jammer2

@Phillygrump Is Nash worth it? Well, to answer that, you first have to look at career stats. http://www.hockeydb....y.php?pid=55239 The fact is, while playing with some pretty crappy/average players he has totaled 2 40 goal season, one 38 and a pile of 34 to 29 goal seasons. I think everyone can agree he has elite size, skating and moves for a big man. The real question is....how much more will Nash score when paired with similar elite players such as himself. So, you're in the risky business of projecting when trading for a talent like Nash. I remember vividly when Nash particiapted in international tournies (ie Olympics, World Champs etc)....he stood out, he was faster and hungrier than almost everyone else. He filled the net and did it with authority. Factor in his skill set, add in a player of Claude Giroux's talent and Nash's goal/point totals could indeed sky rocket. Possibely to the tune of 50 goals and 85-90 pts. If he can score 40 goals and 70 pts with a crappy Blue Jackets power play, it makes sense that his totals will blow up in Philly. Sooooo, the Jackets (IMHO) are shopping Nash not at his last years stats, but what he will do for your team nest season when added with your talent. I have no problem believing Nash would be a top 10 talent/scorer if Philly got him....so that is why the price would be so high. Howsen knows this and so does Homer.

@Podein25 Hockey News draft preview has Thrower coming in at #29. Played with Colorado first round pick massive Duncan Siemens in Saskatoon. For a guy known for fistifcuffs (fought tough guy Tom Wilson from Plymouth in the Prospects game), he put up respectable offensive numbers 18 goals and 36 assists last year. Interesting prospect, also runs the pp on the Blades. He projects as a two way defenseman. Sounds like he plays Flyer hockey, I'm thinking Homer knows a great deal about this young man. Like you, I wonder about the 5'11 translating to the NHL as a physcial player, but his offensive upside makes me feel a bit more safe, even if he's not overly dominant physically, the other aspects of his game make up for it. The guy I covet is Olli Matta. Got to see him live 3 times last year and every time he impressed me more than the last. Hockey News has him ranked at #20, but this was printed before his stellar playoff run, putting up huge pts and playing huge minutes before eventually bowing out in the Memorial Cup final. Real, real smart kid plays a smart efficent game. Nice size also at 6'2 and 202. Real dependable first pass, very composed player, makes everything look easy. Finn is another kid from the OHL who could be there when we pick. A lot like Matta....not flashy but very steady. 6'0 and 195....just average size. He worries me a bit more than Thrower because I'm doubting him being able to move guys from the front of the net with his frame....it's a big part of his game.

@Phillygrump He's a special talent, when it's all said and done, some GM's are going to rue the day they passed up on him and let him slide to #8.

@Podein25 I do think Sean's skating will improve 5 or 10% going forward. I'm pretty sure he's still growing into his frame....which *should* mean more dexterity and speed could be on the horizen. Don't think he'll ever be considered fast, but, with Sean, what you see is not what you are really going to get skating wise. I'd be shocked if he did not improve going forward, espcially given his work ethic.

@Vanflyer Think Jagr might look at Greg Campbell's new contract....he of 20 goals and 39 pts got a 4 year deal at 3 mill per. Applying standard to Jagr and you have to be thinking market value is around 3.2-3.5 or maybe a tad more. Not saying Jagr will ask for that, but other teams might offer that. I think Homer would be smart enough to not get in a bidding war. Rumor has it he already verbally agreed to a deal with Homer....so maybe done of this matters.

@radoran The fact that Detroit has 22 mill of "real" cap space is scary, they could easily add a Praise and Suter and have some left over to shore up the goalies. Plus the kids (well the kids are 24 on the Wings...lol) like Ngyist and Abdeleker (sp on both) have another year under thier belt. The Wings could be right back in the thick of things in the West next year.

Summer is going great Pods, thanks for asking. With regards to Joe and Sean, I agree Sean has a physical element to his game that Joe just does not have. Sean will never be mistaken for a soft player, a tag Joe has been hit with frequetntly. I do see other similarities....the vision, the size, although I project Sean to be more a finisher than Joe. Joe looks to pass first and foremost. I did say Sean takes it to the net harder than Joe, which is a roundabout way of stating he is more physical. Maybe Joe Nieuwendyk is a closer comparision?

