Re: Briere
Why would anyone want him back at any price. I have all the respect in the world for him, but he cannot play wing and there is no point in having him center a 3rd or 4th line. With Giroux, Schenn and Couturier there is no spot for him to center either of the top 2 lines so where would you even play him?
- BiggE

I don't think Briere is a shot player, but I don't think he fits here anymore.

In retrospect.....

Coots or Dougie Hamilton ?

You cant buy-out a contract you traded for I'm pretty sure.
- youarewrong

Sure you can.

The Isles should be willing to trade us DiPietro and a pick or prospect for Bryzgalov.

- Flyers buyout DiPietro following the trade (it's almost the same as buying out Bryz) and get pick(s) and/or prospect(s) out of the deal.

- The Isles get a serviceable goalie with a contract that can easily keep them at the cap floor.

Obviously, Bryz would have to agree to such a move. Which already makes it highly unlikely.

Per our own Bill Meltzer:



Source: http://www.hockeybuzz.com...rsday-Quick-Hits/45/51965
- BulliesPhan87

Fair enough, doesn't seem likely then does it.

Fair enough, doesn't seem likely then does it.
- LeftCoaster

Not particularly. Even without the league warning thing, it seems like a lot of razzmatazz just to get a player on a lower cap hit.

I'll never say anything bad about Daniel Briere -- he came to the Flyers after the single-worst season I've ever had the misfortune of watching. They were so bad in the Season That Shall Not Be Referenced Frequently, it was hard to believe that anything good was going to happen soon.

But Paul Holmgren was crafty and got Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen, and Briere signed (for a ton of money and years, true, but he still came), and Homer added Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith, etc., and the next thing you know those boys were back in the playoffs. Hell, it could be argued that with how bad they were in the Season That Shall Not Be Referenced Frequently, they probably should've missed another season or two.

Briere did about what I expected him to do, with an 8-year contract that would take him into his mid-30s, as a smaller player. He played well for the majority, was plagued by injury one season, then started to wear down by years 5 and 6.

I don't know how much he has left in the tank -- truthfully, I don't think he has much. But at the same time, I'll root for him, whatever he decides to do, because man, when he came...wow. Did we ever need him to produce, and he did.

In retrospect.....

Coots or Dougie Hamilton ?
- MrBigglesworth

Still Couturier; he was rated higher. I know some people don't like BPA, but to me, that is the only sane way to operate a franchise.

Still Couturier; he was rated higher. I know some people don't like BPA, but to me, that is the only sane way to operate a franchise.
- AllInForFlyers

In the 2011 draft (Coots 8th and Dougie Hamilton 9th), there were 3 defencemen taken in the top 10.

The following year (last years draft) there were 8 defencemen taken in the top 10.

Point being, top tier defenders are an extremely valuable commodity and GM's realize this. I was surprised we didnt pick Hamilton at the draft. He very well may win the Calder this year!

I'll never say anything bad about Daniel Briere -- he came to the Flyers after the single-worst season I've ever had the misfortune of watching. They were so bad in the Season That Shall Not Be Referenced Frequently, it was hard to believe that anything good was going to happen soon.

But Paul Holmgren was crafty and got Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen, and Briere signed (for a ton of money and years, true, but he still came), and Homer added Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith, etc., and the next thing you know those boys were back in the playoffs. Hell, it could be argued that with how bad they were in the Season That Shall Not Be Referenced Frequently, they probably should've missed another season or two.

Briere did about what I expected him to do, with an 8-year contract that would take him into his mid-30s, as a smaller player. He played well for the majority, was plagued by injury one season, then started to wear down by years 5 and 6.

I don't know how much he has left in the tank -- truthfully, I don't think he has much. But at the same time, I'll root for him, whatever he decides to do, because man, when he came...wow. Did we ever need him to produce, and he did.
- AllInForFlyers

Completely agree.

Sure you can.

The Isles should be willing to trade us DiPietro and a pick or prospect for Bryzgalov.

- Flyers buyout DiPietro following the trade (it's almost the same as buying out Bryz) and get pick(s) and/or prospect(s) out of the deal.

- The Isles get a serviceable goalie with a contract that can easily keep them at the cap floor.

Obviously, Bryz would have to agree to such a move. Which already makes it highly unlikely.
- bradleyc4

Bryz can then pal around with Nabokov.....what could go wrong?

In retrospect.....

Coots or Dougie Hamilton ?
- MrBigglesworth

I think it's still too soon, but I'm comfortable with Couturier.

Still Couturier; he was rated higher. I know some people don't like BPA, but to me, that is the only sane way to operate a franchise.
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Then again D wasn't as burning a need in that draft. I think Coots was the right move. As for this year? There's only one or two forwards I'd consider at 11 (Shinkaruk, Domi, maaaaybe Horvat) but that's ONLY if the sensible D prospects are gone. Then again, if they're gone before 11.... we may get a steal at 11 with a forward.

I'll never say anything bad about Daniel Briere -- he came to the Flyers after the single-worst season I've ever had the misfortune of watching. They were so bad in the Season That Shall Not Be Referenced Frequently, it was hard to believe that anything good was going to happen soon.

But Paul Holmgren was crafty and got Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen, and Briere signed (for a ton of money and years, true, but he still came), and Homer added Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith, etc., and the next thing you know those boys were back in the playoffs. Hell, it could be argued that with how bad they were in the Season That Shall Not Be Referenced Frequently, they probably should've missed another season or two.

