bryanc

The chick was acting like she was from Joiesy (Jersey), and the fellas sounded like they were from the Bronx (busting your chops -- I've lived in Philly for 30 years, I don't think I've heard anyone say that, at least not where it's a stereotype).

Actually it would have been much more "philly" if the woman called a time out in the middle of the commercial, like Andy Reid.

Good for Todd, and you know what, good for his family too. All too often parents hide things from their children. Addiction is a disease, and it is partially genetic. His children should know what he went through and how to deal. And if it helps some other players in the league get some help, all the better.

I wish Feds the best. He was always a righteous player who stuck up for his teammates and played with heart. Who doesn't remember him leveling Jagr with a huge hit or that killer hook that flattened Barnaby?

I'm sorry I know some of you guys like the mask. And I can respect the artistic talent.

But it looks like something I would see on a cheesy Harley tank, ridden by someone wearing an AFFLICTION T-shirt.

We should make a trade for back-up goalie Joey MacDonald who is with the Red Wings. He is asking for a trade because the Wings have another back-up. He is a pretty solid back-up and would be better then Leighton. As an aside. Back in Junior with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Q, he was let go because the Mooseheads had Pascal Leclaire and Alexei Volkov and he was the odd-man out. MacDonald went to the OHL and became and all-star. Anybody ever here of Volkov? And Leclaire is no longer on anyone's radar.

Can MacDonald play D?

Greetings:

Two weeks ago I thought the collective bargaining process would work and the season would not be in jeopardy. Now I see a lost season, or at least some loss, as almost certain.

In some ways I think this is more of a pivot point than '04-'05. You could argue that in '04 the league's finances were out of kilter and the NHLPA was being led over the cliff. This time around, the finances relate to a handful of "sick" franchises, owners who want protection from their own avarice/stupidity, and players who want to preserve the "Bettman Model" of nontraditional franchises even if marginal TV revenues fail to cover "sick" franchise problems.

I also suspect that Bettmann-Fehr is a titanic personality clash of two lawyers from radically different backgrounds. There are elements of "class warfare" in any collective bargaining but these personalities seem worlds apart as people.

Personally, driving across I-75 to see the Florida Everblades in Estero isn't too appealing, unless it's combined with a stay on the West Coast. But that seems like a pain in the you-know-what to get a fix of minor league hockey.

One other observation: I suspect Gary Bettmann's job is on the line. Fehr will stay on regardless of outcome. But owners may use this an opportunity to move him out, even if the outcome is "owner-friendly."

Peace,

Howie

Howie, I've already decided that the way I will get my hockey game watching fix is to hang out at the rink after my beer league games to watch the A and B level teams play.

I think most would pick Pronger, but there will likely be a LITR exception in the cap, so you still have the ability to ride out his salary.

Bryzgalov, I think, is too early. he's not the first free agent goalie to be signed to big dollars only to disappoint in his first year with the expectations.

I would actually pick Briere. I like Danny, but with three years left at a $6.5 mil cap hit plus a no trade clause, that's pretty steep for 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points.

Plus, the amnesty would cost minimal. It wouldn't be the cost of the cap hit, it would be based off of whatever salary he was owed for the remainder of the contract. He's owed $12 mil over the next three seasons (7 mil, $3 mil, $2 mil) but the amnesty would free up $19.5 mil of cap space over three years.

Keeps getting better and better....

That would be a good example for addition via subtraction.

Suter, close but no cigar...

Carl, opps. He really did want the big paycheck!

Pronger, need I say anymore?

Weber, nice try but..............

Mezaros??? What can you say? If he hurt himself in the SUMMER then what was his durability in season?

Grossmann? Knee's anyone?

Timmo? Needs a back transplant though I still have faith in him and Grossmann...

For fun, just for fun, lets throw in Gervais, Walker and 3 rookies (more or less anyway}....

Now that sounds grim but here is the good news!!!........

