Parise to Pens would be Flyers' worst nightmare
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Parise to Pens would be Flyers' worst nightmare
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
For the Flyers, the bad news coming out of Pittsburgh on Thursday was that superstar Sidney Crosby had signed a 12-year, $104.4 million extension, a cap hit of $8.7 million _ the same as this season.
It’s bad news because Crosby, arguably the NHL’s best player when healthy, probably could have gotten a shorter deal....which would have caused a higher cap hit per season.
By stretching out the contract, the Penguins have plenty of cap space for some moves, and it appears they will not be outbid for the best free agent on the free-agent market, Devils left winger Zach Parise.
You know, the guy the Flyers (and many others) covet.
Crosby and Parise have been close friends for several years. Crosby even shared a suite with Parise’s family at the Stanley Cup Finals.
If you connect the dots, it seems a good bet that they will be on the same line together next season.
The Pens have $15 million in cap space _ and will probably clear more room by dealing defenseman Paul Martin. The defensive-challenged Penguins would also like to sign free-agent defenseman Ryan Suter.
The free-agent frenzy starts at noon on Sunday. After Parise, the list of free-agent wingers includes Alexander Semin, an expensive one-dimensional player; Shane Doan; P.A. Parenteau; and Jaromir Jagr.
Stay tuned.
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Now that defenseman Dennis Wideman has signed a five-year deal with Calgary with an anuual cap hit of $5.25, Matt Carle's price probably has gone up. The Flyers have insisted all along they expect to sign him.
We shall see.
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As expected, the cap for next season will rise to $70.2 million, up from $64.3 million. This will help spend-to-the-limit teams like the Flyers. And, remember, teams can exceed the cap by 10 percent in the summer.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
sign suter and let Carle walk!! PLEASE!!!— sawgrass- Like we need any more reasons to detest the Penqueens. But that's okay, someone this season will ring Crosby's head into the boards in a legal check, that will have the tears flowing down his cheeks, and the fickle weaklings who call themselves fans.... until they lose again. Pitts burgh. The name says it all.— PhillyboyinNYC
- You sir, confirm some very negative stereotypes about Philadelphia fans. Is that he best you can do? — PensOwnU
Comment removed.- Phillyboy, your stay in NYC has not helped in the common sense department. If you knock the Pen's, a team that has won a Stanley Cup recently, then what does that say about the Flyers? As far as football goes, we ALL know the truth. Six Superbowls to NONE. Use your NYC instinct to answer this: What will happen first? The Steelers win ten Superbowls or the Eagles win one? Vegas says 3-1 that The Steelers win TEN first! Don't be a hater. Embrace the Black and Gold. It will help you taste......Victory. — StevenG
- Comment removed.
- I'm a Flyers fan but am embarrassed by this post. Why can't we give grudging credit to a great player? I think the quality of the hockey is better when the best players are healthy and playing. I don't want to win a cup because the the other teams players are hurt.
Holmgren better get a big free agent this week or the Pens will be a handful. When they pick up Parise he will make the Pens more disiplined, so Flyers will have to earn what they get. Let's hope they are up to it. 37 years is too long.— NHLfan - NHLfan, I agree. I'm not comfortable talking smack with Pittsburgh fans about anything but baseball. It is a dump of a city, by the way. I have to spend time there regularly on business, and I can't wait to leave.
— 1980 - This is what happens when you sign a goalie with mental instability for too many years. Time to bring in some NON EX FLYERS to run this front office.— Pete60
- Let Carle leave. There is no reason to resign him. He sucks and giving him a raise won't change that.— Matt Mac Isaac
- Comment removed.
- I still think Minnesota will be a player for Parise. I thought Parise didn't want to play for a rival in same division as Devils?— BobbyD
- Parise to the Pens is a lock. Game on. 37 years and counting.— shawnmac
- Who is J.P. Parenteau? There is a P.A. Parenteau that most recently played for the Islanders but no J.P. Hello Mr. Editor?— Jerded
- They should drug test the Calgary GM. No way is Wideman worth $5 million a year.— schultz08
