mason/emery will be a perrfect tandem imo, both fighting for starter time, it will be great to see a goalie competition, it seems goalie play there best when there not labled the #1 guy with only a few exceptions

A $600k guy for 1 year is the definition of journeyman/depth guy, so I'm not at all worried about the Hall-signing itself will affect Coots or any other center. Sure it's still possible that Coots might get moved but it would be unrelated to the Hall-signing. And as Bill said, apparently Hall can play wing if necessary.
- PhillySteen

I guess my point is that Laughton looked primed to be a part of the club at the start of the season, and there is still a possibility. However, the Flyers are looking to add a big piece on D. They just signed a very good, big fourth line center, whos best assets are F/O and his d-play.

Do we role into the season looking like this

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Talbot-Couts-Read
Rinaldo-Laughton-Hall

Timonen-Schenn
Streit-Coburn
Grossmann-Gusty
Meszy...

OR

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Talbot-Laughton-Read
Rinaldo-Hall-McGrinn

Timonen-Yandle/other acquired D-man
Streit-Schenn
Grossman-Gusty

So does the fun get started at noon? (ET)
- FlyersGrace

fasten your seat belt Grace and have a cocktail

expect alot of 6-5 games with these goalies and D
- vejim

If that's the case, EVERYONE will be a Flyers fan, hahaha...
Our raitings will go through the roof.

Players like Christian Erhoff, Tyler Myers, Bryzgalov have received $10m Salaries. Weber is getting paid $14M. But salaries are not escalating.
- MJL

Absolutely.. Just because a guy has a 6.5 mill cap hit on an 8 year deal, doesnt mean he isnt making 12 mil, 15 mil, in one (or more) of those seasons.

Holmgren blows it again. Giroux is certainly a nice player but who thinks that he would have been handed a sheet of 7yr/ 8.5m per year in his RFA year. I would have stuck it out and rolled the dice if I was the Flyers. While there would be a SLIGHT chance that a team would come back with that number or higher, it would mean that G had an all-star MVP type season to earn it. By doling out the money in advance you also set yourself up badly. WHAT IF? B. Schenn has a breakout year this year and puts up number close to G's, does that make Schenn a 8m/ year player too?
- ICUBB

Nashville tried that with Weber. They rolled the dice. Came up snake eyes. Holmgren didn't blow anything. It's a solid deal.

So does the fun get started at noon? (ET)
- FlyersGrace

Being the Flyers have already landed Streit and Lecavalier, I'm thinking it might be a quiet day for them. Seems like Emery is going to be signed.

Then again, Holmgren might get bored, and decide to trade Couturier, and Coburn. So who knows what might happen.

fasten your seat belt Grace and have a cocktail
- vejim

I wish! I was a friggin dumby and decided to work knowing that we'd get out early today. Luckily it's "Work from home". But I really can't start drinking till they cut me loose. Which hopefully is around 2pm.

Holmgren blows it again. Giroux is certainly a nice player but who thinks that he would have been handed a sheet of 7yr/ 8.5m per year in his RFA year. I would have stuck it out and rolled the dice if I was the Flyers. While there would be a SLIGHT chance that a team would come back with that number or higher, it would mean that G had an all-star MVP type season to earn it. By doling out the money in advance you also set yourself up badly. WHAT IF? B. Schenn has a breakout year this year and puts up number close to G's, does that make Schenn a 8m/ year player too?
- ICUBB

Giroux already got his bridge contract. He is a top 5 player in the league. If Schenn breaks out be will get double the salary, but his cap hit won't rise much.

Being the Flyers have already landed Streit and Lecavalier, I'm thinking it might be a quiet day for them. Seems like Emery is going to be signed.

Then again, Holmgren might get bored, and decide to trade Couturier, and Coburn. So who knows what might happen.
- PLindbergh31

I have a really strong feeling that Couts has played his last game as a Flyer... I hope Im wrong, but my gut keeps telling me he is gone.

Just tossing out some ideas here. Feel free to flame away.

If they have decided that Matt Read will be too expensive to keep as an UFA next summer, I wonder if a deal to Boston to pry away one of their young defenseman could be worked out? Probably no way for Hamilton, but Read for Bartkowski or Krug?

Bs need a 2nd line winger, unless they decide to try and Alfredson, Inginla or re up with Jagr. Read as a two way player fits right into Boston's philosophy and his salary cap this year doesn't hurt them.

