You wont get attacked by me. I agree with you 100% on Bryzgalov.
- MJL

+2

- JoeRussomanno

I figured it would be something fun to do.

I look forward to Bill's articles on the listed subjects.

I figured it would be something fun to do.

I look forward to Bill's articles on the listed subjects.
- ggunky

I was like "preach on, man" the whole way through

edit: I've been dying to use that giff since i found it last night too.

I posted that earlier. I'd like to hear if it was a shoulder or what and when the injury happened. It looks horrible now for sure.
- Hextall271

I don't know if it's his shoulder, I thought he may have suffered a concussion in the Washington game.

I was like "preach on, man" the whole way through

edit: I've been dying to use that giff since i found it last night too.
- JoeRussomanno

Thanks Joe.

Thanks Joe.


- ggunky

NP

Great read, so true, sorry if Leight


http://www.the700level.co...05074&feedID=8510&qv=1#bp

so uh did anyone experience any of these incidents lately?

Will the flyer's owner want to spend that 7 mill per on another defenseman when he still has to fork out Pronger's dollars? Pronger won't affect the cap on LTIR, but that money going into his bank account is still very real.

Add to that the fact that all of these young studs up front will need to be resigned in two-three years to more expensive deals and I'm not sure the UFA home run shot is a good idea for the franchise.

If I'm the flyers, I make a big push at the coyotes to grab ahold of one of their big 3 D prospects not playing in the NHL in Gormley, Murphy, or Rundblad.
- TommyDeVito

The Flyers owner is Comcast. I don't see them caviling at that. This is one of the teams that "caused" the salary cap by spending "too much" money in comparison with other teams. So I don't see the Pronger dollars as an issue for them.

I also don't see how bringing in young stud defensemen who've never played in the NHL helps them on the D end. Young D is miles behind young O in development. They need at least mid-career D.

FYI Kovar excels in net for the Czechs on the World Championship.
(BTW, he OFFICIALLY banged teammates' wives years ago )

Sucks to be out this year, I like Kimmo really started to believe they might have a real shot after they beat the Pens.

Anyways, just a few thoughts. In regards to Carle, without trying to open up a huge "debate", I do believe the team needs to find another #1 d-man.

That to me, at least financially means they have to let Carle go. I do appreciate a lot of the things Carle does, but I do have to admit when it comes down to it, I am on the side that would rather pay Suter 7 million than Carle 5.5.

If you re-sign Carle again, you are basically rolling along with the same D-core as last season, except that Kimmo is one year older. As much of a warrior as he has been this team would be screwed with him out of the d-core for any longer period of time. Too much of a risk considering his age and the hard minutes he plays imo.

There are different ways to make a defensive core. To have the top end guys who make a lot of money and play big minutes, when generally compared to the bottom 3. Or to have a d-core made up of what I like to think of as ideally 2nd pairing d-men. I prefer the first philosophy. I think you need those big name D-men. The war horses. To me they need another one, and immediately.

I do not under any means want to roll out the same defensive core next season.

The next issue I will address is another glaring need imo. Also one I think goes hand in hand with the "systems" conversation. I believe the Flyers need more grit up front, and more of a defensive presence from their forwards. There is nothing n Lava's system that preaches a forward to completely lose his coverage or weakly back-check. What that takes, is effort. Talbot brings it, Lappy brought it and so on.

I also believe the Flyers were exposed for being weaker along the boards in this series. They again need more grit in that department.

I would personally be targetting guys like Clutterbuck and Pahlsson for these roles. Or similar players.

obviously players have to be let go to make financial room and open roster spots. On the out would be Bobrovsky, Carle, JVR and Jagr. On the in are Suter, Pahlsson and Clutterbuck.

According to what I've read on that, NHL teams rarely insure a contract. I could be wrong. And Pronger's deal may be insured. But it's not a safe assumption. The premiums are incredibly high on something like that. Most teams will insure a few top players, and that could include Pronger. But his age and other factors could make that cost prohibitive.

Edit:

I found this, so your probably right that Pronger's contract is insured for about 80%


"The NHL requires teams to insure roughly 80 per cent of the value of their top five player contracts through BWD Group, a New York insurance company. Rates have more than doubled from about 2 per cent in 2004 to more than 5 per cent of a contract’s value, Hubbard and others said."
- MJL

Thanks for the research, MJL!

+2
- JoeRussomanno

Me 3.

Thanks for the research, MJL!

- bodiva88

man sure knows how to get the facts straight!

Without reading your blog...I would have to say no.

The Flyers still lost badly in the 2nd Round of the Playoffs. They were out played, overmatched, and out coached by the Boston Bruins and NJ Devils. They can take some solace in the fact that Boston won the Cup last season...let's hope the hated Devils don't do the same. Does the road to the Cup go through Philly? It appears so, Chicago, Boston...time will tell if NJD get it done.

Now let me go back and read your blog! The events leading up to Tuesday night's Game 5 loss still sting to say the least....
- puckhead7

I absolutely think they are better off. outside of a few over 30 players, this team is very young and should only get better with a few tweeks

Lets get nutty for a second.

As they are obviously a rebuilding tean, and under new management.
As they have no real mentor for the kid and that is the biggest thing he needs imo.
As his cap hit is great.

Would there be any interest in Subban?

Lets get nutty for a second.

