2013 NHL Free Agency...

[RoyTheHammer]

Exactly, now you are forcing an up and coming young center to the wing so you can overpay for Vinny. He wasn't needed and now the team is strapped for cap space and not in position to take down the top teams in the East. Lecavalier also got a NMC in his contract.

They could have signed a winger like Damien Brunner for around $3 mil.

Schenn has played on the wing pretty much ever since we aquired him, so we aren't really forcing anything. If they like him at C, they'll play LeCavalier on the wing. There's no doubt it adds a big time player with skill to our offense though. I don't mind the move, i think we needed more talent in the top 6.. i just hope they trade a D man or two.

 

[RastaRocket]

Emery was 17-1 this season.

It's all about the goalie getting hot at the right time.

If it was all about the goalie, then Ryan Miller and the Sabres would have won at least one cup so far.

I definitely like the Emery signing, that was a really nice move and a great price. Sometimes backups get exposed when they become full time, but if he can play like he did last year then he can do real good things for Philly.

 

[Future]

Timonen-Schenn
Streit-Coburn
Gustafsson-Grossmann

No defense?

I don't think that's a bad corps of defensemen. There's no #1 there but I see a couple #2's and #3's. No out and out bad defensemen either.

I would say thats a pretty poor defense. Other than Grossman, they are just way too soft. The Flyers have been bad not just because of their goalie, but because they are AWFUL in front of their own net. I dont think that will change with the moves they made this year.

And, not for nothing, timo is 38, streit will turn 36 during the season, and both are offensive defensemen. Plus, Luke Schenn has never shown that is he is capable of being a top pair d man. The Flyers are dumb if they think they have a defense that will get them anywhere.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I would say thats a pretty poor defense. Other than Grossman, they are just way too soft. The Flyers have been bad not just because of their goalie, but because they are AWFUL in front of their own net. I dont think that will change with the moves they made this year.

And, not for nothing, timo is 38, streit will turn 36 during the season, and both are offensive defensemen. Plus, Luke Schenn has never shown that is he is capable of being a top pair d man. The Flyers are dumb if they think they have a defense that will get them anywhere.

Awful?

They were 12th in fewest shots allowed per game. And 5th best in penalty kill.

And then they were 23rd in goals allowed per game.

Sounds like more of a goalie problem.

 

[Future]

Awful?

They were 12th in fewest shots allowed per game. And 5th best in penalty kill.

And then they were 23rd in goals allowed per game.

Sounds like more of a goalie problem.

Shots allowed is a tough stat to use b/c they have an offense that is really good at holding onto the puck. But if you look at the type of goals that they give up, there are guys wide open in front of the net, rebounds, breakaways, that sort of thing. There are way too many times where they leave the goalie out to dry.

I'm not saying that Bryz was great or anything like that, but I dont think he ever got a fair shake there.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

One thing our defense does is block a whole lotta shots.. now depending on who you listen to, some may think that's a good thing and shows how good our D is, and some may say its not a good thing for your goalie, as it makes it harder for him because you have defenders always jumping into his line of sight to the puck. Therefore, you miss the block, you kinda screw your goalie a bit, as most NHL goalies can stop what they can see. Makes it easier for them if you keep the porch clean, too.. something we don't do well.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

One thing our defense does is block a whole lotta shots.. now depending on who you listen to, some may think that's a good thing and shows how good our D is, and some may say its not a good thing for your goalie, as it makes it harder for him because you have defenders always jumping into his line of sight to the puck. Therefore, you miss the block, you kinda screw your goalie a bit, as most NHL goalies can stop what they can see. Makes it easier for them if you keep the porch clean, too.. something we don't do well.

I don't think the defense is a top-10 defense.

But I don't think it's bottom-10 either.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I don't think the defense is a top-10 defense.

But I don't think it's bottom-10 either.

That's fair.. i would probably say they are in the bottom half though.. and in need of a major overhaul in the very near future with all the old, slow players we have on the back end right now.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That's fair.. i would probably say they are in the bottom half though.. and in need of a major overhaul in the very near future with all the old, slow players we have on the back end right now.

The Forwards on the other hand... I'm thinking definitely in the top-10. Probably closer to #1 than #10.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

The Forwards on the other hand... I'm thinking definitely in the top-10. Probably closer to #1 than #10.

