Save the season panic mode

[King Knut]

Who are potential UFA goals this year?

With vernier out if the running (way to eff that one up homer) we desperately need a capable safety valve for Mason so we can unload bryz.

I don't give a crap about his game or his locker room off- kiltering at this point, we need his cap dollars desperately.

If we start this season with bryzzy in net, the race is lost before the gun goes off and it has nothing to do with what he does out on the ice.

Who's out there?

Tim Thomas? Luongo after he's bought out? Bakstrom?

Guess I'll go look. Screwing up this vernier deal really burns me up. He's really probably a top tier NHL goalie for the next ten years and now we're back where we've always been at the goalie scrap heap hoping to weld something together that vaguely looks like an NHL goalie

[radoran]

UFA: http://www.capgeek.com/free-agents/?year_id=2013&team_id=-1&position_id=G&fa_type_id=2

Backstrom, Thomas, Khabibulin, Nabokov, Smith, Theodore, Simon, Alvin, C. Mason, Garon, Labarbera, Emery, Boucher, Leighton...

- MIN has said they intend to re-sign Backstrom

RFA: http://www.capgeek.com/free-agents/?year_id=2013&team_id=-1&position_id=G&fa_type_id=1

Rask, Bobrovsky...?

As it is, your starting goaltender will be Ilya Bryzgalov (unless and until Mason takes it)

[ruxpin]

There's nothing really terribly exciting this year.

Emery may be the best stop-gap option until next summer. Theodore or Smith would also be possibilities. You could always offer-sheet Bob or see if Toronto is willing to part with Reimer now that they have Bernier (I doubt it).

There's really not a lot out there that screams "this guy can carry us if Mason 2011-12 shows up."

[AJgoal]

Also, I believe the Isles have the option to push Thomas' contract from last year into this year since he sat out voluntarily last season. If they still need to hit the cap floor, I'd think they're likely to do so.

[Jmdodgesrt4]

There is no guarantee that bernier will be a elite goalie. Also we had nothing Toronto wanted or that we refused to part with. They wanted a back up capable goalie. We didn't have that. They wanted a top six forward at a lower cap hit and a pick. We don't have that forward or goalie. Don't say read because he's a ufa next year with a large cap prolly.

[brelic]

I would honestly rather roll the dice with someone like Theo as backup than have Bryz again. If things were different, and the only problem with Bryz was that he's had a few bad seasons, I'd be ok with giving him one more season. But with the stuff that's coming out that the players don't want to play with or for him, you make your team worse by keeping this guy around.

Boucher might be an option too as Mason's backup.

And on a side note, if Homer signs Kaberle now that the Habs are buying him out, I will shoot him.

[King Knut]

We don't need exciting.

We missed the exciting goaltender boat.

We need something semi safe to stop the bleeding and just Not suck while earning less than 3 million.

There's nothing really terribly exciting this year.

Emery may be the best stop-gap option until next summer. Theodore or Smith would also be possibilities. You could always offer-sheet Bob or see if Toronto is willing to part with Reimer now that they have Bernier (I doubt it).

There's really not a lot out there that screams "this guy can carry us if Mason 2011-12 shows up."

[radoran]

Also, I believe the Isles have the option to push Thomas' contract from last year into this year since he sat out voluntarily last season. If they still need to hit the cap floor, I'd think they're likely to do so.

All indications have been that they will not "toll" Thomas' contract.

Cap floor drops next season to $44M. Isles have 15 players signed for $35.9M at the moment. They have guys with two ways in the AHL who could get them over the cap with little problem.

I would honestly rather roll the dice with someone like Theo as backup than have Bryz again. If things were different, and the only problem with Bryz was that he's had a few bad seasons, I'd be ok with giving him one more season. But with the stuff that's coming out that the players don't want to play with or for him, you make your team worse by keeping this guy around.

I'll wait for a little more than an "unnamed League source" to make the final determination on Bryz and the locker room. Homer must know better than any "League source" or fanforum would.

