Phinally Philly

It hasn’t been totally silent in Philadelphia outside of the various rumors floating around. The Flyers did manage to get Briere back into the lineup against the Devils on Sunday with some clever movement. Giroux was sent back to the AHL as well as Lasse Kukkonen in order to call up Nate Guenin. This saved the Flyers the couple thousand they needed to put Danny into the lineup. Unfortunately it didn’t work out in the Flyers favor as Martin Brodeur earned his 100th career shutout. That’s in the past now though. It’s been a rough weekend for the Flyers but it’s time to move on. Briere is back and Timonen will hopefully be done with the flu shortly.

That doesn’t leave everything taken care of though. It’s now Monday, March 2nd; two days from the biggest day of the entire regular season. This day makes strong teams champions and poor teams contenders for years to come. But one thing the recent fiasco involving Briere’s return to gameplay has demonstrated is how dangerously close to the salary this team really is. Timonen’s flu was able to send a big enough shockwave through the team that the roster needed to be toyed with right before the deadline.

Usually the Flyers like to remain relatively quiet. It’s true Metropolit and Vaananen were waived and ended up elsewhere. It’s also true that the Panthers GM came to the Kings game and the Canadiens game last week in Philadelphia. What does that all mean? Who really knows? The entire NHL has remained relatively dormant this past weekend. It’s actually very odd to see virtually nothing happen with the deadline so close. This can mean one of two things:

1) There are some hard decisions going around that will cause the NHL teams to swap players that could change the balance of power in the NHL as we know it. It could be that the GMs are taking third and fourth looks at the proposed deals to make sure they get them right because so much is riding on them.

2) The NHL trade deadline this season could be the most quiet one in recent memory with hardly anyone getting moved.

My natural instinct is to choose the first option. With the wild west being virtually wide open and the east being competitive for the most part all the way down to the lowly Penguins there is something brewing. It’s almost as if we’re watching the perfect storm of NHL trades come together. Pronger has been rumored to the Bruins to be with Chara. Bouwmeester is rumored to go everywhere with an ice arena. Even Guerin of the New York Islanders has apparently waived his no trade clause.

So where do the Flyers sit in all of this? There are certainly some distinct categories that those in the Flyers organization belong to:

UNTOUCHABLE:

• Danny Briere – ($6.50m/year cap hit) – reason: Contract Clause
  Next year: signed 
• Kimmo Timonen ($6.33m/year cap hit) – reason: Contract Clause
  Next year: signed 
• Mike Richards – ($5.75m/year cap hit) – reason: Team Captain
  Next year: signed 
• Simon Gagne – ($5.25m/year cap hit) – reason: Contract Clause
  Next year: signed 
• Jeff Carter – ($5.00m/year cap hit) – reason: Top Offensive Threat
  Next year: signed 
• Martin Biron – ($3.50m/year cap hit) – reason: Contract Clause
  Next year: unrestricted free agent 

VIRTUALLY UNTOUCHABLE:

• Claude Giroux – ($0.82m/year cap hit) – reason: Signed for two more years at entry level price and will be key player.
  Next year: signed 
• Ryan Parent – ($0.86m/year cap hit) – reason: Signed for one more year at entry level price and will be key player.
  Next year: signed 
• Scottie Upshall – ($1.25m/year cap hit) – reason: Cheap depth player but great in a 3rd line energy role.
  Next year: restricted free agent
• Braydon Coburn – ($1.30m/year cap hit) – reason: Signed cheap for one more year and could be the future of this team defensively.
  Next year: signed 

UNLIKELY TO BE MOVED UNLESS FOR THE RIGHT DEAL:

• Mike Knuble – ($2.80m/year cap hit) – reason: Becomes a UFA after the season and provides solid offense.
  Next year: unrestricted free agent
• James van Riemsdyk – (no current contract) – reason: Arguably top prospect currently outside of NHL.
  Next year: to be determined
• Luca Sbisa – ($0.88m/year cap hit) – reason: Signed for three more years at entry level price and is the Flyers top defensive prospect.
  Next year: signed
• Matt Carle – ($3.44m/year cap hit) – reason: Young defenseman who can still grow but has played solidly this season.
  Next year: signed

