Lindbergh31

Rux, most Flyers fans realize that the Flyers aren't going to make the playoffs and if by some freakin miracle they do then it shows you how weak the Eastern Conference truly is. I'm hoping they go the other way and finish near or at the bottom like they did in 2007. Trade Briere and if he doesn't want to waive his no-trade clause then buy him out in the summer and use the cap hit somewhere else, get rid of any dead wood for picks if possible and move on. Right now this team is unbearable to watch.

I agree, if he wants to play then Ottawa might be a possibility since Spezza is probably done for the year and they could use a centre. He's be closer to his hometown. Besides maybe the Flyers could get Ben Bishop back as part of the trade.

Jammer, I think most Flyers fans would be patience enough to suck for a few years, the Flyers don't need a massive rebuild but they have to fix the defense and goalie position. But as for the Flyers management, there lies the problem- old man Snider wants to see another championship before he kicks the bucket so he doesn't want to be patience and Holmgren just does what he's told by Snider.

Howie, the Blackhawks crapped the bed for roughly 7 years in order to get those core draft picks and I honestly can't see the Flyers fanbase putting up with that type of rebuild. Like FC stated, Holmgren has a good nucleus of forwards now he has to concentrate on the defense and goalie positions. Getting rid of Briere and other deadweight will help start the process.

Holmgren has to rebuild the defense and decide what he's going to do when it comes to goaltending, I'm hoping he buys out Bryzgalov and Briere this summer to free up close to $12 million in cap space and trade for Bernier from LA.

Thanks for the post, but let's be honest as a Pens fan you want the Flyers to keep Bryzgalov for the next 7 years He's being paid to be an elite goalie and yes the defense in front of him sucks right now but I can say the same for the Devils defense in front of Brodeur the last couple of years yet Brodeur still makes the saves when needed, that's the difference. Add in his outspoken comments and you have a recipe for disaster in the dressing room. Bryzgalov is a product of the defensive system Dave Tippett had in Phoenix and nothing else, he's not an elite goalie becasue he's not consistent night in and night out, he's always good for one bad goal at the wrong time of the game. Snider is getting older and will probably die before seeing his beloved Flyers hoist the cup again, it's time for both Snider and Holmgren to realize they have a good core group of forwards but they also need a good core group of defensemen and a goalie. This is the perfect year to start that process and if Snider dies in the next 5 years then so be it.

We can also hope that Snider and Holmgren will use those buyouts on Bryzgalov and Briere. You getting ready for the OHL playoffs

Eventhough it's possibility that the Flyers might be in a hole to try back into the playoff race, I'm sure Bryzgalov isn't impressing his teammates with his comments. It's just another reason why Holmgren should buy this idiot out at the end of the season.

Watching Nurse play against the Wolves this year, I wouldn't be upset if the Flyers drafted him if they couldn't get Jones. Giving up Couturier would be a hard decision but nothing would surprise me when it comes to Holmgren.

Seriously Polaris922, the only people that have a problem with Hartnell's style of play is Pens fans like you. The rest of the NHL would take Hartnell in a heartbeat. Let's not forget who the Pens have on their team, Matt Cooke, I'm sure he's liked by other NHL teams?

Well said, Bryzgalov plays like he doesn't give a ****. He already has a ring from when he played in Anaheim so he wanted the big payday. And his luck he found two suckers in Snider and Holmgren who gave him a big contract. Now Snider and Holmgren have to decide if it's worthwhile putting up with Bryzgalov for the next 7 years. He's average at best and always seems to give up one bad goal per game lately. It seems with Holmgren trading Silent Bob he wanted to eliminate any competition for Bryzgalov so it justifies the stupid contract Snider and Holmgren gave him. And for us Flyers fans the thought of Bryzgalov being in net for the next 7 years is enough to put anyone over the edge

Rux, it's a fair question and I think both Holmgren and Lavi could be gone at the end of the season if the Flyers miss the playoffs. And based on Snider's history, I could see him calling LA to find out the availability of Ron Hextall since he loves bringing former Flyers into management. I don't care what Bryzgalov does for the rest of the year, they have to buy him out, period! As for Briere, you ask him if he wants to go to a contender if one asks about him or you buy him out also this summer. We need a gm who can build a team from the goalie out. The Flyers have some core players to work with but I can see Couturier being traded.