As they are obviously a rebuilding tean, and under new management.
As they have no real mentor for the kid and that is the biggest thing he needs imo.
As his cap hit is great.

Would there be any interest in Subban?
- flyer_nutter

if you can assure me that he'll grow up soon, sure.

Sucks to be out this year, I like Kimmo really started to believe they might have a real shot after they beat the Pens.

Anyways, just a few thoughts. In regards to Carle, without trying to open up a huge "debate", I do believe the team needs to find another #1 d-man.

That to me, at least financially means they have to let Carle go. I do appreciate a lot of the things Carle does, but I do have to admit when it comes down to it, I am on the side that would rather pay Suter 7 million than Carle 5.5.

If you re-sign Carle again, you are basically rolling along with the same D-core as last season, except that Kimmo is one year older. As much of a warrior as he has been this team would be screwed with him out of the d-core for any longer period of time. Too much of a risk considering his age and the hard minutes he plays imo.

There are different ways to make a defensive core. To have the top end guys who make a lot of money and play big minutes, when generally compared to the bottom 3. Or to have a d-core made up of what I like to think of as ideally 2nd pairing d-men. I prefer the first philosophy. I think you need those big name D-men. The war horses. To me they need another one, and immediately.

I do not under any means want to roll out the same defensive core next season.

The next issue I will address is another glaring need imo. Also one I think goes hand in hand with the "systems" conversation. I believe the Flyers need more grit up front, and more of a defensive presence from their forwards. There is nothing n Lava's system that preaches a forward to completely lose his coverage or weakly back-check. What that takes, is effort. Talbot brings it, Lappy brought it and so on.

I also believe the Flyers were exposed for being weaker along the boards in this series. They again need more grit in that department.

I would personally be targetting guys like Clutterbuck and Pahlsson for these roles. Or similar players.

obviously players have to be let go to make financial room and open roster spots. On the out would be Bobrovsky, Carle, JVR and Jagr. On the in are Suter, Pahlsson and Clutterbuck.
- flyer_nutter

I agree with your take on Carle and on tweaking the mix a little on the forward side. However, I'm okay with moving a top player like JVR to add a top defenseman. That makes some sense. But not however for players like Clutterbuck, and definitely not for Pahlsson.

I love Timonen, but he can't have much left in the tank. They have to start planning to rebuild the D. I know I will get attacked for this by some, but I really think Bryz will settle in next year and we should get a more consistent year from him IMO. I think TSN's McKenzie was off by saying he had a horrible playoff track record. In 07 with Anaheim, he had to step in for Giguere, and did a solid job. They probably don't get by EDM in the second round (I think it was) without him. In Phoenix, Det killed him, but I don't think we lost vs NJ because of him.

I say, draft a Dman, sign or trade for a couple more, and start rebuilding. I think the forwards are on the righ track personally.
- Hextall271

I agree that Bryzgalov will be fine. As far as playoff track record, Bryzgalov does own the second longest shutout streak in NHL playoff history. He's had ups and downs like anyone, but he played solidly against the Devils, and nobody's sure how his foot or other rumored injuries affected him.

I agree with your take on Carle and on tweaking the mix a little on the forward side. However, I'm okay with moving a top player like JVR to add a top defenseman. That makes some sense. But not however for players like Clutterbuck, and definitely not for Pahlsson.
- MJL

Just to clarify I would never move JVR for Clutterbuck.

However JVR's value isn't as high as some believe imo. The organization can of course keep him for the time being and let his value rise, but again there is no real sure bet with any players these days.

If I am dealing JVR it is for solid picks, and players, like Clutterbuck.

You only deal JVR if you get decent value of course. However his value is where it is for a reason.

Just to clarify I would never move JVR for Clutterbuck.

However JVR's value isn't as high as some believe imo. The organization can of course keep him for the time being and let his value rise, but again there is no real sure bet with any players these days.

If I am dealing JVR it is for solid picks, and players, like Clutterbuck.

You only deal JVR if you get decent value of course. However his value is where it is for a reason.
- flyer_nutter

not to disagree with you, but is there an actual gauge on what his value is? I think any Gm that is offered JVR in trade package would be foolish to not at least consider it.

Just to clarify I would never move JVR for Clutterbuck.

However JVR's value isn't as high as some believe imo. The organization can of course keep him for the time being and let his value rise, but again there is no real sure bet with any players these days.

If I am dealing JVR it is for solid picks, and players, like Clutterbuck.

You only deal JVR if you get decent value of course. However his value is where it is for a reason.
- flyer_nutter

I disagree about JVR's value. His value is lot higher then most think. Those picks better be pretty high for me to make that deal.

I agree that Bryzgalov will be fine. As far as playoff track record, Bryzgalov does own the second longest shutout streak in NHL playoff history. He's had ups and downs like anyone, but he played solidly against the Devils, and nobody's sure how his foot or other rumored injuries affected him.
- Jsaquella

29 goalies get eliminated every year. He's got a few more years to get there.

Me 3.
- bodiva88

Mark it 4!

if you can assure me that he'll grow up soon, sure.
- JoeRussomanno

I cannot and there is your biggest risk with the kid.

I however think very highly of him. The kid poop bricks of potential and I think learning from a guy like Kimmo would greatly benefit him.

He would not need to play such a huge role in Philadelphia as Montreal. Or at the very least not so soon. He has been thrown into the fire over there and I'd take a gamble on him for the right price.