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Meltzer's Musings: Next Move on D?

June 13, 2013, 4:18 PM ET [537 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Flyers will have some decisions to make on defense if and when they get Mark Streit signed to a contract. Specifically, it seems likely that one of either Andrej Meszaros or Braydon Coburn may not be back next season even if the club uses both of its buyouts (likely on Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov) to free up over $10 million of cap space. The club also needs to determine the status of Nicklas Grossmann's recovery from a concussion that led to vestibular issues.

Coburn, who has a partial no-trade clause and is coming off a down year that ended early due to a separated shoulder, still has higher trade value at this point than Meszaros. The Slovakian defenseman has had three major surgeries -- back, Achilles tendon, and torn rotator cuff repair -- within the last 15 months. He is also an unrestricted free agent after next season, whereas Coburn is signed through the 2015-16 season. Meszaros has a cap hit of $4 million, while Coburn's is $4.5 million.

Assuming Streit and restricted free agent Erik Gustafsson are signed and no trades are made involving a Flyers defenseman, the Flyers would end up with about $33 million of cap space tied up for next season in a blueline corps that many feel STILL needs to be upgraded even with Streit on board. It breaks down like this, cap-hit wise:

* Kimmo Timonen ($6 million cap hit, UFA after 2013-14)
* Luke Schenn ($3.6 million cap hit, UFA after 2015-16)
* Mark Streit (cap hit likely to exceed $5 million, deal likely to be three or four seasons)
* Braydon Coburn ($4.5 million cap hit, UFA after 2015-16)
* Andrej Meszaros ($4.0 million cap hit, UFA after 2013-14)
* Nicklas Grossmann ($3.5 million cap hit, UFA after 2015-16)
* Chris Pronger ($4.94 million cap hit, LTIR candidate until end of 2016-17 season)
* Bruno Gervais ($825,000 cap hit, UFA after 2013-14)
* Erik Gustafsson (currently an RFA, no longer waiver exempt; NHL cap hit on two-way ELC was $900,000).

Something has to give. The Flyers did not have Meszaros for the stretch run or all but the final game of the 2012 playoffs and he was only able to play 11 games this past season (despite making it back in time for opening night after the lockout following the Achilles tendon rehab), he really hasn't been a regular member of the Philadelphia blueline in awhile. The team has missed his healthy presence. When you consider the salary cap ramifications and his UFA status next summer, a trade now might be the most logical move even if the return will be minimal due to his injury concerns.


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