Bakanekimiwa

I think people here are failing to see the genius of these crazy contracts. We sign these guys to crazy long-term contracts and then get other teams to take them over. It's genius... we're screwing other teams salary caps. Just take a look at the Kings and the problem they now have with the Richards contract. He's 'under-performing' and they're gonna need cap relief. I'm totally kidding, but now reading what I wrote... maybe i'm not. lol.

i think you could probably find examples of players like this on every single team. I don't look at this as a problem particular to the Flyers. Look at Rick Nash on the Rangers. Look at Scott Gomez(wherever he is). There are players on every team that have dramatic turnarounds, for better and worse. Look at yourself as well. It's only natural to give it your all when you start at a new place and then kinda relax a bit after you get comfortable. Long term performance needs motivation. Maybe you're not being motivated or pushed enough.... OR in the right way. Different people need different types of motivation. I think the whole thing just makes sense... He maybe got too comfortable here and he wasn't responding to any type of motivation the Flyers had in place. Chief probably thought it better to try someone else. I just don't see this as a Flyers' problem. This is just the natural run of things when trying to build a team. They're trying to find the guys that respond to the same type of motivation.

I look at it one of 2 ways here. We either go for broke or we accept that we're rebuilding and bring up some green prospects. People get their panties in a bunch when suggesting bringing up Morin or Ghost. I say, bring them both up. F it. let 'em play out the season and get the experience. Take our lumps and let em learn. Re-sign Timo cheaply as possible. Hope Gus can step up and that GrossmanN can get and stay healthy. Accept that we're NOT winning a cup in 2015. If we're not going to do that... then we need to drop some money. Niskanen can be had and all we have to do is sign him to another Homer contract™. Overpay now for the immediate upgrade and gamble of a solid D man for years to come. Go for Moulson or Vanek on the FA and try to make some moves for salary space. Gotta dump VLC and/or Hartnell. Get picks, get some low level prospects.. maybe even some pucks. ORRR... make a big splash. Send Schenn, Ghost and VLC with cash to Nashville for Weber. Which option sounds more Flyers to you?

Ok, but didn't you say somewhere that there was NO way he would play in the NHL this year? sorry if i'm mistaken you're kidding right? it just has all the feeling of taking out the trash. so let's stick VLC in the deal in place of Read and retain some of his salary.

Well, we all know that he embellished it and this 'news' of concussion is really all just a smokescreen to continue the storyline.

Since you brought up the Avalanche... Did anyone here see when Andre Benoit got toonced up against the glass and hit his head on the ice last series? He looked knocked out for a split second and had a slight Fencing reaction going on with his arm. Telltale signs of concussion. He was back out next period and played the remainder. This is NOT just a Flyer org issue, obviously. Having had as many career ending concussions as the Flyers org has seen in the last 10 years, though, I would expect more precaution here. It is... disappointing.

nothing should surprise Flyer's fans anymore... even that.

who the H knows what goes on behind closed doors in the Flyer's mgmt offices. we've speculated quite a bit that Snider is pulling the strings. he very well may be. but, one would have to think that bringing Hexy back into the fold after a successful cup run with LA... you'd have to think that part of the reasoning in bringing him back is to signal an acceptance to doing things a different way. I would like to think that Hexy came back with an understanding that he'd eventually take over for Homey and run things HIS way. But, we'll probably never know either way.

the fact that Tampa would need to give us something back too... remember, it would still be a TRADE. Money might be slightly better compared to the pre-buyout deal, and a more manageable cap hit, but they have to give the Flyer's *something*. I just can't see it being anything less than some good picks. I mean... since we're in Bizarro land, let's just trade them VLC for Vlad Namestnikov straight up.

Jersey can.. Lou just gets the league to change the rules for him.

well, the thing that is most maddening about him is that he still has some very good games. he's just extremely inconsistent and that is a problem, but what's the answer? maybe a change of venue is the right answer for him.

well... we all know Panach is a hack who gets all his material from this board. very sad, but, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

they should sign Callahan.

Yeah.. apparently he accidentally spilled the beans on the Flyers by mentioning his headaches not subsiding until just before gm 4. oops.

I think it's an interesting idea.... in theory. Of course, one would wonder about such a move as soon as they bough him out. There are some players who's identity is one team. He's one of those types of players, but with the new economics, I firmly believe that is a bye gone era. The only sense to this theory is an emotional one for the Tampa fans. I'm sure they'd love to have him back to finish his career there, but beyond that, the economics seem to make this move as close to impossible as it gets for me.

this is NOT the most ridiculous theory you've had... which says a lot. however, If the bolts are still on the hook for $32.67 million on Vinny's buyout and now you think they will want to take on another $16.5m(in real money, not cap hit) for a player that is obviously entering the twilight years a tad early!? AND, presumably, they will have to give the Flyers *something* in return!? well, now we've entered the bizarro world. Florida could be a likely destination, however, Tampa is HIGHLY unlikely. On the other side of the deal, I just can't see the Flyers letting go on an investment of that term for just some picks... unless they're high ones. I'm really *trying* to find the sense in this logic... but, seriously... I just can not see it. Help? anyone?

