Agreed -- I mean, yeah. I'm absolutely going to defend this one. Because I have seen the guy play a ton. When I see guys a lot, like with Dale Weise and Boyd Gordon a couple of years ago, I have no issue saying if I feel the team has made a mistake in signing a guy.

For what JVR does well, this isn't a mistake at all. Not in the slightest. The skating is still very good for his size, hands are excellent, he thinks the game well. He's more mature. For what he does well, there are no issues in his game at this time
- AllInForFlyers

He scores goals. Period, end of story. We've been begging for a shoot first, sniper to be added to the lineup and that's exactly what Hextall just did. Well done.

Wa... wa... wait.. why are we now still being linked to a panarin trade ? And by real analysts not ek.
- Tfaehner

Because a player of Panarin’s caliber is someone you at least kick the tires on.

5 years for a 29 year old is term I can live with. He was probably the best free agent available behind Mr. Indecisive. And the Flyers still have a boat load of cap room going forward even with JVR at $7m.

What I like best about Hextall improving the roster is the pressure it puts on the 4th year coach to win at least one playoff round.
- Feanor

Yup. Expectations have officially increased with this signing.

It’s pretty funny that Hexy felt the need to kind of telegraph this move with his comments the other day.

"I misspoke that day or you guys misunderstood me, I said we weren't going to go long term with a good player. Maybe a great player, we'd look at it," Hextall said with a smile. "I probably misspoke a little bit. We don't want to go long, long term … we'll see where that goes."

JVR is good, not great

Long term is 5 years

But long, long term is 7 years. And that’s what Hextall avoided.

Very happy with the JVR signing, not going past 5 years is the key to me. The 7 million per isn't as big a concern with cap just a hair below 80 million and likely to be pushing 90 by the end of the deal. A 7 million aav with an 80 million cap is roughly equivalent to a 5.6 million aav under a 65 million cap, it's not really an issue.

When it comes to JVR potentially blocking a young forward in 2-4 years, that is the least of my worries as those things usually have a way of working themselves out.

The only real flaws left on the roster are 3C and in goal. The goal issue will sort itself out over the next couple of seasons with the influx of some combo of Hart, Sandstrom, or even perhaps Stolarz or Lyon. I also think, if you must, you can bite the bullet with Laughton in the 3C spot and Lehtera as a fallback for one year. I think Frost will be able to step in by 19-20 and don't discount Rubtsov as a potential 3C as he skates well, is very defensively responsible and has good skills.
- BiggE

I don't get the sense they view Rubtsov as NHL ready right now.

Yeah, Vorobyev is well ahead of Rubtsov as an NHL center option.

I think it'll be JVR-Patrick-Voracek, at least to start. But even if it's L3, with the right center and o-zone starts and PP time, he's going to do the things he does
- AllInForFlyers

Here's an idea, why not try to balance the scoring and roll something like:

G-Couts-Jake
They were red hot to start last season and it gives you a line that can match up against anyone, in any zone, and still generate 1st line offense.

JVR-Patrick-Lindblom
Lindblom can play either wing and would be the guy who does the heavy lifting along the boards in the O zone, he's also a pretty solid playmaker and seems to be developing good chemistry with Patrick. Also, both Patrick and Lindblom are good 2 way players which mitigates JVR's shortcomings in that dept.

TK-Laughton-Simmonds
Laughton has a good shot and wheels, and Simmonds goes to the net and scores goals. TK adds speed, skill and excellent playmaking ability to the line. Plus you get the added bonus of Simmonds on the line to be available to step in when TK drives a guy to the point of wanting to kill the little bugger, LOL.

I don't get the sense they view Rubtsov as NHL ready right now.
- bmeltzer

Wasn't talking about right now re Rubtsov, was talking about 19-20.

JvR as a 2nd line LW riding shotgun with Patrick and Voracek? That sounds like fun.

Yes, this does raise the question of what happen with Simmonds...but really, hasn't that become the way of the NHL? You set up your prospects, you have your core and then you move vets into holes accordingly.

Yeah, Vorobyev is well ahead of Rubtsov as an NHL center option.
- Feanor

At this point, absolutely. However, I think Rubtsov has a higher ceiling if he can put it all together.

Will Simmonds be moved before ufa? I think they ride out the deal and let him go to ufa. This will be a playoff team

Right now, 3C is either Laughton or Lehterä unless they sign one.
- bmeltzer

Just can't go with Lehtera on the 3rd line. Not a 3rd line player in my opinion. Serviceable on the 4th line.

Very happy with the JVR signing if it indeed goes through. This really opens up the possibilities for today and going forward with a trade or two. The contract is very fair, and as BiggE pointed out it’s now an 80 million dollar cap up from the mid sixties. Watching JVR night in and night out for the last few years was tough because he was something the Flyers could really, really use....another solid 30 goal scorer.

In regards to the cap, I'm really not concerned.

Lehtera, Weal and Raffl are all off the books after this season, that totals 8.8 million. If you replace each of their roster spots with kids on ELCs, you are looking at a savings of at least 6 million.

