Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: One Flyer Left in World Championships

Bill quick question...Is there any relation between Ray giroux(drafted by the flyers in 1994) and Claude giroux? came up as a trivia question.

I hate the shootout sooo soo much, it was still pretty sweet seeing the captains of my 2 favorite teams playing on the same line.

Oh and this may be a stupid question that has been answered, but could the flyers buy Briere out of his current contract, then resign him at a cap friendly contract?

Oh and this may be a stupid question that has been answered, but could the flyers buy Briere out of his current contract, then resign him at a cap friendly contract?
- flyers4487

They cannot.

Bill quick question...Is there any relation between Ray giroux(drafted by the flyers in 1994) and Claude giroux? came up as a trivia answer.
- Philly1980

No relation.

Always liked Ray Giroux. Too bad he came along during a period where undersized defenseman could hardly get a sniff at the NHL unless they were some Norris caliber type. He was always a solid two-way guy and a good puck mover.

They cannot.
- MJL

Sigh oh well, im sure this is not what danny or the team wants. I would love to have him back at a reduced salary.

No relation.

Always liked Ray Giroux. Too bad he came along during a period where undersized defenseman could hardly get a sniff at the NHL unless they were some Norris caliber type. He was always a solid two-way guy and a good puck mover.
- bmeltzer

Reading the bio you get the sense that the guy was a winner and a leader everywhere he went. Shame.

I hate the shootout sooo soo much, it was still pretty sweet seeing the captains of my 2 favorite teams playing on the same line.

Oh and this may be a stupid question that has been answered, but could the flyers buy Briere out of his current contract, then resign him at a cap friendly contract?
- flyers4487

Sigh oh well, im sure this is not what danny or the team wants. I would love to have him back at a reduced salary.
- flyers4487

I wouldn't. He's well past his best, especially playing on the wing.

Reading the bio you get the sense that the guy was a winner and a leader everywhere he went. Shame.
- Philly1980

Considering he has a degree from Yale, at least made it to the NHL (albeit briefly) and has made a lot of tax-free money in the KHL as one of the league's top import defensemen, he did all right for himself regardless. Even so, he definitely had full-time NHL ability, he just got too old to be a prospect anymore by the time some NHL teams started to de-emphasize sheer size after the 2004-05 lockout.

- mayorofangrytown

Its been a longg year and I honestly didnt follow the nhl as close as I should have so I dont really know crap right now lol

Its been a longg year and I honestly didnt follow the nhl as close as I should have so I dont really know crap right now lol
- flyers4487

Don't worry about it. Others have had the same thought: It's a commonly asked question from what I've seen.

Considering he has a degree from Yale, at least made it to the NHL (albeit briefly) and has made a lot of tax-free money in the KHL as one of the league's top import defensemen, he did all right for himself regardless. Even so, he definitely had full-time NHL ability, he just got too old to be a prospect anymore by the time some NHL teams started to de-emphasize sheer size after the 2004-05 lockout.
- bmeltzer

haha another giroux.... right up your alley

Claude Giroux (July 13, 1956) is a Canadian-born midget wrestler whose career spans over 20 years.[1] He is still active in the Canadian Independent circuit.[2] Giroux's biggest exposure came when he performed as Doink The Clown's sidekick Dink in the World Wrestling Federation between 1993 and 1995.[3] Outside of his stint as Dink the Clown, Giroux also performed in the WWF as Tiger Jackson in the 1980s and as The Macho Midget and Little Hulkster in the later half of the 1990s.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: One Flyer Left in World Championships
- bmeltzer

I have to say, I'm now firmly on the buyout Bryzgalov bandwagon. I like the guy, have defended him when I felt necessary, and I still think he can be a good goalie, but I feel it's time to move on.

His performance in net has not been up to the standard needed given the financial and time commitment the team has made to him. He hasn't been awful, but he also hasn't been much better than average, either. The biggest issue is the wild inconsistency he's shown from week to week or month to month.

I understand replacing him is a bit dicey, but I also know that they can make a short term commitment to a new guy to split time with Mason and re-assess next summer.

With the shrinking cap and the new cap recapture penalties, I find it doubtful that Bryzgalov would complete his contract anyhow. Waiting until next summer is risky to me, because if Bryzgalov were to get hurt, the buyout option is off the table. They already have enough dead money/LTIR tied up in Pronger.

Finally, and least importantly, it's my firm opinion that he really doesn't want to be here. I'm not saying that it'll be an issue or that he'll cause trouble. It's more the icing on top of the cake. The primary, really only reasons, are the level of play doesn't meet the level of investment and the potential cap issues moving forward.

Don't worry about it. Others have had the same thought: It's a commonly asked question from what I've seen.
- bmeltzer

I really wish that the NHL would get the full text of the CBA on line, like they did with the 2005 deal. It would make things a lot more simple for everyone.

