Free agency shaping the Flyers
The Flyers failed to sign free-agent winger Simon Gagne, who opted for a two-year deal with Los Angeles on Saturday that will pay him a total of $7 million ($3.5M per season).
Free agency shaping the Flyers
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers failed to sign free-agent winger Simon Gagne, who opted for a two-year deal with Los Angeles on Saturday that will pay him a total of $7 million ($3.5M per season).
The Flyers have about $3.3 million in cap space _ $4.4 million after Ian Laperriere goes on the LTIR list _ and still need to sign RFA winger Wayne Simmonds.
A deal with Simmonds is expected to be finalized in a few days.
"Even if we don't do anything else, I'm very happy with the team we've put together," said Peter Luukko, president of of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor.
The Flyers are counting on their defense being one of the NHL's best.
They are also relying on newcomers Simmonds, Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek to have big seasons and help compensate for the loss of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Ville Leino, three players who combined for 78 goals last season.
Here is how the Flyers' lines may look:
** Hartnell-Briere-Jagr.
** JVR-Giroux-Simmonds.
** Talbot-Schenn-Voracek (Talbot can also play C)
** Shelley-Betts-Nodl.
NOTE: C Sean Couturier, the team's highly touted No. 1 dratt pick, is a threat to crack the lineup. Ditto promising Matt Read.
Still, it's far from an overpowering group, which means the Flyers will have to rely on strong goaltending and defense if they are to end their 36-year Stanley Cup drought.
* * *
The Flyers will hold a prospect development camp at the Skate Zone in Voorhees from Wednesday through July 11.
Many of the Flyers top prospects will be at the camp, including highly regarded center Brayden Schenn, who was acquired in the deal that sent Richards to Los Angeles, and Couturier, the eighth overall pick in the recent NHL draft.
The camp, which is open to the public, will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on July 6, 7, 9 and 10, and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on July 11.
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 throughout 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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- Very well said on this point - we are all severe homers when overvaluing our own players in Philadelphia. Outside of a great run last year when they caught fire in the playoffs, what has this team accomplished? NOTHING!
I'm hoping Holmgren was right banking on these kids...— cdk104 - @debbyt How many young players have Boston and Chicago had while winning the cup lately? Quite a few. If you look around the league, many teams are going with young players and relying on them 18-22. They're surrounding them with experienced veterans (like say Briere, Talbot, Jagr, Pronger, etc...). If they can skate and actually shoot the puck on the powerplay, I'll take my chances with the mix up front, a solid D and a top notch goalie like the Flyers have now. Obviously Captain Apathy and his Sidekick will enjoy their new homes where there is no pressure to win. And sadly, LA may just end up winning the West.
Comment removed.- First of all, these projected lines show a lack of understanding of the parts acquired. Voracek was not brought here to be a 3rd line wing. He will be given his chance to play with Briere and Hartnell on the first line, while flipping with the 2nd line (Jagr won't be able to play big minutes). Why? Voracek is not a defensive forward. Simmonds is. He'll be on the "3rd" line with Talbot, although I think it would be best labeled a checking line. I'm not sure where Schenn fits in, until he develops. They were going after Gagne today. If they had been successful, would have bumped Schenn from this lineup. Shelley, although a good guy, shouldn't be listed. There are a few younger forwards that will get an opportunity to crack the roster: Reid, Holmstrom and Wellwood. Any one of those guys bring more to the table than Shelley. So why list Shelley? There's a decent, not great, but decent chance Curterier could make the roster too, and he is a two-way forward. Also, Talbot IS a center, not just able to play center, and he should be regarded as such. His play is part of the reason Richards and Carter are gone. Finally, I agree with the others that Hartnell is the last of pieces that need to be moved (but won't). Shelley shouldn't be on this roster (bad move last year) and therefore the fighting duties should fall to Hartnell. (no pun intended) Also, the pp will definitely be better this year. Think Giroux+Jagr+Briere.
