Holmgren: 'We have to move forward'
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Holmgren: 'We have to move forward'
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said he doesn't plan to pursue another RFA from an opponent this summer, added he was close to resigning Jakub Voracek, and claimed his pursuit of RFA Shea Weber was only because of his stature _ and not because he is unhappy with his defense.
"We have to move forward," he said.
Holmgren hinted that the Bobby Ryan trade talks are not dead.
"You are asking me to comment on a player on another team. I don't think I can do that,” he said. “We look always to make our team better. We like our team. We are trying to add to our team without subtracting if at all possible, and make it better yet. We will see what the rest of the summer brings."
Holmgren may go back to Anaheim and try to acquire Ryan _ and perhaps attempt to deal some of the draft picks he would have lost to Nashville if the Predators didn’t match the 14-year, $110 million offer sheet for Weber.
Anaheim reportedly asked for Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn in earlier trade talks with the Flyers, who do not want to deal the promising forwards
Holmgren said veteran winger Shane Doan wants to remain in Phoenix, but that if he has a change of heart, the Flyers have interest.
The GM said he envisions Voracek on a line with Claude Giroux.
If the season started today, these could be the lines:
Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek.
B. Schenn-Briere-Simmonds.
Fedotenko-Couturier-Read
Rinaldo-Talbot-Wellwood.
And, yes, the 6-foot-2, 209-pound Ryan would bolster that speedy-but-smallish lineup. Ryan, 25, a Cherry Hill native who has scored more than 30 goals in each of the last four seasons, has said he wants to play for the Flyers.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Meanwhile, the Rangers added Nash to the team the Flyers have to catch.— farley- The Rangers? LOL. Queen Henrietta always folds in the playoffs— Flyers1975
- Keep up the good work Homer. Don't trade Schenn or Couturier. If we can get Ryan without giving either of those guys, then jump on it. Otherwise, let's stay pat for now and focus on resigning Voracek, Bourdon, etc— phillyfan880123
- I don't understand the continued negativity of Flyers fans reading various forums. Holmgren has done everything in his power to improve the team this offseason. They are smart for not resigning Matt Carle. The only move that has backfired is the Illya signing, but who knew he was going to be a headcase. The Kings won the Cup because of Quick.....not Richards and Carter (they were 5th and 6th on the team in postseason scoring....hello?). I'd take Brayden Schenn, Jacob Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, #8 pick (Couturier) for Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and dump their pricey contracts in a heartbeat again— phillyfan880123
- Amen, brother. — 3-hit shutout
- In Homer We Trust.— sla6yer
- I could not be anymore happier for the Flyers. Every year they try and put the pieces together to put a winning team on the ice. The Flyers IMO are like the Yankees. They are not afraid to spend and are always in the conversation of Stanley Cup. How nice would it be for Nashville to pay Weber while they are locked out. Good luck with that Nashville and as Homer says, we just need to move on. Next year crop of FA are going to be sick, and with the money we will have it will be AWESOME to be a Flyers fan! Go Orange and Black!— gbreen88
- agreed with PF880123. I think Homer has tried to do everything he can. Imagine the posts, if Homer did not offer sheets to Parisie, Suter and Weber. If Bryz steps up especially in the playoffs, no one will care what the offseason look like. Only disappointment with nashville matching, is that Weber just seems like he was born to be a flyer and would have been great in the locker room.— PhillyinBmore
- The Rangers? Gaborik is oat until mid season and Richards is one hit away from nother concussion. Losing Rupp and Dubinsky hurts them, the Flyers "should" be fantastic this year.— Clarkeisgod
- Hartnell, Rinaldo, and Lilya for Ryan then stand pat until mid season deadline and pick up another D then.
LINES
Ryan, CG, Vorachek
Read, Brierre, Simmonds
Couts, Shenn, Wellwood
Fedetanko, Talbott, (who am I missing) Sestito? Cousins? Laughton?— connorjr - connorjr....what! Lilya (or Lilja)..no way. Our best defenseman in the playoffs for a forward! — Romus
- hartnell, rinaldo & lilya for bobby ryan? you're kidding right? no way anaheim does that. i don't think you're going to get a call for a GM job any time soon. how about bryz & a bag of pucks for quick?
- Not sure what's terrible about the current team any ways. Will they preseason Cup favorite? Nope, but we're still a playoff team with very high upside on current roster. They lose JVR, Carle, Jagr and add Luke Schenn, Fedotenko and Gervais.....you now have very young talented guys like Bryaden Schenn, Sean Couturier, Eric Wellwood, Gustafson, Bourdon, etc really to step into bigger roles. I don't see how this team is any worse than last season.— phillyfan880123
- So disappointed to not get Weber when it seemed soo close. I applaud the effort though. I just hope Schenn and Couturier turn out as good as expected long term to miss out on prob the best d-man in the game in his prime. Not saying I would have traded both but I think had we not traded for Luke Schenn they may have considered him going for weber. But once his bro was here that wasn't gonna happen— FlyerAdam30
- connorjr - I don't think trading Hartnell, etc for Ryan would make sense for either team. Granted I think Hartnell is overrated, but you can't break up the line of Giroux and Hartnell. Although trading Hartnell would mean that I wouldn't have to see him plow over a goalie and have a puzzled look on this face when he gets called for interference— phillyfan880123
