Holmgren relying on kids' growth
After listening to Flyers GM Paul Holmgren Thursday, I get the sense that _ unless other teams bring down their demands _ he will not be a player in the trading sweepstakes for Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan or Columbus’ Rick Nash.
Holmgren relying on kids' growth
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
After listening to Flyers GM Paul Holmgren Thursday, I get the sense that _ unless other teams bring down their demands _ he will not be a player in the trading sweepstakes for Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan or Columbus’ Rick Nash.
In other words, the Flyers are not dealing promising centers Sean Couturier or Brayden Schenn.
Period.
Holmgren talked today after the Flyers signed winger Ruslan Fedotenko and defenseman Bruno Gervais, a pair of unrestricted free agents.
The Flyers still have the cap space to make a deal, but my sense is that they are committed to the kids _ they played 12 rookies last season _ and will give them another year to develop.
They can use that cap space to make a move during this season _ or have plenty of room next year, when the free-agent class is expected to include Shea Weber, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, among other marquee names. (Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell will also be among the UFAs in 2013.)
“I really like our team,” Holmgren said, “and I’m hesitant to look at anything where I’ve got to give up something (important) to get something back. We have a lot of good young players that have tremendous potential. Quite frankly, I’m happy with our team right now. That doesn’t mean we won’t look and see what happens.”
Holmgen said the Flyers “took a couple swings for the fences early on in free agency” _ he was referring to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter _ “and those are adding players that you’re not taking away from your team. We had to slide to Plan B, and we’re happy with the players we got in Plan B.”
And happy to watch the youngsters mature and develop into (hopefully) stars.
Breakaways. Holmgren on not being able to resign Matt Carle, who went to Tampa Bay: “I’m disappointed, but we’ll move on. We tried hard to sign Matt.”….Holmgren said he spoke with Jaromir Jagr’s agent, Petr Svoboda, throughout the start of free agency. “I don’t know if he got antsy or what. I got a call late on the 3rd (of July) that he was getting excited and wanted to make a move, and I wasn’t prepared to do anything at that time," the GM said. "We still had offers out on the table that I wanted to wait on, and I wasn’t prepared to move on Jaromir at the time….and he wasn’t ready to wait.” Jagr signed with Dallas…..Holmgren said he doesn’t expect problems coming to an agreement with Jake Voracek, a restricted free agent. “I don’t want to put a timeline on it, but he’ll be signed at some point," he said.
Welcome to 2006-07 apocalypse all over again...
Rusty Fedotenko = Kyle Calder
Luke Schenn = Steve Eminger
The difference is, neither Couturier nor Schenn are remotely as good as Richards...and Couturier might be better than Carter defensively, but he will never score like Carter...
This ain't gonna be pretty...especially with the coach behind the wheel...
— Dangler9- So in your expert opinion on the development of hockey prospects, Schenn (age 20) and Couturier (age 19), you've established that neither one will ever be as good as Mike Richards or Jeff Carter...That is after seeing them play in 63 and 77 games respectively. I'm glad you cleared that up for us and for them that way we can just get rid of them we can move on. As for the coach, I too think he is is a bumbling moron--seeing as he's coached teams to 2 stanley cups in 7 years (1-1)...but yes, he's completely awful. I think we should just fire everyone and let you coach and manage the franchise being that your hockey accumen is transcendent of the current professionals in the Flyers employ.
- Yes, he used to be a scout for the Manitoba turds in the fargo bush league. He's an expert, I can swear under oath.
- Yes, he used to be a scout for the Manitoba turds in the fargo bush league. He's an expert, I can swear under oath.
- "Rusty Fedotenko = Kyle Calder
Luke Schenn = Steve Eminger"
Those comparisons are about as big a stretch as they come.— camtheman - i love that he's not making moves just for the sake of doing it. keep the crew together for another year of learning, and hold the cash for a big pickup next summer. i'd take one "disappointing" season if it means eventually signing the best d-man in the league.— mrkmcc
- Disappointing season? On defense they lost Carle but added Schenn. On offense they lost Jagr and JVR, but growth (and Fedotenko) will make up for that. Plus, NJ and Pitt both are worse. — logicandreason
Comment removed.- Suter signed with Minnesota turd breath, Pittsburgh is the biggest bunch of thug failures I've ever seen on skate with a cry baby captain that choked.
- First, it's Suter and secondly, he signed with Minnesota. Pay attention! — camtheman
- Taking a shot at Ek with the "more to come" comment at the end?— vipers53
- Comment removed.
- Dangler: Don't sell Couturier short on his offense. He put up some pretty eye-opening #s in juniors, and did pretty well in his first full season campaign, notching 13 goals despite limited time playing mostly on the 4th line. To put those 13 goals in context, Carter scored 14 his second season (after 23 his first season), and Carter was playing on special teams with Forsberg.
- Call me crazy but I LOVE this stance. The future of this team is very bright. There is no substitute for the experience the young guys got last season and they and the Flyers will be better for it this coming season.
We'll miss Jagr's hard work on the boards and the influence on the young guys but now some of these young guys can spread their wings a bit more and maybe light the lamp at a greater rate.
We'll need Simmonds to at the very least, maintain his performance from last year. Hopefully he'll get better and show up more in the playoff's. You've got to think that Couturier and Schenn are going to get more points and with his speed and more opportunities, Matt Read could be a nice surprise.
There's still a question with the D until these guys get to play together, develop chemistry and all. And we all should expect that Timmo will miss some games next year. That dude is the man but he's fragile right now. So I wouldn't mind a run at another D man in this current FA period, but don't give up any of this promising young talent until you absolutely have to. And that time really doesn't come until trade deadlines next season.— brinks69 - Ducks will give up Bobby Ryan and his salary for a signed Jake V., young defenseman like Gust. OR M.A. Bourdon and a No 1 Rd.Dr.Ch.in 2013.— Romus
