Peter Luukko described the Flyers' playoff performance as "step one." The Flyers president also talked Sunday of "adding a piece here or there" and saying, "I don't think we have a lot to do."
While certainly not seeking the dramatic steps that typified last offseason, the Flyers do have some things to do in order to build on this season and try to go even further next season.
In a salary-cap world, making the right moves is key because it is more difficult than it once was just to spend your errors away. The cap is expected to increase for next season, but the Flyers will not have enough room to make a major splash in free agency unless they make some trades or buy out a long-term contract or two.
Let's look at some of the offseason issues facing the Flyers.
1. Improving the defense. Everyone agrees they need a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. The name most often mentioned is San Jose's Brian Campbell, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Campbell, who turns 29 this week, was a teammate of Danny Briere and Marty Biron in Buffalo. The problem is he could command upwards of $7 million a year.
Many Flyers fans probably best remember Campbell, then with the Sabres, for the crushing hit on R.J. Umberger in Game 1 of the 2006 playoffs.
2. Their own unrestricted free agents. The Flyers have four unrestricted free agents.
* Jason Smith, $1.976 million in 2007-08. During the regular season, the team captain was rumored to be gone for New Jersey once free agency began. The money the Flyers would save by letting the 34-year-old Smith go could be part of what is needed to bring in a younger blue-liner.
* Vaclav Prospal, $1.9 million in 2007-08. His return for next season was something fans wanted a few weeks ago, but his performance in the last two series has led to questions about whether he will be back. As a side note, Chris Therien said the other day that Prospal loves to play golf every day during the season and would rather play in a warm-weather city.
* Jaroslav Modry, $1.2 million in 2007-08. Modry was a nice pickup, but he did not dress in the final game, with coach John Stevens opting to keep youngster Ryan Parent in the lineup. Granted, the playoffs were a tough time for Modry with the death of his father. However, given his salary, he seems expendable, although the look of the defense will be severely impacted by Derian Hatcher's future.
* Jim Dowd, $500,000 in 2007-08. The veteran journeyman was a nice addition to the fourth line and was solid on faceoffs.
3. Their own restricted free agents. The Flyers have five, with several of them expected to attract some attention from other teams, despite the stiff price the team that signs a restricted free agent has to pay. For example, a team that signed Jeff Carter away from the Flyers would have to pay two first-round picks, a second-rounder and a third-rounder.
Carter ($942,000 this season), R.J. Umberger ($1.25 million) and Randy Jones ($525,00) all played well in the playoffs and increased their value. With his performance in the second round alone, Umberger made himself some money. That, however, might end up meaning he does not return to the Flyers. Paul Holmgren has made it clear that the Flyers will either sign Carter or match whatever offer is made for him. A team might throw out an offer of $5 million for Carter, in part to make life difficult for the Flyers.
The other two restricted free agents are Patrick Thoresen ($542,000 this season) and Riley Cote ($500,000).
4. Marty Biron: After his playoff performance, will the goalie be looking for an extension? Biron signed a 2-year deal valued at $7 million in March 2007 so he will be heading into the final year of his contract. There has been no public indication to this point at least that this is on the agenda for the offseason.
So, if you were Paul Holmgren, what would your priorities be? Who would you re-sign? Who would you pursue in free agency? How would you proceed to help this team take another step?
Rich Hofmann has been at the Daily News since 1980. He previously blogged the Eagles' postseason run in 2006. 
Ed Barkowitz was the first Philadelphia Newspaper journalist to write a blog, starting back in 2002.
Comments (29)
I think this off-season is going to be tougher on Holmgren than the last one, at least in terms of the decisions he has to make.
1) Saying that a hockey team needs a 'mobile, puck-moving defenseman' is like saying a baseball team needs good pitching: Every team always needs it and there's never enough to go around. I think Campbell will get probably the largest contract (on a money per year basis) this free agency, which is why the Flyers probably won't be able to make a serious run at him.
2) I can live with letting all four of these players go. It'll hurt to lose Smith's leadership, but I think Richards is now ready for the C. Prospal can leave and we all just have to hold our breath that Gagne will return healthy and productive and not concussion-prone. It's obvious from his Game 5 scratch that Modry is done here. Down also will hurt, but that'll open up a roster spot for one of the young guys (Downie, Giroux, Thoresen, etc) to come in and play regularly.
3) In a perfect world all of these guys get resigned. Of the big three (Carter, Umberger and Jones) I would say Carter and Jones are the two "Have to haves." Losing Umberger would hurt, because he's so versatile and can also provide some offense. But that's something that a young player could bring to the lineup as well.
