Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Two Flyers Prospects in Memorial Cup, WC Semis

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Two Flyers Prospects in Memorial Cup, WC Semis
- bmeltzer

Guess it is no longer being shown live on NBC Sports.

Not quite sure why I didn't realize The Swiss are undefeated. Who of note do they have in the lineup? It seems odd that the star studded Canadian and Russian teams are on the outside looking in. Do you think the chemistry is poor because they are adding people as the NHL teams lose in the playoffs?

Free Bryzgalov...

Not quite sure why I didn't realize The Swiss are undefeated. Who of note do they have in the lineup? It seems odd that the star studded Canadian and Russian teams are on the outside looking in. Do you think the chemistry is poor because they are adding people as the NHL teams lose in the playoffs?
- section32

Apparently the Swiss team holds year-round practices in preparation for this and the Olympics. Seems a little unfair to me, personally. It's obviously shown, they havent lost yet.

Apparently the Swiss team holds year-round practices in preparation for this and the Olympics. Seems a little unfair to me, personally. It's obviously shown, they havent lost yet.
- JAKEw1234

Thats the price teams full of nhl players have to pay, they could set a roster of non nhlers and practice year round also.

Free Bryzgalov...
- stveshdy

you never gave him a chance! we just need to play like PHO and everything will be OK! if he can play well i'm not worried about what could happen 6 yrs down the road...it has to work...it just has to

you never gave him a chance! we just need to play like PHO and everything will be OK! if he can play well i'm not worried about what could happen 6 yrs down the road...it has to work...it just has to
- isaiah520

Complete mis-characterization of any statements made by anyone who supports Bryzgalov in any way. But not unexpected.

Is it the draft yet? Cant even enjoy the playoffs watching Sid the kid do his thing ugh.....I cant even root for the kings and I live about 90 miles from LA, guess its a jealousy but feels like a kick in the gut to see Richards and Carter have a good ol time. And i get tired of people saying those two were traded for cap purposes, you dont trade two franchise players for a goalie you just dont. Ok venting is over.

Is it the draft yet? Cant even enjoy the playoffs watching Sid the kid do his thing ugh.....I cant even root for the kings and I live about 90 miles from LA, guess its a jealousy but feels like a kick in the gut to see Richards and Carter have a good ol time. And i get tired of people saying those two were traded for cap purposes, you dont trade two franchise players for a goalie you just dont. Ok venting is over.
- flyerfan28

Cap reasons were a big part of it. And they did not trade either player for a Goalie. And part of the reason they traded them, was that they decided that Giroux was their franchise player, that they wanted to build around. And Richards and Carter were not franchise players. And they aren't. And Goaltending is the most important position on the ice.

Here is your chance to check out fucale, from halifax. I would love to have him in Philly.

Guess it is no longer being shown live on NBC Sports.
- wilsonecho91

my guide isn't showing it either, that's too bad i wanted to dvr it while i was at work today

Cap reasons were a big part of it. And they did not trade either player for a Goalie. And part of the reason they traded them, was that they decided that Giroux was their franchise player, that they wanted to build around. And Richards and Carter were not franchise players. And they aren't. And Goaltending is the most important position on the ice.
- MJL

They were traded b/c they partied too much, made asses of themselves, repeatedly, and "upper" management went in a different direction and built around g.

Cap reasons were a big part of it. And they did not trade either player for a Goalie. And part of the reason they traded them, was that they decided that Giroux was their franchise player, that they wanted to build around. And Richards and Carter were not franchise players. And they aren't. And Goaltending is the most important position on the ice.
- MJL

If they werent in the plans for this franchise then why were both signed to long term contracts within a year prior to being traded? Richards was the captain of this team and Carter was/is a 30-40 goal scorer. I dont buy it, cap reasons were a small part of why they were dealt there was something else there.

They were traded b/c they partied too much, made asses of themselves, repeatedly, and "upper" management went in a different direction and built around g.
- huks99

Disagree completely. Nothing to do with it.

If they werent in the plans for this franchise then why were both signed to long term contracts within a year prior to being traded? Richards was the captain of this team and Carter was/is a 30-40 goal scorer. I dont buy it, cap reasons were a small part of why they were dealt there was something else there.
- flyerfan28

GM's and Organizations change their minds, and choose to go in different directions. Will the same questions be asked if the Flyers change their mind on Bryzgalov and go in a different direction? They changed their mind on JVR also.

GM's and Organizations change their minds, and choose to go in different directions. Will the same questions be asked if the Flyers change their mind on Bryzgalov and go in a different direction? They changed their mind on JVR also.
- MJL

Bryz and JVR are terrible examples. Bryz is not performing up to his contract as everyone on here has already discussed so thats why he may be moved or bought out. JVR has yet to live up to his potential, Flyers needed a young D-man so they traded straight up with Toronto. Both Carter and Richards were pretty established and they were traded for younger players on the rise. Flyers got good value in return for sure I will agree to that.

