Philly Looking Better With Every Move

[digitalmonkey 929]

Philadelphia signs Biron to a 2-year extension.

[hockey fan 0]

Philadelphia signs Biron to a 2-year extension.

A solid move for the Flyers.Biron is a decent #1 and gives them that stability in goal they haven't had recently while they rebuild their line-up.

[Zach6668 513]

Am I the only one who has been completely unimpressed with Biron?

[pezeveng 207]

They better start playing some defense and start winning some games. A goalies confidence can fall very quickly when going from a good team to a last place team. If Biron's confidence gets any lower he may be a career backup imo.

[MapleLeafpoker 1,462]

I think Philly needs to fill a couple of holes next year with proven vets who are good in the room and can help mentor players and show them how to prepare and take the game seriously. If this lineup can mature properly, they will be a force in the East very soon.this looks like a solid foundation to me:FWD:Gagne, Carter, Richards, Upshall, Umberger, DEF:PitkanenCoburnGauthierParentGTD:Biron Nittymaki

[digitalmonkey 929]

I think Philly needs to fill a couple of holes next year with proven vets who are good in the room and can help mentor players and show them how to prepare and take the game seriously. If this lineup can mature properly, they will be a force in the East very soon.this looks like a solid foundation to me:FWD:Gagne, Carter, Richards, Upshall, Umberger, DEF:PitkanenCoburnGauthierParentGTD:Biron Nittymaki

Plus the youngsters like Potulny, Downie, Giroux, etc who aren't too far away.

[doox 15]

NO DARIEN HATCHER?!?!!11ONE!1!

[MapleLeafpoker 1,462]

Plus the youngsters like Potulny, Downie, Giroux, etc who aren't too far away.

Downie I agree, thats one I should have mentioned.Potulny and Giroux, for me, the jury is still out on. But I will agree they look good in the minors/juniors.Not to mention, they should add a great player this year, Kane/Voracek? (hopefully Esposito gets taken by Flyers and not by Leafs!)

[Speed Limit 0]

I don't think Biron has been bad at all, and in comparison to Nittymaki and Esche the guy is a solid #1.

[fryer98 30]

I just have to...

[goose 0]

GO PHILLY GOALTENDING

[DanielNegreanu 141]

Add to that nucleus all of the high draft picks they'll have at a very deep draft this year and it's easy to see why they'll be better than the Leafs in three years tops.

[serge 904]

Add to that nucleus all of the high draft picks they'll have at a very deep draft this year and it's easy to see why they'll be better than the Leafs in three years tops.

It wont happen....

[TulaneFlyr 0]

Downie I agree, thats one I should have mentioned.Potulny and Giroux, for me, the jury is still out on. But I will agree they look good in the minors/juniors.Not to mention, they should add a great player this year, Kane/Voracek? (hopefully Esposito gets taken by Flyers and not by Leafs!)

