Meet Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer covering the Philadelphia Flyers. I knew the nuclear fallout from the Flyers’ early postseason exit would begin soon, but never did I think it would call for such spending. The Flyers aren’t exactly in cap hell even though according to every amateur GM/fan of other teams you can find running around we are in a position to give up some big name pieces in order to stay under the cap. Consider them completely wrong, but also realize that the Flyers aren’t going to go out and spend unreasonably. If anyone hasn’t read Sam Carchidi’s article about his proposed offseason plan for the Flyers you can find it here.
So let’s see how well Carchidi’s plans match up with mine. Eventually we’ll get to see what Holmgren does, but until then there’s nothing but speculation floating around.
Protecting the net. Add a physical defenseman who makes opponents leery in front of the goal. Montreal’s 6-foot-4, 242-pound Mike Komisarek is an unrestricted free agent who fits that description, though there are mixed feelings about him among Flyers honchos.
Komisarek was bothered by hand and shoulder injuries this season, but when healthy, he is the type of player the Flyers need – and would also give their defense a valuable righthanded shot.
Another intriguing unrestricted free agent with physicality is Anaheim defenseman Francois Beauchemin, who appears to have recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for most of the season.
Komisarek isn’t a bad idea as I mentioned in my article of possible defensive free agent targets for the Flyers. Unfortunately Holmgren has made it very clear that he does not want to go slow and stumbly on the blueline. I think anything under $4.00m for Komisarek would work out nicely for the Flyers, and of course a right handed shot is always useful. He’s taking a hard hit from many Montreal fans currently saying that he regressed substantially this past season, but that wasn’t entirely his fault. The entire team wasn’t nearly as good, and as mentioned above, Komisarek had a number of minor injuries become problematic. If Holmgren is even thinking about getting a hard, seasoned, and physical presence to shut down some of the elite forwards of the eastern conference this is who he should go after.
Beauchemin on the other hand isn’t much of an upgrade to Carle if at all. While his market price may be driven down it may not go far enough down to use him as a 3rd pairing defenseman. Without being a sure upgrade to Carle he’s hardly worth the $3.00m he might get. At that price or lower he’s certainly an upgrade to Jones’ salary, but that’s a spot where we may look to get more physical with Sbisa ready to join the lineup. He’s more physical than Carle, but has the same skill set while remaining a couple of years older. An ACL tear worries me as well even if he is 100%. It’s not a career ending injury by any means, but if we’re going for an upgrade to Carle why go after Beauchemin?
Chemistry. Get someone to liven up the locker room. This team has too many low-key sorts and needs to add some fiery types who will carry that attitude onto the ice.
Maybe having a few fiery-but-disciplined personalities wouldn’t have prevented the Penguins from overcoming a 3-0 deficit in Game 6, or the New York Rangers from rallying past the Flyers in the pivotal final game of the regular season. Or maybe it would have.
I disagree that this team has “too many” low-key players. I understand the point that there may be a severe lack of generally outspoken veteran leadership on this team, but that is not the only way to lead. While Richards may not be the first to start shouting and raising hell in the locker-room, once he is on the ice it becomes a different story. Players like Powe, Hartnell, and Richards of course have no problems getting the team fired up on the ice or on the bench.
The fiery disciplined personality that this team may be missing is actually Scottie Upshall who never produced many points but made sure that he was heard from at the end of the game. Carcillo was brought in to produce that energy and failed. He does not rile people up enough in a clean manner like Richards and Powe can or as Upshall did. That’s where the problems come in.
