Can't remember who was arguing with me the other day about the flyers not having enough to pay phaneuf $7-7.5 million...


Dreger just said the cap should go up to $70-71 million next season. More than enough to re-sign Mason, B Schenn, Downie, and Phaneuf at $7.5 million


Check out @DarrenDreger's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Darre...status/410084717824712704

Flyers look to have caught another break. Crawford got injured last night. Looks like the Flyers will face Antti Raanta Wednesday night in Chicago.
- PLindbergh31

I'll be there.... 1st row seat too. Can't wait.

Isn't that the key? If you cant draw fans in, then why should you have a team?
- youarewrong

If they let the market decide, the NHL would be a 12-team league, with 3 teams in the Toronto area, 2 in Montreal, Vancouver, one Alberta team, Detroit, just one team in NY, Philly, Boston, maybe Chicago and San Jose.

Only about a handful of those teams could afford to be competitive.

You'd really be up for that?

If they let the market decide, the NHL would be a 12-team league, with 3 teams in the Toronto area, 2 in Montreal, Vancouver, one Alberta team, Detroit, just one team in NY, Philly, Boston, maybe Chicago and San Jose.

Only about a handful of those teams could afford to be competitive.

You'd really be up for that?
- Tomahawk

It's not nearly that simple -- there are cities with arenas who have fans, who would sell tickets.

The use of Florida as worst-case scenario is an fallible an argument as using Toronto as best case.

Minnesota's fine, there would be more than one team in New York, just as there is now, Pittsburgh's got a new arena and its revenues are fine, so on and so forth.

For every market that fails, you have the opportunity to have one that succeeds -- no one thought Oklahoma City could have an NBA team, or that Seattle would lose one. And yet, here we are.

I normally really like Rinaldo but I have to agree that he better be on the shortest leash known to man. When he skates he better feel the pressure of Berube's hand on his jock strap because last game was ridiculous. I'm tired of being down a man due to his stupidity.
In his defense the refs have been heavy handed with him. What he seems to fail to realize is that will be his fate in life forever... It's not like he's Neal and can just knee people in the head by "mistake" and waltz away unscathed...
- FlyersGrace

At no time do I want a player to feel this...

missed the whole weekend. i'm just assuming things went poopty and still are at the moment.

And if enough teams fail, then the market would inevitably correct itself, with regard to salaries paid and franchise values -- players would take less in order to keep jobs.

It's always been a balancing act to maintain the viability of sports leagues and teams. But the answer isn't to artificially prop up the Atlantas of the world. The answer is to first find 30 markets that have 15,000-18,000 willing ticket buyers, every year, rain or shine.

The NHL will be fine as long as it identifies those markets -- and there are 30 of them in North America. I have absolutely no doubt of that.

missed the whole weekend. i'm just assuming things went poopty and still are at the moment.
- hammarby31

I'm trying to maintain an even keel right now. Simply I am mirroring the team's performance, not to great that I have the semi yearly mid December cup fever, or so down I have a bag on my head. They're hovering around .500. If the top line can start playing like a top line in spite of the cement shoed defense or homer can pull a defenseman outta his hat the way he pulled a goalie out last season, we could be in good shape.

If they let the market decide, the NHL would be a 12-team league, with 3 teams in the Toronto area, 2 in Montreal, Vancouver, one Alberta team, Detroit, just one team in NY, Philly, Boston, maybe Chicago and San Jose.

Only about a handful of those teams could afford to be competitive.

You'd really be up for that?
- Tomahawk

There are always going to be markets that can earn, but arent earning because of team situation. There are other teams that just flat out will never be able to earn. The later is the teams you move. Florida, Phoenix, Devils. You dont need every city to be a major market, but you do need cities that are able to compete.

5 games for Neal.

And if enough teams fail, then the market would inevitably correct itself, with regard to salaries paid and franchise values -- players would take less in order to keep jobs.

It's always been a balancing act to maintain the viability of sports leagues and teams. But the answer isn't to artificially prop up the Atlantas of the world. The answer is to first find 30 markets that have 15,000-18,000 willing ticket buyers, every year, rain or shine.

The NHL will be fine as long as it identifies those markets -- and there are 30 of them in North America. I have absolutely no doubt of that.
- AllInForFlyers

Its funny how much sports economics/governing can be parelled to real economics and government.

5 games for Neal.
- PLindbergh31

what the hell happened. i saw no hockey over the weekend.

5 games for Neal.
- PLindbergh31

SOB. He is on my fantasy team. First he is hurt... now suspended.... grrr.

I'm trying to maintain an even keel right now. Simply I am mirroring the team's performance, not to great that I have the semi yearly mid December cup fever, or so down I have a bag on my head. They're hovering around .500. If the top line can start playing like a top line in spite of the cement shoed defense or homer can pull a defenseman outta his hat the way he pulled a goalie out last season, we could be in good shape.
- JoeRussomanno

Couts for Yak, edm 1, and Nurse....

what the hell happened. i saw no hockey over the weekend.
- hammarby31

Behind the play Neal "accidentally" kneed Marchand in the head when he was down on the ice and no one else was around.
The sequence is worth watching though cuz Thornton's hit on Orpik immediately after was also a travesty. I'm sure he's going to get 10+.

For how many minutes?
The seven minutes last night was oh so nice.
- FlyersGrace

last night? you're stuck in some sort of pk vortex!!

what the hell happened. i saw no hockey over the weekend.
- hammarby31

He kneed that little jerkoff Marchand in the head. I hate Neal and Marchand so I enjoyed the play.

missed the whole weekend. i'm just assuming things went poopty and still are at the moment.
- hammarby31

sounds like you're in the right mood for this thread. now just start thinking of ways to trade couturier for yakupov and you're all set.

last night? you're stuck in some sort of pk vortex!!
- -davies-

You're right...

Days without hockey mean nothing. NOTHING...

Behind the play Neal "accidentally" kneed Marchand in the head when he was down on the ice and no one else was around.
The sequence is worth watching though cuz Thornton's hit on Orpik immediately after was also a travesty. I'm sure he's going to get 10+.
- FlyersGrace

these leopards don't change their spots, do they?

There are always going to be markets that can earn, but arent earning because of team situation. There are other teams that just flat out will never be able to earn. The later is the teams you move. Florida, Phoenix, Devils. You dont need every city to be a major market, but you do need cities that are able to compete.
- youarewrong

The Flyers weren't a earner in the early years... they were a weak-sister franchise, a foolhardy experiment... just like hockey in the desert and hockey in Florida seems to us now.

Not all the experiments are going to work, but you have to give them every opportunity to do so, and hope that the league will be stronger overall for them.

what the hell happened. i saw no hockey over the weekend.
- hammarby31

you should check it out. the pens and the bruins had themselves quite a little game.

sounds like you're in the right mood for this thread. now just start thinking of ways to trade couturier for yakupov and you're all set.
- -davies-

not in any mood other than being exhausted. i will not advocate trading coots. not even for crosby.

5 games for Neal.
- PLindbergh31

He deserves every one of them

He deserves every one of them
- BiggE

Agreed, no benefit of doubt for that cheapshot.