Bill,

Do you believe that to have a legitimate chance of a cup a team needs at least one superstar player if not two? I've heard the McGuire's and Bowman's of the world verbalize this theory.
Assuming they're correct it would seem the Flyers are inherently flawed. While they are paying two players superstar money, they clearly are not superstars. Seems to me that trading Giroux and Voracek now, even at reduced value is, almost necessary. If/when they find a true star player the money for them will be going to two guys who are undeserving.
I realize the Flyers Faithful will scream blasphemy but as a casual fan I think I can see the situation clearly and without bias.
Thoughts?

I find it funny that the beats were all about bringing the youth along last year now they are questioning where the production to replace Schenn is going to come from.

I think Lehtera will not start the season on the PK. That looks to be some combo of Coots, Simmer, G and Raffl at least to start with Filpula and maybe Weise added unless Read gets a fourth line spot every day.
- dragonoffrost

firstly I will say I am ok with the move because its Hextall continuing to mold the team he wants. Yes taking on that contract sucks but I view it as the price to pick up an additional first rounder being I would have thought Schenn was worth one first rounder. that said, Schenn isn't actually one of the older guys who we are all talking about replacing with the youth. I mean, he is only 25. I look forward to seeing the contracts of Read and Filppula drop off after this coming season and Lehterathe season after. that's little over 13 million in cap space.

Elliot Friedman reporting McDavid deal could be close. 8 years, $13.25M AAV
- PhillySportsGuy

they would give him a 20 year contract if they could hahaha

firstly I will say I am ok with the move because its Hextall continuing to mold the team he wants. Yes taking on that contract sucks but I view it as the price to pick up an additional first rounder being I would have thought Schenn was worth one first rounder. that said, Schenn isn't actually one of the older guys who we are all talking about replacing with the youth. I mean, he is only 25. I look forward to seeing the contracts of Read and Filppula drop off after this coming season and Lehterathe season after. that's little over 13 million in cap space.
- nastyflyergirl

Umberger's buyout drops off as well after next season. Add 1.5M more.

- FlyersGrace

i guess they are really hoping the cap continues to increase

Elliot Friedman reporting McDavid deal could be close. 8 years, $13.25M AAV
- PhillySportsGuy

No one player is worth that much cap space.

If that is what he is looking for i would start making some calls and listening to offers.

Elliot Friedman reporting McDavid deal could be close. 8 years, $13.25M AAV
- PhillySportsGuy

It wont be. But that might actually be worth it lol. It is going to be hilarious to see how cap (frank)ed they are soon though

Not really worried about where the goals are going to come from, and here is why.

Last year Giroux and Voracek combined for 34 goals, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that they can increase that total to at least 42. Nor is it unreasonable to expect Konecny to have a small increase, say from 11 to 15.
That brings us to +12

Now lets assume that column A is replaced by column B in the lineup
A/B
Weal and Cousins/Lindblom
Schenn/Patrick
Read and partial Filpulla/full season of Filpulla
VdV/Laughton or Lehtera
PEB and Raffl (52 games)/Raffl (70 games)

The total goal output of everyone in column A was 72 goals.

I don't think the following is unreasonable either:
Lindblom 12 goals
Patrick 16 goals
Filpulla 12 goals
Laughton and Lehtera combined 10 goals
Raffl 12 goals

This totals to 62 goals

Overall that leaves us +2 from last year without taking into consideration the possibility of a better offensive year from Ghost and few more goals from Provorov. Last year they scored 219 goals, I don't think 225 is unreasonable and if they can slightly reduce the goals against from 236 to even just 230, than a slight improvement to 92-95 points is not out of the question. They probably still miss the playoffs, but at least they are moving in the right direction.

asdf jkl;

Elliot Friedman reporting McDavid deal could be close. 8 years, $13.25M AAV
- PhillySportsGuy

Probably a bargain.

Not really worried about where the goals are going to come from, and here is why.

Last year Giroux and Voracek combined for 34 goals, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that they can increase that total to at least 42. Nor is it unreasonable to expect Konecny to have a small increase, say from 11 to 15.
That brings us to +12

Now lets assume that column A is replaced by column B in the lineup
A/B
Weal and Cousins/Lindblom
Schenn/Patrick
Read and partial Filpulla/full season of Filpulla
VdV/Laughton or Lehtera
PEB and Raffl (52 games)/Raffl (70 games)

The total goal output of everyone in column A was 72 goals.

I don't think the following is unreasonable either:
Lindblom 12 goals
Patrick 16 goals
Filpulla 12 goals
Laughton and Lehtera combined 10 goals
Raffl 12 goals


This totals to 62 goals

Overall that leaves us +2 from last year without taking into consideration the possibility of a better offensive year from Ghost and few more goals from Provorov. Last year they scored 219 goals, I don't think 225 is unreasonable and if they can slightly reduce the goals against from 236 to even just 230, than a slight improvement to 92-95 points is not out of the question. They probably still miss the playoffs, but at least they are moving in the right direction.
- BiggE

Nicely said

It wont be. But that might actually be worth it lol. It is going to be hilarious to see how cap (frank)ed they are soon though
- YuenglingJagr

well considering Towes and Kane make 13.8 mill per year, Ryan O'Reilly made 11 mill this year, and Shea Weber made 14 mill last year and 12 mill this year...i think thats a pretty fair deal

No one player is worth that much cap space.