Forward group is good, would have liked to see us go with one of the young guys over resigning Adam Hall, but that's being nitpicky. I like Holmstrum, Harry Z, Wellwood (when he comes back).. i think we have a good group of checking line/energy guys who could come up and help our 3rd and 4th lines if necessary. Scoring shouldn't be a problem for us this year.

 

[FiveRings]

I don't think the defense is a top-10 defense.

But I don't think it's bottom-10 either.

I think it'll surprise you being bottom ten. That's a pretty horrid looking defense. And adding Streit isn't going to help you much on the defensive end either, he'll give you some good power play quarterbacking and offense but it looks like the Flyers are going to have to outscore their opponent night in and night out.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I think it'll surprise you being bottom ten. That's a pretty horrid looking defense. And adding Streit isn't going to help you much on the defensive end either, he'll give you some good power play quarterbacking and offense but it looks like the Flyers are going to have to outscore their opponent night in and night out.

Or get great goaltending.. which is a possibility with the two guys we have now.

 

[jgboys1]

Or get great goaltending.. which is a possibility with the two guys we have now.

I did like the way Mason played for us towards the end of the season. If he can keep playing like that along with Emery, we could have a solid year in net.

 

[jgboys1]

Found this on Yahoo sports.

Philadelphia Flyers

Remember when the Flyers signed Vincent Lecavalier at $4.5 million annually for five years and everyone went apoplectic? Welp, he’s going to earn less than Iginla, Ribeiro, Alfredsson, Horton, Clarkson, Filppula, Weiss and Clowe next season against the cap.

Yeah, horrible signing, Philly, coming in under market value like that.

Oh, and what’s this: Ray Emery is back for just $1.65 million after going 17-1-0 last season with Chicago?

Adam Hall was also signed for $600,000 and one season. Which is obviously why they bought out Bryzgalov and Briere.

For some reason, these signings are being demonized as terrible. Maybe you don’t feel they needed Lecavalier; you weren’t saying the same thing when the lack of a veteran winger, in the wake of Jagr’s departure, helped sink the team during the season.

The Flyers didn’t solve all of their issues, but these were shrewd financial moves from a team we weren’t sure knew had to make them. So, with the bar set there:

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Found this on Yahoo sports.

Philadelphia Flyers

Remember when the Flyers signed Vincent Lecavalier at $4.5 million annually for five years and everyone went apoplectic? Welp, he’s going to earn less than Iginla, Ribeiro, Alfredsson, Horton, Clarkson, Filppula, Weiss and Clowe next season against the cap.

Yeah, horrible signing, Philly, coming in under market value like that.

Oh, and what’s this: Ray Emery is back for just $1.65 million after going 17-1-0 last season with Chicago?

Adam Hall was also signed for $600,000 and one season. Which is obviously why they bought out Bryzgalov and Briere.

For some reason, these signings are being demonized as terrible. Maybe you don’t feel they needed Lecavalier; you weren’t saying the same thing when the lack of a veteran winger, in the wake of Jagr’s departure, helped sink the team during the season.

The Flyers didn’t solve all of their issues, but these were shrewd financial moves from a team we weren’t sure knew had to make them. So, with the bar set there:

I like the moves so far this offseason, with the exception of the contract given to Streit. Homer needs to begin to redeem himself after a number of questionable moves in recent offseasons.

 

[FiveRings]

I'm speechless over Kovalchuk retiring. i simply cannot believe it. The team had so much going for them this year too. Speechless

 

[RastaRocket]

I'm speechless over Kovalchuk retiring. i simply cannot believe it. The team had so much going for them this year too. Speechless

He just rocked the Devils world. I've never seen anything like it, and now they have no 1st round pick next season because they violated cap rules when they extended him haha.

 

[FiveRings]

He just rocked the Devils world. I've never seen anything like it, and now they have no 1st round pick next season because they violated cap rules when they extended him haha.

You're telling me. Plus we lost out on Parise and potentially Clarkson because we were banking on paying him and having him be a solid part of the franchise. No such luck, looks like we have to hang our hats on Schneider, Larsson and Zajac

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm speechless over Kovalchuk retiring. i simply cannot believe it. The team had so much going for them this year too. Speechless

It's a stunner.

Big loss for the Devils.

 

[RastaRocket]

He sucks anyway, no big deal.

For real though, I am going to miss watching him play. One of the best pure goal scorers in the league. New Jersey is going to really struggle scoring goals without him. I would kill to be able to roof a back hand shot as easily as Kovy does it, it's unbelievable.