Think the Flyers firmly fall in the 'more' category
- Tomahawk

They're not the only ones -- Brad Richards. Ryane Clowe. David Clarkson. Marian Hossa. Travis Zajac. So on, and so forth.

I don't think it's a given that Timonen retires yet. Even if he stays, I wouldn't want him playing much more than 20-21 mpg. They do need someone who can play top pairing minutes in the worst way. I just don't want them to make a dumb move. If every team is asking for the world, then we need to just be patient and hope the young guys can contribute soon.
- PhillySportsGuy

I have zero interest in bringing back Timonen unless it's for less than half of his current deal.

I don't think it's a given that Timonen retires yet. Even if he stays, I wouldn't want him playing much more than 20-21 mpg. They do need someone who can play top pairing minutes in the worst way. I just don't want them to make a dumb move. If every team is asking for the world, then we need to just be patient and hope the young guys can contribute soon.
- PhillySportsGuy

Kimmo/Luke Schenn would be a nice pair next year, if they could get Kimmo for another year at a big discount.

edit, leight to the jsaq again

I have zero interest in bringing back Timonen unless it's for less than half of his current deal.
- Jsaquella

Agreed

Did we make a trade yet

True, but you still have the room to do it -- it'll be the same as it ever was: Somebody goes down on opening day, Pronger goes on LTIR, you're set.
- AllInForFlyers

There's no one on that squad who can go down to create space apart from Laughton, who only makes a few hundred K over the minimum anyway.

Did we make a trade yet
- ob18

Laughton for Jagr

There's no one on that squad who can go down to create space apart from Laughton, who only makes a few hundred K over the minimum anyway.
- Feanor

But why would we even need to send somebody down? We'd have a full roster, with the $6 million in space -- we're fine, cap-wise, to do whatever we want for next season.

Yes, Giroux's going up, but that's off-set by the cap going up. Timmo and Mez is 10.5 to the black -- that'll more than take care of Baby Schenn. We've got plenty of cash, to do whatever. It's not like the Rangers, where we have a ton of guys who aren't signed.

Some UFA defenseman under 30:
Niskanen, Matt
MacDonald, Andrew
Girardi, Dan
Nikitin, Nikita
Diaz, Rapheal

Any interest and would any of them actually make it to FA?

I bet it was a punch line amongst scouts.

Blackhawks scout: I'm here to scout Jonathan Toews. I hear he's one heck of a player.

Flyers: I'm here to scout Zac Rinaldo. I hear he's…a player.
- PhillySportsGuy

I laughed out reading this!!! Too (frankin) funny! Thanks!

True, but you still have the room to do it -- it'll be the same as it ever was: Somebody goes down on opening day, Pronger goes on LTIR, you're set.
- AllInForFlyers

'Same as it ever was' hasn't exactly been smooth sailing over the years... they've had to waive decent players and send guys down that would have otherwise made the team out of necessity... and they've lost guys and missed out on guys b/c of tagging space issues and roster limits and cap-space limits... you can push those problems into the future but eventually it's going to bite you.

Laughton for Jagr
- Jsaquella

'Same as it ever was' hasn't exactly been smooth sailing over the years... they've had to waive decent players and send guys down that would have otherwise made the team out of necessity... and they've lost guys and missed out on guys b/c of tagging space issues and roster limits and cap-space limits... you can push those problems into the future but eventually it's going to bite you.
- Tomahawk

True, but with the cap going up, and Timmo and Mez going, we are going to replace two defensemen next year.

Why are we worrying about the cap when we flat-out KNOW there will be two new defensemen here next year?

True, but with the cap going up, and Timmo and Mez going, we are going to replace two defensemen next year.

Why are we worrying about the cap when we flat-out KNOW there will be two new defensemen here next year?
- AllInForFlyers

I dont think anyone knows what Homer will do...probably give timonen another 1yr 6 mil and re sign mez

True, but with the cap going up, and Timmo and Mez going, we are going to replace two defensemen next year.
- AllInForFlyers

They've got a lot more business to handle this offseason beyond filling two D spots.

