Why are the Flyers Rebuilding?

It seems like just this summer that the Philadelphia Flyers traded a mere draft pick for the rights to top-flight goaltender Ilyz Bryzgalov. Then, weeks later, they were trading away their best forwards to make room for Bryzgalov's salary. As the summer wore on, times got worse and the Flyers signed retired forward Jaromir Jagr, a man who had his best days before most of their roster learned to skate, playing third fiddle behind Mario Lemieux and Ron Francis.

Now, as training camp approaches, the Flyers are looking even further down the used player lot at Jagr's favorite center from the early aughts, Michael Nylander.

Frankly, yes, we're thinking just what you're thinking: Michael Nylander can still skate?

Actually, it makes sense. He had most of last year off with an injury, and he was in a hopeless salary cap situation anyway, where the Caps couldn't re-call him from the minors without exposing him to re-entry waivers, whereby another team could claim him and the Caps would still have to pay half his salary.

In his shoes, who wouldn't train harder than ever and try to get ready for a comeback.

It's just a little surprising. All summer, the lists of available free agents on even NHL.com have overlooked Nyles. Everybody assumed he was washed up. Instead, if he's got anything left in the tank, he could be available at a bargain basement price to help the Flyers get something resembling value out of Jagr.

In a different world, where the Caps hadn't overpaid so drastically for his last contract, Nylander could still be a great #3 center for the Caps. Oh well.