Broad Street Bulletin

Flyers Lose Knuble to Washington - Acquire Boucher and Laperrier

Mike Knuble:  With the recent acquisition of Chris Pronger, the Flyers had very little salary cap room to work with in their attempt to keep Right Winger Mike Knuble.  Knuble wanted to stay, and the Flyers wanted to keep him.  Unfortunately, the two sides couldn't come to an agreement, and Knuble signed with the Washington Capitals.

Apparently, Knuble was looking for a multi-year deal, but the Flyers were only offering one-year, filled with incentives.  The Capitals gave him what he was looking for; a 2-year deal worth $5.6-Million.

After losing 25-goal scorer Joffrey Lupul, there has been concern about losing Knuble, who scored 27-goals last season.  How hard will it be to replace those 52-goals?  Sounds tough, but not really! 

• Joffrey Lupul scored 50-points last season.  Chris Pronger scored 48-points.  Lupul's offensive production has been replaced in the trade alone.
• It's going to be tough to find another 27-goal scoring Forward with the money the Flyers have remaining in the cap to replace Knuble, but don't forget Danny Briere and Claude Giroux.  
• Briere missed most of the season due to injury, scoring just 11-goals.  If healthy, he should be a 30-goal scorer.  That gets you 19 of Knuble's goals back. 
• Giroux should have no problem getting the next 8 back.  The young rookie came up from the Phantoms for the second half of the season, scoring 9-goals.  That already gets them to the break-even point.  Imagine how many goals he will score in a full season!

The Flyers may have lost 52-goals between Lupul and Knuble, but in reality, will probably get more scoring from outlets that weren't present last season.  Because Lupul and Knuble have not been directly replaced, it sounds like those goals all went away.  Don't worry though - the production will be there! 

Brian Boucher:  The answer to the back-up goalie question has been answered.  The Flyers signed Brian Boucher to a 2-year, $1.85-million contract.  Boucher was the Flyers No.1 draft pick in the 1995 NHL Draft, and is best remembered for his superb goal-tending during the 2000 playoffs, taking the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Boucher played last season as a back-up goalie for the San Jose Sharks.  His performance was more than solid, going 12-6-3, with a G.A.A. of 2.18, and a save percentage of .917.  At $925k per season, he is a perfect fit for the Flyers.  With little cap space remaining, it leaves the Flyers room to fill other needs, while providing a quality player they can depend on. 

Ian Laperriere:  With Knuble gone, the Flyers had a void at Right Wing to fill.  35-year old Ian Laperriere fit the bill.  Laperriere played last season in Colorado, scoring 7G, 12A, for 19-Pts.  His strength is not in his scoring ability, rather his defensive ability and physical presence.

Laperriere plays a defensive game, provides good fore-checking, and is good at killing penalties.  He is a physical player, that stands up for his team-mates, and often rattles the opposition.  He may not bring scoring ability, but the qualities he offers are many the Flyers could use. 

The Flyers have struggled defensively, but not just on defense in particular.  Much success in hockey is attributed to a teams ability to provide quality defense from their offensive players.  Laperriere helps improve the Flyers in this department.

The Flyers were a solid team last season, but lacked that tough "in your face" attitude Flyers fans have come to know and love over the years.  The addition of Laperriere, along with Pronger and Emery, will help restore the image of the "Broad Street Bullies."  Trust me, Flyers games will be fun to watch! 

Flyers Go With Pronger - What Happened to Bouwmeester?

When the Flyers acquired Chris Pronger, it was a reality check to many Flyers fans; Jay Bouwmeester would not be a Flyer! 

Pronger fills the defensive voids, but many of us had our hopes set on Bouwmeester.  By now, most Flyers fans realize that acquiring Pronger is a good move, and makes the Flyers a much better team.  Though it would have been nice to pick up Bouwmeester - who is 9-years younger than Pronger - the Flyers had to take a different route when they realized Bouwmeester would not sign before the free-agency period began.

The hope was to trade for Bouwmeester's rights, and sign him to a contract before the free-agency period, which begins July 1.  With Bouwmeester unwilling to sign before then, the Flyers ran a risk of losing players/draft-picks in a trade, and losing Bouwmeester to free-agency anyway.  They went for the sure move - signing Pronger!

