Your 2013 Honorary Jeff Finger Award nominees:
(inexplicably awful contract for replacement-level player)

Boyd Gordon, 3-years, $3M AAV
Eric Nystrom 4-years, $2.5M AAV
- Tomahawk

Hey... Nystrom had a good week, once.

Not quite, there are merits to the moves but you have to give the team the benefit of the doubt and you can't tell me there are no doubts whatsoever... I mean we missed the playoffs and we give the captain Crosby-Malkin money... Gives me a bad vibe, hunch whatever you wanna call it but sometimes the team needs better intuition and I seriously question theirs right now.
- JoeRussomanno

They didn't give him Crosby-Malkin money. I've made numerous posts on why the deal for Giroux is a good deal. Did you read the one where I outlined what would likely happen if they let Giroux reach Free Agency, and then tried to re-sign him. Can you please respond to that thought?

Who do you think is a better player? Giroux or Parise?

In a cap world that is harder said then done....I have been reading your post trying to understand your point and some of your points are legit, but some make no sense at all...
- nonpoint22

It's not harder said than done when you have the resources of a team like the flyers unfortunately they tend to make bad decisions in the front office.

Still think Giroux is a guy who will bring it even harder being paid like a top player. I have no reservations about him. He's the most talented player the Flyers have had since Lindros, and is just entering his prime years.

It's not harder said than done when you have the resources of a team like the flyers unfortunately they tend to make bad decisions in the front office.
- JoeRussomanno

examples?

Still think Giroux is a guy who will bring it even harder being paid like a top player. I have no reservations about him. He's the most talented player the Flyers have had since Lindros, and is just entering his prime years.
- eayost

Didn't he say in an interview his new contract is giving him motivation? He said that the team put alot of trust in him by giving him a contract like that, and he's determined to prove that they were right to do that.

It's not harder said than done when you have the resources of a team like the flyers unfortunately they tend to make bad decisions in the front office.
- JoeRussomanno

Once you trade Giroux for a defenseman, who is your number 1 center? Is that position not important? Nashville would like one I'd imagine

I really expect better of the people on this board than to make obviously false statements to support their pissing and moaning. Crosby has a cap-circumventing, guaranteed contract that far exceeds Giroux's in terms of total money that was signed under the old CBA. The only reason his cap hit is below $10 million is because of the phony years tacked on at the end. Malkin is making a full $1.25 million than Giroux is. Giroux got the same deal as Getzlaf, because that's the market value for top forwards now, and Giroux chose not to give Philly a discount.
- Feanor

Here's the problem. People look at Cap hits. Not salary.


Giroux signed an 8 year deal for 66.2M

The first 8 years of Crosby's deal is worth 86.4M

They didn't give him Crosby-Malkin money. I've made numerous posts on why the deal for Giroux is a good deal. Did you read the one where I outlined what would likely happen if they let Giroux reach Free Agency, and then tried to re-sign him. Can you please respond to that thought?

Who do you think is a better player? Giroux or Parise?
- MJL

The cap hits are similar, that's all that concerns me as a fan. I've read your reasons on justifying it but frankly the player inspires little faith with me in that he is in fact an elite player, either way that is a huge commitment when there are other pressing needs on this team. They should have traded him to get either a goaltender or defenseman. I'd rather be paying that kind of money to one of those positions, now I think we'll get a name like yandle while surrendering schen or couturier or both more likely.

I'm just going to say that, while there are certainly question marks from the Flyers off season moves, and while I would have been OK with standing pat, I choose not to focus on the questions, because I honestly feel the good aspects to each move either cancel out the questions or at the very least mitigate the questions.

Lecavalier has put up good numbers despite having a rotating cast of characters on his line the past few years. I have little doubt he can be a very solid player for the life of his contract as a Flyers and, further, when the cap rises as it almost certainly will, his cap hit will be more than acceptable.

As for Mark Streit, he brings something to the table that the defense lacked-puck moving and carrying ability. Regardless of his age and defensive shortcomings, Streit is still a very solid puck mover. That the Flyers stuck with Laviolette means that they needed a guy with that skillset. Streit didn't cost them Couturier or Schenn or Simmonds, and again, with a rising cap, , the impact of his cap hit will drop in future seasons.

Ray Emery is a guy that's made a good living out of proving people wrong. He was a mid round pick that backstopped a team to the Stanley Cup Final. He was immature and got exiled to Russia and people said nobody'd take another chance on him, but the Flyers did and he played well & was a solid citizen, until he got hurt.

