Stamkos still unsigned; Flyers watching closely
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Stamkos still unsigned; Flyers watching closely
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
(UPDATED at 11 p.m. on July 5)
Could Steven Stamkos become a member of the Flyers?
Well, it's still HIGHLY doubtful, but an NHL source told The Inquirer that the Flyers will put a trade offer together for the Tampa Bay superstar if the Lightning feel they cannot sign him.
Stamkos, who has scored a league-best 96 goals over the last two years, still had not signed as of late Tuesday night.
Stamkos' agent, Mark Guy, talked Tuesday with Tampa GM Steve Yzerman.
"A work in progress," Yzerman told the St. Pete Times.
Tampa has reportedly offered Stamkos a five-year deal for $37.5 million, a cap hit of $7.5 million per season.
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said he fully expects Stamkos to resign with the Lightning.
That said, the Flyers are prepared to make a trade proposal in the unlikely event he couldn't come to terms.
It's likely Tampa would be interested in Brayden Schenn and Sergei Bobrovsky -- among others -- and high draft picks.
Last week, the Flyers contemplated giving an offer sheet to Stamkos, but they never got serious because Tampa has the right to match any offer made to the restricted free agent.
I'd say the odds are 95-5 against the Flyers getting Stamkos. Then again, what were the odds of the Flyers dealing Mike Richards AND Jeff Carter this summer?
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Highly touted center Brayden Schenn, one of the players the Flyers acquired from Los Angeles in the Mike Richards trade, and promising Sean Couturier will be among the prospects at the team’s developmental camp at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.
The camp starts Wednesday and runs to Monday.
Schenn, who turns 20 on Aug. 22, was the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft. He dominated the Western Hockey League _ in his four-year career, he had 116 goals and 315 points in 224 career games _ and will be given a chance to crack the Flyers’ lineup this season. He led Team Canada to a silver medal in the 2011 World Junior Championships, and he appeared in a total of nine games for the Kings over the last two seasons.
Couturier, 18, was selected with the draft pick (eighth overall) the Flyers received as part of the Jeff Carter trade with Columbus. The 6-foot-4, 197-pound center was named the MVP of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, scoring 96 points on 36 goals and 60 assists for Drummondville.
Many of the Flyers’ top prospects will be at the camp, which 1s open to the public. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. next Monday.
On Thursday, there will be a public skating session from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Selected players will be on the ice with fans at various times during the session.
On Friday, the camp shifts to Stone Harbor for the annual Trial on the Isle. The day-long event includes a 9 a.m. mini-triathlon competition, followed by a youth hockey clinic, an autograph session and a charity softball game.
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I am open to bobrovsky, someone else and three first round draft picks and possibly a second and third round pick. If tampa let him go on an offer sheet, they get 4 1st draft picks. They would hope in that case someone other than the flyers would sign him. I guess the Flyers have to package at minimum 4 1st rounders. I am not open to trading Schenn or Corturier who are worth at least 2 first rounders and in Schenn's case 2 1st rounders and change. If he can get the deal done keeping the future nucleus of Giroux, JVR, Schenn and Corturier together, I will be a happy Flyers fan.— feudal_nobility09- No to trading Schenn, JVR, Giroux and Corturier. Just out of curiosity, Tampa has the bargaining power? they gain 4 1st round draft picks on the offer sheet. As this drags on, I feel like their bargaining power diminishes especially since whoever signs stamkos faces a stiff 8 to 9 million per year in salary space. Bobrovsky is expendable at this point.... 3 1st round picks and other 2nd round picks are expendable with his signing. I can live without Stamkos; I would settle for another quality 20 to 25 goal forward and not mortgaging the future nucleus. Whoever said trade JVR is a moron and where is the loyalty. JVR is a long time prospect and improved his play in the playoffs; in fact, i m not sure which player i would rather have in the playoffs next year JVR or Stamkos....I would not seriously consider packaging JVR or Schenn. I would hesitate on Corturier but might consider it. I think Tampa if this drags on; shouldn't find a better bargaining position than what the offer sheet release offers them.— feudal_nobility09
