Again, I think it's the money -- Briere alone isn't going to get it done, as far as the cap is concerned, right?

It doesn't mean it has to be Meszaros -- though I tend to disagree somewhat with your assessment on how much the Flyers like him, based on quotes I saw during his Achilles rehab and his willingness to get back in the mix after being cleared -- but I'm not certain that just buying out Briere gives them enough room to fill out the last two spots on the roster, depending on if they bring in an upgrade to Simon Gagne who costs money, as opposed to resigning him for less, or, again, buying out Ilya Bryzagalov.

Again, I certainly have no knowledge about what they might do with Meszaros. I'm just speculating that his value, with one year left on his deal at a salary that most teams can absorb, might be high enough where you can't say no, if presented the opportunity and you aren't going to resign him.
- AllInForFlyers

I Got ya. Moneywise though, for This season they do not actually have to buy out anyone unless they want to make changes. According to Cap Geek, once you put Pronger on LTIR and move all of the respective players back to the minors, they have enough room to bring up Laughton, Sign Gags to 2.5 and have 1mil + in cap space while holding onto Briere & Bryzgalov. (though due to resignings Briere will be gone the following year, course probably so will Read or Schenn and probably Bryz) If Homer is serious about "Liking our team" and "Giving the young Nucleolus a chance to grow" He might try to keep the team together and simply let them grow with the current Vets in place and simply drafting the Best players available so they can to restock the cupboard.

Just curious, how is Andrew Johnston shaping out?
- pharcyde

diggin your avatar man

Quick thoughts:

If a 39 year old Gonchar is going for 2years at 5 mil per, Timonen is a steal at 1 year for 6 million.

After seeing what Gonchar got, some GM is going to give Streit 18 million over 3 years, it better not be Holmgren

All of a sudden, making a deal for JayBo, who St. Louis is not going to want to pay after re-signing Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk, is looking like a good move even with 1 year left at 6.7 million

Now, more than ever, I am fine at going with Timonen, Schenn, Coburn, Grossmann, Mez and Gus to start the season.

Still want to see them take the B.PA. with the 11th pick, however I am not opposed to trading down as long as they don't fall below pick #18.

Loved seeing the Pens getting swept last night, somewhere Pierre Maguire and Sidney Crosby are consoling each other.

Don't you love the way the Bruins play team defense? Don't you hope Lavy and the Flyers are taking notes?

Only 22 days til the draft!!

Finally, I have lost over 25lbs and 4 inches off my waist!! Am soon going to have to change my name to NotquitesoBiggE!
- BiggE

well done! keep up the good work

If Oliver will indeed be the 7th d-man my only concern is the kid needs to play, and hopefully with some regularity in terms of ice time and partners.

I dont want this organization taking the Sbisa route with D-men.

If Oliver will indeed be the 7th d-man my only concern is the kid needs to play, and hopefully with some regularity in terms of ice time and partners.

I dont want this organization taking the Sbisa route with D-men.
- flyer_nutter

i hope lauridsen is a phantom next year. no sense sitting him in the press box, and i don't think he should make the top six (barring injuries of course)

let gervais and mab ( if healthy... i believe he's subject to waivers) share the cote suite and fill-in in a pinch (preference obviously going to mab)

i hope lauridsen is a phantom next year. no sense sitting him in the press box, and i don't think he should make the top six (barring injuries of course)

let gervais and mab ( if healthy... i believe he's subject to waivers) share the cote suite and fill-in in a pinch (preference obviously going to mab)
- FlyerMike18

This

Do you think GMs will re look at the process of picking up big name players at the trading deadline after what happened this year with the Pens?

Shero went all in this year. Before adding Morrow, Iginla and Murray their team was playing very well. There is a disruption of chemistry bringing in big name players in the end of the season. They gave up a fair amount of picks and prospects to do this. Not reaching the cup finals has to be a disappointment, certainly below the expectations going into the playoffs.

Will this year's experience change the way GMs do business at the trading deadline?

Do you think GMs will re look at the process of picking up big name players at the trading deadline after what happened this year with the Pens?

