And I will say again, it was reported by numerous sources and web sites. The story never changed. Even if Gagne signed for 2.75, I feel Gagne is the more deserving player of that kind of a cap hit and for that many of years. At least Gagne waited to be here.

Do you like the deal, hate the deal or just arguing with me just to argue because last I checked you weren't in favor of either player.

I'm not a Cleary fan. I've seen plenty of him. Heck, I live smack dab in Detroit. I will happily admit I was wrong if he plays well and especially if it results in a cup. At the moment I'm hoping you all can promise me we aren't gambling Matt Read and promise me we wont be trying to barry this contract later or have a 2.75 cap hit player playing on the fourth line within the next three years.
- dingo8urbaby

WHERE IS YOUR GUARANTEE NOW!?!?!?!?!?!?

And I will say again, it was reported by numerous sources and web sites. The story never changed. Even if Gagne signed for 2.75, I feel Gagne is the more deserving player of that kind of a cap hit and for that many of years. At least Gagne waited to be here.

Do you like the deal, hate the deal or just arguing with me just to argue because last I checked you weren't in favor of either player.

I'm not a Cleary fan. I've seen plenty of him. Heck, I live smack dab in Detroit. I will happily admit I was wrong if he plays well and especially if it results in a cup. At the moment I'm hoping you all can promise me we aren't gambling Matt Read and promise me we wont be trying to barry this contract later or have a 2.75 cap hit player playing on the fourth line within the next three years.
- dingo8urbaby

I'd rather have Cleary than Gagne. But I'd want Simon for a year and Dan for two. Tops. And both for 2 mil per at the most.

Typical Homer doling out excessive years to older players on the decline.

They could add Patrice Bergeron, if nobody else buys in, the team defense won't improve.

Being that Cleary is a better all around player than Fedotenko, he'll likely play a bigger role.
- Jsaquella

I would hope that Cleary plays a bigger role, for what they signed him for. I think he's a better choice as a 3rd line ES Winger then Fedetenko is. But I think it's a wash defensively, and as a PK player, if not a downgrade from Fedetenko. Cleary can play on the PP, although I don't know how much time he'll see there.

I would hope that Cleary plays a bigger role, for what they signed him for. I think he's a better choice as a 3rd line ES Winger then Fedetenko is. But I think it's a wash defensively, and as a PK player, if not a downgrade from Fedetenko. Cleary can play on the PP, although I don't know how much time he'll see there.
- MJL

It probably is a wash, defensively. But Cleary is a solid PK guy, too.

It probably is a wash, defensively. But Cleary is a solid PK guy, too.
- Jsaquella

Without ever watching him play much, I'm going to have tell you that I may or may not agree with you.

FWIW, Daniel Cleary's taking a pay cut.

Nobody ever revealed how big a pay cut Gagne was willing to take. He made $3.5mm last year. I have serious doubts he'd have taken less than $2mm
- Jsaquella

I have three years to ask why we did this.

It probably is a wash, defensively. But Cleary is a solid PK guy, too.
- Jsaquella

With the Red Wings, his PK time was getting less each year. I'm concerned with that, and why the Red Wings didn't match the asking price of Cleary.

I have three years to ask why we did this.
- dingo8urbaby

Because you touch yourself.

WHERE IS YOUR GUARANTEE NOW!?!?!?!?!?!?
- jmatchett383

I was wrong. Happy?

With the Red Wings, his PK time was getting less each year. I'm concerned with that, and why the Red Wings didn't match the asking price of Cleary.
- MJL

Detroit didn't want to go three years. They offered him one year at around the same money before they went after Weiss and Alfredsson in free agency. After that, they simply didn't have the cap room to fit Cleary.

I have three years to ask why we did this.
- dingo8urbaby

You have a lifetime to ask why.

I can only answer that Cleary fills the need they had better than Gagne, he doesn't miss as many games as Gagne, and he brings more grit than Gagne.

He played every game last year. He hasn't missed many games in his career due to injury. That being said, once he puts the Flyers sweater on he will probably stumble upon a hornets nest and be stung to death.
- PLindbergh31

Wait...are people really using injury history as a reason to prefer Gagne over Cleary? I think Cleary would have to somehow retroactively die last season to have a worse injury history than Gagne.

Depending on their point of view, and how much they value one type of player vs. another, there are some aspects of this deal folks may not like. I get that. But the injury history of Cleary relative to Gange should not one of them. About the only person that loses that comparison to Gagne is Carlo Colaiacovo.