The Flyers have plenty of energy up front, and a locker room screamer is overrated in the NHL. What they really need that goes along with what Sam Carchidi is saying here is a vet on the blueline who will put the fear of god into opposing offenses. Hatcher was that guy for Philadelphia as immobile as he currently is. The Flyers could use a Pronger type without the penalties, and Mike Komisarek fits that perfectly. Look at the defense really quickly, and you’ll understand what I mean. Timonen is good at shutting forwards down, but he won’t slam players who cross the blueline. Coburn sometimes plays with a fire but for the most part plays solid positional defense instead. Parent gets the job done as an up-and-coming premier shut down defenseman but will never be as physical as many would like. Jones and Carle aren’t anywhere near physical. Alberts was in fact the closest thing on the roster to being physical. Sbisa is more like Coburn with his physicality and much smaller which takes care of everyone on the Flyers blueline. The closest we have to a monster shut-down defensemen is Kevin Marshall who still isn’t even the most physical player in the world, but will shut forwards down while giving them a nice little something to remember him by. Unfortunately Marshall as a prospect may not even be ready for NHL duty.
The Penguins in the first series didn’t beat the Flyers because there was a lack of on-ice fire from the Flyers forwards. Something the Pens had remembered from last postseason is how the orange and black played without Kimmo Timonen in the lineup. He is the key to figuring out the Flyers scheme, and when Coach Dan Bylsma would send Kunitz chasing Timonen around the ice there was no orange jersey around to smack Kunitz until after the play was over. A blueliner has to step up and be the physical presence on this team, and if the organization can’t use one of it’s current players in that role then they will have to go out and get one despite what Holmgren says to the media.
Man in the middle. Add a veteran center adept at killing penalties and taking face-offs (a Glen Metropolit type). This was sorely missing in the playoffs.
Faceoffs is certainly something the Flyers need to work on. In the days of Brind’Amour, Primeau, and eventually Jim Dowd for a season Philadelphia always someone who could dominate the circle. Richards, Carter, and Giroux are talented two-way players, but that can only get your team so far in a game of puck possession. One obviously possible option is moving Giroux back to wing, keeping Briere at wing, and signing some solid possession third line centers such as Manny Malhotra out of Columbus, John Madden out of New Jersey, or to a lesser extent Samuel Pahlsson out of Chicago. Personally I think Madden would look very good on the 3rd line in a Flyers jersey with Powe and/or Nodl.
Dealing with Biron. Try re-signing Marty Biron, but don’t break the bank to get him. Biron is an average-to-good goalie who becomes very good in the playoffs.
But if Biron can’t be signed for $3 million to $3.5 million, the Flyers should cut ties and go after Craig Anderson or Scott Clemmensen, free-agent goalies who are just as effective (better?) and would probably be cheaper.
Biron reportedly wants a Brodeur-esque deal around $5.00m a year for a decent length. The Flyers would rather go out and get someone worth that much money or a young rookie they can bring up. Best case scenario: the Flyers are able to sign Biron to a reasonable two year contract without a movement clause and trade for a young up and coming goalie like Harding out of Minnesota, Halak out of Montreal, or Schneider out of Vancouver. I in fact would have no issues letting Harding or Halak get their shot to start here in Philadelphia if we sign someone like Bouwmeester in the offseason. Schneider may take some time, but the other two have plenty of NHL experience.
Get Bouwmeester. Try acquiring 6-4, 214-pound Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester – contingent on his signing with the Flyers and not becoming a free agent on July 1 – to give the orange-and-black a needed offensive force on the blue line.
If it takes Joffrey Lupul, Randy Jones, and a No. 1 pick just to start the trade talks, so be it.
Bouwmeester can be had at the draft, but the problem is signing him. In essence the Flyers seem to be keeping Jones’ salary as a limit to how much they can spend because at the end of next season when Jones will likely be let go, the Flyers will have to give raises to Parent and Coburn about equal to Jones’ salary. It’d be nice to have him as a clear cut measuring stick despite his hip injuries and total lack of concentration when playing in his own zone. If Bouwmeester was to come to Philly it would mean that both of Lupul and Carle would be on their way out, or Briere would no longer be a Flyer. While there are needs around the NHL for a number one center like Briere his no movement clause puts a problematic twist on moving him. It would be nice to move him to a team like Montreal who desperately need offense down the middle and have plenty of cap space for the rights to Komisarek, Halak, and a pick or so, but that may be wishful thinking. The recent trends of many of the Flyers fans seem to demonstrate that hopefully Lupul can be moved for a young goaltender who can tandem between the pipes until ready for full time duty and that Carle can be moved either for Bouwmeester’s rights or picks. With Bouwmeester in Philadelphia Carle would become absolutely expendable meaning Bouwmeester’s cap hit of $6.50m or so a year would be cut in half by the $3.44m a year saved by moving Carle. That would free up the Flyers long term so that they could in fact sign Bouwmeester and keep their core together for the long haul.
