Whether they buy out bryzgalov or not the soap opera in net will never stop for this club. Carry on.
- JoeRussomanno

Not if somebody comes in and just plays well. Had Bryzgalov simply played well, he'd be a quirky all star goalie.

The fact is, he hasn't played well. He's had stretches of sheer brilliance, but he's also been so inconsistent that it's been hard to be able to build a lot of confidence that he can be more than a great system goalie.

the injury factor is big for me, but if the idea is that the CBO is going to happen, then the nxt question is "what are the alternatives now and going forward?". i think there are options this summer that make it worthwhile for the flyers to move on now and not risk a poor goalie mkt nxt off season.
- isaiah520

And they really need to make absolutely sure that Meszaros & grossman are healthy enough moving forward.

I don't think our defense is as bad as everyone believes IF healthy, instead of swinging for the fences for pietrangelo, which they will have no shot at, I would inquire about shattenkirk, who would be a nice complement to the others moving forward, and soften kimmo's eventual departure

Hi guys,

Me and a bunch of friends are going to go across the atlantic next season. We want to get as much hockey as possible, and be tourists. But... I am not good at geography. They are Pitt fans, I am a flyer. We were thinking of living in NY. Does that make sense?

Also, how far from NY to Pit and Philly? If we live in ny we could get matches in Jersey, Islanders, Rangers, Washington, Buffalo, Philly and Pitt - or am I dreaming here? Too much travelling?

And they really need to make absolutely sure that Meszaros & grossman are healthy enough moving forward.

I don't think our defense is as bad as everyone believes IF healthy, instead of swinging for the fences for pietrangelo, which they will have no shot at, I would inquire about shattenkirk, who would be a nice complement to the others moving forward, and soften kimmo's eventual departure
- puckhead17

I agree. The defense isn't terrible. But the coach has to recognize what it's limitations and strengths are and utilize them properly. Hopefully, with good health and a full season of Gustafsson, they can rebound and be solid from within.

I just don't see Bryz worth $5.66 million. He certainly isn't the main problem, but I just hate his cap hit. I'd buy both Briere and Bryz out first chance I get.

I'd love to land Bernier. Bernier and Mason would be a really good goalie situation for a team with a young core on offense. I'd hate to lose Read, but is he really going to be resigned after this year? If Read can't be used to land a young Dman I'd seriously consider him for Bernier.

Bill, thanks for the clinical analysis. But it was kind of depressing because it reminded me of how needy the team is. There are questions from top to bottom here if you include the coach and GM. My question Bill, what need do you attack first and how long do you think it will take before they become a deep playoff team? Homer turned it around quickly a few years ago with a team that was even more lacking but circumstances are different now. Think about it, not very long ago we were competitive with Boston and Chicago; now we don't match up at all with them.

Hi guys,

Me and a bunch of friends are going to go across the atlantic next season. We want to get as much hockey as possible, and be tourists. But... I am not good at geography. They are Pitt fans, I am a flyer. We were thinking of living in NY. Does that make sense?

Also, how far from NY to Pit and Philly? If we live in ny we could get matches in Jersey, Islanders, Rangers, Washington, Buffalo, Philly and Pitt - or am I dreaming here? Too much travelling?
- Bearintheforest

From NYC, it's only a couple hours drive to Philly, and easy trips to Nassau county and Newark. DC would be a bit longer trip via car or train, but it's still not too difficult.

Pittsburgh and Buffalo would probably require overnight stays or somebody willing to drive all night

I've always been a huge Bernier supporter since his junior days. After seeing Bob's tweets, I initially thought, hell yes let's trade Reader for him. After looking at the potential roster without Read (and possibly Couts/Schenn with the other trade scenario Bob threw out), that's a tough deal to make. We lose a lot of goals, 20-25 from Read and 15-20 from Schenn or Couts this season.

UFA pool is weak to replace them, without overpayment. Horton, Clowe, Bickell, Stalberg, etc. I'd much rather keep Read and sign a UFA back-up goalie if we bought out Bryz, such as Emery or Ellis. Maybe even Chris Mason, So Lavy can mess with the media when asked about his starting goalie.