Lilja is hurt so we don't have to watch him and IF that fails, we can always count on Bettman and the owners to do a lock out so we don't have to watch it at all....

Weird thing is, we could have a suprisingly good defence this year! Now there is some optimism for ya!

Not that it makes everything OK, but I think you forgot Schenn.

@bryanc That 90 draft, I've often LOL'ed about how guys like Mike Ricci, Kieth Primeau and Nedved getting picked ahead of Jagr. Didn't these teams have over seas scouts in those days?? A blind man could see he should have went before these plummers.

True, but it's not like Ricci, Primeau, and Nedved had bad careers, right? They were all drafted so young, maybe their draft teams saw something they needed more (except for Ricci, of course). In 1990, a lot of scouts and teams had a bias against Euro players, the Flyers were no xception to that!

You forgot someone between Tkachuk and Smolinski... Marty Brodeur. How different would the Flyers' story be today if we had picked Brodeur instead of Ricci?

That almost proves my point. Of that whole list he's the only player to be with the same team his whole career. Hatcher spent a lot of time withthe Stars franchise, true.

i was just think about how the Flyers constantly trade away their first round draft picks after a very short time period and only a handful have lasted with the team for a long stretch.. some guys we kept until they were in their late 20's and then moved for young players or picks, but for the most part we traded the majority within 2- 5 years.Some were involved in good trades, but it would be nice to see a homegrown guy be a Flyer for life. to me if your that eager to dump your first rounders, either your not picking the right player, or your not showing any patience. Had we drafted Parise, Seabrooke, Perry, Dustin Brown or Getzlaf, which we passed on for Carter and Richards... would we have been that eager to dump them? So either we are picking the wrong guys, or not giving them a fair time period to blossom. I think our only first rounder ...Bill Barber retired as a career Flyer. Im almost certain we have traded away most of our second rounders as well.

1978- Behn Wilson ,Ken Linseman- both traded after a relatively short time

1979- Brian Propp- played with Flyers for a long time, eventually traded-

1980, Mike Stothers - total flop

1981 Steve Smith- total flop

1982- Ron Sutter- played a long time eventually traded

1983- traded pick

1984- traded pick

1985 Glenn Seabrooke- total flop

1986 Kerry Huffman- traded in Lindros deal

1987 Darren Rumble- total flop

1988 Claude Boivin- total flop

1989- traded pick

1990- Mike Ricci- traded in Lindros deal

1991- Peter Forsberg- traded in Lindros deal

1992-Jason Bown -total flop

1993- traded pick

1994-traded pick

1995- Brian Boucher- traded after short time

1996- Daninus zubrus- traded after short time

1997- traded pick

1998- Simon Gagne- long careeer with Flyers ,eventually traded

1999- Max Oulette- traded after short time

2000- Justin Williams- traded after short time

2001- JeffWoywitk- traded after a short time

2002- Joni Pitkanen- traded after a short time

2003- Jeff Carter, Mike Richards- traded with 5 years

2004- traded pick

2005- Steve Downie- traded after a short time

2006- Claude Giroux- should be a Flyer for life

2007- JVR- traded after a short time

2008- Luca Sbisa- traded after a short time in Pronger deal

2009- traded pick

2010- traded pick

2011-traded pick

so here it is , we have traded almost every single first round player ,we have ever drafted, and we have also traded a bunch of first round draft picks and probably most of our second round picks.

I hindsight the 2 biggest deals we made in trading players/picks did not really work out for us, the Lindros and Pronger trades... Pronger played a few years, and Forsberg alone was a better player than Lindros...

In general, most first round choices get traded at some time in their career. There might be 2-3 guys every draft year that spend more than a handful of years with the team that drafted them.

