Agreed. When other teams know that you want to dump the guy it's tough to get great value. Toronto won't give up their first. Maybe Kadri and/or Schenn who have yet to prove themselves in the Bigs.
- NickTheKid87

If Gillis could get Schenn for Luongo, it would be a done deal.

It was a first round series. That is how history will look back on it. Nothing more. If the Flyers lose in the next round, will it have mattered that they beat the Pens, in the big picture? Not really. Maybe now there is some satisfaction in knocking out Crosby and the Pens. But a year from now it won't mean much.
- MJL

I know what you're saying, but to the casual fan it will matter yes that they knocked out Crosby and the Penguins. Crosby is like public enemy number 1 in Philly sports.

The length and cash isn't going to be an issue for a team that needs/wants a franchise goalie, and doesnt have one lined up.

Who does NJ have that is going to replace Broduer? Who does Tampa that is going to be ready any time soon? Could these teams get a 1 year fix with Vokoun or Thomas? Yea, but then what? Luongo is going to have about 6-7 teams bidding on his services. He will probally want to go to about 4-5 of those teams. So you can bet Vancouver will get the best deal for him. And it's not going to be a second round pick.
- RooNosHockey

Both New Jersey and Tampa BAy have cash flow problems. They might not be able to afford the salary, regardless of cap hit. There's also other options out there.

Also, in two years the following goalies will be UFA: Lundqvist, Hiller, Miller, Halak & Elliot. Next summer, Kari Lehtonen, Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard and Mike Smith will all be UFAs.

Use Thomas or Vokoun as a one year stop gap and then go after a Quick or Smith as a UFA next summer. No assets surrendered and you get a young and arguably better goalie-and probably on a 5 year deal rather than 10 years.

I don't think length matters as much as people think. Carter and Richards both long deals and were dealt easily enough. There will always be teams that need to get to the cap floor like Florida last offseason. If Tampa picked up Lu and couldn't afford him it wouldn't be that hard to move him a few years later.

I still think Toronto will likely land him though. Burke has a lot of pressure from the fan base and he is extremely reactionary.
- NickTheKid87

Lenght certainly matters when Trade clauses kick in. Both players were traded before then,

Me too. The return for guys with big contracts is usually underwhelming.
- 12,9 and 22

Especially when you can sign Vokoun to a one year deal as a stop gap and go whole hog in 2013 with Quick, Howard, Smith and Lehtonen set to hit the UFA market

It was a first round series. That is how history will look back on it. Nothing more. If the Flyers lose in the next round, will it have mattered that they beat the Pens, in the big picture? Not really. Maybe now there is some satisfaction in knocking out Crosby and the Pens. But a year from now it won't mean much.
- MJL

She's a Brick...Wall.... da da da da da....

Especially when you can sign Vokoun to a one year deal as a stop gap and go whole hog in 2013 with Quick, Howard, Smith and Lehtonen set to hit the UFA market
- Jsaquella

No guarantee any of those guys get to free agency though

No guarantee any of those guys get to free agency though
- eayost

No, there's not, but at the same time, you could probably get a couple years out of a Thomas or Vokoun and then go after one of the others mentioned.

Also, most teams that need a goalie have a somewhat highly regarded prospect in the system that could be ready to carry the load by then.

I know what you're saying, but to the casual fan it will matter yes that they knocked out Crosby and the Penguins. Crosby is like public enemy number 1 in Philly sports.
- JoeRussomanno

I think that most casual fans, myself included, are looking for far more then that. I'm not satisifed with that. And I'm not interested in a moral victory. The Flyers won a playoff series, against the Pens. That it was against a top rival and Crosby makes it sweeter then say beating the Habs in round 1. But It's not like it has been suggested that they won "their" Conference final. I won't see any banners going up from it.

Lenght certainly matters when Trade clauses kick in. Both players were traded before then,
- MJL

Thank god or actually thank Homer.