Shero went all in this year. Before adding Morrow, Iginla and Murray their team was playing very well. There is a disruption of chemistry bringing in big name players in the end of the season. They gave up a fair amount of picks and prospects to do this. Not reaching the cup finals has to be a disappointment, certainly below the expectations going into the playoffs.

Will this year's experience change the way GMs do business at the trading deadline?
- Marc D

Its just my thoughts, but I dont see really anything wrong with what Shero did.

He attempted to add veteran presence to a squad that had chronic issues of being completely thrown off their game when things got physical or chippy.

The way I see it, I'd place the blame on those already on the squad, in particular the stars expected to lead the team, more than any player brought in. Iginla, Morrow and Murray were all good leaders, hard workers, and heart/soul type of guys with their former teams. All a little bit maybe, too grey.

Iginla though in particular, played like horsepoop. I liked what I saw from Morrow and Murray though.

Do you think GMs will re look at the process of picking up big name players at the trading deadline after what happened this year with the Pens?

Shero went all in this year. Before adding Morrow, Iginla and Murray their team was playing very well. There is a disruption of chemistry bringing in big name players in the end of the season. They gave up a fair amount of picks and prospects to do this. Not reaching the cup finals has to be a disappointment, certainly below the expectations going into the playoffs.

Will this year's experience change the way GMs do business at the trading deadline?
- Marc D

I might be a little slow on the draw sometimes, but I never quite understood the Iginla acquisition to begin with.

Douglas Murray, I got. Depth on defense I can always understand.

I understood Brenden Morrow slightly less, but at the same time, I was like, "Well, OK...maybe you should be careful about exposing Beau Bennett a little too much."

But Iginla...I just never understood that fit, especially when you consider team chemistry AND the fact that Tyler Kennedy is one of those "playoff guys." He is gritty and competes and scores...but you had to scratch him for Iginla.

I think...I think you'll still see some movement, because Michal Handzus has helped the Blackhawks and Robyn Regehr definitely helped the Kings, who were also helped by Jeff Carter last year.

But I wouldn't be surprised if you stopped seeing first-round picks being thrown around -- it had already slowed down, and when these GMs see Minnesota get annihilated after giving up a ton for Jason Pominville...you'd have to think that at some point, it really starts to make them very, very cautious.

hey bill any info on Peter Cehlarik? kid might be a good 5/6th round pick. He wasnt ranked midterm but now he is 28th in europe.

I might be a little slow on the draw sometimes, but I never quite understood the Iginla acquisition to begin with...

- AllInForFlyers

It makes me wonder what their game plan was when they were thinking about adding him.

Crosby had pretty good magic with Dupuis and Kunitz, not sure you want to break up that line.

Maybe they saw him fitting in with Malkin and Neal. The games I watched them play before the playoffs, Beau Bennet looked great on that line.

Agree about Carter for Jack Johnson, that was a hell of a trade. Especially with Voynov filling Johnson's offensive role.

It makes me wonder what their game plan was when they were thinking about adding him.

Crosby had pretty good magic with Dupuis and Kunitz, not sure you want to break up that line.

Maybe they saw him fitting in with Malkin and Neal. The games I watched them play before the playoffs, Beau Bennet looked great on that line.

Agree about Carter for Jack Johnson, that was a hell of a trade. Especially with Voynov filling Johnson's offensive role.
- Marc D

I think Iginla played with Crosby at the Olympcs but I could be wrong there.

I think Iginla played with Crosby at the Olympcs but I could be wrong there.
- flyer_nutter

yes, they were really good together, that is true.

I don't blame Shero for trying, it is really hard to win the Cup and when you have a real shot, you should do everything you can.

I just wonder if this season will weigh on the GMs decisions going forward on their trading deadline deals.

Again, it's the UFA market value for a veteran defenseman who still plays a lot of minutes and can produce points at a healthy clip. If you don't want your team to pay that much, then stay away from the open-market options.
- bmeltzer

That's exactly what I would do.

yes, they were really good together, that is true.

I don't blame Shero for trying, it is really hard to win the Cup and when you have a real shot, you should do everything you can.

