It was wishful thinking to assume Vinny would terminate his deal. He'll be on the Flyers next season.
- PhillySportsGuy

We can always hope that Morin annihilates him in a scrimmage and he spends the season on LTIR

Stolarz is gonna be learning the game in the AHL for awhile. I think pairing him with somebody with so much AHL success can benefit him. And it’s only a 1 year deal, so if Stolarz develops well this year and deserves a lot of starts next year Labarbera can move on.

It's not a stretch that both Provorov and Morin make the team this year. That would necessitate shipping out more dmen but that wouldn't happen until training camp.

If H&H think they are ready i would like to see Provorov replace AMac and Morin replace Luke Schenn and you live with the growing pains this year.

That would also be 2 steps closer to cleaning up the cap.
- Flyers_01

It's a pretty big stretch, if they don't move at least one more D contract.

I can't see many teams willing to take MacDonald's contract and he's not going to be the 8th Dman with that much cash and time tied up in him.

That's not exactly true, he's going to his reserved seat in the press box.
- BiggE

Yes, completely understandable from our Cap position that he was unable to bid for any UFA's, especially with the fiscal plan he has in place.
Just a bit of a shame he wasn't able to resolve the VL situation earlier, (to have the extra $ cushion available).
I'm sure he'll be able to deal another defenseman down the line, especially if/when, other teams start getting injuries to their D units.
I like Raffl, but just not sure if he can give us the production we need on that side.
Who knows, maybe they try Gagne on the left side, and takes off, the wat Schenn did on the right side?
- puckhead17

It's a bit of a risk. There's a long term plan in place, though. As much as Hextall wants to win now, he's not likely to trash his long term plan to get scoring now, unless of course he can move an unwieldy contract in the deal.

It was wishful thinking to assume Vinny would terminate his deal. He'll be on the Flyers next season.
- PhillySportsGuy

Ridiculous, I know he has a ton of pride, but come on.
He has all that $ from Tampa, and faces the probability of being scratched every night, completely knowing he does not have fit on this team.
I understand he didn't have a gun to Homer's head when he signed it, but does he really see this situation getting any better?
Not just for a year, but 3 more no less.

Most likely, though if they clearly outplay veterans in camp, I think Hextall finds a way to keep them on the roster. If not, it really sends a bad message to your younger players.
- BiggE

It's not really a bad message, it's the realities of a cap world. Hextall has a mess to fix and it won't be easy. He's in this for the long term, he's well aware that part of the reason they have limited cap room is that in the past they tried to wring every ounce they could out of the cap.

Status quo
- bmeltzer

I guess he's made his choice then. And actually I'm okay with that. No need to do something drastic just to "get rid" of him. Besides, with all the ups and downs and injuries in a season I have a feeling he'll get more playing time than some folks here are predicting.

It's not really a bad message, it's the realities of a cap world. Hextall has a mess to fix and it won't be easy. He's in this for the long term, he's well aware that part of the reason they have limited cap room is that in the past they tried to wring every ounce they could out of the cap.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I guess and I don't disagree with the plan. But, if a guy like Laughton or Cousins plays well enough to be in their top 9, you find a way to get them in.

Yeah, I guess and I don't disagree with the plan. But, if a guy like Laughton or Cousins plays well enough to be in their top 9, you find a way to get them in.
- BiggE

They will, eventually, find a way to make it work. But it might not be right out of the gate

It's a bit of a risk. There's a long term plan in place, though. As much as Hextall wants to win now, he's not likely to trash his long term plan to get scoring now, unless of course he can move an unwieldy contract in the deal.
- Jsaquella

I can see where a $6m, 33 year old Sharp could throw a wrench into his plans.
It's a shame. Someone like Sharp, for a few years production, would help us so much more than the dead space we have to carry, (VL, RJU).
Even though AMac is overplayed, I don't see him completely in the same category, as he is a serviceable player.

It's a pretty big stretch, if they don't move at least one more D contract.

