The Official Philadelphia Flyers Thread

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_d ... nhl-wp8115



Blue Jackets send diplomatic envoy to hold Jeff Carter’s hand
By Greg Wyshynski







There's no question Jeff Carter(notes) was crushed when GM Paul Holmgren told him that the Philadelphia Flyers had traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"He was short [with me]. He's normally a very quiet kid to begin with, but he was very upset," said Holmgren about his phone call to Carter.

Carter's agent, Rick Curran, claims his client's anger stems from having been "assured him that he should not be concerned" with being traded, having signed an 11-year, $58 million contract extension last November.

"I was in the room and I'm not sure I would word it that way," said Holmgren.

Whatever the case, Carter's gone silent since the deal, his simmering anger towards the Flyers evidently having prevented him or his representation from making even the most pithy, perfunctory acknowledgment to the Columbus fans that he's committed to winning or looking forward to the challenge or whatever other canned quote you want to toss out there.

From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

It's hard for me to fathom that his agent, Rick Curran, hasn't produced some sort of press release including Carter quotes. You know, something along the lines of "I'm very excited for a new opportunity, and I can't wait to get settled in Columbus."

Trust me, agents have been cranking out "quotes" like this for many years now.

I've spoken to five agents about this situation. They can't believe it. One said: "He's got to turn off his emotions for 10 minutes and make a phone call."

Or perhaps he'll just wait until the Blue Jackets send a diplomatic envoy to his house in order to help him locate his smile. Which they've apparently done.

According to Portzline:

Multiple sources from around the NHL have confirmed today that a Blue Jackets contingent, led by GM Scott Howson, is traveling to meet with newly-acquired center Jeff Carter today.

One source indicated that majority owner John P. McConnell and captain Rick Nash(notes) are with Howson, that they were traveling to Philadelphia. Neither Howson nor Nash immediately responded to text messages from The Dispatch seeking comment. Another source said that Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger(notes) plans to meet the contingent and Carter in Philadelphia.

(Can't believe the Blue Jackets didn't include Boomer the Cannon on that travel list. You know, to show how excited the team is to get him.)

Please keep in mind that Jeff Carter is a 26-year-old professional athlete. This is different than, say, being a child who just discovered he or she has to live with their second-favorite parent after a messy divorce.

Some might say: "But what if you were traded from your job to a place that's 10 times worse, huh?! Wouldn't you feel the same way?!"

What a stupid hypothetical. Here's a clue: Jeff Carter had to know that despite his hefty contract — with the extremely desirable cap hit — the Flyers needed to cut payroll in order to bring in the high-priced goaltender that the Boss of Bosses wanted to bring in. His no-trade clause hadn't kicked in yet. He was vulnerable and, worse yet, a redundancy in the Flyers' lineup thanks to their strength at center.

Yes, it sucks he was that cap casualty, but cowboy-up and accept that it's a business, and start acting in good faith with your new customers.

From Bob Hunter of the Dispatch:

Carter could help reverse the trend by simply doing what most traded players do in these situations - act like a grown-up. It's easy to understand why he is ticked at the Flyers; he signed an 11-year contract with the team because he wanted to be in Philadelphia, and had been told that the trade rumors were only that: rumors. But Carter's petulance is undermining Howson's efforts to improve the team that he is going to play for and if he doesn't at least act like he wants to be here, Carter might even doom it to more losing.

Early in the franchise's history, Columbus was actually a destination for some players. Many saw a bright hockey future in a clean, livable city with an underrated night life and a great family atmosphere. The city hasn't changed, but poor draft picks, bad decisions and a history of losing have made the franchise harder and harder to sell.

The Carter deal should help the team tremendously, but it only added to the team's perception problem. As unfair as it must seem to Howson, he is back at the plate with the game on the line again.

From Light the Lamp, a Blue Jackets blog:

He's got to understand that this is a critical time for the Jackets --- Howson wants to get he, Nash, Umberger and the boys even more help. His public buy in will only help Howson get that help. The longer he waits to speak the longer the negative speculation continues and the snowball gets bigger.

It's time to man up. I know it sucks but as cliche as it is -- it's pro sports. It's part of the biz. The chances of any player spending their career with one team these days are remote. Even with a NTC.

We here in Columbus are excited as hell to have ya - give it a chance.

metsfan wrote:

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Stamkos would obviously be incredible to sign here, but 4 #1 draft choices? Damn. Talk about mortgaging the future.