Both vet goalies are in their final year. Even if you assume they bring in another vet to pair with Hart in 19-20, they should be saving at least another 1.75 million in goal next year.

Gudas and AMac will both be going into their final year in 19-20. At least one, probably Gudas, will be moved. Assuming his spot is taken by another kid, you are looking at roughly 2.5 million in savings. And finally, they can just waive Weise in the last year of his deal and save another million.

Finally, the cap really isn't an issue for the Flyers.

Here's an idea, why not try to balance the scoring and roll something like:

G-Couts-Jake
They were red hot to start last season and it gives you a line that can match up against anyone, in any zone, and still generate 1st line offense.

JVR-Patrick-Lindblom
Lindblom can play either wing and would be the guy who does the heavy lifting along the boards in the O zone, he's also a pretty solid playmaker and seems to be developing good chemistry with Patrick. Also, both Patrick and Lindblom are good 2 way players which mitigates JVR's shortcomings in that dept.

TK-Laughton-Simmonds
Laughton has a good shot and wheels, and Simmonds goes to the net and scores goals. TK adds speed, skill and excellent playmaking ability to the line. Plus you get the added bonus of Simmonds on the line to be available to step in when TK drives a guy to the point of wanting to kill the little bugger, LOL.
- BiggE

Not bad at all. TK and Lindblom can play both sides.

Just can't go with Lehtera on the 3rd line. Not a 3rd line player in my opinion. Serviceable on the 4th line.
- MJL

Management agree based on his ES ice time.

I agree with the first part.

Here's an idea, why not try to balance the scoring and roll something like:

G-Couts-Jake
They were red hot to start last season and it gives you a line that can match up against anyone, in any zone, and still generate 1st line offense.

JVR-Patrick-Lindblom
Lindblom can play either wing and would be the guy who does the heavy lifting along the boards in the O zone, he's also a pretty solid playmaker and seems to be developing good chemistry with Patrick. Also, both Patrick and Lindblom are good 2 way players which mitigates JVR's shortcomings in that dept.

TK-Laughton-Simmonds
Laughton has a good shot and wheels, and Simmonds goes to the net and scores goals. TK adds speed, skill and excellent playmaking ability to the line. Plus you get the added bonus of Simmonds on the line to be available to step in when TK drives a guy to the point of wanting to kill the little bugger, LOL.
- BiggE

I think Konecny needs to play on the top line. What I like about JVR is that he is a shooter. I want who would ow be the teams best sniper playing with one of it's best playmakers. That's Voracek, one of the best setup guys in the league. Both Voracek and Patrick can make plays with the puck. All JVR has to do is go to the net and shoot.

At this point, absolutely. However, I think Rubtsov has a higher ceiling if he can put it all together.
- BiggE

Rubtsov may suprise a lot of people....I think his last year he suffered a bit with some personal issues and if he can put that behind him he could really blossom into a very good player.

In regards to the cap, I'm really not concerned.

Lehtera, Weal and Raffl are all off the books after this season, that totals 8.8 million. If you replace each of their roster spots with kids on ELCs, you are looking at a savings of at least 6 million.

Both vet goalies are in their final year. Even if you assume they bring in another vet to pair with Hart in 19-20, they should be saving at least another 1.75 million in goal next year.

Gudas and AMac will both be going into their final year in 19-20. At least one, probably Gudas, will be moved. Assuming his spot is taken by another kid, you are looking at roughly 2.5 million in savings. And finally, they can just waive Weise in the last year of his deal and save another million.

Finally, the cap really isn't an issue for the Flyers.
- BiggE

See that’s the beauty of Hextalls youth stocking.....when some of these guys come off the cap, it’s some of the entry level contracts that replace them. It allows for the Flyers to sign a guy like JVR.

Will Simmonds be moved before ufa? I think they ride out the deal and let him go to ufa. This will be a playoff team
- Just5

I wondered if there is another shoe to fall if JVR does indeed sign.....there may be a few deals today around the league.

If they sign jvr who cares about where weal raffle or Leier play. Are they even bringing Leier back ?

Jvr won’t block anyone. When guys are ready they will play has been Ronald’s mo so no concern there at all.

Wonder if this signing is a sign Simmonds contract negotiations are not going well ?

Signing jvr and trading simmer is a lateral move for this season unless we get a nhl player for simmer. If we can't get that now I let the roster stay with both of them and see what's offered at the deadline. I want this team to not just make the playoffs but win a franking series.

Pa-pa-pa-Panarin?!

He scores goals. Period, end of story. We've been begging for a shoot first, sniper to be added to the lineup and that's exactly what Hextall just did. Well done.
- BiggE

Hopefully some of what he does offensively can rub off on Lindblom, as well, as far as techniques to get open and finish. I think Lindblom is a fine prospect, from what I saw of him last year. But JVR is a poor man's Rick Nash between the dots -- he really did refine his game offensively over the past six seasons. Polished

I see the roster as:

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
JVR - Patrick - Voracek
Lindblom - ? - Simmonds
Raffl - Laughton - Weise

Scratches: Weal, Leier
Minors: Lehtera