Philadelphia Flyers Who Staying or Going
Posted 1:12 PM ET | Comments 0
Well…… That didn’t end the way Philadelphia Flyers fans had hoped. Swept in the second round by the Boston Bruins. We’ve all read the stories of what went wrong. The injuries, goaltending issues, coach and captain not talking, lack of leadership etc.
So instead let’s take a look towards next season and let me tell you what i think. Who will be here? Who won’t be here?
Let’s take a look at the current roster.
Forwards:
Danny Briere- Yes he will be in a Flyers uniform next season. Still with 4 years left on his contract he isn’t going anywhere. Briere was one of our better offensive players during both the regular season and playoffs.
Mike Richards- Oh our team “captain”. Well that is what his jersey says. Personally would like to see him go. But with 9 years left on his contact I don’t think anyone would want him. I didn’t know a wrist injury stopped your legs from moving. But I won’t be surprised if the ‘C’ is taking off his jersey.
Jeff Carter- Another player who let us down with his poor effort late in the season and playoffs. I have read that Toronto and other teams might be interested in Carter. Holmgren pull this trigger please! Get as high as a draft pick as you can and part ways. Because come playoff time when it matters. Carter won’t show up anyway.
Scott Hartnell- I have a like/dislike feeling towards Hartnell. I respect his work ethic, his ability to win battles along the boards, his willingness to stick up for his teammates. Then I’ve never seen an NHL player fall down as much as he does. Their is actually a Twitter trend for Hartnell falling down. (#HartnellDown) Also their are times I wonder if he knows what he’s doing. I could go either way with him. Stay or go, it doesn’t matter to me.
Kris Versteeg- TRADE ASAP! He was a cancer right away. He has to have abdominal surgery this offseason. That’s the medias excuse for his poor play. Don’t care, I don’t wish you harm Kris but I do wish you not in a Flyers uniform next season. 1st round draft pick for him? C’mon!
Nik Zherdev- I’m a fan. But a lot of people are not. Zherdev scored 16 goals with very little playing time. It looked like he seemed to change his attitude late in the season after being put on waivers. I don’t see the Flyers resigning him but I do hope so.
James Van Riemsdyk- Well if you watched the same game 2 against the Bruins that I did. You can see the bright future that this kid has. I don’t see the Flyers even thinking about trading JVR anymore. If they do it better be for a #1A goaltender. But I hope they don’t.
Jody Shelley- In the offseason the Flyers signed Shelley to a 3 year deal. He did what he was brought here to do. He is was a forth line player who fought when he had to. Shelley will be back to do the same next season.
Dan Carcillo- He will be a restricted free agent this summer. I expect the Flyers to resign Carcillo but it comes down to how much he will be looking for weather it will happen or not. I’m on the fence with this one. I’ll have to wait and see who the Flyers pick up or let go in the offseason to see if he’ll fit into this line up anymore.
Andreas Nodl- another restricted free agent. Sign him to a 2 way contract and use him on a as needed basis.
Claude Giroux- Nothing much to say. Giroux us the present and future of the Flyers. One of not many untradeable players on the Flyers.
Villie Leino- His time here in Philadelphia started out rough. But do to some injuries in last year playoffs he has shined. We now see the player he can be with a full season under his belt. With the cap going up the Flyers should have enough room to resign Leino. And I beleive they should.
Darroll Powe- I like Powe. He kills penalties, 3rd 4th line energy player. He won’t make your jaw drop with his skill but he will out work the opposing team. Powe is a restricted free agent this offseason. I expect the Flyers to resign him.
Blair Betts- 31 years old with 1 year left on his contract. Betts is one of our best centerman and one of our top penalty killers. Next season he’s a lock because of his contract but after that I don’t know. I would give him another 2 year deal but I’m not Paul Holmgren.
Defense:
Kimmo Timonen- 36 years old with 2 years left on his contract. He has been one of the Flyers best defensive players since he’s been here. I think the run last season to the cup. Along with the grind of this season took a toll on Timonen and it showed in the playoffs. Kimmo himself said he doesn’t know how much farther he can go. Expect him to finish out his remaining 2 years and retire.
Chris Pronger- when in the line up healthy or injured. Pronger in our best defense man. Like Timonen, Pronger is 36 years but has 6 years left on his contract. With possible back surgery in the summer I don’t expect to see Pronger finish out his contract.
Andrej Meszaros- A veteran already at 25 years of age with 3 years to go on his contract. If Meszaros has another season like last year. I expect the Flyers to sign him long term. I’ve liked this player since he was in Ottawa and am glad he wears a Flyers uniform. The guy can log big minutes and be relied upon in crucial times in a game.
