- Tomahawk

Is any of this new fo the flyers? Part of being aggressive is knowing when to cut ties.
- twotoekenn

So back to the OP, let's cut ties with Vinny then and be done with it?

Mike Gillis read it totally wrong up there. He couldn't have read it more incorrectly had he tried.

They bench Roberto Luongo, a respected veteran, and anoint Cory Schneder the starter. They extend Schneider and expressly tell him, and the world, that Luongo will be traded and he will not.

So...Gillis trades Schneider.

They fire Alain Vigneault, which is defensible...but bring in John Tortorella. With the not-so-subtle reason being "We think you're soft, and it's your fault that you haven't won."

Tortorella loses his mind, gets suspended. All while preaching accountability and discipline.

Tortorella returns, decides to play the "hot goalie" in Eddie Lack...therefore leaving Luongo on the bench for the Heritage Classic. Respected Veteran Roberto Luongo, who has endured much in Vancouver.

Luongo is traded.

Yeah. I think it's safe to say that the players have had just about enough of who's telling them what to do in Vancouver.
- AllInForFlyers

I agree.. add to this that they didn't really get a lot for Luongo and now have no established tender and I think it means Gillis is gone at season's end. I'd say The Fonze goes too.

So back to the OP, let's cut ties with Vinny then and be done with it?
- Tomahawk

I tend to think that it's a big deal that a team pushes out a face-of-franchise, leadership group member, scoring-leader at the first hint of declining production and continued health issues with the threat of waivers... the guy was nonplussed that he was being treated that way... but hey, I said IMO, right?
- Tomahawk

Still don't know where you're getting this waivers thing from. I never heard that report.

I was bummed he was traded too, but something had to give. I was hoping it was Carter, but was happy with the return they got later on.

I agree.. add to this that they didn't really get a lot for Luongo and now have no established tender and I think it means Gillis is gone at season's end. I'd say The Fonze goes too.
- Hextall271

Last night was really funny.

So back to the OP, let's cut ties with Vinny then and be done with it?
- Tomahawk

Not after one season, imo.

Panthers hockey!

Panthers hockey!


- PLindbergh31

Wow

I tend to think that it's a big deal that a team pushes out a face-of-franchise, leadership group member, scoring-leader at the first hint of declining production and continued health issues with the threat of waivers... the guy was nonplussed that he was being treated that way... but hey, I said IMO, right?
- Tomahawk

Hey, you're entitled to your opinion, I'm not saying you can't have one. I just don't see anybody as being "burned", or any organizational black eyes over this. Players get moved, it has to end sometime.

I liked gagne, I don't see him being the player to get outraged about being traded. Imagine how the board would've been like when 88 was traded.
- twotoekenn

The thing about Gagne getting traded was that he was, at that point, the longest-tenured Flyer, he was a very likeable and well-respected player, he was the key force in that comeback against Boston, and they had just been to the SCF. It wasn't the fact that he was traded so much as that some people feel he was forced out.

I'm sure a lot of people would have been glad when Lindros was traded, at the time, for a number of reasons.

Panthers hockey!


- PLindbergh31

Ah, I see they're adopting the Bruins style.

Still don't know where you're getting this waivers thing from. I never heard that report.
- jmatchett383

Darren Dreger - "the flyers could decide to waive forward simon gagne if they aren't able to trade him in the near future."

Darren Dreger - "the flyers could decide to waive forward simon gagne if they aren't able to trade him in the near future."
- Tomahawk

The Flyers could decide to waive Claude Giroux. It doesn't mean they ever had that intent.

I could go to Taco Bell for lunch because I'm hungry. But I won't.

By the way, whoever said Gagne was a slightly above average player is out of their minds. He was a top line winger with a tremendous two-way game. His numbers may not reflect those of a great sniper, but he committed to two-way play and had a lengthy history of injuries. If he's healthy and plays selfish, Ovechkin hockey, he would have gotten to 30 and 40 goals more often.

The thing about Gagne getting traded was that he was, at that point, the longest-tenured Flyer, he was a very likeable and well-respected player, he was the key force in that comeback against Boston, and they had just been to the SCF. It wasn't so much that he was traded so much as that some people feel he was forced out.

I'm sure a lot of people would have been glad when Lindros was traded, at the time, for a number of reasons.
- jmatchett383

Absolutely gagne was a good flyer, but if he was kept around at the cap hit he had for old times sake and the flyers traded away giroux to stay compliant I think there'd be trouble.

WHat about the hot girls who clean the ice during timeouts? I see no problem with them.
- PhillySportsGuy

Speaking of cleaning the ice.....

Why are there fewer ice girls cleaning the ice for the Flyers these days?

Anyone have any insight on this?

Absolutely gagne was a good flyer, but if he was kept around at the cap hit he had for old times sake and the flyers traded away giroux to stay compliant I think there'd be trouble.
- twotoekenn

Well that was the thing. Either he or Carter had to go, and they chose Gagne.

I could go to Taco Bell for lunch because I'm hungry. But I won't.
- jmatchett383

Clean underwear on?

Ah, I see they're adopting the Bruins style.
- jmatchett383

Don Cherry sees nothing wrong with that play.

By the way, whoever said Gagne was a slightly above average player is out of their minds. He was a top line winger with a tremendous two-way game. His numbers may not reflect those of a great sniper, but he committed to two-way play and had a lengthy history of injuries. If he's healthy and plays selfish, Ovechkin hockey, he would have gotten to 30 and 40 goals more often.
- PhillySportsGuy

Is gagne a superstar? I dont think so. Maybe you think its an insult to be called above averagee.

I agree with much of this. And while I don't think they ever really had a chance at Parise and Suter, and where stupid to put everything on hold waiting for them to make a decision.....it is not outside the realm of conjecture that the Flyers recent history was not at least whispering in they and their agents ears.

Players talk. They know that the Flyers are a first class organization...And on the flip side of the above argument, I am sure the off ice antics of Carter and Richards were well known around the league's players. And everyone knows about Bryzgalov. The players understand its a business and accept that.

In the end I still think the franchises history of being a first class all the way organization is solid. And what ever perceived damage they may have done with these "sign and trade" deals was somewhat mitigated by two first class players signing here in VLC and Streit for contracts that were not outrageous in the grand scheme.
- MBFlyerfan

Perfectly stated. And lets not forget Weber signed here too.

Speaking of cleaning the ice.....

Why are there fewer ice girls cleaning the ice for the Flyers these days?

Anyone have any insight on this?
- johndewar

They're tired of Lundqvist spitting on them and slashing their squeegies?

By the way, whoever said Gagne was a slightly above average player is out of their minds. He was a top line winger with a tremendous two-way game. His numbers may not reflect those of a great sniper, but he committed to two-way play and had a lengthy history of injuries. If he's healthy and plays selfish, Ovechkin hockey, he would have gotten to 30 and 40 goals more often.
- PhillySportsGuy

Two time All-Star and won Gold with Team Canada in 2002.

I'm not going to waste time defending Simon Gagne. He wasn't a franchise guy, but he was a damned good player for a long time for this team.

Well that was the thing. Either he or Carter had to go, and they chose Gagne.
- jmatchett383

Remember... this was all because they signed Nik Zherdev, pushing them over the limit.