Cap trouble keeping Briere out tonight; Ossi and Metro gone for good

by Travis Hughes on Feb 27, 2009 2:06 PM EST in News

Ossi Vaananen and Glen Metropolit were both picked up off of waivers this morning and are no longer members of the Flyers.

Metropolit won't have to go far, as his new team will meet him at the Wachovia Center tonight when the Flyers face the Montreal Canadiens. Vaananen is now a member of the Vancouver Canucks.

The loss of Metropolit, while he's a good guy around the locker room and everything, doesn't hurt the team much from a hockey sense. There is already a ton of depth on the NHL roster as it is and if there were an injury, somebody like Jared Ross or Andreas Nodl could come up and fill in on that fourth line.

With Vaananen, however, his absence seriously hurts the defensive depth as the team has a total of just six defensemen able to play tonight. Kimmo Timonen is still out with the flu and will not play against Montreal.

Both Ossi and Metro were put on waivers to make room for Briere. That move was not enough to get the Flyers under the cap, though, and here's where the Flyers made a mistake. Lasse Kukkonen was called up from the Phantoms on Tuesday for depth when the Flyers found out Timonen would be out with the flu. Okay, understandable move.

But with Briere coming back today, Kukkonen on the roster keeps the Flyers over the cap. If you take a look at the salary chart, you'll notice it's been updated with Briere on the roster and Kukkonen off, but the Flyers are just $480,833 under. Add Kukkonen's $875k cap hit, and the Flyers are over the cap. Simply put, Briere cannot come back until Kukkonen is sent down.

So now the Flyers have a catch-22. Briere, one of their best offensive players, is finally ready to play. He can play tonight. But if they send Kukkonen down, they will only have five defensemen playing tonight due to Timonen's absence, and they'd be silly to do that.

Long story short, Briere doesn't play tonight. The team is calling it a game-time decision in case Timonen miraculously feels well enough to play. I wouldn't count on that.

Meanwhile, with no Briere and no Metropolit, there is a void on the offensive end. Who fills that extra spot? It's possible Ross could be called up from the Phantoms so the Flyers are able to dress 12 forwards.

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This makes me think two things: 1) I miss the days of Sami Kapanen; and 2) Would nobody take Randy Jones??? I’d rather trade Jones for a draft pick and keep Vaananen so this doesn’t happen. It became painfully obvious that he isn’t work his money as soon as he was asked to fill in for Timonen.

by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 27, 2009 2:11 PM EST reply actions

I think that begs the question: does the organization actually like Randy Jones? You never hear his name among trade rumors unless they’re made by us speculating. It hurts me to say but I think they actually like the guy… ugh.

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by Travis Hughes on Feb 27, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

id trade jones for a wawa hoagie, seriously. the fact that he makes almost 3 million dollars is riculous. how in hell does he make almost 3x as much as coburn?

by njh3293 on Feb 27, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

sit timmonen

we are going to need him rested for sunday against the devils.

freakin’ briere. he better average a goal a game for the rest of the season.

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by psudrozz on Feb 27, 2009 2:17 PM EST reply actions

Seriously. Briere is essentially costing us three players in the long run. If he’s unhealthy I’m going to be pissed.

I’ve been looking at this whole situation as a deadline deal, kind of. It’s like we’re trading Vaananen, Metropolit, and Kukkonen for Briere. A probably-100% healthy Briere but we won’t know til he plays… a lot of doubt in there.

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by Travis Hughes on Feb 27, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions

Briere

What’s with the attitude towards Briere? The guy was hurt and now is ready to return. He’s a great talent and i’m very excited to have him ready for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.

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by JohnnyGriswold on Feb 27, 2009 2:49 PM EST reply actions

I think it’s kind of the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality that’s causing the attitude. His coming back is great, but unfortunately it’s coming at the expense of a few players who’ve been playing some decent hockey in his absence.

by Have a Seat on Feb 27, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that’s how I feel.

If Briere plays like he can when gets back it’ll all be worth it… but there’s no guarantees he’s even going to stay healthy.

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by Travis Hughes on Feb 27, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Homer & The Cap

First time post here, so be gentle.

I have to ask, isn’t it time that Holmgren takes some heat for the Cap situation? I’m as disappointed with Briere’s injuries and play over the last two seasons also, but it’s Homer that’s handed out the contracts, made the trades and moves that have put the team up against the Cap and left the team no room to get injured players back on the roster, let alone add pieces for the stretch drive.

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by mbtoole$ on Feb 27, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Welcome to the site.

You raise a good point. I don’t think Briere’s play was disappointing last season, and the way he stepped it up in the playoffs was excellent. I’d say that of Briere was with Gagne all season last year, he would’ve had a shot at topping his career high in points.

I don’t think Briere’s contract was a mistake or anything, at least not yet. But, I do agree that Homer might’ve bungled the cap a little bit with some of the more minor moves. And with Randy Jones’ contract.

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by Travis Hughes on Feb 27, 2009 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

Briere is a defensive liability

Minus 25 in the last 88 games… i dont mind losing Metropolit because Powe has proven to be a pretty decent two way player, and giroux can fill in the middle as well… I think Danny needs to stay on the third line until he can learn to play flyers-minded defensive transition hockey.

Losing Ossi will bite us back i think. he blocks tons of shots and has a nice size… i’m thinking this is all a prelude concluding a big trade for J-Bo.

If we do trade, i hope we dont lose Lupol, or Van-Rdyke…

I wont be sad to see Knuble go

by fitzy first on Feb 27, 2009 4:04 PM EST reply actions

Care to share some thoughts on what we Van folks can expect from Ossi (besides the easy to chant name of course)?

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by Yankee Canuck on Feb 27, 2009 4:04 PM EST reply actions

Ossi

blocks a ton of shots, stays in position and hits hard

by fitzy first on Feb 27, 2009 4:04 PM EST reply actions

These are all true, but with a little bit of inconsistency and occasional lazy efforts. Even before he came to Philadelphia he always struck me as having potential to be a solid defender, but he’s the kind of guy who needs the right leadership around him and Timonen has been that. I’m not sure if it was some sort of Finish Connection or not, but having Salo around can only help. He seems like a guys who fits in well with what something the Canucks needed (more hitting).

by Have a Seat on Feb 27, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions