I wouldn't have had a problem with bringing Gagne back. He played well for the Flyers last year. He's injury prone, perhaps that was one of the reasons he wasn't brought back. Or maybe Hextall had some input on Gagne. Who knows. I do know that Cleary is a very good player and he will help the Flyers. That's all that matters.
- PLindbergh31

Hextall's input seems like it swung the pendulum, it is speculating of course but feels like it has truth to it.

Hextall's input seems like it swung the pendulum, it is speculating of course but feels like it has truth to it.
- Marc D

Flyers were somewhat of a soft team last year. You want guys like Cleary who are a pain in the ass to play against. I think this current roster has a nice mix. They need more of a commitment to team defense, and have some good fortune avoiding injuries. If that happens I think this team will be a pleasant surprise and a lot of fun to watch.

Too much blame on Laviolette when it comes to team defense. The one issue is perhaps he can do a better job of holding players accountable. But lack of backchecking and things of that nature are strictly laziness. All these players are pros playing at the highest level. They should be self accountable.

really solid off season for Holmgren and the Flyers. He added a good number of valuable pieces and didn't part with anything.

He has bad knees and is almost 35 years old. The only thing I like about this signing is that he can retire and it won't count against the Flyers Cap.

http://www.sportingnews.c...free-agency-stephen-weiss
- Feanor

Those bad knees have resulted in him missing 19 games the last 3 years...which is 58 fewer games than Gagne has missed over the same time.

Flyers were somewhat of a soft team last year. You want guys like Cleary who are a pain in the ass to play against. I think this current roster has a nice mix. They need more of a commitment to team defense, and have some good fortune avoiding injuries. If that happens I think this team will be a pleasant surprise and a lot of fun to watch.

Too much blame on Laviolette when it comes to team defense. The one issue is perhaps he can do a better job of holding players accountable. But lack of backchecking and things of that nature are strictly laziness. All these players are pros playing at the highest level. They should be self accountable.
- PLindbergh31

I would like to see Lavi sit anyone who doesn't back check and make the effort, from top to bottom.

Really, with the forward depth he has no excuse now.

They have a ton of character on the team. Players like Talbot and Cleary can make a big difference in the playoffs.

Still a lot of questions with this team. The goalie, team D, the inevitable injuries, how well the new guys fit in, continued growth of B Schenn and Couts.

Could be a very good year, or could go the other way.

I would like to see Lavi sit anyone who doesn't back check and make the effort, from top to bottom.

Really, with the forward depth he has no excuse now.

They have a ton of character on the team. Players like Talbot and Cleary can make a big difference in the playoffs.

Still a lot of questions with this team. The goalie, team D, the inevitable injuries, how well the new guys fit in, continued growth of B Schenn and Couts.

Could be a very good year, or could go the other way.
- Marc D

Agreed Marc, spot on. I'm getting sick of injuries year after year. It has to change at some point. Giroux ripping the tendons in a finger playing golf, and D prospect Alt already being concussed, kinda has the same old, same old feel to it.

Flyers were somewhat of a soft team last year. You want guys like Cleary who are a pain in the ass to play against. I think this current roster has a nice mix. They need more of a commitment to team defense, and have some good fortune avoiding injuries. If that happens I think this team will be a pleasant surprise and a lot of fun to watch.

Too much blame on Laviolette when it comes to team defense. The one issue is perhaps he can do a better job of holding players accountable. But lack of backchecking and things of that nature are strictly laziness. All these players are pros playing at the highest level. They should be self accountable.
- PLindbergh31

There is a hell of a lot more to playing sound defensively as a team then just backchecking. As a whole, laziness and indifferent play was not an issue.

Gagne's cap hit last Season was 3.5M. So again, how do you know he would have signed for less then the 2.75M that Cleary signed for?
- MJL

And I will say again, it was reported by numerous sources and web sites. The story never changed. Even if Gagne signed for 2.75, I feel Gagne is the more deserving player of that kind of a cap hit and for that many of years. At least Gagne waited to be here.

Do you like the deal, hate the deal or just arguing with me just to argue because last I checked you weren't in favor of either player.

I'm not a Cleary fan. I've seen plenty of him. Heck, I live smack dab in Detroit. I will happily admit I was wrong if he plays well and especially if it results in a cup. At the moment I'm hoping you all can promise me we aren't gambling Matt Read and promise me we wont be trying to barry this contract later or have a 2.75 cap hit player playing on the fourth line within the next three years.

