One thing I want to say about shortcomings defensively. They aren't permanent. A player can work at that and improve in that area. If I'm a talent evaluator, I have no doubt that if JVR stays healthy, he can be a 25+ goal scorer.
- MJL

Look at Mike Modano. Started out as a one-way offensive player, became a complete two-way player under Hitchcock.

how much cap space w/ prongers $5m on the LTIR....we will have around 10M.....we have to sign carle at 5M and Voracek at 3-3.5M.......where is all this mony coming for anyone?????
- huks99

The elephant in the room right now is what happens if Timonen needs multiple surgeries and has to start the year on LTIR. His offseason surgery/surgeries and projected recovery timeline should be a little clearer this coming week.

Of course, the hope is that he is ready to start the season or at least is ready to go early in the season but if we're looking at back surgery -- 2-3 months plus knee surgery -- it could take a while til he's available.

Also cap space can and very well may be freed by some combination of not resigning Jagr and/or trading someone (JVR?) in the right deal.

I think the alternative plan may be to push hard to sign Zach Parise as a UFA and then trade from among other forwards to improve the blueline depth.

None of this is based on anything but my own conjecture. But we all know how the Flyers operate -- they think big, act bold, and let the chips fall where they may.
- bmeltzer

Not saying that Parise isn't a helluva player, he is, but what exactly does he bring that would have been the difference vs. the Devils in 2012 or the Bruins in 2011? Size hasn't been the Flyers' only issue by a longshot, but Talbot, Wellwood, Giroux, Rinaldo, Read, Briere, Timonen and Carle are already on the smaller side... and moving JvR and/or Schenn to bring help on the backend just exacerbates that problem.

If they're hell-bent on adding up front, there's a number of $6.5-7.5M/year players that their teams would love to get rid of (Nash, Heatley, Marleau, Vanek, Thornton, Iginla) that probably wouldn't cost much in terms of assets to acquire.

With that said, the Flyers would be served best by just tinkering this summer instead of rushing to make yet another Bryzgalov-esque splurge. Homer is a wizard when it comes to getting good value via trade but his forays into UFA have yielded mediocre results at best. There's got to be at least a few McDonaghs and Coburns out there for the taking...

The answer is right in front Of you. Look to the left slightly when reading this post
- Just5

The only problem is that it isn't the answer.

JVR is all but gone in my mind. Trade him for a D man or trade him to move up in the draft and alleviate cap room to make something else work. He just doesn't fit with what this team needs to get done on defense.

He has a hip/abdominal issue that I remember early in the season reading that it is a possible career threatening type of injury
- Just5

JVR? Where have you read that?

Not saying that Parise isn't a helluva player, he is, but what exactly does he bring that would have been the difference vs. the Devils in 2012 or the Bruins in 2011? Size hasn't been the Flyers' only issue by a longshot, but Talbot, Wellwood, Giroux, Rinaldo, Read, Briere, Timonen and Carle are already on the smaller side... and moving JvR and/or Schenn to bring help on the backend just exacerbates that problem.

If they're hell-bent on adding up front, there's a number of $6.5-7.5M/year players that their teams would love to get rid of (Nash, Heatley, Marleau, Vanek, Thornton, Iginla) that probably wouldn't cost much in terms of assets to acquire.

With that said, the Flyers would be served best by just tinkering this summer instead of rushing to make yet another Bryzgalov-esque splurge. Homer is a wizard when it comes to getting good value via trade but his forays into UFA have yielded mediocre results at best. There's got to be at least a few McDonaghs and Coburns out there for the taking...
- Tomahawk

He'd bring explosive speed and scoring ability; not to mention weakening NJ.

I agree that the fine-tuning approach may be best in reality. But we both know the organization likes to be aggressive.

I would argue BTW that the majority of Holmgren's key FA acquisitions -- Briere, Timonen (although he was technically a trade acquisition, but so was Bryz), Talbot, Jagr this year -- worked out fine.

Look at Mike Modano. Started out as a one-way offensive player, became a complete two-way player under Hitchcock.
- bmeltzer

I'd be happy if JvR got healthy enough to piece the offensive side of his game together first... even if guys like Modano and Yzerman never found the other side of the puck, at least they were durable and productive enough that they still had tremendous value to their clubs. JvR hasn't been able to get to that point yet.

how much cap space w/ prongers $5m on the LTIR....we will have around 10M.....we have to sign carle at 5M and Voracek at 3-3.5M.......where is all this mony coming for anyone?????
- huks99

It's closer to 13M. A bigger issue is the Off Season Cap space and rules pertaining to what the Flyers have to carry on their Cap come July 1. And you can trade players to create Cap space.

JVR is all but gone in my mind. Trade him for a D man or trade him to move up in the draft and alleviate cap room to make something else work. He just doesn't fit with what this team needs to get done on defense.
- hereticpride

1. Trading up in the draft to make it worthwhile means trading into the top 5. I'm not moving JVR to get into the top 10, and 10-20 includes the same quality of player.

2. This team doesn't need whole-sale changes. Your speaking as if getting to the second round using as many rookies we did is something to sneeze at. This was never really a team that was suppose to compete for a cup. Were only going to get better moving forward. JVR is apart of that moving forward.

