Turco reportedly rejects Flyers offer

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Flyers make pitch for goalie Marty Turco

POSTED: June 29, 2010 By Sam Carchidi

Inquirer Staff Writer

Another goalie has surfaced as a possible starter for the Flyers.

Negotiations with San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov have not been fruitful, so the Flyers have apparently reached out to Dallas' Marty Turco.

Turco, a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder who will turn 35 on Aug. 13, told ESPN.com he turned down the Flyers' three-year offer for a little more than $6 million total.

Turco was 22-20-11 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .913 save percentage this past season.

Michael Leighton had better numbers than Turco after the Flyers claimed him off reentry waivers from Carolina in December. With the Flyers, Leighton was 16-5-2 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

Leighton, 29, was outstanding in the playoffs - before a subpar performance in the Stanley Cup Finals against Chicago.

Don Meehan, Nabokov's agent, said Monday that no progress was made in negotiations with the Flyers.

Nabokov and Turco can become unrestricted free agents Thursday. Their clubs have given the Flyers permission to negotiate because they would likely get a draft pick in return if they signed with Philadelphia before going the free-agent route.

Nabokov, who turns 35 on July 25, went 44-16-10 with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage for the Sharks this past season.

It has become clear the Flyers feel they need an upgrade from Leighton, especially if they don't add a quality defenseman. They had been leaning toward re-signing Leighton as the starter, sources said, before talks broke down with recently acquired defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who was then dealt to Pittsburgh.

Hamhuis can become a free agent Thursday.

If the Flyers somehow are able to sign Hamhuis - or perhaps someone such as hard-hitting defenseman Anton Volchenkov - Leighton might reenter their picture. The Flyers are enamored with the 6-1, 226-pound Volchenkov, a potential free agent who was plus-2 for Ottawa this past season.

General manager Paul Holmgren could not be reached for comment.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

Can't believe Turco turned that offer down. He's been declining for a few years now. Philly was just in the finals. And one of their weaknesses was goaltending (it was the number 1 weakness for them in the finals). If Turco thinks he's getting much more than 2 mil per year at this stage of his career, he's mistaken. Maybe 3 mil at best. Any more than that for an aging and declining goaltender would be way too much. As for Nabby, looks like the ole negotiations aren't going so smoothly.

Edited June 30, 2010 by TheDetroitRedWings

[StayClassy 38]

Did they trade for his rights or something?

[zata20 4]

Did they trade for his rights or something?

I was thinking the same thing. If they don't own his rights the can't talk to him until July 1. I haven't heard anything about them acquiring his rights, so to me it looks like this article is bogus.

Edit: Sorry, didn't read the whole article. Looks like they must have acquired his rights.

Edited June 30, 2010 by zata20

[Hockey13Playa 240]

I just read over on the fourth period that the Flyers were never in touch with Turco and that is false information. Plus its not even July 1st so how can they speak with him yet? THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL!

[HenryMalredo 2]

I just read over on the fourth period that the Flyers were never in touch with Turco and that is false information. Plus its not even July 1st so how can they speak with him yet? THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL!

Since Dallas isn't planning on retaining Turco, they've given the Flyer permission to speak with Turco. If a contract is worked out before he gets ufa status, then Dallas could get a pick out of it or whatever.

[Hockey13Playa 240]

Since Dallas isn't planning on retaining Turco, they've given the Flyer permission to speak with Turco. If a contract is worked out before he gets ufa status, then Dallas could get a pick out of it or whatever.

Well if that's the case, then yes that's allowable. However the report/rumor appears to be shot down.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Well if that's the case, then yes that's allowable. However the report/rumor appears to be shot down.

The story was out of the Philadelphia Inquirer, not Hockeybuzz or whatever, if that counts for anything.