How about,

Tim Connolly + Gerbe + Mancari and 2nd roudn pick for Simon Gagne, and Forward Prospect Patrick Maroon

I think that's a win win for both teams. Philly gets back a big forward, a scoring forward, and a solid centerman, we get that ever elusive winger we need, and some depth, and size at forward.

I mean it's a lot of value to give up, but given Gagne's production, it's a lot of value to possibly gain. Plus both Connolly and Gagne are in the last years of their deals.

_________________
"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Well, Gagne's PPG isn't too bad (.780) and he can certainly put up 70+ points. He only has had a couple of bad seasons (25gp in 07/08 and 46gp in 02/03). I'd take a chance on him to play on the top line with Vanek and Roy.

Sending Connolly to Philly wouldn't work, though, because this is a salary-shedding move. I would try just Gerbe, Mancari, and a 2011 2nd round pick for Gagne and a 3rd.

_________________
mechaphil

I like your trade idea. Mancari is a big forward, which fits with the Flyers, Gerbe's go get 'em attitude fits with the team. Gange gives us a scoring winger to play with Vanek and Roy. Sounds good to me. Does Holmgren bite on this though?

_________________
Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

Lol Connolly brings DOWN the trade value.

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Holmgren might. He wants to cut salary, as the Flyers are just $577K under the cap with 21 guys signed. That'd be a helluva cap-cutting move, taking only roughly $1.7M on (presuming Mancari signs, of course).

_________________
mechaphil

Would Kennedy be off limits in this deal? I know Ennis is. However, if Kennedy is the piece that would make a deal possible, would you guys do it?

_________________
Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

I wouldn't mind. Kennedy is a decent player, but he is replaceable.

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Well, sending Kennedy to them un-signed would mean if someone offer sheets him, they'd get the picks. I personally don't think Kennedy is off-limits whatsoever.

_________________
mechaphil

i really think, and hope, gerbe will be moved this summer.

_________________

I really think, and hope, that you're wrong.

I've liked everything I've seen out of Gerbe thus far, and he isn't going to bring in some kind of miraculous return.

_________________
Wheelhouse

Me, at this point, would rather see Gerbe stay and Kennedy go. It was the other way around until I saw what Gerbe was doing in the playoffs. He gains the zone very well and his speed establishes one mother of a forecheck, and couple with his scoring talent he'll be a fine NHLer. It seemed as though Kennedy stagnated, even though he was scoring at the end of the reg. season.

_________________
mechaphil

I wish they'd move Kennedy to wing...

_________________
Wheelhouse

They did move Kennedy to the wing.

_________________
mechaphil

kennedy is going to be a fine defensive winger with scoring ability. hes filling out, he will become slightly more physical, i think hes going to be a solid 3rd line LWer.

gerbe will be one of those forwards too good for the third line, and not good enough for the second. the problem is, you want more grit on your third line, and no matter how tenacious he is, hes simply too small to be gritty.

_________________

I'd take 3 scoring lines and 1 grit line any day.

Remember when Roy was a third line center? Damn...

_________________
Wheelhouse

I might be the only one who sees it, but Gerbe does have a freight train-sized amount of grit. Don't get me wrong, I like Kennedy but seeing both in the NHL last season changed something in me.

_________________
mechaphil

I brought this up (acquiring Gagne not the pieces to do so) yesterday in one of the FA threads. If he can stay healthy its a great deal.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I don't know anything about Maroon, but it's a huge overpayment to Philly. Everybody is so down on Connolly right now, but the rest of the league would be happy with a minimum 2nd line C that plays PP and PK. Connolly and Gagne are almost even value, and both contracts run out next summer. Gagne has missed chunks of games in a few past seasons too, including 24 games last season. His point production is the same, but he scores more which is obviously better.

I'd offer a 3rd rd pick with Connolly and call it even, but then Buffalo doesn't have another scoring center, so what's the point? As somebody else said, Philly just wants to clear cap space, so they wouldn't want a big contract in return. Most people want to ship out Connolly, but it would be better for Buffalo to offer a replacement LW prospect like Gerbe and a pick/prospect. Another issue is that Buffalo needs a RW, not a LW. If Vanek can switch over to RW then great, otherwise I'd rather focus on RWs with more years left on their contract.

He won't steam roll people, but he'll certainly sting them and piss them off, then skate away laughing at their futile efforts to chase him down.

_________________
Wheelhouse

I wish I could be as high on Gerbe as you guys. A few games, even in the playoffs, isn't enough to assess any player. His size is going to be a big disadvantage, and we can't pretend that it won't be. It's up to him to bulk up and get strong enough (especially lower body) to not get pushed around. For now I'd be happy to use him as trade bait for a proven vet. He may be able to prove himself this season, but I doubt he can be productive enough to raise his trade value any higher than what it might be right now.