I laugh because like 90% of your trade proposals include trading Laughton. Retained salary should be enough to do it.

I don't think they should trade any assets to get rid of AMac, unless they are doing it to keep Vegas from selecting someone like Laughton/Cousins/Raffl/Stolarz
- YuenglingJagr

What has Laughton shown you that makes him attractive or someone you feel you can't lose?

There's no reason to....just demote him. We won't need the cap space we aren't contending anytime in his contract
- Just5

If that is the case, it makes more sense to retain 50% anyway...

If that is the case, it makes more sense to retain 50% anyway...
- YuenglingJagr

nobody wants him....even at 50%

nobody wants him....even at 50%
- Just5

I honestly think there are players that suck just as much that get signed for around 2.5...it is the NHL, some old dude will want him. I think there is a bigger chance Hextall doesn't want to retain 50%

For sure. Bieksa is replaceable, especially with how well Montour is playing for them. A buyout will only leave them with a $1.33M cap hit for 2 yrs. More than worth it.
- Coleman

Since Bieska is on an over-35 deal the buyout cap hit will actually be the full $4m for 17-18.

$1.33m is the cash they'll have to pay him 17-18 and 18-19.

https://www.capfriendly.c...t_calculator/kevin-bieksa

I honestly think there are players that suck just as much that get signed for around 2.5...it is the NHL, some old dude will want him. I think there is a bigger chance Hextall doesn't want to retain 50%
- YuenglingJagr

Usually players like him get moved at the draft or after the early goings in free agency when teams have a bit more cap flexibility. He's a pretty decent 6 at 2.75.

I do find it funny, however, that folks complain about the poopty 4th line and when Hakstol puts a skilled, young player down there, they immediately poop their Richard over the decision.
- johndewar

If I served you 2 heapings of crap on a plate next to a filet mignon, would that improve the quality of the meal for you?

For the same reason Voracek on that line last year for extended stretches was a waste of his minutes, placing a young skilled player --your best 5v5 scorer-- with 2 of the worst in the NHL, and giving him team low minutes, does not make a better 4th line. I don't understand why that's a difficult concept. It just worsens and blunts the impact of the best 5v5 scorer on the team on a team that can't score 5v5. A lot of people want to see a skilled 4th line, but throwing a dynamic talent with 2 plugs isn't the recipe for it. At this point in the season, when I'd almost prefer to see them get a better pick, I don't care that much, but in the grand scheme of things, it's annoying and I don't want to see anything like it next year.

nobody wants him....even at 50%
- Just5

Edmonton wanted Russell at $3.1m. Only for one year, but I bet he gets an extension there.

Feel free to post links to people making similar statements. Hopefully they have some actual substance to back it up.
- MJL

Most have been from Podcasts: Dimitri Filipovic, Jeff Marek, Charlie O'Connor, Dom Luszczyszyn, etc. I'm not digging up audio clips.

If you can get rid of AMac even at 50% retained that still almost equals the combined contracts of Hagg, Sanhiem, and Morin. (+120,832 to be exact)

If Im Hexy I do that in a heartbeat.

If you can get rid of AMac even at 50% retained that still almost equals the combined contracts of Hagg, Sanhiem, and Morin. (+120,832 to be exact)

If Im Hexy I do that in a heartbeat.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly. Part of the bonus of having so many young guys coming up is the ability to have cap flexibility to do something like that. Its practically a wash...

And if Russell is demanding too big of a raise from the Oilers, you trade MacDonald at 50% to Edmonton for Fayne.

If you can get rid of AMac even at 50% retained that still almost equals the combined contracts of Hagg, Sanhiem, and Morin. (+120,832 to be exact)

If Im Hexy I do that in a heartbeat.
- MBFlyerfan

:
For sure, it should be a no brainer

In my fantasy world, next years' 4th line has some combo of Weise, Read, Weal, Cousins and Laughton. This would mean Bellemare is grabbed by Vegas and VandeVelde isn't re-signed.

In my fantasy world, next years' 4th line has some combo of Weise, Read, Weal, Cousins and Laughton. This would mean Bellemare is grabbed by Vegas and VandeVelde isn't re-signed.
- TobyFlenderson

VdV is likely gone, PEB will probably be back

They should give nothing to get rid of MacDonald. The issue isn't the contract. It's not a hindrance right now. Actually using him like a top pair defenseman on a $30 million contract is the hindrance. I doubt they'd eat 50% anyway. Maybe they'd eat $1-1.5 mil. If someone thinks he is a legit top 4 minutes eater who has rebounded and gone back to Vintage Andrew MacDonald, then 3 years at $3.5-4 million is a fair cost. I don't believe for one second he's not playing because they highly value him and love him to bits, but an unintended consequence could be he actually has value now. People around the league never should be shortchanged in their stupidity and belief in narrative and reputation.

