My point is this: Every "smart" GM is one second away from being "dumb."

The Blues think they're cute and smart -- I've read how they feel they make their players earn their contracts.

Yeah, well, that's all fine and dandy until your young core comes up all at once because you wouldn't do long-term deals for cost certainty.

Now you're getting ready to pay Alex Pietrangelo 8 years, $56 million -- at least. Chris Stewart's not playing for free. With Berglund coming back to the table after next season, and Alexander Steen a UFA.

And no goalies under contract after this season.

And you still haven't beaten the Los Angeles Kings in the playoffs.

All that cap space they have now? It's getting ready to disappear. Because all bridge deals do with good players is delay the inevitable: You're going to pay them, and if you do the bridges wrong, you're going to pay A LOT.

Lighten up. I hate barkann but that was funny
- Just5

Well, for one, I still hate all them. This wasn't the "tipping point".

Still, I thought that was in poor taste and uncalled for

I'm sorry, has Voracek not played 82 games in one season before? It always comes down to doing it again. It always comes down to grinding it out, avoiding injury and fighting through long stretches of gaming and while being tired. I'm not interest paces a player could have scored at (Not down play Jake's actual). I disagree you. I as a fan would like to see a splash.
- dingo8urbaby

Every single player that you would currently label a "game changer". Has had to do it again at some point. It's a process. Why is that Voracek isn't allowed to go through that process and given a chance to do it again? Doesn't make any sense. As as I said to you previously. It wasn't just last Season. He also scored at a high rate in the second half of the Season before. So Voracek's breakout, has been going on for longer then just this past 48 game Season.

Its out there. If you dare to venture outside of bill's thread
- Just5

I bet a lot of those fans would love to have their team have the success that this "laughingstock" has had over the past ten years or so.

Come on, they're not that bad but I get your point.
- FlyerLifer

Their offense was atrocious for the last couple seasons....can't pass to JT all the time....

Lighten up. I hate barkann but that was funny
- Just5

Not really. It was completely unprofessional.

Its out there. If you dare to venture outside of bill's thread
- Just5

So there's some random clueless Hockey fans that think that? Good to know.

Really? How did a 3rd pair defenseman average the 2nd most TOI for them last year? He was just 11 seconds per game behind Andrew MacDonald.

Also, why did they offer him a 3 year deal for near $5mm per if he was that awful?
- Jsaquella

No one said HE was awful, the contract is awful.

Not really. It was completely unprofessional.
- MJL

So, pretty much par for the course in the Philly media, huh?

anyway, my point is im glad we have a GM that "reacts"

some see that as a negative. i dont.

the obvious "plan" would have been to stick with richards and carter and continue building the team around them with their decade-long deals. Now maybe it would have worked out in the end, but the GM evaluated the situation, reacted, and pulled the trigger to get good value before the NTCs kicked in.

im not saying Homer hasnt made mistakes, but i cant stand hearing people talk like he's throwing darts at a dartboard while other GMs are supposedly following some perfectly mapped-out 20-step plan toward building a Cup team.
- Crimsoninja

Homer does a lot gambling. Funny thing isI think there is more a need for Jeff Carter now then ever. I like the return though.

No one said HE was awful, the contract is awful.
- FlyerLifer

The contract is market value for a player of his ability and contract status.

My point is this: Every "smart" GM is one second away from being "dumb."

The Blues think they're cute and smart -- I've read how they feel they make their players earn their contracts.

Yeah, well, that's all fine and dandy until your young core comes up all at once because you wouldn't do long-term deals for cost certainty.

Now you're getting ready to pay Alex Pietrangelo 8 years, $56 million -- at least. Chris Stewart's not playing for free. With Berglund coming back to the table after next season, and Alexander Steen a UFA.

And no goalies under contract after this season.

And you still haven't beaten the Los Angeles Kings in the playoffs.

All that cap space they have now? It's getting ready to disappear. Because all bridge deals do with good players is delay the inevitable: You're going to pay them, and if you do the bridges wrong, you're going to pay A LOT.
- AllInForFlyers

Terrific points. I love poking fun at St. Louis. All that "cap space".

No one said HE was awful, the contract is awful.
- FlyerLifer

You just said he played on the Isles third pair.

The contract is what it is. It's not a great contract, but it's better than trading Schenn or Couturier, plus other assets, for a guy like Edler or Yandle-and still having a similar cap hit while giving up a good asset.

