The thing is, Briere HAS lived up to his contract. He is coming off a career year. Yes, I would love to see him step up his game - as he has clearly had a down season - but to say that he ONLY shows up for the playoffs is false.

Players have down years. One year does not make a contract. Just look at his prior stats. These were all arguments in support of Bryzgalov - when he was lost in the woods. I just don't see why Briere doesn't deserve the same respect, especially when he's done great things for this organization.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

His career year still doesn't equate to 6.5 million a season. THis isn't just about this year. This is about getting your money's worth. Bryzgalov is in the first year on a contract with a new team and comparing goalie's to forwards is apples and oranges. Say what you want about him showing up but none of his season performances justify that cap hit.

Weird... I never really thought about it, but I always pictured you at about 5'6" to 5'8"... Arent most sports reports/analysits/bloggers on the shorter side????
- RooNosHockey

Weird... I never really thought about it, but I always pictured you at about 5'6" to 5'8"... Arent most sports reports/analysits/bloggers on the shorter side????
- RooNosHockey

The thing is, Briere HAS lived up to his contract. He is coming off a career year. Yes, I would love to see him step up his game - as he has clearly had a down season - but to say that he ONLY shows up for the playoffs is false.

Players have down years. One year does not make a contract. Just look at his prior stats. These were all arguments in support of Bryzgalov - when he was lost in the woods. I just don't see why Briere doesn't deserve the same respect, especially when he's done great things for this organization.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Hartnell, for example.

But Briere is small, 34-year-old player. I would say it could be simple regression, but his shooting % is almost half of his career average. The lack of goals can be chalked up to bad luck.

Weird... I never really thought about it, but I always pictured you at about 5'6" to 5'8"... Arent most sports reports/analysits/bloggers on the shorter side????
- RooNosHockey

with the huge a$$ backpack he carries with him, he does measure to be about 5'8...weighs him down...

Weird... I never really thought about it, but I always pictured you at about 5'6" to 5'8"... Arent most sports reports/analysits/bloggers on the shorter side????
- RooNosHockey

I've met him a couple of times and didn't really register that he was that tall!

with the huge a$$ backpack he carries with him, he does measure to be about 5'8...weighs him down...
- phi1671

THAT must be it!

It was far more then 7 or 8 bad games. His SV% was well under .900 for most of the Season. He was below average for over half the Season. Why would he have gone out and gotten another Goalie when he already had two, and made the investment in Bryzgalov that they did? They went out and got the defenseman due to the injury to Pronger. I made this point to you before. If Pronger doesn't get hurt, do they trade for Grossmann and Kubina?
- MJL

If they didn't know Timmonen was hurt, do they get both of them? I don't think so. They're really lucky they did, now that Drej is broken.

It isn't crazy not to want a 6.5 million dollar center who is 34, small, and mostly provides scoring. Even I briere is playing to his potential, it can still be argued his money could be spent better elsewhere, especially given our new offensive depth. I'm fine with keeping him as he's usually money in the playoffs, but I understand why someone would rather use his money elsewhere.

His career year still doesn't equate to 6.5 million a season. THis isn't just about this year. This is about getting your money's worth. Bryzgalov is in the first year on a contract with a new team and comparing goalie's to forwards is apples and oranges. Say what you want about him showing up but none of his season performances justify that cap hit.
- JoeRussomanno

Curious question.

He signed long term at 6.5M per year so what should he be averaging (points) per year?

Really saq? Little? I'd hardly call a guy that's 6' and weighs 200 pounds little. Briere is "little" at an exaggerated 5'9" 180. Although I do agree that how Upshall plays with reckless abandon has probably destroyed his body.
- aantny88

I've seen Uppy in the neighborhood when he was here. He wasn't 6" and if he weighed 200 lbs he was carrying a sandbag.

that's what your feet are for.
- wilsonecho91

Rex Ryan approves this message.

It isn't crazy not to want a 6.5 million dollar center who is 34, small, and onl provides scoring. Even I briere is playing to his potential, it can still be argued his money could be spent better elsewhere, especially given our new offensive depth. I'm fine with keeping him as he's usually money in the playoffs, but I understand why someone would rather use his money elsewhere.
- funmaster18

I dont have an issue with that. What should the expectations of a 6.5M dollar center be? We can go around the league and measure him up to other players in his position and I wonder how many players out perform him during the regular season and playoffs (for his cap hit).

His career year still doesn't equate to 6.5 million a season. THis isn't just about this year. This is about getting your money's worth. Bryzgalov is in the first year on a contract with a new team and comparing goalie's to forwards is apples and oranges. Say what you want about him showing up but none of his season performances justify that cap hit.
- JoeRussomanno

He was signed for what it took at the time to get someone to come here, where things had been brutally bleak that season, in order to turn around the team and the perception of the team to anyone else they were interested in acquiring. And it did that. Whatever his value is or has been on the ice, that wasn't the only reason the deal was done and that was the price to be paid at the time. I'd thank my lucky stars every day that they got Danny B and not Captain Dreary or Gomez, who were the other high-priced high-profile guys that day.

His career year still doesn't equate to 6.5 million a season. THis isn't just about this year. This is about getting your money's worth. Bryzgalov is in the first year on a contract with a new team and comparing goalie's to forwards is apples and oranges. Say what you want about him showing up but none of his season performances justify that cap hit.
- JoeRussomanno

It is apples to oranges. Being a 30+ goal scorer, and a point-a-game producer in the playoffs isn't earning his contract? 6.5, in the current market, is appropriate for Briere. Now, as Bradley just mentioned, he is 34 - and this could certainly be regression with age. If that is the case, and his struggles extend through the playoffs into next year, then I'll be on board with what you are saying.

