B21

I was actually wondering how much...influence?....the NHLPA had on the Kane and Toews deals.

He did. His hit is $8.7 million when he could have asked for more than OV who was the highest paid player at the time at $9.5. Don't get me wrong - it's a lot of money to leave on the table but in the grand scheme of things, how much does it help? Want to impress me? Take $7,000,000 per year. That extra $2,000,000(ish) left on the table turns that $1,500,000 4th line grinder into a $3,500,000 3rd line scorer.

Agree completely. I don't have a problem with them being the highest paid players in the league (by annual cap hit). But highest paid by $1,000,000? That's amost 10%.

It could - or Bowman can figure out a way to keep the Hawks contending each year even with 2 players (really 4 when you add Keith and Crawford) taking up so much cap space. I've argued many times - the job of a Bowman or Shero/Rutherford is harder than that of a GM with less money tied up in such a small number of players. You have less to work with but higher expectations. I don't fault Shero (I think he put together a team together that could win the Cup if properly coached). There are about 25 other teams in the NHL that would love to have the Pens' playoff record for the last 5 seasons. But...expectations are higher when you have a Crosby and Malkin.

Going? I'd love to but have a prior obligation.

I'm starting to think having multiple elite players is more a curse than a blessing in a salary cap world. Eventually, you have to pay them. If you don't, someone else will. If you let them walk as a free agent (even if you improve the team using the cap space left behind) you'll be villified by the fan base and likely the local media...at least the uneducated members of your fan base (I say this because - for example - the "smart" Pens fan would understand why the Pens would trade a Malkin or Letang). If you trade them, you had better hit a home run on the return. Craig Patrick whiffed when he dealt Jagr and that was the beginning of the Pens' demise that ultimately cost him his job. Crosby and Giroux sure look like bargains now, eh?

I'd link to think trainers these days are more in tuned with "modern" medicine and don't have the mentality of trainers 20-30 years ago (like you said - "tape it up and get back out there") but it sure seems that way at times.

@Polaris922 I'm looking for the quote where he blames the injury on other players taking liberties on faceoffs. Can't seem to find it. Come to think of it - I can't find any quotes from him about this. How spoiled of him. So Giroux just plain sucked for the first 25% of the season? Because I though for sure that 90% of the Flyers fans here attributed his offseason wrist injuries and recovery as a reason for the historically bad start he had. Maybe his arse-grabbing this offseason was meant to strengthen the wrists? (The mileage on that hasn't even started yet. ) (FWIW - I'm not on the injuries-are-not-an-excuse-for-poor-play bandwagon. I think they can be.)

Maybe they are banking on him retiring in a year or two thus avoiding the cap hit down the road?

When did Paul Holmgren become a Special Assistant to the Capitals?

I really need to read more posts in the Flyers section of the forum.

Because Burke is no longer GM there?

I've done lots of stupid things when intoxicated. Though I was never arrested...and spent the night in jail....and for grabbing a cop's arse...repeatedly. Maybe I'm just not fun. Then again, I'm not getting paid $8,000,000 per year to be captain of the Flyers, either. And of course, I wasn't injured in some golfing "mishap" last offseason which resulted in a historically bad start to my season which correlated with my team's slow start putting them in a hole that they never really got out off. Who knows, if Game 7 was in Philly and not MSG maybe we would have beat the Rangers and then the Pens and then - who knows in the ECF. But we've all done it at the young and immature age of 26. While captaining an NHL franchise.

2 isn't enough?

If Steve Downie can get away with a sucker punch and do so while wearing a Flyers sweater, anyone can get away with a sucker punch.

Only once. And done to make a point about how anyone making this an age issue (young, immature, etc.) to defend Giroux is grasping at straws i/m/h/o.

He was "only" 21 at the time though. That makes it OK.

Simple. You are trying to give your guy a pass with the asinine argument (these things tend to happen when you are young and stupid) that this kind of thing can be expected at the ripe "old" immature age of 26. Fair or not, professional hockey players are held to a higher standard. Especially when they are the Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, no?

B-b-b-b-but he was only 21 at the time. Clearly a maturity issue that - according to Knut - can last at least until age 26 apparently. I think it's easy to see the point I was trying to make.

I have a feeling we go into the season without them having new deals. I think they are prepared to move on with Martin after this season. He'll be 34 going into next season and will likely command at least a 3-4 year deal at $5,000,000 per year. Too rich for my blood considering the pipeline of defense prospects we have on the cusp of the NHL. Waiting on Fleury is win/win. If he melts in the playoffs again I don't think they will want to bring him back. If he has a strong post season I think they bring him back; I think he wants to come back. The organization really stood behind him and I think he appreciates that at the end of the day.

If Giroux were on the BSB, Schultz would have pounded him into oblivion for grabbing another man's arse...and a cop at that. Even the BSB's had standards. Edit: The pink shirt would not have flown either.

26??? Crosby still gets killed for barking at the refs to much at 18. And you are giving Giroux a pass on this because he's only 26? That makes sense.

Crosby would have to be arrested in a hotel room with a transvestite to top this one. I think I'm safe.

I like the sound of that.

Can't we just put this sad episode behind us and grab on to another topic?