Jump to content

Cleary to the Flyers a done deal


jammer2

Recommended Posts

@jammer2

 

 Hey, at least 3 years from now we can look back at 2013 and say "Ya, but remember when we made the playoffs a couple years back, that was pretty good!".  Or maybe Homer can trade Morin and Hagg (and a couple 1sts) to get rid of one or two of those contracts then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  I think when you look at this Cleary signing, you have to take into account Homer's mindset. His back is to the wall, he missed the playoffs in a town that does not accept that easily. Not only does Homer have to make the playoffs to save his job, they have to make a nice run, ie win at least one round and make an epic struggle out of the the next round. Any first round exit, or rolling over and playing dead in the second round means his tenure is done.

 

 This whole off season is not what is about what is best for the Flyers, it's about what can save Homer's job. Ed allows it to happen because it gives the Flyers the best chance of winning right now. That is why Streit, Vinny, and Cleary were added without any regard for the end of the contracts and how they might negatively effect the franchise. Either Homer will accomplish his goal, make the conference finals and be set up for one last run the following year, OR he will be fired, and somebody else will be left to clean up the mess and the cap consequences of giving all 3 of these guys more term and money than they deserved. At least, that's the way I see it.

 

 I've been saying for years, I HATE giving out all the roster spots before training camp even opens. It's very frustrating. The kids who play fantastic deserve a shot at making it out of camp. That part sucks. I do think that part of this is a guard against injuries though, the kids that shine, they will get their chances through injuries....it happens every year. If history is any indicator, the Flyers are jinxed when it comes to injuries, so much so, that injuries seem inevitable. This may be Homers way of guarding against that historical fact.

 

 I love what Cleary brings, I don't like Homer going all in and putting this franchise (once again) in win now mode, with no eye to the future. Once again, he has broken the cardinal sin, going all in WITHOUT A PROVEN GOALIE!!!!

Jammer,

 

Once again you make some excellent points.  I believe you hit the nail on the head.  This team is always in in WIN NOW mode with very little regard to the future.  This has been th MO of this franchise for years.  This is the crux of the problem.  I agree, I don't mind the Vinny deal, however it is the length of said contract.  I understand the frustration Homer must have on the blue line, but do we really need Striet.  I know what he brings and I'm not arguing that.  It just seems like we are acquiring older players again and the younger guys seem to be pushed aside.  Obviously there are some spots that are guaranteed, ..Jake / Roo / Simmer/ Schenn, but I agree make the players earn their keep for the other spots.  Agree, love what Clary can bring, but he is another older player along with Gill.

 

Maybe I'm delusional, but I keep hoping that once Progers and Kimmo's salary comes off the books ( Assuming this is Timmo's last year as advertised) that this would be able to allow Homer to go out and maybe get some quality help on the blue line (depending on how the young guys develop).

 

Training camp shall be interesting this year I hope.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@pilldoc

 

 Homer might have an easier time signing a quality defenceman if he didn't always have 2 or 3 stupid contracts to players that were entirely useless that he signed them to as they were entering their entirely useless stage of their career....with NTCs!!!

NTC!! .... 3 letters that I have learned to dread with this organization.  What is it with Homer and NTC?  Is he deathly afraid that players will not come here unless offered one?  I swear NTC is one of the primary reason this club has struggled recently! NTC just limit to what you can do to build a roster.  Totally agree with ya FC!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This sucks should of stay with kids up front and back. Just a  fan but what is Homer drinking?I know look at Oilers all kinds of talent still can't win. Homer plans maybe  have more vets to help G and others.I  would of stay with kids. So who goes now Talbot or Hartnell?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This sucks should of stay with kids up front and back. Just a  fan but what is Homer drinking?I know look at Oilers all kinds of talent still can't win. Homer plans maybe  have more vets to help G and others.I  would of stay with kids. So who goes now Talbot or Hartnell?

 

pretty sure meltzer has suggested Talbot

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  A Helen St.James article from the Detroit Free Press (great hockey writer btw) giving a Ken Holland perspective on why Clearly left.

 

 

 http://www.freep.com/article/20130910/SPORTS05/309100121/detroit-red-wings-daniel-cleary-philadelphia-flyers

 

 Of note, these few sentences, giving insight into Hollands offers that were rejected.

 

"The Wings offered Cleary deals in July for two years in the low $2-million range, and three years just below $2 million. Cleary said Monday he didn't regret not taking those offers."

 

 So, Homer did not overpay by to much based on those offers (basically a quarter mill or so per year over the 3 years). Another thing I like is that even though the money was for less, the Wings indeed offered Cleary a 3 year deal, so they obviously did not think he was damaged goods, as some Flyer fans (from other sites) were implying.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@jammer2 - I think he's damaged goods regardless. This is from an article in the Sporting News:

 

[Here's what he said before surgery in April 2012. Read this and ask yourself if you'd lock yourself into paying him $2.6 million for the next three seasons:

“There are some tears in there, loose cartilage, some bone on bone, a lot of fluid— the build-up of fluid was a major issue, so hoping that we can get it resolved.]

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-07-06/dan-cleary-knees-red-wings-roster-nhl-free-agency-stephen-weiss

 

Bone on bone? Yeah, that's always good.

Edited by JackStraw
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@JackStraw  Yikes, that does sound good at all!  I just really respect Holland and I find it really hard to believe he would offer a 3 year deal to a guy who is a health risk. Hard to deny though, bone on bone is never a great thing. This whole scenario now has me puzzled. Perhaps the Flyers doctors have not got involved yet, because no actual deal has been signed? Maybe they back out if they don't like what they hear from the docs? It's not like a handshake from Homer means anything, just ask Gagne.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@pilldoc  "Once again you make some excellent points.  I believe you hit the nail on the head."

 

 I can't really take credit for the line of thinking in that post. I was just going off a comment that aziz made a few months back. I liked the idea (re Homer not being here to clean up this mess) and thought it had some relevance in this discussion, so I tossed it out there, but aziz came up with it first.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gagne would of been better. I like Mike Richards, but Mike Richards at 36 and you have to consider his health and durability.

Setting the tone on the ice is nice, but if after a few months you end up setting the bone that got dislocated, or a torn knee, then all you'll be setting is the remote control to DVR the game.

 

Gagne was for one more year or two, then he would of probabely retired.

Cleary is for THREE YEARS NTC.

I will have to wait and see before I comment on Cleary being the better of the two, but I know Gags was playoff proven.

The only upside I can see right now is that Cleary will seem to teach the younger guys a little more to improve their game and show them what it is to have a winning attitude.

 

..........to be continued.............

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@JackStraw  Here is another question...is Cleary providing the same role as a Harry.Z would have provided, except Harry was younger, faster, less injury prone....and yeah, he scored less, but we never really gave him enough ice time to see if the pts would come, did we? Harry hits harder, that's for sure. Anyways, he would have done the same basic job for vet minimum with some growing pains involved.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, but he almost certainly would have been cheaper. As would have a younger guy like Laughton or McGinn. Thus my "what's the point" comment to rux. Cleary doesn't put them over the top of anything, so why blow your cap space on him? If you don't think the young guys are ready, stick with Gags at a bargain price rather than overpay for Cleary.

 

So what? Every decision can't be about money. Yeah he got too much money and there are no words to describe another NTC on this roster, but he's simply a better player than Gagne at this point. Gagne is shot and what this team needs is veterans who can help guide the youth along. It's no secret that handing over the team to the youth didn't exactly pan out last year. They needed veterans. Gagne was already here last year and did nothing to help that issue. Clearly is a hard worker, good leader, and simply more durable than Gagne.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...