It's very probable. I just think that the Flyers should have been willing to be more flexible than the one reported offer.
- Jsaquella

I agree here.

There's no other RFA worth an offer sheet that wouldn't be matched in short order.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. Like Bill said, they'd never pay Del Zotto or Subban out the wazoo for good reason. It's just funny how so many people want to sign players to offer sheets now.

moving on. get our guys signed and let's roll.
- hammarby31

i agree, great post on the (BTW) Preds board

Thanks for the Blog, Bill. I actually do feel better, just reading it. I agree with your recomendations. Hang tight, resign our RFAs and make a pitch for Doan and see what happens. I really dont want to trade assets for any of these other options out there. Just not worth it.

Flyers need to do a deal to improve their back end. They are not nearly as strong as what they were at this time last year.

I made it to one game (in Ottawa) against the Flyers. Spezza and Karlsson dominated Giroux, Karlsson owned the ice, I think he had four points. I love Giroux since his junior days with the Piques.

My point is the problem in that particular game was not Giroux. He plays a puck possession game as does Ottawa. But, he had nobody on his back end to support him. You cannot play up tempo puck possession without Dmen with the foot speed and smarts who can support the play and get back and protect your own end.

Holmgren is going to have to do a deal. Forget about Bobby Ryan for now. His best choice right now is Yendle, second is Boyle, third is J.Bo. Without the upgrade, I suspect the Flyers risk an organizational sophomore slump and are at risk of missing the playoffs.
- spatso

That is not the problem with the Flyers. The problem with the Flyers last year was team defense. One player doesn't dominate another.

Oh ok. Valiant effort by Holmgren. I think the Preds are crossing their fingers that them matching will show the fanbase they care and in turn increase tickets sales and revenue across the board. That way they can get real players around Weber & Rinne.
- NickTheKid87

Bill was spot on in regards to next year in "Preds Nation" on how they will have to sign a lot of people. Can they? we shall see as hockey fans...but really....don't care!!!

I wouldn't want a hefty contract paying Doan $7+ million for several years. Pass.

Workout a fair trade for Ryan or stand pat.

Exactly. Like Bill said, they'd never pay Del Zotto or Subban out the wazoo for good reason. It's just funny how so many people want to sign players to offer sheets now.
- NickTheKid87

See what shakes out with the current group. They should have an idea of what is possible before the holiday freeze, and make a move then.

I wouldn't want a hefty contract paying Doan $7+ million for several years. Pass.

Workout a fair trade for Ryan or stand pat.
- LordStanley88

Not possible, in my view. just stand pat.
Jake is going to develop into a great player.

I'm not convinced that this blue line will hold up, much less compete. There were times last year when they truly got pushed around by opposing forwards, most apparent in the NJ series. Without Pronger back there forwards do not fear enetering the zone, diddling with the puck or skating into the slot. Grossmann is okay as a defensive defenseman, and so is Coburn although I think he doesnt use his size as much. Timmonen IMHO is running low on tread and about finished.
- edmac812

They got pushed around because they lacked the support from the Forwards. I don't care how good your defense is. If they don't have support from the team game, they will not look good. No doubt in my mind that Timonen has a solid year left in the tank. Barring a serious injury.

I'd try to go after Patric Hornqvist at the deadline or in the offseason. He's a RFA after this year and he put up 30, 21 and 27 goals respectively in a defensive system with no center near as talented as G. I think he'd be a cheaper alternative & could put up 30-35+ goals playing with Giroux. Depends on if Nashville would trade his rights next year.

See what shakes out with the current group. They should have an idea of what is possible before the holiday freeze, and make a move then.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. Could turn out that Timonen is healthier than expected & Grossmann & Mesz are fine. Schenn could even breakout too. Or the opposite of this. Regardless, waiting seems to be the best option.

Bill was spot on in regards to next year in "Preds Nation" on how they will have to sign a lot of people. Can they? we shall see as hockey fans...but really....don't care!!!
- phi1671

they were apparently negotiating a very similar contract to the one you guys offer sheeted him to at $104 million.

people overexaggerated Nashville's financial woes when they saw that Forbes report i think. for one, that report could be totally false because the NHL consistently says it is 100% inaccurate. second, just because nashville lost $7 million last year doesn't mean the owner (who's a billionaire) can't afford to lose the money. it's not like he's gonna go bankrupt from it...he's a friggin billionaire.

overall, your team still scares me a little. bryz gets a lot of poop and he deserves some of it but it's def. blown out of proportion. giroux's only gonna get better. your defense still isn't intimidating tho especially with pronger out. yea you guys got schenn but i personally think schenn is overrated from watching him play for the leafs.

good luck the rest of the offseason flyer fairies

Agreed. Could turn out that Timonen is healthier than expected & Grossmann & Mesz are fine. Schenn could even breakout too. Or the opposite of this. Regardless, waiting seems to be the best option.
- NickTheKid87

That's my biggest concern, the health of the blueline corps. If they are healthy, they should be more than adequate. If there are injuries to start the year, Gus and MAb will probably get a chance to sink or swim

I said this yesterday but, Nashville's Pride got in the way of common sense.....what if there is a lock out again, or even a delayed season, how screwed are they?