If the team "doesn't want to play for him" then they have no choice but to get rid of him. I'm still siding on the "Bryz is starting Flyer goalie next season" camp.

Not because it's what I would do - the Flyers rarely accomplish that. But because it's what they are likely to do in the absence of another option.

Boucher might be an option too as Mason's backup.

I hope you brought enough of whatever it is that you're hitting for everyone to enjoy with you.

[ruxpin]

We don't need exciting.

We missed the exciting goaltender boat.

We need something semi safe to stop the bleeding and just Not suck while earning less than 3 million

Agreed. Obviously your priorities are in order. Others may not be ready for "unexciting" yet since they're still getting over missing out on the Second Coming.

[jammer2]

@ruxpin Smith, on the surface, seems like one of the best options, but the Flyers might be gun shy about taking on ex-Yote goalies. I'd be fine with Emery as long as it was not a long term commitment...but I do think rad's idea of looking into one of the Blues tenders might be plausable. I'd also be ok with Theodore short term, at least he has been respectable in the recent past...but term becomes huge and risky when talking about Theodore....he's getting up there.

I think the best move is looking into the Bruins goalie situation. I guarantee their back up to Rask (who just happens to be a UFA in a few weeks btw) Anton Khudobin will be a star in this league. I'm thinking the Bruins might resign him, but then again, with Malcom Subban in the picture.....that may be a pipedream. I'd give up a mid level draft pick to talk to him early...between Mason and Khudobin, we would be ok in net...finally.

Boston btw, has 56.6 mill commited to 16 players next season...with Horton, Ference, and Khudobin about to go UFA and 3 restricted RFA's, lead by Rask...the Rask contract itself may stop them from signing Khudobin. I watch Anton in 4 regular season games last year and he had 2 shut outs in the 4 games I watched....and some of his saves were straight up mindblowing. Anton should be the real target here, as far as cap hit, what we give up and pure talent.

Edited June 24, 2013 by jammer2

[radoran]

@jammer2

You think they might be gun shy about Phoenix goalies and your alternative is to have them target another Russian!?

Put your analyst on danger money, baby.

:blink:

[jammer2]

@radoran ha ha....just going on pure athleticism....I love how fast and talented Anton is. Perhaps, the fact Anton is becoming a UFA made Homer low ball the Bernier scenario....just a thought.

[radoran]

@radoran ha ha....just going on pure athleticism....I love how fast and talented Anton is. Perhaps, the fact Anton is becoming a UFA made Homer low ball the Bernier scenario....just a thought.

Hadn't thought of Khubodin.

I am wondering what the perspective of Russians on hockey in Philadelphia is these days.

[ruxpin]

I thought there was some sort of moratorium on American's adopting Russian girls.

[OccamsRazor]

Smith, on the surface, seems like one of the best options, but the Flyers might be gun shy about taking on ex-Yote goalies

Well not so much maybe this one is endorsed by the players though...remember!!!!

[OccamsRazor]

Hadn't thought of Khubodin.

didn't the Flyer's weak offense light his ass up at the end of the season and he got yanked...pass!

[jammer2]

@OccamsRazor ha ha...I was wondering when somebody was going to bring that up...honestly it was one of his few bad games last year. He played in 14 games, had a GGA of 2.36 and a save percentage of .920. Pretty good stats for somebody playing once a week on average. He's 27, relatively unknown, is fast athletic and would cost nothing but cap space to acquire....trust me, he's a talented guy.

[brelic]

I'll wait for a little more than an "unnamed League source" to make the final determination on Bryz and the locker room. Homer must know better than any "League source" or fanforum would.

IIRC, it was a team source, which puts things a little closer to home. But, I agree... who knows what's true and what's not when teams are posturing for leverage.

[OccamsRazor]

@OccamsRazor ha ha...I was wondering when somebody was going to bring that up...honestly it was one of his few bad games last year. He played in 14 games, had a GGA of 2.36 and a save percentage of .920. Pretty good stats for somebody playing once a week on average. He's 27, relatively unknown, is fast athletic and would cost nothing but cap space to acquire....trust me, he's a talented guy.

