Maybe it's Lilja. Maybe they're making sure that they are covered in case MAB or Gus can't play full time in NHL
- Jsaquella

You think a team is willing to take him off our hands? Or a buyout?

You think a team is willing to take him off our hands? Or a buyout?
- hereticpride

Lilja is on a 35+ deal. Buyout saves 100K.

You think a team is willing to take him off our hands? Or a buyout?
- hereticpride

Could just be sent to AHL and carry the dead weight. Could also mean that thy don't feel Gus or MAB is ready for full time NHL action.

There was some guy yesterday on this bpard who went on and on about hpw Flyers make ridiculous overpriced bids for free agents in the past 15 years. What a tool.

Holmgren played a masterly hand. He probably had inside information that
(a) Wild were serious when they said they would not be outbid, at least by much
(b) The players really do not want to come to Philly.
(c) NJD have serious cash constraints
(d) Pitt cannot afford to have 4 players making 8+ mil each
(e) The two really do wanna play together.

What to do? Make sure to make an outlandish offer to keep them away from Pitt and NJD, knowing full well MN and/or Det will come close to matching, which means no danger of actually having to pay these contracts.

Well played maestro. Well played.

Wow, why don't they just kick Bourdon and Gus in the nuts while they're at it.
- PhillySteen

They would've saved money if they just kept Bartulis instead of signing Gervais. Is he really any better?

They would've saved money if they just kept Bartulis instead of signing Gervais. Is he really any better?
- Flyers_01

Gervais is better than Bartulis, and more proven than Gus and MAB. He's not a bad player, at all. He's got a good, hard shot and decent size. He can get outmatched against better players, but in a limited role he's an upgrade on others on hand.

There was some guy yesterday on this bpard who went on and on about hpw Flyers make ridiculous overpriced bids for free agents in the past 15 years. What a tool.

Holmgren played a masterly hand. He probably had inside information that
(a) Wild were serious when they said they would not be outbid, at least by much
(b) The players really do not want to come to Philly.
(c) NJD have serious cash constraints
(d) Pitt cannot afford to have 4 players making 8+ mil each
(e) The two really do wanna play together.

What to do? Make sure to make an outlandish offer to keep them away from Pitt and NJD, knowing full well MN and/or Det will come close to matching, which means no danger of actually having to pay these contracts.

Well played maestro. Well played.
- PT21

all the while, inside track on the Ryan front while not negotiating w/ parise or suter...right?

There was some guy yesterday on this bpard who went on and on about hpw Flyers make ridiculous overpriced bids for free agents in the past 15 years. What a tool.

Holmgren played a masterly hand. He probably had inside information that
(a) Wild were serious when they said they would not be outbid, at least by much
(b) The players really do not want to come to Philly.
(c) NJD have serious cash constraints
(d) Pitt cannot afford to have 4 players making 8+ mil each
(e) The two really do wanna play together.

What to do? Make sure to make an outlandish offer to keep them away from Pitt and NJD, knowing full well MN and/or Det will come close to matching, which means no danger of actually having to pay these contracts.

Well played maestro. Well played.
- PT21

Yup, especially Pittsburgh, losing Staal made you worry about there motivation in acquiring at least one of them

Gervais is better than Bartulis, and more proven than Gus and MAB. He's not a bad player, at all. He's got a good, hard shot and decent size. He can get outmatched against better players, but in a limited role he's an upgrade on others on hand.
- Jsaquella

Good #6 guy in the lineup for now

Gervais is better than Bartulis, and more proven than Gus and MAB. He's not a bad player, at all. He's got a good, hard shot and decent size. He can get outmatched against better players, but in a limited role he's an upgrade on others on hand.
- Jsaquella

He also seems close with Talbot, Heck if Talbot is praising him why not sign the kid to a cap friendly deal. So far the Flyers have not become worse. It's like some people think this team is void of talent when Pittsburgh and New Jersey lost alot of talent. I like what Homer is doing and so far this offseason in not over yet

Good #6 guy in the lineup for now
- puckhead17

He is, and he gives flexibility.

There was some guy yesterday on this bpard who went on and on about hpw Flyers make ridiculous overpriced bids for free agents in the past 15 years. What a tool.

Holmgren played a masterly hand. He probably had inside information that
(a) Wild were serious when they said they would not be outbid, at least by much
(b) The players really do not want to come to Philly.
(c) NJD have serious cash constraints
(d) Pitt cannot afford to have 4 players making 8+ mil each
(e) The two really do wanna play together.

What to do? Make sure to make an outlandish offer to keep them away from Pitt and NJD, knowing full well MN and/or Det will come close to matching, which means no danger of actually having to pay these contracts.

Well played maestro. Well played.
- PT21

really? I don't see w/ the # of teams courting both guys how homer didn't do anything but take his best shot. MIN and NJ have been revealed as parise's alternatives and suter flat out didn't want to come east. not blaming homer by any means, but he wasn't the conductor of this symphony either.

He is, and he gives flexibility.
- Jsaquella

I wouldnt mind Dom Moore or I think Bill was talking about trading for Paajarvi

Good #6 guy in the lineup for now
- puckhead17

I see him as a part time 6/7.

