FLYERS 2007-08 - Page 142

BtownJay · May 20th, 2008, 10:40 AM

Out for sure... Prospal, Modry, Fitzpatrick
Most likely gone... Smith, Dowd
Possible cap casualties... Umberger, Kapanen, Knuble, Gauthier, Upshall

BtownBeers · May 20th, 2008, 11:29 AM

I think Umberger and Upshall are two they'd like to try to keep of that group, hope they can.

Lets hope we add a D man, like Campbell, get on the phone Danielle!

BtownJay · May 20th, 2008, 11:34 AM

I'm guessing Upshall will stay, but we have more than 9 forwards for the top 3 lines, not sure he can make our top 9 next season. And its going to depend on what Umberger... 1. Thinks his value is after he good playoff run and 2. what he gets offered from other teams. We are not good cap wise, and with Carter getting a huge raise, its going to be tough.

Forwards next year (top 3 lines)...

Richards, Briere, Carter
Umberger, Knuble, Upshall, Giroux, Downie, Lupul, Gagne, Hartnell

Thats 11 for 9 spots.

BtownBeers · May 20th, 2008, 11:51 AM

Well we all think Knubs is gone, Downie playing above the 4th line is still a question mark as is Giroux.

One thing I know for sure is that I am glad I don't have to figure out how to make this team work with the cap and players.

BtownJay · May 20th, 2008, 11:58 AM

If they aren't going to play Downie on a top 3 line, they might as well move him in the off season. Sticking him on the 4th line isn't going to help his game improve at all. He'd be better off on the Phantoms.

Giroux would have to take a big step backwards to be behind a guy like Upshall. Not saying it can't or won't happen, but that would be a big blow to us. He's playing better than Crosby or Kane did at this level.

Yep, thrilled i don't have to figure this all out. Easy for me to play armchair GM. Its so much fun.

ssigman · May 20th, 2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BtownJay

If they aren't going to play Downie on a top 3 line, they might as well move him in the off season.

wow how quick you give up on him...glad you finally see that he's nothing more than a fringe nhl player who'll be working at arby's in the near future

BtownBeers · May 20th, 2008, 12:03 PM

I just wonder if they think Downie or Giroux are fully ready to add to this team on a scoring line, not saying Giroux would be on the 4th line, but is it guarenteed he's coming up next year?

My point is, its hard to imagine big changes to a team that made it to the ECF, seems like you'd be fixing something not really broke considering those guys aren't the pieces that will put us over the top IMO. I know we will have some losses due do the cap that will need to be replaced, just wondering if those are the answers over trying to keep some of the guys that are part of what got us this far.

That said, a healthy Gags and hopefully a big D man move could be the missing pieces so then added Giroux and Downie to the scoring lines and letting so of the others walk for big deals could be ok in the end.

BtownJay · May 20th, 2008, 12:35 PM

Giroux is going to get every chance to make the team. Obviously i don't know how thats going to go, but he's been damn impressive the last two years. The same with Downie, he's not a real 4th line type of player... he has always been a skilled guy who needs skilled guys around him.

I doubt the team WANTS to make big changes at forward, but because of the cap, we have to. We simply can not sign all of our FA's AND add defensive help. Not enough room under the cap.

We have $46 mil already locked up for next season. We still have to sign Carter, Umberger, Jones, and Thoreson. That doesn't leave us a thing to get anyone outside of the current team. For arguement sake, replacing Knuble and Umberger with Downie and Giroux would free up right around $5 mil to add a damn good d-man.

BtownBeers · May 20th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Yeah thats what I was alluding to in that we can't keep em all, you really think they are going to sign Thorensen back again next year?

My problem with Downie is that I don't know if one offseason is going to get him ready to be anything more than a 4th liner, time will tell there I think.

BtownJay · May 20th, 2008, 01:05 PM

I have a feeling they will re-sign #25 to center the 4th line. He was a center before, but we didn't need him there this season. Dowd is a UFA and old... Thor is young and would be really cheap. As much as I hate him on a scoring line, i liked his energy and he played hard. Cote/Thor/??? for a 4th line may be a good start.

IMO, Downie would be a perfect winger for Carters line. Hes good along the boards and he's a good passer. He's gotta get time on a top line or we're never going to see him grow. He's simply not going to get better playing on the 4th line... as much as a Cote/???/Downie line makes me happy, its not the best place for his potential. He had 92 points in 45 games in his last year of juniors and had 22 in 9 playoff games.

If i'm Homer or Stevens, I'm MAKING Downie work with Cote's skating coach in the off season. Thats his one big issue right now. <

May 20th, 2008, 11:29 AM	#2117
BtownBeers Skull Fucker Wannabeeee! Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 23,790 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	I think Umberger and Upshall are two they'd like to try to keep of that group, hope they can. Lets hope we add a D man, like Campbell, get on the phone Danielle! __________________ As someone who has been on both ends of a loaded weapon I can only wish you well in your idealized little vision of what the world should be; I will continue to deal the world as it really is. -BaldBil

May 20th, 2008, 11:51 AM	#2119
BtownBeers Skull Fucker Wannabeeee! Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 23,790 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Well we all think Knubs is gone, Downie playing above the 4th line is still a question mark as is Giroux. One thing I know for sure is that I am glad I don't have to figure out how to make this team work with the cap and players. __________________ As someone who has been on both ends of a loaded weapon I can only wish you well in your idealized little vision of what the world should be; I will continue to deal the world as it really is. -BaldBil

May 20th, 2008, 12:03 PM	#2122
BtownBeers Skull Fucker Wannabeeee! Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 23,790 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	I just wonder if they think Downie or Giroux are fully ready to add to this team on a scoring line, not saying Giroux would be on the 4th line, but is it guarenteed he's coming up next year? My point is, its hard to imagine big changes to a team that made it to the ECF, seems like you'd be fixing something not really broke considering those guys aren't the pieces that will put us over the top IMO. I know we will have some losses due do the cap that will need to be replaced, just wondering if those are the answers over trying to keep some of the guys that are part of what got us this far. That said, a healthy Gags and hopefully a big D man move could be the missing pieces so then added Giroux and Downie to the scoring lines and letting so of the others walk for big deals could be ok in the end. __________________ As someone who has been on both ends of a loaded weapon I can only wish you well in your idealized little vision of what the world should be; I will continue to deal the world as it really is. -BaldBil

May 20th, 2008, 12:48 PM	#2124
BtownBeers Skull Fucker Wannabeeee! Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 23,790 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Yeah thats what I was alluding to in that we can't keep em all, you really think they are going to sign Thorensen back again next year? My problem with Downie is that I don't know if one offseason is going to get him ready to be anything more than a 4th liner, time will tell there I think. __________________ As someone who has been on both ends of a loaded weapon I can only wish you well in your idealized little vision of what the world should be; I will continue to deal the world as it really is. -BaldBil