I wouldn't argue that he's a good coach, obviously his resume shows he is.
I don't like the guy based on his behavior, he's an all around unlikable guy. Most people agree with that fact.
- PLindbergh31

Him being an all around unlikable guy isn't a fact. It's an opinion. I like him. I would agree that most probably don't like him.

Indeed it was, just thought I'd offer up a different topic to discuss as well.

There is no doubt in my mind Carle will be discussed plenty throughout the course of the day.
- mochoson

Nothing wrong with a different topic. I just can't offer any insight into prospects.

What about Mike Green who is a RFA next year. He'd thrive on a team like Philly versus the boring ass defensive style of the Capitals. Not sure what it would take, maybe they'd be happy to reduce salary. Hell for that matter, they'd probably listen to offers for Ovy...lol
- Manitobakid

I would hide in the rafters and drop an anvil on him

I would hide in the rafters and drop an anvil on him
- KINGKENZO

Why an anvil? Drop a feather on the guy and he's out for 6-8 weeks

Why an anvil? Drop a feather on the guy and he's out for 6-8 weeks
- keatondixon

I was watching American Psycho last night, and was thinking about using a chainsaw, but you're right, a feather would have the same effect.

No, he's not better in every area. They are very comparable players. The player calls the shots, not the Agent. I'm quite sure that Carle's Agent wants him to test Free Agency and get the biggest deal he can. The bigger Carle's check is, the bigger his Agent's check is.

Here is some articles written on Carle and comparisons to other players. Hopefully you can be objective enough to read them and consider the factual information given.

http://www.broadstreethoc...uter-nhl-free-agency-2012

http://thehockeyguys.net/matt-carle-vs-ryan-suter/
- MJL

only read the Broadstreet one so far but yea I'd be happy to get Carle especially considering that it's being implied he wants to stay and for a hometown discount. I know he's perceived as a turnover Machine but I really think that will get better as he works on it, and with all the new faces/young players I have to wonder how many of these turnovers were from forwards being out of position.

Something interesting I thought would be worth noting.....

Radek Faksa, forward for Kitchner. Top 10 pick this year.

If I do recall, Brian Huddle said that plenty of scouts have obviously seen this guy over the course of the season. However, only 3 GM's have come to see him play. One was Brian Burke. Another was Paul Holmgrem (don't remember the third).

Just interesting to think about. Could mean something, could mean nothing. Just thought it was odd Holmgrem took the time out to go see a kid play who is a good ten picks off of where the Flyers will be picking.

Btw awesome blog you run here, Bill. Thanks to you and Eklund and all the other writers for your work and this website. Gives me something to sink my teeth into when the Flyers season is over and the cup is hoisted by whomever. I've gained some valuable information reading your blogs and the other writers this season.

The amount of Knowledge and insight provided by you and your constituents is leaps and bounds ahead of what fans can get from conventional mainstream outlets. Thanks!

only read the Broadstreet one so far but yea I'd be happy to get Carle especially considering that it's being implied he wants to stay and for a hometown discount. I know he's perceived as a turnover Machine but I really think that will get better as he works on it, and with all the new faces/young players I have to wonder how many of these turnovers were from forwards being out of position.
- JoeRussomanno

Perceived is the key word. His turnover rate is right in line with other defenseman who log big minutes and handle the puck a lot.

I feel that the Flyers need to tweak the type of forwards they have, just a hair. Just a hair away from the highly skilled, and more towards the gritty, physical two way forward type. Basically by one player. The problem is that I don't know how I want to accomplish that. Which player I want to move on from.
- MJL

The answer is right in front Of you. Look to the left slightly when reading this post

The answer is right in front Of you. Look to the left slightly when reading this post
- Just5

Damn. You just started some poop.

Perceived is the key word. His turnover rate is right in line with other defenseman who log big minutes and handle the puck a lot.
- MJL

I'll reiterate what I said the other day, I'd rather have Carle at hometown discount than Suter at Prevailing rate. I understand why some are concerned going into the season with the d-corp we have now, but I think this team can compete with them and eventually someone will become available at the right price.

Suter and Weber have been on a team with a so-called elite goaltender and a solid forward corps at least this year, and yet cannot get out of the second round.

I know you have pointed this next point out as well, MJL, NJ beat the Flyers without any elite defensemen.

What this team needs, imo, going forward is some frugality with the spending by the front office, some adjustments by the coaching staff, and the players to elevate their game next year. The latter is very attainable considering the players age. Let's face it, the forwards were the culprits for many of the breakdowns defensively. I attribute this to a team needing to gel more. The teams remaining in the playoffs didn't have as much turnover in terms of personnel as the Flyers did. Teams win Championships, not coaches, not star players or big names, not goaltenders. It takes all components to gel and having wrapped my head around this debacle of a loss that is my conclusion, the team needs to gel first and foremost.

