I like him, but he also hasn't had to make any real tough decisions yet. He's done a good job of being able to unload some of the dead weight. Drafted well too.

However we will see the true test of his skill as a GM as this team moves forward.
- flyer_nutter

I think the Brayden Schenn contract this summer fits this category. Kind of excited to see how Hexy plays it.

hockey is also not a big time betting sport at all. that plays a roll in its popularity imo.

its also a for lack of a better word a rich mans sport. the others cost next to nothing to play.

I am curious what he gives Brayden.

One true breakout year shouldn't mean you give the keys to the city away. I want that trend to die fast.
- flyer_nutter

Flyers have 2 seasons of leverage to play with, then it becomes a different story. His market value is around 5 a year.

hockey is also not a big time betting sport at all. that plays a roll in its popularity imo.

its also a for lack of a better word a rich mans sport. the others cost next to nothing to play.
- rinaldo

Deck hockey is cheap.

I agree. It's too early to judge. I'm happy he's manged to clear up some of the burdensome contracts. He has a few to go. It's easy to walk into a messy room and clean it up and make it look better but if you're there to redecorate the real job doesn't start until you add pieces of your choosing.

We can't even be sure he's drafted well. Not one of his picks have dented the lineup. This year we'll just begin to see what he's done in the last two Junes.
- mayorofangrytown

Well said. Like what he's done to this point, and his approach. Calling him a godsend at this point is very premature. I do believe in him though.

Flyers have 2 seasons of leverage to play with, then it becomes a different story. His market value is around 5 a year.
- MJL

I think I'd be OK with 5 per yr but am very leery of long deals (say beyond 3 years) especially NTC/NMC for Schenn and really for most players moving forward.

Deck hockey is cheap.
- mayorofangrytown

never heard of it

I think I'd be OK with 5 per yr but am very leery of long deals (say beyond 3 years) especially NTC/NMC for Schenn and really for most players moving forward.
- Marc D

Schenn might be willing to sign a 3 year deal, because he'll be a fairly young UFA at that point. I'd rather add term, if it can lower the AAV. I don't think NTC/NMC are really that much of a big deal. They can usually be worked around.

I think I'd be OK with 5 per yr but am very leery of long deals (say beyond 3 years) especially NTC/NMC for Schenn and really for most players moving forward.
- Marc D

Is that like the average salary now? everyone and their brother who are up for a deal are getting the 4-6 mil contracts. Remember in 2005 when the average contract was just shy of 2 and the Penguins (and a couple other teams) were vocally angry they had to meet the $20 million dollar salary cap floor?

We've lost a lot of hockey over something that hasn't done either of it's stated goals: Keeping salaries down and the game affordable.

never heard of it
- rinaldo

Yes, but for MLB.

Is that like the average salary now? everyone and their brother who are up for a deal are getting the 4-6 mil contracts. Remember in 2005 when the average contract was just shy of 2 and the Penguins (and a couple other teams) were vocally angry they had to meet the $20 million dollar salary cap floor?

We've lost a lot of hockey over something that hasn't done either of it's stated goals: Keeping salaries down and the game affordable.
- mayorofangrytown

He's been pretty productive and if you look at comparable players I would say yes, that is currently fair market value for him. But I agree with you that it seems like things are getting out of hand again.

yeah for sure. that stuff can go hand in hand too, because when you dont have internal options, youre more inclined to be forced to wade into the FA pool with little leverage and that can negatively impact the cap as well.

ELCs are gold nowadays.
- stayinthefnnet

this is the truth and it is kind of unfortunate. I like that it brings younger players up to the NHL and contributing but it also takes advantage of the players to benefit owners. I struggle to believe some of the teams are losing money as their owners claim.

Will probably see more older vets playing in foreign leagues

Schenn might be willing to sign a 3 year deal, because he'll be a fairly young UFA at that point. I'd rather add term, if it can lower the AAV. I don't think NTC/NMC are really that much of a big deal. They can usually be worked around.
- MJL

They had to keep Umberger and VLC on the big squad with their NMC when they should have been sent to the AHL when they weren't contributing. I guess there are ways to work around the NTC but it lessens a team leverage and return when the player has to agree to where they are being traded to. I'd like to see these add ons eliminated for all but a very few players on the Flyers.

