I thought it was for one calendar year after they agreed to match the offer sheet. They did that on July 24th.
- Jsaquella

Then I would say that is the date. I just know it's in July.

Agreed. The only thing I fear is giving management more money to work with in an offseason where there is nothing good to spend it on. In free agency that is.

Edit: And by nothing good, I mean a lack of first/second line forwards and top d-man. Yes, you could find some solid role players or overpay a Stalberg, but ya know what I mean.
- five4fighting10

That is a concern, but generally when they have given out longer term deals it's guys still playing at a high level or elite level older guys.

I thought it was for one calendar year after they agreed to match the offer sheet. They did that on July 24th.
- Jsaquella

CapGeek says that he can't be traded until he receives the signing bonus, which is scheduled to be paid July 1st.

I thought it was for one calendar year after they agreed to match the offer sheet. They did that on July 24th.
- Jsaquella

You are correct

CapGeek says that he can't be traded until he receives the signing bonus, which is scheduled to be paid July 1st.
- bradleyc4

I'd defer to them in that case. But I was pretty sure that it's one year to the day when the OS was matched.

Yeah, I'm with JSaq, cut the cord now.
- MBFlyerfan

At first I was in favor of keeping him for 2013-14, then I wasn't but figured that's what they'd do. Now I think they'll buy him out and I want them to. My evolution of thought on the Bryz situation.

Zero interest in either or Boyes or Antropov.

I could tolerate Antropov because of his size. He wouldn't help them on the dot....at least he'd eat some space just based on how big he is.

Nope!
- MJL

too much,not enough,not available?

This will likely not be a popular post, but I've lurked on this board for years, actually registered a few months back, but didn't post until today. I am fairly familiar with the platforms of many of the bloggers/more frequent posters, with some I agree with more than others. I don't prefer to argue online, or anything like that -- I'm a fan, like everyone else. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I think my opinion is anything more than it is: Just my thoughts.

But for me, I honestly think the best thing the Flyers could do this offseason is...nothing. Just make the picks at 11 and 41, for best player available. There will be a number of interesting options there at 11, including a few who could crack the roster for the first nine games (or longer), so the Flyers can take a look.

But I wouldn't trade anyone off the roster, at this point while heading into the draft and free agency. I stress: At THIS point.

The easiest thing to do right now, coming off a shortened but still a non-playoff season, is overemphasize player weaknesses and roster inadequacies. I understand it, because this past season was frustrating.

But at this point, it would not be helpful to trade any of the Top 9 forwards. Nor would it be helpful to trade Braydon Coburn.

For Coburn, it's simple: While I agree with the trading of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in 2011 because there were clearly team chemistry issues -- not that I'm saying they were at fault -- but the fact remains that the Flyers traded them after they had signed extensions that hadn't kicked in.

While teams have done that and will continue to do that, and the returns that the Flyers got were impressive, that certainly isn't conducive to long-term team building and free-agent recruitment.

Braydon Coburn did not play all that well last season; we all saw that. But Coburn at his normal level is a Top 4 defenseman. At his age and salary cap number, he's a useful player who you can win with.

But most importantly in HIS specific case, he signed an extension that kicks in this season. I would argue that moving him NOW, after a down season, would be harmful to the Flyers' reputation amongst the agents/better players in the league who, in seeing that, would likely prefer to seek what they believe would be a place that wouldn't trade them after the organization appeared to commit to them.

For instance: I, too, think Michael Ryder would be helpful to the Flyers. But if you're Michael Ryder, who was let go by Boston, signed by Dallas to a multiyear deal, then traded to Montreal, then let go by Montreal...would you sign with a team that you KNOW will move you, one year after you signed a contract? Or would you look to go to someplace like, say, Nashville? Which will offer approximately the same kind of money but won't move you as quickly?

I also wouldn't trade either Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier or Wayne Simmonds. I would be extremely leery of moving Matt Read, who will make less than $1 million this season.

The reason I wouldn't is because no matter how uneven Schenn and Couturier's seasons were at times, the bottom line is that no one truly can say what their ceilings are because it is still too early in their NHL careers. It's just too soon to say. Sean Couturier is still developing "man strength." I think it is possible that he turns into a "25-40" player, like Rod Brind'Amour, including the defensive ability Brind'Amour had. Actually, I think it's likely that he will.