Do you really think that Streit was the first target? I think he was a fall back when the prices on Yandle, Shattenkirk and Edler were too high.

Terrific points. I love poking fun at St. Louis. All that "cap space".
- cmr.266

Yep, the ended the Season 18M under the Cap. Maybe a player or two would put them over the top.

No one said HE was awful, the contract is awful.
- FlyerLifer

Matt Carle makes more. He could have gotten more if he didn't work something out before hitting the market. I am still very OK with this deal.

Oh, and he played with less than desirable partners last year. On a team with recent history of being terrible.

It's not a bad deal at all.

Yep, the ended the Season 18M under the Cap. Maybe a player or two would out them over the top.
- MJL

But I bet the parade for having a poopload of cap space was a doozy

Yep, the ended the Season 18M under the Cap. Maybe a player or two would put them over the top.
- MJL

They have some great prospects, too. Blows my mind why they didn't swing another deal at the deadline.

Matt Carle makes more. He could have gotten more if he didn't work something out before hitting the market. I am still very OK with this deal.

Oh, and he played with less than desirable partners last year. On a team with recent history of being terrible.

It's not a bad deal at all.
- cmr.266

Here's the bottom line. The Flyers are going to have to support Streit and use him the right way. If they don't shore up their team defense, Streit is going to be exposed and likely become a scapegoat for the fanbase. Unless he just lights it up offensively. He's what he is, at this point in his career.

Furthermore, regarding Streit, the dude has a cannon from the point on top of the overall point production.

Am I the only one who noticed a blueline corps last year that, aside from Kimmo picking his spots, was terrified of putting shots on net? Coburn especially. Streit adds several elements back there that the Flyers just did not have.

The deal grows on me more each week.

Every single player that you would currently label a "game changer". Has had to do it again at some point. It's a process. Why is that Voracek isn't allowed to go through that process and given a chance to do it again? Doesn't make any sense. As as I said to you previously. It wasn't just last Season. He also scored at a high rate in the second half of the Season before. So Voracek's breakout, has been going on for longer then just this past 48 game Season.
- MJL

Am I demanding that Voracek be traded? Would you consider Crosby, Malkin, Iginla, Neal, Letang and Kunitz game breakers? Even if we scored more then the Pens, my argument is the way that they score. They get key goals at key times. On top of this Shero continues to keep adding.

The contract is market value for a player of his ability and contract status.
- MJL

Yea if he hit the ufa market someone woulda paid more for him no doubt

Here's the bottom line. The Flyers are going to have to support Streit and use him the right way. If they don't shore up their team defense, Streit is going to be exposed and likely become a scapegoat for the fanbase. Unless he just lights it up offensively. He's what he is, at this point in his career.
- MJL

54 points a year over last five isn't too shabby - I don't care where you play. I agree with you on the exposure factor. The thing is, they have the personnel (on paper) that should suit him as effective partners.

I think it's a good situation, as you say, if he is utilized right.

Its out there. If you dare to venture outside of bill's thread
- Just5

The Flyers haven't had a number # 1 goalie since Hextall, they throw an enormous contract at Bryzgalov, he's paid 40 million dollars to play 97 games. He will be making 1.6 million dollars from the Flyers when he's a 45 year old man.

This on the heels of Bobrovsky winning a Vezina on a perennial League doormat.

Fans of other teams who think that is off the charts incompetence are clueless....

Got it.

You just said he played on the Isles third pair.

The contract is what it is. It's not a great contract, but it's better than trading Schenn or Couturier, plus other assets, for a guy like Edler or Yandle-and still having a similar cap hit while giving up a good asset.

Do you really think that Streit was the first target? I think he was a fall back when the prices on Yandle, Shattenkirk and Edler were too high.
- Jsaquella

Third pairing doesn't mean a player is awful, he's strength is obviously not his defense but he has offensive skill.

But I bet the parade for having a poopload of cap space was a doozy
- Jsaquella

Exactly -- it baffles me how people think it's great to have players you KNOW you need feel like they're working in the salt mines before they can get a deal that reflects their value.

P.K. Subban wanted a long-term deal from the Canadiens last summer, would've taken something like 5 years, $25 million.

The Canadiens were like, "Nope. Bridge deal. That's all you get. Two years. Suck it up."

So he did. And won the Norris trophy. At a salary of $2.875 million. And he's coming up at the end of the year.

Anybody think he's coming in at 5 years, $25 million on that one?