Flyers thin at RW; Snider explains Pronger deal
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Flyers thin at RW; Snider explains Pronger deal
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Free-agent winger Chad LaRose re-signed with Carolina Thursday _ and that wasn’t good news for the Flyers.
LaRose scored 19 goals last season and had looked like he would be a nice fit for the Flyers. He was relatively inexpensive and would have given the Flyers some needed scoring punch at right wing, a position that has been decimated by the departure of Mike Knuble (27 goals last year) and Joffrey Lupul (25).
GM Paul Holmgren is still investigating the thinning free-agent market.
As it stands, some of the Flyers’ lines have been weakened because their projected right wingers scored a combined 27 goals last year _ the same total as Knuble, who signed with Washington.
Though it could change, it’s possible the right wingers will be Ian Laperriere (7 goals last year), converted center Danny Briere (11 in an injury-plagued season) Arron Asham (8) Andreas Nodl (1).
LaRose signed a two-year deal for $1.7 million per season; the Flyers have about $2.3 million in cap space, so they would have been able to sign LaRose.
Without Knuble and Lupul, the Flyers’ lines will look drastically different. Coach John Stevens has lots of options and will probably try numerous combinations. Here is how they might look:
1. Gagne-Giroux-Briere _ The Flyers’ version of the French Connection. Could be sensational.
2. Hartnell-Carter-Laperriere _ Lappy replaces Lupul.
3. Carcillo-Richards-Asham _ The CAR Line is loaded with scrappy, hard-working players. But would Carcillo and Asham be good enough finishers to work with Richards?
4. Cote/van Riemsdyk-Powe-Nodl/Kalinski _ Cote’s roster spot could be in jeopardy. Jared Ross could also fit into the mix.
The defensive pairings could look like this:
Timonen-Coburn _ Will they be reunited?
Pronger-Carle _ Carle supplies the speed, Pronger the physicality.
Parent-Jones _ Would be a good duo if Jones has recovered from hip problems.
Send me the lines and pairings you think would be the most effective.
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In Friday’s Inquirer, Flyers chairman Ed Snider tells why the Flyers mortgaged the future to acquire Pronger, who is expected to help give the Flyers one of the league's top defenses.
element, you are crazy! "Carcillo showed surprising skill with the puck." He scored what ONE goal while dressed as a Flyer. He was surprisingly good at hitting the goalie in the center of his chest. 10 goals would be a pleasant surprise out him.— Bazalite- ok,lets assume JVR cannot make it in camp...Homer has said that he would use Hartnell at RW if necessary...Gags has played RW,as well.. How About this: Powe-Richards-Gagne Nodl-Carter-Hartnell Carcillo-Giroux-Briere Cote-Lappy-Asham— Exhibit
- richards will definately not work well with those two. he needs way better linemates than them..although they are decent, but not enough. richards will be picking up their slack. jones should be traded and then we can sign a solid RW. see how training camp goes with our D prospects and maybe one can fill in.— foreverinour
- Anyone know if Jones will be healthy enough to report to camp? Before trading him, you need to know if he will be skating when camp opens and I'n not clear on that.— Claudio Vernight
- I still hate that Carcillo trade...— Philly Fan in Kuwait
- 1. Gagne-Richards-Giroux_ Giroux and gags have somehting special. 2. Hartnell-Carter-Briere_ A skill and finshing increase from Lupul. 3. Carcillo-Powe-Lappy_ Hard working will punish opposing D 4. Cote/van Riemsdyk--Nodl/Kalinski _ Not sure about line 4. I think inorder for the top six to change James would need to fit in there, The defensive pairings could look like this: Timonen-Parent _ Keep this going, parent has really come along and is ready for another big step. Pronger-Colburn_ Twin towers colburn would learn so much Carle-Jones _ reliable 3rd pairing— Richiethecup
- I agree...I would rather have Upshall!!!— Exhibit
- We will need to determine two things,I think,before lines can be really dialed in. 1.)See what JVR looks like.2.) See what Ryan Dingle looks like.I read that he was goinf to make the ducks roster but he got hurt late in camp and that buried him for the season. Maybe if he is healthy now,he makes an impression and cracks the top 9.— Exhibit
- The line combos, with the team constructed as is, are not going to matter much. If they get to the playoffs with this same team, how far do you think they can go? No scoring on the 3rd and 4th lines, nobody to get in the goalies way and get the ugly goals without Knuble. Who do you think is going to be the guy who is going to stand in front of the goalie, pay the price, muck in the corners and do what Knuble did? Since Homer secrewed up this cap so bad, we lost Upshall and more than that, R. J. Umberger. How good would they look right now on this team? Finally, what happens when Briere and Gagne go out with injuries again like they usually do. This defense and Emery had better be at the top of their game consistently. After starting off so well, Homer has become Bob Clarke before our very eyes by going cheap and chancing it on a goalie, too many thugs in the lineup, etc. Typical Flyers---so close yet so far and another year of the cup drought will continue I hate to say.— whydownie
- There are still some intriguing UFA RW's available, including Petr Sykora, Richard Zednik and Miroslav Satan. All are looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons, have shown that they can score in the past, and may be willing to take a cheaper one-year deal. I don't think you can expect Asham, Laperriere, and Nodl to consistently score.— Kingsalami
- Posted by gpicaro 09:04 AM, 07/03/2009; do us all a favor and don't type false things. JVR's cap hit is no more than 750k if he was to make the team. Its scaled because he is a rookie. Similar to the hit Giroux was last year. If you can discredit me, please post the site you are getting your numbers from.— Flyers2001
- this is pathetic...i think prongers a great fit to our team but they should not have signed le periere..we dont need more penaltys and they should have dumped carcillo cuz hes just plane useless..letting knuble walk was stupid and now were left with a goon squad..this teams getting worse instead of better..holmgrims starting to show signs of bobby clarke commin through...if we had of dumped briere we could have signed khabiboulin kept knuble and had cap space to grab another forward...maybe its time to change the GM again...— flyerfan18
- colby armstrong,ales kotalik and ryan clowe are all still available..roughly 1 mill a piece and each was in the 20 goal department last year..1 or 2 of them would sure up the RW spot..— flyerfan18
- The list of available RWs is not exactly scintillating but if any of them will sign for what the Flyers have available under the cap, Holmgren should be able to walk away with a 2nd/3rd liner with some scoring ability. Obviously these leftovers all have flaws, so nitpick away... Ales Kotalik--31 yrs old in 09/10 season--made $2.5 mill last yr Max Afinoginov--30--$3.5 mill Petr Sykora--33--$2.5 mill Rich Zednik--34--$1.75 mill Miro Satan--35--$3.5 mill They all had somewhere between 35-45 pts I think (except for Afinoginov). They're not really young, but neither was Knuble. It basically comes down to whether you want a proven commodity at RW, but be against the salary cap heading into camp; or whether you want to head into camp with question marks at RW, but cap space.— DJK7475
