FLYERS DEFENCE : Free Agency Analysis & Predictions
Posted 12:50 PM ET | Comments 13
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Randy Jones will get re-signed for $1.3 mill multi-yr deal.
I predict Hatcher, Smith and Modry all off the books come next season. With Hatcher retiring/buyout and Smith/Modry leaving as FA's. Big Hatch does have 1 more yr left on his 3.5m contract, but I will go on a limb and point at Rathje to compare. Youngsters Parent and Kuks both played solid in the playoffs and should make the Flyers roster again. With 3 gone, the Flyers will still need to pick up a solid D-man to fill the void. Good timing, because this sure is a good year for free agency defenceman offerings!
Timonen(6.3m) - Coburn(1.3m)
Jones(1.3m) - Parent(1m)
Kukkonen(1m) - ??????????
With Jones at $1.3m totals approx 11mill spent on 5 D-men leaves us in very good shape to grab someone good!
xHatcher ($3.5m)
xSmith ($2m)
xModry ($1.2m)
I predict this total of $6.7m off the books.
Will the loss of Hatcher/Smith's leadership n grit effect the Flyers D negatively? Have Coburn and Jones come into their own this season as solid core defensive players? Will Kuks put on 10 lbs of muscle this offseason? Will Parent emerge as the defensive stud we all predict him to be? What will become of the Goat and his bloated salary?
Should the Flyers grab a young D-man or an older experienced vet!?
I am predicting that Timonen will wear an "A" and lead this core of skilled youngsters very effectively. Because of this, I predict the Flyers will be targeting a relatively younger(mid 20's) player with proven skills, and not an older (30+) vet player, so I will limit my analysis to FA players in the 20's age bracket.
Here are 4 UFA's and 4 RFA's to consider...
UFA Michal Rozsival age 28,6' 2",210lbs ; $2.3mill ; 80gp/13g/25a/38p/+0/80pim
A fine overall D man with size and skill! Great run in the playoffs. Would be awesome to have him in O&B for a comprable salary, but I have a feeling he will be making closer to double, in the $5+mill range. I predict him not to be re-signed by the Rags.
UFA Brian Campbell age 28,6' 0",191lbs ; $1.75m ; 83gp/8g/54a/62p/+8/20pim
Flyers tried to get "soupy" at the deadline. They failed. He is due for a huge raise and should be getting a fat $6+mill/yr deal with some lucky team, and it wont be the Sharks. Low PIMs, highly skilled, high excitement player! I predict him not to re-sign with the Sharks unless they move Marleau.
UFA Brad Stuart age 27,6' 2",213lbs ; $3.5mill ; 72gp/6g/17a/23p/-10/69pim
-16 with the Kings but stellar with the RedWings! Former 1st round pick, he has developed into a steady top 4 D-man! He is BIG and would be a fantastic pickup for the Flyers if they can land him for approximately the same money. I predict him to re-sign with Detroit.
UFA John Michael Liles age 26,5' 10",185lbs ; $1.4mill ; 81gp/6g/26a/32p/+2/26pim
Liles is smallest of the lot, he is quick and very mobile. He also low PIMs means he doesnt take too many stupid penalties. Another D-man that many teams will covet because he is skilled and well rounded and has big upside potential, but the Flyers will pass on him because of his size. I predict him to be re-signed with a $3+mill multi-year contract with the Avs.
Joni Pitkanen .. jussssst kidding! now for the RFA's... =)
RFA Jay Bouwmeester age 23,6' 4",212lbs ; $2.25mill ; 82gp/15g/22a/37/-5/72pim
A skilled towering D man who is due for a nice raise. Expect him in the $5m salary range. If Flyers can grab him via trade or offer sheet, I say it would really sew up the defence in a hurry. I predict him to be re-signed by Fla at all costs
RFA Ryan Suter age 22, 6'1",196lb ; $1mill ; 76gp/7g/24a/31p/+3/71pim
Preds 1st round prodigy w/ good bloodlines. Has huge upside potential. If the Preds trade this kid away, Ill be very surprised!
RFA Andrej Meszaros age 21, 6' 2",218lbs ; $1mill; 82gp/9g/27a/36p/+5/50pim
Another 1st rounder with big upside. He is a young big skilled Dman with BIG upside! Predict he will be re-signed by the Sens.
