I don't think Simmonds can play the left side.
- MJL

But some today have dinged Schenn for the same sin.

Maybe an ignorant question, but can the flyers send Vinny down to the ahl like the kings did to Richards?
- benjichronic

Sadly no, he has a NMC

No because he has a NMC. Richards lost his NTC when he was traded before it took effect.
- Baxter27

Ahhhh gotcha. That makes sense. So because Richards accepted the LA trade, he lost that clause??

But some today have dinged Schenn for the same sin.
- TheGreat28

I just think the lineup can look more balanced out if Simmonds can play on that top line. I would do what I can to get him comfortable there for the season. Schenn has dealt with constant moving around and we always complain about his consistency. I would like Simmonds to work on that top line

But some today have dinged Schenn for the same sin.
- TheGreat28

I haven't read that. I think the biggest complaints against Schenn are the long stretches of inconsistency. It would also help if the Flyers would stop bouncing him around, and find a position for him, and leave him there. Schenn does share some cuplability in that though.

Ahhhh gotcha. That makes sense. So because Richards accepted the LA trade, he lost that clause??
- benjichronic

I don't think he lost the NTC clause. NMC is different from NTC. No moevement clauses mean a player can't be traded or sent down without permission. No trades clauses i think just keep a player from being traded.

Ahhhh gotcha. That makes sense. So because Richards accepted the LA trade, he lost that clause??
- benjichronic

Richards didn't have a choice in the trade to LA. The Flyers traded him before his NTC kicked in.

I don't think he lost the NTC clause. NMC is different from NTC. No moevement clauses mean a player can't be traded or sent down without permission. No trades clauses i think just keep a player from being traded.
- J35Bacher

Yes, he did lose the clause. When a player is traded, the clause is removed.

OK, after reading the comments this AM, I have recognized the error of my ways. I officially repent.

I now recognize that I have the pride, the privilege, nay, the pleasure of to watching a player, sired by players. A player who can trace his lineage back beyond Charlemagne to Guy Lafleur and Yvon Cournoyer. I first learned of him atop a mountain near Jerusalem, praying to God, asking his forgiveness for the Penguin blood spilt by his stick. Next, he amazed me still further in land of Manhattan when he saved a fatherless beauty from the would-be ravishing of her dreadful Ranger uncle. In Canada he spent a year in silence just to better understand the sound of a hockey puck sliding across a frozen pond. And so without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give to you, the seeker of serenity, the protector of American virginity, the enforcer of our Lord Stanley, the one, the only, Sir Sean of Couturier!
- TheGreat28

Your time would be better spent doing some basic statistical research than on writing this kind of cringeworthy crap.

I just think the lineup can look more balanced out if Simmonds can play on that top line. I would do what I can to get him comfortable there for the season. Schenn has dealt with constant moving around and we always complain about his consistency. I would like Simmonds to work on that top line
- J35Bacher

He's been a RW his whole career and he'll be 27 this season. Leave him where he's comfortable.

I just think the lineup can look more balanced out if Simmonds can play on that top line. I would do what I can to get him comfortable there for the season. Schenn has dealt with constant moving around and we always complain about his consistency. I would like Simmonds to work on that top line
- J35Bacher

It certainly would. But unfortunately many players can't shift around the ice as much as we'd like. Briere, Carter, Brind'amour, etc never felt comfortable on the wing. Vinnie is probably in that list, and has flat out said he can't play LW. The team seems to be inclined to leave Laughton and Cousins in the middle.

Read has played LW out of necessity but has said he prefers the right. Schenn looked horrible on the left, and neither Simmonds nor Jake has agreed to move over as well.

On defense, they've got players that have expressed a strong desire to one side of the ice or the other.

It's one of the reasons I've advocated trading a young prospect or two for a comparable young LW or two.

