what will it take to get Carle to re-up?
4 years/20M too low?
- Marc D

That is about as close to my limit as I go with Carle.

Idk if the cap will go up. It all depends on how the CBA negotiations go. I hope it does, because i realllllllly don't want to lose anyone if we dont have to.
- fecondo

The Cap is absolutely going to go up. But it may change once the new CBA is negotiated.

I'm going to stay optomistic, just like I was for the Meszaros injury, and hope for the best. Last I heard was Pronger was starting to feel a little better, and he said he will definately be back next year.
- RooNosHockey

No idea where you heard that, because there's been very little written that give me optimism.

I'm not being pessimistic, either. Realistically a guy who is still having good and bad days 5 or 6 months after the initial injury and who is 38 years old doesn't have a huge window to return in and be close to what he used to be as a player.

Jagr won't take a paycut to stay here, nor should he. The same $3.3 M he got this year MIGHT do it on another one year.

Carle at $3.5 M would be a less than $100,000 cap hit increase and, if cap hit matched salary, an actual pay CUT from the $3.8 M the team paid him this year. Obviously, that's not happening.

Kubina is going to have to take a significant paycut wherever he goes, but not a 60 percent pay cut.

Voracek will be a tough negotiation for the 2nd straight year. I do think he'll end up going to about $3.25 M.

Bourdon sounds about right.
- bmeltzer

Bill, I heard Jagr say that next season its not about the money, and he would take a cut if the team needed him too...

That is about as close to my limit as I go with Carle.
- jak521

I would like to see him signed at about 4.8M a year but the odds of that are slim to none.

IMO Pronger is 100X the puck mover Carle is. That being said, as long as Carle signs for 5.5 or less AND Pronger comes back, then yes dealing Meszaros would be an option.
- RooNosHockey

That's a stretch. Pronger is a very good puck mover. But so is Carle.

I think he's going to want a deal similar to Wisniewski, perhaps with a bit more cash.
- Jsaquella

6 years at 5.5M, ouch

Do you think a non contending team like Columbus or Edmonton has to offer more $
to attract these UFA players, then say Philly or Detroit?

I guess it depends on what the player is looking for, but if it were me I'd take a little less money to play on a good team.

Im against that kind of deal. Wisniewski and Ehroff are perfect examples of why I dont overpay for free agents. Neither improved the current team they played for.
- stveshdy

Carle's a known quantity to this team. They already know how he fits in and how his personality meshes with the current roster. He's not going to be re-signed for $5.5mm and be asked to be Timonen, like Wiz and Erhoff basically were. They're going to sign him and ask him to remain Matt Carle.

Jagr won't take a paycut to stay here, nor should he. The same $3.3 M he got this year MIGHT do it on another one year.

Carle at $3.5 M would be a less than $100,000 cap hit increase and, if cap hit matched salary, an actual pay CUT from the $3.8 M the team paid him this year. Obviously, that's not happening.

Kubina is going to have to take a significant paycut wherever he goes, but not a 60 percent pay cut.

Voracek will be a tough negotiation for the 2nd straight year. I do think he'll end up going to about $3.25 M.

Bourdon sounds about right.
- bmeltzer

Bill, i thought i read somewhere (probably here) that Jagr said he didnt care about the money anymore. He also seems to really enjoy playing with Giroux. That said if it's true that he doesnt care about the money don't you think there is a possibility of him being back for less? I don't mind him at the 3.3 that he's currently at. But if the team asked him to take less money to keep more people do you think he'd be willing to do that?

We need to be careful. The cap could go up this summer and then back down in september cuz of new CBA. Free agency may be a little more quieter this year.
- Deasr1

Free Agency spending will be the same as every other year. If there is a change in the players share closer to the 50% mark, there will be a mechanism included. Such as player wide reductions in player salaries to bring it close to the 50% mark. NHL GM's will operate as normal on July 1.

Carle's a known quantity to this team. They already know how he fits in and how his personality meshes with the current roster. He's not going to be re-signed for $5.5mm and be asked to be Timonen, like Wiz and Erhoff basically were. They're going to sign him and ask him to remain Matt Carle.
- Jsaquella

We have different opinions on Carle. Im not willing to spend more than 4.8M-5M max on him. Anything more I'd have to let him walk.

6 years at 5.5M, ouch

Do you think a non contending team like Columbus or Edmonton has to offer more $
to attract these UFA players, then say Philly or Detroit?

I guess it depends on what the player is looking for, but if it were me I'd take a little less money to play on a good team.
- Marc D

Depends what a little less money is.

Say Suter signs with Detroit for $7.2mm. Carle's price tag would go through the roof. I could easily see somebody offer him a $6mm a year deal for 5 years.

Also, a good player will think that he can help make a Columbus or an Edmonton a good team.

No idea where you heard that, because there's been very little written that give me optimism.