It isn't crazy not to want a 6.5 million dollar center who is 34, small, and mostly provides scoring. Even I briere is playing to his potential, it can still be argued his money could be spent better elsewhere, especially given our new offensive depth. I'm fine with keeping him as he's usually money in the playoffs, but I understand why someone would rather use his money elsewhere.
- funmaster18

By all means, it is a valid concern. But to constantly rag on the guy, even during discussions where it isn't relevant, is a little over the top.

I dont have an issue with that. What should the expectations of a 6.5M dollar center be? We can go around the league and measure him up to other players in his position and I wonder how many players out perform him during the regular season and playoffs (for his cap hit).
- stveshdy

I think it's more than production. I think it's style of play. Briere's style is polarizing because it's an offensive game that he plays. When he's not producing he looks bad because that's what he brings.

My view is as long as we can afford the rest of the pieces of our team an he continues to turn it on in the playoffs, then I'm fine with it.

By all means, it is a valid concern. But to constantly rag on the guy, even during discussions where it isn't relevant, is a little over the top.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Completely agree. I was making a general comment on my view of the situation. I don't want to speak for anyone else. It's not like his salary handcuffed the cap and stopped them from making moves. They just didn't want to give up you talent.

7 or 8 bad games can throw your percentage out of whack and they did. Was he average in some games too yes but he above average in others. He would have went out and gotten a goalie in case the team got hot and the goalie wasn't that wouldn't have been setting a trend. Also they had to go out and get Bryzgalov because they werent confident in Bobrovsky yet and still are not. No they wouldn't have had to go out and get those two defenseman but if Pronger doesn't go down we aren't having half the conversation about Bryzgalov's poor play that we did either.


- JoeRussomanno

I don't beleive for a second that the Flyers ever seriously entertained adding another Goalie. I'm not discussing why they went out and got Bryzgalov. I think everyone is aware of why they did that. I think regardless of who was on the defense, Bryzgalov was below average. To say that means that the only reason Bryzgalov played poorly was due to Pronger being out of the lineup? In my opinion that wasn't the case. Bryzgalov's poor play rested soley on his shoulders for the most part. It was far more then 7 or 8 games skewing his SV%.

You can't sit here and tell me this team isn't playing improved defensive hockey since the arrival of Grossmann. The Flyers other defenseman minus Coburn and at times MEzaros got run over repeatedly down low and the forwards were not giving enough support. How many times was a goal scored because an opposing forward was left wide open with a perfect angle and plenty of time? Stamkos was left open on two occasions in one game. That equals goal every time I don't care if you have god in net. Also it happend in the Classic with Richards being left all alone so he could slam it home. THat has almost been non existent over the past month. Hence the goaltending has gotten better and the team looks much better. You even said yourself that defense and goaltending are symbiotic so I'm not quite sure why I'm debating this with you.
- JoeRussomanno

I didn't at any point state that the Flyers weren't playing improved team defense. I recognize and know the difference between poor defense hanging a Goalie out to dry and just plain poor goaltending. I don't think your debating what I'm stating.

Curious question.

He signed long term at 6.5M per year so what should he be averaging (points) per year?
- stveshdy

He should be averaging 70-80 points a season. He's a one way player and needs to dominate in that aspect if he is so highly valued at that cap hit.

It is apples to oranges. Being a 30+ goal scorer, and a point-a-game producer in the playoffs isn't earning his contract? 6.5, in the current market, is appropriate for Briere. Now, as Bradley just mentioned, he is 34 - and this could certainly be regression with age. If that is the case, and his struggles extend through the playoffs into next year, then I'll be on board with what you are saying.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

He's only been a 30+ goal scorer twice in five years.

Curious question.

He signed long term at 6.5M per year so what should he be averaging (points) per year?
- stveshdy

Top 10-15 in the leauge if he is getting paid as a top 10-15 forward...

I think it's more than production. I think it's style of play. Briere's style is polarizing because it's an offensive game that he plays. When he's not producing he looks bad because that's what he brings.

My view is as long as we can afford the rest of the pieces of our team an he continues to turn it on in the playoffs, then I'm fine with it.
- funmaster18

No question about it. He is a one trick pony so when he doesnt produce offensively he looks bad. However the Flyers have other centers who are suppose to be more defensive minded such as Schenn and Couturier (both rookies). I dont think Briere is really hurting anything the Flyers want to do. He may be slightly overpaid but when you look at what other centers are being paid his money is quite fair.

It isn't crazy not to want a 6.5 million dollar center who is 34, small, and mostly provides scoring. Even I briere is playing to his potential, it can still be argued his money could be spent better elsewhere, especially given our new offensive depth. I'm fine with keeping him as he's usually money in the playoffs, but I understand why someone would rather use his money elsewhere.
- funmaster18

I agree. If his contract didnt have a NMC clause it would be completely different, but since it does you have to seriously consider him as a possible buy-out if there is an amnesty clause this year....

He was signed for what it took at the time to get someone to come here, where things had been brutally bleak that season, in order to turn around the team and the perception of the team to anyone else they were interested in acquiring. And it did that. Whatever his value is or has been on the ice, that wasn't the only reason the deal was done and that was the price to be paid at the time. I'd thank my lucky stars every day that they got Danny B and not Captain Dreary or Gomez, who were the other high-priced high-profile guys that day.
- bodiva88

I understand what they did at the time. THat's not what I'm discussing. I'm discussing that if a mechanism materializes what should be done. THis all started cause someone brought up issues with contracts. I'm standing by my opinion. I have heard the other side. Still feel the need to shed that contract when the opportunity presents itself.