I think most of us here are probably ready for the Hextall experiment to begin. Maybe Homer will fall on his sword for us?

the only problem i have with this thought is this... Schenn has been sought after in rumored deals time after time. Reputable sources, at the time of the Weber offersheeting, mentioned Schenn as one of the main cogs desired by Nashville. The Flyers declined to trade Schenn then, so why would they agree to trade him now. I realize it's 2 years later now, but Schenn is still young and I'm sure they had multiple chances to trade him since then. I really believe that Homer finally got on board with NOT trading away our youth a few years ago. While what you are suggesting is completely possible and probably wouldn't surprise too many people... I just don't see it happening. I think our youth core is in tact for a few more years. Unless Poile reconsiders on Weber this summer ... then I think we could see a few pieces going that way and Schenn would be one to go. All doubtful. My thought is that the Flyers try to deal VLC this summer with the offer of retaining cash on the deal. There are teams that would love to have him at center at a reduced price. What we can expect back is probably not much. Some lower round picks and maybe a gamble prospect.

Maybe not as tough as you might think. Nisk is UFA this summer. They need to re-sign Orpik and/or Nisk. but look at the holes at fwd if they sign both!? They really can't sign both if Nisk is offered around $5m AAV.

<grunch= haven't read most of the thread> I'm gonna go after Matt Moulson in FA to wing our Top line. $5m AAV-ish? Only other F moves are to re-sign Akeson to short deal $900k? Schenn re-sign short as possible for about $2m AAV. All other's walk. VLC or Hartnell need to go. One of them has to go to make my moves. I'm letting Timo retire(or whatever) and bringing up Ghost. I'm totally gonna dick over Pitt by overpaying for Niskanen. I think he'd be a good $$$ gamble though. $5m for Nisk. btw, Pitt is in for a world of hurt after this season with all their $$ committed and UFA's, just to fill the F position will be interesting. They can't afford Orpik AND Niskanen, IMO... so we 'steal' Nisk by offering more than Pitt can afford. Worst case, he signs somewhere else for more money.. either way... Pitt can't keep him. IF that plan fails, I beg Timo for one more year at $2.5m and have Hagg on a 2-way(if not already? if possible?) I'm also re-signing Gus to a short-term $1.5 AAV. Re-sign Emery to backup Mason. He made $1.65m last year, would he take about the same amount? If not, Vokoun is UFA and could probably be had for about $1.5m? maybe? This has us under the cap by almost $3m after LTIR Prongs. Lines are as follows: F M.Moulson($5m), G($8.275m), Vor($4.25m) Hartnell($4.75m), Schenn($2m), Simmer($3.975m) Raffl($1.1m), Cooter($1.75m), Read($3.625m) Rino($750k), Laughton($863k), Akeson($900k) = about $37.25m cap hit for 2015 D Streit($5.25m), MacD($5m) Schenn($3.6m), Niskanen($5m) GrossmanN($3.5m), Ghost/Gus($925k/$1.5m) = about $25m cap hit for 2015 G Mason($4.1m), Emery$1.85m) = about $6m total: $68.25m for 21 players with Prongs on LTIR of course… i'm dreaming out loud here.

Doughburn was Doughburn.... INCONSISTENT. He had a few really good showings and then he had... last night. He was god awful and there's no way around acknowledging that. It wouldn't be as devastating if he weren't one of our #1, #2 guys. That is the real problem... we're supremely shallow on D. Some young guys are really gonna get a good look to get into the big leagues this summer.

Amazing analysis. Thank you for your 2 weeks of service as a fan of the Flyers. See you next Spring.

I think the VLC signing was a bad move for a very specific reason. They brought another C in when they had the intention of grooming Schenn as the 2nd line C all along. WTF is that plan? Not a good one... plain and simple. I'm less inclined to blame VLC for a bad year because it's not the player's job to change position on command and perform. He's been a C all his career, it's clearly the Flyer's fault for moving him to W and expect him to succeed.... just because that's where they need him. He never complained and he accepted his role. When he was moved back to C, his play improved. This one's on the Flyer's management. As well, he had a fractured back early in the year. I think this has hampered him a great deal. Not to make excuses for him, he needs to be better, but he moved to a new team... started slowly and then had a serious back injury. I thought his play really improved toward the end of the season when he was moved back to his natural C position. I think his back issues have possibly hindered him all year. As for the playoffs... I didn't like that he was switched back to W for a good portion and he clearly didn't respond to that well. I would have liked to see more from him in the playoffs, but that can be said about every single player on the team... except for Mason.

I'm gonna take a different road here. I know it's satisfying to place blame for this and that, but I don't blame anyone, individual) for the loss. Players could have played better and things could have gone differently, but it was never within the realm of realistic probability, or reason, this team was going to sincerely compete for the cup this year. I'm disappointed as anyone they didn't make it past the first round, but against a superior Rangers team, they held their own pretty well. Gm 7s are special. That experience will carry us one day. Hopefully in the next couple of years we can look back on this and say it was a turning point for this group. We're a fairly young team. Sure, you can place some blame at the feet of Homer and Snider, but if you step back and compare... we're better off with those 2 than most other teams in the league. They've made mistakes, of course, but they have their eye on the ultimate prize and no amount of money(under the cap system) will stop them from trying to ice the best product. We're lucky to have that. Am I happy with VLC? no. Am I happy with Schenns? no. Do I want to FIRE ALL THE THINGS!!?? nope. I think it's pretty obvious that the major weakness of this team is the D. Pronger left a gaping hole that will take a loooonggg time to recover from. There's some blame for deals gone wrong, but that was just a huge stinkin bad luck pill to swallow. We're still swallowing it.... but.. at least there's hope. We FINALLY have a true #1 goalie who could have carried us to the promise land IF there weren't the glaring stench of our poor D squad.

great honor for G and the Flyers. we all know Mario has a handshake deal in place and it's already on Crosby's mantle though.