Personally I'd like to keep Read, but if the club has decided they can't afford him this is the kind of deal I hope they explore.



Also on the idea of trading Couts. It has to be to address the loss of Kimmo and result in getting a top pair defenseman for the future. Forget Weber, Doughty, OEL, Pietrangelo. Can't see them moving. I wonder if Bogosian for Couts is worth the gamble. I'd rather keep Couts but that deal at least is plausible. Edler for Couts is another possibility. Again I'd rather keep Couts but these seem more likely then getting a franchise young D like the first 4 named above.


On Briere and Montreal... Lebrun wrote yesterday he had very good financial offers from both Nashville and NJ. He chose Montreal because he wants to be there. It is only a short flight from Philly so I'm sure he can make it work for his family.

Giroux already got his bridge contract. He is a top 5 player in the league. If Schenn breaks out be will get double the salary, but his cap hit won't rise much.
- Flyers1218

Another situation where salary has to be looked at, not cap hit.

Players like Christian Erhoff, Tyler Myers, Bryzgalov have received $10m Salaries. Weber is getting paid $14M. But salaries are not escalating.
- MJL

Front loaded salaries to circumvent salary cap. You know better than that.

Being the Flyers have already landed Streit and Lecavalier, I'm thinking it might be a quiet day for them. Seems like Emery is going to be signed.

Then again, Holmgren might get bored, and decide to trade Couturier, and Coburn. So who knows what might happen.
- PLindbergh31

I cant see Homer trading Coburn with the health issues on this D?

I cant see Homer trading Coburn with the health issues on this D?
- vejim

Well some cap space has to be acquired to add a goaltender. I'm not so sure anyone is going to be willing to take Meszaros.

I have a really strong feeling that Couts has played his last game as a Flyer... I hope Im wrong, but my gut keeps telling me he is gone.
- jak521

I dont think Homer will trade Cooty but if he does I hope its the Panthers so I get to watch him on TV and a couple games in person

Front loaded salaries to circumvent salary cap. You know better than that.
- phillydentist

Exactly! So don't look at cap hits. Look at salary. You're incorrect in stating that salaries have not escalated. They have immensly. That is why there was a lockout. Because player salaries were taking up to 70% of League revenue!

As I said to you before, look at the two biggest Free Agent signings from last year. Parise and Suter. Remove the low years on the back end that is only there, to lower the Cap hit. Take the first 7 years of their deals, see what their cap hit would be. If Giroux was to reach free agency, what could he command? 8.2M for Giroux is a steal!

so is Homer
- vejim

haha. True

I have a really strong feeling that Couts has played his last game as a Flyer... I hope Im wrong, but my gut keeps telling me he is gone.
- jak521

I think it would be a mistake. But I'm open to dealing anyone if it improves the team. Have to wait to see the return if he did get traded.

poor Couturier, he has been involved in trade talk since the second he was drafted. I wonder when, and if, they ever end.

Exactly! So don't look at cap hits. Look at salary. You're incorrect in stating that salaries have not escalated. They have immensly. That is why there was a lockout. Because player salaries were taking up to 70% of League revenue!
- MJL

You are citing the player's first year salary of a front loaded contract. I can cite the last year salary of that contract which is $2M. More accurate would be to use the yearly avg of that contract.

Win 3 Cups and you can overpay whoever you want. You get a lifetime pass.

The Flyers FO hasn't won in 38 tries and some doubt is normal.
- phillydentist

At least we know the threshold for making the doom and gloomers in realistic sheep's clothing STFU. One more Cup win for Philly and they get a lifetime pass. That explains why the Pens' front office isn't getting killed in the press while the Flyers are.

I think it would be a mistake. But I'm open to dealing anyone if it improves the team. Have to wait to see the return if he did get traded.
- PLindbergh31

I know everybody loves G, but Cooty is my favorite Flyer

You are citing the player's first year salary of a front loaded contract. I can cite the last year salary of that contract which is $2M. More accurate would be to use the yearly avg of that contract.
- phillydentist

It's not more accurate if you're going to compare Giroux's new deal, because you can no longer have those low years on the back end. And you'd be comparing apples to oranges. No matter how you look at it. Salaries have escalated. A lot.

Third time I will ask you. Why was there a lockout is salaries were not escalating?

poor Couturier, he has been involved in trade talk since the second he was drafted. I wonder when, and if, they ever end.
- billybudd27

Today when he finally gets traded, silly.