Agreed Marc, spot on. I'm getting sick of injuries year after year. It has to change at some point. Giroux ripping the tendons in a finger playing golf, and D prospect Alt already being concussed, kinda has the same old, same old feel to it.
- PLindbergh31

Giroux isn't going to miss much time if any. And Alt likely wasn't going to make the team. And there's no reason he can't recover, and have a strong season for the Phantoms.

There is a hell of a lot more to playing sound defensively as a team then just backchecking. As a whole, laziness and indifferent play was not an issue.
- MJL

There is, and Cleary has been in a system that demands smart two way play for the past several years, and thrived in it.

Those bad knees have resulted in him missing 19 games the last 3 years...which is 58 fewer games than Gagne has missed over the same time.
- Jsaquella

And I will say again, it was reported by numerous sources and web sites. The story never changed. Even if Gagne signed for 2.75, I feel Gagne is the more deserving player of that kind of a cap it and for that many of years. At least Gagne waited to be here.


- dingo8urbaby

That Gagne was going to sign for less then what Cleary did, was never reported. Cleary didn't wait to be here? `

Do you like the deal, hate the deal or just arguing with me just to argue because last I checked you weren't in favor of either player.

I'm not a Cleary fan. I've seen plenty of him. Heck, I live smack dab in Detroit. I will happily admit I was wrong if he plays well and especially if it results in a cup. At the moment I'm hoping you all can promise me we aren't gambling Matt Read and promise me we wont be trying to barry this contract later or have a 2.75 camp hit player playing on the fourth line within the next three years.
- dingo8urbaby

I'm in the middle. Don't love it, don't hate. Not the approach I would have taken. I wouldn't have signed Gagne either.

Might be Laught, but Bob McKenzie says that Florida has offered a PTO to Tim Thomas.

Might be Laught, but Bob McKenzie says that Florida has offered a PTO to Tim Thomas.
- Jsaquella

That would be ideal. That way he could just hang out with a bunch of the snow birds that go down in the winter.

There is, and Cleary has been in a system that demands smart two way play for the past several years, and thrived in it.
- Jsaquella

I wouldn't expect Cleary to be the savior of the Flyers team defense. It has to happen team wide. Cleary will help the Flyers. I don't think there is any doubt about that. But I wanted them to go in a different direction.

That Gagne was going to sign for less then what Cleary did, was never reported. Cleary didn't wait to be here? `




I'm in the middle. Don't love it, don't hate. Not the approach I would have taken. I wouldn't have signed Gagne either.
- MJL

So what's the problem?

That would be ideal. That way he could just hang out with a bunch of the snow birds that go down in the winter.
- jak521

Florida also has no state tax, so he's not feeding that awful government

I wouldn't expect Cleary to be the savior of the Flyers team defense. It has to happen team wide. Cleary will help the Flyers. I don't think there is any doubt about that. But I wanted them to go in a different direction.
- MJL

I didn't say he was a savior of the team defense, nor did anyone else. The most that was said is that he's proven he can play well in a system that requires that players do more than pay lip service to their own end.

That won't solve every problem, but it certainly will be helpful.

I didn't say he was a savior of the team defense, nor did anyone else. The most that was said is that he's proven he can play well in a system that requires that players do more than pay lip service to their own end.

That won't solve every problem, but it certainly will be helpful.
- Jsaquella

If Laviolette doesn't change how the Flyers play, Cleary will be the same as other players who have proven that on other teams. Flyers had Talbot and Fedetenko last year. Cleary is no better as a defensive Winger then Fedetenko is, yet the problems were there.

He was second on the Red Wings in playoff scoring in 2013. Granted that was a long 4 months ago...
- Jsaquella

most of his "scoring" was secondary assists and shots redirecting off him into the net

There is a hell of a lot more to playing sound defensively as a team then just backchecking. As a whole, laziness and indifferent play was not an issue.
- MJL

The sky is blue.

Giroux isn't going to miss much time if any. And Alt likely wasn't going to make the team. And there's no reason he can't recover, and have a strong season for the Phantoms.
- MJL

Grass is green.

most of his "scoring" was secondary assists and shots redirecting off him into the net
- MrBigglesworth

They all still count, no?

If Laviolette doesn't change how the Flyers play, Cleary will be the same as other players who have proven that on other teams. Flyers had Talbot and Fedetenko last year. Cleary is no better as a defensive Winger then Fedetenko is, yet the problems were there.
- MJL

They could add Patrice Bergeron, if nobody else buys in, the team defense won't improve.

Being that Cleary is a better all around player than Fedotenko, he'll likely play a bigger role.

I'll ask why the best franchise in the League wasn't willing to sign him to a 3 year deal with a 2.75M AAV?
- MJL

Because the Maple Leafs don't have the cap room, obviously.