Yeah, dumping Vinny for Setoguchi or even MDZ is not going to put this team in league with the best teams out there. They're several significant pieces away, and they don't have the present flexibility to go after them.

They really don't have any choice but to wait for some of Homer's past extravagances to wash out of the roster, and "waste" some of our young core's peak production years in the meantime. Sanity has to return to the budget or we'll be caught in this cycle of sign/dump/sign forever.
- Tomahawk

So than shouldn't be doing our damnedest to be a contender? This middle ground of not being a contender and not being a "rebuilding" team really sucks. First round exits and near playoff misses really annoy me.

Yeah, dumping Vinny for Setoguchi or even MDZ is not going to put this team in league with the best teams out there. They're several significant pieces away, and they don't have the present flexibility to go after them.

They really don't have any choice but to wait for some of Homer's past extravagances to wash out of the roster, and "waste" some of our young core's peak production years in the meantime. Sanity has to return to the budget or we'll be caught in this cycle of sign/dump/sign forever.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. Just think of the flexibility without VL, and MacDonald. Hextall would have had some cap space to improve the team.

After signing a backup goalie, 7th dman, and some minor league drek how much cap space is currently available?

(which ended up being much more eventful for the Dallas Stars than for the Flyers)

That's your fault, Bill, you two-timer.

Trade Lecavalier, eat half his salary, and throw in another asset or take back a bad contract? Wtf? Maybe the other GMs are confused about what the Flyers are trying to do.

Vinny did not fit anywhere in the plans of the team last year. The team's lines will need to be completely reworked to fit Vinny in. Not that he couldn't fit in, but a team shouldn't have to be completely reworked in order to fit one guy in. That's what is meant by "he doesn't fit on this team".
- FlyersSteve118

Exactly, some continue to bring up the 20 goals he scored, forgetting how slow he was on the back check.

Many also bring up how the opposing teams forwards used to hit our blue line at top speed, (blaming the D men completely), but a better 2 way commitment by the forwards will help this problem.
VL's game does not support this, hence, another year on the 4th line.

It's not even the dollars on these deals that are killing them, even Being over the cap. It's the term.
- Just5

Most definitely... and they had to give out that term to get lower cap numbers, because they were always up against it to begin with. Terrible downward spiraling, only stemmed by the CBO's/Richie/Carter trades/having G locked in for super-cheap.

Good news is, I think they can get some relief next summer when Vinny and Pronger's hits become much more tradable. L Schenn and Grossmann will be on the final year of their deals, and we'll be able to realistically expect that one (if not more) of the d-kids might be ready to jump into the shallow end.

Exactly, some continue to bring up the 20 goals he scored, forgetting how slow he was on the back check.

Many also bring up how the opposing teams forwards used to hit our blue line at top speed, (blaming the D men completely), but a better 2 way commitment by the forwards will help this problem.
VL's game does not support this, hence, another year on the 4th line.
- puckhead17

Although I do think that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have Vinny on our team, I do believe that we are a better team without him. We could minimize the lack of two way play by putting him on a line with umby and read.

Schenn G Jake
Umby Vinny Read
Raffl Couts Simmonds
Bellemare Laughton Akeson

Like I said, completely redone to fit in Vinny.

So than shouldn't be doing our damnedest to be a contender? This middle ground of not being a contender and not being a "rebuilding" team really sucks. First round exits and near playoff misses really annoy me.
- FlyersSteve118

It's a tightrope rope walk for Hexy at this point... can't dig any deeper while trying to improve as much as possible. I really wouldn't expect any earth-shattering moves between now and the beginning of the season... people need to wean themselves off of the Homer show.

It's a tightrope rope for Hexy at this point... can't dig any deeper while trying to improve as much as possible. I really wouldn't expect any earth-shattering moves between now and the beginning of the season... people need to wean themselves off of the Homer show.
- Tomahawk

I just would like to see the flyers spend til they are at the upper point of Pronger's LTIR (preferably on a smaller term deal) and than waive Rinaldo or Rosehill (permanently imo) to have some cap flexibility during the season. Giving us maximum allowance of Pronger's LTIR and 1.35mil in cap space for emergencies.

Although I do think that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have Vinny on our team, I do believe that we are a better team without him. We could minimize the lack of two way play by putting him on a line with umby and read.

Schenn G Jake
Umby Vinny Read
Raffl Couts Simmonds
Bellemare Laughton Akeson

Like I said, completely redone to fit in Vinny.
- FlyersSteve118

It was tough for Berube to do last year, it can't be easier this year to accommodate him.
Having him on the 2nd line would still bump up his minutes, last year there were times when he was barely used.
If it comes down to paying 1/2 his salary on a trade, while giving up a pick, or young player, I'd rather see him sent home with a thank you check.
Should be the last of the "sexy Homer signings", that didn't pan out.

