How did I miss this?

Also, is it too late to get this guy?
- jmatchett383

He's working his magic up in Toronto.

I'll admit I'm biased towards WHL players, especially Kelowna (fav. WHL team due to Shea Weber). It seems like it's the most NHL-ready league as those Westerners seem to be a little more physically mature than their OHL and QMJHL brethren. It's another reason I'm so high on Fazleev and Leier as well.
- jmatchett383

No problem, I think you're right on that. Seems like a lot of blue chip defense prospects come from the WHL due to the reasons you mentioned. And Kelowna seems to always ice a good squad. Our own Luke Schenn even dominated for them.

Fazleev and Leier look to be great value picks so far in their careers. The Hitmen have been having trouble scoring so they've been looking at Fazleev to fill that role and he has done well. I've always heard about Leier's defensive ability, but he seems to be putting it together offensively this year for the Phantoms. These are the type of homegrown guys that I've been jealous of teams like the Lightning for hitting on. Hopefully they keep it up.

Do you know for sure, that:
A. The above is 100% true and
B. He still feels the same way today

And, even if true, the club doesn't need the headache of carrying him around for another season. It's a bad situation all around, buy him out.

All this being said, let's just hope he comes to his senses and retires this spring, but I'm not holding my breath.
- BiggE

No I don't know it for a fact, but I trust Bill Meltzer and his sources, and he wouldn't have posted that if he didn't feel it was reliable. That's good enough for me. Carrying the cap penalties for 4 seasons is worse than any headaches that carrying Lecavalier for another season would cause. It's a no brainer in my opinion.

That $2.5M is probably the last time he'll have a chance to make a large chunk of money in his life. If I were him, I'd take it.

Regardless of the money you have, if you have the option of getting paid millions of dollars or not getting paid millions of dollars, getting paid always wins.
- jmatchett383

It's a tricky sport. He might want to stick it to the flyers and just sit on the cap if he feels they didn't give him a fair chance. And collect his money. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. For the rest of this year I think you just scratch him and then when you can send him to ahl on conditioning assignments. Make it know it's done. If it doesn't work then you do it again next year. But I don't think they buyout is way to go unless your a contender next year or year after. Which I don't think they are.

That $2.5M is probably the last time he'll have a chance to make a large chunk of money in his life. If I were him, I'd take it.

Regardless of the money you have, if you have the option of getting paid millions of dollars or not getting paid millions of dollars, getting paid always wins.
- jmatchett383

I don't know. I just don't see it.

Fan since '73 here. Sometimes you have to mix in a little reality into your support. That doesn't mean the support wavers, just that you have to understand where the team is.
- Scoob

Yup, sometimes a step back is needed to take a leap forward. Here are a couple of examples:

In 1971, coming off a 4 game 1st round sweep by Chicago, the Flyers brought in Fred Shero as coach and made a commitment to getting bigger,stronger and more focused. Shero radically changed the team's style of play that season, however, it took time to catch on and they still lacked depth. They would end up missing the playoffs after being eliminated on the final day of the season. However in 72-73, they would win their first playoff series in club history and followed that with back to back cups and another trip to the finals.

The Flyers were just starting to show some signs of improvement during the 91-92 season, which was their third straight in which they missed the playoffs. However, they decided to set themselves back a year or 2 by blowing things up to acquire Lindros. However, after missing the playoffs for 2 more seasons, they went to the 3rd round in 95 and to the finals in 97.

It's no fun now, but be patient, good times are coming.

No problem, I think you're right on that. Seems like a lot of blue chip defense prospects come from the WHL due to the reasons you mentioned. And Kelowna seems to always ice a good squad. Our own Luke Schenn even dominated for them.

Fazleev and Leier look to be great value picks so far in their careers. The Hitmen have been having trouble scoring so they've been looking at Fazleev to fill that role and he has done well. I've always heard about Leier's defensive ability, but he seems to be putting it together offensively this year for the Phantoms. These are the type of homegrown guys that I've been jealous of teams like the Lightning for hitting on. Hopefully they keep it up.
- TobyFlenderson

My hope is leirer take a over reads roll. Move read at TDL.

