So I'm reading Spectors, and he links the Philadelphia Inquirer which says that if Primeau is gone for the rest of the season, they will have to shop for a top two center.
But don't the Flyers still have Forsberg, Handzus, and Carter to play center? I would think Forsberg + Handzus would make fantastic top two centers.
The Flyers would need another center, but because of the versatility of handzus they could opt for a 2nd line center and use Handzus as the shutdown guy or pick up a 3rd line center (Peca type) and keep Handzus on the 2nd line.
Handzus is a better 2nd line player than he is 3rd line shutdown guy.
The Flyers would need another center, but because of the versatility of handzus they could opt for a 2nd line center and use Handzus as the shutdown guy or pick up a 3rd line center (Peca type) and keep Handzus on the 2nd line.
Handzus is a better 2nd line player than he is 3rd line shutdown guy.
Got it:
So Forsberg - Carter - Handzus is doable if necessary, but a better option would be: Forsberg - Handzus - XXX, and use Carter on the wing?
I think we need another 2nd line player but not necessairly at center; Forsberg, Handzus, Richards and Carter are all there and doing well enough but we need a big man in the top 2 lines to throw the body around and help us out a little with all these injuries.
Handzus has been superb though filling in with all these injuries, he really has been the unsung hero of the season so far.
If Primeau is out for the season/career then another center will be brought in, IMO if Primeau comes back the Flyers are set at center.
Depending on how much cap space will be available at the deadline but i suspect two veteran d-men and a top-6 winger is on the wish list.
2 D-men, 2.5 million
1 Winger, 2.5 million
5 million total, 1.25 million in cap space needed at the deadline i think.
damaged goods guys.... damaged goods. he's going to get another concussion this season if he comes back is my guess... i'm not planning on him for the playoffs.
whats his salary? cause primeau is 3rd line and he makes a big salary too
i forget the number, but he actually signed below market prior to the lockout and then you chop it from there. while his concussion issues, looking at it now, probably make the deal a bit high, it is a fair contract. i think he's making something in the 3.x range.
I'm kind of holding out hope that Phoenix doesn't qualify for the playoffs. Maybe then we can get a chance at making a deal for Dave Scatchard. I think he could really excel in Hitch's system. As well, he has a modest contract that isn't very hard to swallow.
I'm in agreement though that we could use a goal scoring winger. Someone like Petr Sykora would be great on the top line and we could then bump Knuble to a line with Richards and Handzus. We then have a third line of Carter with Umberger and Kapanen and a fourth line of Sharp with Stevenson and Sim.
I'd really like to see us drop Brashear and use Eager. I like Ben's abilities, but I don't like how they were using him with the Phantoms. We all know he can fight, but if John Stevens feels that having him in an "energy" role is a good use for him, he's sorely mistaken. Eager can skate and check. He has the making of a great checking line forward and maybe someone in Philadelphia will buy a clue and realize that. Add to the fact he isn't a liability like Brashear and he could possibly do some great things here.