4) The Flyers still suffer from not being able to get that "true #1 goalie." Marty was inconsistent during the regular season. He was good against Washington, great against Montreal and just average against Pittsburgh. Maybe this playoff run will spur him to raise his game. I say you don't attempt to extend him this off-season. If he raises his play in the regular season then you do, if not, hopefully there's someone on the Phantoms they're developing.
Personal thoughts:
* I think the days of consistently signing big name free agents is over for the Flyers. Thank you to the salary cap for that one.
* As of right now, I think the defense depth chart should be: Timonen, Coburn, Jones, Parent/Hatcher. Not saying Hatcher is bad, but you need to keep him to 15 - 18 minutes a game for the regular season to keep him healthy. Heck, even give him some days off during the season to let him recharge. I would be happy with them signing a defenseman or two who could slide in behind Coburn and above Jones, maybe Roszival of the Rangers or Liles of Colorado. I think they're FA, though, not being a fan of either team, don't know much about either player.
* And I'd like to restate my post from the live-blog of yesterday's game: I enjoyed this blog and would like to see it become a year-round feature. A little interactivity from the writers to the readers would also be a good feature.
GO FLYERS
Posted by Pat H | May 19, 2008 1:19 PM
I do not think that Carter will be itching to be back here next year. Unless Briere is moved to the wing, Carter will be stuck on the third line for the next few years. He has shown that he could easily be a second line center on most teams, and potentially a first line center. On the bright side, that would leave cap room to resign Umberger and Jones and possibly add a mobile defenseman. Also, I think all of the UFA's will be gone next year from the team (except maybe Dowd).
Posted by MD Flyer's fan | May 19, 2008 1:22 PM
I think the priority should be goaltending, and Biron proved at least to this point he cannot get the Flyers to the next level. Lack of concentration, bad puck movement and bad decisions behind the net, too many soft goals allowed and inconsistency. I do not blame him for the flyers not advanceing to the finals but feel we need to upgrade the position if the flyers are to make the finals next year. Also, I believe we need larger quicker hard checking forwards that can compete with the Cosby's and alike. We were outsized and especially around our own net seemed outmuscled on more than just a few occasions.
Posted by Paul | May 19, 2008 1:27 PM
How about making a trade with Vancouver? Give up Carter and Jones for Kesler and Bieksa. Holmgren and Clarke seem to love Kesler and with the combined salaries of Kesler and Bieksa, it will be close to what Carter will get from an offer sheet. This way we can afford Umbergher too. Or how about Gagne and his concussion and $5.5 million salary for Kesler and Canucks 1st round draft pick this year in a well stocked draft. The money we save from Gagne's salary can be used towards Carter, Umbergher and Jones
Posted by ray | May 19, 2008 1:46 PM
For the low price of a 3rd round pick, you get to cringe everytime he gets a shift in the third period.
At the time, he was a cheap quick solution to a defensemen shortage. That's it. He didn't pan out. There's no way anyone can call him a "nice pickup" though.
Posted by c | May 19, 2008 1:57 PM
None of the restricted free agents should be re-signed. Carter must be resigned. Umberger comes back if the price is right. A top free agent defenseman should be priority number one.
Posted by Bob | May 19, 2008 2:01 PM
I meant to say none of the un-restricted free agents should be resigned.
Posted by Bob | May 19, 2008 2:01 PM
I do not think that the Flyers will be able to resign all 3 RFA's, so here is a plan. Trade Umberger (while his value is high) for a d-man and resign Carter and Jones (who was +6 in the playoffs). With Giroux possibly coming up and Gagne hopefully coming back we are stocked with wingers. That would also leave some salary room to re-up some potential free agents.
Don't get me wrong, I realy like Umberger, but with the salary cap you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Option 2 would be to let Carter sign and move Umberger to center (his natural position).
Posted by MD Flyer's fan | May 19, 2008 2:24 PM
I would resign Carter and work him into the top 2 lines, maybe Gagne-Richards-Briere and the 2nd line with Lupul-Carter-Upshall or Claude Giroux.
I would let a team (hopefully a bad team) overpay for Umberger and take the picks. I was never a Hartnell fan (too streaky) and if they could trade him and save his 4 mil salary to sign a defenseman, I would welcome it.
It would also be interesting to see what happens with Denis Gauthier. At a little over $2 mil a year, some team may take him or if Hatcher retires, he could be a 6th defenseman.
With the cap expected to be 6 mil more than this year, I would hope they could sign a mobile, puck moving defenseman like J-M Liles and a checking center like Stephane Yelle.
I would accept a team that looks like....