I don't know. I just don't see it.
- PhillySportsGuy

If you were Vinny, which would you rather do:

A) Continue being part of an NHL team, skating every day and being part of a professional hockey team for 1 more year while making $2.5 million

B) Sitting on a couch and making $0

My hope is leirer take a over reads roll. Move read at TDL.
- J35Bacher

I don't know if Leier will ever crack 20 goals, but it's not impossible. From what I've read, NAK could be that guy.

Yup, sometimes a step back is needed to take a leap forward. Here are a couple of examples:

In 1971, coming off a 4 game 1st round sweep by Chicago, the Flyers brought in Fred Shero as coach and made a commitment to getting bigger,stronger and more focused. Shero radically changed the team's style of play that season, however, it took time to catch on and they still lacked depth. They would end up missing the playoffs after being eliminated on the final day of the season. However in 72-73, they would win their first playoff series in club history and followed that with back to back cups and another trip to the finals.

The Flyers were just starting to show some signs of improvement during the 91-92 season, which was their third straight in which they missed the playoffs. However, they decided to set themselves back a year or 2 by blowing things up to acquire Lindros. However, after missing the playoffs for 2 more seasons, they went to the 3rd round in 95 and to the finals in 97.

It's no fun now, but be patient, good times are coming.
- BiggE

Keeping Lecavalier and not buying him out, and riding it out, versus carrying cap penalties for 4 seasons, is a perfect example of taking a step back to take a leap forward.

Yes, it is a real thing, If you buy him out, it definitely makes the last year of the deal a real thing, as the buyout would be over 4 seasons.
Bill Meltzer has posted multiple times, that Lecavalier did not want to play the final year, and that year was only added at the request of the Flyers, to better manage the cap hit. He fully expected next year to be his final season. I trust Bill and his sources. Do you think the current situation is making Lecavalier change that mindset?
- MJL

I would not take a guy at his word when deciding on the cap situation for an NHL hockey team. I know what report you are referring to and I interpreted his statement as saying he planned on not playing that last season, but he also planned on playing up until then. Things have clearly changed and I think he would be one of the dumbest people in the world to walk away from a guaranteed contract. Just a question...do you know of any other player who has retired in the middle of a contract for anything other than health/personal reasons? I haven't really thought about it, but I don't know anyone off the top of my head.

The Flyers are not as cap strapped as people make them seem. They have options. 1 is trading contracts like you said, but it requires trading players who help make the team more competitive (at least they're supposed to haha). Whether or not it's the right decision, this team will not go into a full tank mode. Hextall has said all along that he wants them to be competitive, while keeping an eye on the future for each of his decisions. They are approaching a crossroads where Vinny's roster spot is about as valuable as the cap dollars he takes up. All of this is what leads me to believe he will need to be bought out, and the reality is that the extra years will not hurt this team much. All of the important pieces sans Mason (& B Schenn) are under contract until after his buyout comes off the books and the young guys will be less than his cap hit

If you were Vinny, which would you rather do:

A) Continue being part of an NHL team, skating every day and being part of a professional hockey team for 1 more year while making $2.5 million

B) Sitting on a couch and making $0
- jmatchett383

It's extremely difficult to put one in another's shoes, but if I was Lecavalier, and I'd made over 100M, I'd put an end to the charade, and have some pride and accept that it's over, rather than tarnishing my legacy and continue to hang on.

I don't know if Leier will ever crack 20 goals, but it's not impossible. From what I've read, NAK could be that guy.
- jmatchett383

Yeah. Even Fazleev.
I just think they have replacements for his roll. And he isn't a young guy. Read will be 30.

That $2.5M is probably the last time he'll have a chance to make a large chunk of money in his life. If I were him, I'd take it.

Regardless of the money you have, if you have the option of getting paid millions of dollars or not getting paid millions of dollars, getting paid always wins.
- jmatchett383

Speaking while wearing my financial adviser hat, I agree. There's no reason for him to walk away from money he's owed. This is business.

Does anyone know Bryan Bickells numbers. Would a Macdonald for Bickell trade work?

