They can't. The deadline for offering him a contract was yesterday. He is now draft eligible (for the final time) again in 2018.
- bmeltzer

Is twarynski on an AHL contract?

I'm not sure it's possible for me to care less about the NHL being in China.

Yup, I think the 2 kids along with Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Simmonds, Konecny, Weal, Filppula and Raffl are locks to be in the opening night lineup. Lehtera has played well so far and is probably the leading candidate for the 11th spot. That leaves one spot in the forward lineup open. Right now, based on what I've seen so far, my order of preference for that final spot would be:
Laughton
Leier
Weise
Read
- BiggE

Read and Weise are getting > 5 million so you would sit 5000000

Dont see the urgency for Patrick.He was drafted 2017 and did have health issues during summer break

Is twarynski on an AHL contract?
- Just5

No. Being kept around for a longer look. Since he is age-eligible for the AHL this season, the Flyers have three options available: 1) send him back to junior hockey for an overager season (he turns 20 in Nov.), 2) sign him to an NHL entry-level contract and then assign him either to the Phantoms or Kelowna, 3) sign him to an AHL contract for the 2017-18 season and make a decision on whether to sign him to entry-level contract before their hold on his NHL rights expires in June.

No. Being kept around for a longer look. Since he is age-eligible for the AHL this season, the Flyers have three options available: 1) send him back to junior hockey for an overager season (he turns 20 in Nov.), 2) sign him to an NHL entry-level contract and then assign him either to the Phantoms or Kelowna, 3) sign him to an AHL contract for the 2017-18 season and make a decision on whether to sign him to entry-level contract before their hold on his NHL rights expires in June.
- bmeltzer

Option 1) is clearly the cheapest

No. Being kept around for a longer look. Since he is age-eligible for the AHL this season, the Flyers have three options available: 1) send him back to junior hockey for an overager season (he turns 20 in Nov.), 2) sign him to an NHL entry-level contract and then assign him either to the Phantoms or Kelowna, 3) sign him to an AHL contract for the 2017-18 season and make a decision on whether to sign him to entry-level contract before their hold on his NHL rights expires in June.
- bmeltzer

Ok thanks. 3rd option probably makes the most sense

I'm not sure if I'd choose leier over read. I would def choose weise over him. Need to see more of each this preseason

Bill, what are the chances Bardreau makes the team out of training camp?
I know there was all that talk a week ago from Hextall mentioning him in the prospect talk about candidates for making the team. Personally I think we have better options the him, I think Leier has shown well this training camp and has more upside as well as Laughton but not sure how he has looked and have not heard much about his training camp.

I'm not sure it's possible for me to care less about the NHL being in China.
- Scoob

I have interest, in part because the guy who made the Flyers Alumni tour of Russia happen (Scott MacPherson) is deeply involved in developing hockey in China and Mike Keenan is coaching there. Also in part because the NHL has actually had past ventures in China with limited success. The San Jose Sharks owned the former China Sharks team in the Asia League. Charles Wang set up a development/exchange program in China via the Islanders some years ago.

Of course, now the NHL is pretending like this a brand new thing since the past ventures were unsuccessful (too much expense and red tape dealing with the Chinese govt) and because they are planning to participate in the next Olympics.

Funny thing is that the NHL basically gave the finger to South Korea, but Korean hockey actually has a better and more established infrastructure in place. Yonsei University and Korea University have produced a few players who later played some European minor league hockey and the national team usually holds its own at the lower IIHF international divisions.

There is actually a better starting place for hockey development in South Korea and most certainly on the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido, which is where 95% of their national team players come from (including the two who were drafted by NHL teams) and where skating/hockey is part of school gym curriculum. When the NHL flirted with ventures in Japan in the late 1990s, they ignored where hockey is actually quite popular (Hokkaido) and instead focused on trying to win over people on the main island (Honshu) where the sport has no foothold. Even the pro teams in the old Japan/ Asia League, when based in the big cities in Honshu, got most of their native-born players from the programs on Hokkaido.

In China, much of the players come from the northern cities of Harbin and Qiqihar. But the NHL and other westerners are typically obsessed with growing the game in Beijing and Shanghai, where very few know or care about it, as opposed to starting where there's been organic growth and expanding outwardly from that base.

I know that no one reading this will give 1/10th of a damn. But as someone who loves global hockey as well as the NHL, I shake my head sometimes at the quick money grab mentality (which rarely has broken even much less made a profit) as opposed to a long-term growth strategy to build the game and, thus, the fan base.

Bill, what are the chances Bardreau makes the team out of training camp?
I know there was all that talk a week ago from Hextall mentioning him in the prospect talk about candidates for making the team. Personally I think we have better options the him, I think Leier has shown well this training camp and has more upside as well as Laughton but not sure how he has looked and have not heard much about his training camp.
- Buzzo

Here's my thing with Leier.