A Flyers Stanley Cup would pretty much be that, IMO. I'd be too busy being happy to give a rat's ass what anyone said.
- Jsaquella

Any this site would crash.

Any this site would crash.
- Deasr1

I'd be too busy crying, laughing and banging the wife to care

Especially when you can sign Vokoun to a one year deal as a stop gap and go whole hog in 2013 with Quick, Howard, Smith and Lehtonen set to hit the UFA market
- Jsaquella

You think Quick is going to hit UFA? and you think Howard, Smith and Lehtonen are Franchise Goalies?

Even if you wait 2 years... You think Lundquist will even come close to UFA? He loves NY, and NY loves him... If Miller isn't resigned, you can bet that his rights will be traded to a team no-where near Buffalo and signed before he hits UFA as well...

Or... you could have Luongo. Right now.

No guarantee any of those guys get to free agency though
- eayost

True but other goalies will emerge.

My Black Aces article is now online at Flyers' web site:

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=629700
- bmeltzer

Bill, kinda curious about Lauridsen, do you think we will see him in a Flyers uniform sometime next year. I'm saying next year, because I don't want to jinx anything.

Players just took to the ice. Grossmann dressed for full contact today, wearing the black jersey with the rest of the starting defensemen.

No, there's not, but at the same time, you could probably get a couple years out of a Thomas or Vokoun and then go after one of the others mentioned.

Also, most teams that need a goalie have a somewhat highly regarded prospect in the system that could be ready to carry the load by then.
- Jsaquella

LOL I remember hearing that... Oulette, JM Peltiere, Boucher, Niitimaki, and on and on and on....

I think that most casual fans, myself included, are looking for far more then that. I'm not satisifed with that. And I'm not interested in a moral victory. The Flyers won a playoff series, against the Pens. That it was against a top rival and Crosby makes it sweeter then say beating the Habs in round 1. But It's not like it has been suggested that they won "their" Conference final. I won't see any banners going up from it.
- MJL

ok ok all of that is true, but for example shift 1 game 6 will be a very memorable one indeed and likely will go on highlight reels.

Players just took to the ice. Grossmann dressed for full contact today, wearing the black jersey with the rest of the starting defensemen.
- bmeltzer

Yayyy

You think Quick is going to hit UFA? and you think Howard, Smith and Lehtonen are Franchise Goalies?

Even if you wait 2 years... You think Lundquist will even come close to UFA? He loves NY, and NY loves him... If Miller isn't resigned, you can bet that his rights will be traded to a team no-where near Buffalo and signed before he hits UFA as well...

Or... you could have Luongo. Right now.
- RooNosHockey

Quick is an East coast guy, and there's some that feel the main reason Bernier hasn't been moved is that the Kings are worried that a team from the east will grab Quick.

I think that Lehtonen and Smith can be every bit as good as Luongo, and that Howard is a small step behind.

And yes, you could have Luongo...for ten years with a NMC. Luongo the guy who was pulled for his back up when the season was on the line in each of the last two seasons in the first round. For whatever faults Smith, Lehtonen and Howard have, I didn't see their coaches start the backups in must win games.

Timonen practicing today after two straight maintenance days. Looks like Briere is taking his third straight maintenance day. Jagr practiced Tuesday but not yesterday -- he's out there today.

Players just took to the ice. Grossmann dressed for full contact today, wearing the black jersey with the rest of the starting defensemen.
- bmeltzer

excellent. I had hope and expected that but a key piece.

Players just took to the ice. Grossmann dressed for full contact today, wearing the black jersey with the rest of the starting defensemen.
- bmeltzer

Timonen practicing today after two straight maintenance days. Looks like Briere is taking his third straight maintenance day. Jagr practiced Tuesday but not yesterday -- he's out there today.
- bmeltzer

I hope Danny is ok. I am getting worried his back problems may be worse than has been discussed.

LOL I remember hearing that... Oulette, JM Peltiere, Boucher, Niitimaki, and on and on and on....
- RooNosHockey

I remember all the crying about trading Oullete.