He is, and he gives flexibility.
- Jsaquella

As well he shoots right handed, I think he played about 15 minutes per game last year, which is pretty good on a 3rd pairing, keeping your top 2 pairings fresher.

many are saying now that the 2 big fish have signed, Nash & Ryan will follow, but I wonder about that, as the asking prices are scaring the several teams that remain in the mix away.
Each team has at least one piece that they want, that they are unwilling to move

As well he shoots right handed, I think he played about 15 minutes per game last year, which is pretty good on a 3rd pairing, keeping your top 2 pairings fresher.

many are saying now that the 2 big fish have signed, Nash & Ryan will follow, but I wonder about that, as the asking prices are scaring the several teams that remain in the mix away.
Each team has at least one piece that they want, that they are unwilling to move
- puckhead17

Some team will be dumb enough to pay a King's ransom for those guys. I'd prefer that the Flyers stay smart and not give up too much for either guy in a seller's market.

plan B is shaping up great so far, even without a trade, another RH Dman.

Does this mean schenns outta here............................i kid i kid

really? I don't see w/ the # of teams courting both guys how homer didn't do anything but take his best shot. MIN and NJ have been revealed as parise's alternatives and suter flat out didn't want to come east. not blaming homer by any means, but he wasn't the conductor of this symphony either.
- isaiah520

I was partly joking. The guy whose rant I referred to yesterday was me.

About the non-joking part: lots of teams will now say they made "competitive offers" and lots of players will say "its not about the money" and "will only play in a certain conference" etc. No one wants to make anyone look bad. But money talks and athletes and teams routinely change their minds from what they have said. Throwing a huge benchmark offer out there to both players under the circumstances may well have had some sway in the decision making, at least keeping them away from Pitt esp. I cannot imagine Pitt would be happy to have 4 players together make 1/2 the salary cap for the next 10 odd years. Thats nuts.

I am essentially giving Homer the benefit of the doubt. I think those were stupid offers and I have seen nothing stupid from the guy, so if I had to choose I would say he played high stakes poker and prevented his rival from winning.

Some team will be dumb enough to pay a King's ransom for those guys. I'd prefer that the Flyers stay smart and not give up too much for either guy in a seller's market.
- Jsaquella

Seems to be the case so far. Holmgren has not traded Schenn and Couts. It seems that will not change, which is excellent.

I see him as a part time 6/7.
- MJL

my bad he played closer to 14 minutes a game and a minus 4 last year, where he slots depends on your top 5 & the minutes that they can comfortably handle.

But also, the way a defenseman plays depends on his defense partner as well, which we will find out about Suter as well I guess.

Seems to be the case so far. Holmgren has not traded Schenn and Couts. It seems that will not change, which is excellent.
- bigmookalookie

There's nobody supposedly available that I'd trade Schenn or Couturier for.

I was partly joking. The guy whose rant I referred to yesterday was me.

About the non-joking part: lots of teams will now say they made "competitive offers" and lots of players will say "its not about the money" and "will only play in a certain conference" etc. No one wants to make anyone look bad. But money talks and athletes and teams routinely change their minds from what they have said. Throwing a huge benchmark offer out there to both players under the circumstances may well have had some sway in the decision making, at least keeping them away from Pitt esp. I cannot imagine Pitt would be happy to have 4 players together make 1/2 the salary cap for the next 10 odd years. Thats nuts.

I am essentially giving Homer the benefit of the doubt. I think those were stupid offers and I have seen nothing stupid from the guy, so if I had to choose I would say he played high stakes poker and prevented his rival from winning.
- PT21

I think the end result may have been that. But I believe that Holmgren had every intention of trying to sign one of those players.

Some team will be dumb enough to pay a King's ransom for those guys. I'd prefer that the Flyers stay smart and not give up too much for either guy in a seller's market.
- Jsaquella

I think now that JVR is gone, we lost any potential trade flexibility with Columbus or Anaheim, as I can't see Read, Voracek, or Simmonds being a major piece for either, unless they offer up 2 of them which would be a mistake.

I was partly joking. The guy whose rant I referred to yesterday was me.

About the non-joking part: lots of teams will now say they made "competitive offers" and lots of players will say "its not about the money" and "will only play in a certain conference" etc. No one wants to make anyone look bad. But money talks and athletes and teams routinely change their minds from what they have said. Throwing a huge benchmark offer out there to both players under the circumstances may well have had some sway in the decision making, at least keeping them away from Pitt esp. I cannot imagine Pitt would be happy to have 4 players together make 1/2 the salary cap for the next 10 odd years. Thats nuts.

I am essentially giving Homer the benefit of the doubt. I think those were stupid offers and I have seen nothing stupid from the guy, so if I had to choose I would say he played high stakes poker and prevented his rival from winning.
- PT21

the joking part makes more sense, but no biggie. you know that homer will make it interesting.

my bad he played closer to 14 minutes a game and a minus 4 last year, where he slots depends on your top 5 & the minutes that they can comfortably handle.

But also, the way a defenseman plays depends on his defense partner as well, which we will find out about Suter as well I guess.
- puckhead17

I don't know what the Flyers have planned for him. But he's been a frequent healthy scratch the last 2 Seasons. Right now the signing doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But we'll see what else happens.