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.
The Flyers have a great team, why are we always afraid of what the other teams have done in the off season. Let them all fear the flyers!— mrh1955- There's nothing to fear as long as Bryz is in net. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact, the other tams laugh every time he looks behind him for the puck...
— 7xChamp - Homer gets A+ for trying and A++++ for not trading away our young guys.....have faith....Homer is always trying to make flyers better— balboa2151
- Has anyone confirmed that Nashville paid Weber the new 13 million signing bonus? It was due this week by rules of the current CBA.
One of two checks for 26 million due to be paid Weber in the next 325 days.
why ask?
Because if Nashville is trying to stash this money and pay it after the new CBA is in place in December, the Flyers might be able to ask for "arbitration" immediately to get a mediator to see if the Predators were in breach or perhaps force a trade down their financially parched throats?
Could thre Flyers still get Weber this way?
I have a feeling Nashville is dragging their feet with that 13 million dollar killer check and it may be a loophole for the Flyers to exploit.— sdeens - broadst.17...how can you say the Rangers are not better then last year....They lost Prust and Rusty and replaced them with similar players ..those type players are a dime a dozen....they trade 2 players Dubinsky and Anisimov from their roster for a 40goal power forward...They have 4 young All Star defensemen who are better then any defensemen we have...they have Lundqvist vs our Bryzaster....talk about young forwards they have Kreider who will be a 30goal scorer this year..Hagelin...Stephan...Callahan to go along with Nash, Richards and Gaborik....they have beaten us 8 straight..keep drinking the kool aid we arent close to them— flyers1000
- You could do me a huge favor by cutting back on Flyers coverage. There are plenty of good teams in town. The Eagles have built a team to be respected, having emerged from the McNabb era. The Sixers are as strong as they've been since 2000. The Phils are trying to maintain their stature as the premiere team in town. The Flyers just traded the farm and the farm just won the Cup. They can say it, b/c they're the bullies, but they have no remaining sense of dedication or sacrifice. They get events they do not deserve like the Winter Classics and video game front covers... but have done nothing since June 2011 to deserve it. For the most part, the fans do not know any better. They see the here and now and what's on paper. But the ones that have spent countless games and years and dollars deserve better and it starts with new management. No GM should be comfortable to make the moves Holmgren has these past 2 years and not fear losing his job. So, when things turn bad, call them on it and do what they have done to players who are about to leave. Cut them out of the circus. It's a wake-up call we all need.— 2rowsfromtheice
- If the Flyers think they can trade for a valuable defensive or forward piece in a salary dump mid-season, then I foresee them not doing anything drastic the rest of the offseason--unless Doan suddenly becomes available. They will keep the 8 million or so in cap space.— feudal_nobility09