@DaGreatGazoo Yeah, now that you mention it DGG, I do recall some CBA stuff regarding that.....my horrid agent theory just got thrown under the bus...LOL!

@Vanflyer Yeah, the bottom line is I'd like to move to greener pastures than Jagr. Loved what he did last year, was not a surprise for me at all, expected it....but time to move on. In the end, Jagr had 19 goals, Voracek had 18 goals and actually has upside and youth. Slot Read in on the second pp and second line and throw Welly or Harry Z on the 3rd line (Welly can play all 3 forward positons). You instantly save 2.5 mill or more and you just became much, much harder to play against. It's time to move on....although it seems as if Homer does not feel that way... Edit...despite the relatively close goal totals of Voracek and Jagr, I do know what you mean, Jagr strikes me as much more of a finisher than Voracek....was surprised their totals were so close.

Hey....maybe he just thinks Bryz is crap and the Flyers will never win with him in net!! LOL!

@sarsippius I was thinking the same thing, maybe the fact they would wheel and deal anybody is a turn off.....but, the more I thought about it...the more I concluded it was more of a player agent blunder than a Flyer management problem. That loophole (in both cases) should never have existed. I'd be saying, you want my guy for long term...show you're serious and NMC from day one. Regardless...that is exactly the position Suter will be in, he wlll ask for and recieve an immediate and permanent NMC, so I don't think that part will come into play....gotta be something else.

@Vanflyer I still think he would be a bit of a luxury. Voracek or Read would flourish on the top pp and they will be there for the long haul. Just my gut talking but I think Jagr will continue to have groin problems. Read or Voracek would outscore Jagr if given top pp time. Plus, and most importantly, we need to upgrade the defense and back up goalie positions first and foremost....JVR, Read, Schenn, Couts Voracek, Danny B, Welly....I see all these guys getting more goals than last year...so yeah, IMHO....a luxury.

I was all in favour of cutting ties with Carle and making this team tougher to play against. If we overpaid I will throw up....literally.

This is the first I heard of any Jagr injury during the playoffs. That expalins the "lack of jump". Explains a lot of things. I'd have to look at him in a more positive light....maybe he *can* help out considerably in next years playoffs. But....that does bring me to anohter point...the odds of him missing 20+ games due to injury are pretty damn good from where I sit..so a bit of a risk there also, you'd have to hope he does not get hurt at the wrong time.

@doom88 Carter might have the worst hockey sense of any top scoring forward in the NHL. How can you miss high and wide literally hundreds of times and still go back to the same shot, time after time after time. Never learnt how to properly utilize his linemates, hardly ever swithced it up with his shot...let a slap shot go every once and a while. How about a back hand after faking the wrister....nope, he refused to grow as a player. He was selfish in that regard IMHO....as long as Jeff got his stats, it was all good. I thought he would eventually click in and become a force to be reckoned with. He will never realize his full potential because he's ok with the same old....30+ goals and 30+ assists. This guy has the raw talent to become a 50+ season...but he does just enough to not be accused of dogging it. Should have put this rant in the Carter hatred thread...lol.

@Mad Dog All valid points MD, the playoff performance has to be taken into account. Fact is, he makes the Flyers easier to play against when it matters most. Not a knock on Jagr or calling him lazy or anything like that, but the guy just did not have any jump left in his legs in April/May. So, commiting money for that kind of play is a little silly. He would have to be cheap to make it workable. The other thing I noticed was his play in the offensive zone. He plays this slow, methodical puck possession game....constantly twisting and turning, waiting for an opening to feed a teammate. This type of play is much easier to defend in the playoffs, when the room you have to maneuver is taken away due to the desperation of the opponents. Dont' get me wrong, he is one of the very best at shielding the puck with his body and knowing just when to dish it off....but like I said, much easier to defend come playoff time. If the money has to be spent at forward, I'd rather have a David Jones type, a guy who is physical, makes the team much, much harder to play against and chips in the some decent points. I know all players can't be physical gritty types, but I guess I just want a better bang for my buck...literally. I'm also concerned about taking away time from the kids. A Harry Z or Welly could either get bumped from the line-up totally or play a reduced role....and I'd like to see what these kids have to offer with increased ice time.....guys that will be part of our future, not just a stop gap measure.