Danny Briere Retirement press conference transcript

I just want to say thanks to all of you for attending, for showing up this morning. It means a lot. Today as you’re well aware, I’m announcing my retirement from playing in the NHL. It’s been a great ride and I’ve been very, very fortunate all those years to play for so long and to play for so many wonderful organizations. But unfortunately it’s the end of the road for my playing days. One of the reasons why I decided to do it here in Philadelphia is because I had some of my best memories here. The bulk of my career was played here and in Buffalo. It’s home to me and my family, and the boys are going to school here.

There’s a few thank you’s that are in order and I’d like to spend just a few minutes naming a few. I’d like to start off with my parents for all the money and the sacrifices they’ve done to give me the chance to play hockey growing up. My sister, who was stuck chasing me in the rinks and spending a lot of time in the rinks… it wasn’t always easy for her, so a big thank you to her and her family for all those years. All my friends, I’ve made a lot of friends growing up and playing hockey, all over the world, even during the lockout. I still have some friends that are in Berlin, some friends that are in Switzerland. They know who they are, the people who I constantly text with back and forth, that were there in the good times and the bad times and were always there for me supporting me throughout my career, a huge thank you to them. I want to say thank you to the five organizations that I’ve had a chance to play with in the NH, and they’re all very special in their own way. There’s something a little special with all of them. The Coyotes, the Buffalo Sabres, the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, and obviously the Philadelphia Flyers here. It was probably the biggest decision of my career when I decided to join the Flyers, the biggest and the toughest as well, but one that I certainly don’t regret. I want to thank Mr. Snider, Paul Holmgren, and Peter Luukko for trusting in me when I joined the Flyers. All the coaches, staff, and teammates that I’ve had along the way, I’ve had great relationships, friendships and memories with a lot of them, so I thank all of them for being there and supporting me and my teammates and my teams throughout all these years. The fans throughout the hockey world, the people that support us, I’m a big hockey fan and I love the game, I still do even when I was a player, I still consider myself a fan, I loved watching games in between, especially playoff hockey. It’s the best time of the year, but because of those fans, it gives us the chance to be athletes and earn a living playing the game that we love so much.

I want to thank the ladies in my life… there’s not a lot, I’m stuck with three boys at home. But there’s a few ladies around. First of all my fiancee Misha, who’s been a rock for me the last four years; my ex-wife Sylvie, who was a big part of my career, especially the first half; and also Keirsten, who’s been helping me with the kids the last few seasons. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to go out and play – without any of those three ladies especially, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my career going the past couple years. And the last three that have been my inspiration all those years, the reason I kept going, I kept fighting, kept pushing, kept staying on the ice for more, going to the gym, to be able to keep playing – my three boys that are there in the back [Caelan, Carson, Cameron]. Thank you boys for all of your patience and being there without me the last couple years. Like I said earlier, I’m a big fan of the game, and in the future I hope to stay involved somehow in the hockey world.

Where does this take you now? Have you thought about the future?

There’s many things that I’d like to do moving forward. First and foremost the priority is going to be the boys and the family. All those years when we play, we’re on the road a lot, and especially the last two years being away from the kids, from the family, has been tough at times, so a big part of my reason for putting a stop now is having the chance to spend more time with them. The boys are all in high school, they don’t have lot of time left at home, and I don’t want to miss any more time with them. I want to be there to watch them grow up, watch them play their sports, hockey and lacrosse or whatever else they decide to join. After that, in the next few days, weeks, I’m hoping to sit down with Homer and maybe go over different options about what might I possibly be doing around here and helping out with the Flyers hopefully.

When you look back on 17 years, is there one moment where you say this is something that was tops for me?

Like I said earlier, every organization, there’s a spark that’s been special. But if I had to pick one, one moment is the two-month stretch in 2010, our playoff push to the Stanley Cup Final. It was tough losing two wins away from achieving the ultimate dream, but that two month stretch – making the playoffs on a shootout the last day of the season against possibly the best shootout goalie in the league and taking that all the way to two wins away from the Stanley Cup was the best two months of my career.

