If he does nothing at the trade deadline I'm fine with it. July 1 will be the time to fix the defense, not February 27th.
- PLindbergh31

In due time. The Flyers have the talent to get things back together. The veterans need to step up. Good teams overcome adversity so lets see how the boys in O&B respond.

In due time. The Flyers have the talent to get things back together. The veterans need to step up. Good team overcome adversity so lets see how the boys in O&B respond.
- stveshdy

Perfect group of patsies coming into the WFC on Thursday night to get healthy against. Have to start winning home games.

Why not give him a 2nd year? He's a decent depth defenseman with a low Cap hit. Why have to go looking again next year?
- MJL

1) 2nd-year triggers 40+ contract restrictions,
2) Lilja was clearly on the decline as a player,
3) Long injury history, has that chronic foot condition,
4) Flyers had a few prospects that could have competed for the #6-7 slot,
5) There were many comparable d-men left after the first day of UFA, in retrospect Lilja had very little real leverage, but still managed to get favorable terms.


I'm a big fan of Homer as a GM, but sometimes his aggressiveness and decisiveness gets the better of him and he ends up misjudging the market and/or getting into a situation where he ends up negotiating against himself and overpaying.

1) 2nd-year triggers 40+ contract restrictions,
2) Lilja was clearly on the decline as a player,
3) Long injury history, has that chronic foot condition,
4) Flyers had a few prospects that could have competed for the #6-7 slot,
5) There were many comparable d-men left after the first day of UFA, in retrospect Lilja had very little real leverage, but still managed to get favorable terms.


I'm a big fan of Homer as a GM, but sometimes his aggressiveness and decisiveness gets the better of him and he ends up misjudging the market and/or getting into a situation where he ends up negotiating against himself and overpaying.
- Tomahawk

He was signed with the assumption there would be prospects competing for those slots on the defense. It's an affordable luxury to carry that kind of defenseman to step in at times when those prospects aren't getting it done. I really wouldn't call him restrictive to the cap at all, so the 40+ thing isn't much of a concern.

Getting the second year shows they just didn't want to have to deal with filling that role in again next offseason, he's the guy they want.

Any deals yet?

1) 2nd-year triggers 40+ contract restrictions,
2) Lilja was clearly on the decline as a player,
3) Long injury history, has that chronic foot condition,
4) Flyers had a few prospects that could have competed for the #6-7 slot,
5) There were many comparable d-men left after the first day of UFA, in retrospect Lilja had very little real leverage, but still managed to get favorable terms.


I'm a big fan of Homer as a GM, but sometimes his aggressiveness and decisiveness gets the better of him and he ends up misjudging the market and/or getting into a situation where he ends up negotiating against himself and overpaying.
- Tomahawk

What exactly is 2nd year triggers 40+ contract restrictions? Why would the Flyers want a prospect being a part time player spending time in the press box? Who are the comparable D men that were available? He's 36 years old! LOL. No kidding he was on the decline as a player. What did you think you were getting? He was signed to be a part time 6/7 D man. Not for the future.
He has a 700K cap hit. He really had a lot of leverage. The problem is that some fans are looking at it from the prosepctive that they don't want him for 2 years. The Flyers did.

He was signed with the assumption there would be prospects competing for those slots on the defense. It's an affordable luxury to carry that kind of defenseman to step in at times when those prospects aren't getting it done. I really wouldn't call him restrictive to the cap at all, so the 40+ thing isn't much of a concern.

Getting the second year shows they just didn't want to have to deal with filling that role in again next offseason, he's the guy they want.
- BulliesPhan87

More effective vets like Hannan, Staios, O'Brien, White were still on the market weeks later, and not a single one of them scored more than a 1-year deal.

As disappointing as Lilja has been this season, imagine him a year from now, when they're stuck with a #8 d-man they can't get off the cap. A lot of people complain about Shelley, but at least if it comes down to it, they can get him off the daily cap.

What exactly is 2nd year triggers 40+ contract restrictions?
- MJL

Oops, meant 35+

More effective vets like Hannan, Staios, O'Brien, White were still on the market weeks later, and not a single one of them scored more than a 1-year deal.

