piece of the Flyers defense

I don't think any of that could be considered particularly cagy or baiting on my part.
- bodiva88

Speaking for myself and I'm sure a lot of other will agree. I appreciate being informed on what's said at the ST events. It's up to each person to take what's been said, and how much weight to give to it.