Matt Carle- At times he is one of our top players then other times he goes unnoticed. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes not. For over 3 million dollars a season I want to notice him more. With only one year remaining on his contract I don’t see him in a Flyers uniform for long. Maybe even sooner the later.
Braydon Coburn- The present and future of this defensive core. He is not going anywhere anytime soon. He does have only one year left on his current contract. Depending on who the Flyers pick up in the offseason expect Coburn to sign an extension by this summer of middle of next season.
Sean O’Donnell- Early in the season he was what we wanted him to be. A veteran presense that could take some ice time up so Pronger, Timonen, Coburn wouldn’t have to play 30 minutes each night. Then by the end of the year into the playoffs you could tell he was 39 years old. It’s unclear which direction the Flyers or O’Donnell will go. I’m ok either way.
Oskars Bartulis- Not NHL ready. 2 years left on his contract. Bring him in when someone is injured like this past season but not as an every day player. I’m calling it, AHL lifetime player.
Nick Boynton- Who?
Danny Syvret- Filled in for injured Chris Pronger in the playoffs and did a good job with the minutes he was given. Syvret is an unrestricted free agent this summer. I can him getting some interest from other teams in the league as a 5th/6th man. If the price is right and Flyers don’t pick up anyone better in the offseason I can see the Flyers making an offer.
Goaltenders:
Brian Boucher- An unrestricted free agent this offseason. I appreciate everything Boucher has done here in Philadelphia but I thinks it’s time to move on. The only way I see Boucher sticking around is if Leighton gets bought out and released and Bobrovsky is sent to the minors. But I don’t think that is happening. I have been wrong before though.
Sergei Bobrovsky: Young, talented with a lot of potential. But as we saw last year a full NHL schedule is hard to handle. I believe Bobs is our back up next season and maybe in the future a #1. But not yet.
Let me just throw this out there. Is Bobrovsky tradable? Let say a team is looking to get younger in net and part ways with their #1 veteran goalie who just can’t seem to get past the second round. Or their looking to dump salary with an offensive player who can net 30-40 goals a season. Yes or no?
Michael Leighton- Their are reasons why players go up and down from the NHL to the AHL year after year. Inconsistent is why. That’s the definition next to his name. Along with injuries to. Leighton caught lightning in a bottle last season. With surgery most likely again this summer on his back. I don’t see him being NHL ready by next season. Can you see wavier wire in the future again? I can.
Johan Backlund- Hahahahaha!
Followe me on Twitter @MrHockeyBlogger
So instead let’s take a look towards next season and let me tell you what i think. Who will be here? Who won’t be here?
Let’s take a look at the current roster.
Forwards:
Danny Briere- Yes he will be in a Flyers uniform next season. Still with 4 years left on his contract he isn’t going anywhere. Briere was one of our better offensive players during both the regular season and playoffs.
Mike Richards- Oh our team “captain”. Well that is what his jersey says. Personally would like to see him go. But with 9 years left on his contact I don’t think anyone would want him. I didn’t know a wrist injury stopped your legs from moving. But I won’t be surprised if the ‘C’ is taking off his jersey.
Jeff Carter- Another player who let us down with his poor effort late in the season and playoffs. I have read that Toronto and other teams might be interested in Carter. Holmgren pull this trigger please! Get as high as a draft pick as you can and part ways. Because come playoff time when it matters. Carter won’t show up anyway.
Scott Hartnell- I have a like/dislike feeling towards Hartnell. I respect his work ethic, his ability to win battles along the boards, his willingness to stick up for his teammates. Then I’ve never seen an NHL player fall down as much as he does. Their is actually a Twitter trend for Hartnell falling down. (#HartnellDown) Also their are times I wonder if he knows what he’s doing. I could go either way with him. Stay or go, it doesn’t matter to me.
Kris Versteeg- TRADE ASAP! He was a cancer right away. He has to have abdominal surgery this offseason. That’s the medias excuse for his poor play. Don’t care, I don’t wish you harm Kris but I do wish you not in a Flyers uniform next season. 1st round draft pick for him? C’mon!
Nik Zherdev- I’m a fan. But a lot of people are not. Zherdev scored 16 goals with very little playing time. It looked like he seemed to change his attitude late in the season after being put on waivers. I don’t see the Flyers resigning him but I do hope so.
James Van Riemsdyk- Well if you watched the same game 2 against the Bruins that I did. You can see the bright future that this kid has. I don’t see the Flyers even thinking about trading JVR anymore. If they do it better be for a #1A goaltender. But I hope they don’t.
Jody Shelley- In the offseason the Flyers signed Shelley to a 3 year deal. He did what he was brought here to do. He is was a forth line player who fought when he had to. Shelley will be back to do the same next season.