I don't think Brayden Schenn has Sean Couturier's hockey sense. I do think Brayden Schenn has courage and toughness and the desire to compete in areas of the ice that not all players will. Personally, I think if you put Schenn with an offensive winger with elite hockey sense...if the Flyers double down on Schenn and get him someone on the wing like a PA Parenteau, I think we'd all see a player who you really don't want to trade in a package deal again, AT THIS TIME.

Chris Pronger's gone and isn't coming back. Shea Weber wanted to come but Nashville matched. The St. Louis Blues aren't giving up Alex Pietrangelo -- they have a ton of cap space.

Guys like Keith Yandle and Alex Edler...it's not that they're bad players. They're good players. But they're not the kinds of players that the Flyers should overpay for with still-developing assets would could be BETTER than the players that they acquire. They're younger, cheaper (for now), and, again, those deals will be there next year AFTER the Flyers have a better feel for what they have in house.

The first part of the upcoming season should be about seeing what Oliver Lauridsen, Erik Gustafsson, Mark Alt, Petr Straka, Nick Cousins and Marcel Noebels do either as first-year Flyers from the start of an 82-game season or players who play heavy minutes in Adirondack, while seeing if Michael Raffl is able to handle the pace of NHL play on smaller rinks.

Again: The first part. Not the entire season, if players aren't performing well enough. I'm not advocating unlimited patience or saying that anyone other than Claude Giroux, perhaps Jake Voracek depending on the deal, is untouchable. I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just saying that right now, it is far easier to see the Flyers -- and, by definition, us as fans -- living to regret trading these young players too soon. Because the Flyers gave up a lot to get them, and we just don't know what their ceilings are yet.

Yes, I know this is a really long post. But I figured that if I'm going to participate, I should explain my platform (just once), because I've read all of the more frequent posters' positions for years.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Any Interest in Boyes and/or Antropov?>
- bmeltzer

Please take Boyes. One of my biggest fears this offseason is Snow resigning him.

I'd defer to them in that case. But I was pretty sure that it's one year to the day when the OS was matched.
- Jsaquella

That was the case under the old CBA. I guess that hasn't changed, or at least not in Weber's case.

At first I was in favor of keeping him for 2013-14, then I wasn't but figured that's what they'd do. Now I think they'll buy him out and I want them to. My evolution of thought on the Bryz situation.
- NickTheKid87

I have doubts he can put up better than average numbers behind this team, under this coach.

Bryzgalov is a more suited to have success behind a team that isn't prone to giving up odd man rushes and bad turnovers born from overaggression in the transition game

That was the case under the old CBA. I guess that hasn't changed, or at least not in Weber's case.
- bradleyc4

I shot them a question on twitter, just for clarification.

I doubt that Weber gets moved, especially to the Flyers.

That is a concern, but generally when they have given out longer term deals it's guys still playing at a high level or elite level older guys.
- Jsaquella

Agreed, I'm trying to keep the faith in that case because I definitely think it's time for Bryz to go. With the cap recapture penalty, if you keep him this year, IMO you still have no choice but to ditch him next summer. Might as well start the process now.

I shot them a question on twitter, just for clarification.

I doubt that Weber gets moved, especially to the Flyers.
- Jsaquella

Agreed, it's a pointless argument. Just looking for clarity.

This will likely not be a popular post, but I've lurked on this board for years, actually registered a few months back, but didn't post until today. I am fairly familiar with the platforms of many of the bloggers/more frequent posters, with some I agree with more than others. I don't prefer to argue online, or anything like that -- I'm a fan, like everyone else. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I think my opinion is anything more than it is: Just my thoughts.

But for me, I honestly think the best thing the Flyers could do this offseason is...nothing. Just make the picks at 11 and 41, for best player available. There will be a number of interesting options there at 11, including a few who could crack the roster for the first nine games (or longer), so the Flyers can take a look.

But I wouldn't trade anyone off the roster, at this point while heading into the draft and free agency. I stress: At THIS point.

The easiest thing to do right now, coming off a shortened but still a non-playoff season, is overemphasize player weaknesses and roster inadequacies. I understand it, because this past season was frustrating.

But at this point, it would not be helpful to trade any of the Top 9 forwards. Nor would it be helpful to trade Braydon Coburn.