But I'm not sold Hakstol doesn't actually want to keep him around and would communicate such to Hextall. I think Hakstol (and Hextall even) like the idea of having Gudas and MacDonald as 2 vets to insulate the kids for at least another year or two. They're both top 4 -- or better -- guys to the coach. I can't see him giving his 25 minutes to a kid, or bumping up Gudas and leaving 2 pairs of rookies+Ghost. Likely they bring in Sanheim plus Hagg or Morin for Schultz and Manning and leave it at that.

They should give nothing to get rid of MacDonald. The issue isn't the contract. It's not a hindrance right now. Actually using him like a top pair defenseman on a $30 million contract is the hindrance. I doubt they'd eat 50% anyway. Maybe they'd eat $1-1.5 mil. If someone thinks he is a legit top 4 minutes eater who has rebounded and gone back to Vintage Andrew MacDonald, then 3 years at $3.5-4 million is a fair cost. I don't believe for one second he's not playing because they highly value him and love him to bits, but an unintended consequence could be he actually has value now. People around the league never should be shortchanged in their stupidity and belief in narrative and reputation.

But I'm not sold Hakstol doesn't actually want to keep him around and would communicate such to Hextall. I think Hakstol (and Hextall even) like the idea of having Gudas and MacDonald as 2 vets to insulate the kids for at least another year or two. They're both top 4 -- or better -- guys to the coach. I can't see him giving his 25 minutes to a kid, or bumping up Gudas and leaving 2 pairs of rookies+Ghost. Likely they bring in Sanheim plus Hagg or Morin for Schultz and Manning and leave it at that.
- Mononoke

But the dream man... what about the dream?

Most have been from Podcasts: Dimitri Filipovic, Jeff Marek, Charlie O'Connor, Dom Luszczyszyn, etc. I'm not digging up audio clips.
- JFlyers00

I don't know who these guys are, but I wonder what their opinion of the flyers was before the season started and where they thought they'd end up.

There's been enough international competition over the last few years involving flyer players to get an idea of their level of play under different coaching. Its not like any of them excel in these formats to base an opinion that Hakstol is holding their talent back.

I just don't see the coach as being the big issue here. No I don't like TK on the 4th line. No I understand why Mark Friedman cant get into a game in Lehigh Valley. There are things I don't agree with that I think they can be criticized for. But on the whole, the players here aren't good enough to get it done consistently.

But the dream man... what about the dream?
- mayorofangrytown

Dreams are for sissies. When I go to sleep I just stare into the cold dark vacuum of reality.

Dreams are for sissies. When I go to sleep I just stare into the cold dark vacuum of reality.
- Mononoke

What about day dreaming?

firstly I hate Konecny on the 4th line. Really believe Read belongs there. but I do understand Hakstol's leash with him to a degree. He really does still make plays that he needs to understand he cannot do at the NHL level where he got away with it in juniors. I am not talking about stifling his creativity. for instance in the neutral zone surrounded by 3 players he has tried to force a play instead of just chipping it in.

but yeah I want him in the top 9 and off of the 4th line
- nastyflyergirl

It seems to be a right of passage. Did not Too play on the 4th line in his rookie year?

I don't get how there is rampant team wide regression, throughout the entire lineup, and the coach bears no blame, and it's just players just all sucking together and not trying hard enough.

This team generates chances at a horrible rate driven by a system geared to take endless unscreened point shots, with no team shooting from a further average distance. That's not on the system? In the last couple weeks, Simmonds and Schenn have themselves called it out saying it's not how you score in this league. But that's perfect and needs no criticism or change? It doesn't mean Hakstol can't be the one to change it, although coaches are notoriously stubborn creatures and it smells of something rooted in the style of college hockey.....but he's as responsible for this year as the players. Criticizing the coach AND the players is a no-no, but criticizing just the players is a-ok? Because we have zero proof league-wide that coaches and coaching changes can vastly affect how a team plays.

Would Simmonds alone get you from #12 to #3 in the draft to draft Viliardi or Mittelstadt? If it can I'm seriously contemplating that

What about day dreaming?
- YuenglingJagr

I'll allow my boy, Thom, to handle this question:

I'll allow my boy, Thom, to handle this question:


- Mononoke

you would