Off to Calgary:  Bouwmeester's rights were traded away.  Florida negotiated his rights to Calgary, in return for the rights to Jordan Leopold, along with a 3rd round draft-pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  Calgary will look to lock Bouwmeester up, hoping the Edmonton native will want to play close to home.

Analyzing the Pronger Trade

Our sights were set on acquiring 25-year old defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, but ended up with 34-year old veteran Chris Pronger instead.  The deal came at a considerable cost to the Flyers; giving up two players, along with three draft picks.  Pronger will also be a $6.25-million salary cap hit.  Is this all too much for a guy that will hit the ice at 35-years of age next season?

Flyers Get

Chris pronger:  34-years old - he is a former Hart Trophy Winner (League MVP), James Norris Trophy Winner (Top Defenseman), and a five-time All-Star.  He is the answer to many of the Flyers biggest problems.  He plays solid defense, utilizes his size to dominate physically, and possesses offensive skill as well.  His acquisition just made the Flyers a Stanley Cup contender! 

Ryan Dingle:  25-years old - minor league Forward

Flyers Give Up

Joffrey Lupul:  26-Year old Forward - he is a 20-plus goal scorer, scoring 25-goals last season.  He possesses good scoring ability and instinct, but tends to be streaky and inconsistent.  At $4.25-million, he is often considered to be an underachiever.

Luca Sbisa:  19-year old Defenseman - currently plays in the minor league system, but his NHL expectations are huge.  He is a well-rounded player that offers great offensive potential, but he is not a big guy, and struggles against power-forwards.

Plus Draft Picks:

1. 2009 First Round NHL Entry Draft pick
2. 2010 First Round NHL Entry Draft pick
3. Conditional Draft Pick - If the Flyers fail to win the Stanley Cup this season, the Ducks will get the Flyers 3rd-round pick in either the 2010 or 2011 NHL Entry Draft. 

Concerns

Losing Lupul - Will We Miss His Offense?  The Flyers may have struggled defensively last season, but offense was hardly an issue.  Lupul was one-of-six Flyers with 20-plus goals last season.  Will his absence, along with the possible loss of Mike Knuble hurt the Flyers?

Lupul was highly productive offensively, but he is being replaced with a player that puts up very similar numbers.

• Lupul scored 25-goals, and 25-assists for 50-points. 
• Pronger scored 11-goals, and 37-assists for 48-points.
• They are only 2-points apart - the offense will not be missed.  This alone makes losing Lupul a no-brainer - now throw in what you get defensively with Pronger.
• The power-play just got better:  Lupul had 15-power-play points; Pronger had 28.

As you can see, Lupul's offensive production will not be missed.  He is being replaced with a guy that will put up similar offensive numbers, and is only a defenseman.  This is an upgrade!

Do the Flyers Lose Depth In Their Offensive Lines?  Pronger may replace the offensive void left by Lupul, but who will fill his gap in the line?  The Flyers were proud to put three scoring-lines out on the ice.  Does this jeopardize their depth?

The answer is no!  Here are a couple of factors we need to remember:

• Of the 6, 20-plus goal scorers, two important names are missing; Danny Briere and Claude Giroux.   
• Briere missed nearly the entire season, and if healthy, should be a 30-goal scorer.
• Giroux only played the second half of the season, and in 42-games, scored 9G, 18A, for 27-Points.  The best part - he only got better as time went on! 

Don't worry - the depth will be there!  In the event they lose Knuble, along with the absence of Lupul, the Flyers are still in a position to have 6-players with 20-plus goals.  Sign Knuble, and they may just have seven!

Did We Give Up Too Many Draft Choices?  Two number-one picks, along with a conditional pick, is usually a pretty steep price to pay.  But when you look at the Flyers situation, it's really not that bad!

You hate to give up draft-picks, but what do they really need them for?  What holes are they trying to fill?   The reality is, there are no holes!

• Offensively:  Briere, Carter, Gagne, Giroux, Hartnell, and Richards.  That's a lot of quality players - the only one over 30-years of age is Briere.  Don't forget James Van Riemsdyk, who currently plays in their minor league system.  He has big expectations! 
• Goalie:  This has been a bit of an issue in recent years, but they have gone with Emery, who has the ability to be a top goalie.  If he is successful, and doesn't cause any problems, at 26-years old, there is no reason he can't be here for years to come.
• Defensively:  This has been the real weakness for the Flyers.  Timonen has been solid, and Braydon Coburn shows promise.  The addition of Pronger improves their defense dramatically.  Could they use another defenseman?  Yeah, but it's hard to be perfect!