For Coburn, it's simple: While I agree with the trading of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in 2011 because there were clearly team chemistry issues -- not that I'm saying they were at fault -- but the fact remains that the Flyers traded them after they had signed extensions that hadn't kicked in.

While teams have done that and will continue to do that, and the returns that the Flyers got were impressive, that certainly isn't conducive to long-term team building and free-agent recruitment.

Braydon Coburn did not play all that well last season; we all saw that. But Coburn at his normal level is a Top 4 defenseman. At his age and salary cap number, he's a useful player who you can win with.

But most importantly in HIS specific case, he signed an extension that kicks in this season. I would argue that moving him NOW, after a down season, would be harmful to the Flyers' reputation amongst the agents/better players in the league who, in seeing that, would likely prefer to seek what they believe would be a place that wouldn't trade them after the organization appeared to commit to them.

For instance: I, too, think Michael Ryder would be helpful to the Flyers. But if you're Michael Ryder, who was let go by Boston, signed by Dallas to a multiyear deal, then traded to Montreal, then let go by Montreal...would you sign with a team that you KNOW will move you, one year after you signed a contract? Or would you look to go to someplace like, say, Nashville? Which will offer approximately the same kind of money but won't move you as quickly?

I also wouldn't trade either Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier or Wayne Simmonds. I would be extremely leery of moving Matt Read, who will make less than $1 million this season.

The reason I wouldn't is because no matter how uneven Schenn and Couturier's seasons were at times, the bottom line is that no one truly can say what their ceilings are because it is still too early in their NHL careers. It's just too soon to say. Sean Couturier is still developing "man strength." I think it is possible that he turns into a "25-40" player, like Rod Brind'Amour, including the defensive ability Brind'Amour had. Actually, I think it's likely that he will.

I don't think Brayden Schenn has Sean Couturier's hockey sense. I do think Brayden Schenn has courage and toughness and the desire to compete in areas of the ice that not all players will. Personally, I think if you put Schenn with an offensive winger with elite hockey sense...if the Flyers double down on Schenn and get him someone on the wing like a PA Parenteau, I think we'd all see a player who you really don't want to trade in a package deal again, AT THIS TIME.

Chris Pronger's gone and isn't coming back. Shea Weber wanted to come but Nashville matched. The St. Louis Blues aren't giving up Alex Pietrangelo -- they have a ton of cap space.

Guys like Keith Yandle and Alex Edler...it's not that they're bad players. They're good players. But they're not the kinds of players that the Flyers should overpay for with still-developing assets would could be BETTER than the players that they acquire. They're younger, cheaper (for now), and, again, those deals will be there next year AFTER the Flyers have a better feel for what they have in house.

The first part of the upcoming season should be about seeing what Oliver Lauridsen, Erik Gustafsson, Mark Alt, Petr Straka, Nick Cousins and Marcel Noebels do either as first-year Flyers from the start of an 82-game season or players who play heavy minutes in Adirondack, while seeing if Michael Raffl is able to handle the pace of NHL play on smaller rinks.

Again: The first part. Not the entire season, if players aren't performing well enough. I'm not advocating unlimited patience or saying that anyone other than Claude Giroux, perhaps Jake Voracek depending on the deal, is untouchable. I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just saying that right now, it is far easier to see the Flyers -- and, by definition, us as fans -- living to regret trading these young players too soon. Because the Flyers gave up a lot to get them, and we just don't know what their ceilings are yet.

Yes, I know this is a really long post. But I figured that if I'm going to participate, I should explain my platform (just once), because I've read all of the more frequent posters' positions for years.
- AllInForFlyers

Well said and definitely makes several very good points. Not in total agreement, as I'd like to add a guy like Edler or Erik Johnson, but standing pat is hardly an awful idea, especially if it means avoiding adding a bad contract or two.

I have doubts he can put up better than average numbers behind this team, under this coach.

Bryzgalov is a more suited to have success behind a team that isn't prone to giving up odd man rushes and bad turnovers born from overaggression in the transition game
- Jsaquella

I agree 100%. He's a system goalie and this is the exact opposite system he needs. Plus he's not as effective as a back up so if Mason actually takes the starters job from him we might have an issue. Bryz may have contracted Michael Leighton Syndrome in which he plays best when he plays consitently but is not good enough to be given consistent playing time.

