Been asked about the Flyers cap and the impact of Denis Gauthier ...

OK ... Mike Rathje's $3.5 million was NOT being counted against the cap unless he was on the roster tomorrow.

The cap was $48.9 million. By waiving Gauthier, it brings the cap down to $46.8 million.

Now, you have to add Nate Guenin ($850,000), and the contracts to Jim Dowd and Jesse Boulerice, plus Riley Cote, who was NOT part of that original $48.9 million roster ...

With all their defensemen, and assuming that includes Alexandre Picard and Randy Jones (meaning Jones is not on IR) ... the Flyer are going to be very near or over the $50.3 million cap when all clears.

Which means there has to be at least one more roster move coming ... or maybe a trade.

The Flyers goal is to come out of the fall with enough $$$ in case ... yep, Peter Forsberg shows up near December and says, 'hey guys, i wanna play and my foot is fine.'

**

John Stevens called Jason Smith "a father figure" to a lot of player on this team today.

Smith, who turns 34 next month, was named the 16th captain in club history. Given there will be at least 12 players on the roster this week 25 years or younger, I agree that Smith is the ideal father figure for this rebuilding group.

“He brings intensity,” Derian Hatcher said of Smith. “If you watch him play through the years, the way he plays speaks for itself. He played that way in pre-season - he had that intensity, that meaness, that drive.”

Smith is very low key on this team. I think he is a perfect choice because he's worn the "C" longer in Edmonton than even The Great One or Mess and he brings all that wisdom and leadership to a Flyers team that is going to need both in the first half of the season.

Stevens' club remains very much a work in progress.

“I was surprised," Smith admitted, inferring perhaps most peopole figured the "C" would go to Simon Gagne. "I think knowing the group of guys in here from Gags and Miek Knuble, Hatch, to the new guys here, there is great group of leaders and a wealth of experience.

“If as an individual I have to be loud and vocal, I will and if leading by example on the ice is what is needed, I will try to do that."

I like what Joffey Lupul said of Smith. If you summed him up in one sentence:

"“He doesn’t really do the one thing that stands out; he just does the right thing every day.”

Case in point: Dropping the gloves twice on Saturday night against the Rangers. Nuf said.

Smith exudes something that a lot of great captains, who were defenseman (Scott Stevens, Chris Pronger, Eric Desjardins, Scott Niedermayer, Bob Gainey, Ed Van Impe, etc) have in them.

“Playing with confidence and not losing your composure or getting flustered,” Smith said when asked what defensemen seem to have in common.

“We have to be ready to play every night and playing at a high level and executing well.

“Whether that means yelling and screaming a little … Making sure guys are calm and confident and ready to play at a high level and not getting down. Things can snowball quick because it is a very competitive league. We have to be ready to go at the start.”

Gagne and Mike Richards wear the "A" permanently. Good choices there. This prepares Richards to someday assume the "C" as he seems destined to do.

“It’s a privilege to be an assistant captain,” Richards said. “There is lot of leadership on this team right now. It’s pretty exciting to me. I go to the rink and work hard. That is one of the biggest things about leadership. Growing up, that is how I was taught. I was taught to do what you want other people to do.”

**

Flyers also waived defenseman Denis Gauthier. His waiver price is $3,375 to claim. He is not happy about going to the Phantoms if he clears waivers but said he would.

He also said he was prepared for the worst.

"You guys prepared me," he said, meaning the stories in camp about numbers and cap space, etc.

It’s something we needed to do to give us some options,” said general manager Paul Holmgren. “Denis is very disappointed and I understand.”

Given the injuries out there to veteran NHL defensemen, I expect someone might want to claim him. Gauthier is hoping someone claims him and his $2.l million salary.

Once this procedure ends, Gauthier's $2.1 million comes off the cap.
That would give the Flyers some more breathing room ... to perhaps sign Peter Forsberg "IF" he's able to play in December???

Look for Mike Rathje to retire. He remains unable to play and will be moved to LTI. His $3.5 million salary have NEVER been on the cap. So, the only money the Flyers are picking up here is Gauthier's - not Rathje.

**

Look for the FLyers to sign both Jim Dowd and Jesse Boulerice to contracts. They are on the roster, Holmgren said.

Both Boulerice and Riley Cote will begin the season here ...

Now, the roster goes in 3 p.m. tomorrow but beware ... it may very well look different by Thursday because of the injury status to R.J. Umberger and Joffrey Lupul.


**

Jason Smith was named the 16th captain of the Philadelphia Flyers today. Gagne and Richards will wear the "A"s. More to follow...

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