A little Flyer's analysis - to dispute that they won't be a good team soon - Ignore it if you don't care about the FlyersAs for young D men, I think also people are missing Oskars Bartulis, also down the pipeline, a Russian trained in Canadian Juniors. The Flyers have said that Cherepanov isn't their number one choice, which suggests they are looking at Kane. I think a trade up (maybe with one of their current players and the Nashville pick) might get them Esposito as well. Locking up Biron was important in the free agent race. They hve done little things, which should help them. They targeted certain players who would be available this offseason, in ways which are kinda interesting. They like Briere and they like Kimmo Timonen. So what do they do? They sign Biron (who talks almost daily to Briere and has been urging him to wear orange and black). They keep Kimmo's idiot brother Jussi in the system, even though he has moments like Corky from Life Goes On. Bringing the Brothers together, letting the other studs fight it out on D. . . . . and not being afraid to trade away young D-men that aren't top tier (Freddy Meyer - Zhitnik - Coburn - Upgrade?) has given the Flyers some SICK depth at D. I could see Randy Jones and Alexander Picard going the way of Meyer next season. What GM isn't willing to give up an offensive prospect for a young defenseman with NHL experience? They are at least 7-8 on the depth chart with Coburn Parent Bartulis Pitkanen Hatcher Gauthier and probably Kimmo Timonen ahead of them. The Veteran presence is significant on the team. Geoff Sanderson FOUGHT to not be traded at the deadline, because he knew he and his family love it here. (I know he FINALLY sold his house in Ohio after 10 months on the market and isn't looking forward to another move any time soon, especially with an autistic child) Sami Kapanen is a real leader and will be there for a while and took a pay CUT to do so. Hatcher, for all the crap that he has taken, can at least go home to his hot wife and knows he has been a decent leader in tough times. Don't be surprised to see Forsberg either retire and go to Sweden to play(75%), or re-sign with us(20%). All depends on his health and his PERCEPTION of his health. Don't be surprised to see other veterans think about coming to philly to fill roles either. Here is the most wild prediction yet. . . . I personally won't be surprised if Paul Holmgren is able to bury the hatchet between The Flyers Organization and the Lindros family, possibly bringing one of Paul's good friends back. 88's problem was with Clarke and the medical staff. If he can pass a physical and he can work with McCrossin, and if he can trust Dorshimer, I believe he could end his career with us. Now, the problems as I see them. The coaching is suspect, as I don't believe in Stevens and Berube. I do believe in Terry Murray as a defense coach, and think the younger guys will benefit from his experience, but he could also have aspirations to be a head coach again soon. I don't believe the Flyers to be a decent team again until they get a real coach. I miss Hitch, though I am sure the Players don't. I am cautiously optimistic about Biron, though I feel it will stunt Niity's development. I like that Holmgren has shown Biron his support and that we consider him a first tier goalie. That being said, is he really so good? Will he look good with a good defense in front of him? Will the Flyers defense develop well enough with the yonug kids and Murray to make Biron look good? All questions waiting to be answered. Gagne needs a playmaking center. Hopefully Briere/Forsberg/WHOEVER will be that person. He is decent with Knuble, who is able to take the front of the net. Finally, I wanna know how the whole Rathje situation works out capwise, as he is a long term injury for the rest of his contract/career. He can't retire, because the money goes against our cap, so he is just gonna sit around scratched. Odd.I think the Flyers will be one of the more interesting stories of next season, to see specifically if there is a possiblity to rebuild quickly in this league under the new rules and under the cap. Also, it will see how quickly you can recover from making strategic mistakes. The Flyers did so, with Hatcher, Rathje, Brashear and others. The Flyers reaped what they sowed this year, getting that bottom spot. I think the changes and the dramatic moves they made will make them contenders quickly. I also agree with Daniel that they will be better than the Leafs very soon. Will they be better than NJ or Pitt in their own division? THAT will be the difference between pretender and contender.

[sinc 0]

Just a couple follow ups to the above philly post. First off barring some lottery bad beat the flyers won't need to trade up with anybody. Second Espossito is ranked as low as about 9th I believe, he has lost alot of steam this year. Funny what happens when you lose Radulov as a linemate. I am fairly close to the situation and I've heard that the flyers have shown alot of interest in Kane, who is in my opinion the best forward in the draft. They might take a look at Karl Alzner though because they do need defensive prospects. I know they just picked up Parent, but unfortunetly since hes come back from injury hes struggled alot vs any of the top end talent in the OHL. I hope its just a blip for him though hes a really good kid, really good with giving the time of day to opposing teams fans/media. The future does look bright for the flyers though, as much as I'd like to see the franchise collapse they have picked up alot of players that I like so its becoming harder to hate them.