Agreed, I'm trying to keep the faith in that case because I definitely think it's time for Bryz to go. With the cap recapture penalty, if you keep him this year, IMO you still have no choice but to ditch him next summer. Might as well start the process now.
- five4fighting10

That's the other part of it. Unless he has a monster year/challenges for the Vezina/has a dominant playoff run I can't see him returning after the upcoming season.

long post
- AllInForFlyers

My biggest issue with the current roster construction is that many of Flyers on-ice issues stem from not being able to get the puck out of their own zone. Because of this, they're often hemmed into their own zone for minutes on end and have poorly executed breakouts because often times they're just doing what they can to flip the puck into the neutral zone for a breather.

I think adding a quality/premium puck-mover is essential to this team's fortunes going forward. I don't want to trade B. Schenn or Couturier to acquire that player however.

If they can get an Edler type using their 1st or a Hartnell or Simmonds, I'm open to it.

Mega Post
- AllInForFlyers

You make some good points for sure. I don't think they absolutely need to make a ton of moves and I do not want them to. This will be year 3 of the pseudo-rebuild and I honestly think 2011-12 was more flukey than 2012-13 was given the youth of the team. I think they should make some tweaks and add some depth guys but they don't need to make a blockbuster deal.

I'm more open to moving Coburn though only because we have Schenn and Grossmann who pretty much do the same thing (albeit Coburn is generally better as well as faster). Coburn's struggles this year had to do mainly with getting thrust into the role of #1 dman with more offensive responsibility, IMO. A role that he's not comfortable with. If they could get a comparable puck-mover for him, I would try to trade him.

This will likely not be a popular post, but I've lurked on this board for years, actually registered a few months back, but didn't post until today. I am fairly familiar with the platforms of many of the bloggers/more frequent posters, with some I agree with more than others. I don't prefer to argue online, or anything like that -- I'm a fan, like everyone else. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I think my opinion is anything more than it is: Just my thoughts.

But for me, I honestly think the best thing the Flyers could do this offseason is...nothing...
- AllInForFlyers

Great post
I love your points

I'd like to hear what you think about Bryz at this time...

Do you feel the same way, just keep him and not use the buy out option because of the same argument about it weakening their position to attract free agent players in the future

Or

Admit the contract was a mistake and move on

My biggest issue with the current roster construction is that many of Flyers on-ice issues stem from not being able to get the puck out of their own zone. Because of this, they're often hemmed into their own zone for minutes on end and have poorly executed breakouts because often times they're just doing what they can to flip the puck into the neutral zone for a breather.

I think adding a quality/premium puck-mover is essential to this team's fortunes going forward. I don't want to trade B. Schenn or Couturier to acquire that player however.

If they can get an Edler type using their 1st or a Hartnell or Simmonds, I'm open to it.
- bradleyc4

This is one good reason for Murray as the coach, but I think that opp was passed over last year.

Well said and definitely makes several very good points. Not in total agreement, as I'd like to add a guy like Edler or Erik Johnson, but standing pat is hardly an awful idea, especially if it means avoiding adding a bad contract or two.
- Jsaquella

the only thing i'm concerned about Edler is his back...wouldn't want to give up any young pieces for him....

This will likely not be a popular post, but I've lurked on this board for years, actually registered a few months back, but didn't post until today. ... But for me, I honestly think the best thing the Flyers could do this offseason is...nothing.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm with you, bud.

It's really time that they just trusted in what they've assembled and give it time to come together. Of course, I'm saying this while knowing full well that they probably won't do that, because the guy at the top doesn't have the patience for any proper team building -- it's all about splash.

Welcome to the board, from what you posted, I hope you speak up more often!

Great post
I love your points

I'd like to hear what you think about Bryz at this time...

Do you feel the same way, just keep him and not use the buy out option because of the same argument about it weakening their position to attract free agent players in the future

Or

Admit the contract was a mistake and move on
- Marc D

Personally, I would buy him out. Not because of the media-driven controversy, but because the contract is simply too long for that position, at Bryzgalov's age.

I don't have a problem with lengthy deals -- I'm hoping, for instance, that Claude Giroux's is the maximum eight.

But Bryzgalov...the Flyers have to buy him out. They have to, either this year or next, because it is far more likely that he will not be able to perform at a high level into his late-30s.

I think this particular case, everyone will understand the difference in that this was simply a bad contract, a mistake, that the compliance buyout truly is meant to address.