Howie58

According to TSN Jagr is going to free agency July 1!

According to TSN Jagr is going to free agency July 1!

Let him walk. Mentoring is good. But the dough is better spent elsewhere. We need help on D. Who the heck knows about the CBA?

Best,

Howie

Howdy:

Here is a recent post.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=634809

If we believe NHL and Columbus Dispatch, almost half the league has some interest. Columbus desperately needs scoring so you reckon that this guy has to fetch lots of goals in return.

....so, a pick, Simmonds, Read....maybe even Bobo, for Nash...

Interesting thing on this thread--Howson has the ability to move his number one pick to next year...may do so because LA will be number 30. Ha

Peace,

Howie

I can't figure this one out. My only read would be that Homer wants a dominating set of forwards and is willing to give up assets to acquire a "man mountain" who is probably chomping at the bit to get out of the market. On face, it doesn't make sense. But Homer is part of an organization that has always wanted big dudes up front...

Howie

No, just his rights got traded (bought) in the KHL. He hasn't signed anything and still appears to be saying that he wants to play in the NHL, which puts the Rags definitely in play.

With uncertainty around the CBA you could see him signing a KHL contract with an opt-out clause on whether there is an NHL season. Look for the Preds to trade his rights for a pick at or before the Draft.

Podein:

Thanks for the clarification. The guy has talent. Whether it will be put to use is a different story. Given the Poile-Holmgren relationship, I guess we rule it out.

Peace,

Howie

Greetings Mojo and Podein:

I just checked Yahoo sports, it looks like he signed with someone in the KHL. We know he won't go to the Rangers.

Well, I will reflect further.

Peace,

Howie

Greetings:

I think another possibility is Radulov, especially if Homer parts with another forward to obtain a defender. OK, the guy may have some behavioral issues but there is talent. Maybe he, Bobo, and Bryz become the "The Three Comrades" or something like that....Snider needs defib, but there is bonding.

Best,

Howie

Howdy:

I think Homer might package Bobo + JVR for pick, sound backup, and a defensive forward. I am not sure who fits the bill...that is outline. I've thought about my backyard Panthers. Clemmenson is a superb career backup. Tallon throws in a pick and Bergenheim. But with Homer, we need to expect the unexpected.

Something else to think about that I posted on another thread is the CBA uncertainty. Will Homer or any other GM want to take on significant cap without knowing where that may head? Picks for future development may mean more this year than we think. Our farm club is bit depleted given how much we've pulled out of there. If Homer wants to preserve his cadre of forwards he may lay lower than we think.

Best,

Howie

thanks for the excellent post. Logic says this is true. Homer may defy logic. I also wonder how CBa plays out in terms of caution on long term contracts? All the best, Bowie.

Maybe we are learning that patience may matter. Or that we build and draft well but don't nurture.

Greetings:

Summarizing this thread says that intangibles may mean as much as goals, etc. That's consistent with what I said in another thread--Homer is keeping this guy around as "insurance" if there's another big roster shuffle. My gut says that one of our roster forwards (JVR, Schenn, whoever) and a pick go for defensive help. Jagr's production is likely to drop with age. It's the other stuff keeping him around. I agree with others--his playing time will reduce time of others. So I have mixed feelings about this.

It's hard to imagine that free agency is around the corner. If this goes down, it might happen sooner than we think.

Best to all,

Howard

Greetings:

First, it's nice to see folks here. And I hope Flyers West wins the Cup, if only to remind us that the Flyers staff must do some reasonably good drafting...whether they give people enough time to grow and mature...different story.

OK, this is not a drug- or Merlot-induced brain turd, but something seems strange here. Why do we want Jagr back? Points aside, I think it is presence.

I am sticking my neck out here but have to wonder if Homer is going to do something other than a tweak? Seriously--does he want a senior presence because there may be a new set of cards in the deck?

I would hate to see a Voracek go. Even more so with Simmonds. But if Homer wants a defensive rebuild with a lost Carle and a depleted Timmonen and Pronger pseudo-retired...will he need to give up some of our young forwards and bring in others?

It's just a thought. Frankly, I don't see the need for Jagr if the same crew was around. They have had their father figure and G is the new one.

Peace,

Howie

I didn't see any name above that I thought made more sense than bringing back Bob for another season. In particular, I think penciling in Hovinen, who has no North American experience, is a horrible idea.

I would not assume the Flyers have decided to move Bob. They may or may not have "gone after" Vokoun. If they did, they thought Vokoun made sense but that doesn't mean that they think a lot of other guys out there are a better alternative to Bob. I'm not even sure Vokoun would be a better alternative, not because I don't think he can play (he can) or because I don't like his willingness to speak his mind (I do). I'm just not sure our head case starter could deal with being on the same roster as Vokoun.

Greetings:

I like your reasoning. My gut says they go with a bargain type like Johnson per yesterday's article. Bobo gets traded as part of a package--I could JVR bundled with him.

Best,

Howie

Greetings:

Thanks for your condolences and it is nice to see some familiar "faces."

Homer will have his hands full. But its probable he has cap space if Timonen retires, Jagr is unsigned (or resigned for less, something I wouldn't rule out), Pronger goes LTIC or retires, and "other."

God knows about Bryz. Yikes. One possibility here is either go with a 1A, 1B system (assuming we are stuck with him) for two to three seasons. That may or may not mean Bobo, who is being wasted on the bench or as trade bait.

Gus and Bourdon have some potential. But it wouldn't surprise me to trade for a someone mobile or lots of draft picks for them.

I may not live to see another Cup.

Best,

Howie

P.S. I just ordered a case of wine over the net...a first time for everything. And yes, it is red...doubt if it is all Merlot...(smile), but it's fermented...not demented.

Greetings:

I have been away for a long time. Work and personal issues including father's passing have kept me away.

