All this talk about the need to get a #1 d-man, we should have kept JVR and traded Schenn is ridiculous. If a top pairing d-man is the toughest position to fill, why would the teams already have one want to deal them? Subban and Bogosian are both RFA for a few more years, do you really believe they would part with either player even if the return was Schenn or Coots as the centerpiece.? Nashville is in danger of losing Weber for nothing at the end of next year, I haven't even read there is a sniff of him being available? But hey, let's just offer Schenn and/or Coots because they have to like that deal. If it works in NHL '12, it has to work in the real world right?

Maybe, just maybe Homer isn't as stupid as people might think. Maybe Homer did his due diligence and realized the best way to upgrade the defense is to trade for a 22 year old d-man who still has potential to get better and give up a young forward asset that in theory the team has an abundance before the trade.

I would hope the Flyers don't go over $5.5 million for Carle, which in turn I believe he will sign somewhere else. Someone is going to overpay for him just like Leino with Buffalo last year.

Got a feeling that Pittsburgh might be a bidder if they can't get Suter.
- bmeltzer

They must be a bit gun shy over paying above average defenseman after the Paul Martin fiasco.

Martin and Carle would be quite a pair at $11M.

not sure what will happen sunday, but if we dont resign carle, it will leave a huge whole in our d core once again imo.
- mydoglicks

Am I the only one that was happy for the most part with how Bourdon played? I'd be ok with giving him a chance on a pair with Meszy. I like Carle and wanted him to stay, but I'm not paying him more than he's worth because it's a poopty free agent class and it's as simple as that.

gotta think if nashville looses suter they will be in the bidding for carle

If Carle could receive 6MM you HAVE to let him walk.
- Flyers1218

I like Carle but hes ONE player. The Flyers can add another defenseman (might not be as good as Carle) or have their own players take on a bigger role. Doesnt make sense to overpay for Carle.

Anything over 5.25M is too much imo.

Am I the only one that was happy for the most part with how Bourdon played? I'd be ok with giving him a chance on a pair with Meszy. I like Carle and wanted him to stay, but I'm not paying him more than he's worth because it's a poopty free agent class and it's as simple as that.
- Flyers1218

No, I like him too.

But with Kimmo having a wonky back, and Mez coming off surgery, I am not OK having Bourdon AND Lilja/Gusty in the line up for extended games.

And they are only one injury away from that scenario.

Say what you want about Carle but that guy doesn't miss many games, and logs big minutes.

Am I the only one that was happy for the most part with how Bourdon played? I'd be ok with giving him a chance on a pair with Meszy. I like Carle and wanted him to stay, but I'm not paying him more than he's worth because it's a poopty free agent class and it's as simple as that.
- Flyers1218

MAB would be fine in the third pairing role. I think he will only get better with experience. I have no problem with him at all.

I like Carle but hes ONE player. The Flyers can add another defenseman (might not be as good as Carle) or have their own players take on a bigger role. Doesnt make sense to overpay for Carle.

Anything over 5.25M is too much imo.
- stveshdy

I think I have to agree on this number. I hope that 5 becomes below market value. They wont be able to replace what he does without spending pretty close to that as it is.

Anyone else think Marty Brodeur would make a good back up for Bryz?

edit: Martin Brodeur very likely to test free agent market. Brodeur has hired Pat Brisson (CAA) to represent him. Bidders get ready! (via @DarrenDreger)

Am I the only one that was happy for the most part with how Bourdon played? I'd be ok with giving him a chance on a pair with Meszy. I like Carle and wanted him to stay, but I'm not paying him more than he's worth because it's a poopty free agent class and it's as simple as that.
- Flyers1218

agreed, or even sub in Gus. Give the kids a chance like we did last year and see if we can get like results. I mean if we dont sign Carle that means we have to space to leave matt walker on the roster

If Sestito gets within 300 NHL games of Shelley's, he'll have done well for himself. Five seasons into his pro career, the 25-year-old Sestito is 286 games away from getting to half of Shelley's number of NHL games.

Not saying that Sestito isn't the better or more affordable option for the Flyers next year or that Sheley won't be waived. Sestito is much younger, a better skater and physically stronger. At the AHL level, he's shown flashes of finishing ability.