As disappointing as Lilja has been this season, imagine him a year from now, when they're stuck with a #8 d-man they can't get off the cap. A lot of people complain about Shelley, but at least if it comes down to it, they can get him off the daily cap.
- Tomahawk

The common denominator, if I'm not mistaken, is that all those players got more money per year than Lilja. He's a smaller, short term commitment for smaller, short term problems. And the Flyers want him to fill that role again next year. He's not going to be a great player, but he can be plugged in and play a fine, reliable veteran game as needed. Low risk, low reward.

The fact is, even if we got stuck with Lilja on that cap and he wasn't going to (or even unable to) play it's not a big issue. An almost league minimum salary lost isn't a substantial commitment, not for one season beyond this.

From Eklund,

To those who believe I make these things up...that's your right.
To those who believe I am full of crap..that's your right.
To those who read me for entertainment only...that's your right.
To those who are frustrated their team hasn't made the "right" trade or may lose out to LA in the Nash sweeps and feel I am somehow responsible for this....that's your right.
To those who consider themselves my competitor and saw yesterday as chance to take a free shot at me...that's your right.

From the Rules of conduct...

8. No threads or posts speculating on the identity of Eklund or any other anonymous blogger.

9. No accusations of "Rumor Theft"
Eklund does not "steal" rumors. If he sees a previously unreported rumor elsewhere, he will always credit the writer/blogger in question.

SO... Its your right to "all of the above", as long as you dont say so on the site.

Is it just me, or do rules number 4 and 10 contradict eachother?

4. Respect HockeyBuzz
We welcome links to hockey news or commentary that will generate discussion at HockeyBuzz. Please do not post links to other hockey forums, rumor sites, or fantasy hockey sites, which obviously are our direct competitors. Also, do not use HockeyBuzz to promote products or unrelated websites.

10. Rumors must be given a source unless a poster has been approved by HockeyBuzz—No fake trades.
If you didn’t read it on a HockeyBuzz blog, please link to legitimate news source. There's too much going on in the REAL hockey world without posting fake rumors and trades. If you have a REAL source, email Eklund.

Is it just me, or do rules number 4 and contradict eachother?

4. Respect HockeyBuzz
We welcome links to hockey news or commentary that will generate discussion at HockeyBuzz. Please do not post links to other hockey forums, rumor sites, or fantasy hockey sites, which obviously are our direct competitors. Also, do not use HockeyBuzz to promote products or unrelated websites.

10. Rumors must be given a source unless a poster has been approved by HockeyBuzz—No fake trades.
If you didn’t read it on a HockeyBuzz blog, please link to legitimate news source. There's too much going on in the REAL hockey world without posting fake rumors and trades. If you have a REAL source, email Eklund.
- RooNosHockey

Rule #4 refers to other rumor sites, and fantasy hockey sites which dabble in rumor. Rule #10 refers to official media sources, like TSN or other reputable reporters. At least, that's how I take it.

If someone has the opinion that Lilja didn't warrant a second year, it's their opinion and has just as much credibility as the opposing point of view.

Holy (frank)ing christ, every day it's pick the poop out of every (frank)ing post. (frank)ing pathetic.

Because the Flyers wanted Lilja for two years doesn't make it right. They also signed Shelley to a 3yr deal and Leighton to be the starting goalie, as well as taking on a dead contract in Matt Walker. All those moves were the right ones too.

Rule #4 refers to other rumor sites, and fantasy hockey sites which dabble in rumor. Rule #10 refers to official media sources, like TSN or other reputable reporters. At least, that's how I take it.
- BulliesPhan87

TSN and THN both have rumor bloggers. IMO that would be direct competition... Even more so since they are reputable...

Nice write-up Bill, especially that middle section.

I'm not against bringing in help, but I just hope that any potential moves will be made with consideration to the long-term trajectory of the team. With the level of talent this team will have up front in the coming years, and with Bryzgalov's game with nowhere to go but up, the window isn't slamming shut anytime soon, even with Timo and Pronger approaching 40.