I can't see many teams willing to take MacDonald's contract and he's not going to be the 8th Dman with that much cash and time tied up in him.
- Jsaquella

It only takes one desperate GM and I agree that if Hextall can't move contracts it really doesn't matter what the kids do.

I guess he's made his choice then. And actually I'm okay with that. No need to do something drastic just to "get rid" of him. Besides, with all the ups and downs and injuries in a season I have a feeling he'll get more playing time than some folks here are predicting.
- Scoob

Maybe, though at this point, I think he's pretty far down the depth chart at center.
1. Giroux
2. Couturier
3. Schenn or Gagner
4. Bellemare
5. Laughton
6. Cousins
7. Vinny or Tim Brent

I think it is a pretty safe bet that Couturier will be, when it comes to ice time, the #2 center.
- BiggE

You're right. Forgot about that. I guess I'd throw Read up there as the other winger. Yeesh, that 3rd might be pretty brutal.

They will, eventually, find a way to make it work. But it might not be right out of the gate
- Jsaquella

Probably. But then again, they can always waive a guy like Umberger. At least what you'll save on the cap by doing that will cover one of the kid's salaries.

It's a pretty big stretch, if they don't move at least one more D contract.

I can't see many teams willing to take MacDonald's contract and he's not going to be the 8th Dman with that much cash and time tied up in him.
- Jsaquella

Agreed, if a dman is still to be moved, it's likely going to be Luke Schenn.

I guess he's made his choice then. And actually I'm okay with that. No need to do something drastic just to "get rid" of him. Besides, with all the ups and downs and injuries in a season I have a feeling he'll get more playing time than some folks here are predicting.
- Scoob

If he finds his legs again, which isn't bound to happen.
He's like NHL 94, a nice "one timer", but that's pretty much it.

I guess he's made his choice then. And actually I'm okay with that. No need to do something drastic just to "get rid" of him. Besides, with all the ups and downs and injuries in a season I have a feeling he'll get more playing time than some folks here are predicting.
- Scoob

What about MacDonald and VLC becoming actors? I got the perfect title for a pilot show.

Holmgren's Zeros

I can see where a $6m, 33 year old Sharp could throw a wrench into his plans.
It's a shame. Someone like Sharp, for a few years production, would help us so much more than the dead space we have to carry, (VL, RJU).
Even though AMac is overplayed, I don't see him completely in the same category, as he is a serviceable player.
- puckhead17

Agreed. AMac is not in the same category as Umberger and Vinny. Amac is just overpaid. Vinny and Umberger are black holes

Maybe, though at this point, I think he's pretty far down the depth chart at center.
1. Giroux
2. Couturier
3. Schenn or Gagner
4. Bellemare
5. Laughton
6. Cousins
7. Vinny or Tim Brent
- BiggE

Pretty bad when you have $100m of Tampa's money in the bank, & your lined up equal on a depth chart with Tim Brent.

Pretty bad when you have $100m of Tampa's money in the bank, & your lined up equal on a depth chart with Tim Brent.
- puckhead17

Yeah it is. Wish he'd take MSL's lead and just retire.

Yeah it is. Wish he'd take MSL's lead and just retire.
- BiggE

14+ million tied up on VLC, Umberger, and MacDonald. Not even getting replacement level production from these players. They are consuming about 20% of the cap. Makes it really hard to compete with sunk costs like these guys.

Agreed, if a dman is still to be moved, it's likely going to be Luke Schenn.
- BiggE

There is definitely a market for Luke. Hextall has been very good at keeping things within. I wouldn't be suprised to hear a trade come out of the blue which includes big BAD Luke

14+ million tied up on VLC, Umberger, and MacDonald. Not even getting replacement level production from these players. They are consuming about 20% of the cap. Makes it really hard to compete with sunk costs like these guys.
- PLindbergh31

This is vey true

14+ million tied up on VLC, Umberger, and MacDonald. Not even getting replacement level production from these players. They are consuming about 20% of the cap. Makes it really hard to compete with sunk costs like these guys.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah, Holmgren's parting gifts.