They had to keep Umberger and VLC on the big squad with their NMC when they should have been sent to the AHL when they weren't contributing. I guess there are ways to work around the NTC but it lessens a team leverage and return when the player has to agree to where they are being traded to. I'd like to see these add ons eliminated for all but a very few players on the Flyers.
- Marc D

Schultz, White, and who else?

Is that like the average salary now? everyone and their brother who are up for a deal are getting the 4-6 mil contracts. Remember in 2005 when the average contract was just shy of 2 and the Penguins (and a couple other teams) were vocally angry they had to meet the $20 million dollar salary cap floor?

We've lost a lot of hockey over something that hasn't done either of it's stated goals: Keeping salaries down and the game affordable.
- mayorofangrytown

The last lockout made sure players who happened to be due up for contracts in the past couple years would get paid before the cap dollars ran out, so mission accomplished mirite?

(imo it's stupid that the players are pitted against each other every year in the cap escalator vote)

hockey is also not a big time betting sport at all. that plays a roll in its popularity imo.

its also a for lack of a better word a rich mans sport. the others cost next to nothing to play.
- rinaldo

This is actually kinda true.

Sure, street hockey (or dek hockey) might be cheap, but if your kid wants to play ice hockey, that's a time and financial commitment not to be taken lightly.

Anyone who thinks the NFL's popularity is not buttressed by gambling is hopelessly naive.

Schultz, White, and who else?
- jmatchett383

VandeVelde obviously, but after that I'm drawing the line.

This is actually kinda true.

Sure, street hockey (or dek hockey) might be cheap, but if your kid wants to play ice hockey, that's a time and financial commitment not to be taken lightly.

Anyone who thinks the NFL's popularity is not buttressed by gambling is hopelessly naive.
- johndewar

fantasy football too, although i guess thats an offshoot of gambling

fantasy football too, although i guess thats an offshoot of gambling
- stayinthefnnet

I think it's funny that there are people that don't consider fantasy football to be gambling.

Do people actually believe all of these leagues that people set up are just for bragging rights?

I think it's funny that there are people that don't consider fantasy football to be gambling.

Do people actually believe all of these leagues that people set up are just for bragging rights?
- johndewar

i mean if you want to get into the technical statutory ambiguities of it, its largely considered a game of "skill" as opposed to pure gambling.

except the daily ones which are now starting to be considered too temporally limited and so theyre being labeled as gambling in some jurisdictions

(frank)ing lawyers.

They had to keep Umberger and VLC on the big squad with their NMC when they should have been sent to the AHL when they weren't contributing. I guess there are ways to work around the NTC but it lessens a team leverage and return when the player has to agree to where they are being traded to. I'd like to see these add ons eliminated for all but a very few players on the Flyers.
- Marc D

Which is why I said usually. I'd like to see it also, but when players are negotiating, with leverage, they want them. Players usually won't hold a team hostage, but they just want some say in the matter.

The last lockout made sure players who happened to be due up for contracts in the past couple years would get paid before the cap dollars ran out, so mission accomplished mirite?

(imo it's stupid that the players are pitted against each other every year in the cap escalator vote)
- BulliesPhan87

Why the hell didn't they get a cap on the escrow? That's their problem every year with the escalator. If they use it escrow goes up and everyone who's not a UFA or RFA are tripping little kids in anger.

This is actually kinda true.

Sure, street hockey (or dek hockey) might be cheap, but if your kid wants to play ice hockey, that's a time and financial commitment not to be taken lightly.

Anyone who thinks the NFL's popularity is not buttressed by gambling is hopelessly naive.
- johndewar

I always thought the biggest drag on hockey's popularity was skating. All the other sports you just run around but for hockey you have to learn a specific skill just to start playing the game which is great if you live up north where there's free ice 5 months a year.

Anyone who's had a kid who plays hockey remembers the anguish of those kids learning how to skate. There aren't many who just roll out there and take off, there's a lot of coaxing and feet rubbing.

Why the hell didn't they get a cap on the escrow? That's their problem every year with the escalator. If they use it escrow goes up and everyone who's not a UFA or RFA are tripping little kids in anger.
- mayorofangrytown

Can't cap escrow, since it's the mechanism that maintains the 50/50 split.