It has nothing to do with how they get paid though. Radko Gudas is paid 3.35 million to play the best that he can play.

As an example, if Ghost was to put up 46 points last year on an ELC, he would be expected to do that again. No one says, well he is producing the way he should for his contract...
- YuenglingJagr

Well yeah, all players are expected to play as well as they can. I thought that was obvious. I was talking about how to best allocate cap dollars. Right now, paying AMac 5 million per and Weise 2.35 per is not good allocation of cap dollars. OTOH, paying Simmonds 3.975 per is an example of excellent allocation of cap dollars.

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. If we leave weise,mcdud, and read available, one has to go?
- jmdodgeser4

Lv will need to hit the cap floor. So out of the pool of available players they'll need to take some players with $$$

Lv will need to hit the cap floor. So out of the pool of available players they'll need to take some players with $$$
- Just5

I'd offer them a 5th if they'd agree to take AMac.

wait. they have to take one from us? Like no choice kinda thing
- jmdodgeser4

Yup, 30 players, one player from each team. If the selection from a team was truly awful they could take a UFA or RFA and just let him walk, but they can only take 10 of those.

https://www.capfriendly.com/expansion-draft-faq

Expansion team must select one player from each team for a total of 30 players.

Expansion team must select the following number of players at each position:
Position #
Forwards 14
Defense 9
Goalies 3

Expansion team must select a minimum of 20 players who are under contract for the 2017-18 season.

Players selected for the Expansion team must have a total cap hit value of between 60% ($43,800,000) and 100% ($73,000,000) of the 2016-17 salary cap ceiling.

I'm not gonna praise Hakstol. I'm not gonna say he's hitting all the right buttons. Everyone on here has always said, the youngsters have to play if they're gonna be here. This was Konecny's second scratch. This was Gostisbehere's third or fourth. One thing Hakstol has no tried is taking something away from a player like Ghost, like ice time. Why not take Ghost off the top unit of the PP and go with Streit indefinitely? Ghost can than either not get PP time as he watches from the bench or Ghost can skate with the second unit. In fact I would love to see Ghost set up in Jake's spot on the second PP, with Provorov at the top of the umbrella and everything filtering through Konecny in Giroux's spot with Couturier and Weise being used as the double screen. Too many scratches by Hakstol. Not enough creative change to get things going. Switching up line combinations doesn't make him creative, especially if it's clear they're not gonna work out.
- SuperSchennBros

Explain to me how Hakstol scratching Gostisbehere for yesterday's game is not taking away his ice time?

Don't forget cousins and stolarz are guys that will prob be unprotected
- Just5

Exactly...

We aren't losing someone we'd prefer to lose. 2 of Cousins/Raffl/Read/Weise/Laughton/Leier will be protected. I'm adding Leier because he's available if we don't protect him. That leaves someone other than who we'd want to lose available for Vegas.

Lv will need to hit the cap floor. So out of the pool of available players they'll need to take some players with $$$
- Just5

They don't have to hit the cap floor until October. In the ED they need to reach $43.8m from 30 contracts, an average of only $1.46m per player.

There is something to it though. For example, Radko Gudas, at 3.35 million is a solid 2nd pair Dman. If he was being paid 7 million per, I don't think people would be nearly as happy with him. Prior to the cap, you are 100% correct, but now, the contracts really do matter.
- BiggE

I'm with you on this. a player could be a solid 4th line guy but if said player is being paid 3-4 million you expect more production beyond the 4th line.

Yesterday it was discussed how Hak's system is playing a more responsibly smart game and taking less penalties; playing scared/afraid I think it was referred to a certain degree. But, between Weise getting an early suspension from a hit, and Hak's more responsible system, I wonder if that has had an impact on Weise's physical/aggressive game.
- arichardson22

No, it hasn't. Weise is third on the team among forwards in hits. Simmonds has 96 hits in 52 games. Weise has 85 hits in 42 games. Weise should have gotten a penalty last night for a hit from behind.

According to Kevin Weekes or Mike Rupp (can't remember which one of them said it), Ghost's problem is Provorov. Can't take the heat of a younger/better guy stepping in.
- Scoob

That's absurd and embarrassing for them to say that.

They don't have to hit the cap floor until October. In the ED they need to reach $43.8m from 30 contracts, an average of only $1.46m per player.
- Feanor

ok thanks. they're gonna take schultz

Well yeah, all players are expected to play as well as they can. I thought that was obvious. I was talking about how to best allocate cap dollars. Right now, paying AMac 5 million per and Weise 2.35 per is not good allocation of cap dollars. OTOH, paying Simmonds 3.975 per is an example of excellent allocation of cap dollars.
- BiggE

I guess I just don't agree with evaluating it like that. I think there are a lot more factors that go into what someone gets paid besides how much the GM wants to spend on a specific guy.

If the NHL knew what Simmonds would become do you think he would've been traded and do you think he would be on the same contract? Do you realize how lucky the Flyers got with signing Simmonds to that deal? Every single GM in the NHL wants to sign a player to a deal like that and then have him hit his prime. Hextall basically did it with Coots too

Exactly...