I'm with the CBO Bryz this summer group. I'm not against keeping him 1 more year, but why delay the inevitable. Sign Emery or Ellis as Mason's back-up on a 1-year deal. A Mason/Emery tandom will cost us what Bryz alone costs us, and can at least provide average goaltending, just like Bryz.

I just don't see Bryz worth $5.66 million. He certainly isn't the main problem, but I just hate his cap hit. I'd buy both Briere and Bryz out first chance I get.

I'd love to land Bernier. Bernier and Mason would be a really good goalie situation for a team with a young core on offense. I'd hate to lose Read, but is he really going to be resigned after this year? If Read can't be used to land a young Dman I'd seriously consider him for Bernier.
- jstross

Well I figured that I we buy out briere this summer. And then maybe bryzgalov next that might leave enough room to re sign read. I am really worries that we let such a versatile forward walk in order to address an area that doesn't need to be fixed this year. U lose read getting Bernier cooter or Schenn getting a dman and the forwards start to look thin on young talent.

Would love a guy like Read for Bernier but isn't he a RW? Kings need more LW help. Guessing they let Penner walk this time.

I just don't see Bryz worth $5.66 million. He certainly isn't the main problem, but I just hate his cap hit. I'd buy both Briere and Bryz out first chance I get.

I'd love to land Bernier. Bernier and Mason would be a really good goalie situation for a team with a young core on offense. I'd hate to lose Read, but is he really going to be resigned after this year? If Read can't be used to land a young Dman I'd seriously consider him for Bernier.
- jstross

The only issue would be 2 young goalies on a team "expected" win could be a disaster not knowing if they have the mental toughness after a bad goal, a bad loss a bad week etc.
Skill is only a component of the position, and wouldn't want to see mason getting eaten up by the media when things get bumpy, that could put us right back at square one again.
No one knows if a young goalie has the mental toughness in a market like this one, hearing over and over again "oh there's Philly and there goalie issues again"

Would love a guy like Read for Bernier but isn't he a RW? Kings need more LW help. Guessing they let Penner walk this time.
- hiway39

Read can play all 3 forward positions very well. He's a good PP guy, outstanding PK guy, good two way player, good wheels and a fitness nut.

And they really need to make absolutely sure that Meszaros & grossman are healthy enough moving forward.

I don't think our defense is as bad as everyone believes IF healthy, instead of swinging for the fences for pietrangelo, which they will have no shot at, I would inquire about shattenkirk, who would be a nice complement to the others moving forward, and soften kimmo's eventual departure
- puckhead17

i think we need to see what happens in the SCF, before we make any decisions about the kinda team we want to build. if CHI wins...

AP won't be available so i think that most here are hoping for a shat, yandle or edler. for some, even that will cost too much and frankly, I've been straddling the fence on that one myself. certainly, the hawks did show the value of having many puck movers that could break down defensive systems and start a rapid transition.

i think we need to see what happens in the SCF, before we make any decisions about the kinda team we want to build. if CHI wins...

AP won't be available so i think that most here are hoping for a shat, yandle or edler. for some, even that will cost too much and frankly, I've been straddling the fence on that one myself. certainly, the hawks did show the value of having many puck movers that could break down defensive systems and start a rapid transition.
- isaiah520

Yes true, and Crawford having a 95% save isn't hurting them either, but his save % could easily be .85% with that go go system as well

Yes true, and Crawford having a 95% save isn't hurting them either, but his save % could easily be .85% with that go go system as well
- puckhead17

if bryz was the goalie for CHI, they never would have moved past DET.

Hi guys,

Me and a bunch of friends are going to go across the atlantic next season. We want to get as much hockey as possible, and be tourists. But... I am not good at geography. They are Pitt fans, I am a flyer. We were thinking of living in NY. Does that make sense?

Also, how far from NY to Pit and Philly? If we live in ny we could get matches in Jersey, Islanders, Rangers, Washington, Buffalo, Philly and Pitt - or am I dreaming here? Too much travelling?
- Bearintheforest

You could live in Philly too. Cheaper and you are much closer to pitt 5hrs and washington 2.5hrs. Nj is about 1:30 away, nyr are 2:00 away, nyi are about 2:30. You are looking at 6.5hrs to pitt from NY and 4hrs to wash. But i guess Boston is a lot closer to NY (3hrs).