@Mad Dog Sean reminds me of a young Joe Thornton. I think Couts has a much better shot, will take the puck to the net harder...but vision and size wise...I think big Joe is a favourable comparision. The big difference being, he is learning (and by all accounts much better at it) the defenseive side of the equation much earlier than Joe. We could be looking at a defensively responable 80+ center....very exciting. I think he has a God given release that puts him in the top 5% of NHL players....kind of reminds me of Mike Bossy's release.....deadly quick and accurate. The goals will come, and when they start, they will come in bunches....having said that, he will get the majority of his points off assists.

I'm basically ok with this move, but I do think the money can be spent better elsewhere. Jagr chipped in 54 pts and 19 goals last season....a pretty good bang for your buck at 3.3 mill a year, right around fair market value for his production IMHO. Thing is, he had ok stats in the playoffs, 8 pts in 11 games is not chopped liver, but he looked tired and kinda made the team easier to play against. *If* the Flyers get him for 2.0 to 2.5 I'm ok with it, the same numbers as last year....just a bit to much for my liking. We could use that cash to sign a legit back up or shore up the defense. I do believe he's a bit of a luxury. We all know offense is not the problem here. We could easily fill the void by giving more playing time to Voracek or JVR. These guy still have upside and should improve enough to take the sting of missing Jagr's points away. Even Wellwood and Harry Z. could produce more if given the incresed ice time. I'd be happy if Simmonds equaled last years stats, and Danny B in theory should produce more than last. All signs the Flyers *should* be in a favourable bargaining position here. The price has to be right homer.... http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397842

@sarsippius Same here, not only is Vokoun better than Bryz, we could have denied a direct division rival a fall back option in case Fleury started to stink like he did in the playoffs. We had the cap space to do this....I don't get it, give up a 6th instead of a 7th?!?!....unreal. The number one thing on the Flyers to do list should be upgrading the goaltending with a LEGIT option...not an unproven guy with promise....a guy who has history and respectable career numbers....that's Vokoun to me.

@Vanflyer Timmy boy has a no movement clause....it is possible he could demand the money or not let himself by sent down to the AHL...ha ha... http://www.thefourthperiod.com/trade_deadline/notrades.html

@radoran Aziz is pretty knowledgeable on this topic, but I do remember reading a while back that you don't get cap relief for LTIR until the season actually starts....which kinda takes you out of the UFA market. I do think you can go over the cap during the summer (think it's 10%), but the problem is you can't really upgrade with Prongers money, because the start of the season provisiion.

I'm a little apprehensive about Cousins making the Flyers. Nice player, little buzzsaw, always in the thick of the action, just skeptical about him making the jump to the pros...but I've been wrong before. He does project as a gritty 3rd liner (which is where he would fit on the Flyers), so there is some hope. He would have to make the jump to the wing, don't see him making the Flyers as a center, just to crowded at that position. My question, does he bring more than say a Harry.Z....cause I like Harry's size and skating....he would be fighting guys like Harry, Welly, Rinaldo, who all bring nice qualities. He's got his work cut out for him because of our tremendous depth at forward. He does play Flyer hockey, so that puts him in the mix. He goes back to the Sault next year for sure, where he will be traded to a contender for picks and or youth. Hope he becomes a Spitfire!

How about grooming Bob Boughner as the heir apparent to Lavi? One of the best coachs in the OHL, has pro experience in Columbus as an asst. Coach....would be a perfect fit. Windsor's loss would be the Phantoms gain.

@Mad Dog I've basically given up. I don't think we will see a cup in our lifetime. I don't think we will ever find a goalie. I will die before I ever see another Flyer hoist the cup. Does not matter how well we draft, how deep the team is, something will stop us, most likely never, ever having a respectable goalie.

@flyercanuck My take exactly, this is all on Snider. He's the one that anchored this team down with an albatross for 8 more years. Bryz is what he is...a goalie with SERIOUS fundamental flaws. I wonder what the our scouts said about him, did they give a glowing report or did they warn Ed that it's a risky venture to sign him for that long. I don't feel sorry for him, he firmly stands in the way of us ever winning again. The number one thing the Flyers should be doing is finding the next Holtby, a cheap inexpensive talented youngster who can take the reigns after Bryz falters early in next years playoffs. Yeah, the team played like crap in front of him, but weak backbreaking goals...that's on him, and I see no sign of it letting up. Find someone else and make him the back up...it's the only rational play here.