We aren't losing someone we'd prefer to lose. 2 of Cousins/Raffl/Read/Weise/Laughton/Leier will be protected. I'm adding Leier because he's available if we don't protect him. That leaves someone other than who we'd want to lose available for Vegas.
- dragonoffrost

I'd highly doubt Leier gets taken. If LV took Readfl or Weise, I'd be okay with it. I think Raffl gets protected, which leaves one of Cousins or Laughton, and I doubt LV is drooling over either of them.

I think it's imperative to protect Stolarz (make whatever early offseason deals you need to), as he's the most likely to be taken and should be our backup next year. To me, figuring out how to protect him (Neuvy on a cheap 1-year extension?) is the most important part of the ED at the moment.

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. If we leave weise,mcdud, and read available, one has to go?
- jmdodgeser4

Pending any trades, I think the Flyers will protect:

Giroux, Voracek, Schenn, Couturier, Simmonds, Raffl, Cousins
Gudas, Ghost, Manning
Stolarz

That would leave Read, Weise, Laughton and Leier as the most likely targets for Vegas.

There is something to it though. For example, Radko Gudas, at 3.35 million is a solid 2nd pair Dman. If he was being paid 7 million per, I don't think people would be nearly as happy with him. Prior to the cap, you are 100% correct, but now, the contracts really do matter.
- BiggE

It's a cap environment. When judging a players worth to his team, cap hit has to be a factor.

Was listening to BSH radio yesterday and they were talking about why macdonald plays as much as he does. The consensus came down to either they think he is good or they are trying to show him off to trade him. Either way you are basically saying to the players this season means nothing and they are just waiting for next year for the young guys to come up. On top of this you have Hak scratching young skill players to help them grow, but not keeping the veterans accountable for the same mistakes. Then you have Hextall not wanting to make moves at the trade deadline. All this to me seems to have built up a sense of this season doesnt matter in the locker room. Maybe that is why the team always seems to fold after a set back and they routinely come out with no energy or heart?
- johm12

The reality is that MacDonald is playing solid hockey. Level of play dictates ice time. He had another strong game last night.

Pending any trades, I think the Flyers will protect:

Giroux, Voracek, Schenn, Couturier, Simmonds, Raffl, Cousins
Gudas, Ghost, Manning
Stolarz

That would leave Read, Weise, Laughton and Leier as the most likely targets for Vegas.
- Feanor

What move(s) do you think the Flyers will make the protect Stolarz? Cheap 1-year deal for tweener goalie/cheap 1-year backup?

- Feanor

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I saw those two yucking it up and was a little upset. I am not sure I'd be laughing if I was scratched for Weise and Schultz. Unless the coach already told them the are playing Saturday.
- dragonoffrost

I knew people would bring this up. who cares that they are laughing. I'm quite sure they aren't happy with being scratched.

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- Scoob

Have you ever tried sugar...or PCP?

I'd highly doubt Leier gets taken. If LV took Readfl or Weise, I'd be okay with it. I think Raffl gets protected, which leaves one of Cousins or Laughton, and I doubt LV is drooling over either of them.

I think it's imperative to protect Stolarz (make whatever early offseason deals you need to), as he's the most likely to be taken and should be our backup next year. To me, figuring out how to protect him (Neuvy on a cheap 1-year extension?) is the most important part of the ED at the moment.
- jmatchett383

There's better goalies out there than Stolie that will be available. Actually I'd say Neuvirth and Varlomov are in play for LV as goalies since McPhee was with the Caps when they were drafted.

Plus I think Hextall will have a goalie that fits the rules other than Stolie and will protect Stolie.

Pending any trades, I think the Flyers will protect:

Giroux, Voracek, Schenn, Couturier, Simmonds, Raffl, Cousins
Gudas, Ghost, Manning
Stolarz

That would leave Read, Weise, Laughton and Leier as the most likely targets for Vegas.
- Feanor

Probably, though if Laughton really finishes strong at LHV or comes up and plays well here, I could see him replacing Cousins or Raffl on that list. But right now, yeah, looks right to me.

I knew people would bring this up. who cares that they are laughing. I'm quite sure they aren't happy with being scratched.
- nastyflyergirl

No, they obviously don't have heart and don't care. They should have either been brooding or in fits or rage and sadness the entire game.

Have you ever tried sugar...or PCP?
- jmatchett383

:shrug: I don't create the filters, I'm just forced to abide by them

There's better goalies out there than Stolie that will be available. Actually I'd say Neuvirth and Varlomov are in play for LV as goalies since McPhee was with the Caps when they were drafted.

Plus I think Hextall will have a goalie that fits the rules other than Stolie and will protect Stolie.
- dragonoffrost

Stolarz is a young, cap-controlled AHL All Star. That's perfect for what LV would want for, if nothing else, their AHL team. Neuvirth is currently a UFA, so LV could just try to sign him in FA.