Some of the pundits felt we would be a marginal playoff performer...Sporting News saw is 8-11. We were better.

Tonight's loss and play this series are painful. My take:

1) Our forward corps is OK. I wonder if the D is persistent enough.

2) Bryz misses Tippett's system. Homer's trades for Coots, etc. may be offset by this signing.

3) Our forwards broke Pitt's back. Against a disciplined team we got whacked.

4) Grossman is a good add but I suspect Homer will make a D shake-up.

Lavy could not figure out how to beat DeBoer's system. I wonder if we see a coaching change; if not the head coach, elsewhere?

Peace and I hope all is well with the folks here.

Howie

Howie:

Bottom Line:

1.) Flyers are not an Elite Team.

2.) Flyers cannot play with the Elite Teams.

3.) Flyers have had a hugely dissappointing year, many factors.

4.) Flyers are not going anywhere.

Time to look at 2012/2013 and....

BOI

Bear:

Up north, my dad is not well. I am getting used to Philadelphia Intl.

Yes, we are not an elite team. I would like to think that by next year, 2014 at the latest, we are of that caliber.

Peace,

Howie

--But Lavi only knows 'one way' according to everyone. Lavi's style is to unleash everyone in the offensive zone, and in his mind the more time we spend trying to score the less time the opposition has the puck. However that only works against the Carolinas, Islanders, Toronto's of this league...then we come up against a hot goalie or a well coached team like the Rangers and we're toast.

Oh well, at least we can score goals..who really cares if we win.

I just wrote Terp...well, we can move the puck out out of our zone...a few years ago that couldn't be taken for granted.

Howie

If all goes well. The team can score so no problem there. With this line up, it should also be able to keep the puck out of its own net. Bryzgalov has been obscenely horrendous all season but has played decently the past few games (for sure putting aside his performance in Calgary). Is he going to turn it around? I have no idea; he's burned us before when we were hopeful. The defense has a couple of new additions that have the potential to improve the merely horrendous defensive zone coverage. The defense may have the potential to be a lot stingier than it is so let's hope it gels.

I am not used to a Flyers squad that give up goals in bunches. We have reversed from where we were a few years back--the team couldn't get the puck out of its own zone. Now it invades the attack zone but leaves the lousy goaltender ripe for easy goals.

I will reply to my own post.

1) You could say that with all the young players on this team, we are playing better than expected, particularly given the new faces.

2) You could also say that this team's D was supposed to be among the league's best. I cannot believe that Pronger's absence is the only problem.

Bottom line, I think the fans who cringe at every shot heading in Bryz's direction are rational. And I agree that playoff hockey doesn't allow for the defensive lapses.

The last quarter of the season might raise more questions than it answers. If adding Grossman and Kubina doesn't toughen things up or lower GAA, Homer may have a lot of thinking to do. And I also think Lavy is going to need a cattle prod to get his forwards to be more "Rangerlike."

Howie

Greetings:

1. Let's start with Bryz. He made some tough saves and looked engaged. But it was right where he is statistically, 3 goals and an .875 save percentage.

2. We get scored upon again up front. Lavy has to call a time out to settle the troops. What gives?

3. I thought Grossman and Kubina looked pretty good. Mez was in top form.

Bottom Line: I guess we can outscore the low-to-mid tier but that might not be the case against the elite. Bryz doesn't look as disengaged but his numbers are not that great. This team really is a work in progress.

Best,

Howie

Actually this year against teams from the Western conference the Flyers record is 10-5-2.

Thanks for setting me straight on this. Kind of interesting; I normally see us having problems with these folks. I wonder what our long-term track record is against these people.

Best,

Howie

This was an OK road trip. I would not indict the new defenders after a few games. And frankly, it looks like Grossman is having fun booming away from the point.

My biggest concern after last night's game--why the hell haven't we won in that venue since 1999? What does that say about our play against Western clubs? If we want to win a Cup...we need to look at our performance against the West...and I suspect it is not so hot.

Howie

Hockey

That seems to be what we do best, (albeit with some patented Flyerconsistency^TM) Either trade away draft picks, add draft picks as part of a trade, or be forced to send youth packing either via trade or in order to sign an "experienced" "gritty" veteran. I know many people made fun of Toronto doing the same thing. The difference? We made the playoffs.

Why is the road record so much better this year? Normally I would say it's because we have so many "aliens" to the arena -- but with our rookie cohort, that wouldn't seem to apply this year.

We have had some luck, too, in the draft... Giroux was such a sure thing, the GM couldn't remember his name. Coutirer seems like he could be a steal. Then again, JVR has that look as well (the very face of Flyerconsistency^TM)

Hockey:

I like your trademarks. They brought some Monday morning laughs.

Consistency is pet peeve. Thinking about our contrasts between and within seasons since the strike is almost mind-boggling.

Peace,

Howie

Howie:

My sincere regards for your Dad. 91, wow, God bless.

The Flyers? Bryz? Well, we will have to see if there is positive reinforcement to come out of the SO win. Maybe the Universe and White Tigers are not looming that large any more..

Don't trade anybody.

Bear

I think this will be a litmus test on whether we keep our young players or let them be harvested by others.

Meanwhile, thanks for your kind words.

Best,

Howie

Howie:

I am sorry to here you Dad is sick. I hope not serious. I lost my Dad a couple years ago. Still miss him every day.

I understand the work BS too...

If you are Homer, just say no. Keep the young guys. Bryz may come around, stranger things have happened, like the Flyers going to the Cup.

Take care Howie,

Bear

Bear: Dad is probably not here for long but I hope we all get to 91 with our marbles intact.

As for Homer...you and I hope he builds a nucleus of good young people. And yes, maybe Bryz get his "bleep" together....

Best,

Howie