Ding Dong: Bell Tolls for Mark Bell *Update

by Ben Rothenberg on Sep 21, 2009 11:35 AM EDT in 2009 Free Agency Comment 22 comments

Eds. Note: Mark Bell has officially been cut from the team. The Training Camp roster has been updated here.

CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio reports that Mark Bell has almost certainly been cut, as indicated by his absence from camp.

It's cut day in Voorhees, and it appears that Bell is one of the first victims. He hasn't been impressive in training camp thus far, seemingly just going through the motions while other players like Blair Betts and Mika Pyorala work much harder.

It's a sad day for Bell, but its arguably sadder for those who write about the Flyers. Here are just some of the things we'll never get to write about Mark Bell:

"Bell Chimes in on Goalie Controversy"
"Mark Bell Shows More Cracks Than Brother Liberty Bell"
"Bell Rings Up Sidney Crosby"
"Flyers Playoff Hopes Saved by the Bell"

Feel free to share your memories of Mark Bell's time with the Flyers in the comments, as well as any puns you can think of that I may have missed.

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For Whom the Bell Goals

by SJPhillyVT on Sep 21, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is a little disappointing, but not shocking. I was really hoping he could regain some of his 20-goals-a-year scoring touch and stand out, but he obviously wasn’t that interested (and he sounds like a bit of a jerk).

Personally I think Betts is a very clear lock for a contract and Pyorala is close to being a lock at this point.

by Ben Feldman on Sep 21, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. Betts and Pyorala have been very impressive, but most of all Betts seems like a perfect fit on this team given his strengths.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 21, 2009 12:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Betts with Lappy and Powe seems like a great 4th checking/energy line. The question is where does Carcillo and Asham fit in with JVR and Pyorala. Pyorala with Carter and Hartnell has been popular in practice and JVR is practicing with Richards and Gagne leaving Briere, Giroux, Carcillo?? Asham and Cote out? Tough calls for the coach. I think Cote is definitely out but who knows where Asham fits maybe over Carcillo with Briere and Giroux I am not sure. I rather start the season with JVR over Carcillo and Asham especially if the Richards Gagne winger spot is open.

by chrislanci on Sep 21, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

JVR CANNOT BE A FLYER. Besides the fact that he’s a minus two in two games (stats from thursday in London aren’t available) it’s a salary based impossibility.

Let’s just look at your idea of the roster:

The six defensemen hit at $20,925,833, and that’s without Tollefson on the roster.
Goalies come in at $2,425,000. The obvious six forwards hit at $27,521,667.

Before filling out the final six forwards spots, the cap hit is $50,872,500.

+ Lapperriere = $52,042,500
+ Carcillo = $53,212,500

That leaves only $3,587,500 in space for four more forwards if they were to go into the season with only a 20 man roster. You want Powe on the team, fine, now they need three players with $3,067,500 to spend.

At this point, JVR would take up more than half the money remaining, and to fill out your roster they’d need to sign Betts and Pyorala combined for less than $1,467,500. Then they’d lose Arron Asham on waivers. And they’d be carrying a 20 man roster. As soon as a player got the flu, they’d be back to signing HS kids to amateur tryouts just to field a team that night.

by MarioD on Sep 21, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

According to capgeek, half of JVR’s cap hit is bonuses, and there’s a provision that you can exceed the cap to pay those. So I think his “real” hit is 850k. Their figure is that the cap can be exceeded by 7.5% to pay them, but that’s the place I’ve seen that number.

I’m still not arguing for or against him making the roster, he just won’t take up half the money that you speculate in your calculations.

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 21, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can exceed the cap for bonuses… by applying the bonuses to next year’s cap. Which is going to already be dropping by millions. It would be the worst hockey decision Holmgren ever made.

by MarioD on Sep 21, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As I already said, I’m not arguing for or against it. I’m merely commenting that for this moment in time, it is possible if they choose to go there. Your calculations didn’t account for the option, no matter how you feel about it.

by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 21, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand, just clarifying that it’s not like a pocket for bonuses, they have to be applied to the next season’s cap.

I didn’t realize that the rookie bonuses were eligible for that, I thought it was on the 35+ bonuses that could do that.

by MarioD on Sep 21, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boruk says Bell is gone and Nodl, Kalinski and Ross have been assigned to the Phantoms.

by Ben Feldman on Sep 21, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No surprises really.

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by Travis Hughes on Sep 21, 2009 1:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Think they got it right.

The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.

by Ben Rothenberg on Sep 21, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Official Flyers site

did not include Ross in the cut list. Story can be found here.

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 21, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Panotch also wrote that Ross is on the Phantoms, but in the list at the end of the story, Ross isn’t included.

Interestingly, Panaccio also said JVR’s cap hit is only $875,000. That must be base, excluding performance bonuses.

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 21, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is how I understand JVR’s hit as well. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen what the bonuses are, but I have the impression (I don’t know why) that they are not very tough to attain. By which I mean, he doesn’t have to win the Calder to get the bonus.

by MarioD on Sep 21, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting names hanging around:

I’m surprised David Laliberte, Sean Curry, and Joey Mormina weren’t included in the cut list.

Also, Kaspar, Kolanos, and Ward are still on the team. Not sure if that means anything, though.

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 21, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saved by the Bell

by fitzy first on Sep 21, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bell Takes a Toll on the Penguins

Ding-Dong. Who’s There? Mark Bell

Yo Quiero Mark Bell

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Sep 21, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

More puns

Flyers and Bell jar their way to top playoff seed (Was Sylvia Plath a hockey fan?)

Bell leaves ringing in Rangers’ ears

Emery shuts door, Bell scores only goal. (I want to fit doorbell in somehow)

by chillicothe20 on Sep 21, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Paging Esther Greenwood...

Sylvia Plath and Flyers hockey. Perfect together.

Not exactly, but nice reference.

How about “Rock the Bell: Flyers Forward Receives Concussion During Win Over Caps”

Or “The Bell Curve: Wicked Skating and Shooting by Mark Bell Leads Flyers to OT Victory over Sens”

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 21, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about a song

“You Can Ring His Bell: Mark Bell Suffers Season-Ending Blow”

There’s some other puns to be made from songs. “Hell’s Bells,” “Tubular Bells,” and “Bell Bottom Blues” all have massive potential.

by doubleh on Sep 21, 2009 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow.

In one post, we’ve made the following references:

LL Cool J
Sylvia Plath
Mike Oldfield
Richard Herrnstein / Charles Murray
Eric Clapton
Donna Summer
Taco Bell
Screech
Ernest Hemingway / Metallica
The Revolutionary War

We are awesome. Mark Bell is not.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Sep 21, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

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