The guy is 6'3", 210 pounds. He is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and has a shot that can be called one of the best in the league. He will be a 50-goal scorer and is good for about 90 points. He is an All-Star and will be considered one of the best centers in the league by the time he is 25. 

So, why is he going to be dawning another jersey sooner, rather than later?

The reason for this is because how do you pay a top line center man $5.25 million a year, especially when the economy is going to bring the NHL's hard cap to about $46 million a year?

One of the worst mistakes that Paul Holmgren ever made was not realizing the gems that he had in his system. If he had realized this, he would have had about $6 million a year to spend on a quality winger or a defenseman. 

Heck, if we still want to dream about what could have been, Jay Boumeester could have joined this team about a week ago.

Point is, now the Flyers are going to have to make some big decisions. They are quickly digging themselves into a similar situation as the Penguins. They simply have players who are too good with a cap that cannot hold all of them. 

Briere, Lupul, Timonen, Richards, Hartnell, and Gagne are all signed for over $4 million a year and Matt Carle is at $3.8 a year. Is it even possible to pay Carter over $5 million a year?

If you answered yes to that question, then please explain how and then complain to your local school board to get your math teacher fired.

If you somehow think that they are able to keep all those untradable players and keep Carter, think again. After next year, the cap should drop to around $46 million. If you simply look at that and think they could fit some no-name players and ride those key guys, then look closer.

The Flyers only have two defensemen and no goalies signed after next year, meaning they have to sign two goalies, five defensemen, and fill out a fourth line. If you keep Carter in the mix, before you do all of that you have about $7 million with which to sign 10 guys. 

On the other hand, if you said no, then you know it is because of the players I mentioned above. Not one of them will be leaving town for a variety of reasons. Either they are overpaid, way too injury prone, not worth the risk, or, in Mike Richards' case, way top good to be moved.

That leaves Jeff Carter as the odd man out. And since we are in the age where general managers are content to wait until the last minute to make a move, don't be surprised when Carter is lost and the price really is not that large. Don't expect to have a deal like they were offered from Toronto for a defensive stud like Tomas Kaberle. 

However, things are not all that bad. They have highly touted University of New Hampshire stud James Van Riemsdyk, who should come in and fill the void without much of a loss to their team. He will come in physically ready and prepared to have a Blake Wheeler type season. So do not fret, Flyers fans!

However, since we are fans who do not get judged on what we think that the time that a decision is made and have the luxury of saying what Paul Holmgren should have done a year and a half ago, we can sound all-knowing. Simply sit and imagine if Daniel Briere was never offered that huge contract and the Flyers had a second line led of Van Riemsdyk, Carter, and Lupul. 

Not to mention that would most likely be their second line for about six years or more.

Thankfully, as a Leafs fan, Briere signed on the dotted line and Paul Holmgren somehow turned a blind eye to the guy who gave Ovechkin a run for the goal title for most of this year.

Thank you, Mr. Holmgren.

Oh, and if you would be so kind as to trade him to Toronto, that would be greatly appreciated!