The good news is that Homer's trade history demonstrates that he prefers to poach young d-men while their stock is down and/or they're stuck in the development pipeline. In some cases the gamble has paid off handsomely (Carle, Coburn, Meszaros), and in other cases not so well (Eminger, Syvret, Alberts, Parent, Walker), but it shows that Homer's always been looking for longer-term solutions vs short-term fixes on the back-end.

Schenn, J. Johnson, Grossman, McBain, Ryan Wilson, Klein, Barker, Ellerby are exactly the type of players that Homer likes to go after, and it just so happens that a few of them happen to be playing for his favorite trade partners.
- Tomahawk

Cam Barker?

If someone has the opinion that Lilja didn't warrant a second year, it's their opinion and has just as much credibility as the opposing point of view.

Holy (frank)ing christ, every day it's pick the poop out of every (frank)ing post. (frank)ing pathetic.

Because the Flyers wanted Lilja for two years doesn't make it right. They also signed Shelley to a 3yr deal and Leighton to be the starting goalie, as well as taking on a dead contract in Matt Walker. All those moves were the right ones too.
- PLindbergh31

Priceless, no?

If someone has the opinion that Lilja didn't warrant a second year, it's their opinion and has just as much credibility as the opposing point of view.

Holy (frank)ing christ, every day it's pick the poop out of every (frank)ing post. (frank)ing pathetic.

Because the Flyers wanted Lilja for two years doesn't make it right. They also signed Shelley to a 3yr deal and Leighton to be the starting goalie, as well as taking on a dead contract in Matt Walker. All those moves were the right ones too.
- PLindbergh31

I wasn't disputing Mr. Tomahawk's credibility nor right to hold the opinion he has, if that's what you're suggesting.

I wasn't disputing Mr. Tomahawk's credibility nor right to hold the opinion he has, if that's what you're suggesting.
- BulliesPhan87

Not at all. I wasn't referencing your post.

If someone has the opinion that Lilja didn't warrant a second year, it's their opinion and has just as much credibility as the opposing point of view.

Holy (frank)ing christ, every day it's pick the poop out of every (frank)ing post. (frank)ing pathetic.

Because the Flyers wanted Lilja for two years doesn't make it right. They also signed Shelley to a 3yr deal and Leighton to be the starting goalie, as well as taking on a dead contract in Matt Walker. All those moves were the right ones too.
- PLindbergh31

at time they signed Lilja, Pronger would be healthy. he would be serving in a reserve role most of the time. this blew up when Pronger got hurt.

shelley got signed to bring more toughness, at the time some of us thought it was a good deal. Now, the league has gone away from fighting more and more since Shelley signed his deal.

things happen and Homer will find a way to correct all of this...it's his job.

Not at all. I wasn't referencing your post.
- PLindbergh31

Understood. In that case, this is me stepping out of the crossfire .

(you'll all have to imagine an amusing animated picture here, I don't have one prepared)

at time they signed Lilja, Pronger would be healthy. he would be serving in a reserve role most of the time. this blew up when Pronger got hurt.

shelley got signed to bring more toughness, at the time some of us thought it was a good deal. Now, the league has gone away from fighting more and more since Shelley signed his deal.

things happen and Homer will find a way to correct all of this...it's his job.
- phi1671

In all honesty, it was hard to find anyone liking the Shelley signing. And it's not Shelly people don't like; it's the length and cap hit. No reason why a player like that shouldn't be making the minimum or near it; especially when he's not an everyday player.

at time they signed Lilja, Pronger would be healthy. he would be serving in a reserve role most of the time. this blew up when Pronger got hurt.

shelley got signed to bring more toughness, at the time some of us thought it was a good deal. Now, the league has gone away from fighting more and more since Shelley signed his deal.

things happen and Homer will find a way to correct all of this...it's his job.
- phi1671

When the season started and Pronger was healthy, who was in the lineup as the # 6 dman? This notion that Lilja was a spare part is an incorrect one. He started the season as one of the 6 dmen in the lineup.

Sure, there were designs on working Gustafsson in, but MAB wasn't on anyone's radar when the season started.

Cam Barker?
- bradleyc4

Homer loves those former first-round picks.

i could see this getting some use on this site down the road

Rick Nash is awesome