Friday, November 14th 2014: Hartnell scores his 7th goal of the season.


- Streit2ThePoint

Man, it's just as likely that he takes a tripping penalty in the offensive or neutral zone and you score on the Peco Power Play

That was Hartnell; some good, some inexplicable

I think it really boils down to what Hextall wants on his team. He obviously values versatility and skating as well as two way play.

Scott Hartnell is a good NHL player. But in Philly he was basically limited to a scoring line role. He wasn't able to slide up and down the line up or work on the PK effectively because he's not a good skater. He lacked discipline in his game, both in playing within a structure and in terms of taking penalties.

Still, he was 20-25 goals in the bank, a good effective pest and had good chemistry with Giroux.

Now, the Flyers do get some cap benefits-especially in term-but this wasn't primarily a salary dump. They identified Umberger as a guy that better fit the style they want to play.

I get the angst. I don't particularly like the trade myself. I don't hate it, though, I see it as a lateral move, more than anything.
- Jsaquella

I am still not sold on the trade. Hartnell did add the toughness but maybe there is some truth to EK's thoughts on the Flyers going after Ott. I am hoping it is Boyle or Pouliot,

But the system was different when Vinny was signed. You have to factor that in. The direction changed. Vinny wanted to play in the run and gun style of Lavy. berube is structed d first with a commintment to puck supposrt
- J35Bacher

That is a factor but I do think Holmgren and Hextall are different GMs with different views on players. If Holmgren is still GM I'd wager that Hartnell is still a Flyer regardless of the fit with Berube.

I am still hoping Hextall trades of one of Grossmann or L. Schenn. I would prefer Grossmann due to age/injuries. If the defense struggles, I would rather not see over the hill guys struggle, i'd rather see young guys who might be better next year because they struggled this year.

Schenn - G - Voracek
Read - Couts - Simmonds
Umberger - Boyle - Raffl
Bellamar - Laughton - ??

As for Vinny, I think there are a couple of scenarios that could play out:

1.) Vinny comes back strong after an injury filled season.
2.) We end up with a deal similar to the one just made that sent Hartnell away, where we take back an awful contract but attempt to spackle over some perceived need.
- johndewar

Vinny for Stalberg.

I wonder how Hextall will shape the 4th line. Looking around the league in the playoffs, there were some pretty effective 4th lines out there.
- funmaster18

I'm thinking Laughton flanked by the R & R poopbags.

That is a factor but I do think Holmgren and Hextall are different GMs with different views on players. If Holmgren is still GM I'd wager that Hartnell is still a Flyer regardless of the fit with Berube.

I am still hoping Hextall trades of one of Grossmann or L. Schenn. I would prefer Grossmann due to age/injuries. If the defense struggles, I would rather not see over the hill guys struggle, i'd rather see young guys who might be better next year because they struggled this year.
- Flyers_01[/quote

They are different GMS but they have a different coach. With Lavy's system it was offense oriented. Berubes is a structured defensive style predicated on skating and puck support.

When the Flyers played the system well they looked fast and always looked like they had two or three guys near the puck. Think of some of the games on the West coast when people had them being toast and won 2 of three in CA.

When they didn't play the system you could see the looked slow and the passes weren't there to break out up the ice.

Schenn - G - Voracek
Read - Couts - Simmonds
Umberger - Boyle - Raffl
Bellamar - Laughton - ??
- PhillaBully

After the playoffs Boyle had he is going to be looking at 3 mil and the flyers can't d that. I would rather take a look at Leo Komarov who came back from KHL. Finnish player with sandpaper and skill, can skate and would be good third possibly 4ht liner and not make the 4th line a weakness.

What about villie veino

After the playoffs Boyle had he is going to be looking at 3 mil and the flyers can't d that. I would rather take a look at Leo Komarov who came back from KHL. Finnish player with sandpaper and skill, can skate and would be good third possibly 4ht liner and not make the 4th line a weakness.
- J35Bacher

I think you can make it work....3 million isnt too bad for a 3rd line center.

I think it really boils down to what Hextall wants on his team. He obviously values versatility and skating as well as two way play.

Scott Hartnell is a good NHL player. But in Philly he was basically limited to a scoring line role. He wasn't able to slide up and down the line up or work on the PK effectively because he's not a good skater. He lacked discipline in his game, both in playing within a structure and in terms of taking penalties.

Still, he was 20-25 goals in the bank, a good effective pest and had good chemistry with Giroux.

Now, the Flyers do get some cap benefits-especially in term-but this wasn't primarily a salary dump. They identified Umberger as a guy that better fit the style they want to play.

I get the angst. I don't particularly like the trade myself. I don't hate it, though, I see it as a lateral move, more than anything.
- Jsaquella

You basically summed up my thoughts on the deal. I don't love it, but don't hate it either. I'm looking forward to what happens next.