MOVABLE:

• Joffrey Lupul – ($2.31m/year cap hit)
  Next year: signed (new contract $4.25m/year cap hit)
• Randy Jones – ($2.75m/year cap hit)
  Next year: signed
• Aaron Asham – ($0.64m/year cap hit)
  Next year: signed
• Josh Gratton – ($0.55m/year cap hit)
  Next year: unrestricted free agent
• Riley Cote – ($0.55m/year cap hit)
  Next year: signed
• Darroll Powe – ($0.52m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Andrew Alberts – ($1.25m/year cap hit)
  Next year: unrestricted free agent
• Lasse Kukkonen – ($0.88m/year cap hit)
  Next year: unrestricted free agent
• Andreas Nodl – ($0.85m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Kevin Marshall – ($0.88m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Denis Bodrov – (no current contract) – prospect
  Next year: to be determined
• Jonathan Matsumoto – ($0.60m/year contract) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Marc-Andre Bourdon – (no current contract) – prospect
  Next year: to be determined
• Patrick Maroon – ($0.53m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Jonathan Kalinski – ($0.88m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Mario Kempe – (no current contract) – prospect
  Next year: to be determined
• Jared Ross – ($0.50m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: restricted free agent
• Danny Syvret – ($0.55m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: restricted free agent
• Michael Ratchuk – ($0.85m/year cap hit) – prospect
  Next year: signed
• Antero Niittymaki – ($1.23m/year cap hit)
  Next year: unrestricted free agent

Basically what all this means is with so many players key to this team’s current success don’t expect that many deals to be made. It will either be one big one or a few minor ones. In the end the Flyers may even be keen on not moving players like Matt Carle and Joffrey Lupul at the trade deadline even though those are the big names being thrown around in nearly every reasonable scenario. Those are the two most expendable players per cap hit on this roster and even though they’re important pieces, the Flyers could part with them at the trade deadline to make their team better or even at the draft in order to sure up their roster, get some draft selections, and allow them more moves for the offseason and years to come.

The Flyers are tight against a wall right now though. Something will likely happen, but if it’s not Bouwmeester don’t expect any big names coming in Philadelphia’s direction. On top of that don’t expect the Flyers to part with too much high-end prospect talent. Entry level contracts are the lifeblood of any successful team. Bargain contracts are what keeps competitive teams playing at a high level consistently and entry level deals are the mother of all bargain contracts if the kids play well.

Even with the Flyers in their situation there have been some names around the league that have peaked the interest of the Flyers even if they will be hard to acquire:

1. Jay Bouwmeester – Defenseman – Florida Panthers ($4.88m/year cap hit)
   Next year: unrestricted free agent
2. Chris Pronger – Defenseman – Anaheim Ducks ($6.25m/year cap hit)
   Next year: unrestricted free agent
3. Kari Lehtonen – Goaltender – Atlanta Thrashers ($3.00m/year cap hit)
   Next year: restricted free agent
4. Niklas Backstrom – Goaltender – Minnesota Wild ($3.10m/year cap hit)
   Next year: unrestricted free agent
5. Brendan Witt – Defenseman – New York Islanders ($3.00m/year cap hit)
   Next year: signed
6. Nikolai Khabibulin – Goaltender – Chicago Blackhawks ($6.75m/year cap hit)
   Next year: unrestricted free agent
7. Mark Recchi – Right Wing – Tampa Bay Lightning ($1.50m/year cap hit)
   Next year: unrestricted free agent

It’s bound to be a wild couple of days. Try to lay low and hope for the best for the Flyers. Paul Holmgren is definitely one of the league’s best general managers. Have faith that he will make the right decisions, and, please by all means, enjoy it. After this week the pressure is on to win. The home stretch is coming, and the Flyers want to be in the best possible position going into the post season. And don’t miss it for a second, this team could be going places this year with or without a major trade deadline move.

For those who have been keeping track, this whole three-way trade scenario that would have had Broncos Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler going to Tampa, Matt Cassel to Denver, and a first round pick to the Pats has been flat-out bizarre. That ESPN blog post sums it up nicely, but the situation has left Jay Cutler angry and he may still be on the trading block.

