Bill Meltzer: Powe resigned

Great signing. I have always been a Powe fan. Just a non stop players, great for the 4th line and can step up to other lines if need be fore short periods.

Also a necessity with Betts on the IR to start the season.

Bill Meltzer: Powe resigned
- bmeltzer

Any word on players being waived? (cote, bartulis, walker, boucher??)

I doubt they waive Bartulis, it would basically be giving him away to a team because he would definitely be picked up.

I would assume with guys like Turco and Theodore still out there, the Flyers are still interested in them? Any truth to this?

Thanks Bill

well now i can rest easy, the 4th line is all shored up, aside from losing the defensive tenacity and scoring touch of Gagne, and not signing a top notch goalie, or even a past his prime top notch goalie, we should all celebrate a guy who can skate fast, play decent defense, and score when it doesn't matter. I would rather have kept Asham and not signed Shelly, but thats just my common sense getting in the way i guess.

The off season moves of Homer have not really given me much to cheer about at this point.

Someone talk me down off the curb, i mean it's not high up but i could stub a toe.

well now i can rest easy, the 4th line is all shored up, aside from losing the defensive tenacity and scoring touch of Gagne, and not signing a top notch goalie, or even a past his prime top notch goalie, we should all celebrate a guy who can skate fast, play decent defense, and score when it doesn't matter. I would rather have kept Asham and not signed Shelly, but thats just my common sense getting in the way i guess.

The off season moves of Homer have not really given me much to cheer about at this point.

Someone talk me down off the curb, i mean it's not high up but i could stub a toe.
- flyersfan_92

I am actually very satisfied with the roster. We have a better team right now then we did when the season ended. There also is still time to bring in another goalie like Turco or Theodore. As they continue to sit out there unsigned, their expectations and value continue to decrease. I fully expect them to sign another goalie.

Bill Meltzer: Powe resigned
- bmeltzer

w00t!

Any word on players being waived? (cote, bartulis, walker?)

I would assume with guys like Turco and Theodore still out there, the Flyers are still interested in them? Any truth to this?

Thanks Bill
- FlyersAreBackk

No need to waive Bartulis, as he is waiver exempt and can still be sent back and forth to the minors.

There is also really no need to waive Cote until the end of the preseason, both to have an extra player to dress and to extend the opportunity (however slim) that another NHL club -- presumably one that has an enforcer get injured in the preseason -- would be willing to trade for Cote (who makes a modest salary on the cap). If there are no takers, he will be waived and spend the season in the AHL.

Walker won't be waived. They will carry him as the 7th defenseman, stepping in occasionally for O'Donnell or when there are injuries in the top 5.

The Flyers insist that they are done looking for goalies and are no longer interested in Turco. Not sure I buy it, but that's the party line.

No need to waive Bartulis, as he is waiver exempt and can still be sent back and forth to the minors.

There is also really no need to waive Cote until the end of the preseason, both to have an extra player to dress and to extend the opportunity (however slim) that another NHL club -- presumably one that has an enforcer get injured in the preseason -- would be willing to trade for Cote (who makes a modest salary on the cap). If there are no takers, he will be waived and spend the season in the AHL.

Walker won't be waived. They will carry him as the 7th defenseman, stepping in occasionally for O'Donnell or when there are injuries in the top 5.

The Flyers insist that they are done looking for goalies and are no longer interested in Turco. Not sure I buy it, but that's the party line.
- bmeltzer

Oh alright I wasn't aware that Bartulis was waiver exempt, I thought he was on a strictly one way deal with the big club. So they basically just send him down, which means Walker remains. Makes a lot of sense.

So you take Bartulis and Cote from the cap hit and they are sitting around $1.4 mill under the cap. If they waive Boucher to sign another goalie, they have about 2.4 million to do so.

Interesting stuff Bill!

The club will definitely miss Gagne's two-way play. I don't think he will ever again be a 35-plus goal scorer (I think he's lost a half-stride due to injury, and no longer gets nearly as many breakaways as he once did, in addition to goals where he gets open near the net). But he is clearly still a very valuable player.

I would be surprised if Nikolai Zherdev does not top Gagne's regular season offensive output from last season. However, sadly, I will be quite surprised if he comes close to scoring 9 playoff goals next spring. Add in the defensive question marks, and I am still unconvinced that he will be an adequate replacement.

Hopefully, added maturity and being on a yearlong UFA salary drive will enable Zherdev to elevate his game beyond what he's shown so far in the NHL.

Oh alright I wasn't aware that Bartulis was waiver exempt, I thought he was on a strictly one way deal with the big club. So they basically just send him down, which means Walker remains. Makes a lot of sense.

So you take Bartulis and Cote from the cap hit and they are sitting around $1.4 mill under the cap. If they waive Boucher to sign another goalie, they have about 2.4 million to do so.

Interesting stuff Bill!
- FlyersAreBackk

But if they spend the full $2.4, or close to it, they have no cap flexibility down the road. I highly doubt they go after a goaltender, unless they intend to move another higher-priced roster player.