Gagne-Richards-Briere
Lupul-Carter-Giroux
Upshall-Yelle(?)-Knuble
Kapanen-Dowd- Downie/Cote/Thoresen
Timonen-Coburn
Liles(?)-Jones
Parent- Kukkonen/Hatcher/Gauthier
Posted by Shawn S | May 19, 2008 2:33 PM
I don't see why the Flyers can't resign Umberger, Carter, and Jones. How much is Umberger going to demand? It can't be to much! The salary cap is going to increase atleast 5 million alone. Jones isn't going to be that expensive. Carter will probably demand the most and he is worth every penny. This guy has it all and it is only a matter of time before he hits his prime and becomes a star.If someone does steal Umberger though, i'll take the 2 1st rounders, 3rd, and 4th and use it to draft some mobile defenseman.
Posted by Christopher M | May 19, 2008 2:50 PM
I think the main problem with Umberger will be space on the wing. Assuming Gagne come's back and Giroux makes the team (since he has been on fire) one of the top forwards will be on the 4th line. It might be better to trade Umberger to reserve salary room for a mobile defenseman. His value is high right now (unless GMs think he will be the next John Druce, which I seriously doubt).
Posted by MD Flyer's fan | May 19, 2008 3:01 PM
Flyers should sign forward Brian Rolston and defenseman Wade Redden. Rolston is a goodm veteran 2-way player that can score. Redden had 6 goals and 32 assists this year and was plus 11.
Posted by Bob | May 19, 2008 5:45 PM
RFA- I think signing our Restricted Guys is Paramount. Carter, Umby & Jonesy. End of story. I don't think we're going to find more bang for our buck than the talent we've already Developed. They had great years, but they are still hovering around 20 goal scorers. I think Jonesy is key. We're all looking for Puck carrying defensemen and I think Jonesy really stepped up. I think he's going to continue to get better. If we have him work more on his offensive skills over the summer, he'll be the best money we spend.
-Goaltending Biron showed that he's got chops to be great. Yeah he has been inconsistant, but so has the whole team. We blamed alot on Esche last year, but That year we just plain sucked. EVERYONE Sucked. Is it the tender that's inconsistant or the team? Biron kept us in games we had no business being in. I'm not saying don't look to the future. But I think we've got our answer in Net for now. Face it if the mark of a 'Great' Goaltender is a Stanley cup ring, we might be asking a tad much.
UFA. Aside from Dowd I think the asking price for all these guys will be too high. I'd love to Keep Smith...Man I'd love to keep him... That hurts. Lord, please give that man a good home or a reasonable offer from us. I love Vinnie, but I don't think it's to be, not with Gags back on the wing.
Puck moving Defensemen- Liles maybe? Campbell will be too much.
Posted by Flyler | May 19, 2008 6:07 PM
Or Ron Hainsey. Less well known, but definatly stepped it up for Columbus. Might get him for a much better deal than Blake or Campbell.
Posted by Flyler | May 19, 2008 7:03 PM
Two big keys to the Flyers off season strategy are Gauthier and Hatcher, who between them take up nearly $6MM in cap room (!!). I don't know why Gauthier was never even called up (cap considerations?) but he's clearly not a very productive asset. The Flyers are probably stuck with at least part of his salary for 2008-9. Hatcher is a complete wild card, though you I have to wonder whether he can pass a his initial physical (in which case he could be suspended, like Teppo Numminen was). If he retires and/or they lay off at least part of Gauthier's salary, it gives the Flyers more freedom to spend than they appear to have now.
Like most of you, I'm pretty sure Prospal, Dowd, Smith and Modry will not be back no matter what. I tend to think they will resign Carter and Jones but will let Umberger go if he gets an offer sheet averaging $1.8-$2MM/year. This would yield either two first round picks or a first and a second.
I think the comment comparing puck moving defensemen to pitching is astute. I wonder if there is anyone that fits that description who is affordable and not a liability in his own end of the rink. Liles moves the puck well but is not very big and not great in his own end. Brian Campbell moves the puck even better but he's almost certainly too expensive. I think Wade Redden would be a great fit but he is probably too expensive too. Unless the Hatcher/Gauthier situation frees up some money, it is likely that the Flyers will chose from guys like Brooks Orpik, Mark Stuart, Tim Gleason, Michael Rozival, Andrei Zyuzin, Dmitri Kalinin, Jeff Finger or Ron Hainsley.
Posted by terp | May 19, 2008 7:56 PM
I wouldn't be upset seeing the following guys leave via FA, trade, or just outright release:
Riley Cote
Jim Dowd
Steve Downie
Sami Kapanen
Mike Knuble
Vinny Prospal
Patrick Thoresen
Derian Hatcher
Jaroslav Modry
Jason Smith
Cote can be replaced by Garrett Klotz, who is a young Derek Boogaard and just signed a three-year deal with the Flyers. A RFA like Cote who really didn't even play in the playoffs can take a walk. Jim Dowd's are a dime a dozen. Steve Downie just does too much dumb stuff and should be a part of a trade. Kapanen's washed up. Knuble disappears WAY too much during the season and in the playoffs. Vinny Prospal is a FA, and will be seeking Jeff Carter/5 mil + money. Thoresen is the same as Dowd, Hatcher has too much money coming to him and is WAY too slow. Modry was a waste of a traded 3rd round pick, and Jason Smith has had his eye on the door to either Calgary or the Devils since he got here. Getting a Brian Campbell is paramount.
Posted by yahmpy | May 20, 2008 8:12 AM
Go for Campbell or Mike Green from Washington. Get rid of Hatcher, Modry, Smith, and a few others to make room for an attractive offer.
Posted by Dave | May 20, 2008 8:38 AM
everyone makes the assumption that:
Gagne will be back: No, he will not. Career is over.
Giroux, Downie, or some Phantom is going to make an impact? No, they will not.
so sit back and listen up.
the Flyers very good skill and great heart. they now need a few true athletes with GREAT skill.
Umberger should be resigned. the kid was a winner at every level of hockey in his life. the Flyers went out of their way to salvage him from his draft pick hell and it's paying off.
you MUST re-sign Umberger and keep Carter. in fact, if anyone is expendable it's Upshall. incosistent, doesn't score enough, doesn't fight enough, and doesn't play defense. however, i'd keep him on the fourth line or a third line winger at best. you keep Knuble for the power play; it was the key to our game.
you keep Hatcher as the 7th D man and bite the bullet. you need his leadership and playoff experience to go deep in the playoffs.
Smith, Modry, and Lasse are gone. Gauthier isn't what we need. Lars Johannsan isn't either.
the answer? get Picard back from Tampa for a Phantom and/or draft picks. good size, good skill, and knows the system and Stevens.
goalie. without a doubt, i am thriled to see so many fans on here talk honestly about the goal tending. i send 1 of the goalies to Detroit for a GREAT skilled player like VALTTERI FILPPULA to anchor the third line.
send the other goalie and draft picks to Chicago for Nicholas Khabibulin.
pick up Olaf Kolzig. you need goal tenders who are consistent...Biron has been a backup for most of his career now and isn't going to learn to stop the wrap-around at this point.
they should go after Liles from Colorado. Campbell is a long shot, though perfect. the kid from Montreal is over rated.
and finally, you need to add one more puck-controling forward. it won't be Downie, won't be someone from the Phantoms. they'll need to trade or find someone in free agency.
the future looks bright with Richards, Briere, Carter, Umberger, Hartnell, and Lupul.
but the last thing...Stevens MUST have them play a lock or trap to create turnovers in transition. and stop the passing backwards. and tie that together so that the team is prepared to roll four lines all of the time, every game. you need 4 lines of talent to go the distance.
Posted by RML | May 20, 2008 1:43 PM
The flyers are going to have about 8 million in caproom. that gives them just enough to sign our restricted free agents. carter at around 5 rj at 2 and jones at 1. brian campbell is a pipedream. with smith and modry departing if jones resigns that leaves gauthier as the 6th dman. who is not a puckmover and no mobile defensive prospects in the system. the only way to free up enough cap room to upgrade is if hatcher retires and gagne retires or he or hartnell is traded. or we could look at moving briere. its a matter of matching salary with talent.
Posted by duff | May 20, 2008 2:58 PM
RML is an idiot! That is without a doubt some of worst analysis ever. I agree that Gagne may be done.. but Giroux is for real. As for Hatch. He can't be a 7th d-man at that price. Umberger would be the easiest to replace, he has a nice playoff and all of a sudden he is priceless. As for your moves in goal...way too many videogames!
Posted by BIFF | May 20, 2008 3:42 PM
Denis Gauthier isn't going to be a Flyers because the Flyers have to put him on recall waivers first, meaning every team in the NHL will have a shot to claim him first.
Hatcher has no chance of coming back. None. Almost 4 mil for a 7th d-man? Good luck with that.
Giroux is the man, 50 points in 19 playoff games for Gatineau? He'll be on the Flyers roster. I just wish James Van Riemsdyk wanted to be on the Flyers roster too, but I still think he's not coming to the Flyers for a few more years.