I dont think anyone knows what Homer will do...probably give timonen another 1yr 6 mil and re sign mez
- nonpoint22

That...would bring me to my knees.

Patrik Elias in Game 7 didn't bring me to my knees, 14 years ago.

Bringing Timmo back at 6 and Mez back at all...that would do it.

They've got a lot more business to handle this offseason beyond filling two D spots.
- Tomahawk

OK! I'll bite: What else is there more important than the D?

Every Top 9 forward is signed, except for Baby Schenn and Steve Downie. Baby Schenn smells like a bridge contract, you don't have to re-sign Downie if you don't want to.

You do have goaltending to worry about, but Mason can only be so difficult; he's RFA. Emery could walk, sure, but you could go with Cal Heeter as the backup -- he'll have played two full seasons in the minors.

Those two D spots are the most important things the Flyers have to fill -- those will determine how serious they are as contenders, no matter how they fill them.

Some UFA defenseman under 30:
Niskanen, Matt
MacDonald, Andrew
Girardi, Dan
Nikitin, Nikita
Diaz, Rapheal

Any interest and would any of them actually make it to FA?
- Marc D

Personally, I would be intrigued by Niskanen.

But why would we even need to send somebody down? We'd have a full roster, with the $6 million in space -- we're fine, cap-wise, to do whatever we want for next season.

Yes, Giroux's going up, but that's off-set by the cap going up. Timmo and Mez is 10.5 to the black -- that'll more than take care of Baby Schenn. We've got plenty of cash, to do whatever. It's not like the Rangers, where we have a ton of guys who aren't signed.
- AllInForFlyers

6m is enough for one good defenseman which we would need since the 6th D on that full roster is Pronger.

Even if you let Gus go, 7m is not enough to sign two quality FA defensemen. You KNOW less than you think.

OK! I'll bite: What else is there more important than the D?

- AllInForFlyers

Coach and GM?

That...would bring me to my knees.

Patrik Elias in Game 7 didn't bring me to my knees, 14 years ago.

Bringing Timmo back at 6 and Mez back at all...that would do it.
- AllInForFlyers

If Mez continues to improve, I don't think I would be opposed to bringing him back for 1 yr at 2 million. Give him a shot to prove that he can stay healthy, and that he can still produce at the level he did a couple years ago. He showed flashes of that last week, and when he can do that he dramatically improves this d's puck moving ability

Some UFA defenseman under 30:
Niskanen, Matt
MacDonald, Andrew
Girardi, Dan
Nikitin, Nikita
Diaz, Rapheal

Any interest and would any of them actually make it to FA?
- Marc D

Niskanen, Diaz, Girardi

No to Mez. The Flyers have to get at least one cheap D on the roster. Gus or Alt or maybe both should be in the top 7.

That...would bring me to my knees.

Patrik Elias in Game 7 didn't bring me to my knees, 14 years ago.

Bringing Timmo back at 6 and Mez back at all...that would do it.
- AllInForFlyers

Timmo for 2M, I'm down with that.

6m is enough for one good defenseman which we would need since the 6th D on that full roster is Pronger.

Even if you let Gus go, 7m is not enough to sign two quality FA defensemen. You KNOW less than you think.
- Feanor

Wow. OK.

The Flyers are currently cap compliant at $64.3 million, with Pronger's LTIR. Everybody knows this.

Downie, Hall, Emery, Timonen and Meszaros are UFA.

Baby Schenn and Mason are RFA. Giroux's contract escalates.

You're saying that the Flyers aren't going to have a full roster with two new defensemen on it? With the cap going up by $7 million?

It's borderline mathematically impossible, especially with Pronger's LTIR and the summer overage.

There's plenty of ways to do this -- not every defenseman they target has to be a $6 million player -- and they'll have to do it, because of free agency and Timonen and Mez's likely departures.

They have the money to do whatever they want.