- Crimsoninja

They didn't do their due diligence. They were too reactive. They could have gotten Bryz for less and they didn't do a good enough job of vetting him. Former teammates hated Bryz.
- PhillySportsGuy

That wasn't very widely known until after, and they couldn't "vet" him as he was still Phoenix's property. Besides, do you remember what we had before that? Boucher, Leighton, Emery, Biron, Esche, Boucher... I mean is it all that surprising they went after what was thought was an elite goalie?

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 2m
Bills release QB Kevin Kolb, per @caplannfl.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 2m
Bills release QB Kevin Kolb, per @caplannfl.


- PhillySportsGuy

There's your 2014 Eagles 2nd string QB, ladies and gents.

I was ready to play Schenn at center and see what happened. At least we'd have an idea if he was cut out for center.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, that would have been my course of action too.

That wasn't very widely known until after, and they couldn't "vet" him as he was still Phoenix's property. Besides, do you remember what we had before that? Boucher, Leighton, Emery, Biron, Esche, Boucher... I mean is it all that surprising they went after what was thought was an elite goalie?
- SchennBros

Thats what I'm saying. They were too reactive. They could have had time to Vet him and negotiated a better deal.

The smart thing would have been to sign Vokoun and use him and Bob as a tag team for that season. Thats hindsight though.

There's your 2014 Eagles 2nd string QB, ladies and gents.
- jmatchett383

Still all quiet with the Eagles. Haven't seen them make a move yet. Most safeties haven't inked yet.

There's your 2014 Eagles 2nd string QB, ladies and gents.
- jmatchett383

I don't feel comfortable with Barkley either though.

I don't mind bringing in a bit of insurance... but why Vinny on a 5-year deal? There were some decent C's who inked 1-year deals in UFA. That's why the insurance argument falls apart for me.
- Tomahawk

If you look at the guys that are in Vinny's ballpark they all signed about the same amount and length... Ribero, Filpula, Weiss, Bozak. I mean the only guy that would be a legit 2nd line center that signed for less at 1 mill was Grabovski and thats because 1 he waited too long and the market burst on him and 2 because there were questions about him. And Questions is not the answer for insurance.

Oh man a lot to catch up with back pages.
You hooligans thirsty for tonights game!

There's your 2014 Eagles 2nd string QB, ladies and gents.
- jmatchett383

He'd get hurt on the plane back to Philly.

lol you would have a crosby jersey if he was a flyer admit it!
- PhillaBully

Nope. I'm a defenseman kinda girl...

Thats what I'm saying. They were too reactive. They could have had time to Vet him and negotiated a better deal.

The smart thing would have been to sign Vokoun and use him and Bob as a tag team for that season. Thats hindsight though.
- PhillySportsGuy

I look at it like they bought a lemon. 1-800-lemon-law. I'm not going to fault a GM for getting the best goalie on the market when what you need is goaltending, or getting a very good Center when you have a 3rd year player as your 2nd line center that hasnt done "anything" in the nhl yet.

Nope. I'm a defenseman kinda girl...
- FlyersGrace

Your so anti-establishment.

Free love... Bra Burning?

If you look at the guys that are in Vinny's ballpark they all signed about the same amount and length... Ribero, Filpula, Weiss, Bozak. I mean the only guy that would be a legit 2nd line center that signed for less at 1 mill was Grabovski and thats because 1 he waited too long and the market burst on him and 2 because there were questions about him. And Questions is not the answer for insurance.
- SchennBros

Roy is another one. Antropov was there, too.

Fact remains tho, 5-years isn't insurance as much as it's a long-term investment. There wasn't even a "never again" mandate to explain it. To me, it just seemed like an impulse buy.

Yeah, that would have been my course of action too.
- Tomahawk

And I would have drafted Maata over Laughton...

Your so anti-establishment.

Free love... Bra Burning?
- SchennBros

Let's see I love hockey, roleplay, video games - both PC and console, have both martial arts and sword fighting experience, support greyhound adoption, and adore my wolf look alike...
On the flip side I work for a bank and my fiancee is an almost kept man. I'm trying!
So I can't say I'm completely bra burning, no...
My conservative Texan upbringing doesn't make for a bra burning personality tbh.

Oh and I come to this board to stay sane at work... Which makes me obviously insane...

I look at it like they bought a lemon. 1-800-lemon-law. I'm not going to fault a GM for getting the best goalie on the market when what you need is goaltending, or getting a very good Center when you have a 3rd year player as your 2nd line center that hasnt done "anything" in the nhl yet.
- SchennBros

If it was Homer's decision, I think you can fault him for that move. They overpaid for a bad goalie when they had a future Vezina winner on the roster. I think it was Ed who forced his hand on that one.

Roy is another one. Antropov was there, too.

Fact remains tho, 5-years isn't insurance as much as it's a long-term investment. There wasn't even a "never again" mandate to explain it. To me, it just seemed like an impulse buy.
- Tomahawk

Roy and Antrapov are not 2nd line centers... they are barely 3rd line Centers. And I dont think anyone said that it was a temporary insurance buy. It could very well be they didnt think either Schenn or Couturier or both werent going to work out. In which case, its a GOOD move.

The only way the Lecavalier signing ISNT a good move is if both Schenn AND Couturier step up thier games... which they did. But the signing still gives them room to manuever, and that includes Vinny himself. At the very least Vinny can land you a 2nd at the draft if he waives.

I don't mind bringing in a bit of insurance... but why Vinny on a 5-year deal? There were some decent C's who inked 1-year deals in UFA. That's why the insurance argument falls apart for me.
- Tomahawk

Why not on a 5 year deal? If a team feels he's still a good player, and will continue to be a good player, why not? His cap hit will get cheaper and cheaper every year relative to salary inflation.

Roy and Antrapov are not 2nd line centers... they are barely 3rd line Centers. And I dont think anyone said that it was a temporary insurance buy. It could very well be they didnt think either Schenn or Couturier or both werent going to work out. In which case, its a GOOD move.

The only way the Lecavalier signing ISNT a good move is if both Schenn AND Couturier step up thier games... which they did. But the signing still gives them room to manuever, and that includes Vinny himself. At the very least Vinny can land you a 2nd at the draft if he waives.
- SchennBros

Let's see I love hockey, roleplay, video games - both PC and console, have both martial arts and sword fighting experience, support greyhound adoption, and adore my wolf look alike...
On the flip side I work for a bank and my fiancee is an almost kept man. I'm trying!
So I can't say I'm completely bra burning, no...
My conservative Texan upbringing doesn't make for a bra burning personality tbh.

Oh and I come to this board to stay sane at work... Which makes me obviously insane...
- FlyersGrace

Why be with a Hero, when you can be with a Zero.

And 10 pts if anyone knows where that quote is from...

Why not on a 5 year deal? If a team feels he's still a good player, and will continue to be a good player, why not? His cap hit will get cheaper and cheaper every year relative to salary inflation.
- MJL

At what point are we allowed to criticize the team for signing Vinny?

At what point are we allowed to criticize the team for signing Vinny?
- PhillySportsGuy

Anyone is free to criticize at any time. I don't decide who is allowed to do anything on here.

I think it was a good move, you don't. We both know where we stand.

And although I realize that the circumstances and timing of both deals are not the same. And in reality not many deals are similar in all the details. But did you think the Briere signing overall was a good move by the Flyers?

And I dont think anyone said that it was a temporary insurance buy. It could very well be they didnt think either Schenn or Couturier or both werent going to work out. In which case, its a GOOD move.
- SchennBros

If they really felt the kids were likely duds, then why didn't they just trade them? Seems that would have made more sense if that were the case.