Flyers sign Nikolai "The Engima" Zherdev to 1 year contract

[Andy]

Originally Posted by 10000marbles

thank you for actually thinking like a GM instead of a fan

You can think like a GM and still see a plethora of reasons to keep Simon Gagne on this team.

[MikeyB99]

Homer fucked up with some bad contracts, and now a contract HAS to go...

You can make arguments for many players.

Briere - Has a NMC, and based on his playoff performance he's not going to be asked to waive

Hartnell - If his past problems are behind him, and he can build on how he played in the SCF, there is no way he gets moved, or then we start looking way too small up front.

Timonen - Makes a ton, but no way he gets moved.

Richards - Noipe, not goingg..

Carter - With the log jam at center, he could be the best candidate to go. Homer doesn't seem to content on getting rid of a 6'3 center who can skate, and who is about to enter his prime in the next 2 years.

Gagne - Is getting lost in the shadows of the other players, and I don't think they wanna trade him, but It seems like he's in the "Odd man out" situation.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by Hextall_Fan88

Makes much more sense, as Kop has already stated, to trade Gagne, than to trade Carter, who is signed for a few more years.

Carter and Gagne both expire at the end of the 2011 season, Carter is just RFA whereas Gags can walk outright.

Drew, Carcillo counts for zero right now against the cap, so letting him walk after arbitration doesn't really save any cap space; it just guarantees that the Flyers won't go more than the $1.4M over that they already are.

Cote hasn't been officially waived yet, but expects to... rightfully so. I just don't know why it took so long. Shelley can also be waived if (when) he proves to be a complete albatross. Bartulis is exempt from waivers and that saves $600K on the Flyers' cap number.

What I don't understand is how Holmgren doesn't learn from previous Philadelphia ventures with the cap. Volchenkov, precisely what the Flyers needed, on the open market goes to a division rival for $4.25M yet Homer chooses to burn yet another quality draft pick on a big (but soft) defenseman coming off two down seasons. Hmm. Committing to Leighton before even exploring the UFA market (Mason, Ellis, etc) was definitely irresponsible or at the very least showing that trademark "Philly loyalty that's completely devoid of merit". To add insult to injury, he goes out and wildly overspends on a marginal 4th line pugilist when the goaltending void is still gaping to say the least. Coburn at $3.2M seems like quite the stretch when the Flyers held all the negotiating leverage. O'Donnell isn't the worst signing, but again, Homer overvalues a non-essential commodity above a glaring necessity like a #1 starting 'keeper. This summer has been utterly baffling for myself and other Flyers fans. My only explanation is that Holmgren and Sutter have their own pissing competition of stupidity going on, each trying to out-retard the other.

For the record, I would support a move for Enroth and he might be had for less than one might imagine with the Sabres in desperate need of offense. Just sayin'.

[Kop]

Originally Posted by Wes

Carter and Gagne both expire at the end of the 2011 season, Carter is just RFA whereas Gags can walk outright.

Drew, Carcillo counts for zero right now against the cap, so letting him walk after arbitration doesn't really save any cap space; it just guarantees that the Flyers won't go more than the $1.4M over that they already are.

Cote hasn't been officially waived yet, but expects to... rightfully so. I just don't know why it took so long. Shelley can also be waived if (when) he proves to be a complete albatross. Bartulis is exempt from waivers and that saves $600K on the Flyers' cap number.

What I don't understand is how Holmgren doesn't learn from previous Philadelphia ventures with the cap. Volchenkov, precisely what the Flyers needed, on the open market goes to a division rival for $4.25M yet Homer chooses to burn yet another quality draft pick on a big (but soft) defenseman coming off two down seasons. Hmm. Committing to Leighton before even exploring the UFA market (Mason, Ellis, etc) was definitely irresponsible or at the very least showing that trademark "Philly loyalty that's completely devoid of merit". To add insult to injury, he goes out and wildly overspends on a marginal 4th line pugilist when the goaltending void is still gaping to say the least. Coburn at $3.2M seems like quite the stretch when the Flyers held all the negotiating leverage. O'Donnell isn't the worst signing, but again, Homer overvalues a non-essential commodity above a glaring necessity like a #1 starting 'keeper. This summer has been utterly baffling for myself and other Flyers fans. My only explanation is that Holmgren and Sutter have their own pissing competition of stupidity going on, each trying to out-retard the other.

For the record, I would support a move for Enroth and he might be had for less than one might imagine with the Sabres in desperate need of offense. Just sayin'.

In short: "Those who don't study history are bound to repeat it..."

[Kopicz24]

Originally Posted by MikeyB99

Carter - With the log jam at center, he could be the best candidate to go. Homer doesn't seem to content on getting rid of a 6'3 center who can skate, and who is about to enter his prime in the next 2 years.

Gagne - Is getting lost in the shadows of the other players, and I don't think they wanna trade him, but It seems like he's in the "Odd man out" situation.

Ok the basic logic here is clear, and Bowers you hit it on the head.... But what is missing...?

Gagne, aging yes, but has more heart than half this team, does he produce like he used to? no. But how many guys do the later years in their career?

then we look at the other side, Carter. Yes HUGH potential, but he is lazy, he isn't ever going to hit that ceiling if he keeps the same methods. And does anyone really think his ways will change?

The big push why as a GM you should be considering moving Carter, and I understand why Homer isn't, is simply cause he doesn't have any knowledge of the tasks ahead of him, and just goes at it day by day.

Facts are Giroux (RFA), Leino (UFA), along with Gagne (UFA) and Carter (RFA) are all up at the end of the season. Both Leino and Giroux will get more money, Gagne will most likely be willing to take a HEAVY discount to finish his career here, and Carter, oh yeah Carter will most likely want MORE money?

Do you get rid of a guy who is a large part of this team now to free up cap space? or do you move the guy you're going to have a next to impossible time resigning, after re-upping the other 2? Simply put Carter can get you more on the market, its virtually the same pay scale.

[Andy]

THANK YOU

[Wes]

Originally Posted by Kopicz24

Do you get rid of a guy who is a large part of this team now to free up cap space? or do you move the guy you're going to have a next to impossible time resigning, after re-upping the other 2? Simply put Carter can get you more on the market, its virtually the same pay scale.

Ideally, you don't put your team in this position year after year by overpaying for marginal and/or unnecessary players in the first place. Holmgren's done it multiple times and never seems to gain any insight on how to avoid it the next time. I've just about had enough of Holmgren's "reign of idiocy"... It's time to bring in a nickel and dimer to serve as a cap advisor and give them veto rights on trades/signings in order to save Holmgren from himself.

[Kopicz24]

Very Very Very True Wes...

and my point was just simply playing off that so point that with the way Homer has handicapped this team financially, I don't see how you resign Carter. While still locking up the other guys that are needed...