Vincent05

his arm pops out of socket too easily

He can lend that arm to Bryz then he won't ever whiff at catching the puck like last night. I would keep Betts for that reason alone. Now we just need another leg to cover Bryz's five hole.

Does that mean he has to clear waivers again?

Yes when he comes off ltir and we need his cap space or roster spot.

@Irishjim

Rinne is making more then Bryz yearly average salaries wise. To me I think offer sheeting him might be the better idea then trading for him. If we trade for him expect 1 young forward and 1 young dman or 2 young forwards plus maybe 2 1st round picks ( I would think same value as when we traded for Pronger). If we offer sheet him those will be low 1st round picks and might not be as good as the young guys we will give up now. Plus they would get the draft picks starting next year so we get to keep ours this year for the deep draft.

The offer sheet would likely be at the expense of Carle, Jagr and maybe 1 more player next year. As I posted in another thread, I don't think Homer will do that to Poile.

@flyerrod

He was returned to us. Bettman voided the claim because of injury so he's our property now.

@aziz

I agree that he hits hard but reading up on him from sane leafs fan says he still get caught out of position alot. He might be a servicable guy but I don't think he's the clear cut no.1 we really need. Just my opinion though and his cap hit is 6.5mil/year for 2 more years after this. That's a high cap hit for him plus we are giving up 2 young forwards and that will hurt our depth. Yes the 1st rd pick might be high but we are essentially trading 2 forwards for 2 dman. Reading that this is a draft of dmans.

If I was to trade JVR and Schenn I rather go after Weber and he might agree to a long term contract at 7mil/year. He's the complete package we need.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/18/weber-wants-to-stay-in-nashville-if-we-can-keep-guys-around/

Predators all-star defenseman Ryan Suter remains unsigned past the end of the 2011-12 season, and if you read between the lines, whether he stays or goes will be a big determining factor in whether Predators all-star defenseman Shea Weber stays or goes.

Today, Weber spoke to NHL.com’s Dave Lozo about his future in Nashville.

“It’s a place I love to play,” said Weber. “If we can keep guys around and keep getting better, then it’s a place I want to stay.”

But that’s a big “if” considering Suter has the option to become an unrestricted free agent at the same time perennial contenders like Detroit and Philadelphia could be shopping for a cornerstone defenseman.

Weber, a pending restricted free agent, is eligible to become unrestricted at the end of next season. The 26-year-old is among the leading candidates to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. So yeah, there’d be a market for him, too.

Nashville general manager David Poile has already locked up Pekka Rinne until 2019, signing the goalie to a $49 million contract earlier this season. But if he can’t get Suter to commit and he loses Weber as a result of that, where does that leave the Preds?

Weber also told Lozo that the Predators want to talk contract now, but he’d prefer to do it once the season is over.

Just pray that Suter doesn't sign a extension or we will miss out on 2 potential great dmans.

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed goaltender Brian Elliott to a two-year contract extension. The 26-year-old will earn $1.7 million next season and $1.9 million in 2013-14, with a $1.8 million cap hit. The all-star goaltender has posted a 15-5-1 record while ranking second in the NHL with a 1.68 goals against average, .937 save percentage and a career-high-tying five shutouts. Overall, Elliott has posted a 76-58-17 record along with a 2.72 goals against average and .906 save percentage during his NHL career. "Brian came in here and helped stabilize our goaltending and make it one of the top tandems in the NHL," said Blues vice president and general manager Doug Armstrong in a statement. "Having Brian and Jaro (Jaroslav Halak) signed through the 2013-14 season our goaltending is set. Along with Ben Bishop and Jake Allen in Peoria, our depth at goaltender has never been stronger." The Newmarket, Ontario native was originally signed by the Blues as a free agent on July 1, 2011.

Regarding offer sheet to Weber, I don't see Homer doing it to Poile. They can work out a deal and looks to be on good working terms and Homer hasn't offer sheet anyone yet. Clarke didn't care who was the other GM was, he would screw anyone in his way to get what he wanted.

Oh, you think he is too tuckered out from raping Columbus for Voracek & Couturier? He at least kissed LA before jamming it in and taking Fitzgerald and Schenn (who is finally coming around.)

There's a big difference when Homer retools or rebuilds. But when there's a need or who Homer wants, he tends to get bent over.