I'm ok with him i watched him a couple times when he was with Minny, actually the one night he shutout the Flyers 2-0!! His postioning was real good and good quickness...so i'd be ok with him in the backup spot...the best thing about him in the backup spot is that means BRYZ IS GONE!!!!!

[radoran]

IIRC, it was a team source, which puts things a little closer to home. But, I agree... who knows what's true and what's not when teams are posturing for leverage.

Well, I may have missed that one. The "big report" I recall was from an "unnamed League source"

I guess Seravalli had something recently with a "player" saying something like that.

But, given that he was the "source" of the "sleeping" rumor that everyone debunked (not to mention, being Frank Seravalli) I take it with a salt lick.

He's one of the problems in Philly media.

That said, I don't know - and don't claim to know - one way or the other. The only people who need to "know" about this are in the locker room. Given that this organization was ready, willing and able to throw a Hall of Famer over the side because the team quit on him, I'd have to believe they're ready, willing and able to jettison Bryzgalov if the team isn't willing to play for him.

We will know in the next week.

[Lindbergh31]

I'm ok with him i watched him a couple times when he was with Minny, actually the one night he shutout the Flyers 2-0!! His postioning was real good and good quickness...so i'd be ok with him in the backup spot...the best thing about him in the backup spot is that means BRYZ IS GONE!!!!!

That's the end deal whether the players don't like Bryzgalov has no baring on the Flyers buying him out, get rid of him and his 7 year anchored contract. Bring in somebody to backup Mason and go with that, maybe the change of scenery and the fact he's playing for another contract might be enough for Mason to play like he did in his rookie year. As far as I'm concerned, getting rid of Bryzgalov and his contract would be like a big free agent signing.

[brelic]

That's the end deal whether the players don't like Bryzgalov has no baring on the Flyers buying him out, get rid of him and his 7 year anchored contract. Bring in somebody to backup Mason and go with that, maybe the change of scenery and the fact he's playing for another contract might be enough for Mason to play like he did in his rookie year. As far as I'm concerned, getting rid of Bryzgalov and his contract would be like a big free agent signing.

JUst remember...as much as we might want to believe Mason can 'bounce back', he had his phenomenal rookie season under Hitchcock. After he left, Mason tanked. I don't think that's a coincidence.

It doesn't mean Mason can't outperform Bryzgalov, but as we all know, our system ain't exactly goalie-friendly.

[OccamsRazor]

After he left, Mason tanked.

Yeah but he ain't the only one who tanked...i mean if guys are going to make excuses for Bryz then Columbus should be just as guilty for not put better more consistent players around them...just saying.

And lets not forget his second year in the NHL he was 20....maybe had Columbus been more patient like LA did for Bernier ....things for him may be different...hard to put all that on such a young kid.

People here want to hold him accountable for not playing so great in one of the worst run organization in the NHL...with very, very little help.

Everyone just needs to be cautiously optimistic and hope Homer will set him up to win here that is all that matters...Homer doing that actually is another story...i just hope he gives him a chance without Bryz even on the teeam.

Edited June 24, 2013 by OccamsRazor

[radoran]

Everyone just needs to be cautiously optimistic and hope Homer will set him up to win here that is all that matters...Homer doing that actually is another story...i just hope he gives him a chance without Bryz even on the teeam.

I think a secondary question revolves around whether or not Lavvy's marmalade jam system can set up a goalie to win - if that goalie isn't putting on a Conn Smythe level performance all the time.

[OccamsRazor]

I think a secondary question revolves around whether or not Lavvy's marmalade jam system can set up a goalie to win

Well lets start with some face off winner too...G needs help...lets not under estimate the presents of the Hawks and Bruins faceoff talent, having the puck verse chasing the puck helps a lot...

...hope Mason's ability to handle the puck takes some heat off the defenders and forwards back checking...limit the time the forwards have to spend in their own zone. Resigning Hall will help with this.

Or Boyd Gordon who is a UFA. And it's one area Coots and Schenn need a lot of work on. But you can't score if you don't have the puck.