Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Combine, Gonchar rumor, Lidstrom

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Combine, Gonchar rumor, Lidstrom
- bmeltzer

Congrats to Lidstrom on what has surely been a Hall of Fame career. Brilliant player for as long as he was, he's in the conversation with names like Harvey and Orr as far as best defenseman of all time go.

Gonchar has long been a thorn in the side of the Flyers, but I don't see him as an option, either.

No doubt about it. Suter playing in Detroit as the replacement for Lidstrom. As well as signing a big free agent deal. He'd be under the ultimate microscope and in a boiling pot of water.

No doubt about it. Suter playing in Detroit as the replacement for Lidstrom. As well as signing a big free agent deal. He'd be under the ultimate microscope and in a boiling pot of water.
- MJL

To be honest... hearing this rumor that he doesnt wanna play in a high pressure market sours me on him. Not that I was thrilled with the idea in the first place. I would much rather see Carle here at 4.5-5 mil than Suter at 7.

With that being said... if he wants to go to a team that isnt in a high pressure market, and has the ability to actually ice a good competitive Cup contending team... why not stay in Nashville?

Don't even waste your time referencing a rumour from Bruce Garrioch in Ottawa. Essentially his idea of 'journalism' consists of two things: a) choose a player to try to run out of town with negative articles all season, and, b) make up regular trade 'rumors', most of which make absolutely no sense to anybody that follows hockey.

In other words, he's a hack and don't even pay attention to what he writes.

Congrats to Lidstrom on what has surely been a Hall of Fame career. Brilliant player for as long as he was, he's in the conversation with names like Harvey and Orr as far as best defenseman of all time go.

Gonchar has long been a thorn in the side of the Flyers, but I don't see him as an option, either.
- Jsaquella

Lidstrom has been my favorite defender since around 2000-2001. He is IMO a top 3 defender of all time. He did everything. Triple Gold winner (Cup(s), Olympic gold, WC gold), conn smythe, norris (7), finished his career +450, 12 time NHL All-Star. He truly was the "Perfect Human".

A player like that is truly a rare gem.

To be honest... hearing this rumor that he doesnt wanna play in a high pressure market sours me on him. Not that I was thrilled with the idea in the first place. I would much rather see Carle here at 4.5-5 mil than Suter at 7.

With that being said... if he wants to go to a team that isnt in a high pressure market, and has the ability to actually ice a good competitive Cup contending team... why not stay in Nashville?
- jak521

I agree. If that is true, it makes me question his competitiveness. What top play wouldn't want to play in a key role on a top team in a top market? A player who truly feels he is one of the top players would or should relish that opportunity. But I'll preface that opinion in that I don't know if that's how he truly feels.

To be honest... hearing this rumor that he doesnt wanna play in a high pressure market sours me on him. Not that I was thrilled with the idea in the first place. I would much rather see Carle here at 4.5-5 mil than Suter at 7.

With that being said... if he wants to go to a team that isnt in a high pressure market, and has the ability to actually ice a good competitive Cup contending team... why not stay in Nashville?
- jak521

Meh, it's that time of year for these silly rumors. They get thrown out there to try to drive up or down a player's price.

I agree. If that is true, it makes me question his competitiveness. What top play wouldn't want to play in a key role on a top team in a top market? A player who truly feels he is one of the top players would or should relish that opportunity. But I'll preface that opinion in that I don't know if that's how he truly feels.
- MJL

I agree.. and I find it strange to be honest.

Meh, it's that time of year for these silly rumors. They get thrown out there to try to drive up or down a player's price.
- bradleyc4

Yea but this isnt a new rumor...

Bill ... as always a great way to start the day.

I don't see Gonchar happening....but that usually means it is likely....

I too thought of Mark Howe when I would see Lidstrom play. I would go down the "if only Howe had his size/health".... Lidstrom being a little bigger being the only real difference. Both played the game with incredible class and respect for and from other players which is something that is lacking in the game today.

Yea but this isnt a new rumor...
- jak521

I wouldn't pay $7mm for Suter regardless of the rumor, so it's kind of a moot point.