I like him but he has had time with the Flyers and really never made a huge impact. yes he is having a good camp. But he is mostly ticketed for a 4th line role on the big squad.

Bardreau i think could fill the role better. Maybe not as much offensively but i think role wise he could. the 4th line is only going to play limited minutes. Also the one thing about Bardreau is he plays bigger then his size and he kills penalties.


The one prospect i am really going to be watching though is Vorobyev. I think he could be with the Flyers sooner then expected. he has the size and skill and I think he will impress in the AHL.

Bill, what are the chances Bardreau makes the team out of training camp?
I know there was all that talk a week ago from Hextall mentioning him in the prospect talk about candidates for making the team. Personally I think we have better options the him, I think Leier has shown well this training camp and has more upside as well as Laughton but not sure how he has looked and have not heard much about his training camp.
- Buzzo

Laughton has had a camp similar to two years ago when he spent the season in the NHL. Main difference is where they would slot him in the lineup. He's improved defensively, which was supposed to be his strongest attribute coming out of junior hockey in the first place but did not work out that way.

No, I don't think Bardreau makes the opening night roster. He is a better player than Ben Holmstrom or especially Tyler Brown but I've heard too much of the annual "talking up the dark horse" from GMs at the start of camp to take it too seriously.

That said, I could see Bardreau as a callup at some point if they want an energy line/ pest type.

I have interest, in part because the guy who made the Flyers Alumni tour of Russia happen (Scott MacPherson) is deeply involved in developing hockey in China and Mike Keenan is coaching there. Also in part because the NHL has actually had past ventures in China with limited success. The San Jose Sharks owned the former China Sharks team in the Asia League. Charles Wang set up a development/exchange program in China via the Islanders some years ago.

Of course, now the NHL is pretending like this a brand new thing since the past ventures were unsuccessful (too much expense and red tape dealing with the Chinese govt) and because they are planning to participate in the next Olympics.

Funny thing is that the NHL basically gave the finger to South Korea, but Korean hockey actually has a better and more established infrastructure in place. Yonsei University and Korea University have produced a few players who later played some European minor league hockey and the national team usually holds its own at the lower IIHF international divisions.

There is actually a better starting place for hockey development in South Korea and most certainly on the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido, which is where 95% of their national team players come from (including the two who were drafted by NHL teams) and where skating/hockey is part of school gym curriculum. When the NHL flirted with ventures in Japan in the late 1990s, they ignored where hockey is actually quite popular (Hokkaido) and instead focused on trying to win over people on the main island (Honshu) where the sport has no foothold. Even the pro teams in the old Japan/ Asia League, when based in the big cities in Honshu, got most of their native-born players from the programs on Hokkaido.

In China, much of the players come from the northern cities of Harbin and Qiqihar. But the NHL and other westerners are typically obsessed with growing the game in Beijing and Shanghai, where very few know or care about it, as opposed to starting where there's been organic growth and expanding outwardly from that base.

I know that no one reading this will give 1/10th of a damn. But as someone who loves global hockey as well as the NHL, I shake my head sometimes at the quick money grab mentality (which rarely has broken even much less made a profit) as opposed to a long-term growth strategy to build the game and, thus, the fan base.
- bmeltzer

So true Bill and it is still a shame that NHL players will not turn up in Korea
In light of North Korea crises almost a mistake of historic proportion
But even on lower level hardly understandable why NHL is unable to give 3 weeks back every 4 years for World Hockey

Here's my thing with Leier.

I like him but he has had time with the Flyers and really never made a huge impact. yes he is having a good camp. But he is mostly ticketed for a 4th line role on the big squad.

Bardreau i think could fill the role better. Maybe not as much offensively but i think role wise he could. the 4th line is only going to play limited minutes. Also the one thing about Bardreau is he plays bigger then his size and he kills penalties.
- J35Bacher

Leier is a better, younger player than Bardreau so I can't imagine Bardreau making the Flyers just so they can put Leier on waivers. He would probably pass thru, but Bardreau is waiver exempt so there's zero risk in demoting him.

So true Bill and it is still a shame that NHL players will not turn up in Korea
In light of North Korea crises almost a mistake of historic proportion
But even on lower level hardly understandable why NHL is unable to give 3 weeks back every 4 years for World Hockey
- goenzoy

Even apart from altruism to the game, there is a player pool that could be developed. For example, a forward named Jung Hyun Ahn played some minor league hockey in Finland and was pretty good at the Junior A level in Canada. Korea has brought in Jim Paek, Richard Park and Martin Hyun (who played pro hockey at the top level in Germany) to help oversee the growth of their program nationally, and they've been doing a hell of a job with very limited resources.

The Dallas Stars brought over a group of Korean players to camp a few years ago (at Paek's request to Jim Nill) and Nill was quite surprised at how fundamentally sound the players were.