Here’s the question the Eagles have to be asking themselves: would we consider trading Donovan McNabb and making a move on Cutler?

Before I really start getting into this I first want to say that I am a big McNabb supporter, and I feel like he has taken a lot of unnecessary flack from the Philly media and fans over the years. It doesn’t help that the Eagles wasted the best years of his career by surrounding him with crap (Stinkston), crap (Trash), and even more crap (Fred-Ex).

That being said, Donovan is now 32-years old and on the decline skills-wise, yet he still has pretty significant value around the league. With his recent (supposed) challenge to the Eagles front office, is this the time to make a move? I understand losing Brian Dawkins has already given the Eagles some a shit load of bad publicity, and the Eagles do have a young QB they invested an early second round pick in a few years ago (Kevin Kolb). Still, when a young talent like Cutler becomes available it’s something you have to consider.

Statistically McNabb and Cutler actually had pretty similar numbers last season…

Attempts: McNabb 571 – Cutler 616

Completions: 345 – 384

Passing yards: 3,916 – 4,526

Touchdowns: 23 – 25

Interceptions: 11 – 18

QB Rating: 86.4 – 86.0

Cutler did throw seven more interceptions, but other than that his numbers were similar or better than McNabb’s. On top of that, Cutler is only 25 and has shown signs of developing into an outstanding quarterback.

A lot depends on what the Birds could get for McNabb compared to what it would cost to acquire Cutler. Tampa supposedly was prepared to part with a first and a third round pick in exchange for Cutler, but what if the Eagles managed to get a first rounder for Donovan? You could swing that pick back to Denver in a trade for Cutler and come out of the situation without losing anything of consequence (besides McNabb, of course) and potentially getting an upgrade at quarterback.

It’s a longshot to happen, and I am all for giving Donovan another chance at a title here in Philly, but from what we’ve seen from the Eagles front office in the past I would not at all be surprised if the Birds tried to pull something like this off.

Ward Visits Doesn’t Visit Philly

Sheil Kapadia mentioned today in his excellent Moving the Chains blog that Giants runningback Derrick Ward visited the Eagles yesterday. He would definitely be a suitable replacement for Buckhalter, but it all depends on his asking price. The Eagles have plenty of competition for his services: the Broncos, Texans, and Bucs have all expressed interest in the 28-year old.

**UPDATE** Turns out, Ward did not visit Philadelphia after all. Just another reminder to take every offseason rumor with a grain of salt.

First we had the whole Brian Dawkins thing, and today just added to what has been a tough few days for Philly fans. The Flyers looked listless in a 3-0 loss to the first place Devils this afternoon. Martin Brodeur secured his 100th career shutout, and the Flyers clearly missed Kimmo Timonen (who is still recovering from the flu.)

Danny Briere made his first appearance since his groin injury and was a -1 in nearly 17 minutes of ice time. Chalk it up as a rough afternoon for the orange and black and move on because the Flyers are still very much in the playoff race in the East.

Pat the Bat will be receiving his World Series ring along with the rest of the 2008 WFC Philadelphia Phillies right where he belongs: at Citizens Bank Park.

Due to the Phillies’ and Rays’ schedules, it works out that Burrell will be able to attend the ring ceremony on April 8th.

The Phillies will hand out the rings prior to the start of their 3:05 game against the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay has a night game in Boston.

“I came over here early today, and David [Montgomery] and I talked,” Burrell said. “Fortunately, it works out for me that we’re going to be in Boston. So, I can shoot over. The Phillies have a day game. So, I’ll be able to come over and jump right back on a flight. That’s just a coincidence. Fortunately for me, it worked out. I had heard that was going to be the date. Obviously, they weren’t moving the date around for my schedule. But it just happened to work out, and I was glad.

I’m glad that Burrell will be able to get at least one more recognition from the Philly faithful for his contributions. It’s been kind of a surreal week for Philly fans, with Burrell facing the Phils in spring training and Weapon X leaving. The two most tenured Philadelphia athletes left our city in the same offseason.

I’ll be at this game, so I’ll be sure to give a first hand account of just how Pat the Bat will be received. I’m sure that Phillies fans will give him the respect that he has earned.

-KK

Burrell will attend ring ceremony.

(Via Scott Lauber .)