In theory, you hate to give up all those number-1 picks.  In reality, they really don't need them.  They are about as complete of a team as you can hope for - who now have a legitimate shot at the Cup!

Don't forget, the conditional pick only goes to the Ducks if we win a Stanley Cup next season.  I would love to hand that pick over!

 

Chris Pronger Becomes a Flyer - Could He Be the Missing Piece?

The Flyers quest for a top-level Defenseman has come to an end.  There has been talk of acquiring a physical Defenseman with offensive skill.  Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin are names that have been thrown around, but the big anticipation was Jay Bouwmeester.  In the end, it will be veteran Defenseman Chris Pronger that will be wearing orange and black next season.

My initial reaction was disappointment.  I had my hopes set on Bouwmeester.  After some thought, however, I realize that this is a very good acquisition for the Flyers.  Obviously, at 25-years old, Bouwmeester is a very desirable choice. 
 
Playing in the Western Conference, I haven't seen to much of Pronger.  At 34-years old, my first concern was his age.  Will he be the same dominating player I remember from a few years back?  Well, the answer is yes.  He should be just fine, and will be a good fit in Philadelphia!  

Chris Pronger:  He is a solid, top-level Defenseman.  At 6'6" - 221 lbs, he is a punisher!  The Flyers lacked a physical defenseman - Pronger is the answer!  He will clear players away from the net, as well as knock them into next week along the boards.  He can handle players 1-on-1, and is very effective killing power plays.

Not only will his defensive skills improve the Flyers, he also brings great offensive ability as well.  He knows how to get involved offensively - with good puck-handling and crisp passing - he will be responsible for generating points. 

Defensive skill - check!  Offensive skill - check!  One more thing - he is a true leader!

• 1999-2000 Hart Trophy winner - League MVP
• 2000 James Norris Trophy winner - Top Defenseman
• Five-time All-Star - 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2008
• Two-time winner of the Bud Light Plus/Minus Award - 1998 and 2000

The Trade:  To get Pronger, the Flyers had to give up quite a bit.  Joffrey Lupul and Luca Sbisa, along with a 1st-round pick in the 2009 and 2010 NHL Entry Draft, plus a conditional pick in either the 2010 or 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the price for Pronger.

I don't mind giving up young talent for a proven player when you are looking to win.  The Flyers are not a team in a rebuilding stage, and if you are missing a piece of a puzzle, I believe you need to get that piece, and forget about where you will be in a couple of years.

On this philosophy, I don't mind giving up all the draft picks and young players.  I do question, however, if Pronger is personally worth everything they gave up.  He currently has 1-year remaining on his contract, and will enter next season at 35-years of age.

• Concern # 1 - The Contract:  It is possible we may only get 1-year out of Pronger.  I am okay with this if I am sitting on Broad Street watching the Parade go by next June.  If not, we gave up a lot...for nothing.
• Concern # 2 - His Age:  With 1-year left on his contract, there has already been talk that signing him to an extension is a priority.  That's fine, but your talking about locking up a guy in his upper 30's.  How long will he be a dominant player?  I understand giving up all the young talent, but are you really getting what you set out to get?  

So, the question is not whether giving up all the young talent and draft picks is wise, but is it worth giving up for what you are getting.  It is worth it for this upcoming season - Pronger is sure to be a huge addition to the team - but they better win.  If not, what do you really have. 

It would be different giving all that up for Bouwmeester.  Sure, you give up a lot, but you will have a 25-year old that is sure to be a top defenseman for years to come.

The Verdict:  This is a huge addition for the Flyers.  There is simply no other way to look at it.  The Flyers had a very good team last year, and despite being knocked out by the Penguins, it was clear they didn't have too far to go. 

Emery, like it or not, is an upgrade in net.  He has his share of problems, and the potential to disrupt team chemistry, but he plays with a fire - something that will be appreciated in Philadelphia.  Pronger...might just be the right guy to keep him in line!

So, they have now improved at the Goalie position, and offense has not been a problem for them.  The only thing left to improve is defense.  Kimmo Timonen has been a solid defenseman for the Flyers, but lacks that physical presence.  Pronger will make a fine addition.  You don't have to worry about Crosby or Malkin standing in front of the net during next years playoffs. 