3. How does this he not fit exactly? A big body power forward with incredible hands who can skate and has statistically gotten better every season he's been in the leauge doesn't fit well on a team being built around guys like Giroux, Schenn, Couterier and Jake?

4. Leclair. Bertuzzi. Stevens. Iginla. Horton. Just some other Power Forwards who were traded due to impatience that left their former suitors regretting the decision afterwards.

The defense does not need a drastic overhaul. It needs a governing body to handle #1 minutes after Timonen is gone.

Look at Mike Modano. Started out as a one-way offensive player, became a complete two-way player under Hitchcock.
- bmeltzer

Steve Yzerman is another player. Turned himself from a completely one sided offensive player into a Selke winner.

JVR? Where have you read that?
- MJL

I know that he has a documented leg lenth discrepency, which can certainly lead to issues regarding really any part of your lower body.

I know that he has a documented leg lenth discrepency, which can certainly lead to issues regarding really any part of your lower body.
- mochoson

I haven't heard anything about that.

I know that he has a documented leg lenth discrepency, which can certainly lead to issues regarding really any part of your lower body.
- mochoson

Got to be honest, I read something similiar to Tyler Seguin of the Bruins, haven't read anything about JVR.

Excellent blog, now I'm really interested to see what direction the Flyers will go this summer. It's always interesting in Philadelphia.

4. Leclair. Bertuzzi. Stevens. Iginla. Horton. Just some other Power Forwards who were traded due to impatience that left their former suitors regretting the decision afterwards.


- mochoson

Don't really think it was impatience that led to all those players being traded. Iginla was traded for Joe Nieuwnedyk. LeClair for Recchi. And your referring to Kevin Stevens? Not sure how he was traded due to impatience.

I haven't heard anything about that.
- MJL

-I dont work at a radiology facility.

-I have definitely never seen the Flyers throughout my office.

-Even If I did, I would never share such information, as it's a federal crime.

However, if I did one day see someone like JVR in my office getting a routine study done mid-season and then discussed his results with him upon conclusion, technically, he as a patient chose to go in depth with me regarding his results knowing I am a fan, not as a professional, technically, I can say whatever I'd like. However, my job title makes any involvement involving myself and leaking of condidential information non-existant, even if there is little to no risk "technically".

How's that?

I have to say the idea that Carle is coming back is a tiny bit surprising to me, but I'm glad if it happens. Just surprising because I thought with him not being re signed yet he was a goner, going for the big UFA pay day.

The idea of having Carle plus a big name guy that would eventually replace Kimmo has me giddy.

Well, giddy as you can be with the Flyers golfing (having surgery is more like it) right now and the Devils moving on.

Don't really think it was impatience that led to all those players being traded. Iginla was traded for Joe Nieuwnedyk. LeClair for Recchi. And your referring to Kevin Stevens? Not sure how he was traded due to impatience.
- MJL

I honestly ment to include something along the lines of "including other factors", rushed post.

Simple point that PWF's are typically late bloomers, and these "calling for JVR's head" are entirely to premature for me.

He'd bring explosive speed and scoring ability; not to mention weakening NJ.

I agree that the fine-tuning approach may be best in reality. But we both know the organization likes to be aggressive.

I would argue BTW that the majority of Holmgren's key FA acquisitions -- Briere, Timonen (although he was technically a trade acquisition, but so was Bryz), Talbot, Jagr this year -- worked out fine.
- bmeltzer

He looked dangerous against the Flyers almost every shift. To me he was the best player in the series, with Kovalchuk right behind him. What Parise does around the crease is pretty phenomenal.

He'd bring explosive speed and scoring ability; not to mention weakening NJ.

I agree that the fine-tuning approach may be best in reality. But we both know the organization likes to be aggressive.

I would argue BTW that the majority of Holmgren's key FA acquisitions -- Briere, Timonen (although he was technically a trade acquisition, but so was Bryz), Talbot, Jagr this year -- worked out fine.
- bmeltzer

and hartnell

I honestly ment to include something along the lines of "including other factors", rushed post.

Simple point that PWF's are typically late bloomers, and these "calling for JVR's head" are entirely to premature for me.
- mochoson

Agree with that.

-I dont work at a radiology facility.

-I have definitely never seen the Flyers throughout my office.

-Even If I did, I would never share such information, as it's a federal crime.

However, if I did one day see someone like JVR in my office getting a routine study done mid-season and then discussed his results with him upon conclusion, technically, he as a patient chose to go in depth with me regarding his results knowing I am a fan, not as a professional, technically, I can say whatever I'd like. However, my job title makes any involvement involving myself and leaking of condidential information non-existant, even if there is little to no risk "technically".

How's that?
- mochoson

He looked dangerous against the Flyers almost every shift. To me he was the best player in the series, with Kovalchuk right behind him. What Parise does around the crease is pretty phenomenal.
- Marc D

If I'm the Flyers and I sign Parise. Then I think I'm trading either JVR or Voracek.

If I'm the Flyers and I sign Parise. Then I think I'm trading either JVR or Voracek.
- MJL

the idea that we are even talking about Parise has my head spinning

I guess a top six forward almost has to leave then in a trade for a defenseman

Parise... it's crazy, but I'd love it if it happens... one of my favorite players