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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Broad Street Bull

Source: Flyers to sign Gervais

The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull

53 comments

Source: Flyers to sign Gervais

POSTED: Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 4:57 PM

The Flyers are close to signing defenseman Bruno Gervais. (AP Photo / Chris O'Meara)

With Zach Parise out of the picture, what should the Flyers do next?

The Flyers are close to signing defenseman Bruno Gervais, according to an NHL source.

Gervais (6-1, 200), an unresricted free agent who made $525,000 last season, would add some size and a right-handed shot to the Flyers' defense. He had six goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning last year.

Gervais, a seven-year NHL veteran, he will be about $4.5M (per-season cap hit) cheaper than Matt Carle, who signed with Tampa Bay. Carle got a six-year deal for $33 million, an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.

The 27-year-old Gervais would compete for a spot on the Flyers' third D pairing.

For an earlier post on Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and the Flyers' plans, click here.

Sam Carchidi and Staff @ 4:57 PM Permalink | 53 comments

53 comments

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Comments (53)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:00 PM, 07/04/2012

Is this Plan B, C, D or F???

— shawnmac

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:06 PM, 07/04/2012

This according to TB scouting report: "Strengths: Moves the puck out of the defensive zone swiftly and with aplomb (?). Has sound all-around upside and poise under pressure. Weaknesses: Is somewhat inconsistent in all areas of the game. Doesn't use his 6-1 frame enough to gain the upper hand on opponents in the defensive zone.
Projection: Puck-moving depth defenseman." Sounds like Carle already only cheaper...

— rubberbullet

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:08 PM, 07/04/2012

so does this mean Carle is gone?

— ESFjellin

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:10 PM, 07/04/2012

You'd sure have to think so. Or Homer's working something behind the scenes that involves Gus or Bourdon. I'm thinking the former, but with Homer you can never tell.

I'm not sweating it. There's plenty of time left before the playoffs start. The cap room they gain by not re-signing Jagr and (probably) not re-signing Carle will still be there. They don't need to spend it before camp opens if what they want and need isn't jumping into their lap.

— sklandog

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:12 PM, 07/04/2012

It's done to get a response. Why are you replying?

— sklandog

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:13 PM, 07/04/2012

Not an overwhelming signing but not horrible either. Good skater, moves the puck well but isnt real physical for his size. Considering his price, low risk decent possibility for reward.

— Neebo

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:18 PM, 07/04/2012

Good 5th-6th guy. Depth. Which means get ready for trade. Also keep in mind timm gone next year. Good move. Doesn't mean carle not back though. Keeping cap open for weber, hopefully

— fman727

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:20 PM, 07/04/2012

The Flyers should sign Shane Doan. He is a tough Flyer-type player that the fans would love and would be very productive. He is a winger, can play man down and would grind for either of the top two lines. He is like a smarter version of Hartnell. He would also make a great Alternate to Giroux as Captain.

— airpope

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:32 PM, 07/04/2012

I'd rather sign Ricky Gervais, but seriously MrJitsonhimself what's your problem. If you don't like the Flyers, fine, but I can never understand someone like you coming to a Flyer fan page & ripping on Flyers & fans. Go write something positive about your team on your webpage. And also it takes no balls to call people names from behind your computer.

— philadavephia

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:13 PM, 07/04/2012

Doan reportedly won't sign anywhere until July 9 - or whenever the Phoenix ownership situation is resolved. At this point, there's probably little harm in waiting.

— sklandog

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:47 PM, 07/04/2012

mrjets=scotstevensisgod?

— NYPHILLYPHAN

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:49 PM, 07/04/2012

I think if u make this acquisition along with a premium forward like Semin or Doan then this makes good sense. You can't have superstars at every position.

— feudal_nobility09

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:59 PM, 07/04/2012

If the Flyers go for Gervais instead of Carle they're apparently loading up for an even bigger deal. Last summer Paul Holmgren was labeled a genius; this summer he brings to mind John Steinbeck's "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Whatever the Flyers are doing to date in the offseason, they haven't impressed--yet.

— schultz08

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:19 PM, 07/04/2012

They could just be looking for an affordable short-term replacement for Carle. Top pairings containing Meszaros, Coburn, Timonen, and Grossman isn't that awful.

Recall he made news last summer by trading the core of the franchise for prospects/young players. I have no concern about them "winning" the off-season. If what they want/need isn't there, the last thing I'd want them to do is spent it one whomever is left just so they could say they did "something." I want them to win next spring.

— sklandog