You’re not doing a press conference like this in any other city. Why Philly?

It was a huge decision when I decided to join. I’ve always felt like it was the right decision. I felt at home all this time here. The relationship with the organization, the staff, my teammates, the fans here, has been amazing. Like I said, I come back here in my offseasons, they’ve been spent here the last couple years. It’s home to our family. Those are all reasons why it’s here in Philadelphia.

Why were you so good in the playoffs?

I don’t know. I wish I had a clear-cut answer. I don’t think anybody can explain why it happens that way, why certain players come out that way and why other players it doesn’t work so well. I’ve been fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. Throughout my career I’ve been asked that question a lot, and I wish I had a more clear-cut, defined answer. I can’t exactly put my finger on it. But it was also something that I’m very proud of and I really enjoy doing. I know when the game was on the line, I wanted to be the guy who was going to make the play. I wanted to have the puck, I wanted to find a way to make it happen. That became tougher… you know your role as you get older, and you’re not the go-to guy anymore on the team, but you still feel like you can do it in that one special moment. It became tough when you’re sitting on the bench and you’re watching other guys. I guess it’s the competitive side. I just wanted to be the guy making the plays. I learned a lot of that from Chris Drury, when I showed up in Buffalo, just watching him handle himself. He was known earlier in his career from being a guy who could make it happen when it was demanded, almost. I learned a lot from him just on how he prepared and how he wanted to be the guy making the difference every chance. That’s kind of the attitude I adopted when we were in the shootout, when we were at the end of the game and we needed a goal, when we were in overtime, or a playoff game, I was constantly telling myself on the bench, I’m going to be the guy making the difference. And for whatever reason, when you believe it, a lot of the time, it happens.

Was there any time you thought about coming back for one more season?

Yes, there’s many times when I was going back and forth. Like I said, I still love the game, and I wish I was still playing. It wasn’t just about myself and about playing. There was more involved in my decision. So yes, I was going back and forth many, many times. But there’s no doubt in my mind. I’m very comfortable with the decision. That’s part of the reason too. I didn’t want to come out and make an early decision, and regret it, and come back and change my mind. I wanted to make sure I was OK with it moving forward. At this point, I feel like it’s time and I’m making the right decision.

Are you proud of being viewed as a clutch player?

Yes I’m proud of it. There’s no doubt about it. Like I said earlier, I wish I had a more clear-cut answer on why it happened that way, but yes, I’m very proud of it. That and the other thing looking back over my career that I’m really proud of…we all hear the saying that it’s one thing to get to the NHL, it’s another thing to stay. One thing that I’m very proud of is that I tasted the NHL early on in my career, and it was taken away from me. It took me three years of ups and downs before I was able to get back up for good. There was a lot of tough times, tough moments… clearing waivers, when nobody picked me up. That’s another thing that I’m very proud, that I fought and never quit, and kept working hard to achieve my dream.

Your time would be better spent doing some basic statistical research than on writing this kind of cringeworthy crap.
- Feanor

I PERSONALLY like cringe-worthy crap

Kasper had a 70 point season..................just saying
- puckhead17

True. Howeva.....that season was an outlier for Kasper (that 88 Bruins team was damned good). He was typically a 40-50 point guy in an era where scoring was more prevalent that even today.

Danny Briere Retirement press conference transcript
- bmeltzer

Thank you, kind sir.

Are people actually upset with Coot's new contract? Even for a shutdown Center in Today's NHL it's a pretty amazing deal for someone who consistently neutralizes the elite players of the NHL. The current Flyers lack of secondary scoring is hardly Coot's fault. We need to find a way to get Vinnie back into a scoring position if we want to be competitive next year. I'm hoping Sam Gagner's Speed can help with that. Maybe a line with Sam, Vinnie and Simmonds.

Danny Briere Retirement press conference transcript


- bmeltzer

Thank you, sir.

Are people actually upset with Coot's new contract?
- flyler

Serious. Ponderous.

