Briere cares if he's bought out

[radoran]

http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/danny-briere-knows-hes-likely-facing-buyout

He admitted on Thursday he’s playing to remain a Flyer, and that he understands amnesty is a legitimate obstacle right now. He almost concedes it’s going to happen this summer, regardless.

“Definitely,” he said. “It’s reality. There’s no doubt about it. But at the same time, those are things I can’t control at this moment. All I can control is for me to come back into the lineup and play as good as I can, to show them. Other than that, I can’t worry about injuries or what they are going to decide to do. That’s out of my control at this point.

“It was agreed by both the players and owners. So no, I can’t complain about that. I end up being the one to pay the price. But you know what, there have been so many good things that turned in my favor over the years that I won’t complain about that.”

Briere's "price" in this situation is the $7.8M a year he's been paid on his $6.5M cap hit and the $3.3M he'll receive in the potential buyout.

In case you were curious, the line for people looking to "pay the price" forms behind me.

I think the buyout is inevitable (and probably was the plan all along) but whether it is this summer or next (or if they trade him) is an open question.

Quite frankly, I don't see Briere "allowing" a trade rightnow if he can get $3.3M not to play for Philadelphia and several millions to play somewhere else. As we approach next year's deadline? Might be a different (and more valuable) story.

[brelic]

See? He's also speaking a foreign language and manages just fine in not sounding like a whiny little b*tch.

[radoran]

See? He's also speaking a foreign language and manages just fine in not sounding like a whiny little b*tch.

Canada's bilingual (in case you didn't know ) - so it's not a foreign language.

"I do have to fine you. That will be a thousand dollars Canadian, or 10 American dollars if you prefer."

[brelic]

Canada's bilingual (in case you didn't know ) - so it's not a foreign language.

"I do have to fine you. That will be a thousand dollars Canadian, or 10 American dollars if you prefer."

It is to him. Bilingual doesn't mean everyone speaks both. It just guarantees everyone's right to be unilingual.

[radoran]

It is to him. Bilingual doesn't mean everyone speaks both. It just guarantees everyone's right to be unilingual.

It's not his native language. But it is not a "foreign" language

And at least "French" uses the same alphabet, aside from all the funny little marks they put over vowels.

:floating ninja:

[canoli]

so Seravalli's headline will be "Flyers Buyout Briere? He Couldn't Care Less"

in all seriousness, just an FYI to folks who don't know - authors never get to write their own headlines. At least that's the way it's always been (and is now) in the newspaper business. Maybe it's different on the web idk.

[radoran]

so Seravalli's headline will be "Flyers Buyout Briere? He Couldn't Care Less"

in all seriousness, just an FYI to folks who don't know - authors never get to write their own headlines. At least that's the way it's always been (and is now) in the newspaper business. Maybe it's different on the web idk.

Just for the record, I specifically noted "editor" in discussing the ridiculous headline on Seravalli's "story" and in the Courier-Post bit which started this whole thing.

Having worked in a Sports Department of a Newspaper of Record for one of the 50 US States (Burlington Free Press - Vermont), writers frequently suggest headlines. Editors make the final decision.

[AndyS]

First, he won't lose a single penny. He'll get whatever the % is of his contract that the terms of the buyout/amnesty dictate (around 60% or so, correct?), and then he will become an unrestricted free agent. Some team will sign him. So he'll basically get paid by two teams (the Flyers and someone else) to play next sason.

And he'll have some say about where he plays (depending on the number of offers he receives).

Honestly, I'd like to see him stay with the Flyers if there were a way to reduce that cap hit. (I think he has been playing through injury.) Would like to see him get one more crack at a big playoff run with the Flyers.

If not for Leighton wetting himself in the Finals against Chicago, Briere wins a Cup and a Conn Smythe for us that season. He has earned his keep up until this season.

[King Knut]

To be fair, Leighton and Boosh were both hurt. Of course Boosh told them he was hurt and that's why they played Leighton. Leighton didn't tell anyone he was hurt (even after Boucher was able to play again) and that's why they kept playing him inspite of his injury and his suckitude (because they figured, sure Leighton sucks ass, but Boosh was just hurt a series ago, he might still be a little sore). Meanwhile Leighton played with a slipped disk or something and never bothered to tell the team for fear that they wouldn't let him play because how could they trust a goalie to play well with a slipped disk? That and for some reason Laviolette has this unholy fixation on keeping him around and playing him whenever possible.

This is why I hate Leighton. It ain't about you Michael! It was a bout the team and the fans. He wanted to play in a Cup Finals so bad he didn't care that he was costing his team and the fans a chance at winning in those finals. To hell with him. I hope he never touches NHL ice again (unless we're playing him... in which case it becomes a ton easier to score).

Sorry... still a tough one to remember for me.

If not for Leighton wetting himsel

[Adamflyers]

Honestly, I'd like to see him stay with the Flyers if there were a way to reduce that cap hit. (I think he has been playing through injury.) Would like to see him get one more crack at a big playoff run with the Flyers.

If not for Leighton wetting himself in the Finals against Chicago, Briere wins a Cup and a Conn Smythe for us that season. He has earned his keep up until this season.