4 #1 draft choices isn't much for a team that is a cup contender year in and year out

the meat and potatoes of your draft/minor leagues is built though day 2

I dont see it happening

Dont get me wrong would love to see them take a chance and sign him but I doubt it happens

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists ... amkos.html




Flyers look as if they're ready to go after Stamkos




LAST THURSDAY, Jeff Carter was sent packing as a salary-cap casualty.

Best friend and captain Mike Richards went only 30 minutes after him, in a move that also - at least temporarily - cleared valuable cap space.

Yesterday, the Flyers dealt the rights to restricted free-agent center Darroll Powe to Minnesota in exchange for a 2013 third-round pick. Powe, a heart-and-soul-type player whom Paul Holmgren called "one of the most underrated players in the league" in May, wasn't asking for an exorbitant sum of money.

Powe earned $725,000 last season. He probably was looking for a raise to somewhere in the $1 million neighborhood. Nothing earth-shattering.

Earlier in the day, Holmgren announced that the Flyers had come to a new, 2-year agreement with fellow restricted free agent Andreas Nodl for $845,000 per year. That's interesting, because it's a $5,000 pay cut from what Nodl earned last year, despite finishing his first full NHL season with 22 points.

Holmgren finished off the day by not extending a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent forward Dan Carcillo, meaning Carcillo will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

Notice a trend? Something doesn't add up.

The Flyers, who have plenty of wiggle room now, with Richards and Carter off the books, are stockpiling money. And it doesn't mean that they won't spend to the gills this year.

Holmgren got incredible value for a player he didn't think was worth the money he was asking for with a third-round pick, but since when is one of the "most underrated players in the league" suddenly not worth an extra $300K or $400K?

Carcillo's qualifying offer wouldn't have needed to be much more than a slight raise.

As it stands now, with negotiations in the works for Ville Leino and restricted free agents Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek, the Flyers have approximately $8.3 million in salary-cap space, with Michael Leighton stashed in the AHL.

That's enough to do some serious damage on the free-agent market. Or, if you're reading the tea leaves along with me, maybe even the restricted free-agent market.

Two different team sources reiterated last night that the Flyers would be very interested in Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos if he remains on the market on Friday morning.

Reports indicated that the Lightning and Stamkos' agents have had ongoing discussions, though that doesn't say much, knowing that the sides have been talking for more than a month.

When you add to the equation that the Lightning - which was reported to have lost $20 million to $25 million last season - might have financial limitations, and the reports that Stamkos might not want to play in Tampa Bay, the Flyers could have a real jackpot.

Flyers officials are not permitted to comment publicly on any possibility with Stamkos, as it would violate the NHL's tampering policy about players under contract with another team.

Stamkos, 21, has netted a league-high 96 goals over the last two seasons. Many consider him among the three best forwards in the NHL.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said recently he is "prepared for anything to happen," though even if they aren't close on a contract extension with their star player, they would be unlikely to trade him before Friday. Tampa Bay is reported to have offered Stamkos a long-term deal worth $7 million per season.

If Friday hits and Stamkos is without a contract, any team can put in an offer sheet, which could be in the range of $9 million to $10 million per season.

If Stamkos decided to accept an offer, say, from the Flyers or the hungry Toronto Maple Leafs, sources say Tampa Bay would not have the financial flexibility to match it. It owes Vincent Lecavalier $50 million, Marty St. Louis $22.5 million and Ryan Malone $13.5 million, and just signed Eric Brewer to a $15.3 million deal yesterday.

To be sure, Yzerman is in a pickle. Should he trade his top player now to get return he can use next season? Should he risk letting Stamkos go for the compensation? His hands are tied with money. Stamkos holds all of the cards The compensation for any restricted player with a deal over $7 million is four first-round picks.

Let's face it: The Flyers have dangled their draft picks in recent years like candy. If Kris Versteeg is worth a first- and third-round pick, Stamkos could surely net four firsts without much hesitation.

Stamkos would instantaneously vault the Flyers back into the Stanley Cup contender category. So, is it a pipedream? Or closer to reality? We'll know on Friday.

Call me crazy. But my sources aren't. *

jamminpearls wrote:

Just saw this
http://espn.go.com/nhl/

What story was it ? I just see the whole webapge