Gagne will be back, but Lord knows what you're going to get with him. If the Flyers felt Gagne wouldn't be back 100%, they'd re-sign Prospal; since we know that's not the case, the Flyers have to feel Gagne's going to make a full recovery.
Posted by yahmpy | May 20, 2008 4:53 PM
John Boruk from Comcast has a great article on this as well.
I agreed with everything he said except Scottie Upshall possibly getting moved. I really like Upshall, and he's a high energy guy who I think gets under the other teams skins.
In other words, he's like Steve Downie except he can score and agitate without taking all of the stupid penalties Downie does.
Posted by yahmpy | May 20, 2008 5:09 PM
Sorry about that, my bad.
http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/view_content_0p.asp?ID=65797
Posted by yahmpy | May 20, 2008 5:10 PM
MIKE GREEN IS NOT AVAILABLE!!!!!!
Posted by CAPS NATION | May 20, 2008 7:13 PM
I want to start by saying that this season was great just by the fact they made the playoffs. They were a great team to watch this year.
With that, all 3 of the young restricted Free Agents need to be signed. This is my controversy though. I would find a way to trade Gagne, and Briere, and keep Prospal. I know this sounds crazy, but Danny Briere is not suited for play in the Atlantic Division. This was proven again in the Playoffs.
Danny Briere will be a STUD STAR elsewhere, but he just can't hold up in our Division. Moving both Gagne and Briere free's up a ton of cap space, and you can make a team anything you want it to be. We can sign Campbell and another free agent defenseman.
We pretty much had a great year without Briere and Gagne this year. Our 3 young stars in the making are worth more than both Gagne and Briere combined.
Posted by 100SeasonofFutility | May 21, 2008 2:17 PM
1. I'd rather not Campbell, to be honest. I just don't like the guy.
2. I'd like to keep Prospal. He was doing great with Briere against Washington, and I think they do have good chemistry.
3. Definitely keep Carter and Umberger.
4. Biron is kind of streaky so far, but he has a lot of potential.
I'm definitely sad about probably losing Hatcher. He's been through a lot injury-wise, and you can tell how dedicated he is.
Posted by Chris | May 26, 2008 11:10 AM
To make the Flyers better and to be able to sign Jeff Carter, R.J. Umbergher, and Randy Jones and to have money to sign a free agent defenceman why not trade Scott Hartnall and his $4.2 million salary to Vancouver for Ryan Kesler( $1.75 million) and a 3rd round pick. Kesler would look great in a Flyers uniform and this would free up Carter from the checking line.Lines would look like this:
Gagne-Richards-Briere
Lupul-Carter-Giroux
Upshall-Kesler-Umbergher
Kapanen-Downie-Kunuble
Cote-Potulny
Posted by ray | May 27, 2008 1:00 AM
If you are reading this Paul Holmgren another trade you can look at is Lupul and Knuble for Kesler and Canucks 1st round in this years draft. Throw in Ryan Potulny to sweeten the deal since the Flyers line up is so stacked that Potulny will never crack the line up full time. Lines would look like this:
Gagne-Richards-Briere
Umbergher-Carter-Giroux
Upshall-Kesler-Hartnall
Cote-Downie-Kapanen
The whole idea of this deal is that Clarke and Holmgren love to have Kesler and it frees up (Lupul and Knuble) over $5 million less (Kesler) $1.75 million = over $3.25 million for Umbergher, Carter and Jones and another defenceman like John Michael Liles. The Canucks would like this deal because Knuble would look great with the Sedin twins and Lupul would be great for a second line scorer.
Posted by Ray | May 27, 2008 1:13 AM
Here is our CAP situation with:
1. None of our players signed, not gonna assume.
Hartnell-Richards-Lupul = 12.275M
Upshall-Carter*-Umberger*/Knuble = 1.225M/4.025M
Gagne-Briere-Giroux = 12.600M
Cote*-Thoresen*/Dowd*-Downie = 0.825M/2.000M
Timonen - Coburn = 7.600M
Kukkonen - Parent = 1.725M
Free Agent - Jones = 0.000M
Biron - Nittymaki = 4.725M
TOTAL = 42.475M
CAP = 53.000 - 56.000M
ROOM = 10.525 - 13.525M
My plan:
1) Sign Carter to 7 Years / 35.000M
2) Trade Knuble; Sign Umberger for 2.500M
3) Trade Nitty; Sign Boucher for 1.000M
4) Sign Jones to 1.250M
5) Go after Campbell, Liles, or Streit
Posted by Jeff | June 2, 2008 7:38 PM