Are people actually upset with Coot's new contract?
- flyler

People? No.

A single person? yes.

People? No.

A single person? yes.
- jmatchett383

LOOL

People? No.

A single person? yes.
- jmatchett383

he has absolutely earned that contract. going from what 1.8mm per to 4.2 is a steal. I am actually shocked he didn't triple his salary. I mean he does have the hardest starts in all of hockey, plays with lousy wingers, and even shut down malkin 4 years ago.

Danny Briere Retirement press conference transcript

- bmeltzer

Thanks for posting Bill. One of my all time favorite players, seems like just yesterday he was signed as a free agent. When he was with Buffalo, it felt like every game would end with either Briere or Drury coming up huge at the end. Fans in Buffalo STILL talk about losing both players to free agency

I would put Laughton in the top 9 this year. See how he does at LW and C. Flyers shouldn't worry about their record this year and see what each player can do. Experiment with guys to see where they are most comfortable.

If Couts can't score with better usage and linemates then it's a good thing to know moving forward. If Laughton can play LW and C, he becomes more valuable. If Schenn is much better at RW, we know where he needs to play moving forward.

Playing vets like Umberger, VL and others is basically a waste of time. They aren't good and aren't going to become tradeable.
- PhillySportsGuy

Flyers should absolutely take this approach this year.

I have the same feelings regarding Manning. Flyers have spent all the time to let him develop in the AHL, plus gave him his "cup-of coffee" with Flyers last year, and didn't looked out of place IMO. I've read a lot of people say they bank on him being waived. Regardless of him possibly being claimed by another team, why wouldn't they finally see what they have in him?

Call me crazy but if the choice is between watching Luke Schenn have another rollercoaster year and waiving Manning versus giving Manning the bulk of the year to prove himself, I choose the later.

Schenn can go to the highest bidder once some league-wide injuries occur. With all the room likely needed next year on the blueline (Ghost, Morin, Hagg & possibly Provorov, Sanheim) I put the chance at resigning L Schenn at close to 0%.

Flyers should absolutely take this approach this year.

I have the same feelings regarding Manning. Flyers have spent all the time to let him develop in the AHL, plus gave him his "cup-of coffee" with Flyers last year, and didn't looked out of place IMO. I've read a lot of people say they bank on him being waived. Regardless of him possibly being claimed by another team, why wouldn't they finally see what they have in him?

Call me crazy but if the choice is between watching Luke Schenn have another rollercoaster year and waiving Manning versus giving Manning the bulk of the year to prove himself, I choose the later.

Schenn can go to the highest bidder once some league-wide injuries occur. With all the room likely needed next year on the blueline (Ghost, Morin, Hagg & possibly Provorov, Sanheim) I put the chance at resigning L Schenn at close to 0%.
- SeaIslelandLush

I realize this may be hard to believe. luke schenn is a legit nhl dman. manning is not.

People? No.

A single person? yes.
- jmatchett383

Do you mean me?

I have no problem with his contract. At worst, he's a shutdown center. And yes, I do think he has room to grow and will provide more offense than he has to date, albeit less production than some of you are projecting. Time will tell.

I think in general his problems are confidence and mind-set related so if things fall the right way he could blossom a bit. I think there is a also a chance he struggles offensively, puts more pressure on himself to focus on his strength, the defensive side of the ice, and gets pigeonholed into a role. Remember Ian Laperriere put up even more points in the Q and ended up as a 3rd shutdown kind of guy.

Either way, as long as his defensive game doesn't fall off the map, which is extremely unlikely, then it's a fair contract for both the player and the team.

My concern is more around roster construction, whether there would be enough offense with G-Couts-Laughton down the middle, and whether the lack of secondary scoring puts more pressure on G. You could even argue that with a more bonafide 3rd option at Center that would help Couturier on the offensive side because he would not feel as much pressure to score and could relax and the let his game develop a bit.

I think that's a pretty fair perspective.