The club will definitely miss Gagne's two-way play. I don't think he will ever again be a 35-plus goal scorer (I think he's lost a half-stride due to injury, and no longer gets nearly as many breakaways as he once did, in addition to goals where he gets open near the net). But he is clearly still a very valuable player.

I would be surprised if Nikolai Zherdev does not top Gagne's regular season offensive output from last season. However, sadly, I will be quite surprised if he comes close to scoring 9 playoff goals next spring. Add in the defensive question marks, and I am still unconvinced that he will be an adequate replacement.

Hopefully, added maturity and being on a yearlong UFA salary drive will enable Zherdev to elevate his game beyond what he's shown so far in the NHL.
- bmeltzer

God knows he has the potential to blow away past nhl seasons.

The club will definitely miss Gagne's two-way play. I don't think he will ever again be a 35-plus goal scorer (I think he's lost a half-stride due to injury, and no longer gets nearly as many breakaways as he once did, in addition to goals where he gets open near the net). But he is clearly still a very valuable player.

I would be surprised if Nikolai Zherdev does not top Gagne's regular season offensive output from last season. However, sadly, I will be quite surprised if he comes close to scoring 9 playoff goals next spring. Add in the defensive question marks, and I am still unconvinced that he will be an adequate replacement.

Hopefully, added maturity and being on a yearlong UFA salary drive will enable Zherdev to elevate his game beyond what he's shown so far in the NHL.
- bmeltzer

I agree 100% with these comments. I think Zherdev will have no problems replacing Gagne's offensive output. Many say Zherdev disappears for long stretches, so has Gagne in the regular season for the past few years. He simply is not the same offensive player he was. Tough to say about the playoff points cause who would have thought Ville Leino would have the points he had in the playoffs. All it would take is Zherdev to be in a little hot streak in the playoffs and you never know.

I also agree 100% with the lack of defensive play by Zherdev. That will absolutely be missed with Gagne gone. However, with a boulstered defense, hopefully that helps. Just need to put Zherdev with two very responsible defensive players. Maybe Richards and Giroux? That would be one hell of a line

Zherdev-Richards-Giroux
Leino-Briere-Hartnell
Carcillo-Carter-JvR
Lappy-Powe-Shelley

That Carter line is Ugly as hell, but those top two lines would be nasty

But if they spend the full $2.4, or close to it, they have no cap flexibility down the road. I highly doubt they go after a goaltender, unless they intend to move another higher-priced roster player.
- marooninja

Why would they have to spend the entire thing? With these goalies out here still, they aren't gonna be getting the deals they expected. The market has clearly washed up for goalies, in part because of the two goalies who played in the cup this year. I could see Theodore signing for like $1.5 mill.

Oh alright I wasn't aware that Bartulis was waiver exempt, I thought he was on a strictly one way deal with the big club. So they basically just send him down, which means Walker remains. Makes a lot of sense.

So you take Bartulis and Cote from the cap hit and they are sitting around $1.4 mill under the cap. If they waive Boucher to sign another goalie, they have about 2.4 million to do so.

Interesting stuff Bill!
- FlyersAreBackk

I believe he does have a one way contract, but all that determines is how much he makes at the minor league level.

Oh alright I wasn't aware that Bartulis was waiver exempt, I thought he was on a strictly one way deal with the big club. So they basically just send him down, which means Walker remains. Makes a lot of sense.

So you take Bartulis and Cote from the cap hit and they are sitting around $1.4 mill under the cap. If they waive Boucher to sign another goalie, they have about 2.4 million to do so.

Interesting stuff Bill!
- FlyersAreBackk

My thoughts exactly. I am hoping they sign Theodore to a 2 or 3 year deal. I think he is only 32 compared to Turco's 35. There is still some gas in that tank and I am just not sold on Leighton. Bring in a true No. 1 like Theodore. Give Leighton an entire year under Reese and see if he can take the no. 1 spot back from Jose. My only concern is that Leighton played well last year when pressed in to service, but he did improve as he got more ice time. Sitting behind jose might slow down his progress.

My thoughts exactly. I am hoping they sign Theodore to a 2 or 3 year deal. I think he is only 32 compared to Turco's 35. There is still some gas in that tank and I am just not sold on Leighton. Bring in a true No. 1 like Theodore. Give Leighton an entire year under Reese and see if he can take the no. 1 spot back from Jose. My only concern is that Leighton played well last year when pressed in to service, but he did improve as he got more ice time. Sitting behind jose might slow down his progress.
- section32

Theodore may be 32, but he has played way more NHL level games then Turco has from what I remember through my comparison of the two a few weeks ago.

If Theodore came in here, the job would not be handed to him. The two would have to battle it out for the No. 1 spot. Theodore would have the upper hand in winning that job, but it wouldn't just be handed to him upon signing the deal.

But god damn...

Zherdev-Richards-Giroux
Leino-Briere-Hartnell
Powe-Carter-JvR
Carcillo-Lappy-Shelley
Betts (IR)

Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Meszaros
Coburn-O'Donnelll
Walker

Leighton/Theodore


would be one hell of a roster if you ask me. Could you imagine playing against a 4th line of Carcillo-Lappy-Shelley?