There's game growth potential if the resources were put in to take it to the next level from the foundation that's been organically built. The NHL has made it abundantly clear that it doesn't really care about that... it wants the cash grab opportunities instead. It's a shame.

The 3 years is really what makes moving AMac almost impossible unless they eat 40-50% of the deal. I think by next year's trade deadline, with only 1 year and change left, they will be able to work something out and maybe only have to retain 25-30% of the deal to make it work. I really don't want to take back contracts, the need to move him isn't that pressing. He's fine as the 7th man IMO.
- BiggE

The trouble is, I think they actually might like AMac, even if we don't. I'd much rather see Sanheim than MacDonald, but I don't think they are ready to go with that many young guys on their blue line at once.

I'd love for them to cut a deal and trade MacDonald, but it doesn't seem like that's even in Hextall's headspace right now.

What I do hope is in his head space is moving a veteran forward (*looks over at Raffl and Read*). There are young forwards vigorously knocking on the door of a full time gig.

I shake my head sometimes at the quick money grab mentality (which rarely has broken even much less made a profit) as opposed to a long-term growth strategy to build the game and, thus, the fan base.
- bmeltzer

Imho they should work to grow the game in North America first.* League-wide attendance is stagnant at best and television ratings are abysmal.

* That's not a nationalist comment. The best players in the world play in the NHL. If they can't get more people interested in the highest level of the sport how can they hope to get people interested in lower levels?

Leier is a better, younger player than Bardreau so I can't imagine Bardreau making the Flyers just so they can put Leier on waivers. He would probably pass thru, but Bardreau is waiver exempt so there's zero risk in demoting him.
- Feanor

Understandable.

I don't think either make it right now with the roster jam in the bottom 6. But I do think Bardreau is better suited to play a hard gritty 8-10 minutes a night on the 4th line over Leier.

Imho they should work to grow the game in North America first. League-wide attendance is stagnant at best and television ratings are abysmal.
- Scoob

The growth of hockey in the US has been spectacular, actually. More and more American players are coming up and no longer just from Minnesota and the New England states. USA Hockey has created an international junior power house all the way up through the U20 level where Team USA could medal -- even gold -- in any given tournament.

Attendance and TV ratings for the NHL are a whole different issue.

Imho they should work to grow the game in North America first. League-wide attendance is stagnant at best and television ratings are abysmal.
- Scoob

It's an odd circle, because the NHL's ratings are abysmal, they don't get that fat TV cash that the NFL and NBA and MLB get. I think this is the main reason why NHL regular season tickets are so high.

xx

AMac pinches just as G gets beat. Perfect storm.

My roster right now

Lindbolm - Giroux - Voracek
Weise - Couturier - Konecny
Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Leier - Filpulla - Raffl

Lehtera in Cote Suite

Provorov - Hagg
Sanheim - Gudas
Morin - Ghost

Manning in Cote Suite

Elliot
Neuvirth
- dragonoffrost

Laughton seems to be the forgotten guy on everyone's roster

AMac pinches just as G gets beat. Perfect storm.

My roster right now

Lindbolm - Giroux - Voracek
Weise - Couturier - Konecny
Weal - Patrick - Simmonds
Leier - Filpulla - Raffl

Lehtera in Cote Suite

Provorov - Hagg
Sanheim - Gudas
Morin - Ghost

Manning in Cote Suite

Elliot
Neuvirth
- dragonoffrost

Laughton seems to be the forgotten guy on everyone's roster

The growth of hockey in the US has been spectacular, actually. More and more American players are coming up and no longer just from Minnesota and the New England states. USA Hockey has created an international junior power house all the way up through the U20 level where Team USA could medal -- even gold -- in any given tournament.

Attendance and TV ratings for the NHL are a whole different issue.
- bmeltzer

A whole different issue which produces all of the revenue for the league.

It's great that more and more kids are playing. Doesn't really benefit the league all that much however when year after year the same teams struggle to sell tickets.

The trouble is, I think they actually might like AMac, even if we don't. I'd much rather see Sanheim than MacDonald, but I don't think they are ready to go with that many young guys on their blue line at once.

I'd love for them to cut a deal and trade MacDonald, but it doesn't seem like that's even in Hextall's headspace right now.

What I do hope is in his head space is moving a veteran forward (*looks over at Raffl and Read*). There are young forwards vigorously knocking on the door of a full time gig.
- johndewar

To you really think it makes sense to trade Read or Raffl ?

The growth of hockey in the US has been spectacular, actually. More and more American players are coming up and no longer just from Minnesota and the New England states. USA Hockey has created an international junior power house all the way up through the U20 level where Team USA could medal -- even gold -- in any given tournament.
- bmeltzer

Yes, and that part is great

Attendance and TV ratings for the NHL are a whole different issue.

It's the biggest issue, though. It's such a great game it shouldn't be lagging so far behind the NFL, NBA, and MLB in North America. If the league doesn't fix that there will be no money and/or nowhere for these up-and-comers to play.