1990's draft class is a perfect example.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftstats.htm?year=1990&team=&position=S&round=1

1 1 1 QUE Owen Nolan R GBR 6' 1" 214 OHL Cornwall Royals 1 2 2 VAN Petr Nedved C CZE 6' 3" 196 WHL Seattle Thunderbirds 1 3 3 DET Keith Primeau C CAN 6' 5" 220 OHL Niagara Falls Thunder 1 4 4 PHI Mike Ricci C CAN 6' 0" 200 OHL Peterborough Petes 1 5 5 PIT Jaromir Jagr R CZE 6' 3" 240 Czech Kladno 1 6 6 NYI Scott Scissons C CAN 6' 1" 190 WHL Saskatoon Blades 1 7 7 LAK Darryl Sydor D CAN 6' 1" 211 WHL Kamloops Blazers 1 8 8 MNS Derian Hatcher D USA 6' 5" 235 OHL North Bay Centennials 1 9 9 WSH John Slaney D CAN 6' 0" 190 OHL Cornwall Royals 1 10 10 TOR Drake Berehowsky D CAN 6' 2" 217 OHL Kingston Frontenacs 1 12 12 MTL Turner Stevenson R CAN 6' 3" 230 WHL Seattle Thunderbirds 1 13 13 NYR Michael Stewart D CAN 6' 3" 210 NCAA Michigan State University 1 14 14 BUF Brad May L CAN 6' 1" 213 OHL Niagara Falls Thunder 1 15 15 HFD Mark Greig R CAN 5' 11" 190 WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes 1 16 16 CHI Karl Dykhuis D CAN 6' 3" 214 QMJHL Hull Olympiques 1 17 17 EDM Scott Allison C CAN 6' 4" 195 WHL Prince Albert Raiders 1 18 18 VAN Shawn Antoski L CAN 6' 4" 235 OHL North Bay Centennials 1 19 19 WIN Keith Tkachuk C USA 6' 2" 235 Mass. Malden Catholic H.S. 1 21 21 BOS Bryan Smolinski C USA 6' 1" 203 NCAA Michigan State University

Out of that list, most players spent 5 seasons or less with their draft team (many spent seasons in the minors during that time). Or, they flopped. Jagr, May, and Hatcher were pretty much the only players who spent a lot of time with the draft team.

BTW, I'm not disagreeing with your point -- the Flyers trade away a lot of 1st round choices and the last 20 years has not been kind to them with round 1 picks.

Sure has been quiet lately.

Hopefully the Preds matching the offer sheet for Weber didn't wreck him (Homer, that is).

I think he is quiet due to a chnge in strategy.

No one really worth the money is available anymore, and with the pending CBA changes, Homer can sit and wait and see who becomes available during the season. There is a strong possibility that decent players will be available via trade after the new CBA, or if a team sees itself out of the playoff picture and they want to unload some higher-priced players.

Be ready for the Flyers to be part of the trade discussions all season long because they have so much cap space.

Dreger is reporting this:

Rangers get Nash, mnr leaguer Steve Delisle

CBJ gets: Anisimov, Dubinsky, Erixon 1st rnd pick, and cond.3rd (goes back to CBJ if NYR make Cup final).

Clemmenson, Roloson, and Montoya are all upgrades from Leighton...in todays NHL you need 2 viable starting goalies...we hardly have one..

for the record Rolo can be a sensational goalie when he gets hot..Clemenson and Ellis are both legit starters as well...

Well, you must be a much better judge of talent than all of the scouts in the NHL, because none of them think the above cast are legit starters.

Clemmensen doesn't even think he is a legit starter himself -- that's why he signed a 2 year contract to be the backup in Florida.

Roloson WAS a legit starter, quite a few years ago. He'll be 43 when the season starts. He's coming off a season where he had a .886 save percentage and a whopping 3.7 GAA. Rolosn hasn't played starting goalie minutes since 08-09. Since then he's split the goaltending duties with his teammate. He's old and slow. Not that Leighton is a major upgrade, but to call him a "legit starter" is just not seeing it straight. Not to mention, he would cost 2-3 times more than Leighton.