So let me get this straight. The Flyers are going to trade their franchise goalie because he's not living up to the ridiculous contract they signed him to and so they can make room for a franchise defenseman who they will have to sign to a ridiculous contract that will be impossible for him to live up to? Classic Flyers.

I don't see trading Reed. All he's done is play well. He's very adaptable. He's not tall, but he's solid, he has speed and he can score.

if bryz was the goalie for CHI, they never would have moved past DET.
- isaiah520

Don't be silly. It's all the defensive systems in front of the goaltenders. Boston's defense was stellar. Pittsburgh had almost zero quality chances against Rask. Bryzgalov would have held the Penguins scoreless in that series. Rask was only able to stop 136 of 138 shots. What a stiff.

So sick of hearing about the defense in front of the goalies. It's such garbage. Watching these playoffs, outside of MAF, and Nabakov, none of these goalies allow any soft goals. And every goaltender faces a bunch of high quality shots every game.

My take exactly why they should swallow hard, admit they made a mistake, and move on...

I don't think he's a bad goaltender at all, just one who may be stylistically ill-suited to the system the head coach has wanted his team to play (due to Bryzgalov's average lateral mobility, below-average puckhandling, and inconsistency on his stick side in general) and, like all goalies, is made to look far worse than he actually is by leaky team defense.
...as per Bill, and I agree.

Was the team defense leaky? Absolutely. Is any one else carrying a similar heavy contract while playing below their pay grade? No. But if they were, they should be on the buyout/trade list as well. However, the defense is not to blame for the reasons underlined. Bill, as well as those of us here, have continually pointed out these same weaknesses over the past two years, so that's no secret.

Simply put, even placing the overall team defense aside, Breeze is playing well below his contractual expectations. To carry such a cap hit for a third year and beyond would be Homer's second mistake regarding this deal.

Lastly, regarding Bernier, like I said yesterday - pass. Too small.

if bryz was the goalie for CHI, they never would have moved past DET.
- isaiah520

True
But we don't have Keith and seabrook either

The money he makes is more suited for the lundqvists kipprusoffs millers etc

So let me get this straight. The Flyers are going to trade their franchise goalie because he's not living up to the ridiculous contract they signed him to and so they can make room for a franchise defenseman who they will have to sign to a ridiculous contract that will be impossible for him to live up to? Classic Flyers.

I don't see trading Reed. All he's done is play well. He's very adaptable. He's not tall, but he's solid, he has speed and he can score.
- Dkos

Trade Bryzgalov? Wishful thinking. Just shows how awful a contract it is. Not a team in the NHL would touch that contract.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bryzgalov and Bernier
- bmeltzer

I don't think it's as important to buyout Bryzgalov right away, as it is to buyout Briere. I'm alright with giving Bryz one more season but I can also see the urgency for place under the cap to fill other needs. Speaking for myself, I don't think Steve Mason is an upgrade over Bryzgalov but Mason is capable of getting back to where he was his rookie season. In my opinion, Mason is in a better position here with the Flyers, then he was with the Blue Jackets.

With this said, if Bryzgalov really must be shown the exit, I would target Ray Emery. It would be interesting to watch Mason and Emery compete for the number goaltending spot. A little healthy competition should be welcomed, rather then just handed out.

Trade Bryzgalov? Wishful thinking. Just shows how awful a contract it is. Not a team in the NHL would touch that contract.
- PLindbergh31

Zero chance he gets traded with that contract. My prediction is amnesty next year.

Zero chance he gets traded with that contract. My prediction is amnesty next year.
- Hextall271

I would just cut ties with him this year. Don't want him around to potentially muddy the waters with Mason. If Mason outplays Bryzgalov and wins the job, you have a major problem with the sideshow that will ensue. Not to mention a backup goalie with a 5.6 million dollar cap hit. What a mess.

Don't be silly. It's all the defensive systems in front of the goaltenders. Boston's defense was stellar. Pittsburgh had almost zero quality chances against Rask. Bryzgalov would have held the Penguins scoreless in that series. Rask was only able to stop 136 of 138 shots. What a stiff.

So sick of hearing about the defense in front of the goalies. It's such garbage. Watching these playoffs, outside of MAF, and Nabakov, none of these goalies allow any soft goals. And every goaltender faces a bunch of high quality shots every game.
- PLindbergh31

Nope. Not one soft goal. Ever.