Photo via @HartnettWFAN
Welcome to the newest edition of “Point/Counterpoint,” where a pair of Flyers Faithful scribes present both sides of one particular issue with their own unique view and flair.
This week Dain S. and Jim H. debate whether the Flyers’ are better off with or without Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Dain starts it off with the argument against Parise and Suter.
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were two of the marquee free agents in the NHL this offseason. Many of the top teams in the league tried to sign them, including the Red Wings, Penguins, Wild and of course the Flyers. Minnesota ended up signing both players to matching 13 year, 98 million dollar contracts. On the surface, the Flyers lost by not getting them, but I would argue that they won by NOT signing them. If the reports are true, the Flyers offered 12 years and 110 million to Parise and 12 years /100 million to Suter. Those contracts would have put the Flyers in serious cap trouble not just this year, but many years into the future. Claude Giroux will be getting a big raise when he gets a long term contract in the next year or two. Shea Weber will be a UFA next season and he is better than Ryan Suter,some would say a lot better. Save your money for Weber and Giroux and fill in at the trade deadline if you need a player or two. The Flyers are better served by keeping their young core of players instead of breaking the bank on players who do not make them significantly better.
Jim H:
Dear Zachary and Ryan,