So yeah, just like front-loaded contracts, stashing contracts in the minors, etc, this kind of summer scheme is just waiting to be tried, and considering the timing, the possibility of incurring sanctions is at an all-time low.
- Tomahawk

None of what you mentioned is Cap circumvention. All leagal under the current CBA. And I couldn't disagree more that the possibility of incurring sanctions is at an all time low. In fact with the CBA expiring, it's even higher.

i do not see an upgrade in net coming, unless it's done on the cheap somehow. i think it would be very wise to acquire zach parise, 2 way player, great offensively, clever play maker and a great finisher. could you imagine him on a line with giroux? or on a second line with briere and simmer?

edit: i suggest him on a "2nd" line to spread out the scoring. he clearly is a 1st line player
- flyerscup2011

in a cap era, you can't have an 8-man core. you need moving parts and role players, too. forget parise (as excellent as he is).

I think it was something like you could only protect a set amount of players with the rest being subjected to waivers so they stashed the two on the Jets til after the waiver period. something like that
- nastyflyergirl

i think they tried to hide the famous Moe Mantha that way too

Clearly you have brains. This should be the focus of their offseason.

Forget Carle and Jagr and whomever else. Trade rights to Voracek. Parise and Giroux would be awesome.

There were some good comments during the Kings (aka Flyers West) game last night. Once they traded for Carter, everyone else was put in the right slot.

We have a little of that problem I believe. No top line winger/scorer for Giroux is an issue. Jagr did more than expected but is not the answer. He makes a nice 2nd line winger at this stage.

Voracek is not all world like Giroux. Not close.

1st line players: Harts worked but normally a 2nd liner. Giroux. Maybe JVR. Maybe Schenn.

2nd line players: Jagr Briere Voracek Maybe Read. Coots.

3rd/4th line players: Talbot Wellwood. Zac. Simmonds.


so IMO we have an abundance of 2nd line players and a sufficient level of 3rd / 4th liners (maybe I'm missing a player or two as well). Some people want another veteran role player - fine.

Since we have Briere and Coots, both at center is what makes sense. No changing that.

These are my thoughts.
- Daman

There's something to this post. The biggest shame of this year was not getting a full season of study on JVR. However Defense still has to be the focal point....they can't just come back with Carle

None of what you mentioned is Cap circumvention. All leagal under the current CBA. And I couldn't disagree more that the possibility of incurring sanctions is at an all time low. In fact with the CBA expiring, it's even higher.
- MJL

And trading a player away and then trading for him again in the future is against the current CBA? No.

You could argue that it's not in the spirit of a hard salary cap, but then again, front-loaded contracts, stashing players in the minors for pure salary-purposes, delaying the retirement of players due to cap considerations are not exactly in the spirit of fairness and cost-control either. But for the most part, those things are overlooked.

Too much hockeybuzz will do that to any fan
- Rally_Shots

Groupthink syndrome

Do you think the season will begin on time?
- hockeylover

I think it will, yes, but it will come down to the 11th hour.

- JoeRussomanno

This might be the best execution of a reaction gif I've ever seen.
- BulliesPhan87

Yes. Yes it might. Amazing work by Joe.

looking ahead to tomorrow's blog, the only good reason i can see to keep JvR is so that he doesn't help his next team hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.

Maybe find another team to root for then? The Kings are looking good.
- MJL

(FICKLE) FLYERS (FANS GO) WEST

do most people think were better with bryz, schenn, jake,simmonds, coturier then we were with richards and carter...i gotta say i was all for the trade, but am very jealous at how well they are doing and the possibility of them raising the cup.

dropping truth bombs
- FlyerMike18

Do the Flyers have a chance at winning yet? Maybe they will just stop playing until Bryz contract expires.

Interesting. So if Bryz wasnt here they would win? Gotcha.
- stveshdy

Next year's Flyers' starter/Conn Smythe- and Stanley Cup-winning goalie:

Do the Flyers have a chance at winning yet? Maybe they will just stop playing until Bryz contract expires.
- stveshdy

Not yet. Try again in fifteen minutes, things might improve.

do most people think were better with bryz, schenn, jake,simmonds, coturier then we were with richards and carter...i gotta say i was all for the trade, but am very jealous at how well they are doing and the possibility of them raising the cup.
- mydoglicks

at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. we didn't trade them together to LA. If we did, who knows who we would have gotten in return and whether that would have prevented LA from winning the Cup. They were added to an already strong nucleus of players with a great goalie. Good for them. It wasn't working here for whatever reason and now we have a good solid young group. I'm looking forward to watching them (assuming Jake sticks around).

