So, who likes ketchup on their fries?
- jmatchett383

mayo

We'll start with this statement, which points out how much of a moron the author is.

"The Flyers could easily have replaced those contracts with Jason Akeson or Taylor Leier, and I almost guarantee it would make a noticeable difference, for the better, while only using about $2 million in cap space."
- MJL

Maybe not Taylor Leier, (he needs time), but some combo of Akeson, waiver pickup, and/or a player acquired in a minor trade could conceivably be matching 40 + 18's production at a fraction of the cost.

mayo
- Scoob

Ranch but mostly ketchup

Maybe not Taylor Leier, (he needs time), but some combo of Akeson, waiver pickup, and/or a player acquired in a minor trade could conceivably be matching 40 + 18's production at a fraction of the cost.
- Tomahawk

Akeson played 12 games this year as a Flyer, much of the time with the same players that Lecavalier has been playing with and producing with. Akeson did not register a single point in those 12 games. Akeson may never be a regular NHL player. For the author to guarantee that Leier, who he has no idea if he is ready or not, and Akeson, would be more productive, just show what an idiot he is.
That's just one factor, not to mention that his article was simply incomplete, and failed to look at the entire cap picture of the Flyers. Another author with an agenda, and a compartmentalized view.

I don't like this Ray Ferrone character.

A healthy Desjardins and/or Johnsson and they win the Cup.
- jmatchett383

Or Ragnarsson (who had a broken hand and was out, too).

I don't like this Ray Ferrone character.
- flyer_nutter

He's not as funny as Ray Barone

Akeson played 12 games this year as a Flyer, much of the time with the same players that Lecavalier has been playing with and producing with. Akeson did not register a single point in those 12 games. Akeson may never be a regular NHL player. For the author to guarantee that Leier, who he has no idea if he is ready or not, and Akeson, would be more productive, just show what an idiot he is.
That's just one factor, not to mention that his article was simply incomplete, and failed to look at the entire cap picture of the Flyers. Another author with an agenda, and a compartmentalized view.
- MJL

But do you agree that they could get the same 12G, 21P, -14 in 66GP for far less than the $9M that's being spent?

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/3/15 vs. WSH
- bmeltzer

The Washington Capitals looks like a solid team from top to bottom. I don't expect a victory tonight. In fact the think we're way past due any changed that could make us better, trade or the firing of our Coach. Speaking for myself, I'm willing to accept this team for what it is, allow Berube to continue to sink this ship, start over next season. This isn't a matter of giving up, it's just realizing that the teams ahead of us are really good teams.

Go Flyers!

But do you agree that they could get the same 12G, 21P, -14 in 66GP for far less than the $9M that's being spent?
- Tomahawk

Certainly. Nobody myself included disagrees that the Flyers aren't getting their money's worth out of Umberger and Lecavalier. They can deal with those issues, I'm not worried about either player or their contract for the future. There are other much bigger issues for why the Flyers are struggling this season.

Those who expect to see improvement next year may be in for a surprise.

I see this rolling on next season. The year after, start looking at positive change.

Certainly. Nobody myself included disagrees that the Flyers aren't getting their money's worth out of Umberger and Lecavalier. They can deal with those issues, I'm not worried about either player or their contract for the future. There are other much bigger issues for why the Flyers are struggling this season.
- MJL

youre not?

i thought you were more along my train of thought where the flyers actually werent that far off. if thats the case, how arent you worried about them? youll be stuck with them again for the next two years at the same hit if they arent moved.

Those who expect to see improvement next year may be in for a surprise.

I see this rolling on next season. The year after, start looking at positive change.
- flyer_nutter

It's going to be a few seasons, it's going to be tough be a necessary path I feel they need to go down.

youre not?

i thought you were more along my train of thought where the flyers actually werent that far off. if thats the case, how arent you worried about them? youll be stuck with them again for the next two years at the same hit if they arent moved.
- stayinthefnnet

I'd buy them out both. Their ice time should go to someone else. Whether that be kids or cheap FA pick ups.

Those two are absolutely useless. Warm bodies on a good night. I think it will make the organization look idiotic to do so, but bite the bullet and get those guys out.

youre not?

i thought you were more along my train of thought where the flyers actually werent that far off. if thats the case, how arent you worried about them? youll be stuck with them again for the next two years at the same hit if they arent moved.
- stayinthefnnet

Absolutely not. Always ways to deal with players like that. The biggest single issue facing this team moving forward, is how they get the defense in sync with the forwards. Waiting on the young defenseman is going to take about 3 seasons to the point where they can be the anchor's of the D core. It could take longer then that.
I do agree with you that the Flyers aren't that far off. It's just that the next moves that need to be made are the most difficult to pull off.