Dan Carcillo- He will be a restricted free agent this summer. I expect the Flyers to resign Carcillo but it comes down to how much he will be looking for weather it will happen or not. I’m on the fence with this one. I’ll have to wait and see who the Flyers pick up or let go in the offseason to see if he’ll fit into this line up anymore.
Andreas Nodl- another restricted free agent. Sign him to a 2 way contract and use him on a as needed basis.
Claude Giroux- Nothing much to say. Giroux us the present and future of the Flyers. One of not many untradeable players on the Flyers.
Villie Leino- His time here in Philadelphia started out rough. But do to some injuries in last year playoffs he has shined. We now see the player he can be with a full season under his belt. With the cap going up the Flyers should have enough room to resign Leino. And I beleive they should.
Darroll Powe- I like Powe. He kills penalties, 3rd 4th line energy player. He won’t make your jaw drop with his skill but he will out work the opposing team. Powe is a restricted free agent this offseason. I expect the Flyers to resign him.
Blair Betts- 31 years old with 1 year left on his contract. Betts is one of our best centerman and one of our top penalty killers. Next season he’s a lock because of his contract but after that I don’t know. I would give him another 2 year deal but I’m not Paul Holmgren.
Defense:
Kimmo Timonen- 36 years old with 2 years left on his contract. He has been one of the Flyers best defensive players since he’s been here. I think the run last season to the cup. Along with the grind of this season took a toll on Timonen and it showed in the playoffs. Kimmo himself said he doesn’t know how much farther he can go. Expect him to finish out his remaining 2 years and retire.
Chris Pronger- when in the line up healthy or injured. Pronger in our best defense man. Like Timonen, Pronger is 36 years but has 6 years left on his contract. With possible back surgery in the summer I don’t expect to see Pronger finish out his contract.
Andrej Meszaros- A veteran already at 25 years of age with 3 years to go on his contract. If Meszaros has another season like last year. I expect the Flyers to sign him long term. I’ve liked this player since he was in Ottawa and am glad he wears a Flyers uniform. The guy can log big minutes and be relied upon in crucial times in a game.
Matt Carle- At times he is one of our top players then other times he goes unnoticed. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes not. For over 3 million dollars a season I want to notice him more. With only one year remaining on his contract I don’t see him in a Flyers uniform for long. Maybe even sooner the later.
Braydon Coburn- The present and future of this defensive core. He is not going anywhere anytime soon. He does have only one year left on his current contract. Depending on who the Flyers pick up in the offseason expect Coburn to sign an extension by this summer of middle of next season.
Sean O’Donnell- Early in the season he was what we wanted him to be. A veteran presense that could take some ice time up so Pronger, Timonen, Coburn wouldn’t have to play 30 minutes each night. Then by the end of the year into the playoffs you could tell he was 39 years old. It’s unclear which direction the Flyers or O’Donnell will go. I’m ok either way.
Oskars Bartulis- Not NHL ready. 2 years left on his contract. Bring him in when someone is injured like this past season but not as an every day player. I’m calling it, AHL lifetime player.
Nick Boynton- Who?
Danny Syvret- Filled in for injured Chris Pronger in the playoffs and did a good job with the minutes he was given. Syvret is an unrestricted free agent this summer. I can him getting some interest from other teams in the league as a 5th/6th man. If the price is right and Flyers don’t pick up anyone better in the offseason I can see the Flyers making an offer.
Goaltenders:
Brian Boucher- An unrestricted free agent this offseason. I appreciate everything Boucher has done here in Philadelphia but I thinks it’s time to move on. The only way I see Boucher sticking around is if Leighton gets bought out and released and Bobrovsky is sent to the minors. But I don’t think that is happening. I have been wrong before though.
Sergei Bobrovsky: Young, talented with a lot of potential. But as we saw last year a full NHL schedule is hard to handle. I believe Bobs is our back up next season and maybe in the future a #1. But not yet.
Let me just throw this out there. Is Bobrovsky tradable? Let say a team is looking to get younger in net and part ways with their #1 veteran goalie who just can’t seem to get past the second round. Or their looking to dump salary with an offensive player who can net 30-40 goals a season. Yes or no?
Michael Leighton- Their are reasons why players go up and down from the NHL to the AHL year after year. Inconsistent is why. That’s the definition next to his name. Along with injuries to. Leighton caught lightning in a bottle last season. With surgery most likely again this summer on his back. I don’t see him being NHL ready by next season. Can you see wavier wire in the future again? I can.
Johan Backlund- Hahahahaha!
Followe me on Twitter @MrHockeyBlogger