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The year in Rumors Preview. Starting in Philly with a HUGE Logjam |
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I am working on my season previews and in an attempt to try something different, and in keeping with my specialty, I figured I would do a team by team look at the early rumors I am hearing regarding each team...some are already rumors, while others are highly likely to develop based on speculation I am hearing from sources...
Starting close by in Philly...
Every year GMs and coaches have one final meeting with their players after the season and prior to the start of the offseason. For 29 teams these meetings are about what can be done to improve upon either not making the playoffs or losing their final game of the season...because as we all know only one playoff team gets to go into the summer with a win. For all the other teams the playoffs go into the summer with a loss.
In these meetings players are told what they need to do over the summer and what has to happen for them to win a roster spot. In an ideal world the next season would bring new hope with players getting a chance to win or lose spots based on the commitment they have shown over the summer. We always hear coaches talking about wanting to have a competitive camp with spots up for grab and players showing up wanting to make the team believing anything is possible.
But that is not what happens in modern sports. I am not saying what players show their coaches and GMs in the preseason and training camps means nothing…but it doesn’t guarantee you make the team. Even if you fulfill all that was asked of you in your exit meeting in April or May the reality is that spots are more set by guaranteed contracts than performance.
The best some players can hope for is that they have such a strong camp that they force their organizations into trying to make a deal to open up a spot. This story so far is hardly unique to one team. Many teams are in the same boat. Especially teams with new coaches where players are on their best behavior to try and solidify a seemingly fluid situation.
Enter the Flyers. One of the more interesting teams at a crossroad. New coach. Relatively new GM. Are they rebuilding or re-tooling?
Looking at training camp closely you see a whole slew of players who have more than brought their A-game and fulfilled all that was asked of them in their last exit interviews. Flyers fans have seen the future, and almost ridiculed by it in some ways by Ron Hextall’s patience which is fascinatingly new in Philadelphia. Hextall’s patience is part push-back from a history in Philadelphia of reactionary management and partly forced upon him by salary restraints and limited roster spots for young players.
And for Flyers fans it is bitter paradigm shift with which to deal. Say what you want about the Flyers over the last 48 years but one thing you could always say for certain was they were going to “Go for it and do whatever they could to win NOW.” It isn’t the best way to build a team longterm, but it is almost ALWAYS what the fans want. I once questioned someone in Philly about this and they said, “The thing is this…If you ALWAYS go for it you can ALWAYS go for it and fix the mistakes quickly.” At least you can as long as there isn't a salary cap or it is at least rising enough.
For the Flyers, a team just 5 years removed from being two wins away from a Stanley Cup, it comes down to three categories:
Older players with big contracts and plenty to prove, who are still fighting
Vinny Lacavalier
VLC has looked absolutely great in camp and the preseason. He is the perfect example of professionalism and he spent this summer working harder than he ever has before…But that wasn’t all that was wrong with Vinny’s game last year. Much more had to do with the fact that finely tuned skilled players NEED to play with skilled players and Craig Berube placed Vinny on the fourth line last year…when he played him at all. This camp he has been often paired with Sam Gagner and the combo has been thrilling to watch to say the least.
RJ Umberger
RJ had a terrible year last year by his own admission. So terrible that Matt Read and Sean Couturier, who were often paired with RJ, spent more time covering up for RJ than they did trying to score goals. RJ has looked like an entirely different player in this camp. He has been feisty and up on his skates. He also has done all that has been asked of him.
Luke Schenn,
It’s hard to call Luke a veteran, but he is about to become a UFA after this season and you get the impression the Flyers would have loved that to be a year sooner. That is not because Luke Schenn has been terrible. In fact, I agree with Bill Meltzer’s recent article stating Luke Schenn is much better than he is portrayed. I do see him as a top 4 guy who can throw some really strong hits and is not at all a problem when it comes to making a solid first pass. Luke is just invisible for long stretches and had he not been such a high prospect in Toronto or traded for JVR Flyers fans probably wouldn’t have any issues with him.
Mid-range, Still young players, not quite living up to their billing.
Brayden Schenn.
So much has been said about Brayden not living up to his billing as well. Want to know how talented Brayden is? Ask any of the Flyers. They will be quick to tell you just how talented he is and how little they want him traded. Hakstol has done a GREAT job at motivating Brayden. Of that there is no doubt. Schenn has fallen to what looks like 5th line center on the depth chart…and all he has done is score three goals in three preseason games. Brayden has always been a very streaky scorer and the question is “Is his streaky scoring a matter of hard work or not?”
Sam Gagner
I can’t help but think of Gagner like Mike Comrie. Wearing #89, highly skilled, moments that leave you in awe….and of course once an Oiler. Gagner is fascinating because the Flyers “HAD’ to take him and tried to move him as soon as they got him….When they couldn’t he showed up with a new attitude and now looks like he will make this team. There is one VERY important reason to keep Gagner. The second power play unit is FINALLY working.
Young top players who are ready (or very close to ready)
Gostibehere
Ghost has scored three goals in preseason and has looked every bit the offensive threat of Del Zotto…except with more focus in his own zone. The Flyers have sent him to the Phantoms, but I can’t help but think it is very temporary….What he could do in 3 vs 3 OT alone should keep him in Philly… He will be the first call up and if Like Schenn is dealt he could be hard to keep out of the line-up.
Nick Cousins
Make no mistake about it, Cousins is an NHL player. If RJ or Vinny gets hurt or moved out Cousins will be in Philly
Morin, Sanheim, Hagg, Provorov…
All of these defenseman project to be NHL players and all look like top 2 guys or top 4 at the least…
Oh and by the way….the best young Flyers player we have seen in years, Travis Konecny, is going to be tearing up things in Ottawa…If this Flyers team does make a playoff run it wouldn’t be shocking to somehow see Konecny as a part of it after his junior season ends.
So what will happen?
The Flyers are trying to make a trade now...…there is no doubt about it.
Possibilities are varied.
I have head the Ottawa Senators have interest in both of the Schenns and possibly Vinny Lecavalier…who last year I heard nixed a trade to the Sens. The Predators, especially Laviolette, are also still interested in Vinny.
The Hurricanes are scouting the Flyers closely too…they have interest in Cousins and B. Schenn.
The Oilers like Robert Hagg and Morin… The Flyers would want them to probably take on RJ as well. Although that part is just speculation from one source.
And then there is Dustin Byfuglien and the Bruins. The Flyers may be forced into making a move for Dustin now or they will never get him. The Jets will only be moving him if they believe they won't be able to bring him back…and they are loaded with prospects…
Flyers history tells us that whenever they have this many capable players they like to make a big deal of several players for one big piece. However, this is Hextall and patience.
Whatever happens from here Flyers fans aren’t going to be happy seeing all these great players NOT on the big squad if this team under-performs. Something has to give....and in a big way.
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