1) Now that the 2015-16 NHL season is finally over, things should start to pick up on the roster move front for teams around the league. The buyout period starts on Wednesday (the Flyers are expected to buy out R.J. Umberger to save $3 million of cap space next season). The Flyers could also make a deal or two during NHL Draft weekend in Buffalo on June 24-25.
Whatever happens between this week and June 30 is likely to influence the Flyers' strategy as the NHL free agency season starts on July 1. As the time draws closer, and it becomes clearer who will and will not sign extensions with their current teams, what roster needs may be met via trade and, importantly, how much cap space will be available, it will be easier to make educated guesses about the direction the Flyers may go in pursuing free agents.
Unlike the past couple years, I think the chances of a significant move or two -- not just discussions of it, but something that comes to fruition --are realistic. I don't think Ron Hextall is likely to make any bonafide blockbuster trades and/or free agent signings but it could be something north of how last year's acquisition of Sam Gagner and signing of Michal Neuvirth were considered at the time.
This much can be said for certain: There are many different scenarios being considered. It would also not be a surprise, since the Flyers have 10 picks in the draft with which to work, if there's some movement within the draft.
2) Although Vincent Lecavalier has already publicly admitted that he is retiring this season, there is still a minor salary cap implication for the Flyers and Kings based on when he files for retirement. If he retires in June, both teams carry no hit. If he waits until July, he is owed a $500,000 check (the final annual installment of his signing bonus from the deal he signed with the Flyers in 2013) on July 1. For example, if he officially retires on July 2, both the Kings and Flyers would carry a $250,000 cap hit.
3) Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who has been rehabbing hip surgery in Voorhees in conjunction with teammate Shayne Gostisbehere recently sat down for
Q&A session with the Flyers' official website. At the end of this week, the Flyers site will have articles I am authoring on the best draft classes in franchise history as well as one on how teams' scouts prepare for the draft.
4) Today in Flyers History -- June 13, 1987: On the day of the 1987 NHL Draft in Detroit -- the first NHL Draft to be held in the United States -- the Flyers made two trades. They swapped their own second round to the Detroit Red Wings for backup goaltender Mark Laforest. They also flipped the Vancouver Canucks' previously acquired 5th round pick back to the Canucks in exchange for the Canucks' 1989 fifth-round pick (which was also later returned to Vancouver). At the '87 Draft, the Flyers selected defenseman Darren Rumble in the first round. Third-round pick Martin Hostak also briefly went on to play for the Flyers in a career mostly spent playing in Europe and international tournaments.
5) Today in Flyers History -- June 13, 1995: The Flyers got eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final. Things started out well, with Jim Montgomery giving the visitors a quick 1-0 lead but the Devils soon took over the game to lead 2-1 ater the first period and 3-1 after the second en route to a 4-2 win. In the third period, Mikael Renberg scored his third goal of the series but it was too little and too late for the Flyers. Nevertheless, the 1994-95 lockout season was a big success for the Flyers: the year they vaulted back to Cup contender status (for a decade) after missing the postseason five straight years.
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Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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