Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Free Agency Season Open, Lecavalier, Ott and More

I'd be interested in checking in on TJ Galiardi. He didn't get a QO from Calgary. Seems like he could be a nice role player on the 3rd line. He is 26 and made 1.25mil last year. Could be a solid low risk buy

Hey Bill,
Thx for the read.
I wonder if the Draft day offer to Florida was two fold? Would it have answered or been an answer to the Cap issues the Flyers had ?
As well, Did Vinny nix a deal to Nashville ?

I imagine they'll have to wait until some free agents disappear before they'd be able to move Vinny. So, could be a while

We love to crucify the Flyers for their signings.

Chris Thorburn

Winnipeg gave him 1.20million for 3 years.

I can see it now if that was Philly.

GM - I'll be watching for updates today! I'm curious to see what Hextall does. I'm honestly not expecting much though.
I'm most curious about the back-up goalie.

Hey Bill,
Thx for the read.
I wonder if the Draft day offer to Florida was two fold? Would it have answered or been an answer to the Cap issues the Flyers had ?
As well, Did Vinny nix a deal to Nashville ?
- landros 2

Keep in mind that none of this is confirmed and is all rumor-based (never a premise I like to work from):

I heard there were a couple different offers made and, yes, one of them would have also been done with an eye toward some cap relief as well as landing the top overall pick. But Florida's price was simply too high, if you believe the reports that Tallon insisted the Flyers include Simmonds.

I don't know if it was Lecavalier or the Preds who nixed the deal, but apparently something was close yesterday and didn't happen.

I'd be interested in checking in on TJ Galiardi. He didn't get a QO from Calgary. Seems like he could be a nice role player on the 3rd line. He is 26 and made 1.25mil last year. Could be a solid low risk buy
- J35Bacher

Three years ago, I'd have been enthusiastic about that idea. He really hasn't been of much help to his teams the last few years but, as you said, is still reasonably young.

Bill, as always a good morning read.

On Ott....please no. Please.
Imagine Ott's personal on ice reputation combined with the Orange and Black bias. He could just move into the penalty box. The Flyers would be forever killing penalties...and he would have earned some of them. As a player, Ott is okay and if he was 29 I would say go for it. But at 32 and wanting a multi year deal that would tie up that much money. No.

An interesting thought hit me...with the bonus due to Vinny now payed, do the Flyers revisit any of the teams that may have been interested but wanted the Flyers to either take on more money or include a draft pick to take Vinny?

Do you see the Flyers moving one of their blue liners, Grossman for example, to clear some space? I choose him because his role, the physical stay at home shot blocker is the easier role to fill than the puck moving quick first pass defenseman.

Keep in mind that none of this is confirmed and is all rumor-based (never a premise I like to work from):

I heard there were a couple different offers made and, yes, one of them would have also been done with an eye toward some cap relief as well as landing the top overall pick. But Florida's price was simply too high, if you believe the reports that Tallon insisted the Flyers include Simmonds.

I don't know if it was Lecavalier or the Preds who nixed the deal, but apparently something was close yesterday and didn't happen.
- bmeltzer

I find it hard to believe Nashville would accept a deal before today's $2M payout.

I can't understand why Nashville would trade for Vinny yesterday, before they even get a chance to sign Stastny or Richards, and be stuck paying his $2 million bonus.

Three years ago, I'd have been enthusiastic about that idea. He really hasn't been of much help to his teams the last few years but, as you said, is still reasonably young.
- bmeltzer

I also saw Andrei Loktionov was not givin an QO. Wonder if Hextall would check on him since he was in LA's system. Only 24. Maybe you can get him as that low risk/high reward player. I know he is a center but maybe he can play wing. I thought he did with devils

We love to crucify the Flyers for their signings.

Chris Thorburn

Winnipeg gave him 1.20million for 3 years.

I can see it now if that was Philly.
- J35Bacher

Jody Shelley 2.0.

Bill, as always a good morning read.

On Ott....please no. Please.
Imagine Ott's personal on ice reputation combined with the Orange and Black bias. He could just move into the penalty box. The Flyers would be forever killing penalties...and he would have earned some of them. As a player, Ott is okay and if he was 29 I would say go for it. But at 32 and wanting a multi year deal that would tie up that much money. No.

An interesting thought hit me...with the bonus due to Vinny now payed, do the Flyers revisit any of the teams that may have been interested but wanted the Flyers to either take on more money or include a draft pick to take Vinny?