I just wonder if this season will weigh on the GMs decisions going forward on their trading deadline deals.
- Marc D

I don't believe the price of impending free agents will go down at the trade deadline mainly because for two reasons. Obviously, the chance to win the Cup is paramount. Second, the more home playoff games, the more revenue for clubs, which is pretty important because I don't believe much has been done with revenue sharing in the latest CBA.

-Gaustad for 1st round pick
-Kubina for a 2nd round pick
-Iginla and Jagr for 1st round picks

It is just the price to do business at the deadline. I'm not sure the prices can get much higher as far as compensation given up to get a player, but I certainly don't see the prices going down.

Free Agents are still going to get paid top dollar. The middle class player is going to feel the crunch.
- MJL

Don't care what market Gonchar is on there is no way I would pay a 39 year old that kind of cash for two years.

Rather go with other options.

yes, they were really good together, that is true.

I don't blame Shero for trying, it is really hard to win the Cup and when you have a real shot, you should do everything you can.

I just wonder if this season will weigh on the GMs decisions going forward on their trading deadline deals.
- Marc D

Honestly though, they have a damn good team, and one that could realistically let grow together for a few years.

They got beaten by a team that has a damn good chance at winning the cup.

Being final 4, and near the top of the league for the last few years, I wouldnt make huge chances. Sometimes its just not your year. They do need to get tougher, and somehow fix the goaltending. Not to be a troll, but they havent really been a team that has to win the last game of a season to make the playoffs.

Like the Flyers for the most part, they should be patient.

Yes, this is why I'm not a BPA guy. Now, I'm not saying reach for a player either. But defense is at a premium, so drafting D makes sense.
- TheGreat28

I would go with a D man every pick, Homer has to get lucky with at least one

Don't care what market Gonchar is on there is no way I would pay a 39 year old that kind of cash for two years.

Rather go with other options.
- stveshdy

Mark Streit says "hello".

If the Flyers improve the blueline, it really is going to be through a trade. I still believe J-Bo will be a Flyer.

Mark Streit says "hello".

If the Flyers improve the blueline, it really is going to be through a trade. I still believe J-Bo will be a Flyer.
- ravishingone

Streit isn't worth that kind of money either. I would rather the Flyers go with the guys they have. The UFA market prices are ridiculous.

A trade might be the way.

Sergei Gonchar signing for that is actually GREAT NEWS for the Flyers.

Because as of this moment, Andrej Meszaros, with one year left on his contract at a cap hit of $4 million...there's no way he can't be valued at less than a second-round pick in this year's draft. It's impossible!

I understand completely that Sergei Gonchar had a statistically strong season with a playoff team, and yes, his camp could easily argue that he was worth $5 million, which clearly they did and the Stars agreed. Good for them.

But at the same time, you can't tell me that if the Flyers decide to trade Meszaros for salary cap flexibility, SOMEBODY isn't going to look at what you have to pay defensemen in today's NHL and pony up a second for Meszaros, at $4 million for one season.

I know he's been injured. I know, I know, I know.

But there is NO WAY that there isn't one team in the league who is looking around and saying, "Oh, my gosh. We can't pay that kind of money. Who's available for $4 million who can actually play?"
- AllInForFlyers

The Senators got a 6th rounder for a guy who averaged 24 minutes a night for a playoff team. Not sure that helps trading Meszaros, but I hope you're right

Rumor from Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period

Dennis Bernstein ‏@DennisTFP 1h

@ericsuperfan think Bryzgalov gets bought out and Bernier for Matt Read is made. Was discussed at deadline as I hear.

Discuss amongst selves

Read and 11th for Voynov and Bernier
do you do it???
i do!!!

Read and 11th for Voynov and Bernier
do you do it???
i do!!!
- FLYERSROCK!

Yeah, I do it...and all we need is a (frank)ing miracle to get Lombardi to not laugh his ass off when that gets proposed

Rumor from Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period

Dennis Bernstein ‏@DennisTFP 1h

@ericsuperfan think Bryzgalov gets bought out and Bernier for Matt Read is made. Was discussed at deadline as I hear.

Discuss amongst selves
- Jsaquella

Would love that trade. Doubt it happens with only 1 season left on reads contract.