So Paul Holmgren decided to get all Criss Angel on the Flyers fanbase yet again, with not one but two moves guaranteed to blow our minds!
He went ahead and not only signed pretty much the top Defenseman available on the market in former Islanders Captain Mark Streit, but also managed to snag Vincent Lecavalier, he of the ginormous contract in Tampa fame, who was jettisoned with much sadness and woe earlier this week.
It’s odd witnessing the up and down reactions from Flyers fans over these two situations, given how the hockey media ate up the Pittsburgh Penguins trades for two other teams Captains, and were immediately HAILED as the reigning Stanley Cup champions, way before the playoffs had even begun.
One would think hey, two veterans, one a smooth puck mover on the blueline, the other a Stanley Cup winning goal scorer, that’s not so bad, right?
Well, according to some views, this was as wrong as it could get.
First, it means the Flyers, for another year anyway, will be out of the running in the who in the world is going to get Bobby Ryan sweepstakes. Secondly, THE CAP.
There is a massive amount of stress and concern about Homer’s free spending ways, but there are a few factors to weigh in before it gets all sky is falling in Philadelphia.
For starters? Chris Pronger comes off the books just one day into the season when he moves once again to LTIR, and that’s pretty much Lecavalier’s contract right there. Throw in the fact that Holmgren today tendered contracts to every Phantom defenseman they’ve got, and it should signal the end of both Coburn and Meszaros. Dumping nearly 9 million in salary has to make even those most negative Philly native feel a little better, no?
The Flyers are also angling for another defenseman, and this could also send Matt Read out of town, saving a little more cash. Granted, he’s a throw away contract at less than a million, but the guy will command a bit more than that after next season, when the Flyers have to sweat contract situations with some guy named Giroux. Throw in wunderkinds Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, and it’s easy to see why the high salaries have to go.
Of course, Scott Hartnell makes a meager 4.5 million, but by this time he’s virtually a community pillar here in Philadelphia, what with his HartnellDown Foundation and all. Still..
The meat of the matter is whether Lecavalier was worth it in the first place. I can safely assure you that if the Lightning hadn’t signed him to such a bloated contract, he would still be in Tampa, still be Team Captain. Outside of minor injury concerns, he’s still quite a player, delivering solid faceoff percentage numbers, he had a hot streak last year before a broken bone in his foot curtailed it. He’s a former 50 goal scorer, something Briere had never done, great passer, and despite moans over not being able to play in Laviolette’s system, should be experienced enough to find his place in it. The best facet of Vincent’s game is the fact that he has been to the top of the Cup mountain, and this is something the youngsters need around so they may be able to glean from it the knowledge to possibly take the next step towards becoming true Cup contenders themselves.
All in all this will be a great signing for the Flyers, and should reflect immediately for a cheaper price tag than the man who used to hold the two line center position before him.
Let us not forget…this could be just the beginning of Holmgren’s magic act this summer.
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