That's if they even start the season on time.
- ob18

Yes. I think they will, though.

Yes. I think they will, though.
- bmeltzer

I hope so I'm just bracing myself for a Fehr vs Bettman steel cage match.

I hope so I'm just bracing myself for a Fehr vs Bettman steel cage match.
- ob18

Fehr scares me a bit. But there is not nearly as much of a unified front on the owners' side this time around, the league office has fear about losing momentum from its cash cow of a deal with NBC/Comcast and increased ratings, and the union side doesn't have a particular line-in-the-sand issue like holding on to the no-cap demand.

There are a lot of contentious issues to work through, don't get me wrong. There will be a lot of sword-rattling and posturing but when all is said and done, I think there will be an 11th hour settlement right before the start of the season.

Fehr scares me a bit. But there is not nearly as much of a unified front on the owners' side this time around, the league office has fear about losing momentum from its cash cow of a deal with NBC/Comcast and increased ratings, and the union side doesn't have a particular line-in-the-sand issue like holding on to the no-cap demand.

There are a lot of contentious issues to work through, don't get me wrong. There will be a lot of sword-rattling and posturing but when all is said and done, I think there will be an 11th hour settlement right before the start of the season.
- bmeltzer

I hope so Fehr was no joke when working for the MLBPA. Hopefully they work non-stop to get something done.

Timonen would absolutely hate this idea, I'm sure.

However, I think it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for him if he was put on LTIR for the first half of the season after his surgery/surgeries.

Give him all the time he needs to heal and then play in the second half and the playoffs. Might help him to be healthier come playoff time while still having enough games in to be able to handle the pace of the playoffs; remember that he'll turn 38 before the end of next season and has a lot of mileage on him.

It would also give the Flyers a mighty roomy LTIR allowance for the first half of the season -- remember that in the playoffs there is no cap because the players are not paid for the playoffs.

Just a thought. Obviously if Timonen is healthy enough to start the season on time, he'll play. But if there's any doubt about his rehab timetable, why not give him more time and also give the team several added months of cap flexibility as well?
- bmeltzer

Meltzer for GM

ugh

my neighbor who loves to gush about how i got him into hockey is going to see a cup after being such a HUGE FAN for 8 months.


can't wait to hear about all the time.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

i know how it feels

This is like death to watch, NYR vs NJ. Winner goes to the SCF. Donkey nuts.
- stveshdy

post of the day

Dreger Report.

Darren,

Do you think the Flyers are still loving that nine-year contract they signed Ilya Bryzgalov to last year? And do you think Jaromir Jagr will re-sign in Philly, sign with another NHL team or ride into the sunset?

Luke Edwards

A: Luke, there is no way to love a nine-year contract with a cap hit of just under $5.7 million per for a goaltender who failed to meet expectations in the first year of the deal. That said, Philadelphia had to address their annual goalie shuffle and Bryzgalov was the best available. Down the stretch, he regained his form before stumbling his way through round one against Pittsburgh, marginally outplaying Fleury who had a disastrous postseason. He was better in Round 2 and wasn't the reason the Flyers lost to the Devils. Philly couldn't find the intensity that fueled them past the Pens and couldn't handle the forecheck or board battles New Jersey owned throughout the series. With a year in Philadelphia under his belt, Bryzgalov will be better next season and will be better prepared to manage the distractions that go along with playing in a city with so many demands. As for Jagr, he turned down a contract offer during the season which may not have been so wise given his power out in the playoffs (one assist in Round 2). The Flyers' younger players will need more ice-time, so Paul Holmgren is going to have to determine how much he wants to spend on a 40-year-old forward who will likely play a more limited role. Jagr also has to decide whether or not he has enough left physically and emotionally to endure the grind of another full season.

Dreger Report.

Darren,

Do you think the Flyers are still loving that nine-year contract they signed Ilya Bryzgalov to last year? And do you think Jaromir Jagr will re-sign in Philly, sign with another NHL team or ride into the sunset?

Luke Edwards

A: Luke, there is no way to love a nine-year contract with a cap hit of just under $5.7 million per for a goaltender who failed to meet expectations in the first year of the deal. That said, Philadelphia had to address their annual goalie shuffle and Bryzgalov was the best available. Down the stretch, he regained his form before stumbling his way through round one against Pittsburgh, marginally outplaying Fleury who had a disastrous postseason. He was better in Round 2 and wasn't the reason the Flyers lost to the Devils. Philly couldn't find the intensity that fueled them past the Pens and couldn't handle the forecheck or board battles New Jersey owned throughout the series. With a year in Philadelphia under his belt, Bryzgalov will be better next season and will be better prepared to manage the distractions that go along with playing in a city with so many demands. As for Jagr, he turned down a contract offer during the season which may not have been so wise given his power out in the playoffs (one assist in Round 2). The Flyers' younger players will need more ice-time, so Paul Holmgren is going to have to determine how much he wants to spend on a 40-year-old forward who will likely play a more limited role. Jagr also has to decide whether or not he has enough left physically and emotionally to endure the grind of another full season.
- stveshdy

Is it possible that none of these guys know that Bryzgalov had a broken foot? Was there a cone of media silence outside Philadelphia on that? Otherwise this seems a pretty fair assessment.

Is it possible that none of these guys know that Bryzgalov had a broken foot? Was there a cone of media silence outside Philadelphia on that? Otherwise this seems a pretty fair assessment.
- bodiva88

Perhaps they forgot because all the local media focused on was whether or not Bryzgalov talked to them.