Just read on another board. Leafs fan seems to really want JVR. They are proposing Phaneuf and a 1st for JVR and Schenn, they are smoking some great stuff lol.

@bryanc

If they waive him and he's claimed by another team, all his salary comes off the book plus his contract. Only time the Flyers take half a cap hit is when they recall someone on waiver and he gets claimed.

If they can rape someone and keep the young core, then go for it.

lol I don't see Homer doing the raping, I see him taking it up the a$$.

@JackStraw

If I was playing that bad Jack, I wouldn't want to watch film of myself. Maybe that's what he's doing too.

@phlfly

Reese has been a improvement over Limelin(not sure on spelling). I would take Reese over him anytime. It comes down to the player execution, the coach can teach and talk to him all he wants if the player doesn't listen. I see a big improvement in Bob's game this year to last season, I'm sick of blaming the coach or it's the coaches fault. It all comes down to the players now.

If Bryz had lost this game, he does really suck. The Wild enter this game losing like 9 straight on the road and the 2nd lowest scoring team in the league. This comes down to the excuse that Bob played against weaker teams, this can be said for Bryz last night. Let's see what he does against top teams like the Preds before we get happy with his performance.

That is the kind of guy I want in the trenches next to me and I am sure his teammates feel the same way. If this is the kind of play we are going to get from every guy that lives with Briere, I can only hope he has room for Bryzgalov.

Not sure what this has to do with Briere, dude is a floater. You wish Briere not only picked up on Couturier's attitude and 2 way play but also Giroux's. Both were his roommate. Bryz already plays like Briere, only when they feel like it so I see no point for Bryz to room with Briere. The only thing common in those 2 is being overpaid for what they bring.

So if anything we should be grateful for his signing as he allowed the team to change the whole makeover of the club.

They can just do that without him or sign him to a short term deal.

Plus signing him allowed the Flyers to build our nucleus for the future with Jake, Couts, Schenn, Simmonds, the ability to sign Jagr and get rid of Richards and Carter

What about Bob? Isn't he part of the young nucleus of this team? I rather they give Bob a chance for a few years to see if he's capable of leading this team but that's out of the window now unless they somehow get rid of Bryz.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=612040

VOORHEES, N.J. -- During his last two seasons of junior hockey with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, seeing Sean Couturier's name on the score sheet was a normal occurrence, thanks to back-to-back 96-point seasons.

It hasn't happened quite that often during his rookie season with the Philadelphia Flyers, but with goals in four straight games, Couturier is starting to make an impact on the offensive side of the ice.

Couturier, one of 12 rookies picked to participate in All-Star Weekend, has earned most of his recognition this season thanks to his outstanding defensive play. He's second among all rookie forwards in shorthanded ice time per game at 2:42, he's won 46.2 percent of his faceoffs and coach Peter Laviolette has shown willingness to use the 19-year-old in all situations.

Now, however, it appears he's starting to bring some of that offense to go with his defensive play.

"I think what's been impressive about his last few games is his shot in general," Laviolette said. "The goals that he's scored, they're goal-scorers' goals. He's showed poise and patience and then when he released it, he released it on the money."

In 39 games, Couturier has 9 goals and 7 assists. The recent offensive flurry comes after he had no goals and 3 assists in his previous 21 games.

Couturier said he hasn't changed anything about his game, saying only that things are going his way more now than they were previously.

"I think the bounces are going my way now," he said. "I'm just trying to put pucks more at the net and shoot more. Things are going my way now. I've just got to keep going and keep putting pucks at net."

Danny Briere, Couturier's roommate, said he never saw a dip in his teammate's play when the offense wasn't there.

"What impresses me a lot with his play is it seems like he's the same going into every game," Briere told NHL.com. "Sometimes he'll get the bounces, sometimes he's not. He didn't get as many points there for a little bit, but he was just playing just as well. He wasn't hurting us, he wasn't making mistakes. He's so low maintenance at this point already in his career, the coach barely has anything (bad) to say when he comes off the ice. … Lately he's getting the bounces, he's getting good opportunities to score and that's the way it goes. Sometimes you get the bounces, sometimes you don't, (but) he's probably been one of our most consistent players all year. And that's a lot when you're an 18-year-old. That's impressive."

That impressive play earned Couturier a promotion from his usual spot, centering the fourth line, to a spot on the third line Saturday in Nashville, with Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read. He also saw time on the wing on a line with Briere late in the game when the Flyers were pushing for a goal.