When the Flyers lost to the Penguins, there was much analyzing, but the reality was that they just weren't as good.  Well, this is as good as the Flyers are going to get.  They will be a Stanley Cup contender next season.  It should be exciting!

Afterthought:  How will Pronger fit in Philly?  We have always been proud of our "Broad Street Bullies," and appreciate tough, physical play.  A little while back, Scott Hartnell was ranked # 5 in Sports Illustrated for the NHL's top-5 dirtiest players.  Guess who was ranked # 1?  You guessed it, Chris Pronger!

Flyers to Play Outdoor Game at Fenway Park

A few weeks ago, it was revealed that the Bruins' opponent for the NHL Winter Classic - an outdoor hockey game to be held at Fenway Park - was narrowed down to two teams; the Capitals and the Flyers.  With the NHL pushing for Alex Ovechkin, it appeared the Capitals had it all but locked up.  We are now hearing that the tables may have turned.

It is true that the NHL wants Ovechkin in the spotlight for their Winter Classic game on New Years Day.  The problem for that arises with TV ratings.  NBC is covering the game, and they apparently feel that the Flyers would attract more viewers than the Capitals.

Though no official announcement has been made, several sources have confirmed this decision.  Stay tuned for more information.

Stanley Cup Swims with Penguins in Mario Lemieux’s Pool - Exclusive Pictures!!!

The Cup!

 

The Book! Why is the

Stanley Cup

in Mario Lemieux's Pool?

 

The Pool

Ovechkin Wins MVP

Who is the best player in hockey?  Well, Gary Betman will try to persuade everybody that it is Sidney Crosby, but it is Alex Ovechkin taking his second-straight MVP award.

Top contenders for the award were Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.  In an all Russian cast of contenders, it was Ovechkin that took the Hart Trophy.

Winning by a landslide, Ovechkin took 115-of-131 first place votes.  He led the league with 56-goals, and was second with 110-points.  He is the first player to win the award in back-to-back years since Dominik Hasek in 1997 and 1998. 

Could Bouwmeester Be A Flyer By the End of Next Week?

Jay Bouwmeester is scheduled to become a free-agent on July 1.  There has been serious talk that the Flyers are looking to trade for his rights, and sign him before the free-agency period hits.  July is right around the corner; could Bouwmeester be a Flyer by the end of next week?

Bouwmeester is the defenseman the Flyers need.  At 6'4" - 212lbs, he is a beast, but not without sacrificing skill.  Defense has been a weak spot for the Flyers, having trouble clearing players out in front of the net, to getting the puck out of the zone.  Bouwmeester is the best solution to this problem!

Not only can Bouwmeester clear a defender out of the way, but he will help offensively with his speed and skilled skating ability. 

The problem the Flyers face is the salary cap.  They are expected to be about $6-million below the anticipated $56.7-million.  Bouwmeester will not come cheap.  He made $4.875-million last year, and it remains uncertain what he will cost this upcoming season. 

Bouwmeester appears to be a top priority for the Flyers, and the Emery signing may have been part of their strategy.  The Flyers have been criticized for signing Emery, who is repeatedly surrounded by controversy - on and off the ice. 

Here's the catch: Emery was signed for $1.5-million.  They are taking a risk, considering his history, but he is a No.1 Goalie.  Martin Biron made $3.5-million last season, and is probably looking for more next year.  Emery is perhaps a better goalie than Biron, at about $2-million less.  This leaves them room to go after Bouwmeester.

If they can pull it off, I think they just may be okay!

Hatcher Retires - Joins Front Office Staff

It is now official - Derian Hatcher has retired.  It appeared as though Hatcher would never play again when he sat out the entire 2008-09 season, and following a knee replacement, he is calling it quits.

Though he is retireing, he decided to stick around.  Hatcher will become the new player development coach, replacing former defenseman Eric Desjardins, who is leaving to pursue business interests.

“I am very excited. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when Paul offered me this position. It sounded like the perfect way to stay in the game and see if I like it,” said Hatcher. “I will be watching the younger players and making sure everything runs smoothly for them. I will be involved with running the rookie camp this summer, where I will get to work closely with some of our younger players.”

Penguins a Winner - Crosby a Loser

The Penguins have done it.  For the first time since 1992, they are Stanley Cup Champions.  The NHL got their wish - Sidney Crosby hoisted the Stanley Cup!