The only thing I have heard is he wants to stay in the mid-west. Can't say I blame him, either. I'd want to stay on the East coast, personally, and if I had as many potential bidders as Suter, I'd know that I'd be getting a good chunk of money no matter where I went, so location would be a big factor, right after opportunity to win

Don't even waste your time referencing a rumour from Bruce Garrioch in Ottawa. Essentially his idea of 'journalism' consists of two things: a) choose a player to try to run out of town with negative articles all season, and, b) make up regular trade 'rumors', most of which make absolutely no sense to anybody that follows hockey.

In other words, he's a hack and don't even pay attention to what he writes.
- maaddmike

^This is true.

I wouldn't pay $7mm for Suter regardless of the rumor, so it's kind of a moot point.

The only thing I have heard is he wants to stay in the mid-west. Can't say I blame him, either. I'd want to stay on the East coast, personally, and if I had as many potential bidders as Suter, I'd know that I'd be getting a good chunk of money no matter where I went, so location would be a big factor, right after opportunity to win
- Jsaquella

Envisioning a Suter/Pietrangelo pairing in St. Louis. Scary.

Envisioning a Suter/Pietrangelo pairing in St. Louis. Scary.
- bradleyc4

Yep. Of course, Detroit sitting there with a potential $25mm to spend this summer isn't exactly a warm thought for most of the NHL, either.

Envisioning a Suter/Pietrangelo pairing in St. Louis. Scary.
- bradleyc4

do you have any idea how many slingers those bros would take down?

do you have any idea how many slingers those bros would take down?
- OrangeBlack27

I could go for a Toby right now.

I wouldn't pay $7mm for Suter regardless of the rumor, so it's kind of a moot point.

The only thing I have heard is he wants to stay in the mid-west. Can't say I blame him, either. I'd want to stay on the East coast, personally, and if I had as many potential bidders as Suter, I'd know that I'd be getting a good chunk of money no matter where I went, so location would be a big factor, right after opportunity to win
- Jsaquella

Im with you there.. and there is one team in the east that i could see pulling something like that off... The penguins. They have roughly 10 mil in space (with the cap going to the rumored 69 mil) and need to improve on defense.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Combine, Gonchar rumor, Lidstrom
- bmeltzer

Sign Steve Eminger. He alone makes 6 top 6 d-men. Hands over head with Cup here we come.

Thank you.

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Scott Hartnell ($4.200m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($3.250m)
Wayne Simmonds ($1.750m) / Danny Briere ($6.500m) / James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m)
Matt Read ($0.900m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Brayden Schenn ($3.110m)
Eric Wellwood ($0.580m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.750m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.544m)
Tom Sestito ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kimmo Timonen ($6.333m) /Matt Carle ($4.800m)
Braydon Coburn ($4.500m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m) / Marc-Andre Bourdon ($1.000m)
Andreas Lilja ($0.738m) /
GOALTENDERS
Ilya Bryzgalov ($5.667m)
Sergei Bobrovsky ($1.750m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,851,944; BONUSES: $3,555,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster):$4,148,056 (with bonus cushion) $7,703,056

So basically.. I signed Carle at 4.8 mil, Czechie at 3.25, Bourdon at 1.0, demoted Shelley, and LTIR'd (for all intents and purposes) Pronger.

Its gonna be tough to really add a big name on defense without making a trade.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Combine, Gonchar rumor, Lidstrom
- bmeltzer

Bill,

Can you possibly name these defenseman that you think could be better suited for the Flyers to pick up and get a better bang for their buck? Have you heard who might be available?

Im with you there.. and there is one team in the east that i could see pulling something like that off... The penguins. They have roughly 10 mil in space (with the cap going to the rumored 69 mil) and need to improve on defense.
- jak521

I doubt that would happen simply because Despres, Harrington, Morrow should be in the NHL within the next few seasons, hopefully alleviating our defensive woes.

little late and not sure if anyone posted this prior but

http://www.thestarphoenix...Flyers/6663497/story.html

I doubt that would happen simply because Despres, Harrington, Morrow should be in the NHL within the next few seasons, hopefully alleviating our defensive woes.
- Ausgood9414

I agree. I think Paul Martin is getting a bad reputation for poor play over a few week span (likely due to injury).

They have a solid defensive corps in: Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Letang, Niskanen, Engelland, Despres and Morrow.

They need help on the wing.

I doubt that would happen simply because Despres, Harrington, Morrow should be in the NHL within the next few seasons, hopefully alleviating our defensive woes.
- Ausgood9414

With the way that Martin has played, you almost have to improve within the top 4.