Do you see the Flyers moving one of their blue liners, Grossman for example, to clear some space? I choose him because his role, the physical stay at home shot blocker is the easier role to fill than the puck moving quick first pass defenseman.
- wbon22

The sense I get is that the Flyers will move a defenseman ONLY if a) they can bring in a suitable replacement -- no one within the system is ready right now in all likelihood or b) are absolutely forced to do so because other avenues of cap relief (starting with a Lecavalier trade) prove fruitless.

We love to crucify the Flyers for their signings.

Chris Thorburn

Winnipeg gave him 1.20million for 3 years.

I can see it now if that was Philly.
- J35Bacher

It wasn't that long ago that Holmgren signed Jody Shelley to a 3 year 1.1 mill/avg contract. Thorburn will probably at least play in more games than Shelley did.

GM - I'll be watching for updates today! I'm curious to see what Hextall does. I'm honestly not expecting much though.
I'm most curious about the back-up goalie.
- FlyersGrace

It wouldn't surprise in the least if they did nothing today. I think Vinnie gets moved early next week, and they then sign a back up goalie and perhaps an upgrade for the 4th line, Moore? Malhotra?

I think that will pretty much be it.

Keep in mind that none of this is confirmed and is all rumor-based (never a premise I like to work from):

I heard there were a couple different offers made and, yes, one of them would have also been done with an eye toward some cap relief as well as landing the top overall pick. But Florida's price was simply too high, if you believe the reports that Tallon insisted the Flyers include Simmonds.

I don't know if it was Lecavalier or the Preds who nixed the deal, but apparently something was close yesterday and didn't happen.
- bmeltzer

Thx

I can't understand why Nashville would trade for Vinny yesterday, before they even get a chance to sign Stastny or Richards, and be stuck paying his $2 million bonus.
- Feanor

Its difficult to attract talent there. I think they're in a similar boat to Edmonton and NYI where they need to overpay to get FA talent. Getting VL for $3.62M per year may be better than overpaying for Richards or Stastny.

I also saw Andrei Loktionov was not givin an QO. Wonder if Hextall would check on him since he was in LA's system. Only 24. Maybe you can get him as that low risk/high reward player. I know he is a center but maybe he can play wing. I thought he did with devils
- J35Bacher

I would say that LA's experiences with Loktionov would be more likely to convince Hextall to stay away. I see Loktionov going to the KHL and doing fine there.

It wasn't that long ago that Holmgren signed Jody Shelley to a 3 year 1.1 mill/avg contract. Thorburn will probably at least play in more games than Shelley did.
- Flyers_01

Thorburn is a better player than Shelley. He can get you 4-6 goals and 12-15 points which is much more than the Flyers ever got from Shelley.

Its difficult to attract talent there. I think they're in a similar boat to Edmonton and NYI where they need to overpay to get FA talent. Getting VL for $3.62M per year may be better than overpaying for Richards or Stastny.
- PhillySportsGuy

Right, I can see why they might trade for Vinny after (for example) Richards goes to NYI, Spezza goes to Dallas and Stastny goes to the Blues.

Its difficult to attract talent there. I think they're in a similar boat to Edmonton and NYI where they need to overpay to get FA talent. Getting VL for $3.62M per year may be better than overpaying for Richards or Stastny.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm pretty sure Nashville is where he will end up, as long as he is willing to go there.

It wouldn't surprise in the least if they did nothing today. I think Vinnie gets moved early next week, and they then sign a back up goalie and perhaps an upgrade for the 4th line, Moore? Malhotra?

I think that will pretty much be it.
- BiggE

Yep, I'll be watching to see what Emery does. If he goes quickly to someone else then I think we'll see a goalie pick quickly. But if Emery doesn't go fast then I think they wait. Just my opinion.

Right, I can see why they might trade for Vinny after (for example) Richards goes to NYI, Spezza goes to Dallas and Stastny goes to the Blues.
- Feanor

Spezza already said he won't waive to go to Nashville.

Thorburn is a better player than Shelley. He can get you 4-6 goals and 12-15 points which is much more than the Flyers ever got from Shelley.
- BiggE

Ok. Well i'll remeber this quote when we sign someone who can get us 4-6 goals and 12-15 points to a 1.20 million dollar deal. Yuo are ok with it.



I am just saying if Holmgren did this would be killing him. Just shows other teams do things as well. Not saying I agree with the signing or not. Just shows ever team makes sigings you question.