RFA Christian Ehrhoff age 24,6' 2",205lbs ; $1mill ; 77gp/1g/21a/22p/+9/72pim
Worthy of consideration. Predict he will be traded by the Sharks.
Comments are welcome!
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watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc6w4SzIUN0
Randy Jones will get re-signed for $1.3 mill multi-yr deal.
I predict Hatcher, Smith and Modry all off the books come next season. With Hatcher retiring/buyout and Smith/Modry leaving as FA's. Big Hatch does have 1 more yr left on his 3.5m contract, but I will go on a limb and point at Rathje to compare. Youngsters Parent and Kuks both played solid in the playoffs and should make the Flyers roster again. With 3 gone, the Flyers will still need to pick up a solid D-man to fill the void. Good timing, because this sure is a good year for free agency defenceman offerings!
Timonen(6.3m) - Coburn(1.3m)
Jones(1.3m) - Parent(1m)
Kukkonen(1m) - ??????????
With Jones at $1.3m totals approx 11mill spent on 5 D-men leaves us in very good shape to grab someone good!
xHatcher ($3.5m)
xSmith ($2m)
xModry ($1.2m)
I predict this total of $6.7m off the books.
Will the loss of Hatcher/Smith's leadership n grit effect the Flyers D negatively? Have Coburn and Jones come into their own this season as solid core defensive players? Will Kuks put on 10 lbs of muscle this offseason? Will Parent emerge as the defensive stud we all predict him to be? What will become of the Goat and his bloated salary?
Should the Flyers grab a young D-man or an older experienced vet!?
I am predicting that Timonen will wear an "A" and lead this core of skilled youngsters very effectively. Because of this, I predict the Flyers will be targeting a relatively younger(mid 20's) player with proven skills, and not an older (30+) vet player, so I will limit my analysis to FA players in the 20's age bracket.
Here are 4 UFA's and 4 RFA's to consider...
UFA Michal Rozsival age 28,6' 2",210lbs ; $2.3mill ; 80gp/13g/25a/38p/+0/80pim
A fine overall D man with size and skill! Great run in the playoffs. Would be awesome to have him in O&B for a comprable salary, but I have a feeling he will be making closer to double, in the $5+mill range. I predict him not to be re-signed by the Rags.
UFA Brian Campbell age 28,6' 0",191lbs ; $1.75m ; 83gp/8g/54a/62p/+8/20pim
Flyers tried to get "soupy" at the deadline. They failed. He is due for a huge raise and should be getting a fat $6+mill/yr deal with some lucky team, and it wont be the Sharks. Low PIMs, highly skilled, high excitement player! I predict him not to re-sign with the Sharks unless they move Marleau.
UFA Brad Stuart age 27,6' 2",213lbs ; $3.5mill ; 72gp/6g/17a/23p/-10/69pim
-16 with the Kings but stellar with the RedWings! Former 1st round pick, he has developed into a steady top 4 D-man! He is BIG and would be a fantastic pickup for the Flyers if they can land him for approximately the same money. I predict him to re-sign with Detroit.
UFA John Michael Liles age 26,5' 10",185lbs ; $1.4mill ; 81gp/6g/26a/32p/+2/26pim
Liles is smallest of the lot, he is quick and very mobile. He also low PIMs means he doesnt take too many stupid penalties. Another D-man that many teams will covet because he is skilled and well rounded and has big upside potential, but the Flyers will pass on him because of his size. I predict him to be re-signed with a $3+mill multi-year contract with the Avs.
Joni Pitkanen .. jussssst kidding! now for the RFA's... =)
RFA Jay Bouwmeester age 23,6' 4",212lbs ; $2.25mill ; 82gp/15g/22a/37/-5/72pim
A skilled towering D man who is due for a nice raise. Expect him in the $5m salary range. If Flyers can grab him via trade or offer sheet, I say it would really sew up the defence in a hurry. I predict him to be re-signed by Fla at all costs
RFA Ryan Suter age 22, 6'1",196lb ; $1mill ; 76gp/7g/24a/31p/+3/71pim
Preds 1st round prodigy w/ good bloodlines. Has huge upside potential. If the Preds trade this kid away, Ill be very surprised!