It's a tricky sport. He might want to stick it to the flyers and just sit on the cap if he feels they didn't give him a fair chance. And collect his money. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. For the rest of this year I think you just scratch him and then when you can send him to ahl on conditioning assignments. Make it know it's done. If it doesn't work then you do it again next year. But I don't think they buyout is way to go unless your a contender next year or year after. Which I don't think they are.
- J35Bacher

Expecting that a contract signed by both parties be honored isn't sticking anything to anyone.

If you were Vinny, which would you rather do:

A) Continue being part of an NHL team, skating every day and being part of a professional hockey team for 1 more year while making $2.5 million

B) Sitting on a couch and making $0
- jmatchett383

If I were him, I'd rather retire and spend time with my family. Travel the world while my kids are still relatively young. Get involved in other hockey related things like coaching or broadcasting or just running camps.

Why waste years of my life for money when I already have $50M?

I would not take a guy at his word when deciding on the cap situation for an NHL hockey team. I know what report you are referring to and I interpreted his statement as saying he planned on not playing that last season, but he also planned on playing up until then. Things have clearly changed and I think he would be one of the dumbest people in the world to walk away from a guaranteed contract. Just a question...do you know of any other player who has retired in the middle of a contract for anything other than health/personal reasons? I haven't really thought about it, but I don't know anyone off the top of my head.

The Flyers are not as cap strapped as people make them seem. They have options. 1 is trading contracts like you said, but it requires trading players who help make the team more competitive (at least they're supposed to haha). Whether or not it's the right decision, this team will not go into a full tank mode. Hextall has said all along that he wants them to be competitive, while keeping an eye on the future for each of his decisions. They are approaching a crossroads where Vinny's roster spot is about as valuable as the cap dollars he takes up. All of this is what leads me to believe he will need to be bought out, and the reality is that the extra years will not hurt this team much. All of the important pieces sans Mason (& B Schenn) are under contract until after his buyout comes off the books and the young guys will be less than his cap hit
- YuenglingJagr

Your premise here is ignoring something that has clearly changed, since he signed the deal, which is that he can no longer play, and he isn't likely going to play much this year, and next year would be the same. That is a big part of the equation that has changed.

I agree, the Flyers are not as cap strapped as people think, which is why they should not buyout Lecavalier. The cap space in the future is far more valuable than Lecavalier's roster spot is next year.

Brian Rafalski retired early and walked away from 6M.

Does anyone know Bryan Bickells numbers. Would a Macdonald for Bickell trade work?
- J35Bacher

Not for Chicago

Expecting that a contract signed by both parties be honored isn't sticking anything to anyone.
- Scoob

If he stated he planned to retire and then said screw it, is that sticking it to them. There could be a bad k door agreement. We don't knowknow.

Keeping Lecavalier and not buying him out, and riding it out, versus carrying cap penalties for 4 seasons, is a perfect example of taking a step back to take a leap forward.
- MJL

I disagree. No need to discuss further. Neither one of us is going to change the other's mind.

Keeping Lecavalier and not buying him out, and riding it out, versus carrying cap penalties for 4 seasons, is a perfect example of taking a step back to take a leap forward.
- MJL

We can agree to disagree I guess. I just really think you are exaggerating how much of a step back buying out Vinny will be.

http://www.generalfanager...uts/1528?day=15&year=2016

You really dont think Hextall could work around 916k worth of dead money 2 years in the future? That is seriously like 1-1.2% of the salary cap

It's extremely difficult to put one in another's shoes, but if I was Lecavalier, and I'd made over 100M, I'd put an end to the charade, and have some pride and accept that it's over, rather than tarnishing my legacy and continue to hang on.
- MJL

I doubt it will have any affect on his legacy. Nobody will even mention his Philadelphia years except to say "...and he finished his career in Philadelphia."

If I were him, I'd rather retire and spend time with my family. Travel the world while my kids are still relatively young. Get involved in other hockey related things like coaching or broadcasting or just running camps.

Why waste years of my life for money when I already have $50M?
- PhillySportsGuy

Does he have $50M saved currently in his bank account? Just because he's made money doesn't mean he has a lot of money.

Does he have $50M saved currently in his bank account? Just because he's made money doesn't mean he has a lot of money.
- jmatchett383

He's made over $100M