Most definitely... and they had to give out that term to get lower cap numbers, because they were always up against it to begin with. Terrible downward spiraling, only stemmed by the CBO's/Richie/Carter trades/having G locked in for super-cheap.

Good news is, I think they can get some relief next summer when Vinny and Pronger's hits become much more tradable. L Schenn and Grossmann will be on the final year of their deals, and we'll be able to realistically expect that one (if not more) of the d-kids might be ready to jump into the shallow end.
- Tomahawk

You think they could trade Pronger and not get in trouble for circumventing?

Most definitely... and they had to give out that term to get lower cap numbers, because they were always up against it to begin with. Terrible downward spiraling, only stemmed by the CBO's/Richie/Carter trades/having G locked in for super-cheap.

Good news is, I think they can get some relief next summer when Vinny and Pronger's hits become much more tradable. L Schenn and Grossmann will be on the final year of their deals, and we'll be able to realistically expect that one (if not more) of the d-kids might be ready to jump into the shallow end.
- Tomahawk

Could be another long season

Could be another long season
- PhillySportsGuy

That's ok if we are gonna sux this is the year to do it lol

Could be another long season
- PhillySportsGuy

Well let's be honest. It really should be if we trust Hexy to do the right things going forward. People will have to deal with girouxs best years being burned in this transition phase.

Agreed. I think Hextall is looking long haul anyhow. Keeping or trading Vinny this summer isn't going to be the difference between a Stanley Cup in 2015 or not. Ditto for Grossmann. The key has to be to do the least amount of long term damage
- Jsaquella

+1

You think they could trade Pronger and not get in trouble for circumventing?
- Just5

They would have to contact the league before even attempting to try something like that. You know if they traded him to some team like Florida, the league would take Flyer picks and do nothing to Florida.

That's ok if we are gonna sux this is the year to do it lol
- griouxmvp2012

They won't suck. They'll probably be a fringe playoff team. They certainly won't be a Cup contender.

You think they could trade Pronger and not get in trouble for circumventing?
- Just5

Like PSG said above, gotta check w/ the league first. I'm not convinced that there's a strong case against in terms of circumvention... as long as somebody else is willing to accept his hit, not sure why the league would care who's saddled w/ it.

Although I do think that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have Vinny on our team, I do believe that we are a better team without him. We could minimize the lack of two way play by putting him on a line with umby and read.

Schenn G Jake
Umby Vinny Read
Raffl Couts Simmonds
Bellemare Laughton Akeson

Like I said, completely redone to fit in Vinny.
- FlyersSteve118

Every one of those lines has major questions.
Schenn isn't a first line player, at least no yet. Umberger and VL are coming off injury plagued seasons. They may have nothing left.
Raffl has shown promise, but his ability to finish is a concern.
That 4th line has literally zero NHL experience.

I just would like to see the flyers spend til they are at the upper point of Pronger's LTIR (preferably on a smaller term deal) and than waive Rinaldo or Rosehill (permanently imo) to have some cap flexibility during the season. Giving us maximum allowance of Pronger's LTIR and 1.35mil in cap space for emergencies.
- FlyersSteve118

Yeah, BSH put out a nice piece on that yesterday:
http://www.broadstreethoc...s-salary-cap-pronger-ltir

Ideally they'd want to enter the season under option 1... I think option 2 could get them in more trouble down the road.

The only way to fit Vinny is to play him as second center... Schenn better learn to play left wing.

Well let's be honest. It really should be if we trust Hexy to do the right things going forward. People will have to deal with girouxs best years being burned in this transition phase.
- Just5

This would be easier to take if I thought next years cap situation was going to be a lot better. All of their players are signed for multiple years and Hexy hasn't moved any of them except Hartnell. He saved 2 years on that deal.

If Hexy just decided to use this season as a way to clear salary and accrue assets, I would have been fine. He's accrued some assets, but our salary cap situation isn't going to look much different next year. We just need to hope these immoveable guys are more moveable next offseason

The only way to fit Vinny is to play him as second center... Schenn better learn to play left wing.
- PhillaBully

By moving Hartnell, we gave him a nice juicy left wing spot to play.

By moving Hartnell, we gave him a nice juicy left wing spot to play.
- aflyerpower8

Every one of those lines has major questions.
Schenn isn't a first line player, at least no yet. Umberger and VL are coming off injury plagued seasons. They may have nothing left.
Raffl has shown promise, but his ability to finish is a concern.
That 4th line has literally zero NHL experience.
- PLindbergh31

Poop + your cornflakes= mood

nothing to worry about