He got 2 games for his first offense and 2 games for the jersey he wears.

Holmgren took Gagne and his $3.5 million cap hit off of Lombardi's hands plus when the Sharks fired Lombardi, it was the Flyers who gave him a pro scouting job until the LA gig came up. They seem to have some history of trading with each other so it wouldn't surprise me if Lombardi would give Holmgren first crack at trading for Bernier. Lombardi isn't going to trade him to another Western Conference team so who knows. I don't think you have to offer up Couturier to get him.

I agree, get 1st pick overall (Jones), trade Briere and buyout Bryzgalov and best of all, Jody Shelley comes off the books with Matt Walker.

Thanks FC, I wasn't sure when they had to use them. On a side note, it was a good game between the Barrie Colts and Sudbury Wolves last week. The Colts look strong.

Rad, Briere has been around the block to know that there is always a possibility for a NHL player to be traded that's why he probably insisted on a nmc in his contract so he could control where he would end up if traded. As for the compliance buyouts, I thought they had to be used before the start of next season?

Yes it is a business and Briere held up his end of the bargain but you can say the same thing about Holmgren and the Flyers. Remember Holmgren added on two years to make the cap hit lower, so instead of Briere getting a 6 year deal worth $47 or $48 million, he signed an 8 year deal for $52 million. So Briere knew full well that he was going to get his $47 million in the first 6 years, and there was a possibility of him being traded. But going into next season, the Flyers will have to shed payroll to get under the cap ceiling and buying out Briere would make sense.

I believe teams can pick up a portion of the cap hit. If Briere doesn't want to waive his nmc then inform him that he'll be bought out at year-end because the Flyers can use the $6.5 million cap hit elsewhere. He's 35 and on the decline, I understand he wants to stay here for his kids but he has to realize it's a business. So if he wants a chance to win a cup then he should think about waiving his nmc.

What about going another way, buying out Bryzgalov and trading for Bernier from LA, he's played in the minors to develop and he's stuck behind Quick in LA and I'm sure would love to be a number one starter somewhere. It wouldn't hurt to see what LA would want for him in a trade.

You trade Briere at the deadline, heck if Buffalo can trade Paul Gaustad and get a first rounder than the Flyers should be able to get a first rounder for Briere considering his playoff record. And if he doesn't work out than it would only cost probably $3 million to buy him out since in makes a combined $5 million in real money in the last two years of his contract.

Howie, no matter how this season plays out, I think Bryzgalov has to be bought out, we can't go another 7 years with him in net. I'd also buyout the remaining 2 years of Briere's contract unless he agrees to a trade if it comes up.

FC, I'd trade Briere and if he doesn't want to go you tell him that he will be bought out this summer, the Flyers can use the $6.5 million cap space somewhere else. As for Timonen, I'd hold onto him since they're thin on the defensive side.

Get rid of this ****in idiot, he's a joke. He wanted to be paid as an elite goalie yet he gets outplayed by a goalie who played in the AHL. It's time for Snider and Holmgren to realize to use one of the buyouts on this clown and get rid of him. I'm hoping he keeps screwing up so the Flyers have a shot at Jones. If the Flyers can't beat the Leafs they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

Jammer, you have to remember that JVR goes from a fanbase who wants to win a cup to a fanbase who will consider making the playoffs a success. He's doing well but he did that in bits and pieces in Philly also, now we'll have to see if he can do it consistently over the course of a season. As for Luke Schenn, he's doing well and hopefully continues to improve as the season goes. I think it was a good trade for both teams.