Man, watching Forsberg play was a thing of beauty. I was so happy we got to see him in the orange and black even though it was only for a short period of time. He was something special. As was Lindros, who absolutely deserves to be elected into the HHOF.

Also if our game plan is to not have stupid penalties, I can't see us targeting Ott for real. Boyle would be good fit. But a d man or Vinny for sure will have to go. We still need a back up goalie too

Hextall speaks...

What about villie veino
- arichardson22

off to the SAHL...(South american Hockey League)

I think you can make it work....3 million isnt too bad for a 3rd line center.
- PhillaBully

How do you make 3 million work when you need to get a back up goalie and probably another winger? I think the next move has to be Vinny so you can get your roster in shape before FA starts on July 1.

That was always what baffled me about MacDonald's deal; it's simply not a small deal for a team with as little wiggle room as the Flyers have.

Doesn't mean they can't ice a roster, because they certainly can. But damn, it's snug already now that Brayden Schenn is signed.
- AllInForFlyers

When putting together a team, you spend the assets you have on the biggest position of need. Adding a quality puck moving defenseman with good mobility was a big need. So why look for a small deal to fill that need? If there was one area where the Flyers needed an upgrade, that was it. And it's not really as big of a deal as it's made out to be.

Schenn - G - Voracek
Read - Couts - Simmonds
Umberger - Vinny - Raffl
Bellamar - Laughton - ??
- PhillaBully

ftfy

I'm not sure how much input he had. Holmgren was making the decisions. I just think it's risky giving a guy 5 million for as many years as he did on such a small sample size on the team. I liked what I saw for a 4-5 d-man, but there were some comments (i'd have to find them) that I thought hinted at Hextall not liking the deal.
- funmaster18

All he said was that they would've liked to have paid a little less in the deal, while his agent wanted a little more. But he said nothing about no liking the player.

Schenn - G - Voracek
Read - Couts - Simmonds
Umberger - Boyle - Raffl
Bellamar - Laughton - ??
- PhillaBully

Works for me and the ?? can be a competition between Akeson and Rinaldo

Yeah, such a long term for an OK defenseman. Not sure what Homer was thinking there, expecially with younger guys coming up soon. Unless he was planning to unload someone else this offseason?
- funmaster18

He's thinking was that MacDonald is more then just an OK defenseman.

Vinny for Stalberg.
- Feanor

Vinnie and the 17th pick to Montreal for Moen and the 26th pick

we move down 9 spots but exchange 4 years at 4.5 million for 2 years at 1.85 million

After the playoffs Boyle had he is going to be looking at 3 mil and the flyers can't d that. I would rather take a look at Leo Komarov who came back from KHL. Finnish player with sandpaper and skill, can skate and would be good third possibly 4ht liner and not make the 4th line a weakness.
- J35Bacher

I would take Komarov for the 3rd, if Boyle would cost that much. I would also like to see Pouliot in Hartnell's spot. He is physical, good skater, and could put up better number s with Giroux

After the playoffs Boyle had he is going to be looking at 3 mil and the flyers can't d that. I would rather take a look at Leo Komarov who came back from KHL. Finnish player with sandpaper and skill, can skate and would be good third possibly 4ht liner and not make the 4th line a weakness.
- J35Bacher

Boyle may want 3 million, but I don't think he is getting it.

How do you make 3 million work when you need to get a back up goalie and probably another winger? I think the next move has to be Vinny so you can get your roster in shape before FA starts on July 1.
- J35Bacher

here you go:

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
poulit
FORWARDS
Brayden Schenn ($2.500m) / Claude Giroux ($8.275m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
Matt Read ($3.625m) / Sean Couturier ($1.750m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
R.J. Umberger ($4.600m) / Brian Boyle ($3.000m) / Michael Raffl ($1.100m)
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare ($0.600m) / Scott Laughton ($0.863m) / Benoit Pouliot ($1.500m)
DEFENSEMEN
Mark Streit ($5.250m) / Andrew MacDonald ($5.000m)
Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Braydon Coburn ($4.500m)
Kimmo Timonen ($2.000m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)
Mark Alt ($0.782m) /
GOALTENDERS
Steve Mason ($4.100m)
Devan Dubnyk ($1.000m)
BUYOUTS
Daniel Briere ($0.000m)
Ilya Bryzgalov ($0.000m)
LTIR
Chris Pronger ($4.941m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$345,000
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $66,115,000; BONUSES: $1,830,833
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $4,985,000

Remember, it was only a few months earlier that Holmgren signed Vinnie to his 5 year contract and Hextall is already looking to move LeCavalier ASAP. I wouldn't make to many assumptions at this point.
- Flyers_01

And what happened in between signing Lecavalier and now?