Remember though if they send a guy like Lupul or Carle over for Bouwmeester’s rights they want to be sure they can sign him or someone better than Carle when the free agency period opens up on July 1st like an Ohlund or Komisarek if not Bouwmeester.
Test the market. See what the market bears for Danny Briere and Simon Gagne, veterans who would have to waive their no-trade clauses.
Gagne had an excellent season, and his trade value is extremely high. He might agree to a deal with Montreal.
Because of injury problems this season, Briere is not as attractive to teams, but showed he was still a highly valuable player.
To free cap space and improve other areas, the Flyers should at least explore trading Gagne or Briere. By dealing one of them, they could probably get a midlevel forward and a high draft pick for a future goalie – and might then have enough cap space to sign, say, free agent John Madden, a veteran checking center who scored 16 goals for New Jersey this season.
Getting Briere to waive his clause is literally nine-tenths of the battle in Philadelphia. If they could use his salary on defensive help such as Bouwmeester there is nothing the Flyers can’t do. On this offense Briere is redundant for what he brings on the table. The Flyers have plenty of offense, but what they need is defense. Gagne being dealt in that regard is counter productive despite his value likely being higher. He is one of the best two-way forwards in the game today and the Flyers best winger without question. In fact the entire goal with moving Briere’s salary is so that the team can keep Gagne when Carter, Giroux, Sbisa, Nodl, and Marshall all need new contracts two years from now. It’s very possible if either a combination of Carle and Lupul go or of course if Briere is moved. Adding another long term defenseman right now without moving some pieces could mean the end of Gagne in Philadelphia after two more seasons.
As far as Madden is concerned, he is in fact getting older. I doubt he will fetch as high a salary as his current contract on the open market. Something like $2.00m or so could make a world of difference.
Draft a goalie. Take a goalie high (they may have to trade up to do it), because this organization hasn’t had an elite netminder since the days of Ron Hextall.
I consider this the true sign that Philadelphia has gone into panic mode. Goalie prospects are highly unpredictable and can be a waste of a first round selection. That being said Oliver Roy seems pretty tempting should he fall to where the Flyers can nab him. Other than that though there are plenty of solid young goalies behind elite netminders in the NHL. Schneider is stuck behind Luongo in Vancouver and should the star goaltender re-sign with the Canucks, Schneider could be had for peanuts. Harding and Halak may be in similar situations with Minnesota and Montreal behind Backstrom and Price respectively. If the Flyers aren’t looking for a young goalie to be a starter they can certainly find a few that with some experience could be stars.
Instead the need for depth is clearly at winger with Gagne getting older, Briere getting older, Knuble possibly on the way out for good, and Lupul a possibility for trade bait. The Flyers have JVR and Nodl. Maroon is developing well. Giroux can of course play winger. Still I’m sure that the Flyers would rather draft what they have proven to themselves they can draft. They now have the defensive pool depth, and it may be time to look back towards offense.
Sign Knuble. Yes, Mike Knuble will be 37, and, yes, he’s lost a step or two, but the guy is a proven scorer (27 goals this season) who gives the Flyers a presence around the net.
I have no problem with this especially if the Flyers deem it necessary to move Lupul or Briere. Knuble adds a veteran presence in front of the net, and under a short term contract could be a bargain. At his age the Flyers can drive a low cap hit and pay a lot of his salary in bonuses which don’t count against the salary cap for players over 35. It’s very possible that the Flyers feel the need to keep him until a guy like Maroon is ready to step in. Holmgren has even mentioned that he is currently in talks with Knuble’s camp.