I'm with you on this one Andy. I genuinely like him as a player and as a person. Unfortunately, he is at that point in his contract that we all dreaded the day we signed...when his cap hit is much more then the quality of play he is giving to the team. If there was a way to re-do his contract to make it a manageable cap hit, I'd love to see him stay with the team. Not sure it works like that in the NHL. Seems like NFL is the only place you see that happen. This year he has been horrible, so I get the frustration from people.

[radoran]

Can't restructure contracts in the NHL.

[Adamflyers]

Can't restructure contracts in the NHL.

Yeah, thats what I thought. I think NFL is the only leage where it can be done.

[King Knut]

If they buy out both Danny and Ilya, that's more than 12 million to spend on some real defensemen and a goalie (i.e. in my perfect world Bernier's new RFA contract). Just saying...

Now add in Gagne (who I don't mind resigning for less than his current 3.5), Rusty, Shelley, Knuble, & Walker and you've essentially got 9 million more.

That's 21 Million bucks with which to rebuild a contender and your youthful core stays in place (for whatever that's worth at this point)

22 million in cap dollars is the difference between the league's most expensive team and it's least expensive team.

In case you were curious, the line for people looking to "pay the price" forms behind me.

[radoran]

If they buy out both Danny and Ilya, that's more than 12 million to spend on some real defensemen and a goalie (i.e. in my perfect world Bernier's new RFA contract). Just saying...

Now add in Gagne (who I don't mind resigning for less than his current 3.5), Rusty, Shelley, Knuble, & Walker and you've essentially got 9 million more.

That's 21 Million bucks with which to rebuild a contender and your youthful core stays in place (for whatever that's worth at this point)

22 million in cap dollars is the difference between the league's most expensive team and it's least expensive team.

Well, you do have to take into account that the cap is dropping - so "all" of that doesn't really apply.

Flyers already have $65.5M signed (19 players - 8 d, 9 F, 2 g) on the $64.3M cap (capgeek) - including the ridiculous Brayden Schenn bonuses, .

That number just screams for a Briere buyout. In fact, looking at it like that - it's hard to see another way around it.

[canoli]

but it also makes KT's point even more valid - the cap dropping I mean. Also, the guys he listed nobody expects to see in the O&B again (for one reason or another) with the exception (maybe) of Gagne. With buyout bye-byes to Briere and Brzygalov we have got a helluva of money to go shopping. Is it a great FA season? No, esp goalie-wise and D-wise. But we ought to be able to land a few high-quality players, even if none of them are "marquee" or "game-changer" types.

Frankly I'm sick of the Flyers shopping for those types anyway. Let's put together a good ol' fashioned blue-collar lunch-pail team, guys who have proven themselves to be TEAM guys - that's first and foremost. Talent, sure, but work ethic and team commitment are what I'd look for first.

[AndyS]

To be fair, Leighton and Boosh were both hurt. Of course Boosh told them he was hurt and that's why they played Leighton. Leighton didn't tell anyone he was hurt (even after Boucher was able to play again) and that's why they kept playing him inspite of his injury and his suckitude (because they figured, sure Leighton sucks ass, but Boosh was just hurt a series ago, he might still be a little sore). Meanwhile Leighton played with a slipped disk or something and never bothered to tell the team for fear that they wouldn't let him play because how could they trust a goalie to play well with a slipped disk? That and for some reason Laviolette has this unholy fixation on keeping him around and playing him whenever possible.

This is why I hate Leighton. It ain't about you Michael! It was a bout the team and the fans. He wanted to play in a Cup Finals so bad he didn't care that he was costing his team and the fans a chance at winning in those finals. To hell with him. I hope he never touches NHL ice again (unless we're playing him... in which case it becomes a ton easier to score).

Sorry... still a tough one to remember for me.

I still remember thinking that the Flyers should have just brought up Backlund to start the last 2 or 3 games. He couldn't possibly have been any worse than what we had at the time (Leighton & Boosh).

And I give Leighton credit up until the Finals. Without Leighton, we don't even make the playoffs. Without Leighton, there is NO WAY we make it to the Finals. He was that good when called upon.

But he just fell apart in the Finals. And I don't know that it was due to injury. And that is a real shame. That was a very special playoff run & we really could have won the Cup then with even average goaltending in the Finals. (Niemmi was very beatable.) The Flyers never should have lost that first game. We had a big lead & just gave it away.

[flyercanuck]

@AndyS

I remember saying after they lost that game ...If you're going to win the cup you gotta have that game. It was there for the taking.

[Jmdodgesrt4]

Homer did mention something about the cap not dropping as far as mentioned. I'm not sure though and can't find it anywhere. But I think it's in the cba. However it's tied to revenue so it might go up because its based on a estimate of the adjusted revenue split.

[trevluk]

Here's a thought.... if the Flyers amnesty Briere and buy him out to the tune of 3.3 mil, does that money count against our cap? If not, what is to say that the Flyers couldnt just resign him to a much more manageable cap hit? I think he's got a couple good playoff runs left in him and he would probably take a home town discount to keep his family (kids) rooted and could retire a Flyer?

Edited April 12, 2013 by trevluk

[doom88]

Can't resign a bought out player for a year. Also, amnesty buyouts do not count against the cap.