Detroit didn't want to go three years. They offered him one year at around the same money before they went after Weiss and Alfredsson in free agency. After that, they simply didn't have the cap room to fit Cleary.
- Jsaquella

Well Weiss and Alfresdsson are really different players then Cleary is. I can understand why they didn't want to go 3 years.

Wait...are people really using injury history as a reason to prefer Gagne over Cleary? I think Cleary would have to somehow retroactively die last season to have a worse injury history than Gagne.

Depending on their point of view, and how much they value one type of player vs. another, there are some aspects of this deal folks may not like. I get that. But the injury history of Cleary relative to Gange should not one of them. About the only person that loses that comparison to Gagne is Carlo Colaiacovo.
- BringBack25

I think you bring up a a point that needs to be looked at. Cleary brings certain attributes to the ice, as does Gagne. I don't think it's a given that Cleary is a better fit over Gagne. But it is however obvious that the Flyers feel that he is.

You have a lifetime to ask why.

I can only answer that Cleary fills the need they had better than Gagne, he doesn't miss as many games as Gagne, and he brings more grit than Gagne.
- Jsaquella

We have plenty of grit. Even giving Talbot the opportunity would have been smarter.

Wait...are people really using injury history as a reason to prefer Gagne over Cleary? I think Cleary would have to somehow retroactively die last season to have a worse injury history than Gagne.

Depending on their point of view, and how much they value one type of player vs. another, there are some aspects of this deal folks may not like. I get that. But the injury history of Cleary relative to Gange should not one of them. About the only person that loses that comparison to Gagne is Carlo Colaiacovo.
- BringBack25

I'm with you. I like Cleary a lot. I'm not thrilled with the term of the contract, but it's the price of doing business sometimes. A lot of people complaining about Cleary probably haven't seen him play often. He's a very solid player. A guy that contributes 16-18 minutes a game on the NHL's most successful franchise tells you a lot about what kind of player he is.

I'm sure Detroit would have loved to keep him, but it's impossible to keep all your players.

Detroit didn't want to go three years. They offered him one year at around the same money before they went after Weiss and Alfredsson in free agency. After that, they simply didn't have the cap room to fit Cleary.
- Jsaquella

There was a report in the Detroit Free Press that stated Holland was prepared to go for three years but for under 2 mil per.

My only issue is the length of the deal, and what this means for our young forwards moving forward. With any sort of luck, which the Flyers are long overdue for, guys like Laughton, McGinn, and Noebels should be looking to make the jump to the NHL in the next 1-2 years. I think there may be a logjam at forward with a veteran signed to a multi-year deal with a NTC.

Might be Laught, but Bob McKenzie says that Florida has offered a PTO to Tim Thomas.
- Jsaquella

I hope the Haitians get him

I was wrong. Happy?
- dingo8urbaby

No.

My only issue is the length of the deal, and what this means for our young forwards moving forward. With any sort of luck, which the Flyers are long overdue for, guys like Laughton, McGinn, and Noebels should be looking to make the jump to the NHL in the next 1-2 years. I think there may be a logjam at forward with a veteran signed to a multi-year deal with a NTC.
- jmatchett383

Fair points. But those guys aren't can't miss NHL players. You can't overlook addressing a need, hoping that a young player may be able to fill that role.

You have a lifetime to ask why.

I can only answer that Cleary fills the need they had better than Gagne, he doesn't miss as many games as Gagne, and he brings more grit than Gagne.
- Jsaquella

It really is that simple -- again, Simon Gagne's a player who will likely find a way to contribute to an NHL roster this year. But Cleary can also play the right side, he can also be a good fit up and down the lineup.

I think the things Cleary does well are really useful to this team -- if Sean Couturier plays a little more...determined...with Cleary on his wing, that can only be a good thing.

Cleary's a good player, has been well coached, performs in the playoffs -- I'm really surprised at how much opposition there is to this.

We have plenty of grit. Even giving Talbot the opportunity would have been smarter.
- dingo8urbaby

I disagree, Cleary is far more proven to be a consistent offensive producer than Talbot.

It really is that simple -- again, Simon Gagne's a player who will likely find a way to contribute to an NHL roster this year. But Cleary can also play the right side, he can also be a good fit up and down the lineup.

I think the things Cleary does well are really useful to this team -- if Sean Couturier plays a little more...determined...with Cleary on his wing, that can only be a good thing.

Cleary's a good player, has been well coached, performs in the playoffs -- I'm really surprised at how much opposition there is to this.
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, me too

Those bad knees have resulted in him missing 19 games the last 3 years...which is 58 fewer games than Gagne has missed over the same time.
- Jsaquella

They've also resulted in him being slow on the ice, something Gagne is not.