I’m officially done mourning the end of the Flyers season. I’m ready to watch the rest of the Stanley Cup Finals, because it is all the hockey I’m going to get ’til September. I’ve already tried to help Andy Reid land a big wide receiver, now I will offer my “fantasy” GM skills to the real General Manager, Paul Holmgren. Homer doesn’t necessarily need the help after the wizardry he used last year to produce one of the four best teams in the NHL this year from a team that was the worst in franchise history the year before, but I’ll offer it anyway. There is still a bit of a bad, lingering, aftertaste from the Flyers recent exit from the playoffs that leaves us thinking the Flyers are maybe a piece or two away from sipping from the Stanley Cup.

According to NHL Numbers the Flyers have $49.5 million committed to the cap next year. Holmgren has already made it known that he has every intention of keeping Jeff Carter, who had a career year, and R.J. Umberger, who was one of the Flyers leading scorers in the playoffs. Toronto has shown interest in Carter in the past. Rumors had the Flyers shipping Carter to Toronto at the trade deadline this year. Before Toronto can make an offer, the Flyers want to lock him down. Carter will probably get somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 million. Umberger won’t get quite that much, maybe $3 million. They won’t have to break the bank on defenseman Randy Jones although he was impressive in the playoffs. He’ll probably get $1 million or so.

Defenseman Derian Hatcher might retire after fracturing his leg late in the year and playing on bad knees in the playoffs. If he does, it will free up $3.5 million in what would have been the last year of his contract. Hatcher had a pretty good year, and with the off-season to recover, I would like to see him play it out just one more year, but with a hefty contract the Flyers may do without him.

Mike Knuble could be traded at the draft for a pick or two, to free up some cap space. He is due to make $2.8 million in 2008-09, the last year of his deal. With a influx of young talent ready to take the reigns, the Flyers could have cheaper, younger options up front.

This year’s playoffs it was apparent that the Flyers were missing at least one piece on defense. Captain Jason Smith has probably played his last game as a Flyer, and Jaroslav Modry won’t be returning either. An option that might be available is Brian Campbell. Many Philadelphia fans remember Campbell for his hit on R.J. Umberger two years ago in the playoffs. But he is more than that. Campbell had 62 points this season, splitting his time between Buffalo and San Jose. He plays a lot like Kimmo Timonen, with a bit more physicality. He made $1.75 million in 2007-08 and is due for a raise. I see the Flyers willing to go as high as $3 million to get him. Some have rumored that the Flyers could be interested in Wade Redden, but he made $6.5 million this season and surely wouldn’t take a huge pay cut to come to Philadelphia.

The Flyers are potentially losing their entire fourth line in Jim Dowd, Riley Cote (both unrestricted free agents), and Patrick Thoresen (restricted free agent). Dowd is turning 40 in December, and Cote was never much to brag about with the puck. Thoresen, although score-less as his time as a Flyer, was good. They’ll probably re-sign him for under $1 million.

Aside from a good defenseman in Campbell, the Flyers are pretty much set to make another run at the cup. They have a good offense, and another year left on Biron’s contract. Paul Holmgren said he wanted to keep this core group together and I think that puts him in excellent position for the future. With a few moves, here’s how the Flyers could look on opening night of the 2008-09 season.

Gagne (A) Briere Hartnell
5,250,000 6,500,000 4,200,000

Lupul Richards (A) Giroux
2,311,667 5,750,000 850,000

Umberger Carter Upshall
2,500,000* 3,500,000* 1,225,000

Kapanen Thoresen Downie
1,250,000 750,000* 821,667

Timonen (C)  Coburn
6,333,333 1,300,000

Parent Campbell
855,000 3,000,000*

Jones Kukkonen
1,000,000* 875,000

Biron Niittymaki
3,500,000 1,225,000

* Dave’s Prediction

With this plan, the Flyers combined salary would be $49,846,667. The cap is expected to rise next season, although it isn’t clear yet as to how much higher it will go. In 2007-08 the cap was $50,300,000.

Photos courtesy: AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr, flyers.nhl.com