Glad this move didnt go through as it would have brought Weber to the East for the rest of his career.

But you'll be better off in the long run anyways

they were apparently negotiating a very similar contract to the one you guys offer sheeted him to at $104 million.

people overexaggerated Nashville's financial woes when they saw that Forbes report i think. for one, that report could be totally false because the NHL consistently says it is 100% inaccurate. second, just because nashville lost $7 million last year doesn't mean the owner (who's a billionaire) can't afford to lose the money. it's not like he's gonna go bankrupt from it...he's a friggin billionaire.

overall, your team still scares me a little. bryz gets a lot of poop and he deserves some of it but it's def. blown out of proportion. giroux's only gonna get better. your defense still isn't intimidating tho especially with pronger out. yea you guys got schenn but i personally think schenn is overrated from watching him play for the leafs.

good luck the rest of the offseason flyer fairies
- rangerdanger94

Well, for inaccuracy, the NHL is a great example.

They claim that revenues have gone up and the league is healthier than ever, but come out in CBA talks and demand an 11% cut in the revenue share, want to redefine hockey revenues to make the pool smaller and cut player salaries through these process by 19-20%.

As for the owner losing money, and it not being an issue, I know a few rich people. Not one of them likes losing any money.

They got pushed around because they lacked the support from the Forwards. I don't care how good your defense is. If they don't have support from the team game, they will not look good. No doubt in my mind that Timonen has a solid year left in the tank. Barring a serious injury.
- MJL

Wholeheartedly agree on the team aspect.

And Timonen will play his ass off. He forfeits his body game in and game out, no matter the cost. He wants to win a Cup. Badly.

Wholeheartedly agree on the team aspect.

And Timonen will play his ass off. He forfeits his body game in and game out, no matter the cost. He wants to win a Cup. Badly.


- tangent_man

That Gatorade is far too appropriate for the carrier.

I'm sure what the Yotes are asking for Yandle would be prohibitively steep. However, he would be a good addition for these reasons:

- He's 25 years old.
- His cap-hit is a relatively reasonable $5.25M for the next 4 years.
- He's durable - has played 82 games the last 3 years.
- He has double-digit goals the last 3 years.
- He has been a plus player the last 3 years.
- He skates very well and would key the transition game.
- His 19 pts in 27 playoff games represents solid production.

Let's be clear, Shea Weber he is not! He lacks the right-handed bomb, nastiness, and D-zone presence of Weber but so do most defensemen.

Just curious: Why is he on the trading block, or even rumored to be so, in the first place? Is this ownership related?

they were apparently negotiating a very similar contract to the one you guys offer sheeted him to at $104 million.

people overexaggerated Nashville's financial woes when they saw that Forbes report i think. for one, that report could be totally false because the NHL consistently says it is 100% inaccurate. second, just because nashville lost $7 million last year doesn't mean the owner (who's a billionaire) can't afford to lose the money. it's not like he's gonna go bankrupt from it...he's a friggin billionaire.

overall, your team still scares me a little. bryz gets a lot of poop and he deserves some of it but it's def. blown out of proportion. giroux's only gonna get better. your defense still isn't intimidating tho especially with pronger out. yea you guys got schenn but i personally think schenn is overrated from watching him play for the leafs.

good luck the rest of the offseason flyer fairies
- rangerdanger94

you can always spin the books to show you are losing money. to some teams it may be they don't want to spend the money so they say they are losing money. as noted, i don't care about the Preds and the $$ situation. It was fun to watch.

No teams defense is intimidating, it's all how you play the game. If you play together the defense will be just fine. this is what happened when they played the Rags and the Devils. Just better team defense.

as for Schenn, a new team might be what he needed. the same with jvr....

Is this national troll day?
- Daman

How is this trolling?

How is this trolling?
- Juice

You got dragged in here before lunch?

You got dragged in here before lunch?
- tangent_man

Banner Day In The Bender Household!!!

Wholeheartedly agree on the team aspect.

And Timonen will play his ass off. He forfeits his body game in and game out, no matter the cost. He wants to win a Cup. Badly.


- tangent_man

I completely forgot G didnt play that game, and I was there......