Cap reasons were a big part of it. And they did not trade either player for a Goalie. And part of the reason they traded them, was that they decided that Giroux was their franchise player, that they wanted to build around. And Richards and Carter were not franchise players. And they aren't. And Goaltending is the most important position on the ice.
- MJL

I think in Carter's case, they felt he was a little soft and they made a hockey trade. They got back Voracek, who went 7th overall in '07 and the 8th pick in 2011 so its not like they just gave him away. IMO it turned out to be a good deal as I think most GMs would swap Carter for Voracek and Couturier in a second.

Richards also was good deal. Getting Simmonds, Schenn and a pick that was used to acquire Grossmann is pretty good value for a 2nd line center. In Richards case, I think they realized that they might have made a mistake naming him captain and the only way out of the situation was to trade him.

I think in Carter's case, they felt he was a little soft and they made a hockey trade. They got back Voracek, who went 7th overall in '07 and the 8th pick in 2011 so its not like they just gave him away. IMO it turned out to be a good deal as I think most GMs would swap Carter for Voracek and Couturier in a second.

Richards also was good deal. Getting Simmonds, Schenn and a pick that was used to acquire Grossmann is pretty good value for a 2nd line center. In Richards case, I think they realized that they might have made a mistake naming him captain and the only way out of the situation was to trade him.
- BiggE

I can see that, good points would be gravy to see B Schenn blossom next come up next season.

If they werent in the plans for this franchise then why were both signed to long term contracts within a year prior to being traded? Richards was the captain of this team and Carter was/is a 30-40 goal scorer. I dont buy it, cap reasons were a small part of why they were dealt there was something else there.
- flyerfan28

I don't believe that it was an either/or situation.

Their contracts being an obstacle in light of the team's needs was a factor, as was Richie's devolution as an off-ice captain, and Carter's streaky play, any strain in the room with the other team leaders and coaches, the off-ice shenanigans, etc...

Everybody seems to want to pinpoint one overriding reason, but it probably was more a combination of 'all of the above'.

Bryz and JVR are terrible examples. Bryz is not performing up to his contract as everyone on here has already discussed so thats why he may be moved or bought out. JVR has yet to live up to his potential, Flyers needed a young D-man so they traded straight up with Toronto. Both Carter and Richards were pretty established and they were traded for younger players on the rise. Flyers got good value in return for sure I will agree to that.
- flyerfan28

Yes, they got 4 players under the Cap for the price of 2. You make an excellent point to backup why the trades were Hockey deals. Same as JVR and Bryzgalov.

I think in Carter's case, they felt he was a little soft and they made a hockey trade. They got back Voracek, who went 7th overall in '07 and the 8th pick in 2011 so its not like they just gave him away. IMO it turned out to be a good deal as I think most GMs would swap Carter for Voracek and Couturier in a second.

Richards also was good deal. Getting Simmonds, Schenn and a pick that was used to acquire Grossmann is pretty good value for a 2nd line center. In Richards case, I think they realized that they might have made a mistake naming him captain and the only way out of the situation was to trade him.
- BiggE

I don't think soft has anything to do with it. Carter was not then, and is not now a soft player. The Flyers know that. I also don't believe the Captaincy issue had much to do with it either. It was a combination of Cap issues, and lack of young prospects and draft picks.

I don't believe that it was an either/or situation.

Their contracts being an obstacle in light of the team's needs was a factor, as was Richie's devolution as an off-ice captain, and Carter's streaky play, any strain in the room with the other team leaders and coaches, the off-ice shenanigans, etc...

Everybody seems to want to pinpoint one overriding reason, but it probably was more a combination of 'all of the above'.
- Tomahawk

Strickland tweeted that day that homer used the phrase "culture change" when he spoke to richards, as part of the reason for the deal. i also believe in the combo of factors. how to weight them, we'll never really know.

I don't believe that it was an either/or situation.

Their contracts being an obstacle in light of the team's needs was a factor, as was Richie's devolution as an off-ice captain, and Carter's streaky play, any strain in the room with the other team leaders and coaches, the off-ice shenanigans, etc...

Everybody seems to want to pinpoint one overriding reason, but it probably was more a combination of 'all of the above'.
- Tomahawk

Probably correct.

The fact that each were signed to long term contracts shortly before they were traded implies to me the Flyers' brass quickly became disillusioned with the direction the team was headed with both their captain, Richards, and leading goal scorer, Carter, leading the way.

Two cornerstones, both young and still approaching their prime, both surprisingly moved within minutes of one another, couldn't have been a knee jerk kind of decision or one made without the input of the entire management staff.

You can make any excuses you want for the moves the Flyers have made over the last few year...it's an embarrassment however you view it. They have given giant contracts to players and bailed on them shortly thereafter. They have anointed a player as the future of the organization, the next Bobby Clarke, and then traded him away. They gave up on a good young goalie and threw away too much money and too many years on a goalie with known character flaws because they have no patience or plan. Over and over again they try for the quick fix, they throw money at the problem, too many years and too much money, guaranteed contracts, no-trade clauses, giving up on their young high draft picks. Embarrassing. And it will be another embarrassment this summer when they throw money away to get rid of their franchise goalie.