He was finished then, according to the experts. Except he worked his way back and proved he was a viable NHL goalie again. He ended up in Chicago and played very well for the Hawks. Emery is a guy that will not give up, and I will always take a shot with a guy like that.

So, no, I'm not drinking (frank)ing Kool-Aid and no, I'm not wearing orange colored glasses. The Flyers added pieces in free agency that will augment the young core. They didn't sign veterans free agents to be the core, as they have in years past.

That is the difference between Lecavalier & Streit and moves made in the past.

And if Giroux makes you think of Carter and Richards, then honestly, I get the feeling you don't understand much about the sport, and quite honestly are ignoring what went on, team wide last year.

Once you trade Giroux for a defenseman, who is your number 1 center? Is that position not important? Nashville would like one I'd imagine
- eayost

The flyers draft them like I change underwear I'm not worried about that, if couturier is all that then put up or shut up. They had two pretty good centers a couple years ago that went to win a cup in LA

The cap hits are similar, that's all that concerns me as a fan. I've read your reasons on justifying it but frankly the player inspires little faith with me in that he is in fact an elite player, either way that is a huge commitment when there are other pressing needs on this team. They should have traded him to get either a goaltender or defenseman. I'd rather be paying that kind of money to one of those positions, now I think we'll get a name like yandle while surrendering schen or couturier or both more likely.
- JoeRussomanno

A #1 elite center is more important than a #1 elite dman or goalie

The cap hits are similar, that's all that concerns me as a fan. I've read your reasons on justifying it but frankly the player inspires little faith with me in that he is in fact an elite player, either way that is a huge commitment when there are other pressing needs on this team. They should have traded him to get either a goaltender or defenseman. I'd rather be paying that kind of money to one of those positions, now I think we'll get a name like yandle while surrendering schen or couturier or both more likely.
- JoeRussomanno

This is so confusing. I have no idea how the player inspires little faith that he is an elite player. I can't even fathom what that could possibly be based on. And when they trade Giroux, they then have a gaping hole at first line Center and top player on the team.

What goaltender or defenseman would you trade Giroux for. And please let's be realistic.

The second PP should be much improved with the additions of Lacav and Streit. Not sure I like the talk of Lecav at RW with G.

Best guess on 2 PP lines?

The cap hits are similar, that's all that concerns me as a fan. I've read your reasons on justifying it but frankly the player inspires little faith with me in that he is in fact an elite player, either way that is a huge commitment when there are other pressing needs on this team. They should have traded him to get either a goaltender or defenseman. I'd rather be paying that kind of money to one of those positions, now I think we'll get a name like yandle while surrendering schen or couturier or both more likely.
- JoeRussomanno

Only looking at the cap hit is essentially refusing to see anything but the negative. I'm glad you're not the GM, because trading Giroux after his first real down season is shortsighted and foolish. Literally selling low.

The flyers draft them like I change underwear I'm not worried about that, if couturier is all that then put up or shut up. They had two pretty good centers a couple years ago that went to win a cup in LA
- JoeRussomanno

Richards and Carter are not and won't have as good of careers as Giroux. You don't draft top centers every draft. Again, Giroux is the most talented player since Lindros, and they didn't even draft him.

I guess we're just watching different players here or something. If I saw Giroux as the player you do, I wouldn't like the deal either. I just see him better than that I suppose.

I'm just going to say that, while there are certainly question marks from the Flyers off season moves, and while I would have been OK with standing pat, I choose not to focus on the questions, because I honestly feel the good aspects to each move either cancel out the questions or at the very least mitigate the questions.

Lecavalier has put up good numbers despite having a rotating cast of characters on his line the past few years. I have little doubt he can be a very solid player for the life of his contract as a Flyers and, further, when the cap rises as it almost certainly will, his cap hit will be more than acceptable.

As for Mark Streit, he brings something to the table that the defense lacked-puck moving and carrying ability. Regardless of his age and defensive shortcomings, Streit is still a very solid puck mover. That the Flyers stuck with Laviolette means that they needed a guy with that skillset. Streit didn't cost them Couturier or Schenn or Simmonds, and again, with a rising cap, , the impact of his cap hit will drop in future seasons.

Ray Emery is a guy that's made a good living out of proving people wrong. He was a mid round pick that backstopped a team to the Stanley Cup Final. He was immature and got exiled to Russia and people said nobody'd take another chance on him, but the Flyers did and he played well & was a solid citizen, until he got hurt.

He was finished then, according to the experts. Except he worked his way back and proved he was a viable NHL goalie again. He ended up in Chicago and played very well for the Hawks. Emery is a guy that will not give up, and I will always take a shot with a guy like that.