I agree 100% with these comments. I think Zherdev will have no problems replacing Gagne's offensive output. Many say Zherdev disappears for long stretches, so has Gagne in the regular season for the past few years. He simply is not the same offensive player he was. Tough to say about the playoff points cause who would have thought Ville Leino would have the points he had in the playoffs. All it would take is Zherdev to be in a little hot streak in the playoffs and you never know.

I also agree 100% with the lack of defensive play by Zherdev. That will absolutely be missed with Gagne gone. However, with a boulstered defense, hopefully that helps. Just need to put Zherdev with two very responsible defensive players. Maybe Richards and Giroux? That would be one hell of a line

Zherdev-Richards-Giroux
Leino-Briere-Hartnell
Carcillo-Carter-JvR
Lappy-Powe-Shelley

That Carter line is Ugly as hell, but those top two lines would be nasty
- FlyersAreBackk

Carcillo-Richards-Giroux
Zherdev-Carter-JVR
HBL
Powe-Lappy-Shelley

Carle-Pronger
Timonen-Coburn
Meszaros-O'Donnell

Leights
Boosh

Any word on players being waived? (cote, bartulis, walker, boucher??)

I doubt they waive Bartulis, it would basically be giving him away to a team because he would definitely be picked up.

I would assume with guys like Turco and Theodore still out there, the Flyers are still interested in them? Any truth to this?

Thanks Bill
- FlyersAreBackk

Bartulis is Waiver exempt. He does not have to clear waivers to be sent down.

Carcillo-Richards-Giroux
Zherdev-Carter-JVR
HBL
Powe-Lappy-Shelley

Carle-Pronger
Timonen-Coburn
Meszaros-O'Donnell

Leights
Boosh
- jak521

That would take so much from Carter as he would have SO MUCH defensive responsibility on that line. JvR and Zherdev are probably our two worst defensive forwards (with Briere) lol

Zherdev needs to be playing with two very defensively responsible forwards, which to me would be Richards and Giroux, to get the best out of Zherdev. What happens though, similar to last year with Giroux, is Carter gets left with the mediocre forwards.

JvR needs to make that next step this year.

Bartulis is Waiver exempt. He does not have to clear waivers to be sent down.
- MJL

Try reading the responses already posted.

Theodore may be 32, but he has played way more NHL level games then Turco has from what I remember through my comparison of the two a few weeks ago.

If Theodore came in here, the job would not be handed to him. The two would have to battle it out for the No. 1 spot. Theodore would have the upper hand in winning that job, but it wouldn't just be handed to him upon signing the deal.

But god damn...

Zherdev-Richards-Giroux
Leino-Briere-Hartnell
Powe-Carter-JvR
Carcillo-Lappy-Shelley
Betts (IR)

Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Meszaros
Coburn-O'Donnelll
Walker

Leighton/Theodore


would be one hell of a roster if you ask me. Could you imagine playing against a 4th line of Carcillo-Lappy-Shelley?
- FlyersAreBackk

The 3rd line just doesn't impress me. Carter is a great sniper and I like him much more at center than on the wing, but JVR just didn't show me much last year. I like his size, but he needs to use it. And with Carter being as soft as he is I just don't know. I would flip flop Carcillo and Powe, but even that doesn't impress me.

The 3rd line just doesn't impress me. Carter is a great sniper and I like him much more at center than on the wing, but JVR just didn't show me much last year. I like his size, but he needs to use it. And with Carter being as soft as he is I just don't know. I would flip flop Carcillo and Powe, but even that doesn't impress me.
- section32

I agree, but one of these top 3 lines aren't going to impress you on paper (just like last year) because they don't have 6 legit forwards to play with the 3 very good centers we have.

As good as the Leino-Briere-Hartnell line was last year, I would love to see Leino on Carters wing.

Maybe..

Zherdev-Richards-Giroux
Leino-Carter-Carcillo
Hartnell-Briere-JvR
Lappy-Powe-Shelley

JvR wasn't that impressive last year, but a big man with that great of hands is gonna be a good player. He just needs to grow into the player he needs to be. Hopefully he does what he needs to do this off season (Umberger type off season) and gets bigger and stronger. JvR's progress will be a huge key to next seasons success.

I know he's on a week leave but if he's still reading happy birthday to B-Rad

That's Bradleyc4

Woooooot

For me, Powe and Carcillo should not be part of the top 9 forwards. They are both good energy guys on the 4th line. I'm hoping someone steps up in training camp (Maroon or Testuide-my spelling is probably off) to take a top 9 spot. If one of these guys emerge, it could really help the cap in future years.

For me, Powe and Carcillo should not be part of the top 9 forwards. They are both good energy guys on the 4th line. I'm hoping someone steps up in training camp (Maroon or Testuide-my spelling is probably off) to take a top 9 spot. If one of these guys emerge, it could really help the cap in future years.
- Troxell88

I doubt that happens. They already have their 13 forwards (14 with Cote), I agree Carcillo and Powe aren't top 9 forwards, but Carcillo was very affective during the regular season last year in the top 9.

My guess is they roll with what they have and acquire a winger at the TDL headed down the stretch and into the playoffs. Hopefully its another Ville Leino!