Report: Flyers showing Esche interest again; Coburn turns down contract talks

Would they? Do you know of that rule?

If my interpretation is correct, I think they wouldn’t have to if Backlund got healthy before the playoffs, because Duschene would be playoff eligible since he had an NHL contract prior to the deadline and would be able to be called up through the playoffs under the emergency conditions rule. If Boosh goes down and Backlund is still out, I don’t know what happens… You can’t go over 50 NHL contracts (there’s no exceptions listed for that in the CBA), but you have to have 2 goalies on the active roster every night…. Would they make an exception, or make us put a real player on unconditional waivers to terminate a contract? I don’t think there’s a precedent for this, whether my impression is correct or not, so I have no idea how the NHL would really handle it.

I guess the rules for eligible goalies in the event of injury might be a template. In the situation that you have both rostered goalies hurt, you still could only use “eligible” players. So it might have to be a skater dressed as a keeper. Wild & Crazy Kids.

It would be a little weird to sign him for like 6 games though, since Homer would have to think of him as a really reliable long term solution or backup, or else we’re really up against the contract limit for next year which could handicap our offseason moves. Esche hasn’t played in North America (and therefore a different speed game) in what, 3 years? Seems to me like that would be at least a 4-6 game readjustment period, and then what have we gained? And if Doosh is gonna play the Caps or Penguins or even Devils in the first round, shouldn’t he have seen NHL action at least once before that? I’d rather take my chances with Boosh and Doosh on those terms. Capgeek is down, but I’m pretty sure we already have about 3 or 4 entry-level contracts that we’re completely dependent on them sliding to next year, which means we have to let at least that number of RFAs and UFAs go without replacing them, or make several multiplayer trades where we give up more people than we get, to get back under 50. I don’t know if that will actually motivate him to be careful right now, but I’m certainly concerned.

Didn’t he want way to much money too?

I don’t know that the Flyers quit on him so much as it all feel apart.

Im perfectly fine if Coburn never puts on a Flyers sweater ever again.

Yes, I’m using the Ben Boost on Braydon.

I agree, but I guess Homer was trying to get Coburn to sign now while his value is pretty low. But I agree with you, i’d rather the picks and cap space.

I think everyone needs to quit hoping for Coburn to sign an offer sheet in the off season.

Since the lockout, there’s only been five players who have signed offer sheets. They are Ryan Kesler, Thomas Vanek, Dustin Penner, David Backes and Steve Bernier. In each case, the player was coming off of a career year — something that Coburn most certainly isn’t. In fact, Coburn is coming off of two straight regression years.

You also have to remember the compensation. If Coburn signs an offer sheet for the same cap hit that he has now — $1.3 million — the Flyers will only get a single 3rd round pick back. If he signs for a cap hit of up to $2.6 million then the Flyers will get a 2nd rounder.

Even if Coburn does sign an offer sheet, I doubt it would be for more than $1.5 to $2 million, which would only see the Flyers getting a single 2nd round pick back. If you’re looking for a way for the Flyers to get cap space AND draft picks this offseason, a Coburn offer sheet isn’t going to accomplish that.

I am willing to take a Flyer on Price…

Well, step 1 is admitting you have a problem, right? Okay, we’re finally there if this is all true.

Second source is sketchy since there’s no hint as to the accuracy of the information, but it’s logical to say that it’s possible.

I can live with going after Price, because Montreal is a rough town on goalies (not that Philly isn’t a rough place to play too). It’s just that crummy bit of RFA compensation picks that could screw us if we don’t get the dollar amount right. I expect Montreal to give him an offer sheet at the dead minimum they can that I’m sure he’ll refuse, just so that they’re entitled to the picks. They know people want him, I can’t imagine that they’ll forgo their chance at those picks.

If I’m remembering right, we have no second round pick in 2011 because it went to Phoenix for Carcillo. The last time I checked the updated RFA compensation numbers (they get adjusted as salaries rise, with the percentage increase matching whatever the percentage increase of the league’s average salary is), this is what I think the numbers for last summer were (if they’re not perfect I think they’re close):

$994,433 or below – No Compensation
$994,434 – $1,506,717 – 2010 3rd round pick
$1,506,718 – $3,013,433 – 2010 2nd round pick
$3,013,433 – $4,520,150 – 2010 1st round pick, 2010 3rd round pick
$4,520,151 – $6,026,867 – 2010 1st round pick, 2010 2nd round pick, 2010 3rd round pick
$6,026,868 – $7,533,584 – 2010 1st round pick, 2011 1st round pick, 2010 2nd round pick, 2010 3rd round pick
Over $7,533,584 – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 1st round picks.

Numbers above are the cap hit. Except in the cases where you owe more than 1 pick from the same round, the pick has to be available for the very next draft, 2011, which was noted above in the numbers calculated for this year. Oh, and they can’t be picks you’ve acquired in a trade, they have to be the ones the NHL awards to you.

That means, that by last year’s numbers, our only cap hit options are: a) Less than 1.5 million, b) between 3 and 4.5 million, or c) greater than 7.5 million. If his market value is between 1.5 and 3 million or 4.5 and 7.5 million, it’s a no go. If we don’t have the picks available for the right years, the NHL voids the deal under 10.3.(h). We might be able to squeak him into the 3 – 4.5 million mark, but if somebody outbids us there and goes to 5, we’re kinda out of the running.

Thanks for the info Ben. I am not directing this towards you, the messenger. Emery did everything they asked. After only playing 30 or so games the year before in the KHL, a substandard league, the Flyers played this guy 21 straight starts with two back to back games and wondered why he broke down. Then proceeded to play him 8 straight starts after surgery with on back to back and wondered why he went down to injury. And it’s nobody’s fault a guy ended his career here. These guys are boobs.

Please, for the love of the Flyers, DO NOT SIGN CARY PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That bum is never going to be more then he is now, a good backup or a below average starter. I would rather Cote play Goalie then him.

Vansteel, are you available?

I have to believe it’s Doosh, since they might have just been holding off calling him back up while they had Backlund looked at by a doctor.

But please don’t tell me they’re going to work their way through everybody in the CHL signing them all to 1 day tryouts for the next 6 games. That might put me back in the hospital for another headache.

I agree. Could they get Bobby Orr, Lanny McDonald and Scott Stevens to add to the line up not to mention bring back the original french connection and the LCB lines to bolster the offense. Then the team would be built a little better to have another KHL goaltender playhhere.

that’s a terrible idea. There are some other KHL options that would make a lot more sense if you must go that way, but how about we pursue a legit NHL goalie for once. That might be a novel idea.

There better be something else in that deal if any of those guys go, otherwise my first thought of trading Carter for nothing but a first round draft pick (used for a goalie with a very small probability of ever working out) was my heart skipping a few beats….

Lets say mid-late first is 22nd overall (exact same position as Gagne & Giroux, btw) = 1995, Brian Boucher, who took several years in the develop and played 1999-00 as a rookie.

This helps us for next year, how? Flower, the very rare exception who jumps straight from the Q to the NHL with no time at all in the AHL, was drafted first overall. We can’t pull that off with anything between 15 and 25….