— Danno - Wow, I am amazed at the typical fical Philly whining. Jesus people, have some sense of optimism. Who were Richards and Carter but 3 years ago, Nobodies!! I'm not the biggest fan of the Richards trade, but he also shouldn't have been captain either. Carter on the other hand, he was the North American Zherdev and that's it, cherry picker at most. Good riddance. But actually having a goalie, albeit too expensive, and a pretty solid defense regardless of age..last I checked Lidstom just won the Norris at 40, and one of the most gifted hockey players in the past 3 generations in Jagr who can still play the game along side up and comers of Giroux and JVR...plus the many intangibles of Briere's skills, a hopefully more blossomed Hartnell and all those younger prospects and players in the wings. We could always be better and we could always be worse. Don't make judgement till the season gets going. I look forward to the year, and ya'll should too.— MikeC83
- Most likely the lines will look like this and i will explain why.
JVR-Giroux-Jagr Size on the wings a pure playmaker in center and each player can create thier own offense.
Hartnell-Briere-Voracek Size on both wings a scorin center with a playmaker on the wing in Voracek.
Simmonds-Schenn-Nodl Simmonds and Schenn have experience with each other both wings have speed for a playmaking center.
Holmstrom/Couturier-Talbot-Betts All players are excellent defensive forwards Couturier is a center but can play wing and is more nhl ready defensivley at this point, no need for Shelly with Simmonds, Hartnell and Talbot. Plus you save money on sending down Shelly.— allsprtsfan84 - I'd have like to have seen them keep Richards, but not much we can do now. We have cap space so if things aren't working out during the season a trade isn't out of the question.— Badhog
- Homer got sick & tired of Richards & Carter's nightlife and the worst part is banging Snooki afterwards.— z03mbm
- The guys given up and the guys signed mean nothing. It's all about Pronger staying healthy. If he misses a bunch of games at the end of the season and/or any significant playoff time and the Flyers are going nowhere.— stinky_pete
- This team will struggle to make the playoffs. They'll be a 6/7 seed & probably get bounced in Rd. 1. They apparently learned nothing from when they let knuble leave 3 years ago then struggled all season to replace his goalscoring. Betw Powe, Richie, and Carter that was 150 POINTS. You really think Jagr, Simmonds, Voracek, Talbot, & Schenn are replacing that? Hysterical. Especially when you consider how weak we are at Center now. We sucked @ faceoffs last year & now we just traded 2 of our better faceoff guys. This is gonna work brilliantly....— thomaspfoolery
- The "Richards-Carter" led team was going nowhere fast. They were going to remain a middle of the pack group at best. The split on the team was evident - just look at the last half of the regular season and the playoffs. They were lucky to beat Buffalo and if it hadn't been for Briere standing up in the "room" and blasting the team it would have been over after the first round. Where was Richard's leadership at that point. It should have been the captain's responsibiltiy to light a fire under the team. Let "Richie" go back with John Stevens in LA. That should be nice since Richards has to take a good deal of the blame for getting Stevens fired here. As for Carter he can take his non-clutch goals, his wide-of-the-net wrist shot, and his reluctance to either pass the puck or check anyone and go play in Columbus. Honestly people, get over it. Something had to be done.— Dennyb21
- Totally agree w/ your take on Carter. But you forgot that he's a lousy defensive player and poor faceoff man who becomes mostly invisible in the playoffs. Hard to believe the Flyers got so much for him. — Snap Crackle Propp
- Not too long ago, Peter Luukko was the guy in charge of seating (Handicapped seating, etc) at the First Union Center...What exactly are his credentials to be asked his opinion of this team? What is his hockey personnel?— ericyshel
- by the way.. if you add up all the goals we lost from losing carcillo, powe, versteege, richards & carter totals from last yr its 110.. we gained 34 via simmonds and vorachek.. and whatever jagr can do... we still have $$ and there is still time but i dont think this will be the flyers final lines.. and also giroux will be #1 center.— LAdelphia
- magoop needs to troll on the rangers' page. maybe someone will care over there.— otown philly fan
