Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 3:24 PM | 65 comments |
 

Holmgren pretty vague on Biron
options
 

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, a straight shooter in most cases, was pretty vague about the future of goaltender Martin Biron at a Tuesday press conference. After the team's first-round playoff ouster by Pittsburgh, Holmgren is in evaluation mode, clearly.  But given several chances to say that Marty would be his guy if they can work out the money under the salary cap, Holmgren declined.

The fact is, backup Antero Nittymaki is unsigned, too -- and has a hip problem to boot, a lingering injury that will require further checking, according to Holmgren. Anyway, Holmgren said, "We’ll continue to talk. Some of it’s going to come down to, in terms of both of those guys...whether we can afford to sign both those guys, I don’t know. These are things we will continue to discuss.”

Holmgren was then asked if he would be happy with Biron as his starting goaltender next season. The GM said, “I think Marty’s a good goalie. I think he’s had a good couple of years here and (if) we move forward with him, that’ll be a decision we make in the next little while.”

Then, later, Holmgren was asked if it was just a matter of getting the money right, if that was the issue. And Holmgren said, “We’ll see. We’ll see. It’s a difficult process when you have a salary cap and we’ve already committed a certain amount of dollars in certain areas, we’ll come up with the right direction.”

Make of that what you will. Maybe they just haven't decided yet internally and Holmgren was stalling. Maybe the money is such an overriding factor that they can't get their heads around the rest of it. I don't know. All I'm sure of is that I didn't hear a ringing endorsement of the incumbent goaltender.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 3:24 PM  Permalink | 65 comments
65
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:57 PM, 04/28/2009
    Later Marty, problem is we have no cap space to go get a good goalie and no one in the minors. Good cap managment there Homer.
    — Flyboy24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:10 PM, 04/28/2009
    Relax FlyBoy, Homer is the reason this team had a chance.. Who will be he Goalie next year? I hope they can make a trade to acquire a goalie..
    — gallen024
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:17 PM, 04/28/2009
    Flyers are painted into a corner in the goalie department. Neither Nitty nor Marty are the answer, but what option do they have with so many dollars on the books for next year?
    — jpk
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:21 PM, 04/28/2009
    If Marty signs for something reasonable i can see it. If not, trade loopy to the Ducks for Jiggy. Jones, ALberts gone as well, possibly Knubble.
    — Clarkeisgod
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:30 PM, 04/28/2009
    I see him re signing. He is a legit starter in the league and there just won't be any other goalies of his quality available through FA or trade. Want cap space? See ya Joffrey. Rather have Matsumoto or JVR in his spot anyway.
    — sla6yer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:31 PM, 04/28/2009
    Clarkeisgod - I agree with moving Lupul to Anaheim for Jiggy. Do you know why he hasn't played this playoffs? Is he hurt?
    — gallen024
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:31 PM, 04/28/2009
    I'd go after Khabibulin in the offseason and try to sign him to a 2 year deal. But Chicago may sign him since he's the starter now and playing well. Chicago won't be able to unload Huet with his contract. We'll see. I love Knuble but I think he won't be back. Alberts won't be back, but Jones is under contract for next season. Sbisa will be up. We need to somehow trade Carle and Lupul because of their contracts. I hope we get Bouwmeester.
    — MarkNJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:31 PM, 04/28/2009
    I'd go after Khabibulin in the offseason and try to sign him to a 2 year deal. But Chicago may sign him since he's the starter now and playing well. Chicago won't be able to unload Huet with his contract. We'll see. I love Knuble but I think he won't be back. Alberts won't be back, but Jones is under contract for next season. Sbisa will be up. We need to somehow trade Carle and Lupul because of their contracts. I hope we get Bouwmeester.
    — MarkNJ
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:36 PM, 04/28/2009
    Exactly, i wouldn't be real suprised to see Carter or Gagne traded for a legit #1 goalie. I was shocked and embarrassed with how soft Carter played in that Pitt series. Very concerning.
    — Clarkeisgod
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:37 PM, 04/28/2009
    I say bring Biron back. He's not the reason they lost the series this year or last. The biggest mistake Holmgrem made was signing re-signing Lupul instead of re-signing R.J. Umberger. Lupul is awful and they should try and trade him. Put him on waiver if you have to. Anything to free up the cap-space he's taking up. Holmgrem either needs a big forward to play with Richards, or they need to do a better job replacing Hatcher and Jason Smith. They missed those two tough defenders big time this playoffs.
    — Gmilst1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:39 PM, 04/28/2009
    what other goalies are out there? Flyers are NOTORIOUS for getting old goalies 2-3 years past their prime. I don't need to go down the list, we all know who they are. The goalie carousel around here is embaressing. Add Bouwmeester and dump: Knuble, Lupul, Jones and Carle. I doubt there's a long list of takers for that scrap pile.
    — 1stStateTarHeel
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:43 PM, 04/28/2009
    If they bring Biron back, they need to make some changes on the blue line. Parent and Alberts are too inconsitant and turn the puck over way too much. They should also move one of the forwards like Lupol or Hartnell and bring in a veteran. As much as I was in favor of not resigning Smith this season, he would not have let the D collapse like they did this year.
    — chasing history
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:44 PM, 04/28/2009
    trade one of our forwards Lupul(dont want to lose him, but it may happend) to Nashville, who is looking for a forward and willing to trade there #11 pick, then we can draft the goalie from Finland, cannot remember his name, but according to Eklund is 6"7' and has Kippersoff reflexes. Just an idea
    — cote32
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:46 PM, 04/28/2009
    Clarke is trying to get Homer to sign Sean Burke.
    — BobbyD


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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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