I really don't think cap management is that hard. The Flyers have somehow managed to pay around $20M for next to no production.

Some small market teams pay twice that for playoff rosters.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree, there have been some..."questionable" contracts handed out.

My argument was the league tried hard to sell the "parity by salary cap" issue to the fans at a time when the smaller-market teams were having more success than the big-market teams.

Well, in the short term, you can try to:
a) trade for one
b) see if one of Laughton/Couturier can fill the hole
c) sign a UFA

Or, if you believe that you won't be a contender for 2-3 years, you can try the draft and develop method.
- jmatchett383

But that's my original premise -- trading for one will require giving up assets (probably picks, cause, frankly -- I'm not sure whom a GM would be dying to pluck off the Flyers' roster of gangbusters.) Seeing if Laughton/Couturier can fill the hole will not add any secondary scoring -- it will just lead to the same cyclical debate of -- are either of these guys 2nd line centers? And by signing a UFA, the going price for 50-60 point centers is not as cost-effective as having a 40-50 point guy at 2.5m (Schenn) or 1.75m (Couturier).

I guess - what I'm saying is, there doesn't seem to be any real need to do anything with them except wait it out another year, as they're both RFAs in their next contracts, too.

Patience, Patience, Patience.
- ob18

I agree, there have been some..."questionable" contracts handed out.

My argument was the league tried hard to sell the "parity by salary cap" issue to the fans at a time when the smaller-market teams were having more success than the big-market teams.
- jmatchett383

And the players were driving up ticket prices the bastards

- phi1671

I agree, there have been some..."questionable" contracts handed out.

My argument was the league tried hard to sell the "parity by salary cap" issue to the fans at a time when the smaller-market teams were having more success than the big-market teams.
- jmatchett383

I think its more about giving small market teams more of a chance to keep players around. Without a cap, the Flyers would have offered Weber $15M per year for 15 years. Can you imagine how much of a joke Nashville would have been had they lost Suter and Weber in the same offseason?

Would people be pissed if Tampa's pick is in the 28-30 range and Hextall takes a goalie?

I think its more about giving small market teams more of a chance to keep players around. Without a cap, the Flyers would have offered Weber $15M per year for 15 years. Can you imagine how much of a joke Nashville would have been had they lost Suter and Weber in the same offseason?
- PhillySportsGuy

Who cares about Nashville. They should make more money so they could sign Weber then they can stop crying about it.

I think Couturier is a poor man's Jordan Staal. I see him maxing out along the lines of 20-25 goals, 50-60 points in his prime years which ultimately could only be a couple of seasons.

That being said - I try and hang onto him but maybe not play him as much as he currently plays now. He gets an awful lot of ice time.

Would people be pissed if Tampa's pick is in the 28-30 range and Hextall takes a goalie?
- hereticpride

Not especially, but there's not really any goalies that stick out that they have to go that bold and take one in round one.

Would people be pissed if Tampa's pick is in the 28-30 range and Hextall takes a goalie?
- hereticpride

Yes.

But that's my original premise -- trading for one will require giving up assets (probably picks, cause, frankly -- I'm not sure whom a GM would be dying to pluck off the Flyers' roster of gangbusters.) Seeing if Laughton/Couturier can fill the hole will not add any secondary scoring -- it will just lead to the same cyclical debate of -- are either of these guys 2nd line centers? And by signing a UFA, the going price for 50-60 point centers is not as cost-effective as having a 40-50 point guy at 2.5m (Schenn) or 1.75m (Couturier).

I guess - what I'm saying is, there doesn't seem to be any real need to do anything with them except wait it out another year, as they're both RFAs in their next contracts, too.
- Moose_15

That's exactly right. Keep influxing the team with young and capable nhl players. Pay them accordingly and make hockey trades with them if need be. Maybe in the case of B Schenn if there's a team out there that has an inflated view of him then trade him. The problems lie in the contracts of the Vinnys, the AMac's the Luke Schenn's, the Umberger's. Guys that are way overpaid and preventing the team from making a serious run at a top tier free agent to expedite the process.