But to say Sestito is a much better player than Shelley is to ignore the fact that Shelley has brought plenty of intangibles that Sestito has thus far lacked.
- bmeltzer

I love shelley dont get me wrong i was proving another point. Shelley has had a hell of a career but at this point he is old and beat up and sestito at the present time is a better option.

Hawks blogger thinks they are trading Hjalmarsson.

He could fill in for Carle.

I wonder if Homer explored a JVR for NH deal at all?

the flyers, needing a top pairing guy, squandered an asset in the JVR trade and came back w/ a #4-5 dman w/ limited puck moving/ offensive skills. in a vacuum, the trade is not a terrible swap, w/ the upside clearly favoring TOR. but in a capped league, there are no vacuums.

fact is, the dominoes are not falling the flyers way here because the need on d going forward is so great and they now have less in the way of assets to address this need. "well, we'll just pay carle what he wants" you say? but what about the cap ramifications? and what about the need for the top pairing guy even if carle IS signed? I'd rather overpay for a guy like suter if our cap is fracked anyway. chances of him coming here...who knows?

b schenn is likely to play wing this yr and I'd rather have traded him to get the right plyr and kept JVR since it is clear over the last two decades, the flyers don't draft/develop their own dmen, so they need to deal from strength to adequately address their weaknesses. it would be a hell of a lot easier to have some top pairing prospects locked into ELCs than to have to go thru this crap for the past 20+ yrs. and since the cap, its even more crucial to do so.

organizationally, the flyers need to make changes to address this area because the ramifications of moves seemingly made in a vacuum have caught up with them too often.
- isaiah520

Let me get this straight. JVR who has been dissapointing overall, but has shown flashes of potential is worth more than L. Schenn who has been dissapointing overall, but shown flashes of potential is a terrible trade? I'm going to say this again... JVR was not valued as highly obviously by real GM's as the hockeybuzz GM's in here. The Flyers weren't acquiring a top pairing defenseman with JVR, because frankly, teams apparently didn't want a big finesse forward that has an extremely long injury list and a hip that could need surgery at any time. And I actually like JVR, but I'm realistic. Should be very happy with the return.

Dreger says Brodeur will test FA market.

wtf?

Edit: leight

Jimmy Stizzle ‏@JimmyStizzle
#Flyers #NHL Rumor - I just got a text from a seperate source from the one I talked to early this morning. Text said "Carle is GONE!!"

Anyone else think Marty Brodeur would make a good back up for Bryz?

edit: Martin Brodeur very likely to test free agent market. Brodeur has hired Pat Brisson (CAA) to represent him. Bidders get ready! (via @DarrenDreger)
- feelingkettle

If we want to pay 11 million a year on goalies.

Anyone else think Marty Brodeur would make a good back up for Bryz?

edit: Martin Brodeur very likely to test free agent market. Brodeur has hired Pat Brisson (CAA) to represent him. Bidders get ready! (via @DarrenDreger)
- feelingkettle

wow... never saw this coming

either retire or finish in NJ, wtf

Anyone else think Marty Brodeur would make a good back up for Bryz?

edit: Martin Brodeur very likely to test free agent market. Brodeur has hired Pat Brisson (CAA) to represent him. Bidders get ready! (via @DarrenDreger)
- feelingkettle

Pretty expensive 1-2 punch.

Just a head up, just because someone wants to re-sign Carle, doesn't mean they think he's te next Bobby Orr. Thanks.

Jimmy Stizzle ‏@JimmyStizzle
#Flyers #NHL Rumor - I just got a text from a seperate source from the one I talked to early this morning. Text said "Carle is GONE!!"
- griouxmvp2012

I am at his house and he just went to walk his dog. False alarm.

wow... never saw this coming

either retire or finish in NJ, wtf
- Marc D

Um agreed. Only way he leaves is if something went sour between him and management. I can't believe he would sign somewhere else.

Just a head up, just because someone wants to re-sign Carle, doesn't mean they think he's te next Bobby Orr. Thanks.
- funmaster18

bobby orr never made $6M a season

therefore carle is better

wow... never saw this coming

either retire or finish in NJ, wtf
- Marc D

Serious.

MAB would be fine in the third pairing role. I think he will only get better with experience. I have no problem with him at all.
- ravishingone

As would I. But we would need to sign Carle so we can trade Mesz for Ryan.