I'm not being pessimistic, either. Realistically a guy who is still having good and bad days 5 or 6 months after the initial injury and who is 38 years old doesn't have a huge window to return in and be close to what he used to be as a player.
- Jsaquella

I think there is very little chance Pronger comes back next year. I mean what is the point, he's done everything and to risk being miserable for the rest of your life isn't worth it.

That's a stretch. Pronger is a very good puck mover. But so is Carle.
- MJL

Yes I was exagerating, my point was Pronger is a much better puck mover then Carle, even though Carle is good... Does eveyone forget how Pronger slowed the game down when he got the puck, and how he always bad the perfect pass to start the rush, and he was the man on the PP....


I'm about to cry.

Depends what a little less money is.

Say Suter signs with Detroit for $7.2mm. Carle's price tag would go through the roof. I could easily see somebody offer him a $6mm a year deal for 5 years.

Also, a good player will think that he can help make a Columbus or an Edmonton a good team.
- Jsaquella

The Flyers cant get into a bidding war to keep Carle. Layout their price and stick to it. If he leaves then so be it. The Flyers will have to find other options. There will be a crazy team that overpays him and he will become just like Erhoff and Wisenewski.

Would love to see the Flyers play a proactive game. Take it to the Pens just like they did in the latter portion of Game 1.
- Flyskippy

Me too. Get in their heads. Show them they can beat them from behind and from the starting line. The flyers are built for the playoffs with all the scoring depth they have. Their players are young, energetic, fast, and feisty. Take it to them. The
Flyers have what it takes, now show everyone!

We have different opinions on Carle. Im not willing to spend more than 4.8M-5M max on him. Anything more I'd have to let him walk.
- stveshdy

To me it's entirely dependent on what the other options will cost.

If I have to pay Ryan Suter $7mm or Carle $5.5mm, I pay Carle. If I have to pay Carle $6mm or Johnny Oduya $3.8mm, I'd lean towards Oduya. If I have to trade a slew of picks and prospects for a good young replacement or pay Carle $5.5mm, I keep Carle.

The key is, make sure you have Carle or somebody that can do what he does. MAB and Gustafsson can't do what he can yet and maybe never will. That has to be a consideration, and a big one.

Yes I was exagerating, my point was Pronger is a much better puck mover then Carle, even though Carle is good... Does eveyone forget how Pronger slowed the game down when he got the puck, and how he always bad the perfect pass to start the rush, and he was the man on the PP....


I'm about to cry.
- RooNosHockey

I don't agree that Pronger is a much better puck mover then Carle. Carle is extremely good at it. Carle makes perfect passes under pressure to start the breakout on a routine basis. Both are good at it.

Depends what a little less money is.

Say Suter signs with Detroit for $7.2mm. Carle's price tag would go through the roof. I could easily see somebody offer him a $6mm a year deal for 5 years.

Also, a good player will think that he can help make a Columbus or an Edmonton a good team.
- Jsaquella

I'm willing to bet after making the move Poile did, Suter is staying in Nash. Especially if they beat Detroit in the first round.

To me it's entirely dependent on what the other options will cost.

If I have to pay Ryan Suter $7mm or Carle $5.5mm, I pay Carle. If I have to pay Carle $6mm or Johnny Oduya $3.8mm, I'd lean towards Oduya. If I have to trade a slew of picks and prospects for a good young replacement or pay Carle $5.5mm, I keep Carle.

The key is, make sure you have Carle or somebody that can do what he does. MAB and Gustafsson can't do what he can yet and maybe never will. That has to be a consideration, and a big one.
- Jsaquella

Absolutely. You have to have a Plan A, B, and C.

Bill, I heard Jagr say that next season its not about the money, and he would take a cut if the team needed him too...
- RooNosHockey

Yeah, Jagr is on record saying this. I had thought Bill mentioned it on one of his blogs as well...

The Flyers cant get into a bidding war to keep Carle. Layout their price and stick to it. If he leaves then so be it. The Flyers will have to find other options. There will be a crazy team that overpays him and he will become just like Erhoff and Wisenewski.
- stveshdy

If a team signs Carle and expects him to be a top flight offensive defenseman, he will be like Wiz and Erhoff.

The Flyers won't be signing him to be anything other than what he has been during his time in Philly.

If a team signs Carle and expects him to be a top flight offensive defenseman, he will be like Wiz and Erhoff.

The Flyers won't be signing him to be anything other than what he has been during his time in Philly.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. Thats my thoughts as well. I just dont want the Flyers to get into a bidding war for his services.

amazing photoshop as well...

I don't agree that Pronger is a much better puck mover then Carle. Carle is extremely good at it. Carle makes perfect passes under pressure to start the breakout on a routine basis. Both are good at it.
- MJL

Agree to disagree. But IMO if Pronger was healthy Carle would be the 3rd best puck mover on the team...