The Official Thread of the Philadelphia Flyers (Established 2005)

[daflyboys]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

I sure hope so. Jeff Carter stepped his game up this year and if it wasn't for Mike Richards becoming such a dominant force, we'd all be talking about how much Carter has evolved.

One thing I hope Richards is doing this early part of the off season is watching himself on film so that he can cut down on situations where he forces the issue too much, be it a pass or a shot. It appears with better decision making at certain times, he'll go from great to phenom.

[slickdtc]

Quote: Originally Posted by daflyboys

One thing I hope Richards is doing this early part of the off season is watching himself on film so that he can cut down on situations where he forces the issue too much, be it a pass or a shot. It appears with better decision making at certain times, he'll go from great to phenom.

Yeah. The thing is, Richards is one of the better players on this team at making the right decision. Countless times I've seen him get the puck in the defensive zone and instead of clearing it blindly, he'll skate with the puck to get himself some room and look for an outlet pass or dump it safely. Obviously, he's not perfect, but he's one of the best players on our team at doing this.

[Flyermania]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

Pretty early to be talking about this, but Jeff Carter is a free agent this offseason (I'm pretty sure he's restricted, though). Do you guys see us resigning him? I sure hope so. Jeff Carter stepped his game up this year and if it wasn't for Mike Richards becoming such a dominant force, we'd all be talking about how much Carter has evolved. Everytime he touches the puck I feel like there's a chance he can score with that sweet wrist shot he has. Resigning him should be #1 or #2 on the list of things to do this offseason. I'll seriously be crushed if we can't get him back.

Holmgren said they will get Carter signed or match any offer --- that is the # 1 priority. Carter really stepped up when Richards got hurt and it carried over to the postseason. I have a feeling Carter's contract may decide what happens with Umberger.

Smith, Modry, and Prospal are goners. Kapanen may retire, as may Hatcher. Depending on how things work out, there may be some money to play with in free agency. I would love to see Campbell on the Flyers blueline, but that is unlikely. Liles may be a good less expensive fit. Holmgren did say he wants to address the speed on the blueline.

I was impressed with Parent in the playoffs, and I think he will get a real shot at making the club out of camp. Same with Giroux.

[slickdtc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flyermania

Holmgren said they will get Carter signed or match any offer --- that is the # 1 priority. Carter really stepped up when Richards got hurt and it carried over to the postseason. I have a feeling Carter's contract may decide what happens with Umberger. Smith, Modry, and Prospal are goners. Kapanen may retire, as may Hatcher. Depending on how things work out, there may be some money to play with in free agency. I would love to see Campbell on the Flyers blueline, but that is unlikely. Liles may be a good less expensive fit. Holmgren did say he wants to address the speed on the blueline. I was impressed with Parent in the playoffs, and I think he will get a real shot at making the club out of camp. Same with Giroux.

Yeah, that's the unfortunate thing. If we keep Carter, maybe Umberger has to go. I really hope we can keep both guys. They are the Flyers right now (along with Upshall and Richards). I don't know who's more valuable, Carter or Umberger? Even if Umberger didn't light up the Habs in the postseason, I think he may be more important to the team then Carter. He seemed to be a Richards Jr in that he was always there to make a play this year.

I figured Prospal and Modry were gone, as well as Hatcher. But why is everyone writing off Jason Smith? I thought he played pretty well for us this year and was a good, gritty player to mix in with all the youth up front. At times, he was invisible and that's a good thing, it means you're doing your job as a defensemen.

I was also pretty impressed with Ryan Parent. During the season I think he struggled a bit when he played but in the postseason I thought he did a pretty good job. Expectations weren't high, of course, but he exceeded them.

Also, I like what we have coming up. Giroux looked good in his debut and if we lose Carter or Umberger, maybe he could come in and fill that spot. And we have van Riemsdyk coming up too, although he's only 19 right now. Future looks bright for the next year and for even more years to come.

[Skerik]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

Yeah, that's the unfortunate thing. If we keep Carter, maybe Umberger has to go. I really hope we can keep both guys. They are the Flyers right now (along with Upshall and Richards). I don't know who's more valuable, Carter or Umberger? Even if Umberger didn't light up the Habs in the postseason, I think he may be more important to the team then Carter. He seemed to be a Richards Jr in that he was always there to make a play this year. I figured Prospal and Modry were gone, as well as Hatcher. But why is everyone writing off Jason Smith? I thought he played pretty well for us this year and was a good, gritty player to mix in with all the youth up front. At times, he was invisible and that's a good thing, it means you're doing your job as a defensemen. I was also pretty impressed with Ryan Parent. During the season I think he struggled a bit when he played but in the postseason I thought he did a pretty good job. Expectations weren't high, of course, but he exceeded them. Also, I like what we have coming up. Giroux looked good in his debut and if we lose Carter or Umberger, maybe he could come in and fill that spot. And we have van Riemsdyk coming up too, although he's only 19 right now. Future looks bright for the next year and for even more years to come.

Carter is by far more valuable than Umberger. The latter had a good playoff run, but Carter carried that team for a while during the second half of the season and his line was the only line that reliably created chances in all three playoff rounds. Umberger is a nice player who can bang, crash and score goals on the 3rd and 4th line, but Carter unquestionably has more value.

People are writing Smith off because he's a UFA and I don't think there's a chance he comes back after a mostly disappointing season, especially with Richards demonstrating that he's ready to wear the C. I'm sure he was playing with at least a few injuries in the playoffs and he gutted it out and showed a lot of heart, but for most of the season he wasn't the impact player I thought he'd be and we definitely need to get quicker on the back end.

Parent will definitely be a top 6 defenseman here next season. Giroux will definitely make the team. And JVR has stated he's spending one more year in college.

[slickdtc]

Ah okay, didn't know Smith was a UFA. Makes sense. So we're basically going to have to fill 2 spots on defense, maybe only one if Parent is ready to take a starting role.

[Skerik]

By the way, before anyone throws any dirt on Jason Smith, I suggest they read this article first.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/spor..._playoffs.html

Quote:

He played the entire playoff stretch with two severely separated shoulders, played a stretch earlier in the season with a shoulder injury, too. Jason Smith also played amid boos, maybe the first he has heard in a stellar hockey career, and with bloggers questioning everything from his dedication to his toughness. He accepted it all. He never complained, lashed out or asked out. "He's a tough man," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said late Sunday in Pittsburgh, emotion cracking his voice and squeezing his watery eyes. "He's a tough, tough man."

[slickdtc]

No way would I throw dirt on him. Despite his injuries, I still felt like he played well. Maybe not Jason Smith well, but he wasn't bad. But I'm glad Holmgren also is thinking this (from that same article):

Yesterday, Holmgren confirmed what many also suspected, that Smith's grittiness in this postseason did not guarantee him an offer to remain as this team's captain next season.

"I'd be foolish not to consider it," Holmgren said. "Those are the hard decisions that need to be made. I'd love to sit here and say that everybody will be back. But the economics of the game probably aren't going to allow that."

In a perfect world, I'd love to have Smith and Hatcher back for how well they played this postseason and how much toughness they showed. But this team can't dwell on its older players, it has to keep moving forward and progressing. Unfortunately, those two guys don't seem to be in the plans for next year and beyond. I won't forget the years Hatcher gave or the year Smith gave us though. One of the best years from the whole team ever for the circumstances. They should be proud to have worn the Flyers emblem this year. I sure am proud to have said they were on our team.

[TSOLEliot]

Quote: Originally Posted by slickdtc

No way would I throw dirt on him. Despite his injuries, I still felt like he played well. Maybe not Jason Smith well, but he wasn't bad. But I'm glad Holmgren also is thinking this (from that same article): Yesterday, Holmgren confirmed what many also suspected, that Smith's grittiness in this postseason did not guarantee him an offer to remain as this team's captain next season. "I'd be foolish not to consider it," Holmgren said. "Those are the hard decisions that need to be made. I'd love to sit here and say that everybody will be back. But the economics of the game probably aren't going to allow that." In a perfect world, I'd love to have Smith and Hatcher back for how well they played this postseason and how much toughness they showed. But this team can't dwell on its older players, it has to keep moving forward and progressing. Unfortunately, those two guys don't seem to be in the plans for next year and beyond. I won't forget the years Hatcher gave or the year Smith gave us though. One of the best years from the whole team ever for the circumstances. They should be proud to have worn the Flyers emblem this year. I sure am proud to have said they were on our team.

Co-sign....

And Carter is more valuable than Umberger...might get to keep both if Kapanen retires.

[slickdtc]

http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?serv...ticleid=365403

Flyers acquire defensemen Danny Syvret from the Edmonton Oilers for forward Ryan Potulny.

From what I read from the article, he's a puck moving defensemen. Just what the doctor ordered. Any insight from any Oilers fans?