If that is what he is looking for i would start making some calls and listening to offers.
- ggunky

this is a joke right?

There was appox. a 30 game stretch last year where this team averaged well below 2 goals a game. Scoring goals is going to be a big issue this season.
- PLindbergh31

That all depends on how the lines shake out and if they have chemistry. With the added depth we should see improved scoring from top to bottom.

Not really worried about where the goals are going to come from, and here is why.

Last year Giroux and Voracek combined for 34 goals, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that they can increase that total to at least 42. Nor is it unreasonable to expect Konecny to have a small increase, say from 11 to 15.
That brings us to +12

Now lets assume that column A is replaced by column B in the lineup
A/B
Weal and Cousins/Lindblom
Schenn/Patrick
Read and partial Filpulla/full season of Filpulla
VdV/Laughton or Lehtera
PEB and Raffl (52 games)/Raffl (70 games)

The total goal output of everyone in column A was 72 goals.

I don't think the following is unreasonable either:
Lindblom 12 goals
Patrick 16 goals
Filpulla 12 goals
Laughton and Lehtera combined 10 goals
Raffl 12 goals

This totals to 62 goals

Overall that leaves us +2 from last year without taking into consideration the possibility of a better offensive year from Ghost and few more goals from Provorov. Last year they scored 219 goals, I don't think 225 is unreasonable and if they can slightly reduce the goals against from 236 to even just 230, than a slight improvement to 92-95 points is not out of the question. They probably still miss the playoffs, but at least they are moving in the right direction.
- BiggE

As much as the Flyers struggled to score last season, their biggest issue was goaltending.

As of now it looks like that will be the issue again this year.

Jori Lehtera averaged a whopping 26 seconds of PK time per game for the Blues last season, so just penciling him in on the PK doesn't seem wise.
- johndewar

26 seconds could amount to a 2nd or 3rd pair role. I'm not sure how St Louis ran their PK under Hitch and Yeo. Also that could be affected by the amount of penalties the Blues took per game. Too many factors to say he can't do it here because he did only 26 seconds there.

25 goal, 50 point players are not easy to replace. Schenn's production is being underrated.
- MJL

Maybe, maybe not.

well considering Towes and Kane make 13.8 mill per year, Ryan O'Reilly made 11 mill this year, and Shea Weber made 14 mill last year and 12 mill this year...i think thats a pretty fair deal
- bulet13

Those aren't cap hits... Weber has a cap hit of 7.8, Toews and Kane 10.5...

Not really worried about where the goals are going to come from, and here is why.

Last year Giroux and Voracek combined for 34 goals, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that they can increase that total to at least 42. Nor is it unreasonable to expect Konecny to have a small increase, say from 11 to 15.
That brings us to +12

Now lets assume that column A is replaced by column B in the lineup
A/B
Weal and Cousins/Lindblom
Schenn/Patrick
Read and partial Filpulla/full season of Filpulla
VdV/Laughton or Lehtera
PEB and Raffl (52 games)/Raffl (70 games)

The total goal output of everyone in column A was 72 goals.

I don't think the following is unreasonable either:
Lindblom 12 goals
Patrick 16 goals
Filpulla 12 goals
Laughton and Lehtera combined 10 goals
Raffl 12 goals

This totals to 62 goals

Overall that leaves us +2 from last year without taking into consideration the possibility of a better offensive year from Ghost and few more goals from Provorov. Last year they scored 219 goals, I don't think 225 is unreasonable and if they can slightly reduce the goals against from 236 to even just 230, than a slight improvement to 92-95 points is not out of the question. They probably still miss the playoffs, but at least they are moving in the right direction.
- BiggE

Lindblom, Filppula, and Raffl having 36 combined as an estimate I think is high. At least one of them will probably end up with pretty limited ice time and a lot of PK time.

Elliot Friedman reporting McDavid deal could be close. 8 years, $13.25M AAV
- PhillySportsGuy

Manning could still get under his skin.

26 seconds could amount to a 2nd or 3rd pair role. I'm not sure how St Louis ran their PK under Hitch and Yeo. Also that could be affected by the amount of penalties the Blues took per game. Too many factors to say he can't do it here because he did only 26 seconds there.
- dragonoffrost

If he cant kill penalties at least as the 2nd or 3rd option he really is useless. He cant seem to produce offensively.

Though on the plus side he will be an improvement to the 4th line.

asdf jkl;
- MBFlyerfan

show off

Manning could still get under his skin.
- Scoob

I am just wondering how in the world they'll be able to replace the production from 76 and 78
- YuenglingJagr

Wear bigger skates

this is a joke right?
- bulet13

Not a joke. 100% serious.

No one player is worth that much cap space.

And if McDavid gets something in the 13 mil a year range, imagine what Draisaitl will want when his contract comes up. It has a domino effect.

Look how Chicago is hamstrung by their 2 contracts.

You dont win without depth.