Ben Eager: Why he still kicks ass, and how we can afford him

From 2003 to 2007, Ben Eager did a lot of growing. While his offensive stats weren't the best they could be, as an agitator Ben annoyed the hell out of opposing teams players. Drawing penalties and planting his fists of justice into the faces of his opponents became his calling card. Unfortunately though before he could mature into the bad-ass he is today, the fan favorite was shipped off to the Chicago Blackhawks for a defender who has NEVER played a full season in 12 years! If you ask me, the city was robbed that cold December day of a true scumbag (of which I mean in the highest regard). Yet in 2011, after suiting up for his third team in two years, Ben has a chance to come home. Eager's most recent team, the San Jose Sharks fell to the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference Finals and now this upcoming off season he's an unrestricted free agent. Since his departure, Eager's been practically irreplaceable . Don't believe me? CHECK DUH STATZ (after the bump!):

BY THIS INFOGRAPHIC ALONE, one can tell Eager outperformed the instigators on the Flyers over the last three years pretty easily. And for those who say, "Oh what about the 2009-'10 season?" Well if you remember correctly, that was last year. Ya know, when he and the rest of the Blackhawks BEAT US TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP?! So now you're going, "Fine, he'd be a good fit. But for what price? There isn't a lot of cap room considering the goalie situation." Well chill out because I got that covered too!

FORWARDS:

Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Daniel Briere ($6.500m) / Jeff Carter ($5.272m) 
James Van Riemsdyk ($1.654m) / Mike Richards ($5.750m) / Kris Versteeg ($3.083m) 
Scott Hartnell ($4.200m) / Ben Eager ($1.000m) / Andreas Nodl ($0.900m) 
Blair Betts ($0.700m) / Darroll Powe ($0.800m) / Tom Sestito ($0.577m) 
Zac Rinaldo ($0.544m) 

DEFENSEMEN:
Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m) / Chris Pronger ($4.921m) 
Kimmo Timonen ($6.333m) / Braydon Coburn ($3.200m) 
Oskars Bartulis ($0.600m) / Erik Gustafsson ($0.900m) 
Kevin Marshall ($0.845m)

GOALTENDERS:
Ilya Bryzgalov ($6.000m) / Sergei Bobrovsky ($1.750m)


SALARY CAP: $63,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,282,765; BONUSES: $1,837,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $17,235


... At the very most, Ben will cost about a million dollars over the next two or three years (which is a pay raise over what he got with his last contract). Add Darroll Powe & Andreas Nodl's raises and potential goalie Ilya Bryzgalov getting the maximum out of the Flyers all that really is in question is the speculative salary cap... AND I EVEN WAS ABLE TO KEEP JEFF CARTER! It can be done, guys. Simple math isn't that hard.

Do us a favor, Homer. Waive Jody Shelley's sorry ass and sign this team the goon it deserves. The fans and penalty kill will thank you.