Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Meltzer's Musings: Any Interest in Boyes and/or Antropov?

June 3, 2013, 7:32 AM ET [558 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It remains to be seen how deeply the Flyers delve into the 2013 unrestricted free agent crop. Even with the likely buyout of Danny Briere, the team will not exactly be swimming in open salary cap space. Additionally, the group of available players, especially on defense, is far from staggering.

Two open-market players whom I feel could be of at least mild interest to Philadelphia are New York Islanders right winger Brad Boyes and Winnipeg Jets center Nik Antropov.

Boyes, 31, took a severely discounted one-year contract ($1 million) this season to re-establish himself after three straight down seasons. The former 40-goal scorer had 10 goals and 35 points while dressing in every game for the Islanders this year. While I have never been a big Boyes fan -- he's a little too streaky offensively, average at best defensively and has a tendency to disappear in grind-it-out games -- he could potentially provide some veteran scoring depth after Briere's departure.

Antropov, 33, is probably going to take a significant cut on his current $4 million cap hit no matter where he signs this summer. The Flyers have stated they are looking to add size and improve their two-way play, which are areas where the 6-foot-6 forward can help. In a previous blog, I mentioned former Flyers forward Dainius Zubrus as another possibility for playing the same sort of role. As with Zubrus, Antropov can play all three forward positions.

To tell the truth, I am not floored by the proposition of adding either of these players. However, given the Flyers' spending ability and the nature of the UFA market this offseason, these are the sorts of players they may be looking at to meet their needs up front while looking for creative ways to bolster the blueline by trade.

********

Kindle users: Please sign up for Flyers Buzz. For more information click here.

Click below to follow me on Twitter:

Join the Discussion: » 558 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Bill Meltzer
» Flyers Gameday: 3/28/24 @ MTL
» Wrap: Flyers Lose 6-5 OT Game to Rangers
» Flyers Gameday: 3/26/24 @ NYR
» Quick Hits: Flyers-FLA Wrap, Flyers Daily, Phantoms, Bigger than Hockey
» Flyers Gameday: 3/24/2024 vs. FLA; Phantoms Update