I like the Cleary signing -- Simon Gagne's one of my favorite players to wear a Flyers uniform over the past 15 years, but for the slot that was open, Cleary's a better fit, now and going forward. Doesn't mean Gagne can't play, but Cleary's a good player too and only one year older. He's grittier, and for a third-liner -- he's just a better fit.

I don't worry about salary stuff or contract length -- someone will either be LTIR'd, demoted or traded. That's just the business of hockey.

I think it's really important, as well, that the Flyers' young players will have another season under Terry Murray, or in junior in leading roles. More time under Murray, I feel, gets some of the Phantoms a little more polished in what it takes to play at the NHL level, and while I know some people really want Scott Laughton to stay with the club, I feel differently.

There's nothing wrong with advancing through your junior career, even playing a full season with the AHL affiliate, then making the NHL (hopefully) at 21 years old. You will have filled out a bit more, have played against men for one full season, before making the jump.

I really like Scott Laughton as a prospect. But one more year in junior won't kill him, and with Matt Read and Adam Hall both UFAs after this season, then there will be spots to compete for next year. Patience isn't the worst thing to have.

I honestly think all of the young players the Flyers have, the Tye McGinns, the Marcel Noebels, etc., can use a little more time to prepare, at least at the start of the season, then come up as injuries or trades take place.

Flyers really have a lot of depth at the forward position now.
Lots of grit and several of the bottom six can easily play spot duty on the top 2 lines.

There is really no excuse now for Lavi benching anyone who doesn't back check and play two way hockey. The entire line up right through the top line guys of G and Jake.
You don't play committed to D, you sit.

This would be refreshing to see.

I see any trade involving a player with value (Talbot, Coburn)
- five4fighting10

Hal Gill try out, Signing Cleary...

Over the cap...

Homer has something going on...

I bet he may be getting closer to trading a few players, like Talbot/Coburn (or others...) to gain a better defenseman (we don't need forwards, and goalie appears to be set). Which if it is these two, Cleary replaces Talbet. New defenseman replaces Coburn. Hal Gill maybe battling for the 7th defenseman seat. Plus, We may wind up with Gagne still.

Trading Talbot won't really help too much. He's signed to a very cap friendly deal. I could see a team with cap space taking on Mez if Talbot was included in the deal.

All things being equal, I'd like to keep Talbot.
- PhillySportsGuy

No doubt, like Coburn, I don't want to deal Talbot. I only did since I saw him mentioned on the previous page.

Not sure how getting an eye gouged out with a stick is "breaking down"? And Cleary really looked shot in the playoffs.
- PLindbergh31

He had surgery on both knees in 2012, here's his quote:

“There are some tears in there, loose cartilage, some bone on bone, a lot of fluid— the build-up of fluid was a major issue, so hoping that we can get it resolved.

“I going to get the surgery done and hopefully just rehab it. Just have to go in and have surgery on it then just get on a maintenance program and it will be fine.”

He was obviously still struggling with his knees last year after the surgery.

He's a warrior and will play through things other guys won't, but a lot of times that isn't a good thing because him at 50% isn't as good as the next guy up at 100%.

He gritted it out and was effective in the playoffs but we will see how long he can do that.

He had surgery on both knees in 2012, here's his quote:



He was obviously still struggling with his knees last year after the surgery.

He's a warrior and will play through things other guys won't, but a lot of times that isn't a good thing because him at 50% isn't as good as the next guy up at 100%.

He gritted it out and was effective in the playoffs but we will see how long he can do that.
- noffsin6

I'm not thrilled with the contract term, but in order for the Flyers to land him they had to go the extra mile.

He had surgery on both knees in 2012, here's his quote:



He was obviously still struggling with his knees last year after the surgery.

He's a warrior and will play through things other guys won't, but a lot of times that isn't a good thing because him at 50% isn't as good as the next guy up at 100%.

He gritted it out and was effective in the playoffs but we will see how long he can do that.
- noffsin6

If he has to retire at some point during the contract, he retires. No penalties. No worries.

I'm really surprised that this signing has brought out the trolls more so even than the Streit and Vinny signings.

I'm really surprised that this signing has brought out the trolls more so even than the Streit and Vinny signings.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. The term isn't great, but Cleary is a solid player. I think he will fit in nicely.

Which is why I ended with it's all just specualation at this point. And stated IF the end result is! . But I don't see Talbot fetching a first round pick.
- MJL

If Paul Gaustad can fetch a 1st rounder, anything is possible. I'm not comparing the two (actually, I like Talbot more), just saying never say never.

He had surgery on both knees in 2012, here's his quote:



He was obviously still struggling with his knees last year after the surgery.

He's a warrior and will play through things other guys won't, but a lot of times that isn't a good thing because him at 50% isn't as good as the next guy up at 100%.