I'd buy them out both. Their ice time should go to someone else. Whether that be kids or cheap FA pick ups.

Those two are absolutely useless. Warm bodies on a good night. I think it will make the organization look idiotic to do so, but bite the bullet and get those guys out.
- flyer_nutter

what kind of dead space would you be looking at for a good chunk of years?

Adam Kimelman ‏@NHLAdamK 16m16 minutes ago

Scouts in Philly tonight: Chicago, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Montreal, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit

i expect you'd hear a lot of laughter coming from scouts of those teams

It's going to be a few seasons, it's going to be tough be a necessary path I feel they need to go down.
- ob18

Needs to happen. The only hope is G and V are still good for a few years by the time things come together.

I think the rest on this current team, outside of Simmonds, and one of b Shenn/Couturier are irrelevant when looking at future success. Keep Raffl around, and Bellemare should have had an increased role this year.

Maybe not Taylor Leier, (he needs time), but some combo of Akeson, waiver pickup, and/or a player acquired in a minor trade could conceivably be matching 40 + 18's production at a fraction of the cost.
- Tomahawk

Avoiding those kind of bad deals could have also freed up space to add other or better players.

Regardless of anything else, the Flyers are paying around $75mm in salary for the 5th worst team in the NHL. Whether a writer has an agenda or not, the Flyers are icing a bad team for the league's highest payroll.

That's pretty poor management.

what kind of dead space would you be looking at for a good chunk of years?
- stayinthefnnet

I have no idea. Don't give a (frank).

Those minutes should not go to players who have a rats ass chance in hell at being here to contribute to the team's success in a few years.

Absolutely not. Always ways to deal with players like that. The biggest single issue facing this team moving forward, is how they get the defense in sync with the forwards. Waiting on the young defenseman is going to take about 3 seasons to the point where they can be the anchor's of the D core. It could take longer then that.
I do agree with you that the Flyers aren't that far off. It's just that the next moves that need to be made are the most difficult to pull off.
- MJL

its just hard for me to look at things in a vacuum. i do agree.

if you magically put doughty on this team, they would be a playoff team, despite of, with, or without, anything to do with vinny or umby.

but in a cap league, having that much money tied up makes it harder to do other things. i do agree with your diagnosis of the main issue, although i just think its a little harder to completely isolate the influence that vinny and umby on the roster has.

Needs to happen. The only hope is G and V are still good for a few years by the time things come together.

I think the rest on this current team, outside of Simmonds, and one of b Shenn/Couturier are irrelevant when looking at future success. Keep Raffl around, and Bellemare should have had an increased role this year.
- flyer_nutter

It is not good it will come at the expense of their prime but the team is paying the price for years of not drafting or developing well. Now it's started but those take time before we see the rewards.

what kind of dead space would you be looking at for a good chunk of years?
- stayinthefnnet

Umberger's buyout is around $1.6mm for two years and then $1.5mm for two more.

Vinny's is significant. His buyout, if memory serves, is $2.33mm for two years, then $2mm in year three, with three final years at $833K or so. It's not exact, but without capgeek there's not another resource that spells it out exactly-that I'm aware of.

Certainly. Nobody myself included disagrees that the Flyers aren't getting their money's worth out of Umberger and Lecavalier. They can deal with those issues, I'm not worried about either player or their contract for the future. There are other much bigger issues for why the Flyers are struggling this season.
- MJL

Apparently they also think Amac isn't giving them their monies worth either?? What contract are you worried about ? There's a laundry list of reasons why the Flyers suck....these contracts aren't done anytime soon...theirs a reason why alarm bells are going off.....these BAD contracts aren't going anywhere soon.

Avoiding those kind of bad deals could have also freed up space to add other or better players.

Regardless of anything else, the Flyers are paying around $75mm in salary for the 5th worst team in the NHL. Whether a writer has an agenda or not, the Flyers are icing a bad team for the league's highest payroll.

That's pretty poor management.
- Jsaquella

It's not poor management that Kimmo Timonen suffered blood clots, or that a player that has been so important to the Flyers in the past, Matt Read, is having an abysmal season. The Couturier is getting killed out there, not producing much offense, and giving up a lot of possession time. Also not poor management with how inconsistent a number of players have played, not to mention the team wide issues with intensity.
Not saying there haven't been mistakes, but I know that this team should be better then it is.