I have to say, I'm now firmly on the buyout Bryzgalov bandwagon. I like the guy, have defended him when I felt necessary, and I still think he can be a good goalie, but I feel it's time to move on.

His performance in net has not been up to the standard needed given the financial and time commitment the team has made to him. He hasn't been awful, but he also hasn't been much better than average, either. The biggest issue is the wild inconsistency he's shown from week to week or month to month.

I understand replacing him is a bit dicey, but I also know that they can make a short term commitment to a new guy to split time with Mason and re-assess next summer.

With the shrinking cap and the new cap recapture penalties, I find it doubtful that Bryzgalov would complete his contract anyhow. Waiting until next summer is risky to me, because if Bryzgalov were to get hurt, the buyout option is off the table. They already have enough dead money/LTIR tied up in Pronger.

Finally, and least importantly, it's my firm opinion that he really doesn't want to be here. I'm not saying that it'll be an issue or that he'll cause trouble. It's more the icing on top of the cake. The primary, really only reasons, are the level of play doesn't meet the level of investment and the potential cap issues moving forward.
- Jsaquella

Well that and he wont keep his mouth shut in interviews. I dont want a circus next year, i want a team that is focused.

Well that and he wont keep his mouth shut in interviews. I dont want a circus next year, i want a team that is focused.
- Philly1980

I don't even give a crap about that, it's just noise. Now, if it becomes a real distraction, like Thomas' political postings in Boston or something of that nature, I'd agree.

I have to say, I'm now firmly on the buyout Bryzgalov bandwagon. I like the guy, have defended him when I felt necessary, and I still think he can be a good goalie, but I feel it's time to move on.

His performance in net has not been up to the standard needed given the financial and time commitment the team has made to him. He hasn't been awful, but he also hasn't been much better than average, either. The biggest issue is the wild inconsistency he's shown from week to week or month to month.

I understand replacing him is a bit dicey, but I also know that they can make a short term commitment to a new guy to split time with Mason and re-assess next summer.

With the shrinking cap and the new cap recapture penalties, I find it doubtful that Bryzgalov would complete his contract anyhow. Waiting until next summer is risky to me, because if Bryzgalov were to get hurt, the buyout option is off the table. They already have enough dead money/LTIR tied up in Pronger.

Finally, and least importantly, it's my firm opinion that he really doesn't want to be here. I'm not saying that it'll be an issue or that he'll cause trouble. It's more the icing on top of the cake. The primary, really only reasons, are the level of play doesn't meet the level of investment and the potential cap issues moving forward.
- Jsaquella

Preachin to the choir my friend, I have been saying the same for months!

Don't worry about it. Others have had the same thought: It's a commonly asked question from what I've seen.
- bmeltzer

by commonly i assume you mean every 10 minutes

Why can players not restructure deals like they do in the NFL? I assume the NHLPA prevented that from being allowed in the CBA? Seems to me that since Briere wants to stay, his situation would be perfect for a restructuring that would be a win for both team and player.

Why can players not restructure deals like they do in the NFL? I assume the NHLPA prevented that from being allowed in the CBA? Seems to me that since Briere wants to stay, his situation would be perfect for a restructuring that would be a win for both team and player.
- Tartan69

Most likely because teams would use that to circumvent the cap.

haha another giroux.... right up your alley





- Philly1980

A Doink sighting!!
Nice

Why can players not restructure deals like they do in the NFL? I assume the NHLPA prevented that from being allowed in the CBA? Seems to me that since Briere wants to stay, his situation would be perfect for a restructuring that would be a win for both team and player.
- Tartan69

Because it's expressly forbidden in the CBA. There's very valid reasons why both sides would want to keep renegotiations out of the CBA.

For the players, they never have to face a team saying "Take a paycut, or we'll cut you". For owners, there's no chance of a guy having a big year in the first year of his second contract saying that if the team doesn't redo his deal, he's holding out.

Another reason players would likely be against it would be that it would mean the end of fully guaranteed contracts.

A Doink sighting!!
Nice

- BiggE

Most likely because teams would use that to circumvent the cap.
- BiggE

Because it's expressly forbidden in the CBA. There's very valid reasons why both sides would want to keep renegotiations out of the CBA.

For the players, they never have to face a team saying "Take a paycut, or we'll cut you". For owners, there's no chance of a guy having a big year in the first year of his second contract saying that if the team doesn't redo his deal, he's holding out.

Another reason players would likely be against it would be that it would mean the end of fully guaranteed contracts.
- Jsaquella

Valid points, thanks for the explanations!

I'm curious why the NFL does it then? Is it as simple as the teams/owners in the NFL having much more leverage over the NFLPA than is the case in the NHL? Although holdouts in the NFL do occur...