RFA Andrej Meszaros age 21, 6' 2",218lbs ; $1mill; 82gp/9g/27a/36p/+5/50pim
Another 1st rounder with big upside. He is a young big skilled Dman with BIG upside! Predict he will be re-signed by the Sens.
RFA Christian Ehrhoff age 24,6' 2",205lbs ; $1mill ; 77gp/1g/21a/22p/+9/72pim
Worthy of consideration. Predict he will be traded by the Sharks.
Comments are welcome!
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watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc6w4SzIUN0
Well now that you have added me as your friend i can comment... This is by far the worst blog lmao j/k....I do think Smith will be gone, Hatcher, well its all up to him, he has said he wants to play and doesnt want to retire. But if they are both gone, i see the flyers going after campbell. They tried to get him at the deadline, and given his age im guessing they would have tried to sign him then, so why not now right?
worst blog comment ever!! j/k as much as i like some of those RFA's I cant see us trading for any of those guys... but its worth a look cuz we all know Homer is tha man!
The Salary totals you have for Bouwmeester, Liles, and Commondore are too low. They will get ore than that. Free Agents get overpaid. You also stated Hatcher as not being resigned. He is already signed, and next year is the final year of his deal. The Flyers will ot get Campbell.
I'd onyl consider Commodore if Smith and Hatcher are both gone. I don't like Rozsival or Liles a lot, and Campbell is gonna command more money than the Flyers can afford. It will be very interesting to see what Homer does with the defense
Decent blog presenting most of the defensive possibilities but I agree with most of the comments in that you've really underestimated the signing amounts. I pray to the Gods that we don't sign Campbell. None of the UFAs tickle my trigger finger. I'd try to leverage Umberger for a mid twenties defenseman but that's my opinion and you can read it on any and all threads. the last two weeks of June will have me riveted. I don't disagree with your talent analysis but Campbell is a defensive liability. I'm hoping for a trade. I think our GM makes a good one. You might want to post this blog in a thread and read the feed back. I've seen shorter posts and I think you'll see a bigger response. I can't pet your cat as I'm allergic to cat skin.
As the others have commented you're way way off on some of those salaries man. Did you think Briere would get 52 million last year? Of course not. Thats what F/A is about. Someone wants someone bad enough to break the bank. Also as others mentioned Hatcher is not going to retire, so if you want to get rid of him, you'll have to buy him out and then the cap still takes a hit. I don't believe this organization will send him to the minors ala Gautier out of respect to him.Would love Campell as much as everyone else, but it aint happening unless they trade someone who makes some coin.
Although I do agree with you on one salary. Jones and 1.3 sounds about right.
suter will go to philly and philly will send a package of umberger something. either that or the flyers will try to move up at the draft and grab a d
As much as I like the kid, I can not see the Preds trading Suter. I intentionally excluded guys like Streit, Orpik and Green because they will definitly get re-signed by their clubs. Keep in mind this prediction is only assuming we make a move in the FA market. Homer is just as likely to pull off a trade and then its anybodys guess! Guys like Kurt Saur and Tim Gleason could be solid FA pickups as well.
mr b. why wouldnt the preds trade suter. we are OVERLOADED at d, we must sign weber and suters salary will be too high( though lower than weber) to keep both. also poile and holmgren are friends and have history. we need what you are best stocked on( forwards) and you need what we are overloaded on( d-men). may not happen but all the pieces fit, not to mention suter will be cheaper than a campbell, liles and bouwmester.
great points! as i said earlier, my prediction is only regarding the FA market, and not trade rumors. homer is just as likely to pull off a trade and then its anybodys guess! i agree that suter could be on the top of the trade possibilities list.
Gotta say, as a Sharks fan, your read on the situation in San Jose is way off. Ehrhoff is more likely to be out of here than Brian Campbell. Doug Wilson didn't acquire Campbell for a rental - he will be back.How about Carle for Upshall?
I think the precedent set last year in the Timenon / Hartnell deal will come into play again when Umberger is swapped for Suter straight up and both players sign new contracts prior to the FA period beginning