Which brings my back to my opening issue about Carle. He's been with this team and in this system. He'll be one less knew face to deal with adjusting and thus be allowed to spend time improving along with his teammates.

Sure sometimes teams can be slapped together and go on a tear, but lately what I've been seeing over the past few years is teams that have been together for a while being successful.

So Chris Rooney gets a Game 7 reffing assignment for NYR-WASH. Could be quite interesting to see the league's most thin-skinned ref vs. Tortorella, with whom he has clashed several times (BTW, the Flyers have also had their share of problems with Rooney, including this season).

It has been said of Rooney that he gets the red-ass if anyone questions him. He will not explain calls and he is accused of holding grudges and sticking it to certain teams and coaches.
- bmeltzer

go caps go !

Great article.

On Suter and Weber, I really think Nashville will get it done with both players. They have a ton of great contracts on the roster currently and for the next couple of years (R. Ellis, K. Klein, R. Josi, G. Bourque) along with some quality RFAs that will likely receive very reasonable contracts (C. Smith, C. Wilson, J. Hillen). Considering their team cap was around $52 million this year and the owners are willing to be top spenders now, I see all three big players being able to fit on the team.

If I'm Holmgren, I'm seeing if there is any way to acquire Zach Bogosian from Winnipeg. The team has a decent amount of defenders with Enstrom, Byfuglien, Hainsey, and Postma likely making the team next year. Still, they'd probably rather keep Bogosian than give him up for a forward unless they can get a center like Schenn. It's worth asking though.

Other defenders he should at least inquire about include: Schenn, Tyutin, Visnovsky, Wisniewski, Giordano. He should also see if San Jose wants to move a few bodies to make some changes.

Overall though I think Bogosian would be the best fit for Philly, but probably the most difficult to acquire.

A 6'3" 220 lb winger who is 22 years old and has a 20 goal NHL season on his resume is going to have value, despite a bad year-especially since the year was marred by nagging injuries.

It's not as if he destroyed his knee or had a serious back injury that would curtail his development, he had nagging type stuff that can heal and not be an issue down the road, outside of the concussion.
- Jsaquella

He has a hip/abdominal issue that I remember early in the season reading that it is a possible career threatening type of injury

only read the Broadstreet one so far but yea I'd be happy to get Carle especially considering that it's being implied he wants to stay and for a hometown discount. I know he's perceived as a turnover Machine but I really think that will get better as he works on it, and with all the new faces/young players I have to wonder how many of these turnovers were from forwards being out of position.
- JoeRussomanno

Matt carle is who he is at this point and that's a pretty solid player.

how much cap space w/ prongers $5m on the LTIR....we will have around 10M.....we have to sign carle at 5M and Voracek at 3-3.5M.......where is all this mony coming for anyone?????

I'll reiterate what I said the other day, I'd rather have Carle at hometown discount than Suter at Prevailing rate. I understand why some are concerned going into the season with the d-corp we have now, but I think this team can compete with them and eventually someone will become available at the right price.

Suter and Weber have been on a team with a so-called elite goaltender and a solid forward corps at least this year, and yet cannot get out of the second round.

I know you have pointed this next point out as well, MJL, NJ beat the Flyers without any elite defensemen.

What this team needs, imo, going forward is some frugality with the spending by the front office, some adjustments by the coaching staff, and the players to elevate their game next year. The latter is very attainable considering the players age. Let's face it, the forwards were the culprits for many of the breakdowns defensively. I attribute this to a team needing to gel more. The teams remaining in the playoffs didn't have as much turnover in terms of personnel as the Flyers did. Teams win Championships, not coaches, not star players or big names, not goaltenders. It takes all components to gel and having wrapped my head around this debacle of a loss that is my conclusion, the team needs to gel first and foremost.

Which brings my back to my opening issue about Carle. He's been with this team and in this system. He'll be one less knew face to deal with adjusting and thus be allowed to spend time improving along with his teammates.

Sure sometimes teams can be slapped together and go on a tear, but lately what I've been seeing over the past few years is teams that have been together for a while being successful.
- JoeRussomanno

With Homer's presser, I really think it is a foregone conclusion Carle will return. However, I'm not convinced there will not be an earth shattering move done by the organization. The organization has always shown willingness to be very bold, so I'm not discounting the Parise scenerio Bill brought up. I really like JVR, but if Parise is signed and the organization can use JVR to improve the blueline, I can accept.

For example, Parise + another d- men means sacrificing JVR and Jagr, I think Homer does it in a millisecond.