He gritted it out and was effective in the playoffs but we will see how long he can do that.
- noffsin6

He's a bum, trade him.

I'm not thrilled with the contract term, but in order for the Flyers to land him they had to go the extra mile.
- PLindbergh31

It seems like an unnecessary signing. They have a guy like Talbot who is younger/healthier and does the same stuff, they don't have any cap space and they could have signed Gagne if they wanted another top 9 forward.

Not sure how getting an eye gouged out with a stick is "breaking down"? And Cleary really looked shot in the playoffs.
- PLindbergh31

What line did Cleary play on, last season. Is line 3 duties reduced ice time, than last season?

If Paul Gaustad can fetch a 1st rounder, anything is possible. I'm not comparing the two (actually, I like Talbot more), just saying never say never.
- jmatchett383

I think there's only one GM that would give up a 1st round for Gaustad, and I doubt he's going to be doing the Flyers any favors after last summer...

I'm really surprised that this signing has brought out the trolls more so even than the Streit and Vinny signings.
- jmatchett383

The Paul Holmgren bashing articles are so easy for these guys to write in the off season. They are overtaking the "Flyers can't make a goaltender successful" articles.

Even Wyshynski has a "ZOMG!!1!! HOMER GAVE OUT ANOTHER CONTRACT!" headline, only to write in the actual article that.....yeah, getting worked up over a contract to a 3rd liner is stupid.

It seems like an unnecessary signing. They have a guy like Talbot who is younger/healthier and does the same stuff, they don't have any cap space and they could have signed Gagne if they wanted another top 9 forward.
- PhillySportsGuy

Who knows what Gagne's contract demands are. Bill brought up an excellent point in his blog, Hextall saw a lot of Gagne, maybe he saw things he didn't like. Obviously they preferred Cleary to Gagne. I think Cleary is a better fit to be honest.

I think there's only one GM that would give up a 1st round for Gaustad, and I doubt he's going to be doing the Flyers any favors after last summer...
- noffsin6

Of all the GMs, I couldn't believe Poile did that. That's a team that needs to value draft picks more than almost every other team in hockey.

It seems like an unnecessary signing. They have a guy like Talbot who is younger/healthier and does the same stuff, they don't have any cap space and they could have signed Gagne if they wanted another top 9 forward.
- PhillySportsGuy

Obviously Homer thought Cleary was an upgrade to Gagne. Or, has other plans - were Talbot and/or another 3rd/4th liner might not be in the picture.

Of all the GMs, I couldn't believe Poile did that. That's a team that needs to value draft picks more than almost every other team in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

Weren't they gearing up for the playoffs when they made that deal?

Gearing up for the playoffs make you do things like, over pay for guys like Paul Gaustad.

Isn't that why everyone loves the trade deadline so much?

If Paul Gaustad can fetch a 1st rounder, anything is possible. I'm not comparing the two (actually, I like Talbot more), just saying never say never.
- jmatchett383

That's an outlier. If the Flyers are trading Talbot at this point, teams know why they are. Flyers wouldn't have much leverage.

Obviously Homer thought Cleary was an upgrade to Gagne. Or, has other plans - were Talbot and/or another 3rd/4th liner might not be in the picture.
- leon neon

I think there's another shoe to drop.

Of all the GMs, I couldn't believe Poile did that. That's a team that needs to value draft picks more than almost every other team in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

They thought they were in a position to make a run (not a position they have been in often) so they overpaid. They also sucked it up and brought Radulov in for the same reason. In the end it fell apart, but if it had worked everyone would have called him a genius.

Who knows what Gagne's contract demands are. Bill brought up an excellent point in his blog, Hextall saw a lot of Gagne, maybe he saw things he didn't like. Obviously they preferred Cleary to Gagne. I think Cleary is a better fit to be honest.
- PLindbergh31

I agree about Cleary being a better fit. This team could use more defensively minded forwards. I don't hate the signing. I like Cleary, but I don't think he's going to be much of a contributor during the regular season. I could see him missing several games due to chronic injuries then returning for the playoffs (Assuming the Flyers make it).

What line did Cleary play on, last season. Is line 3 duties reduced ice time, than last season?
- leon neon

Cleary averaged 16:30 of ice time during the Regular season. And close to 17 minutes a game in the series against the Blackhawks. The Wings pushed the Hawks to the brink in that series, and Cleary was one of their better forwards.

I agree about Cleary being a better fit. This team could use more defensively minded forwards. I don't hate the signing. I like Cleary, but I don't think he's going to be much of a contributor during the regular season. I could see him missing several games due to chronic injuries then returning for the playoffs (Assuming the Flyers make it).
- PhillySportsGuy

He played all 48 games last year.