2009 Free Agency: Early July 1 notebook
by Travis Hughes on Jul 1, 2009 2:11 AM EDT
in 2009 Free Agency
9 comments
The free agency period begins at 12:00 PM ET today, July 1. For a cheat sheet on all the action and what to expect from the Flyers, click here. For a look at the updated salary cap numbers for the Flyers, click here. An open thread will be posted around 11 AM ET to discuss all the happenings of the day.
First, a quote from Mike Knuble regarding his pending status as a free agent. At noon, Knuble will no longer be a Flyer, but Paul Holmgren remains adamant that the Flyers are trying to re-sign the veteran forward. From Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post...
The sticking point with the Flyers is term: Knuble wants two years, the Flyers are offering one.
"I need to start making plans for other things," Knuble said. "I've got to pull my head out of the sand and see what's going to happen (on Wednesday)."
Among the teams interested in Knuble are Tampa Bay, St. Louis, the Penguins and Rangers.
Also from Gormley, the Flyers are apparently keen on signing Brian Boucher. Details from the reporter, who seems pretty keen on the idea himself...
Boucher makes perfect sense on all levels. He was an excellent backup in San Jose last season and made no waves about riding the pine. He’ll come cheap at around $750,000. He loves this area and is a true team player. And he might be the ying to Ray Emery’s yang. Yes, Boucher can be emotional, but he’s calmed considerably since his rookie year in 2000 and he could be the perfect mentor for Emery.
I'm against the idea solely for the fact I feel the Flyers should be going after a player that can take over a starting position if Emery falters. With a player that is as uncertain to play at a high level as Emery, there needs to be an insurance policy. Not having a strong, potential starter behind him is too big of a risk to take, especially when the team is clearly going all out for the Cup this season.
As for Martin Biron, he knows his time in Philadelphia is nearing it's end. He is keeping the door open to the Flyers, however, in case something changes. Here's what he told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun yesterday...
I mean, we're less than 24 hours away, although I guess something could happen in the next day. I don't know. Unless I get a call that something very drastic has happened, I think we'll be looking to check and see what happens [in free agency]. But you never know; I've seen crazier things happen. I'm open to all options.
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I don’t think Boucher is a goaltender who is going to be able to give you 60 starts over the course of the year, but he is a guy who will be able to platoon and share the load with Emery. He played admirably in San Jose when Nabokov went down at the beginning of the year.
With Philly’s cap situation the way it is, I’m just not sure you can afford much more than Boucher. He’s a good pick in that regard.
Sign him for roughly $1.2 M and you’ll be pleased with the value vs. production he brings to the table.
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Good points, but I think we’re all just so sick of platooning goaltenders.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Jul 1, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m against the idea solely for the fact I feel the Flyers should be going after a player that can take over a starting position if Emery falters.
Totally agree. Homer has really dug himself into a hole on this one. I don’t want Boucher and I don’t see how he is going to be that much cheaper than Clemmesen, who made $500,000 last year, or Anderson, who made $550,000. Boucher did not play as many games as either of them and his save percentage was lower. Grated, there are things that Boucher might bring to the table that neither Clemmesen nor Anderson can, but I really don’t see Boucher as the mentoring type. He really has not been all that successful and hardly has any stand out qualities that I see as particularly special, hardly making his presence on the Flyers crucial, for Emery’s development anyway.
If it is about money (which it is obviously), I see no reason why Clemmeson or Anderson would be any more expensive and they bring more to the table as NHL goaltenders. I feel like this is a no-brainer.
In regards to Knuble; he is gone. I am just gonna come to terms with it now so that when it does happen and he becomes a Ranger or Penguin it will be slightly easier to handle. Man, that will suck! Homer, get your head out of your ass and give Knubs a two-year deal . . .
boucher and anderson are solid options. the flyers need to sign knuble badly, the only real RW’s that they have ar Giroux and Nodl. if they don’t sign knuble they need to think about trading briere and his crazy salary for a RW or (offer sheet to phil kessel anyone)?? Also, the flyers signed that goalie from sweden, maybe they see him as the backup. and has anyone seen any more on the ryan clowe situation, that guy plays flyers hockey.
by asmallvictory31 on Jul 1, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions
Interesting. Clemmensen is my top choice. If he can duplicate what he did with the Devils last year while Brodeur was down, he could turn into a damn good goalie…. and I think with the way our defense is shaping up, he has a darn good shot at duplicating.
But yeah, Boucher, then Anderson for me.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Jul 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Through pretty rose-colored lenses, I see Boucher as a guy who in his only playoff run, brought the Flyers within one game of the finals. He has a lot more playoff clout than Clemmensen.
by Ben Rothenberg on Jul 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
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