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This is an interesting topic I got into a great discussion about with some guys in Tim's blog. The Flyers money situation after this season... I know its early but bare with me its pretty intriguing to me...

Players Under Contract

Offense- 8 Players at 24.137 cap hit
Gagne, Briere, Knuble, Upshall, Lupul, Hartnell, Kapanen, Eager

Defense- 5 players at 16.305 cap hit
Timonen, Kukkonen, (Rathje, Hatcher, Gauthier =9.1 million)

Goalies- 4.725 cap hit
Nitty, Biron

Total Cap hit- $45.167
Minus (9.1 mill)= $36.067

RFA: Carter, Richards, Umberger, Ruzicka, Coburn, Picard, Jones
UFA: Smith

Without a Cap increase and the assumed departure of Rathje, Hatcher, and Gauthier that leaves the flyers with $14.233 under the current NHL cap. Theres no telling on the increase so lets stick with the current figure and simply just round down to 14 million.

14 million dollars to sign 3 Centers, 1 winger, and we will say Parent cracks the lineup and say 3 Defensive players.

Do we feel this is enough money?

Lets highball and assume Carter scores 35+ goals this season and gets a nice $5 million a year deal. Lets also assume Richards receives say 3.5 million a year deal, which is a very high guestimate I feel. Lets assume Coburn gets a 1.5 million dollar a year deal, (which is slightly high as well). This is a total cap hit of 10 million dollars (assuming these players have breakout years and get paid.)

This leaves 4.233 million to sign 2 defense man a 4th line center and a 4th line winger. Not to mention our own farm system players such as Claude Giroux, James vanRiemsdyk and Steve Downie who are expected to crack the lineup in the next few years, who would sign at very cheap prices. I think you can count on seeing Downie in the 2008-2009 lineup.

I found it very interesting to actually break down the numbers and see what they will be working with, since all the fans across the league continue to bash us on the money spending we did this off season... To me the Flyers are in Tremendous shape going into next season as well.. might even have room for another Defensive signing if the Cap increases. Adam Foote? Lindstrom? Teppo Numinen? Wade Redden? Dan Boyle? Take a shot at boyle now.. Umberger/Gauthier for Boyle... (Kukkonen/Boyle) wishfull thinking?

Do Flyers fans feel the same way? Have the Flyers done a very good job in securing up the players they want? Do we feel next year we will be sweating bullets come free agency period or will we be sitting back relaxed knowing Holmgren already signed our RFA because he doesn't let the league determine what he pays his players. And just kind of wondering in the back of our heads.. will homer pull some more magic this year?

I highly doubt we will be sweating the Drury, Briere, and Vanek bullets next season. Should be a very smooth process, in which I will be sitting back drinking beers by my pool.

All salary numbers from http://www.nhlnumbers.com/phi.html great site.
Filed Under:   Flyers   Richards   Carter  
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