Quote: Originally Posted By holer on 5/19/2008
Man you people are so easy to stir up.

You have obviously never been to the Delaware Valley. The chip on our collective shoulder is prime timber in most other locations.

Quote: Originally Posted By holer on 5/19/2008
Man you people are so easy to stir up.

A lot of the people on this site weren't even born the last time this city had a championship. We've become a little edgy.

you guys had a great season flyers, and you didn't make it easy for the pens. congrats on an amazing short term turnaround, and you look pretty good going forward. :>

Kudos to the Flyers--great job this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan, but I am looking forward to a great stretch of Pens/Flyers battles for supremacy in the east for the next few years. Flyers fans have a lot to be proud of and to look forward to. Second seed in the East for the next five years is nothing to sniff at! ;o

thanks guys.

Holmgren said at a news conf today that he would get Carter signed.

So it's safe to say that Smith, Umburger, and Hatcher are going to be let go?

Smith - gone

Umbs - someone will throw too much money at him (rangers)

Hatcher - Stevens hinted at his retirement on SR950 yetserday afternoon.

Both Stevens and Homer have talked defensive upgrade as the priority (after signing Carter) for the offseason.

Randy Jones also needs to get signed...unless they come up with better defensive options.

I don't see anyone throwing too much at Umberger unless they watched the Montreal series.

Jones I have read that the Flyers want to give him a raise but not too much, they want him in the 5-6 spot with Kuukonen or Hatcher. Timonen, Coburn, and Parent will be the top three and they want to bring in someone else to fill that out.

Also read that even Hatcher has hinted about retiring saying if he has any problems with his knees during the summer he may stop.

Holmgren said that it will be real hard not to have Giroux make the team in training camp so I have to figure that he is figuring on having him replace Umberger.

JVR has signed on for another year in NCAA.

I'm looking for big things out of JVR in the future. It would be nice to see him begin to fill out and continue to put up numbers at UNH. He has the potential to be LeClair-esque

It will be an interesting offseason with the defenseman situation. Smith will be gone, think everyone agrees there. If Hatcher retires, I think it puts more pressure on Holmgren than people may see. No doubt they both looked like they were skating on sand on a good day but they both brought something to the ice. We run the risk of getting really soft in front of the net without them back there. For as much heat as he takes for his speed the Montreal series could have gone bad if they weren't afraid to rush the net and I thought Hatch did a hell of a job against the Pens when Coburn went down. We certainly do need one more guy that can skate and put a crisp pass on a forwards stick to break out of our zone but we'll be needing someone who can inflict some punishment in front of the net as well now. If Hatcher does retire I hope he anounces it sooner rather than later cause it may really change what path Holmgren will have to follow come July.

This is from hockeybuzz.com so take it for what it is worth.

IMO it would take more for Sutter.

Umberger for Suter?
From all I am hearing Jeff Carter wants to and will indeed be a Flyer for years to come. However, the Flyers are in an interesting spot with RJ. While it is hard to imagine a Vanek-like offer sheet coming in for RJ, it is entirely possible that Holmgren and Poile (two long-time friends) could make a move that would clear up issues for each of them.

The Flyers, in need of more defensive speed, could send RJ to Nashville for Suter. Nashville needs more size and scoring upfront. I could see both players (both of whom are RFAs) thriving in their new surroundings. I see RJ Umberger very much as a Keith Primeau in his early years in Detroit. He scores the same kinds of goals, is very strong on the puck, and we are just starting to see glimpses of a bigger scoring potential. It is all there for RJ, but Philly's youth and depth may keep him from ever seeing all of that potential. As Primeau went to Carolina and became a star, I coud see RJ in Nashville do the same. And Suter, an American kid that Holmgren is very aware of, could really help solidify the need for more speed on the defensive end. The Preds have so many young d-men and with Weber demanding a huge salary this summer and other guys coming up, the Preds could part ways with Suter.

That would be a heck of deal for Philly given thier depth at center. Suter is a solid D-man and would be a great long term investment.