Let’s assume the Flyers don’t add a Metropolit type until near next year’s trade deadline and don’t deal Gagne or Briere. If this wish list were otherwise completed, the four lines could look like this:
Gagne-Richards-Knuble; Scott Hartnell-Jeff Carter-Briere; Dan Carcillo-Claude Giroux-Darroll Powe; and Jon Kalinski-Jared Ross-Arron Asham. (Left winger James van Riemsdyk, who could be trade bait, might be recalled from the minors after seasoning.)
The defense would become elite: Bouwmeester-Komisarek; Ryan Parent-Kimmo Timonen; and Braydon Coburn-Matt Carle, with Luca Sbisa in the wings.
If he signed here, Biron would be the No. 1 goalie, with Swedish prospect Johan Backlund as his probable backup.
Assuming Bouwmeester signed for a $6 million cap hit, Komisarek signed for around $2.5 million, and Knuble signed a 35-and-over contact heavily loaded with incentives, the Flyers’ payroll would be about $55 million.
It doesn’t allow much wiggle room for the expected $56.7 million cap, but would give them much more space than they had at the end of this season.
This, unlike the Knuble re-signing, I do have some issues with. While that defense is awesome no doubt, signing not only Bouwmeester but Komisarek as well without moving Carle is financially irresponsible. Having a 3rd pairing player paid $3.44m a year is not very good. What the Flyers have in essence done in this scenario is created two top pairing defensive units with Bouwmeester – Komisarek and Timonen – Parent as well a solid second pairing that in the future could easily be a top pairing with Coburn – Carle. Komisarek obviously solves the grit problem, but why keep Carle on the roster when he could fetch a least a decent return at the draft as far as trade value and will likely prevent the retaining of Coburn and Parent the next year if he can’t be moved. Sbisa is certainly competent enough to play with Coburn, Bouwmeester, or Timonen, will be a future stud defenseman for the Flyers, and is far cheaper allowing the Flyers to not only sign a veteran center to a 1-2 year deal, but will also leave room for new deals for Coburn and Parent next season. If the Flyers desperately need a 7th blueliner then Marshall will certainly fit the bill and gain valuable experience. Either way Komisarek and Bouwmeester is redundant and expensive. While Komisarek is a physical shut down presence Bouwmeester is the complete package on the blueline.
That being said Carle should be gone with Bouwmeester here, and if Komisarek can be signed for $2.50m in place of Jones then go for it. I’d be just as happy with the three pairings being Timonen – Parent, Bouwmeester – Sbisa, and Coburn – Marshall. If Komisarek fits in there move him with Sbisa, move Bouwmeester with Coburn, and drop Marshall to the AHL.
As far as the offense is concerned you have to give to get. Bouwmeester carries a hefty price and if the Flyers plan to keep everyone in two years either Lupul or Briere must go. They don’t necessarily need to go right away, but there are two ways the Flyers can tackle the situation.
- They can play three scoring lines based based on chemistry pairings like they have been.
- They can move Lupul or Briere and skate two superior lines with a traditional third line.
The first way is the way that they’ve been doing it with all of their scoring depth. In this scenario they keep Lupul and Briere creating something along the lines of Gagne – Richards – Knuble (re-signed), Hartnell – Carter – Lupul, and Powe – Giroux – Briere. What seems to be more common among fan opinion is the second option of moving either Lupul or Briere and creating this set up:
Gagne – Richards – Briere/Lupul
Hartnell – Carter – Giroux
Powe/Nodl – FA Center (i.e. Madden) – FA Winger (i.e. Recchi)
Cote – Kalinski – Asham
That would be cheaper and create a dominate offensive front with all lines being responsible defensively while the 3rd line also retains a certain amount of ability for offensive production. With the way that Coach Stevens likes to shift his lines around this may not be practical, but it certainly would make retaining all of Gagne, Carter, Giroux, and Sbisa doable.
In the end we have no idea what Holmgren is going to do. He has mentioned Knuble and Biron. He has also mentioned Bouwmeester and unfortunately, Ray Emery. There are solutions out there, and we will have to leave it to Holmgren to find them.
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