I'll reiterate what I said the other day, I'd rather have Carle at hometown discount than Suter at Prevailing rate. I understand why some are concerned going into the season with the d-corp we have now, but I think this team can compete with them and eventually someone will become available at the right price.

Suter and Weber have been on a team with a so-called elite goaltender and a solid forward corps at least this year, and yet cannot get out of the second round.

I know you have pointed this next point out as well, MJL, NJ beat the Flyers without any elite defensemen.

What this team needs, imo, going forward is some frugality with the spending by the front office, some adjustments by the coaching staff, and the players to elevate their game next year. The latter is very attainable considering the players age. Let's face it, the forwards were the culprits for many of the breakdowns defensively. I attribute this to a team needing to gel more. The teams remaining in the playoffs didn't have as much turnover in terms of personnel as the Flyers did. Teams win Championships, not coaches, not star players or big names, not goaltenders. It takes all components to gel and having wrapped my head around this debacle of a loss that is my conclusion, the team needs to gel first and foremost.

Which brings my back to my opening issue about Carle. He's been with this team and in this system. He'll be one less knew face to deal with adjusting and thus be allowed to spend time improving along with his teammates.

Sure sometimes teams can be slapped together and go on a tear, but lately what I've been seeing over the past few years is teams that have been together for a while being successful.
- JoeRussomanno

tough to win a cup w/o an elite goalie and/or dman...if anything the trend seems to indicate the dman may be more important as long as you have an osgood-level goalie.

Great article.

On Suter and Weber, I really think Nashville will get it done with both players. They have a ton of great contracts on the roster currently and for the next couple of years (R. Ellis, K. Klein, R. Josi, G. Bourque) along with some quality RFAs that will likely receive very reasonable contracts (C. Smith, C. Wilson, J. Hillen). Considering their team cap was around $52 million this year and the owners are willing to be top spenders now, I see all three big players being able to fit on the team.

If I'm Holmgren, I'm seeing if there is any way to acquire Zach Bogosian from Winnipeg. The team has a decent amount of defenders with Enstrom, Byfuglien, Hainsey, and Postma likely making the team next year. Still, they'd probably rather keep Bogosian than give him up for a forward unless they can get a center like Schenn. It's worth asking though.

Other defenders he should at least inquire about include: Schenn, Tyutin, Visnovsky, Wisniewski, Giordano. He should also see if San Jose wants to move a few bodies to make some changes.

Overall though I think Bogosian would be the best fit for Philly, but probably the most difficult to acquire.
- NorthwoodsWriter

Schenn-He's a more expensive version of Grossman. Slight upgrade in skating and offense. Not enough that warrants his acquistion.

Tyutin: Contract is atrocious. Pass

Visnovsky: Would love to add him, Ducks not willing to move him. Cap hit high, but a deadline deal next year (which would be either the last year or second to last year of his deal, if I'm not mistaken) is desireable.

Wisniewski: See Tyutin.

Giordano: 29 other teams in the league want this (frank)er. His deal is absolute steal as well. He's Calgary's best dman by a wide margin. No way the Flames move him.

Bogosian: Very intriguing player. Not sure if he's worth what it would take to acquire him, but he's a very talented player.

Schenn-He's a more expensive version of Grossman. Slight upgrade in skating and offense. Not enough that warrants his acquistion.

Tyutin: Contract is atrocious. Pass

Visnovsky: Would love to add him, Ducks not willing to move him. Cap hit high, but a deadline deal next year (which would be either the last year or second to last year of his deal) is desireable.

Wisniewski: See Tyutin.

Giordano: 29 other teams in the league want this (frank)er. His deal is absolute steal as well. He's Calgary's best dman by a wide margin. No way the Flames moves him.

Bogosian: Very intriguing player. Not sure if he's worth what it would take to acquire him, but he's a very talented player.
- mochoson

bogo would likely require us offering schenn

bogo would likely require us offering schenn
- isaiah520

In which case I hang up and laugh.

In which case I hang up and laugh.
- mochoson

considering the usual development curve for a dman, I don't get the laughing. not saying I would necessarily do it, but it's not a total mismatch.

considering the usual development curve for a dman, I don't get the laughing. not saying I would necessarily do it, but it's not a total mismatch.
- isaiah520

By no means.

I'm not offering up Schenn for him right now though. And definitely not Schenn +

By no means.

I'm not offering up Schenn for him right now though. And definitely not Schenn +
- mochoson

If I'm Homer the thought of G-Schenn-Coots down the middle for the next 5-6 years is very intriguing. Once Schenn got healthy, he was an extremely productive player. Most of his offensive production was after the new year. Personally, the only way I would trade Schenn if it involved getting Weber.