Dan Ellis, a decent back up. Similar numbers to Leighton over his career. Never been legit starter and likely never will be. You could argue that he's perhaps a better back up choice over Leighton, and I wouldn't argue that except to say perhaps you've seen Leighton more. But, again, Ellis a legit starter? Far from it. He's certainly not a significant upgrade from Leighton.

Really, the only guy that would have been a better choice, the Flyers already traded away.

they should have signed Clemmonson or Montoya or Ellis or Roloson..anyone but Leighton

Clemmensen as what, a backup? He's three years older than Leighton with similar numbers. He's probably a slight upgrade in skill over Leighton, but it is a moot point because he wasn't available -- Florida signed him before he ever hit the market. So saying they "shoulda have signed" him is unfair, because they would have needed to trade for his rights.

And Roloson? You really think it is a better idea to sign a 43 year old goalie with a 3.6 GAA last season?

Montoya, how is he an upgrade over Leighton?

Same goes for Dan Ellis.

The thing with Nash is that the bar has kind of already been established with the Richards / Carter trade. That said (and to your point), I think as a trading GM, you have to establish how much MORE value does nash have above a "carter". The other part of the equation is the cap / salary hit. Nash is the 5th highest paid player in the NHL and while never having the supporting linemates in Columbus that he needs, he has never put up the value in production to support that salary. I don't think a Read + #1 + a conditional #2 gets it done. I do think think a "Read" and a number 1 and two number 2 picks would get it done. Columbus has to realize that no team is going to gut its roster to get Nash. I would do that deal as stated.

Good point on the trade level being established by Richards/Carter. Carter might have had a long contract @ 11 years for $58 mil, but at $5.27 mil a season, that looks below his market value. On the flip side, Nash has better overall skills and a shorter contract length, but at a MUCH higher cap hit. To me these points wash.

So Carter got traded for Voracek, a #1, and a #3 pick. Richards, traded for Simmonds, Schenn, and a #2. Both trades seem very similar as far as the give/get level.

Applied to Nash, I think your Read + #1 PLUS TWO #2's would be a good deal for both teams. And you're right, no one is going to gut their roster to get Nash right now.

All you need to know about Nash is to watch his international play for Team Canada. When you give him some decent line mates, the guy is nearly unstoppable.

Indeed.

What blows my mind is how continually bad the Columbus management is. The brass out there has continually screwed things up. They have a great arena, few but passionate fans, and I really liked the city in general. they have no other real sports competition in town, besides the OSU football team, but that is only for 10 saturdays a year.

Nash is a big commodity, indeed, but it seems Columbus is asking for too much in return. Yes Nash can produce, but he has two negatives: the fat, long term contract and two, the no-trade clause, so he has a limited set of teams he has agreed to go to. Out of those teams, how many have the cap space and the players they can ship in return and the willingness to do so?

On any negotiation, one side is always in a position of strength. right now, Columbus is not in that position. They want to get rid of a player who has a huge contract, has asked for a trade, has a no-trade clause... and yet they expect to get 1-2 stud youngsters PLUS high draft picks?

If I were a GM, I might offer a decent young player (for the Flyers I MIGHT dangle Schenn, for sure I would offer Read), and two draft picks -- a #1 next year and a conditional #2 somewhere down the line. That's about all Columbus is going to get. Or maybe a young forward, young D and a pick.

If Columbus gets more than something like the above, I'd be floored.

Sure, but if you look at Timo and Hartnell and their $10.5333M. Hartnell is just about in line for average pay for his production (maybe slightly lower? so he goes up to $4.5M?) So he signs at that and Timo signs at, say $4M you're saving a few million on the cap. Even at $5M you've got an extra $1.5M

Also, like this year with Jagr and Carle, you have the space to make moves if you want to (although you obviously risk losing the player).

All I'm saying is "their money coming off the cap" doesn't 100% equate to "Flyers will not re-sign them" and I'm not sure the media people talking about the cap room that will be available once their contracts expire automatically assume that neither is coming back.