Regardless of Richards and Carter, I am happy for John Stevens and his success.

do most people think were better with bryz, schenn, jake,simmonds, coturier then we were with richards and carter...i gotta say i was all for the trade, but am very jealous at how well they are doing and the possibility of them raising the cup.
- mydoglicks

How dare you have jealous feelings? Your a slouch of a fan. You can't be happy unless the Flyers come home with a Cup huh? HOW DARE YOU!!

at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. we didn't trade them together to LA. If we did, who knows who we would have gotten in return and whether that would have prevented LA from winning the Cup. They were added to an already strong nucleus of players with a great goalie. Good for them. It wasn't working here for whatever reason and now we have a good solid young group. I'm looking forward to watching them (assuming Jake sticks around).
- wilsonecho91

Same here. They're not driving the bus in LA: Sutter, Quick, and the D are doing that. They're more along for the ride (looking at the entire run, not just last night), but I'm not going to waste hate on them. Though I do vacillate between apathy and annoyance with regard to their immediate success in the playoffs.

Regardless of Richards and Carter, I am happy for John Stevens and his success.

I'm actually more happy for Hexy and Gagne if they win. I wasn't sold on Stevens' handling of his players. His treatment of Upshall, for instance, compared to anyone from the 2005 Phantoms Calder Cup winners.

All that said, anyone that isn't NJ can win now. I don't really care all that much.

Clearly solidifying the defense going forward is a far bigger, or should be, priority going forward. Clearly Giroux doesn't need an "all world" Winger to play with to be successful. A Parise would be great. But it's not neccessary by any means.
- MJL

Perhaps you can list the last 5 SC champs and list their top 4 wingers. Then list ours.

Perhaps you can list the last 5 SC champs and list their top 4 wingers. Then list ours.
- Daman

Ooh! I love games.

Let's see...

2011 Bruins: Horton, Ryder, Recchi, Lucic
2010 Blackhawks: Kane, Hossa, Versteeg, Brouwer
2009 Penguins: Guerin, Kunitz, Fedotenko, Talbot
2008 Red Wings: Zetterberg, Hudler, Samuelsson, Holmstrom
2007 Ducks: Selanne, Perry, Moen, C. Pronger

Same here. They're not driving the bus in LA: Sutter, Quick, and the D are doing that. They're more along for the ride (looking at the entire run, not just last night), but I'm not going to waste hate on them. Though I do vacillate between apathy and annoyance with regard to their immediate success in the playoffs.



I'm actually more happy for Hexy and Gagne if they win. I wasn't sold on Stevens' handling of his players. His treatment of Upshall, for instance, compared to anyone from the 2005 Phantoms Calder Cup winners.

All that said, anyone that isn't NJ can win now. I don't really care all that much.
- Flyskippy

I'm happy for Gagne, but this can't be all that satisfying to him you'd think.

I'm happy for Gagne, but this can't be all that satisfying to him you'd think.
- wilsonecho91

I agree, but to be a part of it, at least. More satisfying than last year in Tampa, except for the whole healthy and golf things.

Not yet. Try again in fifteen minutes, things might improve.
- BulliesPhan87

How about now?

Watching the playoffs isn't much fun now that the Flyers aren't playing. All we have is offseason talk.

How about now?

Watching the playoffs isn't much fun now that the Flyers aren't playing. All we have is offseason talk.
- stveshdy

Flyers have now lost each game in the NJ series by 1 more goal since you last checked in. Bryzgalost.

BREAKING NEWS PHILLIES:

Phillies acquired OF Kyle Hudson from the Rays for OF Rich Thompson. Hudson, who was swapped from the Rangers to the Rays at the end of spring training, was hitting .291/.378/.318 with eight RBI, seven stolen bases and a .696 OPS over his first 33 games with Triple-A Durham. While the 25-year-old knows how to draw a walk and can steal some bases, he has never hit a home run as a professional. He'll likely serve as outfield depth at the Triple-A level.
Source: Jim Salisbury on Twitter