- ...don't worry about the playoffs, the Flyers won't be making it anyways — petemagoop
- The Flyers have one of the best defenses in the NHL with a great goaltender. Our scoring has not diminished to a pedestrian quality. On the contrary with the addition of another 20-30 goal forward, I believe our offensive production will be close. People are too caught up in last year's statistics. Oh btw, there is a thing called a salary cap and a lot of fans are operating their logic with 100 million dollar brains. I think Holmgren is doing good work. Forechecking was a major problem for the flyers; Holmgren goes out and gets quality young physical forwards on the boards.... Voracek is Czech and comes with a conditioning problem....Solution...Jagr as a mentor.... I think Jagr is good for 50 to 70 points and good leadership..... Problem for the Flyers = Goaltending, solution, sign the best goalie on the market....good work Homer.... Problem: obtaining help in problem areas while mitigating damage to future and scoring potential, Solution, Schenn, Voracek, Jagr, Simmonds and a forward to be named later.....Defense is intact and hopefully Carle had a down playoffs and will bounce back....
One thing is for sure, 2 or 3 years from now when these players mature fully, I hope all these pessimists give Homer his due when these young players have us competing for 1st place and Cups for the next 10 years.....— feudal_nobility09 - How funny- you guys all thought giving up Richards was dumb, but now Schenn is too valuable to trade for Stamkos? Which is it? If Schenn is that good and ready now- GREAT. But if we shouldn't have traded Richards- then using Schenn to get Stammer seems like a no-brainer, yes? Honestly, I'd love adding Stamkos, but we'd still be small at center with no good faceoff men. Mind you - we are there now, so the same troubles with Stamkos are less than without, but still... Talbot? Seriously? UGH!— GNIKGNARLY
- Bust out the Jagr clips from the Penguin years...— Philly Fan in Kuwait
- JVR untouchable?! And for one of the best players in the game?!
Gimme a break. JVR has three good months under his belt, and that's it. I'd include him in a trade for Stamkos in a second. There should be only two untouchables on this team -- Bryz and Giroux— VicM - Bryz is untouchable because who wants a 31 yr old goalie for mega bucks. Claude aint going no where, danny and pronger might be the only two players left that can't be moved, well harts too but thats because the NMC.
— azguz - ...Pronger??--->>what a joke -- 26M for the next 4 years -- no one would want him anyways — petemagoop
- A risky move, but one worth doing for the right trade chips. Bob I can see as Roloson is not getting any younger, but I can't see Holmgren green-lighting anything that involves Schenn. For this trade to work The Flyers will have to give up more than fringe players or players that other teams wouldnt want the burden of (Hartnell). That leaves two possibilities, break up the D by trading either Coburn or Carle and offer Danny Briere. As much as I love danny, the Lighting will not trade theri star unless they get some scoring in return, and with JVR and Giroux being indispensable, Briere is the only option that anither team would want to have. I think a deal including Bob, Carle, Briere and 1 0r 2 1st rounders would be hard for Tampa to refuse— Stairs
- ...and with JVR and Giroux being indispensable--->>says who? — petemagoop
- I'm not in favor of selling the farm for any one player (see Lindros debacle). Schenn could end up being the next Forsberg for all we know. Stamkos would also eliminate any salary cap space we may have for the next 10 years (along with Bryz).— Badhog
- Just make it happen Homer...you'll look like a genius.— Diamond Jim Brady
- i am not ready to break the bank to get stamkos and would not include schenn, jvr, couturier, giroux and maybe not even voracek in a trade as this group has the potential to give the flyers 2 strong lines for years to come....it appears that stamkos and tb are in an impasse and that means tb loses leverage by the day....i would not gut the team to acquire him...peace— Frank_Drebin
