Howie58

@Howie58 We all remeber how utterly mediocre the Isles were 3 years ago. Well, that year Montoya played 21 games and posted a 2.36 GGA and a .921 sv percentage....that tells me there is something there...

Yep...when I see the other UFAs in goal I am really underwhelmed.

It will be interesting to see what Homer does here....Mason is a big question mark. We need D and have to sign G. So a low cost alternative makes sense.

Thanks for your leadership role here. You do a fine job.

Best,

Howie

Yea he's been a backup on a few teams, wouldn't want him as a back up plan if Mason falters unless they are planning to tank next year for a top 5 pick.

My big fear is that they go with a Miller or Luongo as their usual one big move to oblivion and cap problems. I see him as a low pay, possibly good backup. If indeed Winnipeg wants him as backup to Pavelec tells me he has some value.

Best,

Howie

@Howie58

Montoya was highly coveted when the Rangers drafted him, and fairly high (8th?) I guess he's a bit of a bust that way. Can't say I've seen much of him lately.

Howdy FC: Yes, he seemed to be a good prospect. The fact that Winnipeg wants to keep him tells me he has some value in a backup role. I also wonder if Homer will look overseas. Nothing would shock me.

I really hope we don't go with a big bucks alternative..Milller or Luongo...yikes.

Best,

Howie

Greetings:

FYI, he doesn't show up on this roster but he may stack up well in terms of age and some upside.

Here is a roster of possibilities. http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/2/12/3982952/2013-2014-free-agent-goaltending-options-a-look-at-ev-save-percentage

Peace,

Howie

Greetings:

Would this guy be a potential partner to Mason. Seem like upside is there, has good background.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nhl/1848/player

I suspect we wouldn't pay much. Winnipeg wants to keep him as backup but given the choice between Winnipeg and Philly, I suspect most would like the latter.

Any thoughts? I see Emery as a potential pickup to, but would the guy want to come back to an organization that didn't seem to keen on giving him a shot after surgery.

Best,

Howie

I can honestly say I'm at piece with Philly goaltending for the summer. That's not to say I'm satisfied with what we have....but my wife says I'm not punching the pillow in my sleep while yelling "Stop ONE @#$%ing breakaway and STFU!!"

FC--a good end of day laugh. I don't punch the pillow...just wonder why these MFs are so blind at this position.

Yikes.

Best,

Howie:

P.S. I repeat what I've said before...bring in Poile and Trotz from Nashville.

J2:

Yikes...what do you do with a guy who is medically unfit? I feel sorry for the guy..he is a competent defender and hard worker. But I suspect he is falling apart.

You know more about this than I ever will.

Howie

Ya know Linds, that does kinda make my head spin. I just don't think it's important to invest in the offense right now. It's time to have faith in our core and let them take us/evolve into where we have to go. That along with G needing an extension, that's what worries me. Although I always worry about cap space, and have read/typed literally thousands of posts about it....inevitably, Homer finds a way to afford what he wants, the Striet signing and the Weber/Suter/Praise attempts are all prime examples....so it appears I and many others might worry a bit to much about that.

edit...that and the fact we need Scuderi very badly on this team, much...much more important than adding Ryan right now. Let's give our present goalie some stability....and please Homer...clear out the dead wood ie Mez.

Jammer: Greetings again...you are spot on. My gut says, and I am no doctor, that we will not Mesz suit up again. That adds what...4 million on LTIR. We might get a usual waiver...who knows. Cap aside, there are what...50 roster spots. So some of our "fine" prospects get the heave ho...

Gagne...if he doesn't go south of 2, I suspect he is off the radar...sadly.

I also wonder if Hartnell is part of the past...someone may take a chance he returns to form...we may feel he is a spent force.

This will be an interesting July 1st.

Peace,

Howie

@Howie58 "And not a heckuva lot different from Bernier's who was achieving Christ-like status on this board. OK, I will be ecumenical...deity-like status..."

Hilarious, classic stuff right there Howie!

J2:

Glad to put a smile on your face...take care my friend.

Best,

Howie

@Howie58,

If you're talking about the Bryz buy out presser, it is on the Flyers website. I watched it tonight. I got the impression that Homer wants Mason to be the #1 goalie and he will try to bring in a backup.

Alaska:

Thanks for the information. Now we can see who is south of 2 million and north of 35.

Best,

Howard

Howdy:

I am wondering if he said anything worthwhile or just repeated his rather cryptic remarks in the new release?

