How much will a Healthy Simon Gagne help the Flyers next year?

Question

Also what players do you think they will get?

Answer 1

An All Star plus Gold Medal winner and arguably their best scorer yes it will help alot.They need to resign Carter and Vinny and I will be happy.

Vinny helped turn Briere into a PP machine plus I hope we lose Hatcher.He kills me everytime but he had stepped up when Kimmo and Braydon went down.

Answer 2

To be honest, I'm not really counting on him coming back next year. I will say further that he might even retire. But that is only my opinion. I certainly hope I am wrong.

I don't think they will be able to get much because they have a lot of money tied up in Briere and Richards. Even if Smith, Modry, Hatcher, Prospal, and Dowd are allowed to sign elsewhere, they still need to ink Carter and Umberger and won't have much cap space after that to sign a blue chip UFA.

I like Dan Briere, he is a responsible, team oriented guy, but his contract is stifling for where the Flyers are right now. I'd first try to restructure his pact if he is willing. If not, then I'd trade him to a cellar dweller for first round picks.

They need speed and health on the blue line and the goaltending - to me - can be improved.

Answer 3

A healthy Simon Gagne will be a huge boost to the team if he can stay there all year.  When he was there early they played quite well and after he went out their fall was significant.  He has the talent to be one of the top 3 scorers on the team and plays a pretty solid all around game.

As far as new players go, I'd rather see them try to develop the young talent and then have money at the end of the year to pick up someone before the trade deadline and be able to offer a nice contract if none of the kids can step up.  They don't really need scoring as much as they could better D to reduce the amount of shots their goalies have to stop.  Only 3 teams allowed more shots on goal then the Flyers.

Answer 4

as a Flyers fan you should know this answer it's a huge plus

but i would lose Hatcher/Kukonen/Modrey

try and get Campbell and see what some more of the kids can do

Answer 5

Hard to say

Answer 6

He will be a huge help, the problem being that we will have to STAY healthy.  Concussions have a way of leading to more concussions.

Answer 7

I am going to go back to what I said prior to the free agency period last season when the debate was whether the Flyers should sign Briere, Drury or Gomez.  My selection then was Gomez because he is the best pure playmaker of the group.  I still think the Flyers need to fill that hole this off-season.  Without filling that need, having Gagne back does not make that significant of a difference.

Whether it is with Prospal, a free agent or someone else within the organization the boost that Prospal gave to Briere highlighted what I stated.  Claude Giroux has been touted highest for his playmaking abilities, whether he will be ready next season is still a question.

Expect Jason Smith to be playing elsewhere and hopefully Hatcher will decide that it's time to hang them up.  (Don't count on it, he has 3.5M reasons to come back.) I like the way the defense starts next season with Timmonen, Coburn, Jones and Parent.  They still have a good amount of young talent coming through the system both up front and on the blue line.

Answer 8

A lot