Well put. Basically they are saying that the money once dedicated to their contracts is thus free to apply somewhere else.

if they don't add anyone else... resigning vorachuk is the only thing left. we have about $7.8m cap space after these latest signings,

They should actually have more, because Pronger will be on LITR, so that gives them an additional $5 mil a year. I forget when they are able to spend that money though, because the CBA has a bunch of clauses on it.

I fully expect the maturation process to continue with a number of players on this team. Schenn, Cooter, Simmonds, Read can all be expected to play better. And I don't think we have seen the best of Giroux yet.

Agreed. Still worried about the defense, of course.

But I think the 35 or so goals that JVR and Jagr provided will be made up by better/more ice time given to Read and Schenn. Let's say you get 5 more out of Read (going form 24-29) and maybe another 8-10 out of Schenn, who should be playing about 3-4 minutes more a night with better linemates, and perhaps another 5-6 out of Couturier... right there you're at 20 goals from the youngsters.

I expect the Flyers to wait into the season and see what they have. They know they have a couple of big contracts coming off the books at the end of the season which puts them in a GREAT position to be an in-season buyer for a team that decides it is going nowhere or wants to offload a big contract of a player that they do not think they will resign.

If I am not mistaken, we're coming up on the RFA arbitration deadlines. It is not uncommon for teams to go to arbitration with a player and in their opinion the player gets awarded too much. They then sign him and trade him. I don't know the arbitration status, but Evander Kane, TJ Oshie, Viktor Tikhonov, Tyler Ennis, are a few of the decent names that are RFA. Evander Kane always seems to be a Flyers killer and would add speed to a team that already looks like an Andretti racing team. Tj Oshie always seems to score big goals. The Flyers are well equipped to make a trade and award one of these players a big contract if is current team isn't interested, although I would think Oshie and Kane will be kept, you never know.

This guy always seemed to be a decent "D" man,shoots right,big guy,(6'5") 228 lbs.,not afraid to mix it up,his stats aren't too hot and after the Canes he moved around a lot. Anybody have any thoughts on him ? Apparently his contract with Tampa expired. Anybody?

Amazingly slow player. i watched him in Columbus. the reason he is usually in good position defensively is because he can't keep up with the play at all when the puck is headed the other way.

I know I will get ripped for suggesting this but how about bringing OD back to as a 6th/7th d-man. He was ok the year he was here, keeps in good condition and could be a good mentor to our younger guys like Gus, Manning and Bourdon.

Let the ripping begin in 3,2,1..........

He keeps in good condition because he is always well rested from all the times he's been scratched.

I'd rather see his ice time given to Bourdon and/or Gus. Time for the young kids to see if they can stand.

Imagine him on the wing with Giroux!

They'd both score 100 points easy.

If Homer could trade for him without giving up the kids (Schenn & Cooter), I'd be OK with it.

I think those two on the same line would give teams fits. Seriously, I know Nash is a little pricey, but considering what Parise just got, it makes Nash seem a little more reasonable. A lot of people scream to stay away from Nash, but how many have actually watched Columbus play more than a couple of times a season? heck, the only reason I saw him so much is because I am a hockey nut and I lived in Columbus and got free tickets all the time. Nash has unbelievable pressure put on him to be a superstar every single night on a team that is pretty much crap.

2. I don't think the offense will suffer at all. JvR barely even played last season. And Jagr was good, but he really showed his age down the stretch and into the playoffs. We have every reason to expect that the kids will make strides this season, especially Schenn & Cooter. (I think Schenn is poised for a break--out season.)

And don't forget about Matt Read, scored 24 goals and 47 points with a crazy-sick 15.5% shooting percentage playing mostly third line and penalty kill. I have a feeling he is going to increase his production if he gets a few more shifts per game and plays on a better line.

Now that anybody thats good has been signed, Whats left for us ???????

Plan B is wait for the season to get underway and see who begins to tank early, then trade some draft picks and/or Matt Read for a decent winger.