Best,

Howie

Howdy:

Here are the guy's recent stats. Not too shabby. And not a heckuva lot different from Bernier's who was achieving Christ-like status on this board. OK, I will be ecumenical...deity-like status...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/4189

Some really like the guy...but at 4.5 million...

http://www.anaheimcalling.com/2013/6/5/4387552/player-report-card-jonas-hiller

If I read this right, a trade give us another year. That is relatively low risk.

Peace,

Howie

Howie> More like emotion sickness! Feel like James Dean in Rebel without cause.http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/40604/Rebel-Without-a-Cause/trailers

As long as we don't crash and kill ourselves per Lindbergh or Dean...seriously and sadly, I am glad the organization fessed up and acknowledged a lousy decision. But if we pull another Streit-type overpriced hire I may just call it quits. Seriously.

Peace, and good to hear from you.

Howie

Too late howie

Jim, we have more smarts than most of the pundits cited here. We have more smarts than Homer. Many here thought this deal. Was a bummer from the get go.

Howie

Please, let's avoid the rumor mongering. It gives the board motion sickness.

I think a politically conservative Ed Snider probably gave up any home when Comrade Ilya pledged his love for. Stalin. Meanwhile, this conference may bring trade news.

Which leaves us ALL with one important question: WHAT'S NOW?

I suspect q thirtyish senior statesman to back up Mason. My money iw on Mike Smith.

Best,

Howie

Well, now we have to deal with the here and now...Mason + Whomever. We don't know what cost us Bernier..or what it didn't cost. And if we gave up one of our youngsters we'd be hearing about how we sacrifice youth. The sad reality is that we didn't have a good backup to offer...and that is apparently what LA wanted.

So, let's spend our time wondering if Bryz is cut (and I think that happens), or if we are stuck with the dude for another year? I don't see him around after that.

If you read the New York Post, their hockey analyst wrote an absolutely scathing piece on the Flyers with regard to Streit. He wondered how the Flyers could get the guy with so many defensive liabilities....and a second-tier d. This guy knows of what he speaks in terms of Islander coverage.

So let's hope we actually avoided a mistake...because so far this offseason I don't see much room for hope from Homer.

Best,

Howie

Other than Stolarz...who the heck is down there...

Other than Stolarz...who the heck is down there...

Other than Stolarz...who the heck is down there...

Other than Stolarz...who the heck is down there...

....that my friend is your echo through the phantoms!!!!!

Howdy:

You've given me a great end of the day laugh. But the truth is sad....

Best,

Howie

Greetings:

I could live with Smith or Emery. Both would be relatively low-cost, low-risk takes. Emery was respected here. Smith is streaky but I suspect JR would work with him and he has some good experience.

This thread underscores a longstanding theme on the board--our organization's inability to bring up good goalies. Gosh darn it...wouldn't it be nice to say, "Mr So and So had a good year in Adirondack and is ready for a look-and-see." Other than Stolarz...who the heck is down there...and could we call them up, even for an injury fill in?

Peace,

Howie

Bryz's for Kate Smith statue.

Howie

Today's Inquirer has an article on how Bryz's agent is spinning his mediocre play as a function of blocking shot style defense blinds goalies plus bad media coverage.

Screw him.

Best,

Howie

Round and round and round she goes. And people wonder why we never win the cup? How about trying a different route?

I think Hoffmann, Seravalli, and Carchidi are becoming increasingly vocal about the impatience and poor development. Holmgren and Snider must not care...or Comcast has yet to flex its muscle.

Best,

Howie

Looking at our overpriced defense. How is he so bad? You guys should be complaining of how much we pay our own overrated dmen. This guy will instantly be one of our best dmen with a limited nmc that they can trade after 2 years. Also, don't forget that we gave up pretty much nothing (including our young core) to get him. Let me know what our options are in the free agent market cause I see nobody out there worth anything.

I agree that he is not "so bad." But this deal is part of a larger frame/mindset that seems to go like this: "Don't show much patience with good young players." Don't accept a reality that two or three consecutive sub-par seasons might yield a core that goes to the Cup. And for G_d's sake, don't develop D or G; just work on forwards and we will trade for those positions...generally receiving players past their prime...and pay a sh...tload for them." In other words...what you say is true--Streit isn't so bad. But this deal seems to be part-and-parcel of GM who is more opportunist than strategist.

Best,

Howie

If Streit is at the 4 mill+ range, Coburn would be there too. I frankly think Mesz will not suit up again and suspect that's part of why we going for Streit.

Best,

Howie