Briere did about what I expected him to do, with an 8-year contract that would take him into his mid-30s, as a smaller player. He played well for the majority, was plagued by injury one season, then started to wear down by years 5 and 6.

I don't know how much he has left in the tank -- truthfully, I don't think he has much. But at the same time, I'll root for him, whatever he decides to do, because man, when he came...wow. Did we ever need him to produce, and he did.
- AllInForFlyers

We went from last place to the Eastern Conference Finals, which correct me if I'm wrong, the greatest turn around in sports history...

Still Couturier; he was rated higher. I know some people don't like BPA, but to me, that is the only sane way to operate a franchise.
- AllInForFlyers

Couturier did drop below Hamilton in several of the pre-draft published rankings... obviously the Flyers had him higher, though.

Right now, it's really still a toss-up between them.

In the 2011 draft (Coots 8th and Dougie Hamilton 9th), there were 3 defencemen taken in the top 10.

The following year (last years draft) there were 8 defencemen taken in the top 10.

Point being, top tier defenders are an extremely valuable commodity and GM's realize this. I was surprised we didnt pick Hamilton at the draft. He very well may win the Calder this year!
- MrBigglesworth

I agree with you. We're in the minority I think.

If holmer can trade Briere he should be GM of the year

I agree with you. We're in the minority I think.
- TheGreat28

It's a good argument either way and both should be fine players. But if we had drafted Dougie, we'd probably be scrambling to get that big, two-way shutdown center. Either would have addressed a need at the time.

Agreed. Then again D wasn't as burning a need in that draft. I think Coots was the right move. As for this year? There's only one or two forwards I'd consider at 11 (Shinkaruk, Domi, maaaaybe Horvat) but that's ONLY if the sensible D prospects are gone. Then again, if they're gone before 11.... we may get a steal at 11 with a forward.
- cmr.266

Unless we trade up/down, its going to be best defenceman avail which will end up being one of Zadorov, Nurse, Ristolainen, Pulock or Morrissey.

That said, if Nichushkin is somehow still on the board you slam dunk that pick and dont look back.

Islander fans did you watch our defense last year? For us streit is a mobile puck moving dman

Unless we trade up/down, its going to be best defenceman avail which will end up being one of Zadorov, Nurse, Ristolainen, Pulock or Morrissey.

That said, if Nichushkin is somehow still on the board you slam dunk that pick and dont look back.
- MrBigglesworth

I think they are much more likely to trade down than up because they'd get another asset and still land one of those guys (likely Zadorov or Pulock, I don't care for Morrissey in top 20).

But I think they keep the pick. Let's not forget their 41st pick in a deep draft could be pretty damn valuable also.

So if Briere is bought out, he will most likely sign with Devils or Islanders or Rangers to stay close to his kids, right?

Imagine how terrible it will be facing Mr Playoffs in the post season in the midst of one of his hot streaks, knowing our club is paying (most of) his salary.

or will he retire?

So if Briere is bought out, he will most likely sign with Devils or Islanders or Rangers to stay close to his kids, right?

Imagine how terrible it will be facing Mr Playoffs in the post season in the midst of one of his hot streaks, knowing our club is paying (most of) his salary.

or will he retire?
- MrBigglesworth

I hope he does, Laughton can put him through the glass like any other ranger/devil

If they buy out Bryz that should be enough to get a GM fired. Bryz made roughly $18 mill for 2 years + another $23 mill for the buyout. That's slighly over 20 mill/yr for Bryz's services. There's no way Bryz isn't hoping to get bought out under that scenerio and become a FA able to pick his next team while still getting paid millions per year by the Flyers for the next 14 years.

It should be a cautionary tale to other GMs if the 2 highest paid goalies in the league signed to mega contracts get bought out early into their lifetime deals but it probably won't. Noone learned when the Isles signed DiPietro to the 14 year contract. The Isles will probably still be paying DiPietro when Garth Snow is in the grave.
- Flyers_01

The DiPietro situation, and the Bryzgalov situation aren't comparable. And A GM doesn't have carte blanche to sign a player to any deal he wants. It requires front office approval. There have also been many, many situations where teams signed a Goalie to a long term deal that has worked out. So ignoring that, and just focusing on two situations, isn't looking at all the facts.

So if Briere is bought out, he will most likely sign with Devils or Islanders or Rangers to stay close to his kids, right?

Imagine how terrible it will be facing Mr Playoffs in the post season in the midst of one of his hot streaks, knowing our club is paying (most of) his salary.

or will he retire?
- MrBigglesworth

I would love for the Flyers to face Mr. Playoffs in the post season for although he will score 8 goals, he will be on the ice for 15 goals against. To lead the league in goal scoring each playoffs and yet still be a big minus player shows exactly why the Flyers got their butts handed to them against defensively sound teams like Boston and New Jersey.

John Tavares was going to be the Islanders' next Captain and Franchise player anyway. It will be fun to watch another young player franchise player blossom (Johnathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Eric Staal, Shea Weber, Alex Ovechkin, Henrik Zetterberg,Henrik, Sedin, Dustin Brown, Mikko Koivu, Shane Doan, Vincent Lecavalier, Daniel Alfredsson, David Backes and Claude Giroux).