And with James van Riemsdyk out indefinitely with a concussion, there could be further opportunities for Couturier to get more ice time, starting as soon Tuesday when the Flyers host the Minnesota Wild.

"I don't know how it's going to play out (Tuesday)," Laviolette said. "We're happy with Sean and the role that he's in, the minutes that he gets. We continue to ask him to play well like he's doing, and right now we're good with where he's at."

One of the things that could keep him at the same 12:29 he's been averaging this season is Laviolette's desire to keep Couturier at his natural center position, and with Claude Giroux and Briere locked into the top two lines, that leaves Couturier and fellow rookie Brayden Schenn competing for extra ice time in the middle.

"We'd like to keep our centermen in their natural position if we can," Laviolette said. "That's not to say that we won't down the road. Sean has done an excellent job where he sits."

Couturier said he's played on the wing in junior hockey, as well as at the 2011 World Junior Championship with Team Canada, and at 6-foot-3 and 197 pounds, he's certainly big and strong enough to play along the wall -- and willing to play there.

"I've always played center, but whatever I can do to help the team, if it's on wing, on defense, goalie, whatever -- I'll do it," Couturier said.

Very Nice to see him get the recognition around the league. Wonder what the GMs that passed on him and Blue Jacket fans are thinking now.

Of course they have to say he's the no.1 guy. It's only half a season into a 9 year deal, what do you expect them to say right now? Management would not be too happy if Lavy would stat Bob as the no.1.

@brelic

It's not a tough crowd, it's the honest truth Bre. How many times have we been let down? I know this year the expectation is low, heck no one would've believe how they are playing this year so far.

This season the team would have looked great if Pronger was healthy, Briere was consistent, and Bryzgalov lived up to expectations. Jagr, Read, Couts were all just rolls of the dice that worked out.

You do know this is Philly right? There's always something wrong or someone playing like sh!t on a yearly basis. Always seems like it's if this or if that then this is the year we win it all.

LMAO If you guys were refering to my post, I was just sugguesting Homer dump Bryz too if Burke wants JVR that bad. I wouldn't want to trade him for Schenn+. If Homer does trade him I rather get Weber with JVR in a package.

@doom88

I'm fine with buying him out but there are 2 years he will have a high cap hit and we will lose players to cover that.

2012-13: $875,000

• 2013-14: -$625,000
  
• 2014-15: $1,375,000
  
• 2015-16: $1,375,000
  
• 2016-17: $1,875,000
  
• 2017-18: $1,875,000
  
• 2018-19: $5,125,000
  
• 2019-20: $6,125,000
  
• 2020-21: $1,708,333
  
• 2021-22: $1,708,333
  
• 2022-23: $1,708,333
  
• 2023-24: $1,708,333
  
• 2024-25: $1,708,333
  
• 2025-26: $1,708,333
  
• 2026-27: $1,708,333
  
• 2027-28: $1,708,333
  
• Schenn and Komisarek will be serviceable shut down dmans we need. Komi has 2 more years after this at 4.5mil/year. This also saves us some money next year and we can resign Carle if you want to. Just an idea cause not everyone wants us to trade our young forwards for d help.
  
• 
  

I'm willing to trade JVR to Toronto if they want him that bad. But they must take Bryz also, just maybe he will waive the NMC to play for the GM who gave him a chance to start somewhere else. Maybe JVR and Bryz for Schenn and Komisarek? I know it hurts to trade JVR but one way for us to get out of that long ass contract.

@brelic

Ya, and their lackadaisical "don't care" attitude drives us all crazy. Both could be way better than what they are.

Sounds and looks like our man in goal right now. Looks like we trade 2 guys for 1 right now. On a positive side, the guy right now has a shorter term then those 2.

@flyercanuck

We can always still dream. I think it comes back to haunt the Flyers for how they screw Hextall for money and Cechmanek for calling out his teammates. I guess this is payback or as Bryz calls it "Karma".

I wouldn't mind another Cechmanek here, dude can flat out stop pucks and I don't care if he calls out his teammates for not scoring. It may be wrong but he has the right to when playing at that high level. I rather that happened then blaming your teammates for not clearing the crease or deflecting pucks that you can't seem to stop. Oh well, we have another 8 1/2 seasons of more excuses as to why Bryz flat out sucks unless Snider bites the bullet and buy him out.