Would people be pissed if Tampa's pick is in the 28-30 range and Hextall takes a goalie?
- hereticpride

Yes. (But there's nothing any of us can really do about that.) And meh, depends on the goalie -- but the trend has been goalies going in later rounds -- so I'd be marginally disappointed if the pick is considered a reach. But the cupboard of goalies in the Flyers' system is somewhat bare. It's Stolarz and...eh...um...hmm...Boucher?

Would people be pissed if Tampa's pick is in the 28-30 range and Hextall takes a goalie?
- hereticpride

I would. Goalies are really the one position that guys tend to grow more and end up being better picks later on...

Few quick examples:
Quick- 72nd pick
Lundqvist-205th
Rinne-258th

I think Couturier is a poor man's Jordan Staal. I see him maxing out along the lines of 20-25 goals, 50-60 points in his prime years which ultimately could only be a couple of seasons.

That being said - I try and hang onto him but maybe not play him as much as he currently plays now. He gets an awful lot of ice time.
- Pixote Andolini

Since the 2006-07 season Patrice Bergeron's highest point total is 64. Since that season he's had more non-20 goal full seasons than 30 goal seasons(2-1)

Yes. (But there's nothing any of us can really do about that.) And meh, depends on the goalie -- but the trend has been goalies going in later rounds -- so I'd be marginally disappointed if the pick is considered a reach. But the cupboard of goalies in the Flyers' system is somewhat bare. It's Stolarz and...eh...um...hmm...Boucher?
- Moose_15

A couple Months ago we could have traded Alt for that Hammond guy.

I think Couturier is a poor man's Jordan Staal. I see him maxing out along the lines of 20-25 goals, 50-60 points in his prime years which ultimately could only be a couple of seasons.

That being said - I try and hang onto him but maybe not play him as much as he currently plays now. He gets an awful lot of ice time.
- Pixote Andolini

If Couturier could put up 25 goals and 60 points, along with his defensive game, that would make him one of the top 2 way centers in the league.

Who cares about Nashville. They should make more money so they could sign Weber then they can stop crying about it.
- mayorofangrytown

You're never this harsh

You're never this harsh
- PhillySportsGuy

It's Monday and I hate the cap almost as much as I hate the trapezoid.

A couple Months ago we could have traded Alt for that Hammond guy.
- mayorofangrytown

I don't know if the Hamburgler and the Umbergeler could co-exist on an NHL roster.

But that's my original premise -- trading for one will require giving up assets (probably picks, cause, frankly -- I'm not sure whom a GM would be dying to pluck off the Flyers' roster of gangbusters.) Seeing if Laughton/Couturier can fill the hole will not add any secondary scoring -- it will just lead to the same cyclical debate of -- are either of these guys 2nd line centers? And by signing a UFA, the going price for 50-60 point centers is not as cost-effective as having a 40-50 point guy at 2.5m (Schenn) or 1.75m (Couturier).

I guess - what I'm saying is, there doesn't seem to be any real need to do anything with them except wait it out another year, as they're both RFAs in their next contracts, too.
- Moose_15

But if B. Schenn isn't the answer, then why keep trying to make him the answer?

No one is (I hope) saying dump B. Schenn and have no plan in place. But if you don't think he has a place on the team, and I don't think he's a 2C or a top-6 winger, then why not try to get some value for him and either sign a UFA who will fill that hole better and/or try to develop one? It all comes down to, is is low cap hit a good enough reason to keep hoping he's your 2C of the future? I don't think he is.

If Couturier could put up 25 goals and 60 points, along with his defensive game, that would make him one of the top 2 way centers in the league.
- MJL

Knowing coots' defensive skillset, I'd take him as a 20g 20a guy, 20g 30a would be ideal, but take whatcha can get right?

couturier is only +1 not the greatest thing from a defensive forward

couturier is only +1 not the greatest thing from a defensive forward
- 2Real

On this team, and considering his only consistent linemate is a -7, it's actually pretty damn impressive.

Since the 2006-07 season Patrice Bergeron's highest point total is 64. Since that season he's had more non-20 goal full seasons than 30 goal seasons(2-1)
- Jsaquella

Ok how bout we get 15 goals out of coots for one year before we get to that name?