It’s amazing how different the 2011-12 Flyers will look compared to this past season’s team, but you have to give general manager Paul Holmgren some credit for not being afraid to mix up what didn’t appear to be working. We’ve heard the moves that the Flyers made today, but what happened to last year’s players?
- Brian Boucher has signed a two-year, $1.9 million deal with the Carolina Hurricanes to back up Cam Ward. Although Boosh wasn’t able to carry the Flyers team through the playoffs, I’m glad to see he landed on his feet with another good team.
- Dan Carcillo has signed a one-year, $775K deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. I’m pretty sure Flyers fans everywhere are laughing at this one.
- Ville Leino signed a six-year, $27 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres, or $4.5 million per year. The ridiculous part of this contract is how many teams offered the same amount of money to Erik Cole (Montreal Canadiens) and Tomas Fleischmann (Florida Panthers). A pat on the back is due for Holmgren not overpaying anyone to that degree.
Leino made a comment after the signing that rubbed me the wrong way: “To be honest with you, I think [the Sabres] deserved to win.” Be that as it may, ouch dude.
There are a number of players floating around that haven’t found homes yet that I find intriguing, including Simon Gagne, Tomas Vokoun, and Michael Handzus. It’s frustrating to think the Flyers could have waited until free agency to decide between Ilya Bryzgalov or Vokoun and signed one of them to better terms than what they have now, but what’s done is done.
According to Dave Isaac of Philly Sports Daily, they’ve contacted Gagne’s agent and there is mutual interest from both parties. I’m surprised, but glad to hear it.
Handzus was reported as having been signed by the Flyers less than 30 minutes into free agency, but it turned out to be a fabrication. He has not been signed by anyone yet. The Handzus rumor was followed by another widely reported fabrication that Braydon Coburn had been extended two years.
Finally, the Flyers did speak with Brad Richards’ agent today, but did not make a hard sell and are not as serious contenders as the LA Kings and New York Rangers. Rumors are circulating that they are making space, however, to go after a restricted free agent. If I were a betting man, I’d say they are waiting for the fallout of the Richards signing to see who will be in salary cap hell and won’t be able to match an offer.
The Kings have stud defenseman Drew Doughty to sign while the Rangers have stud forwards Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. Suffice it to say, there is blood in the water and the Flyers can smell it.
For the latest Flyers news and updates, you can follow me on twitter (@JoshJanet).
Please, noooo!! Gagne, damn it.
Drew Doughty would be the jewel in this free agency class, unrestriced or restricted..the kid is 21, a star with perennial all star written all over him….works hard, great attitude and exactly what the Flyers lack on defense! He is restricted, but the Flyers would be wise to make him an offer.
This has been confusing, but some fans wanted change and we have it. I like the youth that we were able to get. Let see if a chemistry clicks before getting too excited pro or con. I hope this was the correct direction.
I really liked the Carter and Richards Trade and the young talent they received in return and some of the Draft Selections they made.. I even like the Signing of Talbot and D lilja but the signing of Jagr just doesn’t make sense to me at this stagoe of his career.. Jagr’s leadership/work ethic have always been questioned (even when he was in his prime) and who knows how he will blend in the locker room and especially as a 1-Year fix it Free-Agent with no real vested interest with this group of players ..JAgr took the highest offer ($3.3 MIllion which came from the Flyers even though he says he turned down more .. Both Pittsburgh and Detroit pulled their offers last Thursday morning knew they weren’t going to come close to the Flyers Offers, My sources tell me there were no other suitors and now Philly has him, but I don’t think this is going to work .. Time will tell ..