The Penguins have a lot to celebrate.  They entered the playoffs as the No.4 seed, with 99-points.  To win the Cup, they had to beat the Detroit Red Wings - the defending Stanley Cup Champions - who entered the playoffs as a No.2 seed with 112-points.  It was indeed, an accomplishment!

Sidney Crosby sure celebrated.  In fact, he got so hung up, he missed part of the ceremonial "hand shake" that takes place during the playoffs. 

Red Wings' Captain Nicklas Lidstrom stood at the front of the line, but Crosby never showed up.  "Nick was waiting and waiting, and Crosby didn't come over to shake his hand," according to Kris Draper.  "That's ridiculous, especially as their captain, and make sure you write that I said that!"

When Crosby finally made it over to the line, most of the Red Wings' players had already gone to the locker room.

Crosby is a Loser

Not only did Crosby completely disrespect the Detroit Red Wings, but had very little to do with their Stanley Cup victory.

• He was a huge part of the Penguins success reaching the Finals, registering 14-Goals, 14-Assists, for 28-Points in the playoffs, with a plus/minus of +3.
• The Finals were a different story.  He managed a lone Goal with 2-Assists for 3-Points, with a plus/minus of -3.  
• He was almost single-handily shut down by Henrik Zetterberg, who not only showed off his defensive skills, but recorded 2-Goals, 4-Assists, for 6-points with a plus/minus of +3 while going head-to-head with Crosby.

The head-to-head match-up between Crosby and Zetterberg tells us something about Crosby:  He is a one-way player - offense only.  He showed us that he cannot shut down the opposition, but he himself, is capable of being shut down.  If you can shut Crosby down, he becomes useless.  That is what Zetterberg and the Red Wings did. 

I'm not going to tell you that Crosby is a bad player.  He obviously has serious skill, and to argue that, is plain ridiculous.  What I will say, is that he is not the best player in hockey, an aura he seems to carry with him.  I would take Zetterberg - a complete player - over Crosby in a heartbeat!

Respect for Crosby?

Again, I'm not going to argue that Crosby is not a great player.  He is!  Despite the talent, however, I have trouble finding respect for him.  As a Flyers' fan, I'm all too familiar with the crying and diving.  As the Captain of a Stanley Cup team - that won with little production from their Captain - his image went to another level when he disrespected the Red Wings.

If I had very little respect for him before, I have absolutely no respect for him now!

Hatcher Has Knee Replacement - Likely Signals End of Career

One of the biggest issues the Flyers dealt with this past season was the lack of a solid defenseman.  The absence of Derian Hatcher left a gaping hole, playing a vital role in their failure during the playoffs.

Hatcher battled a right knee injury during the end of the 2007-08 season, and would go on to miss the entire 08-09 season as a result.   There had been talk of Hatcher returning for the playoffs, and though he did return, it was as a "Co-Coach," not as a player.

On June 1, Hatcher underwent full right-knee replacement at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia.  The surgery was performed by Dr. William Hozack of the Rothman Institute, and likely signals the end of Hatcher's career.

"It is a full knee replacement," Hatcher said. "I think they just go in there and saw some of the bone away and put the new knee in. I kind of know the process, but it is hard to explain.

Regarding rehab:  "Rehab is not too bad. I am going about five times a week. For being 10 days out, I have made a ton of progress."

With a full knee replacement, is it possible to see Hatcher play in the NHL again?  "I seriously doubt it," he said. "The doctor said no. So there you go."

Stanley Cup Game-7 - Who Will Win?

 Detroit won the first two-games on home-ice, only to lose the next two in Pittsburgh.  It was clear home-ice meant something.  When the Red Wings returned to Detroit for game-5, they beat up on Pittsburgh, winning 5-0.  With such a dominating performance, it looked like they might head into Pittsburgh and win it all on the road.  That didn't happen!

Playing on home-ice in game-7, the Red Wings seem to have the upper hand.  The beauty of a game-7, however, is that everything that has already happened can be disregarded.  It is a brand new series - a 1-game series.  The home team might have won all six games so far, but if the road team wins now, everything else is irrelevant.

Detroit plays very well on home-ice, and the fans in "hockeytown" certainly play a role.  With the home team getting the last change, you better believe Zetterberg will be all over Crosby.  What a match-up!