[serge 904]

The Leafs nation would like to thank the Flyers for their performance against the Hurricanes tonight..thanks

[Jason12 0]

A little Flyer's analysis - to dispute that they won't be a good team soon - Ignore it if you don't care about the FlyersAs for young D men, I think also people are missing Oskars Bartulis, also down the pipeline, a Russian trained in Canadian Juniors. The Flyers have said that Cherepanov isn't their number one choice, which suggests they are looking at Kane. I think a trade up (maybe with one of their current players and the Nashville pick) might get them Esposito as well. Locking up Biron was important in the free agent race. They hve done little things, which should help them. They targeted certain players who would be available this offseason, in ways which are kinda interesting. They like Briere and they like Kimmo Timonen. So what do they do? They sign Biron (who talks almost daily to Briere and has been urging him to wear orange and black). They keep Kimmo's idiot brother Jussi in the system, even though he has moments like Corky from Life Goes On. Bringing the Brothers together, letting the other studs fight it out on D. . . . . and not being afraid to trade away young D-men that aren't top tier (Freddy Meyer - Zhitnik - Coburn - Upgrade?) has given the Flyers some SICK depth at D. I could see Randy Jones and Alexander Picard going the way of Meyer next season. What GM isn't willing to give up an offensive prospect for a young defenseman with NHL experience? They are at least 7-8 on the depth chart with Coburn Parent Bartulis Pitkanen Hatcher Gauthier and probably Kimmo Timonen ahead of them. The Veteran presence is significant on the team. Geoff Sanderson FOUGHT to not be traded at the deadline, because he knew he and his family love it here. (I know he FINALLY sold his house in Ohio after 10 months on the market and isn't looking forward to another move any time soon, especially with an autistic child) Sami Kapanen is a real leader and will be there for a while and took a pay CUT to do so. Hatcher, for all the crap that he has taken, can at least go home to his hot wife and knows he has been a decent leader in tough times. Don't be surprised to see Forsberg either retire and go to Sweden to play(75%), or re-sign with us(20%). All depends on his health and his PERCEPTION of his health. Don't be surprised to see other veterans think about coming to philly to fill roles either. Here is the most wild prediction yet. . . . I personally won't be surprised if Paul Holmgren is able to bury the hatchet between The Flyers Organization and the Lindros family, possibly bringing one of Paul's good friends back. 88's problem was with Clarke and the medical staff. If he can pass a physical and he can work with McCrossin, and if he can trust Dorshimer, I believe he could end his career with us. Now, the problems as I see them. The coaching is suspect, as I don't believe in Stevens and Berube. I do believe in Terry Murray as a defense coach, and think the younger guys will benefit from his experience, but he could also have aspirations to be a head coach again soon. I don't believe the Flyers to be a decent team again until they get a real coach. I miss Hitch, though I am sure the Players don't. I am cautiously optimistic about Biron, though I feel it will stunt Niity's development. I like that Holmgren has shown Biron his support and that we consider him a first tier goalie. That being said, is he really so good? Will he look good with a good defense in front of him? Will the Flyers defense develop well enough with the yonug kids and Murray to make Biron look good? All questions waiting to be answered. Gagne needs a playmaking center. Hopefully Briere/Forsberg/WHOEVER will be that person. He is decent with Knuble, who is able to take the front of the net. Finally, I wanna know how the whole Rathje situation works out capwise, as he is a long term injury for the rest of his contract/career. He can't retire, because the money goes against our cap, so he is just gonna sit around scratched. Odd.I think the Flyers will be one of the more interesting stories of next season, to see specifically if there is a possiblity to rebuild quickly in this league under the new rules and under the cap. Also, it will see how quickly you can recover from making strategic mistakes. The Flyers did so, with Hatcher, Rathje, Brashear and others. The Flyers reaped what they sowed this year, getting that bottom spot. I think the changes and the dramatic moves they made will make them contenders quickly. I also agree with Daniel that they will be better than the Leafs very soon. Will they be better than NJ or Pitt in their own division? THAT will be the difference between pretender and contender.

So much for the "little analysis", thats a novel. Very good points though, however, i cant picture Briere in a Flyers jersey.