So, no, I'm not drinking (frank)ing Kool-Aid and no, I'm not wearing orange colored glasses. The Flyers added pieces in free agency that will augment the young core. They didn't sign veterans free agents to be the core, as they have in years past.

That is the difference between Lecavalier & Streit and moves made in the past.

And if Giroux makes you think of Carter and Richards, then honestly, I get the feeling you don't understand much about the sport, and quite honestly are ignoring what went on, team wide last year.
- Jsaquella

I couldn't have said it better.

Only looking at the cap hit is essentially refusing to see anything but the negative. I'm glad you're not the GM, because trading Giroux after his first real down season is shortsighted and foolish. Literally selling low.
- BulliesPhan87

And honestly, if a point a game average is a down season. You have one hell of a player.

Richards and Carter are not and won't have as good of careers as Giroux. You don't draft top centers every draft. Again, Giroux is the most talented player since Lindros, and they didn't even draft him.

I guess we're just watching different players here or something. If I saw Giroux as the player you do, I wouldn't like the deal either. I just see him better than that I suppose.
- eayost

Let's not get carried away here. Richards and Carter have already skated with the Cup. But that's neither here nor there.

I'm just going to say that, while there are certainly question marks from the Flyers off season moves, and while I would have been OK with standing pat, I choose not to focus on the questions, because I honestly feel the good aspects to each move either cancel out the questions or at the very least mitigate the questions.

Lecavalier has put up good numbers despite having a rotating cast of characters on his line the past few years. I have little doubt he can be a very solid player for the life of his contract as a Flyers and, further, when the cap rises as it almost certainly will, his cap hit will be more than acceptable.

As for Mark Streit, he brings something to the table that the defense lacked-puck moving and carrying ability. Regardless of his age and defensive shortcomings, Streit is still a very solid puck mover. That the Flyers stuck with Laviolette means that they needed a guy with that skillset. Streit didn't cost them Couturier or Schenn or Simmonds, and again, with a rising cap, , the impact of his cap hit will drop in future seasons.

Ray Emery is a guy that's made a good living out of proving people wrong. He was a mid round pick that backstopped a team to the Stanley Cup Final. He was immature and got exiled to Russia and people said nobody'd take another chance on him, but the Flyers did and he played well & was a solid citizen, until he got hurt.

He was finished then, according to the experts. Except he worked his way back and proved he was a viable NHL goalie again. He ended up in Chicago and played very well for the Hawks. Emery is a guy that will not give up, and I will always take a shot with a guy like that.

So, no, I'm not drinking (frank)ing Kool-Aid and no, I'm not wearing orange colored glasses. The Flyers added pieces in free agency that will augment the young core. They didn't sign veterans free agents to be the core, as they have in years past.

That is the difference between Lecavalier & Streit and moves made in the past.

And if Giroux makes you think of Carter and Richards, then honestly, I get the feeling you don't understand much about the sport, and quite honestly are ignoring what went on, team wide last year.
- Jsaquella

And another thing with Emery is he wants to make Mason better so that they can be good as a tandem. That's a great characteristic to have in a goalie that is more or less a stop gap to see if Mason can be our goalie of the future.

The second PP should be much improved with the additions of Lacav and Streit. Not sure I like the talk of Lecav at RW with G.

Best guess on 2 PP lines?
- jstross

I hope Streit is on the first PP unit, and not the second.

The flyers draft them like I change underwear I'm not worried about that, if couturier is all that then put up or shut up. They had two pretty good centers a couple years ago that went to win a cup in LA
- JoeRussomanno

Making Couturier the first line center is hilarious. So because he's perceived to have high potential, we should just throw him into a situation he's obviously not ready for? That's exactly the kind of impatience we don't need. that's a one way ticket to disappointment, trading him for a current first line center, and watching him achieve his potential elsewhere. Eventually, he'd score a big goal on us during a Cinderella Cup run in the finals.

And honestly, if a point a game average is a down season. You have one hell of a player.
- MJL

Exactly!

So, no, I'm not drinking (frank)ing Kool-Aid and no, I'm not wearing orange colored glasses. The Flyers added pieces in free agency that will augment the young core. They didn't sign veterans free agents to be the core, as they have in years past.

That is the difference between Lecavalier & Streit and moves made in the past.

- Jsaquella

This part of Jsaq's post can't be stressed enough here, btw.

Let's not get carried away here. Richards and Carter have already skated with the Cup. But that's neither here nor there.
- MJL

I don't think I slighted the two players more than showed optimism for the other.