I do believe that Detroit is the better team, and based on the situation, should come out victorious.  But here is the reality; they can't win every home game, and if they find themselves playing a step behind, it's over!  Home-ice does not give you the win, just an advantage! 

Flyers Have Deal With Emery, According to Sources

According to Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Daily News, team sources say the Flyers have a deal in place to sign free-agent goalie Ray Emery.  Emery will make $1.5-Million for a 1-year deal. 

That's a low price for goalie with as much potential that Emery offers.  I can see why the Flyers want to make this deal.  Most people cringe at the idea of bringing Emery to Philly - as he is continuously surrounded by controversy - but this might not be all that bad.

Martin Biron made 3.5-million last season, and is probably looking for more money.  The Flyers top priority is to sign a big name defenseman - preferably Jay Bouwmeester.  Up against the salary cap, signing Biron at or above his previous salary would make it very difficult to improve their team.

Signing Emery for 1.5-million - though a chance - would give the Flyers more cap space, allowing them to sign a big name player.  This may be an undesirable move, but the Flyers are not as good as teams like the Penguins and Red Wings.  They have had salary cap issues, making it almost impossible to improve their team.  This may be the only way to accomplish this.

Flyers May Play Outdoor Game at Fenway Park

On January 1, 2008, the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium - home of the Buffalo Bills - in an outdoor hockey game.  Last year, the Blackhawks hosted the Red Wings at Wrigley Field.  The Boston Bruins have been given permission by the NHL to host a game at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 - but their opponent has yet to be announced.

According to ESPN, the choices have been narrowed down to two teams - the Washington Capitals, and the Philadelphia Flyers.  Tim Panaccio of Comcast SportsNet has indicated that all signs point to the Capitals - not the Flyers, who have yet to hear anything from the NHL.

Washington is an attractive choice, if only for Ovechkin alone.  Apparently, the Flyers are looking to get an outdoor game of their own, and have expressed interest in hosting a game at Citizens Bank Park. 

Hopefully the Flyers are picked to play the Bruins.  Being a part of an outdoor hockey game would be pretty cool, especially at Fenway Park.  As far as an outdoor game in Philly - I like the motivation - but I'm not sure it's a good idea.  Outdoor hockey is neat, when played in a cold place.  Buffalo, Chicago, and Boston are all appropriate places.

Though it does have the tendancy to be cold New Years day in Philly, I know it can get somewhat warm, rainy, or even both.  It's just a dissaster waiting to happen!

Flyers to Sign Goalie Ray Emery

At the beginning of May, word got out that the Flyers had interest in Goalie Ray Emery.  According to Tim Panaccio at CSN.com, it now looks like Emery will indeed be the Flyers starting Goalie next season.  Are we ready for this?

Emery's potential on the ice is promising.  Everything else...is discouraging!  Emery took the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007, but played last season for the Atlant Kytischi - in Russia - because the Senators felt he was too much of a distraction to keep around. 

His antics include, but not limited to: showing up late for practice, missing practice, missing team flights, fighting with a teammate on the ice, not to mention off-ice issues - road-rage, stunt driving, death threats, etc.  A move to Russia didn't cure this behavior.  After being pulled from a game, Emery punched a team trainer.

Is this a good move for the Flyers?

It's easy to say no, because really, who needs this type of a headache?  But here's something to consider: 

The Flyers have salary cap issues.  They had to trade Scottie Upshaw for Daniel Carcillo to clear up some cap space.  They had to bring up college players at the end of the season, because somebody from the Phantoms would put them over their cap limit.  Bottom line: they don't have much room to work with.

Now we need to look at the Flyers top priority.  Defense seems to be more of concern than Goaltending.  There have been big names thrown around that the Flyers would like to add to their defense - notably Jay Bouwmeester.  That isn't going to come cheap!

So what does this mean for the Goalie position?  Well, there won't be a lot of money left to handle that situation.  So this gives the Flyers minimal choices.  If they can't pay good money for a good Goalie, then they can pay little money for a bad goalie - or - they can take a shot at somebody that is a potential problem, but may give you good on-ice performance for little money.

For obvious reasons, I don't want to see Emery wearing a Flyers uniform.  On the flip side, I am a bit realistic about their situation, and think this could be the solution to a current problem.  I personally want Bouwmeester.  I also want a good goalie.  This may be the only way that can happen.

Here is an article written in early May - taking a look at Emery, along with other potential Goalie solutions for the Flyers.